Blog Post
Champagne at the Gandy Dancer
by annevm
Today is the birthday of world renowned poet Donald Hall, and to celebrate, The Writers Almanac is displaying one of his poems, “The judge was decent, but . . “ about Hall’s 1972 marriage in Ann Arbor to poet Jane Kenyon. As the poem says, it was a basic municipal marriage -- but afterwards they did drink champagne at the Gandy Dancer. Five years later they remarried in New Hampshire, ". . . joyful
in a wooden church,
a Saturday afternoon in April,
only Jack Jensen our
friend and minister with us . . ."
Hall taught at U-M from 1957-75, first as assistant professor, later as professor of English. The couple moved to New Hampshire, where Kenyon died in 1995 of leukemia. To read more about this famous literary couple, hop to our database Literature Resource Center.
Blog Post
20 years, 8 fellows: art & design at the institute
by muffy
The Institute for the Humanities, University of Michigan is a center for innovative, collaborative study in the humanities and arts. Each year fellowships for Michigan faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars who work on interdisciplinary projects are awarded. Since 1987 the Institute has granted fellowships to 129 Michigan Faculty Fellows, 99 Michigan Graduate Student Fellows, and 156 Visiting Fellows.
To celebrate the Institute‘s 20th anniversary, fellows from the School of Art and Design present works inspired by their interdisciplinary research at the Institute in the exhibition 20 years, 8 fellows: Art & Design at the Institute.
It features artists
Jim Cogswell, Tirtza Even, Sadashi Inuzuka, Andrew Kirshner, Joanne Leonard, Patricia Olynyk, Marianetta Porter, and Ed West, on view through 10/19/2007, in Room 1010, 202 S. Thayer, Central Campus, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. An open reception is planned for Wednesday, October 3, 4:30-6:00 pm.
Blog Post
Japanese Contemporary Photography at the University of Michigan Museum of Art
by joy k
If you haven’t already visited the Japanese contemporary photography exhibition at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, you have a couple more weeks before it’s gone for good. Out of the Ordinary/Extraordinary features the work of eleven young photographers, most of whom are unknown by western audiences. The exhibition runs until September 16 at the museum's temporary exhibition space. For hours, directions, and other information, visit the museum web site. The library also has lots of books on photography, from how-to’s to exhibition catalogs. Check them out at your favorite AADL location.
Blog Post
Embracing Eatonville at UMMA Off/Site
by muffy
There is still time to visit the photography exhibition Embracing Eatonville at the University of Michigan Musuem of Art Off/Site (through March 18th).
Located in Orange County, Florida, Eatonville was the first incorporated African-American community in the nation. Today, it is perhaps best known for its annual showcase of arts, literature and culture that celebrates native daughter Zora Neale Hurston.
The current exhibition "celebrates the spirit and character of Eatonville through the work of contemporary photographers Dawoud Bey, Lonnie Graham, Carrie Mae Weems, and Deborah Willis, each of whom have created a new body of work for this exhibition as they explore the importance of place to individual and collective identity".
Blog Post
Women’s History Essay Contest
by K.C.
Don’t Waste Our Times Productions and the Adelia Cheever Program are sponsoring a Women’s History essay contest with cash prizes for the top essay writers in the following categories: Youth (grades 6-8); Young Adult (grades 9-12); and Adult (18 and up). Essays should be postmarked by Friday, March 9th, 2007.
Name a woman, not known to you personally (e.g. not a relative), whom you believe should be remembered for Women’s History Month. Explain your choice.
Include on the first page:
Entrant’s name
Age/Year in school
Address
Phone number or email address
Number of Pages
School affiliation (if any)
Include last name and page number on subsequent pages
Send entries via email to cheever@umich.edu or snail mail to DWOT Productions, PO Box 4315, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. DWOT & Cheever may reprint all or part of entered essays. Call (734) 763-6301 or email cheever@umich.edu with questions. Visit us at www.dwot.org
Blog Post
The University of Michigan: a Photographic Saga by Anne Duderstadt
by Van
This magisterial illustrated rendering of the University’s history, presidents, faculty, staff, students, buildings, and life by Anne Duderstadt begins with chapters (or sections) on each University President’s tenure, followed by sections on Michigan’s War Service, Student Life, and on each School and College within the University.
The two-page panoramic views of the Central Campus, Medical Campus, and North Campus from various time periods provide useful orientation to the detail on buildings.
The growth and rebuilding of the University required the loss of some lovely buildings. You can find photographs of interesting buildings that no longer exist: the old Library, Waterman Gymnasium (where I spent my freshman year playing basketball and waiting in line to register for classes and, later, wearing my “Save Waterman/Barbour” button when the building was scheduled to be demolished), and the Pavilion Hospital.
A librarian’s quibble: an index would have been nice to easily locate the photograph of the sculpture of President Tappan and his Dog Leo; the entry on Jimmy Otley, the “Hat Man” (for eighteen years he was custodian of the cloakroom at the General Library (which had a room known as the Whispering Gallery)); the picture of the temporary Halo around the Michigan Stadium; the rendering of Albert Kahn’s first design for what is now known as Angell Hall; or the photograph of President Duderstadt in the kitchen of the President’s House in his maize shorts and blue shirt with football and helmet in hand with “Victory Apple Pies” in the foreground.
The lack of an index provides an additional incentive to thoroughly browse this volume’s content for the wealth of detail and illustration within.
The companion website has interactive maps from various time periods, historical 3d movies, and additional publications about the University. Do not skip the very long but lovely introduction with its postcard views of University landmarks and scenes, with the Glee Club singing Michigan songs.
Blog Post
Fans of Mercury, mark your calendars!!!
by anned
On Wednesday, November 8, the planet Mercury will pass directly in front of the Sun. This event is known as the Transit of Mercury and occurs 13 to 14 times per century. Mercury will appear as a very tiny black dot as it makes its way across the Sun’s face. Since only a tiny spot will be covered, it is still dangerous to look directly at the Sun. Some ways to safely view solar events are through eclipse glasses or by means of a pinhole projector. The best way to see the movement of Mercury would be through a telescope equipped with a sun-safe H-alpha filter. If this isn’t possible, don’t fret. You can visit the SOHO website to watch it from the comfort of your nearest computer.
The University of Michigan Angell Hall Observatory, complete with a 0.4-m (16-inch) diameter reflecting telescope equipped with a CCD camera, will be hosting an open house for the event. Click here for information.
If you miss it this time you will have to wait 10 years for another opportunity. The next Transit of Mercury is expected to occur May 9, 2016.
Blog Post
New exhibition at the UM Museum of Art
by joy k
Don't miss the new exhibition at the University of Michigan Museum of Art: Mary Lucier: The Plains of Sweet Regret. Lucier's multimedia works capture the essence of life on the Plains and the Prairies; they include video installations, surround sound, and rescued objects. The exhibition runs from September 30 to November 19 at the museum's temporary exhibition space. For hours, directions, and other information, visit the museum web site.