Jun 8, 2026 - Culture

Drum sculptures bring stories to Detroit

Annalise Frank

Row of painted cylindrical pillars along a park path, with vibrant murals including a sleeping blue figure, flowers, and portraits; bases say The Stories of Us, set near the Detroit library's main branch. — Front painting: "Infinite Journey" by Alanis Forde. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios

Twenty-five large, painted sculptures shaped like drums have been installed in Detroit as part of a broader public art effort.

The big picture: As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary since the Declaration of Independence, national nonprofit The Stories of Us installed work by local and outside artists that reflects the experiences of a wide variety of Americans.

If you go: The outdoor exhibition can be seen through July 22 at the Detroit Public Library's main branch, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park and the Joe Louis Greenway's Warren Gateway on the city's west side.

Visitors to the sculptures — inspired by hourglass-shaped West African talking drums — can find QR codes that tell more about the artists and allow you to add your own story.

Zoom in: The nonprofit's goal is to tell the stories of Americans whose perspectives haven't traditionally been taken into account in mainstream retelling of U.S. history.

For example, one theme is "ripples across generations" — showing the direct impact of enslavement and oppression on subsequent generations.
Another is the American dream, an ideal held not just by current citizens, but also by migrants.

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Drum sculptures bring stories to Detroit

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