New DIA exhibition surveys seventy years of automobile design in terms of cultural influences and aesthetics

Up to the 1970s, America had a growing passion for automobiles.

A leading authority characterized origins in the late 1800s as follows. “With these new types of personal transportation, ordinary people could choose where and when they traveled and who came along for the ride.” [1]

Between those periods, image took precedence, reaching an apogee in the 1950s. A scant decade and so later, a young lawyer named Ralph Nader put helped put safety in the headlines, and an “energy crisis” resulted in a decidedly more practical bent. [2-5]

As a microcosm of both an industry and cultural thread, southeast Michigan may be said to reflect these seven decades since in summary as a state of ambivalence. Pursuit of identity as a reimagined successor to Silicon Valley, firmly rooted in the midwest; yet Woodward Dream Cruise is dedicated to making its return in 2021. [6-7]

Will the next generation of prospective drivers even be interested in driving, let along owning a car? or care one wit about its design? [8-10]

This area is blessed with a variety of museum and street shows that range in degree to which members of the general public can access collections in making sense of society as reflected in domestic street machines. Closer to home, GM Heritage Center; head west for campus of The Gilmore Car Museum. Next summer, anticipate returns of annual Orphan Car Show at Riverside Park and Rolling Sculpture in downtown Ann Arbor. [11-14]

With its special exhibition set to open this Sunday, Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has taken a highly focused look at “Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950-2020” through just twelve select examples. A blend of “experimental show cars” and “iconic production models sold to the mass market” were hand-selected, four-each to represent each of the Big Three American automakers. [15-17]

The exhibition highlights the artistry and influence of Detroit car designers working between 1950 and the present day ….

The exhibition is an opportunity for visitors to learn how designers create the beautiful forms of the cars that captivate our imaginations. The cars and drawings on display are striking examples of their inventive skill. They also document the changing landscape of American culture from 1950–2020, using new technologies to appeal to the fantasies and ambitions of their day.

Detroit Style marks the first time cars have been inside the museum since 1983.

Spanning nine discrete galleries, some vehicles stand alone in their environments — inviting undistracted consideration as artistic works. Others will be found in groupings, invariably compared by their differing approaches to the decade that found them as peers.

Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950-2020 runs November 15, 2020, through June 27, 2021 at Detroit Institute of Arts.

Visitor access is included with the price of general admission. However, all visitors must make advance reservations due to COVID-19 protocols. [18]

References

1. “Behind the Scenes at Driving America” The Henry Ford.
2. “Cars Of The 1950s: Space-Age Fins And Chrome Everything” (April 3, 2018) Groovy History.
3. “10 Wild Futuristic Concept Cars From the 1950s” Aaron Miller (December 8, 2015) Thrillist.
4. “Will the Corvair Kill You? | Hagerty Behind the Wheel – Episode 1” Hagerty (November 15, 2017) YouTube.
5. “1970s Energy Crisis on Reel America – Preview” C-SPAN (September 28, 2015) YouTube.
6. “5 Reasons Michigan Has Become The ‘Silicon Valley Of Mobility Tech’” Natalie Burg (June 25, 2018) Forbes.
7. “Organizers cancel 2020 Woodward Dream Cruise after unanimous vote fro cities along its route” Daniel Strohl (June 29, 2020) Hemmings.
8. “Millennials Don’t Care About Owning Cars, And Car Makers Can’t Figure Out Why” Darren Ross (March 26, 2014) Fast Company.
9. “Only 20% of Americans will own a car in 15 years, new study finds” Leanna Garfield (My 4, 2017) Business Insider.
10. “Mackinac Policy Conference 2019, Part 3: A renewed, competitive passion for multimodal transportation” Dell Deaton (May 31, 2019) Saline Journal.
11. “Yes, Virginia: There Really Is A Company-Owned General Motors Car Museum, But It’s Only Open to a Select Few” Dell Deaton (August 24, 2018) Saline Journal.
12. “See an Original Tucker ’48 Motorcar on Display at Gilmore Car Museum” Dell Deaton (September 30, 2013) Saline Journal.
13. Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (home page).
14. “Rolling Sculpture Car Show Returns To Downtown Ann Arbor For Its Twenty-Fourth Year with Over 300 Vehicles” Dell Deaton (July 12, 2018) Saline Journal.
15. DIA: Detroit Institute of Arts (home page).
16. “Detroit Institute of Arts presents ‘Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950-2020’ | Exhibition highlighting Detroit as the Motor City features 12 of the most influential post-war-Detroit cars” (November 15, 2020 – June 27, 2021) DIA.
17. “Detroit Sytle: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950-2020” DIA.
18. “Welcome back to your DIA!” DIA.