The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) on Thursday evening will host a party at one of Detroit’s most popular historic mansions.
MOCAD’s Summer Arts Soirée will offer opportunities to tour the Charles T. Fisher Mansion in the historic Boston Edison district.
The home was built in 1922 for Charles and Sarah Fisher. Charles Fisher was an automotive pioneer who founded the Fisher Body Company with brother Fred Fisher. The English Tudor-style mansion’s 18,000 square feet are filled with ornate woodwork and historic details. Some of the home’s highlights include a solarium floored with custom Pewabic tiles, a hand-carved Italian marble fountain, a basement pub and vault (which once functioned as Prohibition-era liquor storage) and a custom-designed pipe organ.
Today, it’s owned by actor, author and entrepreneur Hill Harper, known for film and television roles including Dr. Marcus Andrews on ABC’s “The Good Doctor”.
The fundraising gathering will also have Harper’s extensive art collection and food by Detroit chef Kate Williams, founder of Lady of the House and Karl’s. She was named one of America’s best new chefs by Food & Wine Magazine in 2018 and called “the poster child for Detroit’s rising food scene” by the Restaurant Hospitality Journal.
She has created a menu inspired by the 1920s era in which the mansion was built. Drinks will be provided by Detroit City Distillery. The event will run from 7-10 pm and feature dinner, drinks and live music.
Attendees will also meet MOCAD’s new leadership team, Artistic Director Jova Lynne and CEO Marie Madison-Patton; both took on the co-leadership roles this spring.
“In the past, we haven’t really done any fundraising initiatives over the summer,” said Lynne. “We’re a small but mighty institution, and what better way to celebrate that than a summer party? It’s going to feel like an ode to the architecture of the space. Hill has an insane art collection that includes works by Mickalene Thomas and Kerry James Marshall. The evening’s going to sort of reflect the spirit of the ’20s—freedom, enjoyment, leisure. There’ll be a few words from our host as well as the MOCAD board of directors, and then Marie and me. It’s going to be really chill and fun.”
All proceeds of the event will support MOCAD’s mission, and the majority of the ticket costs are tax deductible. Tickets can be purchased at mocadetroit.org/event/summer-arts-soiree/.