AADL Talks To: Phil Hallman, Film Historian, University of Michigan Librarian and Archivist

Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:04pm

Phil Hallman's lengthy relationship with Ann Arbor film culture began with trips to Ann Arbor during high school in nearby Plymouth and includes his involvement with the Ann Arbor Film Cooperative and city-wide film festivals through the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, Phil has been curator for the Mavericks & Makers collections housed at the U-M Library’s Special Collections Research Center; the Donald Hall Collection screenplay collection in the University of Michigan's Film, Television, and Media department, and has served as Film Studies Librarian and subject specialist liaison for the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. Phil talks with us about his long love affair with film, the heyday of Ann Arbor's famous campus cinema culture, and some gems from the collections he curates.

Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Tales, Threats, Tragedies, and Triumphs from the Draplin Design Co.

Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:30am

Get the inside scoop with Aaron Draplin, Founder of Field Notes, and learn what goes on behind the scenes at the Draplin Design Co.! He’ll give an in-depth walk through existing projects and answer questions in an intimate setting. He'll show you the finer points of his logo making process, from sketch to iterations to finalizing. Feel the power of pencil on paper! Unlock something in your hands and mind and watch it come to life in the moment! Adobe Illustrator tips, tricks and techniques will be offered up. His methods, momentum and mania in a fun, loose setting. Questions answered. Riddles solved. Enigmas discussed.

Aaron Draplin of the Draplin Design Co. lives and works in Portland, Oregon. He makes stuff for rock bands, comedians, restaurants, festivals and leftie politicians. He’s traveled the world telling his story, with over 550 speaking fiascos under his belt. He co-created Field Notes memo books with Jim Coudal, selling their products worldwide. His eight Skillshare classes are raging along, teaching design enthusiasts of all ages. He recently launched DDC Fonts showcasing his three typefaces. His first book titled “Pretty Much Everything” came out on May 17, 2016 on Abrams Books, and incredibly is in its 12th printing. The DDC merch roster is up to 380 products! You’ll see them at DDC merch tables from coast to coast or in his online shop. He owes it all to his parents. Really.

Craig Walsh: Monuments

Thu, 11/07/2024 - 4:23pm

This short from filmmaker Fred Culpepper documents the creation of the Monuments public art installation from artist Craig Walsh.  Walsh was commissioned to create a set of his living sculptures in celebration of Ann Arbor's bicentennial.  Those chosen to be represented in the project were community leaders Bonnie Billups Jr., Joyce Hunter, and Martin Contreras & Keith Orr.  This video provides in introduction to these figures as it tracks Walsh in the capturing of source material and the installation of his large-scale, temporary public sculpture piece.  The installation was on view in Albert Wheeler Park September 4-8, 2024.

AADL Talks To: Chris Reising, Former Costume/Set Designer & Artist

Sat, 10/19/2024 - 10:47pm

In this episode AADL Talks To Christine Reising. Chris talks to us about designing Avant-garde costumes and sets for multiple local theaters, her involvement in the Bookfest from its iteration, and her work as an artist in a range of mediums.

AADL Talks To: Steve Gilzow, Ann Arbor Observer Cover Artist

Tue, 10/08/2024 - 4:52pm

In this episode AADL Talks To Steve Gilzow, a prolific cover artist for the Ann Arbor Observer, retired teacher, and writer. Steve talks about the inspiration behind his art, the people and places captured within his covers, and how his work with the Observer has allowed a deeper understanding of the community.

AADL Talks To: Peter Sparling, Lecturer, Poet, Essayist, Dancer, and Filmmaker

Fri, 08/09/2024 - 10:00am

In this episode, AADL Talks To Peter Sparling. Peter is a lecturer, poet, essayist, dancer, and filmmaker. He is the Rudolf Arnheim Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Dance at the University of Michigan. Peter talks with us about his career, from his start as a member of the José Limón Dance Company and principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company through his time in Ann Arbor as director of his own Peter Sparling Dance Company. Peter talks about his activism, the changes in the Ann Arbor dance community over the years, and his current work after retiring from the university 6 years ago.

AADL Talks To: Zeke Mallory, Designer & Artist

Thu, 07/18/2024 - 5:19pm

In this episode, AADL Talks To Zeke Mallory. Zeke studied Fine Art and Commercial Design at Eastern Michigan University, worked at Mr. Flood’s Party, and has been a successful graphic artist since starting his career in Ann Arbor in the 1970s. Zeke talks about some of his signs and murals around town, his experiences working as an artist, and some of the influential people in his life.

See AADL's collection of Zeke Mallory's posters and artwork here.

AADL Talks To: Earl Jackson, Artist

Thu, 04/11/2024 - 10:49am

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.

Historical photos and articles about Earl Jackson

AADL Talks To: Margaret Parker, Artist and Arts Activist

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 8:13pm

In this episode, AADL Talks to Margaret Parker. Margaret has been working as an artist for seven decades. She talks about her parents’ influence on her desire to become an artist and the evolution of her artistic development, from working in different mediums to confronting social justice issues in her work. Margaret talks about her time with the Michigan chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and her commitment to bring public to Ann Arbor through her work on the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission.

For more information, see our digital collections related to Margaret Parker, or visit the artist's website.

Friends of the Sixties: Interview with Rock Poster Artist Gary Grimshaw

Tue, 01/31/2023 - 8:23am

An interview by archivist of popular culture Michael Erlewine of rock-poster artist Gary Grimshaw, along with samples from various periods of Grimshaw's work. Erlewine also tells how he got into making posters himself in the 1960s for his band the Prime Movers Blues Band.

This video originally appeared here.