chinesephotoOn display at Malletts Creek Branch, August 3 – September 14.

The Michigan Chinese Photography Club was established in 2007 and is an unaffiliated organization that views photography as an art form and hobby. The purpose of the Club is to network with those with similar interests in the Chinese community in Michigan, to provide a forum for them to learn more about photography, and to promote the appreciation and joys of this unique art form.

MakeItHappenOn Display at the Downtown Library Lower Level Display Cases, July 20 – August 30.

Summers in Ann Arbor are so awesome that we invited the public to share snapshots of what makes it happen for them in the Make It Happen In Ann Arbor Photo Contest. This contest was for youth (preschool and up), teens and adults who were all encouraged to show their favorite summer in Ann Arbor photo! This special contest was one of many summer events centering on the Summer Reading program theme – Make It Happen.

graffitiAll of the entries in the 8th Annual Teen Graffiti Art Contest are now on display at the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room and Third Floor Exhibit Area through August 30.

During the 2010 Art Fair, teens from across the area gathered in the Downtown Library’s parking lot to try their hand at the art of Graffiti. Each artist was given a 4' x 4' canvas and a variety of colors of spray paint. Come see the end result, on display through the end of the summer.

Reading Room

The William L. Clements Library of the University of Michigan is one of Ann Arbor's most fascinating hidden gems. Opened in 1923, the Library holds tens of thousands of rare and unique books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and other materials documenting American History from the 15th to the early 20th century. From June 14th to October 10th, 2010, the library will be hosting a special exhibit showcasing some of its most impressive recent acquisitions. These items are used to explain how the library develops its amazing collection. History and library enthusiasts alike are especially encouraged! The exhibit is open to the public.

“Fine Tuning a Great Collection” is open to the public in the Main Room of the Clements Library Monday through Thursday from 1:00 pm to 4:45 pm. After September 7 the exhibit will be open Monday though Friday. The Clements Library is located on the campus of the University of Michigan at 909 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor. For further information please call 734-764-2347. E

Manuscript Bible
Today I had the opportunity to visit the current exhibit in the Audubon room of the Hatcher Graduate Library, A History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James. As a bibliophile, I loved seeing the ancient papyrus manuscripts dating back almost to the very beginning of Christianity, as well as the illuminated medieval manuscripts. The history of the Bible is a fascinating microcosm for the evolution of the written word. One of the highlights of the exhibit for me was a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, which was printed in the 1450s by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type. I also enjoyed seeing the progression of the language in the English Bibles on display from Middle English into Early Modern English in the 15th century. Another interesting piece in the exhibit is a 1611 King James Bible, which had such an impact on the Christian world that it is still considered the standard translation of the Bible by many Protestant churches today. The exhibit will be open everyday until the end of March and is located inside the Library Gallery, which is just off the North Lobby of the Hatcher Library.

Naturalists and artists may also be interested in another codex on display in the Audubon room. It is John James Audubon's famous Double Elephant Folio, Birds of America. It contains hand colored, life sizes engravings of many American birds and is now worth more than $8 million, although when it was purchased new, as the first book in U of M's collection (before the University opened), it cost $970. If you want a closer look at some of the illustrations, check out The Audubon Society baby elephant folio.

If you haven't yet visited The Future of Our Past: The Evolution of Multicultural Children's Literature, do it before this magical exhibit closes Nov. 29. Among books on display are In the Beginning: Creation Stories From Around The World and More More More Said The Baby: 3 Love Stories. This joint exhibit of AADL and the University of Michigan Special Collections Library includes books from the UM Children's Literature Collections and material highlighting world cultures. The exhibit is in the glass cases on the lower level of the downtown library. Don't miss it!

I recently had a conversation with Holly Sorsher, the creator of our downtown exhibit: The Future of Our Past: The Evolution of Multicultural Children's Literature. Holly is a U of M School of Information student with a special interest in children's books. She worked with librarians and curators at the U of M library Special Collections to create a display of children's books representing the evolution of the genre in its representation of cultures. In our conversation, Holly highlights some of her favorite books and what she sees as the trend towards a more integrated vision of culture and diversity in books for young people.

Take a look at the exhibit while it's still here.

Motion

Now until December 6, the Gallery Project in Downtown Ann Arbor will be displaying an exhibit called Capturing Motion. The exhibit features twenty artists, including two of American's top creators of kinetic art, who have created works which pertain to movement. Some pieces move while others simply capture the essence of motion. This exhibit is innovative, exciting, and definitely a worthwhile stop on your night out downtown.

More information can be found here.