NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
CRANBROOK SHOWCASES CUBAN MID-CENTURY MODERN DESIGNS
BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Cranbrook Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition will showcase under-acknowledged furniture and furnishings from the decades following the Cuban Revolution.
“A Modernist Regime: Cuban Mid-Century Modern Design” opened July 11 at the Cranbrook Art Museum and will run through Sept. 22 in the main and north galleries.
Chief Curator Laura Mott shared how important Cranbrook is in the history of mid-century design. Cranbrook’s website notes that “Charles and Ray Eames, who met at Cranbrook Academy of Art 80 years ago, are the definitive designers of the mid-century movement.”
Mott was inspired by Cuban design after a research trip to Cuba in 2017.
“Beyond just celebrating ourself, we should really be contributing to design history in a broader scope, and also diversifying design history,” Mott said.
Mid-century modern design has been booming in modern trends. Mott shares some of the differences that American mid-century modern designs may have from Cuban mid-century modern designs.
See DESIGNS on page 10A
Police and Fire Youth Leadership Academy inspires kids to be their best
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
NOVI — The annual Police and Fire Youth Leadership Academy for local youth got off to a great start Monday as kids were put through their paces at the Walled Lake Adventure Course, located at the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center. Just over 40 kids took on the obstacle course, which is essentially a mini boot camp.
Detective Sarah Moulik, of the Novi Police Department, said the adventure course, which features a
zip line, a rock climbing wall, and other rigorously challenging activities, is traditionally done on the academy’s first day, as it allows the instructors to see which kids are natural leaders and which kids need to work on those skills. She said the instructors can then break up the students into groups so that not all the leaders are together. She said this way they can “bring out the best in each kid.”
“One of our goals is to try to get the kids to start stepping into the role of being a leader,” Moulik said.
See LEADERSHIP on page 8A
Cranbrook Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition will showcase under-acknowledged furniture and furnishings from the decades following the Cuban Revolution.
Photos by Danielle deo Owensby from Cranbrook Art Museum
Kids — including Shardha Sridharan, 13, of Novi, pictured above — tackle the Walled Lake Adventure Course at the Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center on July 15 as part of the Novi Police and Fire Youth Leadership Academy.
Photo by Erin Sanchez
DISCOUNTS, FOOD TRUCKS,
MORE PLANNED FOR DAY ON THE TOWN
BIRMINGHAM — Downtown Birmingham will host the annual Day On The Town 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 27.
Organizers said attendees will find deeply discounted merchandise from over 60 retailers, food trucks, chalk art displays, kids activities provided by Tree Runner and more in stores and throughout the streets and sidewalks downtown.
Food trucks serving up frozen treats, burgers and lobster will be available throughout the event. Kevin from Channel 955’s “Mojo in the Morning” will go live from the Channel 955 Ice Cream Truck, powered by BIGGBY Coffee, 1-3 p.m.
“This is the day that shoppers look forward to all year. We encourage people to check out sales at the many retailers and to complete their day with a meal on the patio of one of our great restaurants or a nice walk through the park,” said Birmingham Shopping District
Operations and Events Manager Jaimi Brook. “Be sure to get here early to find the best deals.”
A Birmingham Police Department open house event will be held on Martin Street and Pierce Street 10 a.m.-1 p.m. It will feature a driving simulator, therapy K-9s, drone demonstrations and a bike rodeo. There will also be giveaways, an opportunity to properly dispose of medication through Operation Medicine Cabinet and gunlock distribution.
The event is organized by the Birmingham Shopping District.
Old Woodward Avenue will be closed to vehicles from Willits Street to Brown Street; Maple Road will be closed from Bates Street to Peabody Street for retail displays and pedestrian traffic. Parking is free in municipal structures during the event.
Visit www.allinbirmingham.com/visitors/dayonth etown for more information.
Community members gear up for 14th annual Troy Traffic Jam
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
The automotive community will be celebrated through a wide variety of activities, events and vehicle displays during the 16th annual Troy Traffic Jam at the Columbia Center on Big Beaver Road Aug. 4.
The Troy Traffic Jam is free to spectators as funds raised through sponsorships, car registrations, and a 50/50 raffle fuel education at the Troy Historic Village.
Since the event’s inception 16 years ago, presenting sponsor KIRCO and the host venue Columbia Center have been dedicated supporters and key partners in raising thousands of dollars towards field trips and hands-on programs at the Troy Historic Village, organizers said.
“I’ve been with the show since 2019, and I think that year we had over 4,000 visitors,” Jen Peters, Troy Historic Village’s executive director, said in an email. “This year we anticipate hitting 6,000. As I’m getting out registrations and information about the event, I get a lot of ‘we
ABOVE: Downtown Birmingham is slated to host Day on the Town July 27.
LEFT: Shoppers enjoy discounts at a past Day on the Town event.
Photos provided by the city of Birmingham
The Troy Traffic Jam is set to return to the Columbia Center on Big Beaver Road Aug. 4. File photo by Donna Dalziel
page 3A
come every year, it’s our favorite car show!’ so I think it’s both a beloved and anticipated annual community event,” as well as one of the best car shows in Michigan, she said.
“We truly couldn’t pull off such a blockbuster event without the support of our KIRCO and Columbia Center team,” Peters said in a press release. “The resources they provide enable us to create meaningful education programs at the Village through a fantastic community event on Big Beaver.”
Troy’s automotive festival 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 4 will feature a diverse array of over 300 classic autos, muscle cars, and concept vehicles from the garages of hobbyists and high-end collectors.
“We worked extra hard this year to bring you a unique assemblage of rare legacy vehicles,” Alan Kiriluk, the chairman of KIRCO and a member of the TTJ planning team, said in a press release. “You won’t see these cars together anyplace else this summer.”
Organizer Jeff Nowicki, the founder and owner of Nowicki Autosport & Design, said he is passionate about blending classics with high-end exotics that highlight innovative designs.
“Last year a Ferrari Monza became a fan favorite,” he said in a press release. “This year you’ll want to see the Daytona SP3. We continue to secure more vehicles for the show, so look for more announcements through the spring and summer.”
Additionally this year, the Troy Traffic Jam is celebrating the 60th anniversaries for the GTO and the Mustang. The GTO came from Pontiac engineers dropping a larger engine in the existing Tempest LeMans to skirt regulations and appeal to younger buyers looking for horsepower, and the Mustang
Amazing vehicles will be on display, like this one, shown at the event in 2019.
first premiered at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and was considered to be popular and affordable for young families.
In celebration of these milestones, the Troy Traffic Jam will have a special GTO Corral and Mustang Corral, each containing 30 carefully curated classics representing the various generations of each vehicle. This includes GTOs that have been featured on TV and in muscle car magazines, historic Mustang race cars, and a Mustang that may have once been owned by the Ford Family.
GTO and Mustang panels are also included in the planned panels for the Tech Talk Tent.
On top of this, attendees may enjoy robotic demonstrations and kids pedal car racing.
The award-winning robots from Troy area FIRST Robotics teams will be back to demonstrate innovations in programming as a way to inspire the next generation of engineers.
Pedal car races have occurred at multiple Troy events during the summer, and during Troy Traffic Jam, “Pedal Power 200” will occur at 1:30 p.m. Families can participate as racers or simply cheer on the competitors.
Last year, organizer Mark Lieberman, of Nostalgic Motoring Ltd., sponsored the inaugural kids pedal car race, exposing families to a popular European family tradition.
“There’s nothing like building something together as a family; a simple pedal car in your own garage could be a great place to start,” Lieberman said in a press release.
Individuals interested in exhibiting their vehicle(s) can pre-register at TroyTrafficJam.com. Pre-registration costs $25 per car and offers quick check-in and a swag bag, compliments of Traffic Jam sponsors. Registration on the day of the event will be $30. All registration fees for the Troy Traffic Jam are tax deductible and support the educational programs at the Troy Historic Village.
File photo by Donna Dalziel
Shakespeare Royal Oak to present ‘Twelfth Night’
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Shakespeare Royal Oak will be back at the end of July hosting its annual shows in Starr Jaycee Park for the 24th season.
Taking place July 25-Aug. 4, the nonprofit organization will be performing Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” directed by D. B. Schroeder.
Schroeder has been a professional director since 2004 and has directed shows all around Detroit, but this will be his first year with Shakespeare Royal Oak. He also teaches an introduction to acting class at the Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpointe for grades 7-12.
Schroeder said that his inspiration for choosing “Twelfth Night” comes from the current need for love and positivity during the election season.
“It is a very contentious year, and I think it is important to put love out into the community and remind us all of our shared humanity,” he said. “That is what appealed to me about doing ‘Twelfth Night’ at this moment in time.”
Working with the actors and staff at Shakespeare Royal Oak has been a great experience, according to Schroeder, who said the environment has been nothing but welcoming.
“Everyone is so enthusiastic, I don’t know that the general public appreciated how many people are part of the organization working behind the scenes,” he said. “You know we have a cast of 15 actors that are the people you see, but there is also a team working very tirelessly behind the scenes.”
Physically building the show takes weeks of work, according to Executive Director and Board Member for Shakespeare Royal Oak Edward Nahhat, and without the tech and building crew, none of it could be accomplished.
“When we build the theater, we build it from the ground up, so every time we build the stage, we build it unique to the show,” Nahhat said. “We build it custom designed so that when people come, it’s a unique experience each time.”
Typically, a Shakespearean play would
take around three hours, but because of limited time, Schroeder must edit parts out to create the perfect time frame to keep the audience interested.
“You have to strike a balance. You have people who have grown up with Shakespeare, who have certain parts that they are See SHAKESPEARE on page 8A
Ryan Ernst, in front, and Dan Johnson, Kerry Milliron and Olivia Kiefer work on blocking and dialogue for “Twelfth Night.”
Photo by Liz Carnegie
BEHIND THE WHEEL
C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • JULY 24, 2024 Do you own a vehicle with an interesting history?
Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045, and you could be featured in an upcoming Behind the Wheel. For more stories, visit candgnews.com/news/auto or use the QR code.
Chrysler Windsor Coupe celebrates the past, creates new memories
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — When Don Starlin was in the market to buy a classic automobile, he initially thought about going with a muscle car.
“I wanted to go fast,” the Clawson resident said.
But he changed his mind after he saw an advertisement for a 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe for sale at a local shop.
“With all the chrome, I kind of fell in love with it,” he said.
According to the website metrommp.com, the 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe “captivated onlookers with its sleek, rounded body and fluid lines that hinted at the aerodynamic designs of the future. Its chrome-trimmed grille and proud hood ornament were symbols of post-war luxury. The technological advancements were equally impressive, with features like fluid drive semi-automatic transmission and luxurious ‘chair-height’ seats.”
Starlin, 72, has been enjoying his Chrysler Windsor for several years now. He’s also researched the coupe’s history with a data book he picked up at a car show. The guide was published in 1949 and is very similar to the Kelley Blue Book of today. Starlin’s Windsor comes with a six cylinder engine and padded dashboard that was considered a safety feature at the time it was manufactured.
“They didn’t make too many of these,” he said of the two-door look. “Everybody wanted four doors back in ’49.”
One thing Starlin doesn’t worry about is getting a speeding ticket because the car doesn’t go very fast. And something still up for debate is the official color of the car. The data book says it could be one of three blue hues: ensign, ocean or mist.
Starlin has made several updates to the car to keep it in tip-top shape. One noticeable piece is the addition of a sun visor on the front window.
“This changed the whole character of the car and makes it gangster,” he said.
He also upgraded the inside.
“When I first got the car, the interior was not too impressive,” Starlin said.
So, Starlin installed carpeting to the interior, had the seats reupholstered and added seat belts. While the Windsor does not have air conditioning, the vintage vehicle stays cool through an air duct that sucks in air and blows it into the cab. The Chrysler Windsor has one more special touch. On the gear shift is a shiny door knob that was from the home in which his mother-in-law once lived.
On a recent sunny Tuesday morning, Starlin’s childhood friend, Tim Walkaus, 72, of Berkley, stopped by. The pair have been friends since attending Norup Junior High School in Oak Park.
“We probably met in a backyard riding a motorcycle,” Walkaus said.
Bonding over cars was always a pastime. When Starlin, for instance, bought his Windsor Coupe, he drove it home on a trailer with Walkaus following him. That’s when Walkaus spotted the initials “DS” on the license plate from 1949, which are Starlin’s initials.
“That was kind of cool,” Walkaus said. “Destiny, I guess.”
“You’re part of this thing,” Starlin told his buddy. “You’ve helped me work on it so many times.”
When in high school, Starlin drove around in a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere while Walkaus had a 1969 Dodge Dart.
“We always had Plymouths. My dad was a Chrysler draftsman in Highland Park,” Starlin said. “Back then, it didn’t cost much to buy a used car. I picked up many a car for $50.”
Cruising Woodward Avenue was the game of sport. The Totem Pole drive-in restaurant and Big Boy were regular hangouts.
“You’d have $3 in your pocket and you’d get three quarters of a tank of gas,” Starlin said.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
“That was Friday night, Saturday night, if not more.”
Their days and nights of riding up and down Woodward eventually came to an end, though, when they were both called to serve their country during the Vietnam War.
“The service was the demise of both of our muscle cars,” Walkaus said, he in the Army and Starlin in the Navy.
Decades later, the pair are enjoying classic car shows and cruising again. Walkaus has a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire, and Starlin is a regular at many local car shows, including the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township, the annual Berkley CruiseFest, and the Thursday night cruise nights at the Big Boy located at 200 W. Maple Road in Troy.
Paying homage to the 1960 song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini,” Starlin sometimes decorates the front engine with a yellow-and-white polka dot bikini top. The Chrysler Windsor is always a conversation piece guaranteed to stir up memories.
“It’s surprising how many people have cars tucked away in their garages. Everybody’s got a story,” Starlin said. “A lot of people like to take photos of the dashboard. When I go to a car show, if I see a little kid, I let them get in it.”
Starlin’s Windsor has won 15 trophies, including first place in the 2011 Bud Light Mount Clemens Car Show and the sponsor’s choice in the Clawson car show in 2017. He has given some of the awards to his grandchildren.
TOP AND TOP LEFT: The 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe has fluid lines that, when built, hinted at the aerodynamic designs of the future.
BOTTOM LEFT: Don Starlin, of Clawson, often takes his 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe to local car shows.
ABOVE: Starlin installed carpeting in the interior, had the seats reupholsteredand added seat belts.
NEWS & NOTES
St. David’s Church destroys 90 weapons at gun buyback
SOUTHFIELD — A total of 90 weapons were destroyed at the July 13 gun buyback event held in the parking lot of St. David’s Church on 12 Mile Road. Volunteers operated six chop saws, destroying 46 long guns, 40 pistols and four assault weapons. Donors received artwork made out of the destroyed weapons, plus T-shirts and gift cards from Kroger or Meijer in exchange for the destruction of their weapons. The event was supported by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and local churches. The next gun buyback will take place 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Nativity Episcopal Church, 21220 W 14 Mile Road.
More gun buybacks will take place:
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 24 at Church of the Messiah, 231 E. Grand Blvd. in Detroit.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 28 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 71 W. Pike St. in Pontiac
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 5301 Hatchery Road in Waterford
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 9 at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 1679 Broadway in Ann Arbor. For more information, visit stdavidssf.org.
PARKING RATES INCREASE
FERNDALE — There are new parking rates in effect for the city of Ferndale as of July 1.
The new parking rates are $1.60 per hour for on-street parking spaces, $1.35 for surface lots and $1.25 for The dot parking structure.
The previous parking rates were $1.50 per hour for on-street parking spaces, $1.25 for surface lots and $1.15 for The dot. All parking will remain free on Sundays and 14 holidays throughout the year.
“Ferndale City Council adopted these rates during the City’s annual budget process earlier this year,” a news release states. “These small increases are necessary as part of the City’s bonded finance structure. This is only Ferndale’s third rate increase in 15 years. Monthly permit prices are unchanged.”
People with questions on the increased rates can contact the city at (248) 546-2525.
SOUTHFIELD RESIDENT SHINES
Southfield resident Samatha Smiley was crowned the 2024-2025 National American Miss Michigan Teen Queen at the state pageant held July 5-7 in Columbus, Ohio. Smiley was also crowned as the winner in the Actress, Top Model, Runway, Casual Wear, and Photogenic Competitions. She’s been invited to compete during Thanksgiving Week in Orlando, Florida, for the National Pageant. Smiley’s other activities include coaching and playing tennis. She is looking forward to attending Salem College in the fall to study public health and biology. The National American Miss Pageants are “dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders.” Each year, the Pageants award $1.5 million in cash, scholarships, and prizes to recognize and assist in the development of young women nationwide.
JUDSON CENTER TO HOST PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
WEST BLOOMFIELD — Judson Center and its affiliate, Child Safe Michigan, are scheduled to host a pickleball tournament to raise money for Child Safe’s adoption, foster care and mentoring programs for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma, according to a press release. The event is scheduled to take place 2-8:30 p.m. July 29 at Tam-O-Shanter Country Club, located at 5051 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. For more information, visit childsafemichigan.org/pickleball.
GOLF OUTING TO
YOUTH, RECREATION
MADISON HEIGHTS — A golf outing benefiting the Madison Heights Recreation Department and the Madison Heights Community Coalition will be held Friday, Aug. 9 at Sylvan Glen Golf Course, located at 5725 Rochester Road in Troy.
The event is $140 to play, with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. There will be a light breakfast, snacks, and a banquet after 18 holes of golf. There are also $100 hole sponsorships available. Proceeds from the event will be split evenly between the two groups. Call the Madison Heights Department of Public Services at (248) 5892294 for more information.
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Samantha Smiley
going to remember that have been famous lines and everything that is going to be expected,” he said. “But you also have people approaching Shakespeare for the first time, and you want to make sure that it is accessible to them.”
Schroeder said he begins his edits at pieces of the play that might not be familiar with a modern audience.
Along with editing the length and understandability of the play, Schroeder took creative action to set the play in the time period 1719, where pirates were a prevalent part of society.
“I set it as a Caribbean island in the time of the Golden Age of Piracy; there are over 30 references to the ocean or sea in Shakespeare’s text,” he said. “So it felt like a fun choice in this sort of background, and you know, who doesn’t like a story of adventure and pirates?”
Both Nahhat and Schroeder said that the inclusivity of the cast is what makes this play so special, and the colorful nature of the characters themselves.
“Each one of the characters is incredibly enduring,” Schroeder said. “You can get behind their journey and empathize with them.”
Nahhat said that the goal of Shakespeare Royal Oak is to continue to push the boundaries of gender roles in plays, and to encourage young people to take an interest in Shakespearean acting.
“Over the last two decades we have had a whole generation of young people coming through our program and learning to have fun with Shakespeare,” Nahhat said. “Our show in ’21 and our show in ’23 were specifically targeted to make it more welcoming; we had racial cross casting, we had gender cross casting.”
To encourage youth to join in the fun, Nahhat created two kids programs to teach Shakespearean acting.
KidsAct! and the SRO Teen Ensemble focus on what makes Shakespeare fun for kids and gives them an opportunity to learn about what Shakespeare is from a trained professional in that field, according to Nahhat.
“I realized that children could really appreciate Shakespeare, frankly because it rhymed and it has rhythm to it,” he said. “It supplements public school, because you’re not just looking at ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on the page, you’re walking around acting it out under the guidance of someone who’s a professional who knows what they’re doing. So that brings it to life.”
Nahhat also said that encouraging children to perform on stage teaches them confidence, and the much-needed skills of public speaking.
“We have to be able to take the benefit of performing arts education into other fields,” he said.
KidsAct! is for students in grades 1-8 and SRO Teen Ensemble is for students in grades 9-12. The teen program will have begun by press time between July 15 and 26 and KidsAct! will take place between July 29 to Aug. 2.
Each program will be putting on shows, with the teen program performing on July 28, 29, 30, and the kids program performing on Aug. 3.
Eight performances of “Twelfth Night” will run between July 25 and Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets will be available at the Starr Jaycee Park box office beginning 90 minutes prior to each performance for $35.
For more information, visit www.shake speareroyaloak.com/our-shows.
Leadership
from page 1A
“We try to do different activities that try to get the kids to lead their group or lead their activity that they are doing, or whatever it may be, to try to develop some of those skills early on.”
The academy is held over the course of one week. The kids have the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of both the Novi Police Department and the Novi Fire Department while building leadership skills. This includes learning about the gun range, police dogs, as well as the various types of equipment that is used.
Ausude Gumas, 12, of Novi, said she wants to be an engineer one day and decided to take the academy to better her leadership skills. She said she wants to learn about the various types of equipment that is needed for the Police and Fire departments so that she can help design better equipment for them when she grows up.
“I want to learn what they (police and fire departments) need right now, like any equipment or stuff, so when I grow up, it’s like an idea to make it and I can help the community around me and lower the number of people who die from, like, fires or kidnapping or something,” Gumas said.
Gumas said the Walled Lake Adventure course taught her, as well as her classmates, how to be confident in themselves and to listen to and trust in their own decisions.
“I decided to get involved with the Police and Fire Leadership Academy to really test myself,” Shardha Sridharan, 13, said. “Specifically, I want to know how much of a good leader I really am.”
Arna Shah, 12, said that she enrolled in the academy to be able to promote leadership within her community. She said she hopes to be able to help others within the community and that she strives to make the world a better place. Shah said she hopes to learn new skills that have to do with police and fire departments.
“It really puts your skills to the test, while you learn new skills,” said Ananya Vandrangi,12.
Vandrahgi said the academy is teaching them a lot about responsibility, communication, safety and how to socialize better.
“It really pushes the leadership qualities out of everybody,” she said.
VETERANS: THIS RIDE’S ON US
Oakland County Veterans Services has partnered with the Oakland Transit division to provide free transportation to any location in Oakland County Participating transit providers include: SMART, WOTA, NOTA, OPC, and People’s Express (PEX).
Ride Free Anywhere in Oakland County Through Aug. 31 call (248) 419-7984
To schedule your trip, just , at least 72 hours in advance.
When scheduling your trip, ensure you have one of the following documents verifying your veteran status ready:
DD Form 214 (or equivalent)
Driver’s License with Veteran Designation
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 7:00pm (248) 963-0060
Sun: 10:00am - 3:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm
3074 Walton Boulevard Rochester Hills 08/31/24
Designs
“What’s distinctive about Cuba, and this also goes for a lot of other Latin American designs, is that it’s made for the climate,” Mott said.
Mott said the designers in more tropical areas are mindful of the materials that they use to ensure they can be functional in warmer temperatures. Due to this attention to climate, the materials they use may vary from Michigan designers, where the temperature is often cooler.
One of the designers featured in this exhibition is Clara Porset, whose career focused on furniture and interior design.
“This exhibition shows very rare objects by her that have never been seen before,” Mott said.
In “A Modernist Regime: Cuban MidCentury Modern Design” there will also be pieces from the furniture brands led by Gonzalo Córdoba and María Victoria Caignet. The exhibit is complemented by two contemporary shows. “A Modernist Regime: The Contemporary Cuban Lens” features “Marco Castillo: The Hands of the Collector” and “Cuba Dispersa.” These shows showcase the response from contemporary artists to design history and the current landscape of creative freedoms in modern day Cuba.
“Marco Castillo: The Hands of the Collector” will run until Sept. 1 in the Hartmann and Larson Galleries. “Cuba Dispersa” runs July 11-Sept. 1 in the Larson Gallery.
“A Modernist Regime: Cuban MidCentury Design” and “A Modernist Regime: The Contemporary Cuban Lens” were curated by Abel González Fernández and Mott,
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along with director Andrew Satake Blauvelt, and Jeanne and Ralph Graham Curatorial Fellow Andrew Ruys de Perez.
These exhibitions are possible through the support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Clannad Foundation, the George Francoeur Art Museum Exhibition Fund, Marc Schwartz and Emily Camiener, Karen and Drew Bacon, Jennifer and Brian Hermelin, Kelsey and Evan Ross, and ArtMembers of Cranbrook Art Museum.
“Since Cranbrook is known around the world as an incubator of mid-century design, we are drawn to narratives of similar developments elsewhere, in this case, from the Global South,” Blauvelt, Cranbrook Art Museum’s director, said in a statement. “Just as designers in the U.S. interpreted the tenets of modern design, so did Cubans, although in a completely different economic, social, and cultural context.” He said the exhibit “is a fascinating case study of how modernism was adapted to not only the tropical climate and local materials on the island but also to that country’s diverse racial and ethnic history and the new nation-state’s position and identity in the world.”
Fernández explained that, “when looking at Cuba, we must recognize our fascinating, tragic, elegant, and complex Cuban history. What are we going to keep? We may not have a land for all Cubans to be reunited now because of the dictatorship, but we have a shared memory that unites us.” The exhibition features six new commissions, one by each artist, who will mine these design and material histories to highlight the past while imagining potential futures.
For more information, visit https:// cranbrookartmuseum.org.
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