University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 123 text:

The Picasso exhibit sign hangs freely outside the University Museum of Art on a warm summer day. The exhibit was a popular diversion for community members and outsiders visiting the Ann Arbor area. K. Maker photo on Uisplai) June 8 to September 15, the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) put on exhibit its collection of Picasso ' s masterpieces. As James Chris- ten Steward, director of the Museum of Art, affirmed in his foreword in the Museum ' s Picasso catalogue, The Museum is committed to deploying many strategies in order to increase awareness and use of its collections. Steward noted that the Museum ' s collection and exhibi- tion of Picasso ' s artistic masterpieces was one step in this process. He also mentioned in his foreword that Picasso was one of the visual geniuses of modern times, and added, Picasso created some of the landmark images of the twentieth century. The UMMA ' s Picasso paintings provided visitors with a comprehensive overview of the artist ' s produc- tive career. The exhibition featured thirty-one pieces of Picasso ' s works dating from 1905-1968; it was one of the few university collections in the country, if not the only, which contained such extensive Picasso holdings. Samples of Picasso ' s oil paintings, drawings, sketches, engravings and lithographs adorned the walls of the museum. The works displayed allowed visitors to see Picasso ' s interest in conveying intensity and ' peaceful con- templation ' in his paintings at the same time. Overall, the UMMA exhibit offered a representative sele ction of some of the most important works of twentieth century art. Erica Chernick Taking the lead in front of a chorus of singers, Malika Tarkas sings a conventional Indian song. In addition to pleasing the eyes with colorful dress and beautiful dances, Pranthanjali also impressed the audience with its musical accompaniments J. Neff photo SPECIAL EVENTS 119

Page 122 text:

imme dia and m e senses n February 8, the Media Union on North Campus was transformed. Usually a haven for students ' group projects or a late night programming space for EECS majors, the building was instead bursting with people and electronic music. It was the opening night of immedia2002 : the senses, a week long student-run digital and electronic arts exhibition, presented by entity, Ann Arbor ' s digital artist coalition. Completely consuming the normally placid Media Union, spectators observed crazy sounds coming from the gallery, the video studio, and from the performances held in Chrysler Atrium. Screenings of video and animation work ran all night and into the next weekend in Chrysler Auditorium. To accompany the visual scene, visitors could munch on color-coded food in the main hallway or a selection of interesting variations of the grilled cheese sandwich in the center of the event. Later that weekend immedia sponsored a lecture by musician Bill Van Loo and a lecture and performance by Golan Levin. The show was brought to a conclusion with a lecture by electronic musician Richie Hawtin. The goal of the seventh annual exhibition was to showcase digital art as an innovative but valid medium. Carlos Hinojosa, a senior communications major, had strong opinions about his experience organizing the show: immedia is an innovative exhibition of cultural expression hindering on technological themes. This annual exhibition displays the utmost potential of unique contributors to the digital arts. Through immedia I witnessed the fusion of diverse forms of cultural expression in one common collaborative space, exhibited for an attentive and excited audience. The many years that I have spent organizing this exhibit have inspired my appreciation of contemporary art through technological breakthroughs. Jennifer Putvin -II 002. Dressed in traditional clothing, Neema Bollampally performs tt South Indian Dance, Sangamam. Pranthanjali showcased a plethoci of dances and fashion, deriving from the diverse nature of India, peoples, and its languages. J. Neff photo IASA Fash ion the Indian American Student Assod ation ' s cultural show, bounced into the Michiga Theatre on November 23rd with fire and enthusiast! This year we wanted to create a show that would g people on their feet and cheer. We wanted a show th would be magical and represent the IASA proudly, sai junior political science major Mona Patel. Many long and hard practices went into makin this glorious piece of art and dance. We practiced evei night and even met on weekends just so we could get right. We did not want to have just a dance piece, w wanted something that we could all remember and ths takes a lot of practice, said dancer, Nate Winter, a con munications major. The IASA show was known for its spectacul; costumes, lively music and dance, and heartfelt theme This year proved no different with the IASA show den onstrating to be one of the most beautiful dance pieces t watch all year. In the end, we just wanted a show thj represents our culture and the beauty that is in it. I belief that we accomplished that goal this year, said Patel. Jennifer Lee Behind the translucent sign at the Media Union gallery, art lovers view the unique and colorful displays of immed:a2002: the senses. Imme- dia2002 provided individual designers a medium in which to display their digital and electronic creativity and allow audience members to get a fuller feel Of their senses, photo courtesy immedia lENSIAN

Page 124 text:

L Standing in front of tne graduate library, Ann Arbor police chief Daniel Dates salutes the American flag during the singing of God Bless America at the candlelight vigil. In his speech that evening, Dates spoke of the loss of a friend who died under heroic circumstances in the World Trade Center and of the measures citizens must take to ensure peace in the future. J. Werner photo KMMP 11,OneY ear n September 11, 2002, the University hosted a se- ries of commemorative events to remember the vi- :ious terrorist attacks that struck our nation exactly one y|ar prior. Activities around campus included discussion aards, a remembrance ceremony at the University hospital, a plaque dedication to the eighteen University alumni who perished in the attacks, and a memorial concert in the Power Center for Performing Arts. The anniversary of September 1 1 in Ann Arbor concluded with a candlelight vigil, organized by the Michigan Stu- dent Assembly. As it was very difficult for students, professors, and other faculty members to cope with the devasta- tion brought about by tragedy, the greater community gathered together on the Diag at 9 p.m. to mourn their shared losses together. President Mary Sue Coleman ad- dressed the large crowd combined of students, faculty, and the larger community with the following words: The events of September 1 1 have not ceased to stun us, but they must not silence us ... we will support one another as we move forward. And the University followed through with this notion of moving forward as a community by holding a number of lectures and memorials, and by providing counseling and psychological services to those who needed additional comfort during the distressing time. As Michigan Student Assembly President Sarah Boot described in a letter read at the vigil, the day-long events to observe the anniversary of September 1 1 were primar- ily to provide avenues for reflection and discussion. Tears welled up in the eyes of many, especially when the American flag was raised and then lowered out of respect for the victims. The candlelight vigil featured a number of other speakers, among them LSA Student Government Presi- dent Monique Luse, University alumnus and English Professor Ralph Williams, and Ann Arbor Police Chief Daniel Dates. Luse ' s speech, which was particularly well- received by vigil attendees, emphasized the need to end hate and embrace love as the nation continued to recu- perate from the September 1 1 attacks. She stressed that hate crimes merely keep hatred alive. Although guest speakers at the candlelight vigil on central campus spoke of varying experiences and dif- ferent methods of coping with their losses, all built on Luse ' s points of positively moving forward, discarding initial, often inaccurate prejudices and ill-conceived notions, looking beyond differences and helping one another through hard times. Several University students were quick to note the manner with which their diverse classmates and professors gathered together as members of a single community to commemorate the tragedy. I thought it was great to have so many people who re- sponded to September 1 1 in such different ways come together in one place, commented first year Engineer- ing student Amy Lees. It really says something about the strength of our nation. The student-organized candlelight vigil was a moving ceremony that invited all members of the University community to join and commemorate the shocking events of last year, which have affected us all in profoundly different ways. The vigil, in conjunction with the multitude of events that occurred throughout September 11, 2002, clearly succeeded in bridging di- vides, looking beyond the differences between us and in uniting us through our similarities. Erica Chernick vlENSIAN