crooked tree arts center

This old church and Carnegie library have been skillfully joined by a modern structure to create this wonderful Arts Center, which is also a Venue for the community. The art is very good to excellent - there are many pieces you'll want to take home. Worth an hour or so.

The Crooked Tree Arts Center includes exhibit galleries, a comfortable auditorium where interesting lectures, and enjoyable films and concerts are presented. Music, art (including pottery), and dance instruction is also available. The exhibits rotate and are very well juried for excellence. There are two exhibit halls with surrounding hallways where paintings and photographs are hung. The exhibit during the summer of 2014 is called Detroit@CTAC. It is both a tribute to the large number of influential creative people with ties to Detroit and an exhibition of art works by some fantastic current Detroit artists. Everyone knows that Detroit has been in hard times for several decades. Even more than this situation, the snide remarks and condescending attitudes of people from other parts of the country about Detroit brings me pain. It was wonderful to see this tribute at a regional Michigan museum located several hundred miles from the Motor City.As you enter the Center's main lobby you will see a charming theater with a pretty stained glass window to your right. You can get a schedule of its events at the desk. This summer you will also see dozens of very fine photo portraits of living people with Detroit ties who have made significant contributions to the nation and the world. These come from the photo essay book Heart Soul of Detroit by the well-known fashion photographer Jenny Risher. Each photo has a comment about Detroit written on it by the subject. This exhibit was inspiring. Two halls are hung with extremely good taste with the works of Detroit artists who have caught the soul and spirit not just of Detroit but of humanity using various media.This is our second time we have visited Crooked Tree and on both occasions have found a rewarding experience. There is no admission, but you may be moved to contribute to the donation jar. The building is easily accessible for those with disabilities. I was able to visit it using a rolling walker.