Hello Art Deco and Mid-Century Friends! May is the month of promise and the sweet beginnings of summer. Everywhere you look the trees are in full blossom, tulips delight us in a rainbow of colors, the scent of lilacs perfumes the air. Restaurants and cafes have opened their patios; everyone wants to be outside. There seems to be a new energy about us as the temperatures rise. DAADS’ next event is the private tour of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House… there are only a few tickets left so be sure to grab them before May 14th. Read on to see what we’ve been up to and what’s ahead.
We hope you had a chance to see the film The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka and the Art of Survival at AMC Livonia 20. Our friend Anne Paddy attended screenings on April 10th and 11th. She was kind enough to stay after the film for Q&A and book signing.
Ford House Tour Thursday May 28th 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
1100 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Shores
Our tour will begin with a cocktail reception on the Continental side patio. A shuttle will take us to the Main Residence where our private tour will begin. At the conclusion of the tour, we will be shuttled back to the Visitors Center and Gift Shop. Ticket price includes 1 cocktail, shuttles and private tour. Tickets $35 Registration for this tour ends May 14, 2026. Please plan on arriving 15 minutes prior to start time.
*For the safety of visitors, the second floor, attic, and basement of the Main Residence are not accessible by wheelchairs or walkers, but a digital tour of the second floor is available for visitors to enjoy in the Main Hall.
Designed by prominent architect Albert Kahn, the Main Residence showcases the same craftsmanship and attention to detail found in many of Detroit’s most iconic buildings. Eleanor and Edsel moved into their lakeside residence in 1928, where they raised their family and welcomed guests into a home filled with art, warmth, and innovation. Like many families, Eleanor and Edsel updated the house over time to reflect their evolving tastes. In the 1930’s, Edsel commissioned renowned industrial designer and Ford Motor Company collaborator Walter Dorwin Teague to reimagine four rooms. Teague introduced sleek, modern concepts rooted in the Machine Age aesthetic, blending innovation with artistry. We think our members will find these rooms especially interesting.
Purchase Tickets HERE
Things to do, places to go…
Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Affleck House & Lawrence Tech Campus with Docomomo MI
Saturday May 16th 12:30-5:30 pm
Docomomo Michigan invites you to join us for a special tour of the architecture of Lawrence Technological University guided by Dr. Dale Allen Gyure, Professor of Architecture.
Lawrence Tech’s Southfield campus features a range of mid-century modernist architecture designed or co-designed by Earl W. Pellerin, the first head of architecture at LTU, as well as award-winning designs by Redstone and Associates, Gwathmey Siegel and Associates (2001), Harley Ellis Deveraux, Morphosis, and INFORM.
Following the campus tour, registered participants* will be taken by bus to Bloomfield Hills to visit the Gregor and Elizabeth Affleck House (1941), an exceptional early Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and owned by LTU since 1978.
Lawrence Technological University
21000 West 10 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075
Saturday, May 16 12:30-5:30 pm
*Please note: Tickets are required for Affleck House tour and registration is limited – reserve your spot now!
All are welcome to attend the reception, annual meeting, and LTU tour. No registration or fee required, but does not include Affleck House tour, which requires a reserved ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tour-frank-lloyd-wrights-affleck-house-lawrence-tech-campus-wdocomomomi-tickets-1986782982383?
Chihuly at Meijer Gardens May 2-November 1, 2026
Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park welcomes back acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly. Experience the magic of glass art like never before. This highly anticipated exhibition transforms both the beautiful outdoor gardens and inviting indoor Sculpture Galleries with the world-renowned artistry of Dale Chihuly. Stroll through the gardens and discover monumental glass sculptures, vibrant Reeds, and stunning site-specific installations that harmoniously blend art with nature, creating breathtaking moments around every corner. https://www.meijergardens.org/chihuly-at-meijer-gardens/
Historic Detroit Skyscrapers, An Albert Kahn (and Associates) Walking Tour
Sunday May 31, 1-3 pm $45
Join the AKLF and local expert guide David R. Webb as we explore what the Michelin Guide calls one of America’s greatest “open-air museums of architecture.” This two-hour, 1.7-mile walking tour of downtown Detroit will highlight many of the stunning architectural achievements of Albert Kahn (and associates) constructed before the market crash of 1929, including going inside the Book Tower, Hotel David Whitney, and Guardian Building. Celebrate over a century of Detroit design and sign up today! Tickets and info: https://albertkahnlegacy.org/events/historic-detroit-skyscrapers-an-albert-kahn-and-associates-walking-tour/
Gatsby Garden Party at Meadow Brook Hall
Thursday June 4, 2026. 6:00-9:00 pm
Tickets $40 each
Event Features: Self-guided tour of Meadow Brook Hall and Gardens, Live music by Detroit singer-songwriter Audra Kubat, Cash bar, Croquet & yard games, Light snack display. More info & tickets: https://meadowbrookhall.org/events/gatsby-garden-party/
Save The Date
Thursday July 16th 5:30-9:00 pm
The Detroit Area Art Deco Society fundraiser event at the Dorothy G. Turkel House. Details coming soon… stay tuned.
You can now find previous newsletters, upcoming events, membership information, and advertisers who support our organization. Interested in advertising your business on our website? Send us an email for more information. DetroitArtDeco@gmail.com
The digital version of The Modern is available here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/8da64cae-f4d4-4888-9712-8f147914a3f4
Looking Ahead
Thursday May 28th 6:00 pm Tour of Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Thursday July 16th A Generation of Preservation at the Dorothy Turkel House. A Detroit Area Art Deco Society Fundraising Event. Stay tuned for more details.
Saturday September 26, 2:00-4:00 pm Alden B Dow Home and Studio Tour
In the works for 2026:
Detroit City Distillery Tour
Tour of Saarinen House
Celebrating 100 years of the Senate Theater
Completion of the film Icons of Elegance featuring Art Deco buildings of Detroit
Books You May Like
This monograph presents 34 selected projects carefully documented to record its place in art history and the story behind both its architect and client. One breathtaking view after another invites readers to enter what are often private realms not open to the public, to explore the innovative and cutting-edge design solutions presented on these pages. With 300 pages and 227 color images, Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy will appeal to a wide audience beyond professional designers, art scholars and cultural historians. Indeed, it would be hard for anyone to resist the magnificent buildings and interiors chosen for this publication. This book may well be remembered for raising the public’s awareness and appreciation of early Modern architecture and interior design in Michigan and the nation, inspiring many communities to protect and preserve them in the coming years. It may also convince the nation and the world to learn more about the vibrant design culture that thrives to this day in the State of Michigan. Goodreads
We are always looking ahead and working on tours and events. Members are always the first to know and have first access to tickets. You can keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram @detroitartdeco
Questions about membership? Contact Renee at southpacificpixie@gmail.com
Join or renew HERE
Thank you for your continuous support and active participation. We wouldn’t be here without you.
The Detroit Area Art Deco Society is a non-profit 501c and your investment supports our annual Eastern Michigan University Preservation Scholarship.