For more than 75 years, the Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts have stood as the iconic image of industrial America. While the murals continue to be a national treasure studied by and influencing generations of artists, they were far from the only artistic development of their time to create an impact that has long since outlived the creators of these images, sounds and themes.
And Still They Prospered: Living Through the Great Depression – a program series at Macomb Community College’s Lorenzo Cultural Center running Feb. 27-May 8 – will examine the art and culture of the 1930s as part of a broader look at the economic and social changes that took place during that decade, laying the groundwork for future prosperity in the Motor City and beyond.
Rivera’s murals will be the focus of two free presentations by independent scholar and curator MaryAnn Wilkinson, the first at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21, and repeated again at 1 p.m. on March 31. Wilkinson will also look at the larger outpouring of American artistic creativity in the 1930s.
A curator from the DIA will visit the Lorenzo Cultural Center at 11 a.m. March 4 to discuss a variety of art created through the Depression-era Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project. The DIA is exhibiting 100 prints from the WPA program through March 21.
Other presentations will focus on the development of the Art Deco movement in Detroit, 1 p.m. March 27, and cultural contributions to the region by the WPA, 11 a.m. April 16. The movies, architecture and music of the 1930s will also be discussed in additional presentations.
The Lorenzo Cultural Center is located on Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, Garfield & M-59, Clinton Township. The cultural center is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday; and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Additional information on the cultural center and on the And Still They Prospered program series is available at www.lorenzoculturalcenter.com.
About the Lorenzo Cultural Center
The Lorenzo Cultural Center (lorenzoculturalcenter.com) explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. Located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield Roads in Clinton Township, the cultural center is adjacent to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts.
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
Media contact:
Dan Heaton
586.445.7271
heatond@macomb.edu