Renaissance Times

October 2001

 

Museum for New Art Opens Up Downtown

By: Gerald Scott

 

            Now for something completely different.

            How about a new art museum in Detroit – and not just any such museum, but actually a Museum of New Art (MONA).  MONA just opened up its doors in the Book Building downtown.

            MONA’s goal is to fulfill the region’s need for a lively and intimate space in which to experience contemporary art.

            And GM Market Analyst Billy Hunter has played a big role in the launching of MONA, which held its coming-out party and debut exhibit in mid-September.

            “This was going to be the library offices for the Detroit College of Law but they moved to Lansing,” Hunter said while giving a tour of MONA’s 10,000-sq.-ft. space in the Book Building downtown, across from the Times Square People Mover Station.

            Hunter said that MONA will feature fresh and innovative art.  Particularly, the Museum will originate exhibitions that have no yet been seen in other parts of the country.  It will also bring to Detroit similar contemporary art exhibitions that could not be shown for lack of a sponsoring institution.

            With tremendous support from local businesses and art patrons, MONA was able to obtain its new premises in the Book Building on Washington Ave. downtown, renovate the large exhibition space, and host its first show with a reception the night of Sept. 15 that drew 500 people.

            One of MONA’s local patrons is Detroit businessman Antoine Debeauclard states: “My hope is to help foster a growing appreciation for the arts in the Metro Detroit area.

            The city is changing, the nearby hustle of Comerica Park, the new condos and corporate headquarters are an indication that Detroit is making it happen and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

            MONA opened its doors with the ambitious Documenta USA exhibit, and innovative presentation featuring the works of some 2,000 artists from 35 countries.  The artwork being presented changes every 100 minutes or so – putting the word contemporary into contemporary art, for sure.  Patrons will be surprised when they are encouraged to handle and explore the works on display.

            “We hope to bring in shows that normally wouldn’t come (to Detroit), we’ll organize our own shows – kind of putting Detroit on the international and national (modern) art maps,” said MONA director Jef Bourgeau.

            “When (MONA) first started out in Pontiac, I got a letter from the Guggenheim asking us not to send them any more cards or releases because they were just going to send them back.  Their term was that we were not ‘geographically germane’ to them.

            “But that’s what helps keep us going – because we’re not part of the ‘art map.’”

            GM’s Hunter, meanwhile, works at the RenCen and finds that he can walk to the MONA on his lunch hour or after work.  Hunter’s title with MONA is administrative director.

            “We have probably 150 members to start with and several people or companies are making their own contributions,” Hunter said.  “For the opening, the Majestic Theatre contributed food and a company called Octane is going to help us with design.

            “We haven’t gotten major financial help from anybody yet but we’re getting to that point.”

            Hunter once ran his own art gallery a block from where MONA is now and that sparked his interest in supporting the new institution.

            New MONA director Bourgeau adds that, “One of the keys to making it healthier here for artists, and for art, is a contemporary museum.  I’ve seen it happen before – every major city in the country has one.  There are a lot of things that have to happen to make a big city ‘work’ and a contemporary museum is just one of those ingredients.

            “But now Detroit has that ingredient.”