Longtime Black gallerist Dell Pryor to sign a beam at Detroit's Scarab Club

A longtime Detroit gallerist and curator who has championed and showcased local artists for decades will add her name to a beam at the city's hallowed Scarab Club during a signing ceremony Friday evening to recognize her contribution to the city's arts community.

Dell Pryor, called the "grand dame" of Detroit's arts scene, is the first Black and female gallerist invited to sign a beam at the Scarab Club. It's a tradition that has been happening since shortly after the club's building was completed in 1928.

“The beams of the Scarab Club are a record of many of the important artists and art professionals that have influenced the arts in Detroit," said Scarab Club Executive Director MaryAnn Wilkinson. "The signatures remind us of the rich heritage of our artistic community. Dell Pryor is one of the pioneering gallerists in the city. For decades, she has created space for many artists to showcase their talent and has been a catalyst for creative practice."

Hundreds of artists have signed the Scarab Club's beams for the last century, including Diego Rivera, Norman Rockwell, Charles McGee and Gilda Snowden. Three to four people are invited to sign a beam each year, said Wilkinson.

Pryor, who originally got her start in interior design, opened her first gallery in Eastern Market decades ago before really making her mark at a gallery in Harmonie Park. While some galleries came and go, Pryor, who still has a gallery on Willis Street, has been a steadfast presence.

"Dell has been a constant ever since she opened up decades ago in Eastern Market," said Wilkinson. "She’s really championed a lot of artists who wouldn’t have much visibility otherwise."

Not many gallerists have had Pryor's staying power, said Mariuca Rofick, board

president at the Scarab Club.

"As a curator her gallery spaces have had a significant cultural impact in the city for decades as she tirelessly showcased both new and established artists," said Rofick in a press release.

Wilkinson said Detroit's Black artists and arts community hasn't always been recognized in the past or invited in by the Scarab Club, which was founded in 1907, as they should've been. She said the club is doing more to expand its reach and be inclusive, which also is why Dell's beam signing is significant.

The beam signing ceremony is private because of COVID protocols but the public will be able to see the signature when the Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth Street, is open Wednesday through Saturday. Go to https://scarabclub.org/.

mfeighan@detroitnews.com