DETROIT, MI.- The Detroit Film Theatre (DFT) at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will host a rare showing of Matthew Barney's The Cremaster Cycle in the sequence in which the films were made. They will be shown Wednesdays, Sept. 15, 22 and 29 at 7 p.m.

Made between 1994 and 2002, The Cremaster Cycle explores the processes of biological and artistic creation. Mythic in content and seductively beautiful, they explore contemporary American culture in a wildly imaginative way inflected with irony and humor. Filmed in Budapest, Isle of Man, the Great Salt Flats, New York City and Bronco Stadium, the series joins characters as diverse as Harry Houdini, Gary Gilmore, Richard Serra and Norman Mailer.

Barney, who is also a sculptor and performance artist, will introduce The Cremaster Cycle before the Sept. 15 showing of Cremaster Part 4 and Cremaster Part 1. A cocktail reception with the artist will be held at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Tickets for the reception are $125, and proceeds benefit DIA auxiliaries Friends of Modern and Contemporary Art and Friends of the Detroit Film Theatre. A part of the reception ticket is tax deductible. To order tickets for the reception, contact Tarya Stanford at 313-833-4020 or tstanford@dia.org.

Cremaster Part 2 and Cremaster Part 5 will be shown Sept. 22, and Cremaster Part 3 will close the series on Sept. 29. Tickets for the individual films are $7.50, and $6.50 for DIA members and seniors (ages 62+). For tickets call 313-833-4005 (Wednesday–Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.