Blog Post
BreakFEST benefit concert at The Ark
by manz
The second annual BreakFEST, a benefit for the breakfast at St. Andrew’s program, is happening at The Ark on February 25 at 7pm. All proceeds will go towards running the all volunteer based breakfast program at St. Andrew’s church in Ann Arbor. They have been providing free daily breakfasts to those in need for more than 28 years.
The concert features music from Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, jazz pianist Stephen Rush from Ann Arbor, UK-based fingerstyle guitar master Duck Baker, and Louisiana dance music from Creole du Nord. All artists are donating their time and talent for this benefit show. See The Ark’s website for ticket info.
Blog Post
Dream Seeding for Changing Realities : All Ages Art Show
by muffy
The organizers of Dream Seeding are actively seeking submissions of art in ANY feasible medium from folks of any age or skill level for this year's Art Show.
The artist must feel that the work, in any conceivable way, "offers a vision of any aspect of a more peaceful, socially just, or ecologically healthy community or world, or offers some suggestion as to how we can move toward such a world." For more information on guidelines and submission, here is the contact.
Dream Seeding for Changing Realities All Ages Art Show will be open to the public at the Michigan Union Art Lounge (530 S. State St. on the University of Michigan Central Campus) from March 1st until March 31st.
Come join the Dream Seeding Reception on Saturday, March 19th, from 6 to 9 with music, dance, storytelling and food.
Blog Post
Huron Valley Ambulance Citizens Academy
by Caser
Every day, Huron Valley Ambulance provides Emergency Medical Services for people in need in our community. If you are interested in learning about how this service works, then check out the HVA Citizens Academy, a free eight week program that meets on Wednesday evenings (6 - 9 p.m.) from Feb. 18th - Apr 6th. The program is filled on a first come, first served basis for residents of Washtenaw County who are 18 years of age or older. Registration is required, and forms can be found at www.hva.org, or you can contact their Community Relations coordinator by email or by phone.
This is an interactive learning program where you will explore HVA operations, view demonstrations of skills performed in the field, receive first aid and CPR certifications, and listen to guest speakers from fire departments, police departments, and special operations.
If you can't make this program, you might want to check out the AADL's CPR and first aid collection, including both books and videos, on your next trip to the library.
Blog Post
Trivia Night With UM's "Wikipedians"
by hamiltonb
Lovers of trivia far and wide are invited to Trivia Night, February 10th from 7:00-9:00 PM in the gallery room of the University of Michigan's Hatcher Graduate Library. The event will be hosted by the Wikipedians, a UM student organization dedicated to raising awareness about the behind-the-scenes activity that makes Wikipedia work, and helping people learn how to contribute. The event is in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Wikipedia's creation.
Attendees will form five-person teams, with Amazon gift cards and other prizes being awarded to top teams. Light refreshments will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested but not required, and can be done via the UM Library's event notice. Check out the AADL's materials on Wikipedia and how it works in case you're quizzed on it!
Blog Post
Fela! at Michigan Theater
by manz
If you’re a fan of Fela Kuti’s music, you may be interested in the filmed theatrical production of FELA! coming up at the Michigan Theater, thanks to a partnership between UMS and the theater. FELA! Is a hybrid of dance, theater, and music, and tells the story of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, whose music is a blend of funk, jazz and African Rhythm. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winning Bill Jones, the film is part of the National Theatre Live series, featuring high-definition screenings of live theater broadcasts by the National Theater, London. It takes place at the Michigan Theater on Sunday, January 30 at 2pm. See the theater's website for more details and ticket information.
Blog Post
Nellie McKay to play The Ark
by manz
Nellie McKay brings her incessant folk-pop rambling to The Ark on Sunday, January 23 at 7:30pm. It is hard to define McKay’s musical style. Her background has taken her all over the map genre-wise. In addition to making her own music, she has also done covers, acted in movies, done Broadway, and recorded an album that is a tribute to Doris Day.
McKay may be a jazz-influenced pop artist, but her songs wouldn’t necessarily be described as romantic, they’re more along the lines of edgy. Her songs are humorous, endearing, and spit-in-your-face all at the same time. Her critically acclaimed albums, Get Away From Me, Pretty Little Head, and Obligatory Villagers, are filled with sharp feminist vocals brimming with infusions of cabaret, pop, vocal jazz and rock. McKay’s new album, Home Sweet Mobile Home, brings her out on tour, and lucky for us there’s a stop in Ann Arbor.
Visit The Ark’s website for full details and ticket information regarding her upcoming live performance.
Blog Post
Take Part in Art -- Art that Tells a Story
by MariaK
People have been using pictures to tell stories since…well, forever! Cave paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and the Bayeux Tapestry are all ancestors of modern picture books and graphic novels. To explore the relationship between art and storytelling, you could always come visit the Youth Art Table downtown, or enjoy our abundant and awesome resources at home.
Some excellent artists – modern and historical – have focused on using art to tell stories. To learn more about these artists try reading:
Brueghel: A Gift for Telling Stories – about the life of Dutch artist Pieter Brueghel.
En mi Familia and Family Pictures by Mexican-American artist Carmen Lomas Garza.
Pretty much anything about Norman Rockwell.
To explore how artists tell stories using pictures, try these books.
Telling Stories in Art by Joy Richardson provides examples readers can use to create their own story in art!
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud describes how graphic novelists use pictures to tell their stories, and Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel guides readers in creating their own graphic novels!
Read a wordless picture book to see how amazing a story without words can be.
If you have children ages 4-7, you can also attend one of the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s Storytime in the Museum programs starting January 8. University of Michigan students read stories related to the art on display at the museum to bring art to life!
Finally, to see how art can tell different stories to different people try Twice Told -- a collection of short stories based on paintings. The twist? Each painting inspires two stories by different authors. See how different stories based on the same picture can be! What story would you tell?
Blog Post
Boomerang Bonanza and Book Launch!
by manz
Okay makers, mark your calendars. Friday is the book release party for local author David Erik Nelson’s latest endeavor, Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids. It’s not your average book launch though. In addition to checking out the book and hanging out with the author at this free, family friendly event at the Workantile Exchange, you can also partake in making and throwing boomerangs while enjoying an adult beverage as your kids have fun. The boomerangs are one of the many fun, hands-on projects featured in the book.
Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred also features projects such as a simple electric guitar, board games, an oversized joy buzzer, and kites, to name a few. These make-tastic projects are sure to keep kids and parents busy for hours. If you're curious about the projects, ask the author about them!
The Boomerang Bonanza launch party coincides with Main Street’s Midnight Madness, so there’s no excuse not to pop in and get your make on amidst all that shopping and caroling.
Friday, Dec 3 -- 6–8pm -- Workantile Exchange, 118 S. Main St.
Blog Post
5 Bowls of Oatmeal
by flora
Hungry yet? Oatmeal may be the perfect, comforting breakfast as we enter another Michigan winter, but I’d like to entice you to brave the chill on Monday, November 22 for the “Scifi Fantasy RomCom Epic Adventure” of a lifetime. Five Bowls of Oatmeal is a festival of one-act plays that are written by 8- to 12-year-old playwrights from 826Michigan, performed by U of M performing arts students, and yes, they all involve oatmeal. Five Bowls starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Mendelssohn Theater at University of Michigan. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance from brownpapertickets.com
Blog Post
At Performance Network: The Drowsy Chaperone
by annevm
Performance Network will stage The Drowsy Chaperone Nov. 11 – Dec. 26. Music and lyrics are by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. Thursday (Nov. 11) is “Pay-What-You-Can,” with a suggested donation of $10. The show -- which pays tribute to American musicals of the Jazz Age -- debuted in 1998 in Toronto and opened on Broadway in 2006. It was given the Tony Award for best book and best score.