Watch CBS News

Best Alternative Art Museums In Detroit

Go beyond the basics and immerse yourself in beauty and culture with our favorite Detroit alternative art museums.

gavel
(credit: cranbrookart.edu)

Cranbrook Art Museum

39221 Woodward Ave.
Bloomfield Hills, MI  48303
(877) 462-7262
www.cranbrookart.edu

This listing is a bit of a tease. In December 2008, Cranbrook Art Museum started a construction project that will result in the complete renovation of the landmark 1942 Eliel Saarinen-designed museum, including the installation of climate control and the addition of a new state-of-the-art Collections Wing. During construction, the galleries will be closed through Spring 2011. However, while the museum is under construction, it will be presenting a series of exhibitions in collaboration with Cranbrook Institute of Science.

800 (3)
(credit: art.wayne.edu)

Elaine L. Jacob Gallery

480 W. Hancock
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 993-7813
www.art.wayne.edu

Wayne State University's Elaine L. Jacob Gallery is committed to presenting regional, national and international contemporary art exhibitions. This beautiful bi-level gallery features important works that are both challenging and thought provoking.

hollyweenme
(credit: mocadetroit.org)

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

4454 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-6622
www.mocadetroit.org

The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is to present art at the forefront of contemporary culture. As a non-collecting institution, MOCAD is responsive to the cultural content of our time, fueling crucial dialogue, collaboration, and public engagement. The 22,000-square-foot building, a former auto dealership, has been simply renovated to maintain its historic character. With its raw, flexible and cavernous spaces, the building is well suited to the exhibition of contemporary art.

The Scarab Club

217 Farnsworth
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 831-1250
www.scarabclub.org

The Scarab Club building, constructed in 1928, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a site of historical and architectural significance. The club features a main gallery, a spacious beamed lounge area with fireplace, artists' studios, and a walled garden and courtyard. Over the decades the beams in the lounge have been signed by club presidents, supporters of the arts, and well-known local and international artists, such as Diego Rivera, Norman Rockwell, Marshall Fredricks, Marcel Duchamp and Tyree Guyton.

University of Michigan Museum of Art

525 South State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-0395
www.umma.umich.edu

With the recent addition of a 53,000-square-foot expansion the restoration of historic Alumni Memorial Hall, UMMA ushers in a new era, a reimagining of the university art museum as a new "town square" for the 21st century. The museum's collections include more than 18,000 artworks, representing over 150 years of collecting at University of Michigan.


Head to CBS Detroit's Best Of page for more local tips on family fun, shopping, nightlife, food, culture and more!
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.