PREVIEW: Art Outta Town Art Prize

ART OUTTA TOWN goes to ARTPRIZE

Art Outta Town is a program through Arts at Michigan that organizes trips for students to attend art happenings outside the city limits of Ann Arbor. This weekend, the destination is Grand Rapids for one of the country’s largest art competitions: ArtPrize. This ‘radically open competition and social experiment’ features 1517 artist installations throughout the city. Unlike the Ann Arbor Art Fair, this festival utilizes pre-established spaces, like store fronts and window displays, such that the entire town transforms into an gallery. The goal of the giant display is to create both ‘harmony and tension among disciplines and between mediums.’ The grand prize for the winning artists is a large some of cash money. Finalists are determined both by a jury and by popular vote, which you can do via texting, so be sure to remember your favorites!

If you do find yourself at ArtPrize this weekend, there are a few important names and places to remember. The Prison Creative Arts Project is featuring three artists who are no longer incarcerated and are competitive members of the festival. On Saturday, September 29th there will be a meet n’ greet with the artists at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (2 West Fulton). At 2:30 pm, all are welcome to join the PCAP Art Walk to the Department of Corrections where their work is displayed. This is an incredibly celebratory moment for both PCAP and the artists who have submitted work. Their names, images of their pieces, and codes for the popular vote are as follows, so be sure to send a text!

Brian Wagner, ‘Grist Mill at Sedona Arizona’ 52712:

Clifford Wade, ‘Ostracized’ 52624:

Fernando DeLezica, ‘Forethought’ 52487:

Image not featured

Unfortunately it is too late to sign up for this week’s Art Outta Town. Luckily, however, ArtPrize runs until October 7th so you have a chance to see  it on your own. Follow the link here if you are interested in other Art Outta Town escapades, including next week’s Dlectricity. Click here to sign up! See you at ArtPrize!

PREVIEW: The MORE Senior Thesis Show

The MORE Show

Tis the season of senior art shows and, really, what could be better? All month long, you will be perusing free exhibitions of preprofessional work. It will be displayed all across campus: The Work Galleries, The Jean Paul Slusser Gallery, The Ann Abor Art Center, The Warren Robins Gallery, and more.

Two life long friends and freakishly talented art students, Ellen Rutt and Megan O’neil, are putting together thesis’s of their four years of work  in the School of Art and Design.  The title of the show, The MORE Show, is an acronym of their initials (see Ellen’s graphic design on the poster below for a better idea of how that works). Unlike most other senior thesis shows, this one will be held off campus. The two found a vacant warehouse on South Industrial Highway (by RoosRoast coffee) across the street from the ReUse center, and refurbished it for their purposes. After much trash sorting, wall scrubbing, sweeping, painting and repainting, the space is now gallery ready. Not only are the canvases a part of their exhibit, but the very space itself.

It is fitting that this particular show would take place across from the ReUse center because the theme is closely tied to environmental justice and sustainable creativity. “MORE art, less waste.” As many aspects of the exhibition as possible have been locally sourced and reused or recycled. For example, the opening reception will feature locally farm-grown snacks and appetizers served on reusable plates and utensils. Even the musicians who will be playing live music  are Ann Arbor locals.

Not only that, the entire assembly has been a result of inter-talented trade; the cost of the production has been internalized through artistic cooperation. By that, I mean Ellen and Megan are paying their collaborators with art, not cash. As a graphic designer, Ellen has the ability to do all sorts of snazzy things for business people who need to look good on paper. In exchange for writing this article, she jazzed up my resumé using InDesign; she did the same for the photographer who will document the reception, and the musicians, who are coming out with a new CD soon (Fables by Ben Rolston), are receiving much advice on the color palette for the album art.

Ellen’s work is based in graphic design while Megan’s is in large scale oil and acrylic paint. She mostly paints figures but has an array of other pieces as well (I even did some nude modeling for her to help her prepare for the show and she traded me with a print. At first I was nervous, but Megan is so passionate about and deft with crafting the human form that her translation of my body into painting was an enlivening and surprisingly comfortable experience). You may recognize Megan’s work from a mural she was commissioned to paint about the  Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. As for Ellen, you may recognize her work from the pamphlets for the “Arts at Michigan” program or from The Vintage Twin, the revamped clothing store that used to be on South University (but now operates online). These ladies are preprofessional artists in the works. Be sure to ask for an autograph when you see them at their show; they won’t forget you when they’re famous.

Details on the Don’t Miss Show:

Opening Reception:

Saturday, April 14th 8pm,

1080 Rosewood, Ann Arbor 48104

Live music and refreshments

Click Here for directions

Additional gallery hours:

Monday April 16th- Friday April 20th

11am-5pm

AND! Furthermore, there will be  taxi shuttling students between The MORE Show and other off campus senior thesis opening receptions happening same night: a free ride departs every 15 minutes from 8-11 pm at the Cube behind The Union, The Ann Arbor Art Center on Liberty and Main Street, and on Rosewood where The MORE Show will be held.

Finally, to get more info straight from the artists themselves, check out the website: www.erutt.com

Attend the event on Facebook!

And be sure to pop into other exhibits this month. Info at the Arts at Michigan Website here.

Below are images of Ellen and Megan hard at work in the warehouse

Samples of Ellen and Megan’s artwork respectively

REVIEW: Jennifer Holms, lecture and reading

Thursday evening, I sat in the Stern Auditorium of the UMMA, perhaps my favorite auditorium on campus, to hear Jennifer Holms give a lecture about her life as a children’s author. Quirky, energetic, and quite hilarious, she enraptured us with the stories behind her three Newbery awards and success as a published author.

Holms had four brothers growing up, and she mentioned how greatly that environment continues to influence her life as an author today. She discussed that her motivation to start a graphic novel series for young girls was because she remembers growing up, only having comic books about boys to read: Superman, Spiderman, and Batman. Holms saw young girls as an audience that was largely lacking in their own comic books of sorts, and wrote her series “Babymouse” to fill the gap. “Babymouse” tells the story of a small mouse named Babymouse and her experiences in school, struggling with adolescence, boys, lockers, and running for class elections. She is cute, relatable, loves pink, and eats a lot of cupcakes. Since I too love pink and eat way too many cupcakes, I think I may have to start reading these books.

Holms’ lecture touched on her 3 Newbery award winning novels: Turtle in Paradise, Our Only May Amelia, and Penny from Heaven. As an aspiring young writer myself, I was so interested to hear how all of her stories stemmed from the experiences and traditions passed along in her family. I saw so much passion as she spoke about the subjects of these stories, that I understood at least a core reason why she’d so deserved those awards.

As an introduction before Holms’ lecture, a woman got up and spoke about why we continue to love and appreciate children’s literature now that we are older. She mentioned how it reminds us of how we began as readers; that childlike wonder of knowing you’ve finished your first chapter book. I think this lecture reminded me too of what that feels like.

In the end, I’m obviously so glad I went. It was definitely a dream come true to hear one of my childhood idols, Jennifer Holms, give a talk. Moral of the story, if I were to give one, would be read your e-mails. There are so many opportunities here in Ann Arbor, and I definitely would have missed it if I hadn’t actually read some of those English department newsletters. Hope to see you at the next reading!

PREVIEW: Festifools

FestiFools

Ever been walking in downtown Ann Arbor in April and all of a sudden been accosted by a horde of gargantuan, raging puppet heads? That would be FestiFools— unless some other wild force is taking the town that we don’t know about.

“FestiFools is a non-profit production of the STARTProject, a University of Michigan LLoyd Hall Scholars Program initiative.” Several years ago, professor Mark Tucker incorporated the age old idea of puppet theater into his LHSP class “Art in Public Spaces,” in which 20 non-art majors crafted gigantic puppets and took them to the streets of Ann Arbor. Today, other departments of the university and townies of all kinds are invited to work in groups or individually to craft puppets for the parade (specific qualifications for entry enumerated on the website). Now, the community event has an affiliation with the city of Ann Arbor beyond the boundaries of the university.

Inspired by Italy’s Carnevale di Viareggio,the parade makes political and social commentary through the use of puppetry. According to their creed, “FestiFools brings students and community volunteers together to create unique public art that is free and accessible to everyone. Specifically, we make huge-mongous papier-mâché puppets and march them around downtown Ann Arbor on a Sunday early in April.”

Last year was FestiFool’s sixth year running, but it was the first year they included FoolMoon. Puppets take the street by moonlight. In Keeping with LSA’s Winter 2012 theme semester, the theme of this year’s FullMoon parade is “Language.” Every Sunday for the past month, build-your-own Luminary workshops have been taking place at Workantile on Main St in preparation for the midnight promenade. On Sunday March, 25th, the UMMA held a workshop as well. There are instructions on how to make a luminary as well as info on the closest spots to town to buy a kit- if you feel inspired to get crafty- on the Festifools website.

Don’t miss this whimsical, comical, fantasmic parade of art and joy that is unique to Ann Arbor.

Click here to get to the Festifools YouTube channel and watch some funky videos from last year’s parade.

And check out the FestiFools website for more information, and some light comedy. They’ve got a pretty decent sense of humor.

APRIL 3, 2011 (4:00-5:00PM) // ANN ARBOR'S ANNUAL STREET FESTIVAL OF HUGE PUPPETS & RANDOM ACTS OF APRIL FOOLISHNESS

REVIEW: The Prison Creative Arts Project

The Prison Creative Arts Project

You may have friends around campus who are involved in “PCAP.” And seems that people who are rave about it. My sophomore year roommate took the course and now subsequently works for the on-campus organization. The experience nearly changed her entire course of study from medicine to social work. Last spring,  I attended her final project exhibition. It took place at a prison in Jackson, Michigan where she and a partner had been working for the entire semester to create  a play.. I will never forget walking in the courtyard of the jail to a small class room near the cafeteria where a group of incarcerated, middle aged men perform a play they had spent four months writing. These men had very clearly grown to admire and value my 5’2” roommate as a mentor and guide. The experience was, needless to say, incredibly formative and powerful.

PCAP is offered at UofM as both a course through the Department of English Language and Literature and by the School of Art and Design.  The course, led by professor and curator Buzz Alexander, trains students to facilitate workshops in the arts in state prisons, juvenile facilities, or Detroit high schools. Mediums include creative writing, theater,  dance, mural, music, photography, quilt making, and video. His wife, Janie Paul, teaches a corollary course through the Art school which is geared specifically toward instructing in the visual arts. Since is genesis in 1990, PCAP has facilitated hundreds of workshops and has garnered huge success in its mission.

Our process is respect and a spirit of collaboration in which vulnerability, risk, and improvisation lead to discovery.”

“We make possible spaces in which the voices and visions of the incarcerated can be expressed.”

“We believe that everyone has the capacity to create art”

“Art is necessary for individual and societal growth, connection, and survival”

“Art should be accessible to all”

Most of the incarcerated participants in the workshops have never explored the arts provided. This, to me, is unbelievable, because hen you see the work it appears to be profoundly professional. There is a quality of depth and emotion in these pieces that communicates a potent sense of experience. Two years in a row, this exhibit has been one in which I truly lose myself in the gallery, absolutely entangled in the grit of the celebrated creations. To read bios of some of these artists, or artists from previous years, as well as see and read samples of their work, check out the PCAP website and click on “Gallery.” There, you will also find more information the current exhibit as well as related programs that you can be involved in.

There are several important events happening on campus this week as a part of the culmination of another year of the organization’s hard work. These presentations are incredibly powerful, so don’t miss them! And if you don’t make it in time, at least take a stroll through the gallery in the Dude. The artwork is truly impressive (it is also for sale!) and will surely move you deeply as a witness.

The 17th Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners

March 20-April 4, 2012
U-M Duderstadt Center Gallery
Gallery Hours: Sunday-Monday 12pm-6p, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-7pm

Closing Reception to be held at 5:30 pm on April 4th, 2012

The Michigan Review of Prison Creative Writing: Book Reading and Release Celebration

Friday, March 23rd 2012

7-9 pm

Pendleton Room of The Michigan League

The Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing, Vol. 4: On the Corner of Nihilism and Hope

“Join us as we enjoy selections of the beautiful and unabashed poetry, prose, and fiction of Michigan’s best incarcerated writers. We come together to celebrate and honor the talent and vision of these hidden voices. Friends, family members, and advocates will be reading on behalf of their incarcerated loved ones.”

Youth Speak

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

1-3 pm

Wolverine Room in The Michigan Union

“Please join us as a group of Detroit youth come together to discuss serious issues of urban living. It will be a facilitated dialogue with these bright young leaders about the challenges they face, and then an open discussion with all in attendance about these same challenges.”

Artists Panel

Sunday, march 25th, 2012

3-5 pm

Duderstadt Center Gallery

“Join us as a panel of formerly incarcerated artists discuss the works in this year’s show and the process of creating art behind bars. The event is moderated by U-M School of Art and Design Professor Janie Paul.”

Below are some snapshots from this year’s exhibit

REVIEW: Take Six: New Jazz Compositions

I learned about “Take Six” from a musician friend who plays piano for the ballet class following mine. After class last week, I asked  if he had any gigs coming up and he informed me of this innovative performance happening at the UMMA. On Saturday, February 17th, the museum held a musical progressive called “Take Six: New Jazz Compositions.” The museum was staged with six musical sets; six combinations of musicians played six original compositions inspired by six works of art in the University’s collection. The audience progressed from stage to stage at ten minute intervals, experiencing an hour’s worth of varied pieces. A kind of musical chairs, literally. Better yet, the set repeated itself four times throughout the afternoon. So if you missed any composition in the rotation, there was opportunity to catch it a second, third, or fourth time. Now that’s some repetitive Phillip Glass stuff right there.

I stayed for one full round of playing. Because of that, however, I think I missed the full affect of the progressive. The pieces remain the same, yet each iteration is unique in its rendition. The spaces the sets occupied included the Apse near the main entrance, the Forum near the gift shop, the Commons across from Angell Hall, and two floors of the Vertical Gallery near the DialogueTable. It would have been ideal to stage the performances beside the pieces that inspired them, but that would have been spatially challenging, especially since the last is no longer on display.

A progressive is a curious and interactive manner of experiencing artwork in its various forms. The performance format inspired dynamic conversation both between the audience and the musicians, as well as the musicians and the artists each chose as his muse. Instrumental reflections of brushstrokes and color pallets included drums, piano, bass, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trombone, and more. The combinations were written and performed by students and faculty from the School of Music’s Jazz Department.

The entire project was clearly a demonstration of strong talent and commitment. It seemed to be hard work to prepare, but a breeze to partake in. All the audience had to do was heed the shepherd’s call and meander with the flock. Easy following, easy listening. Personally, I truly enjoyed the event. Wandering about the art museum with the soundtrack to my visual experiences playing aloud for all to hear, what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

Below are images of the six auricular-visual pairings, to give you an idea of what you can’t see or hear from where you’re sitting.

Boyhood of Lincoln by Eastman Johnson

on view in the gallery of European & American Art

Inspired The Boy Lincoln by Keaton Royer

Shrine Figure (edjo) by Akpojivi of Orhokpko, Nigeria

on view in the gallery of African Art

Inspired The Spirit of the People by Alekos Syropoulos


Twilight by Dwight William Tryon

on view in the gallery of European & American Art

Inspired Something Hidden by Kevin McKinney

The Dead Soldier by Jospeh Wright of Derby

on view in the gallery of European Art (1650-1830)

Inspired The Mourning Widow by Demetrius Nabors

Smoke Rings June 14, 2001 by Donald Sultan

on view in the Vertical Gallery

Inspired Smoke Rings by Sam Crittenden

Sparrow on a Bamboo Branch by Kanô Gyokuraku

Japanese Art, currently not on view

Inspired Sparrows by Ryan Wolfe