DSO cancels rest of season; DIA postpones 'Van Gogh in America' and 'Detroit Style'

Michael H. Hodges
The Detroit News

Cultural cancellations just keep coming.

On Tuesday morning, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced it's scrapping the rest of the 2019-2020 season, which would have ended June 21, while the Detroit Institute of Arts said Monday it's postponing two blockbuster shows that were to have opened in June.

The DSO cancellations include the remaining concerts in the 2019-2020 Classical and PNC Pops series, as well as the annual Heroes Gala and Benefit Concert on June 20.

The orchestra said it's hopeful they'll be able to provide summer programming at Greenfield Village and Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, but those decisions will hang on what happens with coronavirus over the next several months.

In the meantime, the orchestra continues to offer its online DSO Replay archive for free, with some 200 "Live from Orchestra Hall" concerts available for streaming. You just need to set up a free account to access the service.

Vincent van Gogh probably never thought he'd have to make way for Covid-19, but that's 21st-century life for the legendary artist.

The DIA said Monday it will postpone "Van Gogh in America" and "Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City, 1950-2020.," both of which were to have opened in June.

The latter will now open Nov. 15 and run through June 20 next year, overlapping with the newly rescheduled North American International Auto Show, which will be a summer event from now on. 

Jane Underwood, of Toronto, looks at the Bank of the Oise at Auvers, 1890, by Vincent van Gogh at the DIA on August 8, 2014.

"Van Gogh in America" has been pushed back two years, and will open Oct. 2, 2022 and run through Jan. 22, 2023.

The DIA release notes the new "Van Gogh" dates coincide with the 100th anniversary of the museum's 1922 acquisition of his celebrated "Self-Portrait," painted in 1887 -- the first work by the Dutch master to enter any American museum.

The later dates  will also allow international travel to get back to normal, a key consideration given that a number of the works in the show will be lent by institutions overseas.

mhodges@detroitnews.com

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Twitter: @mhodgesartguy