Blog Post
9th Annual Garlic Mustard Weed-Out Day!
by lola
Looking for something to do this beautiful Saturday (May 5th)? Spend your day from 10-1 PM in the sun removing garlic mustard from Ann Arbor’s nature areas: Argo Park, Bird Hills, and Cedar Bend. A BBQ will follow at Island Park Pavilion after all that hard work from 1:30-5 PM, where the person who bags the most garlic mustard will win a prize! Bring a dish to pass or anything to grill. Burgers, buns, condiments and beverage provided.
Call 996-3266 or check the website for more information and where to meet.
Photo taken by Dr. John Meade, Rutgers
Blog Post
Artist remembered
by Maxine
Today, April 30, is the birthday of African-American artist, Ellis Wilson. Wilson was born in Mayfield, Kentucky in 1899. He moved north to Chicago in the early 1920's where he attended the Art Institute of Chicago. He later moved to New York where he participated in the WPA art programs. Awarded with a aGuggenheim fellowship, Wilson traveled to South Carolina and painted African-Americans harvesting crops and selling goods at the open air markets in Charleston. He also was inspired during his time in Haiti where he painted peasants at work. He is probably best known for his painting, "Funeral Procession" which was displayed in the living room of the popular TV sit-com, the Bill Cosby Show.
Two books in our collection give a broad perspective on African-American artists. One is African American Artists, 1929-1945 by Lisa Mintz Messinger et al. The other is
American Art">A Century of African American Art edited by Amalia K. Amaki.
Blog Post
2007 Edgar Award - Best Youth Mystery
by kidlit
When the 2007 Edgar Awards were announced last week, veteran author Andrew Clements walked away with the prize for best mystery for young readers.
Room One: a Mystery or Two is the story of a budding detective who lives in a very small town in Nebraska. One day the sixth grader sees a girl standing in the window of an abandoned farmhouse. Why is the girl there and what can our young detective do about it?
This mystery, recommended for 9 - 12 year olds, covers an intriguing story as well as a few current social issues. Clements is a master of combining serious issues with humor and warmth. Illustrated by Chris Blair, this book is a winner.
This title is also available in CD format.
Blog Post
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. " ~ St. Augustine
by muffy
Frustrated that you could never get to those unbelievable low airfares advertised by the airlines? You are not alone.
Michelle Higgins's recent article in the New York Times "If It’s Good, Is It Too Good to Be True?" explains why.
The real bonus of the article is its tips on great websites that help consumers navigate through the maze of advertised come-ons and "special fares". She especially likes Airfarewatchdog.com which scours the Internet for the best bargains; FareCompare.com shows the lowest prices offered by month for the next 11 months between 77,000 North American and 200,000 international cities; and Farecast.com which predicts domestic ticket prices for air travelers. Happy Clicking.
Blog Post
2007 Michigan Reads Title Announced!
by kidlit
The 2007 Michigan Reads winner was announced last week. Michigan Reads is a program designed to showcase the importance of early childhood literacy. Each year a picture book by a Michigan author is honored and read throughout the state. This year's winner is Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Henry Cole.
This funny book tells the story of a group of chickens who are . . well, chicken. They're afraid of everything. Large, brightly colored illustrations help the narration. This one is sure to tickle everyone's funny bone!
Blog Post
A2 Events: Need a new groove for spring?
by jillean
Try contact improvisation dance and move where the groove takes you. On Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th local contact improv teacher, Stefanie Cohen will host a visit by Kathleen Maltese, a Chicago-based dancer, teacher and co-founder of the Chicago Contact Improvisation Group, for a special series of classes where students will explore the practice of falling and jamming. The event will also include dancers from throughout the Great Lakes region, an open dance for all, food, and live music by Detroit band Immigrant Suns. For more information, check out the Ann Arbor/Detroit Contact Improvisation website. If you want to read more about contact improv, check out:
Dances That Describe Themselves: The Improvised Choreography of Richard Bull
Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation
The Moment of Movement: Dance Improvisation
Speaking of Dance: Twelve Contemporary Choreographers on Their Craft
Blog Post
April is Jazz Appreciation Month
by Bertha
Even if it wasn't Jazz Appreciation Month, I would recommend the collaboration between Paul Rogers and Wynton Marsalis, called Jazz A B Z The poems work best when read aloud, and then you'll want to try samples of all the jazz greats presented. All Music Guide to Jazz may help guide you along.
Blog Post
Babymouse!
by anned
Jennifer L. Holm has teamed up with her brother Matthew to create Babymouse, an adorable and imaginative comic starring a school-aged mouse and her best friend Wilson the Weasel (who both happen to love monster movies and cupcakes). Anyone who has been through grade school can relate to Babymouse and her problems with meatloaf lunches, lockers, and the incredibly mean Felicia Furrypaws. She gets through it all with the help of her friends and her favorite books. Drawn very simply in black and white with some pink thrown in for flair (and I could have sworn I saw some Ed Emberley animals roaming the school halls).
Blog Post
Imagining Eden: Connecting Landscapes
by muffy
Imagining Eden: Connecting Landscapes, an exhibition by photographer Lyle Gomes is on view at the University of Michigan Museum of Art Off/Site (through June 3, 2007)
Created over a sixteen-year period, this project represents a long-term study of “idealized human-made landscapes of parks, golf courses, gardens, and garden cemeteries (and) explore the enduring human impulse to shape the landscape and to strive for a harmonious balance between humankind and nature.”
Many of the images in this exhibition reflect Gomes’ personal journey and professional development. His Fulbright Scholar Award allowed him to spend time in Britain and a Rockefeller Foundation residency took him to Bellagio, Italy. He continues to reside in the San Francisco Bay Area and heads the Photography program at College of San Mateo. He is represented locally by the Halsted Gallery.
Blog Post
RARRARG!*
by anned
Patrick is a young boy who likes to do all the things that young boys do, only with his own flair—Patrick is a werewolf. He communicates by growling, but his parents and friends understand him just fine. Artist Art Baltazar and writer Franco Aurelian have created a cute and amusing character drawn in a style that pays tribute to 1950s Charles Schulz (Patrick’s shirt is even an invert of Charlie Brown’s).
If you would like to meet the artist, Art Baltazar will be making an appearance at the Motor City Comic Con May 18-20.