From summer travel to time spent with family and friends, nothing can compare to Michigan in the summertime! Whether you stayed near the Great Lakes or travelled far afield, it's my pleasure to welcome you back home, especially back home to Cranbrook! The campus is buzzing with the energy and activity of students getting into the back-to-school routine. As we start the new academic and fiscal year, I wanted to share some exciting Cranbrook news with you. 

 

At Cranbrook Art Museum, long-time Director Gregory Wittkopp is stepping down from his position at the Museum this month to focus his full-time attention on the Center for Collections and Research. Greg has held the dual role of Director of Cranbrook Art Museum and the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research since 2011 and has created a host of remarkable new programs and exhibitions at both institutions. I can't wait to see where Greg leads the Center now that it has the complete focus of all of his talent and energy. We will celebrate Greg's transition during the ArtMembers Opening Reception of Read Image, See Text on September 17 at Cranbrook Art Museum.  

 

The Center's programming this year begins with Cranbrook's Edible Landscape: A Farm-to-Table Dining Experience on September 20. We will savor a four-course dinner and dessert--a collaboration between Cranbrook Art Museum Assistant Curator of Education Emily Staugaitis, and Andy Hollyday, Executive Chef at Selden Standard in Detroit--in the Cranbrook House Library, with each dish inspired by an edible plant from Cranbrook's campus. I hope you will join us. Bring your appetite!    

 

Greg's successor as Director of Cranbrook Art Museum is Andrew Blauvelt, a 1988 graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art's Design Department. Andrew joins us from the Walker Art Center where he has served as Senior Curator of Architecture and Design, Chief of Communications and Audience Engagement, as well as Design Director and Curator. Andrew will be joined by his partner Scott Winter, who has been named the new Director of Development of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum. I look forward to introducing each of you to these talented new members of our community.  

 

While on the subject of the Academy and Museum, tickets are now available for the exclusive world premiere of the Nick Cave film, Up Right: Detroit, to be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Thursday, September 24. Up Right: Detroit is a short feature film--shot on location at the historic Michigan Theatre in Detroit. The special evening includes an opening reception with Cave and a Q&A with Cave and Curator Laura Mott following the film. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, a talented group of singers that also are featured in the film. This special fundraiser will be held instead of Crandemonium this year, and will be a unique opportunity to experience the film with the artist himself. All proceeds support Cranbrook Art Museum's education programs. 

 

At Cranbrook House and Gardens, guests have been exploring the gardens at no cost since May through the generosity of sponsors PNC Bank, Roberts Restaurant Group, and Meijer. Visitation has been exceptional this summer season. I'm personally looking forward to connecting with my inner gardener on September 12 during the Cranbrook & Friends Garden Walk when, in addition to Cranbrook Gardens, we will tour five local, unbelievable private gardens. Remember, too, you can still enjoy a tour of our beloved manor home and gardens Thursdays through Sundays through the end of October. Plus, mark your calendars for the new Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary fundraiser, Holiday Splendor: Tinsel & Trees. Make your reservations now for one of the three festive weekends, November 28 through December 13.  

Over at the Institute of Science, the staff has again taken to the skies! BATS: Superheroes of the Night opens on September 26.This new exhibition, as well as The Organization for Bat Conservation's 14th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival, is included with admission to CIS from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm the day of the opening at a special rate of $15. Call me batty, but this sounds like a fantastic fall family day. The Institute will go lunar the following night during a spectacular astronomy-themed party at CIS celebrating the upcoming lunar eclipse. Telescopes, special activities, and the last Super Moon of 2015 are not to be missed!

Don't forget, too, that Saarinen House and Frank Lloyd Wright's Smith House are open for tours through October. These hidden architectural gems offer the opportunity to examine extraordinary examples of the architecture of the Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern movements for which Cranbrook is increasingly being recognized.

 

Each year at the end of the summer, Cranbrook Schools publishes its annual State of the Schools report. The interactive report is available here. Exploring the report is a great way to learn about the many divisional achievements from the 2014-15 academic year, and to get ready for the upcoming year. Speaking of gearing up for the upcoming year, the first Friday Night Lights football game will take place on September 18 at 7:00 pm when the boys varsity football team takes on Bishop Foley High School.

 

Finally, on Saturday, November 14, Cranbrook celebrates a true milestone at the Horizons-Upward Bound 50th Anniversary Gala in the Kingswood Dining Hall. One of the oldest and most successful programs of its kind in this country, Cranbrook's HUB program touches urban students throughout Southeast Michigan and forever changes their lives. It promises to be a great event.

 

As the crisp air and fall colors start to grace our campus, I hope to see you around the grounds or at one of the many upcoming programs and events. When we're together, I invite you, as always, to share any program ideas you may have, or even just a request for something that could make your visits to Cranbrook even more special and rewarding. All of us at Cranbrook are here to make certain your time spent on campus is as special for you as it is for all of us. 

 

Again, welcome home and welcome back to Cranbrook!

 

Sincerely,