Detroit

Detroit is an extraordinary American city. I have never been to Detroit before and I really wanted to check out the Detroit Institute of Arts and its collection. I was also able to see the Detroit Historical Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, which had an excellent painting show by artist Nancy Mitchnick. I took a six hour bus ride on a Saturday and returned the following day. Saturday night I got dinner inside the Renaissance Center, which is the Brutalist concrete fortress that glorifies all things automobile. 

Everywhere on the quiet streets and in the vacant office buildings a paradoxical question of urban life is being asked. It seems that Detroit is at a moment of self reckoning--determining whether it wants to rise or fade. For its future and its people I hope it chooses to rise.

Colorful façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit