Ann Arbor Restaurant Week Back By Popular Demand: Main Street Area Association Presents Restaurant Week January 17 – 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 29
The Main Street Area Association is pleased to present Restaurant Week January 17 - 22, 2010.
Food for thought: one week of one price dining. Twenty six participating restaurants will be offering diners the opportunity to experience what they do best at a very special fixed price. Dinner is a three course menu for $25, some restaurants offering two for one pricing. Lunch is priced at $12 and is an open format; restaurants will be offering a menu of their choice, many offering two for one pricing. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus, including two for one pricing details, available at www.annarborrestaurantweek.com.
This event is a celebration of dining in downtown Ann Arbor. Downtown Ann Arbor has a unique combination of dining, both fine and family friendly, along with locally owned, independent shops, galleries, salons and music venues. What better reason to get out of the house in the middle of January? You get a great deal AND you help keep our local economy churning.
Make reservations early at participating restaurants, tables fill quickly during this gastronomically great event.
This event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of two Gold Level sponsors, Gordon Food Service and Valley City Linen, both out of Grand Rapids, MI. Additional support provided by Silver Level sponsor Frog Holler Produce, Ann Arbor MI, and Bronze Level sponsor R. Hirt, Detroit, MI.
The Main Street Area Association is a 501(c)6 not for profit organization whose mission is to preserve the long term success and vitality of downtown Ann Arbor.
Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) Donates Over 40 Business Suits to the Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan
Friday, December 18
The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) held their holiday mixer for women business leaders on Tuesday, December 8, at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Merry Mingling attendees were asked to donate their gently worn business suits for donation to the Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan, a local non-profit that helps disadvantaged women acquire job skills, coaching, and professional attire so they can succeed in work and life.
WXW Merry Mingling attendees donated 41 business suits as well as several professional winter coats to help stock the Women’s Center’s career clothing closet.
“Thank you so much for supporting our Career Closet, which helps women in our community have appropriate professional attire for job interviews and early days in their new jobs,” said Kimberli Cumming, Executive Director of the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan. “Clothing can be such a barrier for women who are starting over and picking up the pieces. Our own job-seeking clients, and women living in area shelters who also use our Career Closet, are much more likely to be successful in efforts to get back on their feet because of generous women like you."
The mission of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is to host unique events where women business leaders talk through their issues, share experiences and ideas, and form lasting connections. WXW was founded in 2007 by Ann Arbor business women Carrie Hensel and Debra Power to fill a need for an organization dedicated to women who are building strong and growing companies. Today, the WXW serves more than 700 women with interactive events and networking opportunities.
Miller Canfield ‘Pays It Forward’ In Ann Arbor
Thursday, December 18
The law firm of Miller Canfield is celebrating 25 years in Ann Arbor by volunteering time and donating to 25 local nonprofit organizations. Dubbed “25 for 25,” the yearlong commitment comes at a very important time as organizations are looking for extra assistance especially during the holiday season.
For example, this year’s office holiday tree is a mitten tree to benefit the Ann Arbor Community Center’s Emergency Assistance Clothes Closet for distribution to needy community members. New or used mittens, hats and scarves in child and adult sizes will adorn the tree. In addition, the office will gather gently used coats for donation.
Miller Canfield’s Ann Arbor office, which has almost 80 lawyers and staff, participated in these projects:
• Ann Arbor Art Center - purchased three Bike Hoops in honor of the Center’s 100th Anniversary • Humane Society of Huron Valley - Walk-n-Wag sponsors and walkers • Avalon Housing – volunteers planted flowers and vegetable gardens for Parkhurst and Stimson Apartment residents with the Washtenaw County Bar Association, as part of "Project Grow”
• Bryant Community Center – delivered 50 backpacks and a cash donation to benefit the school’s back-to-school backpack drive for low-income students • Creekshead Nature Preserve of the Legacy Land Conservancy - volunteers improved visitor trails and beautified pathways • ElderQuest (Continuing Education at Eastern Michigan University) - volunteers worked a ticket booth at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Rubber Duckie Race • Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley - volunteers contributed to the renovation and landscaping of two Habitat homes in Ypsilanti • Recycle Ann Arbor - volunteers completely re-organized an entire area of the ReUse Center retail facility • American Cancer Society - walkers raised $870 in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk • Arts Alliance - lawyers provided information for the arts and cultural community on intellectual property, taxes, incorporating, labor and employment, and additional topics as requested for individual artists, as well as entrepreneurs, and organizations involved in the arts and cultural community • Neighborhood Senior Services - volunteers raked and bagged leaves at several homes in Ann Arbor
Miller Canfield opened its Ann Arbor office in July 1984 when it merged with DeVine, DeVine, Kantor and Serr. The firm offers businesses, governments, nonprofits, individuals and families a broad array of integrated legal and business services in over 55 areas. With Michigan roots for 157 years and a global reach for two decades, the firm has more than 370 lawyers throughout offices in Michigan, Illinois, Florida, New York, Ohio, Canada, Mexico, Poland and China. For more information, visit www.millercanfield.com.
AATA Moves Forward to Rebuild Blake Transit Center
Thursday, December 17
With more than 5,000 passengers a day using the Blake Transit Center (BTC) to either get to downtown destinations or transfer between buses, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) has determined that the facility is due for reconstruction.
In making the announcement of the upcoming demolition and rebuilding of the BTC, CEO Michael Ford said, “After weighing the options very carefully, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our passengers and employees and the best use of the available funding to demolish the BTC and build a new structure on the available property,” Ford said.
Ridership has almost doubled in the 22 years since the original construction of the public transit facility, resulting in more than 5,000 passengers now using the BTC daily for waiting, boarding, transferring, customer information and security, and employees using the break area. Downtown Ann Arbor is the destination for more than 2,500 individuals using the facility each day.
The estimated cost to rebuild the BTC is between $2,758,500 and $3,757,000. AATA received approval for federal and state grants to renovate or rebuild its downtown transit center in 2005. The funds are designated for use only for capital expenditures such as facilities and buses, and cannot be used to directly operate transit service, Ford said.
Ford explained that AATA may lose some or all of the state and federal grant money if it does not have a project in place by September 30, 2010, when the $402,003 in state funds are due to expire after a two-year extension was granted. There is no expiration on the federal grant of $1,608,012, but a local match is required.
Additional funds totaling $918,750 need to be put into an approved grant or they will be lost, Ford added.
“The BTC is essential to public transportation in Ann Arbor and its location in the downtown area is the most efficient as the center of our pulsing radial route system. AATA wants to maintain a strong presence downtown to provide our passengers with the most modern, comfortable, safe and convenient facilities possible,” Ford said.
“This facility allows transfers to be made without passengers having to cross city streets. The BTC serves as an Ann Arbor Police Department mini-station for the southwest quadrant of downtown and also enables some 75 bus drivers to take their breaks and eat their lunches each day.”
DLZ, a professional engineering, architectural and contract management firm was hired to evaluate the facility and make recommendations for either rehabilitation of the current structure to extend its life for five more years, improve and slightly expand the existing facility, or demolish the BTC and build a newly designed facility to serve the public for years to come.
“In analyzing the current structure, DLZ found that many critical repairs would be needed to the existing facility,” Ford said, “including replacement of equipment that is beyond its life expectancy, and deteriorating concrete pavement, structural columns and roofing. The current building does not allow for expansion to meet our growing needs, nor does it provide AATA with alternate meeting areas to better engage the public.”
Among other concerns that DLZ identified were the need for a new fire suppression system and an upgrade of the facility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Cost estimates were developed for each of the approaches, as well as for demolition and rebuilding on a larger footprint, should that opportunity arise.
The new transit center will be designed to include an interactive public lobby/waiting room with a capacity of 60-75 people, information kiosks, a concession space, expanded public restrooms, a public board room accommodating 60-75 guests, a computer room, an improved employee lounge area and additional facility storage space.
In approving a resolution to move forward, the AATA Board of Directors stated its intention that the new BTC be designed and built to take maximum advantage of the present site, incorporate environmentally friendly concepts and include all functional areas now provided by the current facility, plus additional space for new uses, and be flexible in order to take advantage of possible opportunities for future expansion.
Ford said, “While AATA moves forward to update its downtown facility, it will also continue to develop other transfer facilities around our service area. For instance, we are working cooperatively with the University of Michigan on a new Central Campus Facility -- scheduled for completion next year -- that will provide facilities for waiting passengers and will help coordinate transfers between our two systems.”
Ford added that planning work continues on the future intermodal facility at Fuller Road where transfers would be made for North Ann Arbor and potentially between AATA and Amtrak trains. Plans are also under way to develop an off-street transfer facility on Washtenaw Avenue near US 23.
“AATA will make every effort during the course of the BTC project to relocate the services now available there, to minimize disruption to our customers and operate in a manner that is both safe and convenient for both the public and our employees,” Ford said.
Questions on the BTC project may be directed to AATA at aatainfo@theride.org.
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a special-purpose unit of government. AATA is supported through local, state and federal funds, and fare box revenues. AATA operates 27 public transit routes, paratransit services and carpool-vanpool matching and other transportation services to facilitate mobility throughout the urbanized areas of Washtenaw County.
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
2700 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 734.973.6500; 734.973.6338F; www.theride.org Mary K. Stasiak, Mgr. Community Relations 734.794.1870; mstasiak@TheRide.org.
Ann Arbor District Library Announces January Computer Classes
Monday, December 14
The Ann Arbor District Library will offer a variety of computer classes during the month of January. All classes are approximately two hours long. There is no charge to take these classes, however registration is required and many sessions fill rapidly.
You may register:
• Online at aadl.org/classes
• At any AADL location
• By calling 327-4555
January classes include:
Excel Basics: Learn the fundamentals of a worksheet and how it can work for you. Learn how to format a cell and add data. Find out what a worksheet is to a workbook. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Mon. Jan. 4 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
Tues. Jan. 12 1 – 3 pm Pittsfield Branch
Tues. Jan. 19 7 – 9 pm West Branch
World Wide Web Tools: This class allows participants to become acquainted with the fundamentals of using the World Wide Web. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Mon. Jan. 4 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Thurs. Jan. 21 3:30 – 5:30 pm West Branch
Beginning Computers: This class offers participants a general introduction to the various components of a computer: basic computer terminology, mouse skills, an overview of operating systems, popular software applications, and an introduction to the Internet.
Tues. Jan. 5 7 – 9 pm Downtown Library
Thurs. Jan. 14 9:15 – 11:15 am West Branch
Blogging 101: This class presents examples of blogs and an overview of the process of setting up (Google account required) and maintaining a blog, including blogging etiquette. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Wed. Jan. 6 3:30 – 5:30 pm Pittsfield Branch
Microsoft Word Drawing: Learn how to use the drawing toolbar. Insert pictures, WordArt, Lines, AutoShapes, 3-D Objects, and Diagrams into your Microsoft Word Document. This class requires knowledge of Microsoft Word basics.
Wed. Jan. 6 7 – 9 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Wed. Jan. 27 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Flickr: Share Your Digital Images: Imagine sharing the photos from your last party with friends and family all over the world without spending a dime or forcing your relatives to create needless accounts. Flickr and other photo sharing sites allow users to create and share albums of photos in a simple, straightforward way. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Thurs. Jan. 7 9:15 – 11:15 am Downtown Library
Thurs. Jan. 28 1 – 3 pm Malletts Creek Branch
PowerPoint Basics: Learn PowerPoint tools and views and the AutoContent wizard. Participants will learn how to sort, duplicate, insert objects, insert comments, add notes and understand printing options. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Thurs. Jan. 7 1 – 3 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Mon. Jan. 18 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
Applying for Jobs Online: Participants will learn about using internet web forms and job applications.
Thurs. Jan. 7 3:30 – 5:30 pm West Branch
Fri. Jan. 22 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
iPod Fever: Learn the features of the iPod and how it works with iTunes.
Fri. Jan. 8 9:15 – 11:15 am Downtown Library
Introduction to Google Documents: Participants will be introduced to the basic functions of Google Documents. They will create Google Documents accounts and learn how to create, share, upload and edit documents online. Practical applications of this technology will be discussed. This class requires a Gmail account.
Fri. Jan. 8 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
Mon. Jan. 11 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
iPhoto: Use a Mac and iPhoto to edit and store photos, sort them into albums and create slideshows. This class requires knowledge of Mac computer basics.
Fri. Jan. 8 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Intermediate Excel: Participants will learn how to use AutoFill, Sort, AutoFilter, the IF function, and name ranges of data. In addition, participants will learn the difference between relative and absolute references and how to apply conditional formatting and link cells. This class requires knowledge of Excel basics.
Mon. Jan. 11 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
Tues. Jan. 26 7 – 9 pm West Branch
Thurs. Jan. 28 9:15 – 11:15 am Downtown Library
Beginning Email: This class allows participants the opportunity to learn basic functions of email through creating a Gmail account in class. Participants will establish a username and password, receive an overview of the various functions of email, and practice reading, writing, and sending an email.
Tues. Jan. 12 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
Fri. Jan. 29 3:30 – 5:30 pm Pittsfield Branch
Microsoft Word Basics: Participants are introduced to Word features such as highlighting, cutting, pasting, spell-check, grammar check, and saving to disk. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Tues. Jan. 12 7 – 9 pm West Branch
Wed. Jan. 13 7 – 9 pm Malletts Creek Branch
aadl.org: A roadmap to searching for materials, information, and events on aadl.org. Participants will discover a variety of hidden gems within the site, including: the advantage of using My Account for placing holds, how to navigate the research tab, and how and why to tag items. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Wed. Jan. 13 1 – 3 pm Downtown Library
Wed. Jan. 27 9:15 – 11:15 am West Branch
Microsoft Word Tools & More: Learn how to use the toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, task pane and templates. Learn editing tools such as AutoCorrect. This class requires knowledge of Microsoft Word basics.
Wed. Jan. 13 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Wed. Jan. 20 7 – 9 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Craigslist: Search Craigslist and learn how to post an advertisement. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Wed. Jan. 13 3:30 – 5:30 pm Pittsfield Branch
Mon. Jan. 25 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Creating a PowerPoint Presentation: Review PowerPoint tools, modify backgrounds, work with clipart, and use animations and transitions. This class requires knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint basics.
Thurs. Jan. 14 1 – 3 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Mon. Jan. 25 3:30 – 5:30 pm Traverwood Branch
iDVD: Create an iDVD project using iTunes and iPhoto. Optional: Bring your own photo/video files and a writable DVD.
Fri. Jan. 15 1 – 3 pm Downtown Library
iPhone: Learn the basics of the iPhone with this demonstration. Learn how to setup your mail account, use apps, and sync with your computer. Optional: Bring you iPhone if you’d like, but iPhones are not required.
Fri. Jan. 15 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
File Management: Participants will learn the dynamics of file management using My Computer and Windows Explorer. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Thurs. Jan. 21 9:15 – 11:15 am Downtown Library
Expand Your Web Experience: So you know the basics of using the World Wide Web, now what? Learn more about web sites such as Wikipedia, Twitter, and CNN and how to use tags and organize your favorite web sites online.
Wed. Jan. 20 3:30 – 5:30 pm Pittsfield Branch
Microsoft Word Insert: Learn how to insert Headers, Footers, Page Breaks, Section Breaks, Columns, Tables, Symbols, Hyperlinks, Footnotes, Watermarks, and AutoText such as a Table of Contents into your Microsoft Word document. This class requires knowledge of Microsoft Word basics.
Wed. Jan. 20 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Wed. Jan. 27 7 – 9 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Microsoft Mail Merge: Participants will learn how to create a mail merge template and data source and will perform letter, envelope, and mailing label mail merges. This class requires knowledge of Microsoft Word basics.
Thurs. Jan. 21 1 – 3 pm Malletts Creek Branch
Tues. Jan. 26 1 – 3 pm Pittsfield Branch
Facebook 101: Join us for an introduction to Facebook. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Thurs. Jan. 21 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
Fri. Jan. 29 9:15 – 11:15 am Traverwood Branch
Digital Camera 101: Learn about the different types of digital cameras, the basics of digital photography, and get an introduction to Photoshop Elements.
Fri. Jan. 22 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
EBook: This class will go over the basics of how to use Overdrive and the Michigan Library Consortium site to download digital content. Participants will learn how to use the site to find titles in various formats. The class will also focus on how to use Overdrive to manage downloads and how to transfer audio content to MP3 players. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Mon. Jan. 25 7 – 9 pm Downtown Library
Introduction to Firefox Add-Ons: Find out what an add-on is, where to find them, and how to install and use them. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Wed. Jan. 27 3:30 – 5:30 pm Pittsfield Branch
Online News Delivered: Find news online and learn how to set up automatic email delivery of your favorite news. Basic computer and mouse experience is required.
Thurs. Jan. 28 3:30 – 5:30 pm West Branch
Digital Camera 102: Gain hands-on experience using Photoshop Elements so you can adjust your digital photographs at home. Prior experience with Photoshop Elements or completion of Digital Camera 101 required.
Fri. Jan. 29 3:30 – 5:30 pm Downtown Library
To register, visit aadl.org/classes OR call 734.327.4555.
Li-Hua Weng Joins Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Friday, December 11
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that attorney Li-Hua Weng has joined the firm’s Ann Arbor office.
Before joining Brinks, Ms. Weng was an associate attorney in the Troy office of law firm Harness Dickey & Pierce. She focuses her practice on preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in the mechanical and automobile control fields and preparation of clearance/freedom-to-practice opinions.
Ms. Weng received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago and holds a Master’s Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, both from National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. Ms. Weng is a Registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Illinois State Bar Association. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Ms. Weng is a resident of Ann Arbor.
Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with five additional offices across the country, including Ann Arbor, serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 180 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services. For additional information, visit www.usebrinks.com.
Main Street Area Association Announces Window Display Contest Winners
Friday, December 11
Over twelve hundred votes were cast, the results have been tabulated and yes, folks, we have a winner! The Main Street Area is pleased to announce the top three businesses in the first ever window display contest in the Main Street area.
Drum roll please: Top honors go to 826Michigan/Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair for their inventive Robot Family display. Second place accolades go to Ten Thousand Villages for their week long, live window display. Like Water Drum and Dance performed in the Ten Thousand Villages window making for a truly unique window shopping experience. Third place bragging rights go to Mir’s Oriental Rugs for their fabulous Magic Carpet Ride display featuring fuzzy lambs flying on area rugs!!
This contest was made possible by a generous grant from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
Information about this contest and all downtown happenings available at www.mainstreetannarbor.org.
The Main Street Area Association is a 501(c)6 not for profit organization whose mission is to preserve the long term success and vitality of downtown Ann Arbor.
Main Street Area Association and Zero Gravity Designs Ann Arbor Restaurant Week’s Exclusive Website
Thursday, December 10
Due to the overwhelming success of Ann Arbor Restaurant Week June 2009 the Main Street Area Association will be presenting two signature Restaurant Week events annually, January and June. The January event will run from January 17 – 22, 2010.
Generous sponsorship from two Gold Level sponsors, Gordon Food Service and Valley City Linen, both out of Grand Rapids, MI, has given the Association the ability to launch and develop a website dedicated exclusively to Ann Arbor Restaurant Week. Additional support for this event comes from Silver Level sponsor Frog Holler Produce, Ann Arbor MI, and Bronze Level sponsor R. Hirt, Detroit, MI.
Zero Gravity Designs, Inc., an Ann Arbor based graphic design firm, created, developed and designed Ann Arbor Restaurant Week’s new virtual home, www.annarborrestaurantweek.com. Zero Gravity worked closely with the Association on the inaugural Restaurant Week event in June, branding and designing the event pro bono.
Restaurant Week is one week of one price dining. Twenty six participating restaurants will be offering diners the opportunity to try their best creations for a fixed price. Dinner is a three course meal for $25. Lunch is priced at $12 and is an open format; restaurants will be offering a menu of their choice. Some restaurants will be offering two for one pricing.
Make reservations early at participating restaurants, tables fill quickly during this gastronomically great event.
For further details and a complete list of restaurants and menus go to www.annarborrestuarantweek.com.
The Main Street Area Association is a 501(c)6 not for profit organization whose mission is to preserve the long term success and vitality of downtown Ann Arbor.
Smoking Ban To Become Law
Thursday, December 10
Plan to protect health of Michigan families heads to Governor
Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Twp.) today voted for a plan to ban smoking in most indoor places, including bars and restaurants. The plan, which comes amid ever-increasing evidence of the harmful public health impact of secondhand smoke, is now set to become law.
"There's simply no debate on this issue – secondhand smoke causes tens of thousand of deaths each year despite being a completely preventable health hazard,” Byrnes said. "This plan makes Michigan nearly 100 percent smoke free and helps us move toward being healthier communities and a stronger state. I applaud my colleagues in the Legislature for putting partisan politics aside and scoring a major win for Michigan residents today."
Secondhand smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause or exacerbate a wide range of health problems, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).
The ALA reports that secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 46,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, and that nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at work are at an increased risk for health problems.
Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to children, the ALA reports. It is responsible for up to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in kids under 18 months of age, which result in up to 15,000 hospitalizations a year. In addition, new evidence links increases in the number of asthma cases in children to secondhand smoke exposure.
The plan that passed the House today exempts certain cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores because those businesses feature smoking as the primary source of their commerce. The plan also exempts casinos, which would face competitive disadvantages with tribal casinos that would threaten their viability.
Web Strategy Firm Engages Three New Clients
Thursday, December 10
3.7 DESIGNS of Ann Arbor, Michigan has engaged three new clients to develop and implement new website strategies and campaigns. 3.7 DESIGNS is a boutique web design and web strategy company started in 2004 that specializes in helping companies achieve measurable business objectives through their websites.
3.7 DESIGNS has now engaged with Chair Cover Express, TMJ Pain Solutions and Robertson and Morrison Heating and Cooling. Chair Cover Express is a multinational company that supplies chair covers for rent, purchase or wholesale distributing. TMJ Pain Solutions provides self help for those suffering from TMJ jaw pain and issues. Robertson and Morrison provides commercial and residential heating and cooling solutions for the Ann Arbor and Metro-Detroit area.
All three companies came to 3.7 DESIGNS to get assistance with their entire website strategy. Website Strategy is the process of completely planning how a company or organization will get the most out of their website. This includes who will be visiting the site, how they will find the site, what they will do on the site, how to get them to perform specific actions and finally to measure and improve the entire process over time.
3.7 DESIGNS is not your typical, oversized, all-you-can-eat interactive agency. With a focus on doing their favorite things very well, they provide higher quality work, expert advice, a good working relationship, sparkles and cupcakes.
Mardi Gras Mambo: The Neville Brothers and Dr. John Together at the Michigan Theater
Wednesday, December 9
The Ark and the Michigan Theater are joining forces to present what promises to be the best Mardi Gras party this area has ever seen.
New Orleans favorite sons THE NEVILLE BROTHERS and DR. JOHN & THE LOWER 911 will co-headline this extraordinary concert on Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, December 12 at 10:00 AM at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, including the Michigan Union Ticket Office and selected Macy’s stores. Charge tickets by phone at 800-745-3000.
The First Family of New Orleans, THE NEVILLE BROTHERS define the deep musical spirit of the city with a heart-stopping blend of blues-soaked grooves, funk, social commentary, and pure joy. The group features angelic voiced Aaron Neville who had a #1 hit in the 60s with “Tell It Like It Is,” Art Neville, who led the pioneering funk group The Meters, and brothers Charles on saxophones and Cyril on percussion. Aaron has won four Grammy Awards and Rolling Stone's "Best Male Singer" title two years in a row.
DR. JOHN is New Orleans' heart and soul. The multiple Grammy-winning keyboard/vocal legend has created his own unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots. He started out playing guitar and keyboards on hundreds of studio sessions in the late 50s and 60s with Professor Longhair, Frankie Ford and Joe Tex, ultimately emerging as a solo artist in the early 70s with classic songs like “Walk on Gilded Splinters” and “I Was in The Right Place.” He has released over 30 albums of his own and has appeared on nearly 500 albums, with artists from Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin to Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger. He will be performing with his band, THE LOWER 911.
About the Ark
The Ark is Ann Arbor's nonprofit home for acoustic music. Considered one of the top music clubs in the world, The Ark is renowned for the quality and breadth of its programming. The Ark is an intimate 400-seat club presenting performers who fall into the wide-ranging genres of folk and roots music. With live music nearly 300 nights each year in one of the best listening rooms anywhere, The Ark is a sure bet for a memorable evening of enriching entertainment, musical artistry, and personal warmth. The Ark is located at 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The website is www.theark.org and the hotline is (734) 761-1451.
About the Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater is Ann Arbor’s not-for-profit historic center for fine film and performing arts. Saved in 1979 by a group of concerned citizens, the Theater has gone on to win numerous awards for its restoration, its programming and its role in the community, including the Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic American Theatres. It is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 603 East Liberty Street, across the street from Borders Books and Music. Regular movie prices are $9.00, $7.00 for students, seniors and US veterans, $6.50 for Michigan Theater members, $6.00 for all Wednesday screenings. Please visit the theater’s website at http://michtheater.org. The 24-hour information line is (734) 668-TIME.
P2R Associates Forms Strategic Partnership With Inner Circle Media
Tuesday, December 8
P2R Associates, a leader in integrated marketing, strategic public relations and brand communications, announced today a strategic alliance with Inner Circle Media, a web development and marketing firm located in Ann Arbor.
According to Gordon Cole, president of P2R Associates, current and prospective clients of both award-winning firms will benefit from the combined experience of two teams that share a common outlook and focus. P2R clients who need visual communications support will benefit from the exceptional work of Inner Circle Media's creative team. Similarly, Inner Circle clients who need broader, integrated marketing and strategic public relations support will be able to take advantage of the expertise and experience that P2R brings.
"Inner Circle Media's strength in visual communications is a great balance for P2R, and significantly strengthens our corporate identity, graphic and web design capabilities," Cole said. "Most important, our two firms work well together and share a similar focus on delivering programs that exceed customer expectations and drive results."
"The experts at P2R Associates really understand how to create and implement a long-term marketing and communications strategy," Carrie Hensel, Managing Partner of Inner Circle Media said. "Our clients are already benefiting from their experience and ideas."
About P2R Associates
P2R Associates is an award-winning, strategic public relations and brand communications firm serving a diverse mix of international, national and local companies in a range of industries. With special expertise in business-to-business communications, P2R has represented clients in the automotive OE, Tier 1 and aftermarket, high-tech manufacturing, construction, consulting, defense, retail, design, engineering and exhibit and event management. Headquartered in Livonia, Mich., P2R provides clients with strategy-driven tactics, superior service and measurable results. For more information about P2R, visit www.P2Rassociates.com.
About Inner Circle Media
Founded in 2001, Inner Circle Media is a women-owned marketing firm providing web development, graphic design, and multimedia services to for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations in research, healthcare, technology, education, and arts & culture. Clients include Terumo CVS, Thomson-Shore Inc., the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Automotive Research, and the University of Michigan. For more information about Inner Circle Media, visit www.innercirclemedia.com.
City of Saline Launches New Web Site Developed by DesignHub
Tuesday, December 8
Site Helps Visitors Quickly and Easily Find Information on City Services and Resources
The City of Saline, Michigan has launched its new Web site, designed and developed by DesignHub, Inc., a Saline-based creative services and marketing firm.
“We are excited about our new Web site, and we are delighted to introduce it to all who interact with the City of Saline,” said Gretchen Driskell, Saline’s mayor. “We now have an online home that is truly befitting of Saline’s recognition as one of America’s best places to live, work, and play.”
The new site’s main navigation bar in the top banner of every page helps direct people to the information they seek, based on whether they are Saline residents or businesses, or potential visitors to the city.
Other main sections of the site provide details on the services and offerings of city government and the Saline Parks and Recreation Department.
The site’s home page highlights city information and resources of primary interest and utility to those who live or do business in or near the City of Saline:
* Site visitors are clearly directed to where they can pay bills for city services online.
* “Quick Links” provide shortcuts to the site’s most frequently visited pages.
* There are links to the Web sites of community resources not administered by the city, including the Saline Area Public Schools, the Saline District Library, the Saline Senior Center, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital – Saline.
* The city’s latest news and events are listed, with frequent updates.
* An interactive events calendar lets site visitors quickly check on what is happening in the city on any given day.
* The city’s latest Twitter postings are featured, along with teasers for the latest postings on the city’s blog.
* Site visitors are invited to sign up to receive the city’s e-newsletter, connect with others via the city’s Facebook page, and follow the city’s postings on Twitter.
* A video tour of Saline, coming soon, will be launched from the home page.
DesignHub worked with the City of Saline to plan and design the new Web site. The firm also handled programming, testing, and launch of the site.
The new City of Saline site has been built over DesignHub’s ContentHub content management system (CMS), based on open-source software. This allows designated city personnel to make day-to-day updates to the site’s content themselves.
About DesignHub
DesignHub recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding. The firm’s co-owners and partners are Karen Ragland, business manager and account executive; Ted Chesky, creative director and chief graphic designer; and Chris Kochmanski, marketing strategist, copywriter, and account executive.
Additional on-staff and freelance professionals help the firm create Web sites, brochures, catalogs, newsletters, advertising, publicity, direct mail, trade show displays, and more for their clients – mostly small to medium-size organizations in Southeast Michigan. DesignHub also works with clients on their marketing strategies and plans.
Much of DesignHub’s work is for Saline-area businesses and organizations. The firm has created logos for the Saline District Library, the Saline Parks and Recreation Department, and the Saline Celtic Festival. The firm has also created Web sites for Saline-based American Aqua (www.americanaqua.com), Bemis Farms Childcare (www.bemisfarmscildcare.com), Homeowner Services of America (HSA; www.hsa-remodel.com), and Sun Engineering (www.sunengineering.biz).
Other DesignHub clients with significant presence in Saline include Chelsea Lumber and Evangelical Homes of Michigan.
DesignHub’s clients also include Advanced Photonix Inc., Aluminum Supply Co., Berry & Associates, Center for Automotive Research (CAR), Center for Student Studies (CSS), Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, Chizek Custom Builders, Chrysler LLC, Corporate F.A.C.T.S., Daniels and Zermack Associates, Daycroft Montessori School, Dexter Research Center, Dimensional Engineering, Electrocon International, The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, Hardwood Solutions, INSTALL Michigan, JCG Associates, JPRA Architects, Lamaze Family Center of Ann Arbor, Marshall Sales Inc., McMullen Company, Metropolitan Building Services, Motawi Tileworks, OptiMetrics Inc., PTC, Packaging and Shipping Specialists (P.A.S.S.), Peters Building Co., Phoenix Contractors, Power Wellness, Program for Automotive Labor and Education (PALE), Rand Construction, Renewal Ministries, Samson Senior Properties, SignGraphix, Sircon, Solution Recovery Services (SRS), Survey Sciences Group (SSG), the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Vinylife Hose Co.
Further information is available from DesignHub, Inc., 600 W. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176. Phone: (734) 944-8705.
January 2010: Focus on Modern and Contemporary Art at UMMA
Tuesday, December 8
EXHIBITIONS
The Eye of the Beholder: European Drawings and Prints from the Pulgram-McSparran Collection
December 19, 2009 through March 14, 2010
The Museum of Art has an outstanding collection of the graphic work of early 20th-century art, particularly the work of the German Expressionists. Complementing this rich array of works are the important prints and drawings that have come to the Museum as part of the Pulgram-McSparran gift. Ernst Pulgram amassed an important collection of European graphic art ranging from Piranesi and Rodin to the German Expressionists and Giacometti. This exhibition follows an earlier exhibition drawn from the Pulgram-McSparran collection that featured drawings by Viennese artists Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
The present exhibition includes drawings and prints by artists such as George Grosz, whose Hogarthian critique of post-WWI Germany still sears the mind; Ernst Kirchner, a leading figure in Die Brücke and the German Expressionist movement; and Oskar Kokoschka, whose vigorous style is characteristic of the later generation of Expressionists. Among the group of works are less typical but lyrical landscapes by Kirchner, Lovis Corinth, and Erich Heckel. This second component of the Pulgram-McSparran Collection features the social commentary, bold graphic imagery, and delectation of the female form that is embodied in the work of outstanding European artists from roughly 1920 to 1950.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the Charles H. & Katharine C. Sawyer Endowment Fund
UMMA Projects: Cory Arcangel
January 16 through April 11, 2010
Cory Arcangel (b. 1977, New York) is often described as a “digital media” artist, although he is more fully understood as an artist concerned with the forms and processes of digital and media culture. Having first gained widespread recognition for his reworking of obsolete video game systems, his practice has grown to encompass imagery and sound drawn from across popular culture, ranging from Guns and Roses' iconic Sweet Child of Mine music video to Glenn Gould’s landmark recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Arcangel, who studied classical performance and electronic music composition (under tape-music pioneer Pauline Oliveros) at the Oberlin Conservatory, approaches these familiar sources—and the technology by which they are delivered—with the unusual but effective combination of compositional rigor and pitch-perfect deadpan humor. Arcangel’s work has appeared in numerous important group exhibitions and has attracted international attention in recent years. This will be Arcangel’s first solo exhibition in a North American museum. His installation at UMMA is a newly commissioned work.
This project is made possible in part by the University of Michigan Office of the President and UMMA’s New Visions Venture Fund including the Susan and Richard Gutow Fund.
Tradition Transformed: Chang Ku-nien, Master Painter of the 20th Century
January 23 through April 18, 2010
This exhibition features the work of Chang Ku-nien (1906–1987), a versatile and proficient practitioner of the ancient tradition of Chinese painting, and explores his development as an artist over a lifetime. Trained in Shanghai, Chang resettled in Taiwan after the political upheaval of 1949. This experience compelled him to carry on the tradition of Chinese painting, which was considerably diminished in China during the Culture Revolution. A member of the fabled Seven Friends Painting Society in Taiwan, Chang responded dynamically to the vitality of his new environment and second homeland, where he freely experimented with new techniques to portray local nature and landscape themes. In his later years, he traveled between Taiwan and the United States and created a highly expressive, personal, and sensitive vision of the landscapes of North America.
Many of the paintings presented here are gifts to the Museum of Art from Dr. Cheng-Yang Chang, Chang Ku-nien’s son, and include monumentally scaled works that can be presented only rarely due to their fragility and size. The exhibition is accompanied by the first publication to be produced by an American museum about the artist’s life and work.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the University of Michigan Office of the Provost and Center for Chinese Studies, and the Blakemore Foundation. Additional support was provided by Mary Palmer and the George Dewey and Mary J. Krumrine Endowment.
An Economy of Means: The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection
January 30–May 2, 2010
The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection is notable both for the character and breadth of the objects and for the individuals who created it. Herbert Vogel (b. 1922) spent most of his working life as an employee of the United States Postal Service, and Dorothy Vogel (b. 1935) was a reference librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library. Setting their collecting priorities above those of personal comfort, the couple used Dorothy's salary to cover the expenses of daily life and devoted Herbert's salary to the acquisition of contemporary art. The couple began collecting in the early 1960s, with a focus on minimal and conceptual art, though they also embraced a wide range of post-minimal practices as well as new figurative directions that emerged in the 1980s. As the first collectors to buy work by many artists who were then unknown to a wide audience, the Vogels offered encouragement at the start of the careers of several figures—artists like Robert Barry, Edda Renouf, and Richard Tuttle, among many others—who went on to achieve considerable acclaim. Many works in the collection were given to the Vogels as gifts, a testament to the Vogels’ close and longstanding relationships with many of the artists they supported. The exhibition is drawn from the Vogels’ recent gift of fifty works to the Museum of Art, donated as part of The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States, a national initiative to place fifty works from the collection in a selected art institution in each of the fifty states.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the Friends of the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
The Lens of Impressionism: Photography and Painting Along the Normandy Coast, 1850–1874
through January 3, 2010
This exhibition advances a new argument for the origins of what was called “the new painting,” namely that a unique convergence of forces—social, artistic, technological, and commercial—along the Normandy coast of France dramatically transformed the course of photography and painting (as well as of the region itself). Within this framework, the invention of the camera and the development of early fine art photography in that particular setting will be seen as the specific catalysts that brought about a new approach to painting.
The project will showcase paintings, photographs, and drawings by some of the most treasured artists in the Western canon—Gustave Courbet, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Edgar Degas among them—as well as pioneering photographers such as Gustave Le Gray and Henri Le Secq. Inspired by the scenic Normandy coast of France, these works—including representations of beach scenes, seascapes, fishing villages, resorts, and the region’s pastoral beauty—will be brought together with archival materials related to early tourism and regional expressions of French nationalism from popular culture for an innovative examination of the impact of the then-new medium of photography on ideas of image making, the recording of passing time, the capacities of painting, and the rise of Impressionism itself.
Organized by UMMA, this exhibition is made possible in part by the Florence Gould Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the University of Michigan Health System, Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, the Center for European Studies-European Union Center, and Department of History of Art, Masco Corporation, Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund, the University of Michigan Credit Union, and the family of Dr. Raymond F. Cunningham in his memory. The Lens of Impressionism would not have been possible without the generosity and cooperation of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) and features exceptional loans from the BnF and the Musée d'Orsay. Following its showing in Ann Arbor, the exhibition will travel to the Dallas Museum of Art.
UMMA Projects: Heather Rowe
through January 3, 2010
Heather Rowe’s art occupies a space at the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and installation, and her hybrid, fragmentary constructions derive their aesthetic frisson from their refusal to adhere to the norms of any one discipline. Although her works are often freestanding, Rowe’s practice is keenly engaged with the formal language and phenomenological experience of architecture. Demanding to be experienced in real time and space, Rowe’s installations work synergistically with their particular contexts to question the ways in which we experience different kinds of institutional and domestic environments and the humble materials out of which they are constructed.
The sense that Rowe’s work exists as neither wholly one thing nor another is heightened by her attention to transitional spaces: corridors, stud-walls, windows and doorways. Interior and exterior space seem to collapse into one another as the raw materials of construction—modular units of drywall, lumber, glass, and metal—are combined with more decorative elements. Interstitial spaces reveal swatches of carpet or wallpaper, while shards of mirror incorporate the surrounding space in a fragmented patchwork of reflections.
For her UMMA Projects exhibition, Rowe has conceived of a single work that will occupy the whole of the Museum’s Irving Stenn Jr. Family Project Gallery, responding in equal measure to the physical character of the space and to the sense of heightened visibility it engenders
This project is made possible in part by UMMA’s New Visions Venture Fund.
The Image Wrought: Historical Photographic Approaches in the Digital Age
through January 17, 2010
In sharp contrast to the broad embrace of digital technology, a growing contingent of contemporary photographers is revisiting 19th-century photographic approaches. These photographers, whose aesthetic goals cannot be met through the seamless resolution of the pixel, are returning with increasing frequency to archaic processes such as the daguerreotype (which was almost extinct by 1860), the cyanotype, and the tintype. Wrought from silver, gold, mercury and iron, the resulting images have a strong physicality and presence and seek out the particular technical challenges of these difficult and often unstable media. Drawn from the holdings of the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin, this exhibition of some 80 works (including period cameras and equipment to make the processes in question more transparent) makes use of the Center’s expansive photographic collections to present contemporary images alongside vintage examples of their 19th-century predecessors. These pairings allow us to examine how contemporary photographers view the past—some relying on an almost sentimental continuity, others contrasting with radically fresh imagery.
The Image Wrought: Historical Photographic Approaches in the Digital Age is a traveling exhibition organized and circulated by the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. This exhibition is made possible in part by the Friends of the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the Doris Sloan Memorial Fund.
EVENTS
Tuesday Night Lecture Series: Translating Knowledge; Global Perspectives on Museums and Community
Translating Knowledge considers strategies for engaging the peoples whose lives and histories are presented in the museum in the complicated processes of interpreting culture. This yearlong lecture series organized by the UM Museum Studies Program brings 10 scholars to the University of Michigan from around the world. These scholars’ work offers new paradigms for confronting the social and political challenges of representation in the museum. Each participant will present a lecture that examines the theory and a workshop that explores the practice of their community-engaged scholarship.
All Tuesday night lectures are in the Helmut Stern Auditorium at 7 pm and all Wednesday afternoon workshops are in the Multipurpose Room at 4 pm.
Raymond Silverman
University of Michigan
January 12: Lecture
January 13: Workshop
Paul Tapsell
University of Otago
January 26: Lecture
January 27: Workshop
UM Student Programs
Student Performance Series
Third Thursday Evenings
Thursday, January 21, 9 pm
Commons
UMMA is a regular site for UM students to show what they’ve got. This exciting performance series falls on the third Thursday evening of each month and features different student performers who work in a variety of media. The series is curated and produced by the UMMA Student Programming and Advisory Board.
Mark Webster Reading Series
January 22, 7 pm
January 29, 7 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium
One poet and one fiction writer from the MFA program, each introduced by a peer, will read a selection of their work. The Mark Webster Reading Series presents emerging writers in an intimate and inviting setting. We encourage you to bring your friends. For more information: https://www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/mfa/webster.asp
Hands-on art making
Create your own masterpieces at UMMA. This winter the Ann Arbor Art Center will offer art-making workshops on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. With a wide variety of subject matters, there is a class for everyone. All workshops meet in the Multipurpose Room. Advanced registration is required. Register online at www.annarborartcenter.org.
Seeing Beyond the Snapshot
Thursday, January 14, 6-8:30pm
$23 members and UM Students/$25 non-members
Explore the power of photography. This discussion-oriented workshop provides a basic understanding of the ways to analyze, comprehend, and find alternatives in photo critique. First, the instructor will lead a discussion in the galleries of photo and other 2D images in the UMMA collection examining the key design elements that define a successful photograph. In the second part of the class, participants will return to the classroom to engage in a creative critique and discussion of their own images to help identify and realize their own unique artistic vision. Please bring 3–5 of your own images.
Drawing Fundamentals: Inspired by the Collections
Saturdays, January 16–February 20 (6 weeks), 1:30-4 pm
$125 members and UM Students/$139 non-members $10 model fee
For those with some or no drawing experience, this basic on-site class will focus on drawing from observation. Subjects include Modern abstract sculpture (Giacometti, Moore, Calder), bronze dancers by Rodin, African artifacts (nailed ritual objects, beaded hats, fertility figures), Thai Buddha and Indian Shiva figures, as well as Chinese snuff bottles and Korean pottery. Become acquainted with these exquisite objects while developing a sense of proportion, perspective, line quality, value, composition and personal style. The last two classes will be spent working from a nude model in the Multipurpose Room. To the first class, please bring the following: HB, 2B, and 2H graphite pencils, an eraser and an 11 x 14 inch sketchbook. All levels welcome.
Beginning Painting
Thursdays, January 21–February 25 (6 weeks), 6–8:30 pm
$125 members and UM Students/$139 non-members
Learn basic painting skills while experimenting with various acrylic painting techniques in a supportive and spectacularly inspiring environment. You will become comfortable with the fundamentals of color, color mixing, composition, and brush handling. Bring personal photos, sketches and ideas to realize in a finished painting or come and get inspired by UMMA’s outstanding collection. All levels welcome.
New Jazz Series
Wednesday, January 20, 9 pm
Commons
Come hear jazz every month at UMMA! Experience outstanding local artists in an intimate group setting. Adam Unsworth, French horn, Cary Kocher, vibraphone, and Andrew Kratzat, bass, will be featured on January 20, playing original tunes and jazz standards. Concerts will take place on the third Wednesday of each month. Admission is $5 at the door
Lecture
Asylum, Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals
Thursday, January 21, 7 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium
The University of Michigan Visual Culture Workshop presents a lecture by Christopher Payne, a photographer from New York City who specializes in the documentation of America's vanishing architecture and industrial landscape. A trained architect who has documented structural forms for the National Park Service and produced drawings for scholarly excavations of Greco-Roman sites, Payne will be presenting work from his much-anticipated new book, Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals (MIT Press, 2009), which is the result of a six-year exploration of America's numerous, vast and largely abandoned state mental institutions. Join us for a guided photographic tour of these spaces, and a discussion of the social, medical, architectural, aesthetic, and historiographic issues raised by the images.
This event, cosponsored by the UM Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Department of English Language and Literature, the Department of History of Art, the Center for the History of Medicine, the Victor Vaughan Society, the Institute for the Humanities, the Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshops, and UMMA.
Film Screenings
Dekalog po Dekalogu /The Decalogue... After the Decalogue
Helmut Stern Auditorium
The Decalogue… After the Decalogue is a cycle of documentaries (in Polish with English subtitles) based on Beata Januchta’s concept of an elevator trip through reality. This project is an explicit reference to Krzysztof Kieślowski's The Decalogue, which premiered 20 years ago and inspired the series. A new generation of directors developed these films about ordinary people—at times disoriented, overwhelmed, and in search of their identity. Each part is an original interpretation of one of the Ten Commandments posing a question, a statement, or a puzzle. Presented in partnership with the Copernicus Endowment and the Center for Russian and East European Studies.
Sunday, January 24, 6 pm
Parts I–III (2008, 82 min)
Sunday, January 31, 6 pm
Parts IV–VI (2008, 81 min)
MLK Symposium
Film Screening of The Water Front (featuring a discussion with associate producer, Curtis D. Smith)
Thursday, January 21, 5 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium, reception following, UMMA Forum
What if you lived by the largest body of fresh water in the world but could no longer afford to use it? The Water Front is the story of an American city—Highland Park, Michigan—in crisis, but it is not just about water. The story touches on the very essence of our democratic system and is an unnerving indication of what is in store for residents around the world facing their own water struggles. The film raises questions such as: Who determines the future of shared public resources? What are alternatives to water privatization? How will we maintain our public water systems and who can we hold accountable? Join us for a discussion of this award-winning film with associate producer, Curtis D. Smith, and a reception immediately following in the Forum.
Sponsored by the MLK Planning Committee and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
History of Art Symposium
Contemporary Strategies in Documentary Photography
This two-part symposium (one in January, one in February) explores new practices in documentary photography through the work of some of its most important contemporary practitioners. Each talk will be followed by a panel discussion.
Part I: Alec Soth
Saturday, January 30, 1–4 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium
Alec Soth rose to international prominence with the publication of his first monograph, Sleeping by the Mississippi (2004). This project revealed Soth to be a new and important voice in the tradition of lyrical documentary developed by Walker Evans, Robert Frank, and others. His more recent projects including NIAGARA, Fashion Magazine, Dog Days, Bogotá and The Last Days of W, have cemented his reputation as one of United States most important contemporary photographers.
Zell Visiting Writers Series
UMMA is pleased to be the site for the Department of English Program in Creative Writing Zell Visiting Writers Series, which brings outstanding writers each semester. The Series is made possible through a generous gift from UM alumna Helen Zell (’64). All readings are held in the Helmut Stern Auditorium at 5:15 pm. For more information, please see www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/mfa/mfaeve.asp.
Carol Ann Duffy in Residence
Poet Laureate of Great Britain
Poetry Reading (public reception to follow): Monday, January 11
Lecture: Thursday, January 14
Carol Ann Duffy lives in Manchester, England, where she is Professor and Creative Director of the Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has written for both children and adults, and her poetry has received many awards, including the Signal Prize for Children's Verse, the Whitbread and Forward Prizes, and the Lannan and EM Forster Prize in the US. In 2005, she won the TS Eliot Prize for Rapture. She was appointed Poet Laureate of Great Britain in 2009.
Joshua Ferris
Monday, January 25
Joshua Ferris's first novel, Then We Came to the End, has sold in 20 countries and was shortlisted for the National Book Award. His short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Granta, Tin House, New Stories from the South, Best New American Voices, The Guardian, The Iowa Review, and Prairie Schooner. He attended the University of Iowa and the University of California, Irvine. His second novel, The Unnamed, will be released in January 2010.
Cole Swensen
Thursday, January 28
Cole Swensen is the author of twelve books of poetry; the most recent is Ours (2008), which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Other volumes have won the Iowa Poetry Prize, the San Francisco State Poetry Center Book Award, Sun & Moon's New American Writing Award, and the National Poetry Series. She is also the coeditor of the 2009 Norton anthology American Hybrid and a translator of French poetry, prose, and art criticism. Her translation of Jean Fremon's Island of the Dead won the 2004 PEN Award in Literary Translation, and she has received grants from the Association Beaumarchais and the French Centre du Livre. A 2006 Guggenheim Fellow, Swensen teaches at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
An Economy of Means: The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection programs
Curator Talk
Saturday, January 30, 2 pm
Alfred Taubman Gallery II
The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection is notable both for the character of the objects and for the individuals who created it. Setting their collecting priorities above those of personal comfort, the couple used Dorothy's salary (she was a reference librarian) to cover the expenses of daily life and devoted Herbert's salary (he was a US Postal Service employee) to the acquisition of contemporary art. Join guest curator Christina Chang as she introduces the Minimalist, Conceptual and Post-Minimalist art in this fascinating collection.
Film Screening
Herb and Dorothy
Sunday, January 31 at 3 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium
Herb and Dorothy tells the extraordinary story of Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. They collected artworks guided by two rules: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Most of those they supported and befriended in this process went on to become world-renowned artists including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, and Chuck Close.
Film screenings are offered in conjunction with the exhibition, “An Economy of Means: The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection,” which is drawn from the Vogels’ recent gift of 50 works to the Museum of Art, donated as part of The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States, a national initiative to place 50 works from the collection in a selected art institution in each of the 50 states.
UMMA Projects: Cory Arcangel programs
Concert
Cory Arcangel and the Digital Music Ensemble: Master Class in Reverse
Saturday, January 16, 8 pm
Helmut Stern Auditorium
Come experience this collaborative, improvisational performance between Brooklyn-based artist and musician Cory Arcangel and the University of Michigan Digital Music Ensemble. Marking the opening of Arcangel's solo exhibition at UMMA, this program will involve Arcangel and the audience experiencing and experimenting with a number of interactive, sound-producing objects created and displayed by the Digital Music Ensemble. The performance will be completely unscripted and the "instruments" will remain a mystery to Arcangel and the public at large until the show officially begins.
Cory Arcangel, who studied classical guitar and electronic composition under Pauline Oliveros at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, has emerged as a leading figure in a new generation of artists engaged with the forms and processes of digital and media culture.
Directed by Professor Stephen Rush, the Digital Music Ensemble is an experimental music and technology ensemble comprised of students from the School of Music, Theater, and Dance, and the College of Engineering.
This project is made possible in part by the University of Michigan Office of the President and UMMA's New Visions Venture Fund, including the Susan and Richard Gutow Fund.
Artist Talk: Cory Arcangel
Sunday, January 17, 2 pm
Irving Stenn, Jr. Family Project Gallery
Join New York-based artist Cory Arcangel and UMMA curator Jacob Proctor for a tour and informal discussion of the exhibition, which highlights the artist's latest work in photography, video, and sculpture.
This project is made possible in part by the University of Michigan Office of the President and UMMA's New Visions Venture Fund, including the Susan and Richard Gutow Fund.
The Eye of the Beholder: European Drawings and Prints from the Pulgram-McSparran Collection program
Concert
Voices of the Holocaust
Saturday, January 30, 8 pm
Apse
School of Music, Theatre & Dance performance faculty Caroline Helton performs selections by composers exiled or lost in the Holocaust, with guest artist Kathryn Goodson on piano. Also on the program: SMTD faculty composer Paul Schoenfeld's new chamber work Ghetto Songs, performed by Helton with SMTD professors bass-baritone Stephen West, Chad Burrow, clarinet, Andrew Jennings, violin, and Diana Gannett, bass.
The Lens of Impressionism: Photography and Painting Along the Normandy Coast, 1850–1874 program
Curator Talk
Sunday, January 3, 2 pm
A. Alfred Taubman Gallery I
Join exhibition curator Carole McNamara on this final day of the exhibition as she shares the paintings of Gustave Courbet, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet as well as pioneering photographers such as Gustave Le Gray and Henri Le Secq.
Tradition Transformed: Chang Ku-nien, Master Painter of the 20th Century programs
Saturday, January 23
Curator Talk: 2 pm, A. Alfred Taubman Gallery I
Brush Painting: 3 pm, Forum
Guest curator Wen-chien Chang will introduce the expressive work of Chang Ku-nien (1906–1987), a versatile and proficient artist from the last generation of an ancient tradition of Chinese painting. Myong Raymond, who was a student of Chang Ku-nien, will give a demonstration of brush painting.
Guided Tours
The New UMMA
Every Sunday at 1 pm
The Lens of Impressionism
Saturday, January 2, 2 pm
The Image Wrought
Saturday, January 9, 2 pm
Sunday, January 17, 2 pm
The Eye of the Beholder
Sunday, January 10, 2 pm
Saturday, January 16, 2 pm
Sunday, January 24, 2 pm
Tradition Transformed
Sunday, January 31, 2 pm
MUSEUM INFORMATION
UMMA, 525 South State Street, Ann Arbor, 48109-1354
Information: 734.763.UMMA; www.umma.umich.edu
Galleries open Tue, Wed, Sat, 10 am to 5 pm; Thu, Fri, 10 am to 10 pm; Sun, noon to 5 pm; Building open seven days a week, 8 am to midnight. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Admission is free.
Find yourself inside UMMA and the new Maxine and Stuart Frankel and the Frankel Family Wing.
Donations Still Needed for The Salvation Army and WAAM Talk 1600 Angel Tree Toy Drive
Monday, December 7
The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County (TSA-WC) and WAAM Talk 1600 are still in need of new toys to help meet the Angel Tree toy drive’s goal of 1,600 toys for 1,600 girls and boys this holiday season.
Through Friday, Dec. 11, Washtenaw County residents can make a child’s Christmas wish come true by donating books, board games, hats, gloves, toys and undergarments for children newborn through 14 years old.
Pick up an angel with a child's name and wish list from the angel trees and return the gifts at these participating sponsor locations:
Ann Arbor: The Salvation Army Ann Arbor Corps Community Center, WAAM Talk 1600, Kmart, House of Sofas, Cartridge World, Community Auto Wash, Dakota Laser Vision, Varsity Ford and the Center Court and Von Maur Court at Briarwood Mall.
Chelsea: Chelsea Teddy Bear Company
Dexter: Herrlinger & Associates, Huron Camera
Saline: Michael Singleton, DDS
Ypsilanti: The Salvation Army Ypsilanti Corps Community Center, Kmart, Walmart
For more information about the toy drive, contact The Salvation Army at 734-668-8353.
The Salvation Army (TSA), an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. Operating in Washtenaw County for more than 100 years, the non-profit addresses the physical and spiritual needs of the area through various programs and service centers located in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Essential services provided by TSA of Washtenaw County include a food pantry, soup kitchen, clothing, an emergency family shelter, transitional housing and counseling for veterans, character building for youth, camp programs, emergency and disaster relief, utility assistance and eviction prevention.
You can become a fan of TSA-WC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@sawashtenaw).
Zingerman’s and Ann Arbor Invaded by (Small) Giants
Monday, December 7
Small Giants Community Leads International Group on a Safari Tour of Businesses That Chose Greatness Over Growth
On December 7- 8, 2009, the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, in a partnership with the non-profit Small Giants Community (www.smallgiants.org), will bring business leaders from Brazil and the Netherlands to Ann Arbor to experience Zingerman’s culture and place in the Ann Arbor community.
The Small Giants Safari is a six-day tour of businesses featured in Bo Burlingham’s book Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, with stops in New York City, Ann Arbor, Springfield, Mo. and Dallas/Ft. Worth. The Safari is an opportunity for international business leaders to get a personal perspective and experience with small companies that are recognized for their commitment to their passions and community.
“We believe that there’s more responsibility in doing business than having a singular-focus on producing profit at any expense,” said Small Giants Community Chief Executive Officer Paul Spiegelman. “The Small Giants Community is dedicated to helping businesses worldwide build successful and profitable companies by focusing on their individual passions, people and the communities they serve.”
With its dedication to customer service, quality products and community, Zingerman’s inclusion in the Safari was a natural fit for the Safari organizers.
“It’s been great being part of the whole idea of Small Giants right from the get go,” said Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman’s Community of Businesses Co-founder. “The fact that the response has been so positive—in the U.S and now clearly around the world as well—is a tribute to the power of Bo’s writing and also to the idea of building a business in a way that’s congruent with one’s own values and vision, even when those aren’t in alignment with the way the rest of world says “you should do it.” The people who are doing this work really are helping to change the business world—and the world at large—for the better.”
During the stop in Ann Arbor, Safari participants will get a 360 degree view of Zingerman’s including: Tours of Zingerman's Southside businesses: (Bakehouse, Coffee Company, Creamery and Candy Manufactory) participation in a mini-ZingTrain workshop and involvement in an open forum Q & A with Zingerman’s employees.
The Detroit Red Wings present: Mittenfest IV, a Benefit for 826michigan
Friday, December 4
Forty bands perform at the four-day music festival at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti, December 31, 2009-January 3, 2010
The Detroit Red Wings present: Mittenfest IV, a music festival benefit for 826michigan. This four-night event will begin on December 31, 2009 at the Elbow Room, 6 S. Washington, Ypsilanti. Forty bands are scheduled to play the festival, including a performance by Chris Bathgate at midnight on January 1, 2010.
Doors open at 4pm each night; music begins at 5pm. The event is open to all adults 18 and up. New Year’s Eve tickets are $9 at the door, and music runs until 4am. Each subsequent night is $7 at door until 2am. Wristbands good for all four nights will be available for $25 at Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, 115 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, starting Monday, December 7, 2009. Band line up and further information is available at http://mittenfest.wordpress.com/.
Red Wings staff will be at all four days of the festival with exclusive tickets to the Open Skate section at upcoming Wings games, and limited edition Red Wings merchandise designed by local artists. They'll also be raffling off autographed Red Wings gear, tickets, and other items. All proceeds will be donated to 826michigan.
Quite Scientific Records will sponsor a champagne toast at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The Elbow Room, VG Kids, and Open Skate are also generous event sponsors.
Beezy’s Café in Ypsilanti will serve a Sunday brunch on January 3, 2010, during Mittenfest. Beezy’s will donate 8.26% of each customer tab to 826michigan.
826michigan is a nonprofit writing and tutoring center serving approximately 2,000 local students at their downtown Ann Arbor location as well as at numerous classrooms, community centers and elsewhere. Their free programs are based on the understanding that writing is important for every child, and that one-on-one attention is key to building academic skills and confidence in the classroom and beyond.
“Sing-a-Long White Christmas" Coming to the Michigan Theater
Friday, December 4
SING-A-LONG with on-screen lyrics! PLAY-A-LONG with props!
MARCH-A-LONG in the on stage costume parade!
“Sing-A-Long White Christmas,” now an interactive movie experience combining the Irving Berlin classic with audience participation, comes to the Michigan Theater for one show only, Saturday, December 12 at 1:30 pm.
For this special engagement, the classic 1954 film has been customized with on-screen lyrics so that audiences can join in the fun by singing along with some of the most beloved songs in motion picture history. “Sing-A-Long White Christmas” allows audiences to celebrate the golden age of movies by enjoying this Oscar®-nominated film in the fashion in which it was meant to be seen – in a grand theatrical setting – fully restored with a state of the art sound system.
"Sing-A-Long White Christmas” invites audiences of all ages to step back in time with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and the rest of the gang. Executive Director Russ Collins will introduce the film and lead the crowd through audience participation. Every audience member will receive a free goodie bag including special gifts that will enhance their enjoyment of the movie.
To complete the “Sing-A-Long White Christmas” experience, audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite Annie character – or in a costume inspired by the movie. Russ will invite everyone in costume to march on stage in the costume parade.
“White Christmas” premiered in 1954 and it earned Irving Berlin an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Plot synopsis: The boys follow the girls to a resort, which is owned by their former commanding officer, and he's in danger of losing the place. What better reason to stage a show than to keep the resort out of hock? 120 minutes. Not rated.
Tickets are $12 for adults; $9.50 for children, students and seniors, and $7.00 for Michigan Theater
members. Tickets are on sale now at ticketweb.com.
This special film event is made possible in part by Potbelly Sandwich Works and Paramount Home Entertainment.
About the Michigan Theater
A beloved community treasure since 1928, the Michigan Theater is one of America's best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture. The Theater hosts hundreds of events annually including movies, concerts, special events and tours. The Michigan Theater is managed by the Michigan Theater Foundation, a non-profit organization, with support from donors, members and numerous community sponsors. The Michigan Theater is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 603 E. Liberty Street across from Borders Books & Music. For show times, directions and other info, visit www.michhteater.org or call the 24-hour info line at 734-668-TIME.
Whole Foods Market® Offers a Second Chance to Win a FREE Holiday Meal
Thursday, December 3
Whole Foods Market locations across the Midwest are helping make the holidays a little better. Thirty-two stores, from Omaha, Nebraska, to Detroit, Michigan, are holding sweepstakes where people can nominate families to receive a FREE holiday dinner for four people. The sweepstakes will enable people to nominate those deserving to win a December holiday meal. Each store will provide four families with a traditional holiday feast with all the fixings.
The meals will include the following:
• 10-12 lb Turkey
• Harvest Salad
• Maple-Roasted Autumn Squash Soup
• Country Mashed Potatoes
• Traditional Herb Stuffing
• Green Beans with Roasted Shallots & Fresh Herbs
• Roasted Cinnamon Dusted Butternut Squash
• Fresh Cranberry Sage Compote
• Turkey Gravy
• Traditional Dinner Rolls (one dozen)
How to Enter:
Entry forms (including rules and regulations) are available at each store’s website at wholefoodsmarket.com. (All entries will be made online; no paper entry forms.)
When:
December Sweepstakes Entries accepted: December 1-11
Winners announced: December 14-18
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 11 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.
Ann Arbor SCORE Teams Up With Cleary University
Wednesday, December 2
According to the U.S. Small Business Association, there were 815,000 small businesses in Michigan through the end of 2008. Starting or owning a business is a daunting task for many, and small business owners often need advice on everything from how to write a business plan to cash flow management to expanding operations. Fortunately, there is a free resource right here in our own economy.
Ann Arbor SCORE, a business mentoring organization, provides free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. Since 2000, Ann Arbor SCORE volunteers have been helping area entrepreneurs, business owners and those wishing to start a business, set and achieve their professional goals. Business owners can access SCORE counseling services in face-to-face sessions and can also attend business training workshops and seminars on a wide range of topics.
In order to expand its free business counseling services, on December 2nd, Ann Arbor SCORE will be opening its new office at the Cleary University Washtenaw Campus, located at 3601 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor.
“This move to Cleary University will enhance our ability to provide small business counseling services with additional resources and easy access for our clients,” said Michelle Webster, Cleary ’03 and SCORE chapter chairperson.
For 45 years, SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” has been, and continues to be, the premier, free business counseling and advice service in the United States. SCORE is a nonprofit association with 370 offices nationwide and more than 11,200 working and retired business professionals’ volunteers ready to help small businesses or other professionals with a depth of business management experience.
“Cleary University is pleased to welcome the Ann Arbor SCORE to our Washtenaw Campus,” said Tom Sullivan, Cleary University President. “This service aligns with the many other resources we provide to the business community and will server to further stimulate our economy.”
There is no charge for counseling regardless of how many sessions are needed. To make an appointment with a SCORE counselor, please call Cleary University at 1.800.686.1883. For more information, visit www.annarborscore.org or send an email to info@annarborscore.org.
AATA to Donate Ride Tokens on December 4 During Rockin’ for the Hungry
Wednesday, December 2
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) is issuing a challenge to area residents to donate at least 10 pounds of food to the upcoming Rockin’ for the Hungry campaign on Friday, December 4: For a minimum donation of 10 pounds of food per person or family, AATA will donate one bus ride in the form of a bus token.
The food donation drive is sponsored annually by Ann Arbor’s 107.1, Busch’s Fresh Food Market and Food Gatherers. Food donations will be accepted beginning on December 2 and continuing through December 6 at the Busch’s store, 2240 South Main Street at Ann Arbor-Saline Road.
AATA is urging everyone to donate at least 10 pounds of food. On Friday, AATA will donate a token for a free bus ride that can be used by the donor or donated to those in need. The donated bus tokens will be provided to several local charities for distribution to families and individuals in need.
The goal of this year’s food drive is to collect 200,000 pounds of food.
“AATA is pleased to be able to add Rockin’ for the Hungry to its list of community donation activities,” AATA Manager of Community Relations Mary Stasiak said. “Among our efforts to give back to the community is our ongoing Community Donations Program through which we donate or match donations of passes and tokens to local non-profit organizations.”
Local groups that have been helped through the AATA program include the Community Action Network, Hope Medical Clinic, Dawn Farm, The Wellness Community, the American Red Cross and the Judson Center.
AATA employees have also participated in community outreach projects, including a recent food drive for the SOS Crisis Center and the adoption of families during the holiday season by donating vacation pay to help families in need.
Questions on AATA’s participation in the Rockin’ for the Hungry food drive may be directed to aatainfo@theride.org or 734.973.6500.
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a special-purpose unit of government. AATA is supported through local, state and federal funds, and farebox revenues. AATA operates 27 public transit routes, paratransit services, and carpool-vanpool matching and other transportation services to facilitate mobility throughout the urbanized areas of Washtenaw County.
Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) Plans for “Merry Mingling” and Giving at the Michigan Theater
Wednesday, December 2
The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) is ringing in the season with a holiday mixer for business leaders on Tuesday, December 8, from 4:00–6:30 pm, at the Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty) in Ann Arbor. Serving up savory hors d’oeuvres with wine and beer, this event is another amazing opportunity for non-stop networking. A celebratory toast will be offered at 5:30 to honor the 2009 accomplishments of attendees.
Food Sponsored by: Whole Foods Market
In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, attendees are also asked to bring their gently worn business suits for donation to the Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan, a local non-profit that helps disadvantaged women acquire job skills, coaching, and professional attire so they can succeed in work and life. All sizes are welcome. Clothing can be dropped off anytime during the event.
Cost for the mixer is $10.00; registration is available at www.wxwbusiness.com.
The mission of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is to host unique events where women business leaders talk through their issues, share experiences and ideas, and form lasting connections. WXW was founded in 2007 by Ann Arbor businesswomen Carrie Hensel and Debra Power to fill a need for an organization dedicated to women who are building strong and growing companies. Today, the WXW serves more than 500 women with interactive events and networking opportunities.
Sundance Film Festival Expands to Include the Michigan Theater as Part of This Year’s Festival
Tuesday, December 1
The Michigan Theater will become an official venue of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival as part of a groundbreaking initiative called Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. On the night of Thursday, January 28, the celebrated 10-day festival will expand nationwide to theatres in eight cities, including Ann Arbor, while featuring coinciding premiere screenings and topical events at the Festival in and around Park City, Utah. Sundance Film Festival U.S.A is designed to both entertain audiences and to highlight the ability of art, specifically film, to introduce new concepts, challenge ideals and spur debate. The Sundance Film Festival runs January 21-31, 2010.
On January 28, eight filmmakers and their films will be dispatched from Park City to cities across America, for the first time providing audiences the opportunity to experience screenings direct from the Festival in their home town art houses and to engage in live conversation with Festival artists. An introduction video featuring Robert Redford and highlights from the Festival will precede the screenings. Determination of the film and filmmaker traveling to Ann Arbor will take place shortly after the Festival’s overall programming announcement in December. The film screening here will be selected from the official Sundance Film Festival program.
Reserved seats are priced at $15 and go on sale Friday, December 4 at 10:00 am at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Michigan Union Ticket Office and Macy’s stores. Charge by phone at 800-745-3000.
Participating cities and their theatres are:
Ann Arbor, MI
Michigan Theater
Boston, MA
Coolidge Corner Theatre
Chicago, IL
Music Box Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Downtown Independent
Madison, WI
Sundance Cinemas Madison
Nashville, TN
The Belcourt Theatre
New York, NY
BAM
San Francisco, CA
Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
“The concept behind Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. is to ignite dialogue as people across the country engage in a collective film experience. It is an extension, really, of the work we have done for decades: supporting the independent voice, bringing artists to the table and inserting art more and more into the social context of how we live,” said Robert Redford, Sundance Institute President and Founder of the Sundance Film Festival. “We hope by speaking with artists about their work and experiencing the Festival as it is happening, audiences will be inspired to share opinions, discuss the key issues of our day and reflect on the role art plays in social change.”
Southwest Airlines is the official airline partner of Sundance Film Festival U.S.A.
About the Sundance Film Festival
Presenting dramatic and documentary feature-length films from emerging and established artists, innovative short films, filmmaker forums and panels, live music performances ranging from solo acts to film composer events, cutting-edge media installations, and engaging community and student programs, the Sundance Film Festival brings together the most original storytellers of our time.
Supported by the non-profit Sundance Institute, the Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most ground-breaking films of the past two decades, including sex, lies, and videotape, Maria Full of Grace, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Trouble the Water, and Central Station and, through its New Frontier initiative, has brought to audiences the cinematic works of media artists including Isaac Julian, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney. The Presenting Sponsors for the 2010 Festival are Entertainment Weekly, HP, Honda and Sundance Channel. www.sundance.org/festival
About the Michigan Theater
The Michigan Theater is Ann Arbor’s not-for-profit historic center for fine film and performing arts. Saved in 1979 by a group of concerned citizens, the Theater has gone on to win numerous awards for its restoration, its programming and its role in the community, including the Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic American Theatres. It is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 603 East Liberty Street, across the street from Borders Books and Music. Regular movie prices are $9.00, $7.00 for students, seniors and US veterans, $6.50 for Michigan Theater members, $6.00 for all Wednesday screenings. Please visit the theater’s website at http://michtheater.org. The 24-hour information line is (734) 668-TIME.
DesignHub Celebrates 10 Years in Business
Tuesday, December 1
DesignHub, Inc., the Saline-based creative services and marketing firm, will this week celebrate the 10th anniversary of its founding.
On Friday, November 26, 1999, DesignHub’s co-founders Karen Ragland, business manager and account executive, and Ted Chesky, creative director and chief graphic designer, moved into the company’s original offices at 135 E. Bennett St. in the old Johnson Controls building overlooking Saline’s Henne Field.
Chris Kochmanski – marketing strategist, copywriter, and account executive – joined Ragland and Chesky as a DesignHub co-owner and partner in 2002.
Additional on-staff and freelance professionals today help the firm create Web sites, brochures, catalogs, newsletters, advertising, publicity, direct mail, trade show displays, and more for their clients – mostly small to medium-size organizations in Southeast Michigan. DesignHub also works with clients on their marketing strategies and plans.
In September 2006, DesignHub moved to its present headquarters in the historic Hoyt-Ford Offices at 600 W. Michigan Ave. on the banks of the Saline River, across from Wellers.
DesignHub’s clients include Advanced Photonix Inc., Aluminum Supply Co., American Aqua, Bemis Farms Childcare, Berry & Associates, Center for Automotive Research (CAR), Center for Information Management (CIM), Center for Student Studies (CSS), Chelsea Lumber, Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, Chizek Custom Builders, Chrysler LLC, Corporate F.A.C.T.S., Daniels and Zermack Associates, Daycroft Montessori School, Dexter Research Center, Dimensional Engineering, Electrocon International, Evangelical Homes of Michigan, The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, Hardwood Solutions, Homeowner Services of America (HSA), INSTALL Michigan, JPRA Architects, Lamaze Family Center of Ann Arbor, Marshall Sales Inc., McMullen Company, Metropolitan Building Services, Motawi Tileworks, OptiMetrics Inc., PTC, Packaging and Shipping Specialists (P.A.S.S.), Peters Building Co., Phoenix Contractors, Power Wellness, Program for Automotive Labor and Education (PALE), Rand Construction, Saline District Library, Saline Parks and Re
creation Department, Samson Senior Properties, The Shipman Company, SignGraphix, Sircon, Solution Recovery Services (SRS), Sun Engineering, Survey Sciences Group (SSG), the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and Vinylife Hose Co.
Further information is available from DesignHub, Inc., 600 W. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176. Phone: (734) 944-8705.
Safety Concerns Prompt Bus Route Detour
Tuesday, December 1
Concern for passenger safety along Washtenaw Avenue has prompted the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) to develop a long-term detour for its northbound Route 22. The Route 22 Pittsfield Boulevard bus stop will no longer be served.
According to AATA CEO Michael Ford, the changes will go into effect on Tuesday, December 8 and should reduce the temptation for passengers to jaywalk across Washtenaw Avenue through traffic to transfer to other routes.
“For the past five months, Route 22 has been detoured off Washtenaw through Pittsfield Village to allow passengers to transfer to Routes 4 and 7 along Washtenaw,” Ford said.
“On December 8, under a new agreement with the Glencoe Crossing shopping center, the Route 22 North Connector buses will be detoured slightly east to loop through the shopping center. This will allow Route 22 passengers travelling toward downtown Ann Arbor using either Route 4 or Route 7 to transfer at the bus shelter there, without crossing Washtenaw. It will also permit Route 22 passengers travelling toward Ypsilanti to catch Route 4 or Route 7 buses at the stop just east of Carpenter on Washtenaw.”
Southbound Route 22 buses will remain on their current routing. AATA recommends that passengers transferring to Route 4 or Route 7 make their transfers at Washtenaw Avenue and Huron Parkway or transfer to eastbound buses on the south side of Washtenaw east of Pittsfield Boulevard.
Although Route 22 will no longer serve the bus stop on Pittsfield Boulevard, it will continue to serve the bus stop located on the north side of Washtenaw in front of Belle Tire at the currently scheduled departure times. At the stop on the south side of Washtenaw in front of Mattress World and Frame Factory, Route 22 will be scheduled to depart at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour, but will not wait for transfers from other buses.
Ford said, “The safety of our passengers is the driving reason for this change. It will serve as an interim solution until we complete development and installation of a permanent bus transfer location on Washtenaw Avenue.”
Informational flyers will be available to passengers currently riding the route, at bus shelters in the affected area, at AATA facilities and on the AATA web site at www.TheRide.org. Questions may be directed to 734.996.0400.
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a special-purpose unit of government. AATA is supported through local, state and federal funds, and fare box revenues. AATA operates 27 public transit routes, paratransit services and carpool-vanpool matching and other transportation services to facilitate mobility throughout the urbanized areas of Washtenaw County.
