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DIA
celebrates
50th
Anniversary
of
Friends
of
African
and
African
American
Art
By
Laydell
Wood
Harper/Tell
Us
Detroit
DETROIT
(Tell Us
Det) -
This
year the
FAAAA
will
celebrate
the 50th
Anniversary
of this
historic
Detroit
Institute
of Arts
(DIA)
auxiliary.
Get
ready to
celebrate
in grand
style at
the
upcoming
gala
event
that
will
take you
back in
time to
the
auxiliary’s
inception;
“The
Summer
of 62’
which is
also the
title
and
theme of
the
event.
Mark
your
calendars,
“The
Summer
of 62’
will be
held at
the DIA,
Saturday,
September
15 at 7
pm.
Don’t
miss an
opportunity
to step
back in
time and
enjoy
some of
the
highlights
of the
era;
Motown
Music,
The
Graystone
Ballroom,
The
Latin
Quarter
(where
the
first
Bal
Africain
was held
almost
50 years
ago.)
Miniskirts,
Jackie
Kennedy
dresses
and
pillbox
hats,
and
backcombed,
teased,
full and
fluffy
bouffant
hairstyles;
All are
encouraged
as we
celebrate
a proud
moment
in the
history
of the
Detroit
Institute
of Arts.
The
event
will
launch
yearlong
activities
to
celebrate
this
momentous
occasion…look
forward
to
events
leading
up to
June
2013
when the
Bal
Africain
will
take
place.
During
the
entire
year you
can
celebrate
with
FAAAA at
private
Art
parties
in the
homes of
some of
the
largest
African
and
African
American
Art
collectors
in the
area,
lectures,
Gallery
events
for
children
and
more.
This
promises
to be a
year to
remember
commencing
September
15th.
“To
celebrate
Fifty
years of
a vision
fulfilled
is an
honor.
To be
part of
fulfilling
that
vision
is a
privilege,”
said
Sharon
Madison,
Madison
Madison
International,
Chair of
the 50th
Anniversary
event.
“We are
so
grateful
to the
founders
and
every
person
who has
contributed
their
time and
monetary
donations,
understanding
that the
Friends
of
African
and
African
American
is a
unique
organization
in the
growth
and
development
of
Detroit,
Michigan,
our
country
and the
world,
and that
is not
an
exaggeration.”
FAAAA is
one of
the
DIA’s
oldest
auxiliaries,
and the
only one
of its
kind in
the
nation.
“The
Friends”
have
also
contributed
more
artwork
to the
DIA’s
permanent
collection
than any
other
auxiliary
of its
kind.
Since
1962 the
Friends
of
African
and
African
American
Art have
continued
to
promote
the
appreciation
and
understanding
of the
rich
culture
and
artistic
legacies
of
Africa,
African
Americans
and the
African
Diaspora.
The
FAAAA
expanded
its
focus to
include
African
American
art and
Haitian
art in
the
collection
in the
90’s.
Originally
known as
the
African
Art
Gallery
Committee,
the
FAAAA
was
founded
by the
late
Arthur
D. Coar,
Marc
Crawford
and
Willis
F.
Woods.
The
mission
was to
acquire
traditional
art of
Africa
for this
extraordinary
new
gallery
that
expanded
to
include
African
American
art and
to date
has
contributed
to the
acquisition
of more
than 60
individually
selected
works of
art for
the
museum’s
collection.
The
first
vice-chairman
was
Governor
G.
Mennen
Williams.
The
former
Governor’s
son has
been
asked to
be a
part of
this
historic
celebration.
The Bal
Africain
is the
annual
signature
fundraising
event
for
FAAAA.
It has
become
one of
the most
popular
social
events
of the
year.
Special
guests
have
included
Sidney
Poitier,
Diahann
Carroll,
Dorothy
Height
and
Aretha
Franklin
to name
a few.
The
quality
of
guests
speaks
to the
quality
of the
event.
Guests
such as
Sidney
Poitier
who made
his
first
trip
ever to
the city
of
Detroit
to
appear
at the
2002 Bal
African.
Poitier
was
elated
at what
he saw
in
Detroit
and at
the DIA.
More
than 700
people
attended
the
event,
and as a
result
of that
visit
other
charities
were
able to
get
Poitier
to make
a return
visit to
Detroit.
Come
join DIA
Friends
of
African
and
African
American
Art at
the 50th
Anniversary
kick-off
event
“The
Summer
of 62”.
Put on
your
Chic
60’s
attire
(Mary
Quant
and the
mini-skirt
and
Jackie
Kennedy’s
pillbox
hat were
fashion
hits).
Get
ready
for some
60’s
Motown
Music,
dancing
and a
strolling
dinner.
Tickets
are
$150.
Patron
Tickets
are also
available.
You can
purchase
tickets
at
www.dia.org.
For more
information
call
(313)
833-4005
Sponsors
of “The
Summer
of ‘62”
are
General
Motors,
DTE
Energy
Foundation,
St. John
Providence
Health
System,
Health
Alliance
Plan and
Blue
Care
Network.
Media
Sponsors
include:
WJBK-FOX
2
Detroit
and
TellUsDetroit.Com
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