At Ford House, we honor Eleanor Ford’s heartfelt wishes—expressed in her will—with both reverence and imagination. As caretakers of this extraordinary family estate, we are guided by her and Edsel’s enduring values of equity, playfulness, philanthropy, and, above all, love. These principles continue to shape our work as we preserve this place not just in form, but in spirit—welcoming our community into a living legacy that remains vibrant, evolving, and deeply human.

With that spirit in mind, we are proud to present Love in Reach, a new photography exhibition curated in collaboration with Birmingham-based artists RJ and Cheryl Jones (www.rjandcheryl.com). This evocative exhibition explores the ways our hands become vessels for love—how they offer comfort, create beauty, and communicate emotion without a single word.

Through intimate, expressive imagery, Love in Reach celebrates the gestures that define our deepest connections: a tender touch, a helping hand, the act of building something meaningful, or the quiet grace of simply holding space for another. Featured artists—both professional and amateur photographers from across Metro Detroit—were thoughtfully selected by the guest curators for their ability to bring this vision to life.

This fall, Ford House will welcome Mr. and Mrs. Jones back for a special three-day artist residency. Their visit will culminate in a half-day photography workshop designed to help emerging photographers experience and capture the beauty of the estate through their own creative lens. At the conclusion of the residency, Mr. Jones will present a new portfolio of Ford House images and generously donate one selected work for permanent display in South Cottage.

Through Love in Reach, we invite guests to see—and feel—the extraordinary ways love continues to shape our shared story.