Friday, March 7, 6:00-9:00 pm is the opening reception for an art exhibit, Aging With Attitude, that challanges and and expands the perceptions of aging. It's at the Slusser Gallery, UM School of Art and Design, North Campus, and is sponsored by Blueprint for Aging. The show presents artists of all ages and media exploring our individual and collective responses to growing older, reflecting the diversity of aging as an experience, a concept, and a cultural phenomenon. It even includes local elementary school students exploring the theme "Me, When I am Old." The exhibit runs through March 28. Among AADL's large collection of art materials, is a fine volume on the idea of old age in world art entitled A History of Old Age, edited by Pat Thane.

Today, January 22, is the birthday of one of the great French Impressionist painters, Edouard Manet. Manet was born in Paris in 1832. He was one of the first painters who was later called an impressionist and his paintings still had many aspects of realism. He took a different path from his father who was a magistrate and was influenced by his trips to the Louvre with his uncle. After failing his naval examinations, he studied under the painter, Thomas Couture.

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The AADL in a first-of-its-kind partnership with Greater Detroit Macy’s, the Library of Michigan Foundation, Detroit metro area libraries and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan is pleased to announce the launch of “Museum Adventure Pass,” presented by Macy’s.

The program is a partnership between 162 metro area libraries and 25 local arts and cultural organizations, and provides Greater Detroit area library card holders free passes to local museums, cultural centers and historical sites. It is designed to enhance the learning experience for people of all ages through books and other library materials, while at the same time provide access to arts and cultural organizations.

Beginning October 25th, AADL library card holders can receive free admission for either 2 or 4 people to 25 of Southeast Michigan’s world-class arts and cultural institutions. Passes are limited to one at a time per card holder. A limited number of passes are available at any given time at each AADL location and they’re available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

For a full listing of participating institutions and for check-out guidelines, go online to www.detroitadventurepass.org, where you will also find a list of suggested readings, tapes and DVDs to complement your museum experience.

It’s time for the annual Ann Arbor Art Walk! AADL is participating for the first time—Downtown we’ll be showcasing photographs from the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair: The Original as well as children’s books from the UM Special Collections Library. Malletts Creek is currently displaying photographs from France by Sandy Schopbach.

Art Walk runs Friday, October 19 from 5-9pm (5-10 at most locations; the Library closes at 9pm on weekdays), and Saturday, October 20 from 12-5pm. Stop by the Downtown Library or any participating location to pick up the yearlong guide to local art with a special insert for this weekend’s event and a map to follow while you pound the pavement!

Taking art history this semester? Whether you’re researching Picasso or just need a quick definition of Art Nouveau, the AADL is here to help.

Check out the Grove Dictionary of Art database for artist biographies, bibliographies, and encyclopedia articles. You can also find images of artists’ works.

Access the Grove Dictionary of Art in the Arts & Literature section of our Research page. Library cardholders can search from home!

Persian Visions

The first survey of contemporary Iranian photography to be presented in the United States, Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran, introduces the work of 20 exceptionally talented artists - all celebrated figures in their homeland and many known in Europe as well.

These artists explore aspects of cultural, gendered, and individual identities in Iran at the beginning of the 21st century, and question not only what it is to be Iranian, but also the nature of reality as perceived by the human eye—and the camera's lens.

Persian Visions was arranged in spite of the current U.S. government sanction against “official” cultural exchange with Iran. Its presentation in Ann Arbor is made possible in part by the University of Michigan Office of the Provost, the University of Michigan Health System, and University of Michigan Women’s Studies Program.

The exhibition is on view through December 20, 2007 at UMMA Off/Site. Free docent guided tours are scheduled for Thursdays, October 11 and 25, @ 7 pm, and Sundays, October 14 and 28, @ 2 pm. For more information, call 734.763.UMMA

Arts Alliance

Do you make art, perform plays, write poetry, or otherwise behave creatively? Tonight’s your night to mingle! The Ann Arbor Arts Alliance is sponsoring its first Creative Connections of the season at the Ann Arbor Art Center’s Art Factory on Felch St. from 6:30-8:00pm. Creative Connections takes place on the third Monday of the month, and provides an opportunity for individuals involved in Arts and Culture in Washtenaw County to network in a relaxed, informal way. The focus of tonight’s event is the launch of ArtsCount, a county-wide artist census. Grab a glass of wine and start connecting!

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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.

Do you know about the "Gifts of Art" program at the University Of Michigan Hospital? If you don't, check it out tomorrow when Tad Weed, recently transplanted Los Angeles jazz pianist performs at 12:10 p.m. in the University Hospital's main lobby. For the last twenty years, Weed has toured with Woody Herman, bandleader, singer Carmen McRae and others.

"Gifts of Art" is an innovative program that brings both art exhibits and music to hospital patients, family, friends and staff in the belief that art promotes healing. The events are open to the public. Concerts are weekly and cover a broad range of musical styles from classical to world music. Exhibits include exemplary work from area sculptors, painters, mixed media artists and photographers. Also, check out the Library's books on art and healing.

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.