Hard to believe it’s been over 12 years since the launch of Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Inside|Out program in 2010.
Part of the DIA’s 125th-anniversary celebration, the Inside|Out program has become an annual community art outreach program in Michigan.
Reproductions of high-quality paintings from the DIA are installed outside in communities throughout Michigan from spring to fall for community members to enjoy.
I first learned about the Inside|Out program in 2014 when I discovered the paintings along Detroit’s Riverfront.
I’ve enjoyed viewing the reproductions at Edward Hines Park in 2015 and Belleville in 2016 as well as Lake Erie Metropark in 2021.
Returning for the 13th year, the Inside|Art program in 2022 has arrived in my community of Canton, Michigan.
Inside|Out in Canton, Michigan
While many communities have reproduction installations throughout a downtown area or civic center, Canton chose to spread out the installations in the community.
The paintings in Canton are installed in popular areas, including:
- Canton Public Library
- Summit on the Park
- The Village Arts Factory
- Preservation Park
- Cherry Hill Fountain Square
You can’t walk to each of the five reproductions, but you can drive to the different locations or potentially ride your bicycle.
Two of the installations are in the Canton Township civic center area, the other three are in Cherry Hill Village.
Finding the Paintings
While the paintings at the Canton Public Library, The Village Arts Factory, and Cherry Hill Fountain Square were easy to find (near the front doors or next to fountain), the other two paintings were more of an adventure to locate.
You will definitely not find the painting at Preservation Park on Sundays, during the weekly farmers market.
Which is when I was there.
One of the vendors’ trucks blocks the view of the installation, which is north of the vendor area, south of the Folk House, west of the gravel parking lot.
Makes no sense to me why the installation at Preservation Park wasn’t next to the Bartlett-Travis House, where it would be more visible.
The reproduction at the Summit on the Park isn’t next to the entrance doors or installed on the building.
Instead it faces somewhat inward to the building, away from the parking lot on the west side of the building.
If you wanted to make sure no one could easily find the installation, that’s one of the best places to install it.
Why would anyone position a painting facing away from a parking lot where people walk to enter the building?
Anyway, I was glad my community is participating in this year’s Inside|Out program. If you’re in southeast Michigan, I invite you to stop in and view the beautiful reproductions.
