A slide presentation and lecture on “Michelangelo: Art and Conflict,” by Michael Farrell, professor of art history at the University of Windsor, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Wyandotte Arts Center, the former Masonic Temple, 81 Chestnut, by the Downriver Council for the Arts.
The speaker also has taught for Central Michigan University and the College for Creative Studies and was adjunct education curator of the Detroit Historical Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
In his lecture, Farrell will discuss Michelangelo’s career, inner turmoil and confrontations with patrons and fellow artists. Farrell said the artist repeatedly clashed with his main patron, Pope Julius II, while working on the Sistine Chapel and the pope’s never-realized tomb.
The program is part of the Downriver Council for the Arts Summer Lecture Series. The cost is $15 per person ($10, DCA members; $5, students with ID). Reservations are required. For additional information, call (734) 720-0671 or e-mail [email protected]
Farrell’s next lecture in the series, “Botticelli and Medici Intrigue,” on Aug. 18, will be about the artist who was painter to the Medici family in Florence, Italy, during a period of intellectual fervor and bloody vio-lence
The speaker will discuss works including “Prima-vera” and “The Birth of Venus,” examples of Bot-ticelli’s coded references to the intrigue in Florence, which were understood only by the closest confi-dantes of the Medici court.
Free birthday party planned
The Detroit Historical Society will mark the 309th anniversary of the founding of the city of Detroit with a free birthday party from 1 to 4 p.m. July 18 at the De-troit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward at Kirby. Complimentary birthday cake and beverages will be served in the New Cadillac Café throughout the day.
Guests will learn about Detroit’s role in the War of 1812, meet members of the Pettibone Tribe and ac-quire knowledge about Native American culture and traditions.
In addition, visitors will be invited to trace their genealogy and stroll along the exhibit “Streets of Old Detroit.” They also will be able to take part in an old-fashioned cake walk with for a $1 participation fee. Special arts and crafts activities for children will cost $3.
The film “Detroit: Remember When, Vol. 1 – Mo-tor City Memories and Hometown Traditions” will be shown at 1 p.m. The movie explores the city’s musical history, architecture, politics, sports legends and landmarks from Briggs Stadium to Bob-lo.
Save the date . . .
Through Sept. 19 — Exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum giving visitors an opportunity to “play” larger-than-life interactive versions of games including bowling, billiards, dice, backgammon, foosball and dominoes; the games are designed to allow visitors to explore friendship, collaboration and teamwork; music and art enhance the experiences; admission costs $15, adults; $14, seniors; and $11, youths; children under 5 are free; for more information, call (313) 982-6001 or go to TheHenryFord.org.
July 16 — Ice-cream social kicking off the Down-river Council for the Arts’ annual Members’ Art Show, which will continue through Sept. 3 at the Wyandotte Arts Center, the former Masonic Temple, 81 Chest-nut; 6 to 8 p.m., with State Rep. Deb Kennedy as host; no admission charge.
July 18 — Golf Preview Party for the CATCH Golf Classic (July 19); funds will benefit CATCH (better known as Sparky Anderson’s Charity for Children); 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the MGM Grand; food and beverage stations, raffle, silent and live auctions, opportunity to mingle with local sports, media and business personalities; honorees will be Ronald, Richard and Robert Marino and Nolan Finley; for tickets ($100) and more information, call (313) 876-9399 or go to www.catchcharity.org.
Sept. 11 — Family event; baseball game at Co-merica Park and movie at Fox Theatre; 4 p.m. game, followed at 7:05 p.m. by the movie “Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner; tickets, $15, are available by calling (866) 66-TIGER or going to Tigers.com. For groups of 15 or more, call (313) 471-BALL.