3/26/14

UPCOMING AT DIA: Condé Nast Presents DETROIT - BRUCE WEBER - June 20th - September 7th 2014

CONDÉ NAST PRESENTS DETROIT – BRUCE WEBER

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND EXHIBITION

New exhibition opens on June 20th at Detroit Institute of Arts

Condé Nast CEO Charles H. Townsend today announced DETROIT - BRUCE WEBER, a new exhibition celebrating the rich culture of Detroit and its residents. The exhibition will feature portraits by acclaimed photographer Bruce Weber and will be on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) from June 20 to September 7, 2014.

"Condé Nast is pleased to partner with the DIA to present this one-of-a-kind exhibition that showcases the spirit and greatness of Detroit," said Townsend.  "From its history as an industrial titan to its current renaissance as a beacon for the arts, Detroit has a special and uniquely American character which Bruce captures so brilliantly." 

"Bruce Weber is one of the preeminent American photographers of our time," added Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue and Condé Nast's artistic director.  "From the moment his work appeared in Vogue in 1978, his talent and breadth of vision were undeniable. Since then, he has helped shape our ideas about men's and women's fashion and celebrity. At the same time, his passion for distinctly American phenomena, from jazz to farmlands and factories, has led him to chronicle the country's landscape for more than three decades. What better photographer than Bruce to be a champion of this great American city." 

"Detroit is one of the few places in the world now where there is a big welcome sign in the smiles and hearts of its people," said Weber.  "Their continued courage and resilience is why I first ended up there with my camera.  Condé Nast has joined me to help celebrate Detroit with this exhibition."

In his first exhibition for the DIA, Weber brings together the people, places and sights of Detroit.  Since 2006, Weber has found the city and its citizens a source of inspiration for his work. With portraits of activist Grace Lee Boggs, R&B legend Aretha Franklin, the Detroit chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, along with the beautiful faces of everyday Detroiters and familiar sites around the city, Weber portrays the soul of the city in this new body of work.  DIA Curator of Photography Nancy Barr noted that "Weber's exhibition is part of a tradition of great photography inspired by the city of Detroit and the DIA is excited to showcase this work in light of our previous photography exhibitions on the same subject."  Graham W.J. Beal, DIA Director, added, "We are delighted that Condé Nast is honoring Detroit and its vibrant art scene with this exciting exhibition. Bruce Weber's images beautifully capture the spirit of the people who make up this city."

Condé Nast editors will also join the DIA at its annual 100 Women for the Arts luncheon on June 19 to support the museum's ongoing fundraising efforts.  Later that evening, Condé Nast will play host to Detroit's art community at a preview event to be held at the DIA.  In addition, Weber will welcome local students for a private guided tour of the exhibit.

About Condé Nast

Condé Nast creates the world's best content for the world's most influential audiences. The company attracts more than 164 million consumers across its twenty industry-leading print and digital media brands: Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Brides, Self, GQ, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, Details, Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Wired, W, Lucky, Golf Digest, Golf World, Teen Vogue and Ars Technica. The company launched Condé Nast Entertainment in 2011 to develop film, television and digital video programming.  Condé Nast also owns Fairchild Fashion Media (FFM) and its portfolio of comprehensive fashion journalism brands: WWD, Style.com, Footwear News, NowManifest, Beauty Inc., M and Fairchild Summits.

For more information, please visit condenast.com or follow us on Twitter @CondeNast.

About Bruce Weber

Photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber first rose to international prominence in the early eighties on the success of images that combined classical styling with more visceral underpinnings of desire, mood, and sexuality.  His ability to construct a seamless sense of romance and drama created the central public images for fashion houses like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Versace, and Abercrombie and Fitch, as well as earning him an enduring presence as a contributor to magazines at the very highest levels in the industry. Throughout his career, Weber continues to work in various forms–he has directed seven short and feature length films, published more than 37 books, and has held more than 60 exhibitions worldwide–extending his lifelong exploration of the nature of human relationships.

About The Detroit Institute of Arts

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA's collection is known for its quality, range, and depth. The DIA's mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.  See more at: http://www.dia.org.