Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Mayor Wild Celebrates Art with the "Wild About Art" Bike Tour & Youth Art Contest

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36601 Ford Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

As the DIA's Inside | Out Program in Westland Comes to an End, Mayor Wild Celebrates Art with the "Wild About Art" Bike Tour & Youth Art Contest

Westland, MI - The Detroit Institute of Art's (DIA) Inside|Out program, now in its fourth year, has brought six reproductions of masterpieces from the DIA's collection to the Westland community. To celebrate the DIA Inside|Out program, the City has been holding assorted events, DIA Days in Westland, at the various art installation sites throughout the months of April, May and June. With the program coming to a close at the end of June, Mayor Wild is inviting residents of all ages to celebrate the DIA art in the City, by participating in a "Wild About Art" Bike Tour & Youth Art Contest.

To encourage the appreciation of art in our youth, Mayor Wild is inviting anyone under the age of 18 to submit an original piece of art that is on an 8 � x 11 page to the Mayor's Office on or before June 13th. Students are encouraged to use any medium, but are asked to stay within the context of "Your Best Summer Day Ever." This can be a day that has already happened, or one that is yet to be had. The contest will be judged based on three age groups; grades 1st-4th; 5th-8th; and 9th-12th. One submission per youth will be accepted.

On Saturday, June 15th, bike riders of all ages are invited to bring their bikes down to City Hall and join Mayor Wild for the "Wild About Art" Bike Tour. The Tour will start at the City Hall, located at 36601 Ford Road, at 10:00am. The Mayor will lead the tour from City Hall to Tattan Park to the Historic Village, ending the tour at the Library, where special prizes will be given away to the winner in each age group for the Youth Art Contest. The Mayor will announce the winners at 11:30am at the Library. Children are encouraged to wear helmets and must be accompanied by an adult.

The City of Westland is one of 13 communities and has six of 81 reproductions involved in the Spring 2013 Inside|Out program. For more information on DIA Days in Westland and a map of the art installation locations, please visit http://cityofwestland.com/dia.

For more information, contact Shannon Ackron, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

The City of Westland is the 10th largest city in Michigan with a population of over 84,000. The city's residential development is an excellent blend of single family homes, apartments and condominiums. The broad selection of housing opportunities is complimented by over 1500 acres of well-maintained parks and nature trails as well as a highly rated municipal golf course. Also available is a skate park, ice arena, a state-of-the-art Library and novel city park themes that are fun and family-friendly.

Westland has the location, land, infrastructure, and leadership, under Mayor William R. Wild to attract new industry and help existing businesses redevelop properties and to maintain competitiveness in today's global economy. Six modern platted industrial parks on 320 acres are served by class "A" internal roads, with up to date utilities and rail access available within two of the parks. Westland is conveniently located within the center of southeastern Michigan's expressway system, minutes north of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and ideally located between downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Westland is the area's premier "Shopping and Dining Destination". Westland Shopping center, one of the country's original four regional malls, boasts 80 retail stores and has anchored Westland's commercial district for more than 30 years. Westland's diversity and progressive planning offers residents a wide variety of life experiences, and make Westland truly the "All American City".