CRANBROOK RECEIVES ITS LARGEST GIFT EVER

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -The Cranbrook Educational Community recently received one of the largest gifts in its nearly 100 year history in the form of 46 major works of contemporary art donated to its Art Museum. The gift is only eclipsed by gifts from the Booth family, Cranbrook's founders. The donation comes from Detroit resident Mrs. Rose M. Shuey and her late husband Dr. John Shuey. The couple collected the works from early 1960 until Dr. Shuey's death in 1999.

The Shuey Collection includes work by many of America's and Europe's most important artists of the post-World War II era. Several of the pieces are valued at upwards of $1 million each. "The Shuey gift presents Cranbrook with an exciting opportunity to reaffirm our founders' vision of a museum with a broadly defined collection of contemporary art," said Cranbrook President Rick Nahm. "For many years, the focus of the museum collection has been related to works produced by outstanding artists, designers and architects whose personal careers have intersected with the Academy. In one moment, the Shuey contribution broadened the scope of our collection and strengthened our regional and cultural identity."

Mrs. Shuey's gift establishes a new potential in the life of these artworks as they come to live in the Cranbrook Educational Community, which is focused on inspiration and discovery. "The Shuey Collection gives the museum a chance to re-invent and chart a bold new direction for the future" said Art Museum Director Gregory Wittkopp.

Click here to view The Detroit Free Press article on the Shuey Gift. (This article will open in a separate window.)