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Scoring the Archive: 4600 Volts - Kaes Holkeboer
"A 1940's generator in an ice making plant, damaged by a bolt of lightning. What an interesting story! With my composition, I wanted to express the elemental power of lightning and electricity and the danger of sitting inside and fiddling with the guts of a powerful machine. This piece includes electric guitar, field recordings of ice breaking, and other heavy, distorted sounds inspired by industrial music." - Kaes Holkeboer
Artificial Ice Company Generator Repaired, May 1948
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Scoring the Archive: Pumpkin Rhapsody - Samuel Fang
"What the photo I chose immediately reminded me of is how many of the holidays we celebrate feel so much more fantastical as a child, when our imaginations are more boundless and our emotions more spontaneous. Halloween for me as a kid had an almost dreamlike quality, with fantastical playfulness mixed with times when I was genuinely scared. I wanted to capture this feeling in my composition- how things that seem mundane to us now could have evoked both happiness and fear when we were younger." - Samuel Fang
Emmett Cox & Carl Carter Finish Constructing 'Big Fat Pumpkin Man' At Bach School, October 1965
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Scoring the Archive: Fabulous Fourth Fairground - Darla Hand
"I was particularly interested in this photo depicting a popular community event in my hometown, Whitmore Lake, before my time. As someone who has been involved in many activities during the 4th of July, I found a lot of nostalgia in this joy-filled moment. I have always played music in our town's parade and attended the annual fireworks show like most members of our community, however, one of the best parts has been hearing stories about the traditions over the decades. I aimed to capture the feeling from the late 1980s that transports you back as a kid walking into the fairground with fresh popcorn popping and screams radiating off the rides." - Darla Hand
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Scoring the Archive: A Day at the Derby - Ethan Duke
"For this piece, I created a musical version of a cart race, with different instruments from tubas and cellos to piccolos and violas, and each cart represented with its own musical phrase. With some racers dropping out as the race continues, and as some speed up and some slow down, parts will speed up, slow down, or drop out entirely, until we have a winner!" - Ethan Duke
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Scoring the Archive: Warm Winter - Mike Cai
"I would like them to have a sense of jolly, and hopefully feeling a little warmer whether their physical or mentally self is experience a cold winter with a touch of cute little puppies." - Mike Cai
Ronald McAllister Feeds Seven Beagle Puppies In A Snowstorm, November 1951
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AADL Talks To: Marc and Jeff Taras
In this episode, AADL talks to Marc and Jeff Taras, brothers and founders of PJ’s Used Records. Marc and Jeff tell us about the origin of the store, how they've managed to maintain a close relationship despite being in business together, and the customers who meant so much to them. For 37 years the store survived the rise and fall in popularity of genres and formats, including witnessing the foretold death of vinyl only for it to surge in popularity again.
Find more about PJ's Used Records in our archival collections.
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AADL Talks To: Earl Jackson
In this episode, AADL Talks To Earl Jackson. Earl talks about his time growing up in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, from his early years to his work at Borders Books and Music where he worked as a framer to the evolution of his career in the visual arts. He also discusses some of the organizations and people who inspired and mentored him, and reflects on the changes in themes and style in his work.
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AADL Talks To: Peter Yates
Peter is a professional photographer who started as a street photographer in New York and went on to work for national magazines and newspapers shortly after moving to Ann Arbor in 1969.
Peter reminisces about some of his memorable photography assignments; the restaurants and music venues he misses; the friends and colleagues who helped him; and his time working in Ann Arbor -- at Mark's Coffeehouse, the Blind Pig, and the Ann Arbor Observer.
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AADL Talks To: Grace Shackman
Grace Shackman is an author, educator, and former Washtenaw County Commissioner. But she's probably best known as a local historian and a long-time contributor to the Ann Arbor Observer, where she has dug into many fascinating topics of local and regional history. Grace tells us about how she became involved in politics, her research process, and how her interests spurred her beyond her shy nature.
Find more by and about Grace Shackman in our archival collections.