Noir Leather exhibits copy of masterpiece from DIA

ROYAL OAK — Noir Leather pushes the limits with its window displays of fetish-fashion mannequins, bondage gear products and “keep it kinky” promotions.

Passersby during Arts, Beats & Eats may be shocked again at the overtly sexual wall art — shocked that it is a replica of an oil painting by Henry Fuseli that debuted at the Royal Academy of London in 1782.

“It’s a classic,” said Kathleen Fegley, co-owner of the store at 124 W. Fourth St., where the painting called “The Nightmare” is on display as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

To mark the milestone, the DIA is taking 40 framed, life-size digital reproductions of art from its collection to the streets and parks of Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Washtenaw counties for an exhibit called Inside/Out. The project aims to connect with audiences outside the museum walls, treating metro Detroit as a grand, open-air gallery.

Fegley, a member of the Downtown Development Authority, and her husband, Keith Howarth, who opened the store 27 years ago, said they were honored to be selected as an exhibition site. They chose “The Nightmare” because it’s most appropriate for their business, she added.

“It’s real progressive. We decided it’s a good fit,” Fegley said of the replica of a woman sleeping with her head hanging over the side of the bed, a demon crouched on top of her and a horse’s head at her feet -- both symbols of nightmares.

Fuseli’s early biographer said “The Nightmare” garnered an “uncommon degree of interest” some 228 years ago. Later critics described it as a scandalous. The reaction in Royal Oak so far has been positive, according to the Noir Leather staff.

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“The Nightmare” and the other works, which were reproduced on waterproof vinyl, will remain on view through November. All the replicas will be displayed on walls or free-standing posts in an ornate frame accompanied by an information plaque.

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The replicas were made by SM/ART Editions, a local company specializing in large-scale vinyl reproductions. Owner Marc Schwartz is sponsoring the manufacture of the exhibit and copies will be available for purchase at www.ArtDoneSmart.com.

An interactive map of all 40 locations and works of art installed at each will be available at www.dia.org in mid-September.