A&D NEWS

March 23, 2012

50th Ann Arbor Film Festival Events

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America, established in 1963. Internationally recognized as a premiere forum for independent filmmakers and artists, each year’s festival engages audiences with remarkable cinematic experiences. The six-day festival presents 40 programs, panels and parties with nearly 200 films from over 20 countries of all lengths and genres, including experimental, animation, documentary, narrative, hybrid and performance based works. As part of the 50th Anniversary programming, the School of Art & Design is hosting installations by Leighton Pierce and Phil Solomon at Slusser Gallery and Work: Ann Arbor.

Leighton Pierce: Threshold of Peripheral Induction

March 26 – April 2

Slusser Gallery, Art & Architecture Building - 2000 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor MI, 48109

PLEASE NOTE: Pierce provides an artist talk Friday, March 30th at 3pm in Slusser Gallery

Pierce’s installation creates an environment for proto-narratives. The imagined camera constantly moves as if an entity through real yet abstracted space. Small events occur, yet a plot never takes hold. This is the proto-narrative—events seem to be linked in time and across space, but likely outcomes are never encouraged.

Through specific arrangement of a “U” shaped projection object, Pierce has made it impossible to see more than two projected images at once. The observer must continually change their viewing position – a move which simultaneously eliminates some images from view. The purposeful lack of an ideal viewing position forces an engagement with memory and forgetting as the observer integrates visual, aural, and spatial impressions into an internal shifting coherence.

The images themselves are both beautiful and uncanny. The bulk of the material was shot in natural light at night, much of it in a rural setting away from most artificial light sources. Pierce shot thousands of handheld long-exposure digital stills that he later wove into video “shots.” He moved the camera during each of these long (several seconds in most cases) exposures, painting with the low light and strange color shifts of night onto the image sensor. In these images, both the light of night and the markers of time due to intentional motion blur create a sense of familiar strangeness.

Pierce’s process of shooting embodied an attentional effect, which he continued to explore throughout the editing and arrangement of the finished piece. The difficulty of capturing handheld moving stills to be later animated into video, forced an attention to kinesthetic memory while shooting. Each hour long “shoot” (required to gather material for a one or two minute shot) was a continuous dance with the camera. Coupled with the necessary live calculations of simultaneous time streams (1 – each exposure’s duration and the unnaturally slow movement required to shoot in this stop-motion manner and 2 – the anticipated duration and temporal flow of the completed video shot), this created a production environment in which he could embed a quality of attention into the process of making itself, from the very first moment.

http://aafilmfest.org/50/events/50-screens/threshold/

Phil Solomon: American Falls

March 25 – April 2

Work Gallery, 306 State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday: Noon – 7 pm, Closed Sunday/Monday.

PLEASE NOTE: Solomon will be in attendance for a program dedicated to his films on Friday, March 30th

An epic cross-examination of 20th Century American history, begins with an image of Annie Edson Taylor, who became the first person to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1901. The idea of “falling,” both literal and metaphorical, becomes the guiding concept of this three-channel installation, as Solomon applies his trademark “image alchemy” (a process that involves applying chemical solutions to film emulsion) to images that somehow seem conjured from the collective unconscious. Begun at the dawn of the Bush era and com- pleted as Obama took office, American Falls is a magisterial, meticulous survey of the promise and failure of a cracked American dream. – John Powers

http://aafilmfest.org/50/events/50-screens/americanfalls/

December 16, 2011

Empty Bowls Sets Record

Last week’s “Empty Bowls” event was the best yet - a record 377 bowls were sold, and the UM Ceramics Club was able to donate a check for $3,000.00 to S.O.S. Community Outreach in Ypsilanti.
With the help of the Art & Design community and others who purchased bowls, the total outpaced previous records by over $1,000.00!

What is Empty Bowls? Over 300 Bowls have been hand-made by the UM Ceramics Club, and will be sold for $10 each during this lunchtime event.  2 wonderful soups have been prepared to fill your bowl, and will be served with bread donated by Zingerman’s Bakery to provide a tasty and healthful lunch. All monies from the sale of these bowls will be donated to S.O.S Community Outreach Service of Wastenaw county to restock their food cupboards for the upcoming winter season.

November 30, 2011

2011 All Student Exhibition

The 2011 All Student Exhibition opened on November 18th with gala receptions at Slusser gallery on North Campus, and Work • Ann Arbor downtown.  Work by each and every A&D undergraduate and graduate student is featured in the exhibition; a sampling of some of the work on display can be viewed by clicking the thumbnails below.  The exhibition is open until December 14. 

For more information on the exhibition, including a list of student award-winners, visit the 2011 All Student Exhibition page.

November 3, 2011

New Faculty and Graduate Student Studios

Celebrating its new university-supported art and design faculty/graduate student studios, the UM School of Art & Design held a grand opening party on Friday 28 October.  Search lights marked the location at 1919 Green Road for 250 party goers including Lee Doyle, Director, Communications Policy and Administration Director, University of Michigan Film Office Chief Freedom of Information Officer; Lisa Rudgers, Vice President for Global Communications and Strategic Initiatives; the School of Art & Design Deans Advisory Council (DAC) members including DAC chair Penny Stamps; and the School of Art & Design community of faculty, graduate students, staff and alumni. 

Speakers commemorating the event included Martha Pollock, Vice Provost for Academic and Budgetary Affairs, Professor of Information, and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering; Chris Mackey, lead architect for the project from SHW Group, School of Art & Design Dean Bryan Rogers, and School of Art & Design Associate Dean Brad Smith.  Later in the evening, Provost Martha Pollock and Bryan Rogers formally opened the studios with a ribbon cutting ceremony, with a Sawzall taking the place of the more traditional scissors.  A DJ played throughout the evening to bring people to the dance floor.  And creative work by Art & Design faculty and graduate students—from large scale drawings to posters, paintings and installations—enlivened the space.

A&D’s faculty and graduate student studios cover 33,000 square feet of industrial space, providing individual studios for both full time faculty and graduate students with 35 studios on the first floor, and 31 on the second floor, ringing a 5,000 square foot two-story central open area.  The facility also includes a large common area for collaborative and/or large-scale projects; multiple tool-specific shared work spaces; exhibition areas suitable for showcasing finished or in-process work; and a dramatic pedestrian bridge connecting the two second-floor studio wings.

Once the location for UM Printing Services, the facility was completely renovated for its new art and design function with new HVAC, new plumbing, new electrical, and added windows and skylights.

It’s rare for faculty and graduate students to have their studios in the same facility.  Bryan Rogers comments, “When I first came to UM 12 years ago, I thought it was critical that faculty and graduate students have dedicated space at the University for developing their creative work, a space that facilitates formal and informal engagement among and between graduate students and faculty members. Researchers have labs.  Studios are the laboratories for artists and designers. We’re so pleased to have the support from the administration that confirms art and design’s integral role as a part of this great research university.”

Read UM Vice President for Global Communications and Strategic Initiatives Lisa Rudgers’ account of the opening celebration at: Montage: An Art Happening.

October 7, 2011

A&D+SiTE:LAB Win “Best Venue” Juried ArtPrize Award

In addition to the ArtPrize awards that are the result of public vote, there are also a number of other awards decided by a group of professionals.  This year, the School of Art & Design and SiTE:LAB exhibition venue in the former Junior Achievement building at 2 East Fulton received the “Best Venue” Award. 

ArtPrize 2011 juried award winners: See who won
http://blog.artprize.org/2011/10/04/eyes-on-the-prize-2011-curators-matter/

September 28, 2011

Kite Master Visits CFC Culture Class

As part of the UM Kite Festival, Master Ha Yiqi, a fourth-generation kite master, visited students in Anne Mondro’s CFC Culture Course. As a visiting artist, Master Ha demonstrated traditional painting and bamboo work for the students. The CFC students have been building their own traditional Chinese kites and presented their kites to Master Ha during his visit. The kites will be part of an exhibition on kites at UM Hospital in October.

September 28, 2011

Winter 2011 Dean’s List

The School of Art & Design recognizes the academic excellence of its undergraduate majors at the end of each semester through its Dean’s List. Placement on the Dean’s List requires a term grade point average of at least 3.5, and a minimum of 16 earned credits and 15 graded credits. Transcripts of Dean’s List students carry official notation of this honor, and the current list is posted outside the School of Art & Design Dean’s Office.

The students listed below have achieved the Winter 2011 Dean’s List distinction.  Congratulations on this accomplishment.

• Carly Abramson
• Ashley Allis
• Leah Backo
• Lindsay Balfour
• Elise Beckman
• Abigail Bennett
• Jaclyn Benninger
• Ashley Boudrie
• Alyssa Bovenzi
• Dylan Box
• Julia Braid
• Anna Jonetta Brown
• Emily Byrne
• Kellyn Carpenter
• Jordan Chao
• James Christian
• Kathie Chung
• Evan Clark
• Jazmine Clark
• Krista Clement
• Maxwell Collins
• Melanie Conn
• Michael Connelly
• Elaine Czech
• Shaili Das
• Christina Davis
• Valerie DiMilia
• Amanda Donahue
• Tarah Douglas
• Kathleen Eberts
• Lindsey Eldredge-Fox
• Tara Ellis
• David Eppig
• Madelyn Etzcorn
• Sarah Fogel
• Sophia Greenbaum
• Lisa Gross
• Nicole Hankus
• Hillary Hausch
• Kimberly Hillier
• Madalyn Hochendoner
• Marla Jones
• Lauren Korany
• Alicia Kovalcheck
• Alex Ku
• Rita Lee
• John Leonard
• Corinn Lewis
• Cristina Ley
• Claire Liburdi
• Nolan Loh Emily Maier
• Ana Clara Malaquias de Araujo
• Kaitlind Marek
• Ian Matchett
• Emily Morley
• Kara Morris
• Hannah Nathans
• Erica Neumann
• Maida Nikocevic
• Emily Paik
• Marian Perez
• Paul Provenza
• Lauren Rubel
• Kaisa Ryding
• Anna Schulte
• Thekla Sitompul
• Natalie Smith
• Judith Su
• Kyla Suchy
• Robin Tuck
• Michael Wang
• Cassidy Wasko
• Ellen Wolbert
• Dalal Yassawi
• Ye Seul Yoon
• Kristen Zelenka
• Allyson Zelinski
• Theo Zizka

September 14, 2011

Artists Bring the Art of Chinese Kite-Building to UM

With support from the Center for Chinese Studies, A&D faculty members Anne Mondro and Matt Shlian spent the month of June in Beijing working with Ha Yiqi, one of China’s most distinguished and skilled kite artisans. Now, Master Ha will visit the UM campus for the first annual Kite Festival.

He gave them a big machete-like knife, a bunch of bamboo strips and a box of Band-Aids. Then the Chinese kite master left University of Michigan artists Anne Mondro and Matthew Shlian alone in his Beijing home to create their own wispy pieces of aerial art.

  Read the full article: Artists bring the art of Chinese kite-building to U-M

Mondro and Shlian will share their newfound kite-making skills with U-M students in a series of workshops, culminating in the first annual Kite Festival, a one-day jubilee with community competition, master kite fly-offs, lion dancing and kite-building workshops.  The event, inspired by the traditional Asian craft of kite flying (feng zheng), will take place on September 25, 2011 at the Arboretum.

Kite Festival: Master kite demonstrations, competitions & challenges, and community art table, with a garnishing of entertainment: Chinese ribbon dancing, yo-yo demos, lion dances, taiko drumming, and zithers. Kite aficionados are invited to participate and bring their own self-crafted kites.  No experience necessary — kite building workshops and lessons will be
Sunday, September 25th 1:00 - 5:00 pm
U-M Nichols Arboretum
1610 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor

Kite Fly-a-thon: Master kite flying demos; enjoy kite fliers showcasing their skills.
Friday, September 23rd 5:00-7:00pm
U-M Ferry Field (outdoor track)
1150 S. State St., Ann Arbor

For more information on these events, visit the Center for Chinese Studies’ Kite Festival page.

August 25, 2011

A&D at ArtPrize 2011

Over the past six months, the University of Michigan School of Art & Design and the Grand Rapids arts organization SiTE:LAB have been collaborating on creating site-specific events in the former Junior Achievement Building, culminating in ArtPrize (September 21 to October 9, 2011).

Often described as a radically open experiment in public art, ArtPrize is an annual three-week competition in which art works are displayed at more than 150 venues throughout downtown Grand Rapids.  Approximately $500,000 in prize money is awarded on the basis of public voting.

Within the dramatic open-span spaces of the 25,000 square foot A&D and SiTE:LAB venue at 2 East Fulton Street, eleven national and international artists have created large-scale works in response to the building’s intriguing interior landscape. 

Participating artists, selected by SiTE:LAB founder Professor Paul Amenta and A&D faculty member Elona Van Gent, include:

• Assocreation
• Ericka Beckman
• Anya Belkina
• David Bowen
• Alois Kronschlaeger
• Loren Madsen
• Meghan Reynard and Patrick Ethen
• Nick Tobier and Juliane Stiegele
• Shinji Turner-Yamamoto

For more details about the collaboration, visit http://www.sitelab.tumblr.com or http://www.artprize.org/venues/public-profile/506 .

The A&D Artists and Designers Participating in ArtPrize

This year, nearly 1,600 artists from 36 countries and 43 states will be exhibiting their work at ArtPrize, including close to 30 faculty and alumni from the University of Michigan School of Art & Design:

Emir Alibasic (MFA 2010)
DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Avenue NW

Paula Bowers (BFA 1977)
Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl ST NW

Sheryl Budnik (BFA 1969)
Bar Divani, 15 Ionia Ave SW Suite 130

Richard Burns (BFA ‘75, MFA ‘77)
The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave NW

Heidi Dauphin (BFA 1992)
Ottawa Tavern, 151 Ottawa Ave

Rosemary Ellis (BFA 1987)
Huntington / 50 Monroe Place, 50 Monroe Avenue, NW - First & Second Floors

Alexander Fedirko (BFA 2003)
The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave NW

Elisabeth Foster (BFA 2002)
HopCat, 25 Ionia SW Suite 100

Carl W. Goines (BFA 2002)
Plante & Moran Building, 634 Front Ave

Helen Gotlib (BFA 2003)
Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl ST NW

Holly Greenberg (BFA 1990)
UICA, 2 West Fulton SE

Francie Hester (BFA 1982)
Mercantile Bank of Michigan, 48 West Fulton

Dani Jeffries (BFA 1987)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 47 Jefferson Ave. SE

Isaac Krauss (BFA 2010)
GRid 70, 70 Ionia SW

Heidi Kumao (A&D Associate Professor)
UICA, 2 West Fulton SE

Rita Mercedes Long (BFA 2009)
Van Andel Arena, 130 West Fulton

Colleen O’Rourke (BFA 1992)
Fountain Street Church , 24 Fountain Street NE

Amanda Orr (BFA pending 2014)
Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant, 180 Monroe Ave.

Keith Pakkala (BFA 2002)
Minty Keen, 125 Ottawa NW Suite 170

Justin Palermo (BFA 2001 &  AB 2001)
Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl ST NW

Laurel J Prafke (BFA 1987)
Riverfront Cafe. 235 Fulton W.

Page Redford (BFA 2009)
Peck Building, 40 Monroe Center

Dylan Strzynski (BFA 2001)
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave. NW

Nick Tilma (BFA pending 2015)
Mercantile Bank of Michigan 48 West Fulton

Nick Tobier (A&D Associate Professor) and Juliane Stiegele
Site:Lab + U of M School of Art & Design, 2 East Fulton Street

Cathy VanVoorhis (MFA 1986)
Waters Building, 161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 104

Mary Lou Webster (BSDES 1971)
Carpe Diem Volleyball, 1010 Front Ave NW

Rebecca Zeiss  (BFA 1979)
San Chez Bistro & Cafe, 38 W Fulton

August 23, 2011

MSF Fellowships

The Michigan Society of Fellows seeks applicants for 2012 - 2015 Fellowships.  Applications are due by October 3; visit http://societyoffellows.umich.edu for details.

The Michigan Society of Fellows was founded in 1970 through grants from the Ford Foundation and Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies for the purpose of promoting academic and creative excellence in the humanities, the arts, the social, physical, and life sciences, and in the professions. In 2007, the Mellon Foundation awarded a grant to add four Mellon Fellows annually in the humanities, expanding the number of fellowships awarded each year from four to eight. The objective of the Society is to provide financial and intellectual support for individuals holding advanced degrees in their fields, who are selected for their outstanding achievement, professional promise, and interdisciplinary interests. We invite applications from qualified candidates for three-year fellowships at the University of Michigan.

Candidates should be near the beginning of their professional careers. Those selected for fellowships must have received the Ph.D. degree or comparable artistic or professional degree between June 1, 2009, and September 1, 2012. Fellows are appointed as Assistant Professors in appropriate departments and as Postdoctoral Scholars in the Michigan Society of Fellows. They are expected to be in residence in Ann Arbor during the academic years of the fellowship, to teach for the equivalent of one academic year, to participate in the informal intellectual life of the Society, and to devote time to their independent research or artistic projects. This is not an artist-in-residence program but rather an opportunity to develop one’s work in conversation with fellows from a range of disciplines during the three years of the fellowship. Applications from degree candidates and recipients of the Ph.D. or comparable artistic or professional degree from the University of Michigan will not be considered.

Applications will be reviewed by Society members and University faculty. Final selections will be made in late January by Senior Fellows of the Society. Eight Fellows will be selected for three-year terms to begin September 1, 2012. The annual stipend will be $52,000.

The online application is available at: http://societyoffellows.umich.edu
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Application Deadline: October 3, 2011