If the students can’t go to the museum, the museum will come to them.
A bit of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will be parked outside Oxford Elementary School from Nov. 9-11.
It’s called DIA Away: Think Like an Artist and it’s a 53-foot double-expandable trailer that serves as a mobile, interactive classroom and creative exploration space for people of all ages.
The purpose of DIA Away is to bring educational, hands-on art experiences to schools, community centers, senior facilities, fairs and festivals in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Visitors learn how artists think and work, and are given opportunities to test their own creative thinking and artistic skills at digital and hands-on stations.
Barbara Johnston, a fourth-grade teacher at OES, toured the DIA Away trailer at the Arts, Beats and Eats festival held in Royal Oak back in September.
‘I thought this might be something really cool to bring to our school,? she said. ?(The DIA is) a huge museum and there’s so much to see. It can almost be overwhelming.
‘This (portable classroom) pares it down to some basic things that I think will make it easier for the kids to make connections.?
All OES classes, grades 3-5, will have an opportunity to visit DIA Away. While here, it will only be open to OES students and staff during school hours.
Instead of just talking about various forms of artistic expression, Johnston said DIA Away enables students to ‘really see (them) come alive.? It showcases everything from architecture to advertising, ‘things people don’t normally think of? as art,? she noted.
‘This has got it all in one spot.?
DIA Away comes complete with docents to guide the students.
‘They’re actually going to be doing the teaching,? Johnston said.
Given Detroit now has a burgeoning artistic community, Johnston is glad to see DIA Away features information about these talented people and their work. People like Tyree Guyton, the painter/sculptor responsible for creating the famous Heidelberg Project.
‘I like the fact it has local ties,? she said.
Johnston is pleased to see the DIA reaching out to communities outside of Detroit given back in 2012, voters in the tri-county area approved funding the institution through a 10-year, 0.2-mill property tax.
‘We pay taxes to support the DIA, so I think it’s a good way for them to give back to us,? she said.
To arrange a DIA Away visit, contact Teri John, director of education programs, at tjohn@dia.org.