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

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Runakuna. a the Am; Arboi Chinese -. is . i. pert rnu ' d in t the Liberty Stiver Pi part of a cull rcg Emmanuel Displaying his artistic talent, Tom Krueger Karulla, a musical band, added to the of Wisconsin commented, There ' s so much festivities by performing live at Liberty involved in pottery --touching, seeing, smelling - you feel like you ' re a part of your work. -- Qreg Emmanuel Plaza. --Qreg Emmanuel Michigan Life 31

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AQT FAIR PROVIDES ENSOQY UTDAVAGANZA he art fairs are an assault on the senses, claimed WEMU Music Director Landa Yohn as she surveyed the crowds and dis- plays on East Liberty. Everything is going at once: eyes, ears, nose. Most visitors to the 1993 Ann Arbor art fairs expressed a similar feeling, as they came to find a single present or particular art form, but soon found themselves overwhelmed by hundreds of innovative and cre- ative attractions and performances. The sensory extravaganza began even before visitors made their way to the shops and displays, as the sounds of dozens of bands and singers filled the streets from the Hill area to downtown. Vet- eran performer Mr. B. again wheeled his piano into the center of South University five to six times a day to entertain visitors. Newcomers like the Venus Ensemble and Phillips Fiddlers performed everything from Reggae and jazz to gospel and French ballads. It ' s like spinning your dial through every station on the radio, said LSA junior Sarah Shin. You get a taste of just about every style and variety of music you can imagine. The sense of smell and taste were particularly stimulated by fair organizers, as traditional res- taurants and dozens of street vendors offered traditional cotton candy and pretzels and dozens of more exotic fruits, foreign pasteries, shish-ka- bobs, and candies. It ' s a good thing these fairs require so much walking, because it ' s going to take a lot of exercise to work off all these calories, said Detroit resident Julie Thompson with funnel cake in hand. But Thompson was not the only one who indulged: An Ann Arbor Transportation Au- thority survey estimated that over $10 million was spent on food alone during the four day event. Although most people associate art with strict hands-off policies, the fairs did their best to accomodate the sense of touch as well. The Ann Arbor Art Association, for example, invited visi- tors to make paper molas, a Mexican-Indian art using cut and layered paper. The fair particularly encouraged children to create sun visors, origami, and jewelry at the popular Imagination Station and children ' s activity booths. Children and adults alike drew everything from traditional mountain sunrises to cartoon space creatures for the Chalk the Park program. The sense of sight, of course, was over- whelmed by tens of thousands of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art. The visitors who came expressly to buy an artwork were not disappointed. The only problem is that there is so much good art it ' s hard to decide what ' s best, said Ann Arbor resident John Olans, who finally decided on a blue and green glass paperweight. Those who came just to survey the variety of creative expression were likewise satisfied by everything from tiny houses for pet insects to life- sized clay models of human heads and bodies. Whatever their intent, visitors said they were amazed by the number and variety of works on display. It ' s like the biggest art gallery in the world, whispered Olans, gathering strength for the long march down Liberty and its side streets. At the WEMU music stage Linda Yohn complained that she couldn ' t concentrate on her job with so many tempting distractions around her, but her words belied a satisfied grin that was shared by many visitors. Although most days they shunned large crowds, greasy foods, and expensive pur- chases, the art fairs allowed participants to escape their usual worries and enjoy the sounds and sights of hundreds of different cultures and imaginations. You don ' t have time to worry about work or the economy or anything, said former student Sean McCready. The fairs keep every part of the mind and body completely occupied so all you can do is let go and enjoy the sensation. by Rdam 0-iundky 30 Michigan Life

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J f eauty is only skin deep, but jggf r UGLi is clear to the bone. Cliche, adage, or truism, whatever term you choose, Michigan students re- turned to school this fall to find that university officials had taken these words to heart. In the early summer, while most students were home basking in the warm glow of another year survived, the University began the history making renovation of its much maligned, and much beloved under- graduate library, known to all as the UGLi. When students arrived for fall term, many were shocked to find the UGLi quite literally a mere shell of its former self. As one student put it, I thought they were tearing it down. ..the place looks com- pletely gutted. After the initial shock, a certain sadness could be detected in the eyes and voices of some students. It sure won ' t be the UGLi I used to know, said one senior, after learning about the planned renovation. And this was exactly what university officials were counting on. Acting Graduate Library Head Barbara MacAdam commented on the UGLi changes being made, Prob- ably no other building on campus has provoked such a love-hate relationship with students they com- plain about having to go to the UGLi, the noise, the crowding, and the aesthetics and appear to delight in encountering each other in great numbers! If the UGLi didn ' t exist, students would probably have to invent it. We ' ll have to see if they still call it the UGLi when it ' s not! Amazingly, the project ' s architect, Albert Kahn Assoc. of Detroit, and the general contractor, Spence Bros, of Saginaw, were the same team that constructed the original UGLi over 30 years ago. When the doors first opened in 1958, the UGLi held about 43,000 volumes, and was revered as the first library in the country to devote itself exclu- sively to the needs of undergraduate students at a public institution. It was also reviled by students for its multi-colored wall panels and lack of private space. The name UGLi seemed to fit from the very beginning and has been used ever since. In spite of its appearance, the library persevered, and through the years received acclaim for the strength of its i GETS A FACE LIFT collection of now over 200,000 volumes, innova- tive services, outreach programs, and more importantly, the acceptance of Michigan students. In keeping with this proud tradition, the Univer- sity had high hopes for the future of the UGLi. MacAdam added, ...our first goal is to create a modern learning, research, and study environment for undergraduates. To do this we will create a ' smart ' building capable of providing access to electronic and multimedia information resources. Also included in the new structure will be a Re- serve Reading Room, a microcomputer center, 15 new small-group study rooms for students, and many other amenities to make the research and study environment more conducive to student work. Ultimately, the student population, which made the UGLi one of the busiest places on campus, had the power to decide if the improvements were improvements after all. An average day at the UGLi saw as many as 5,000 people enter through its doors. That number reached as high as 8,000 during busy times of the semester. Conserva- tively, during the life span of the UGLi, more than 27,200,000 people crossed the threshold of this venerable building. The renovations were scheduled to take almost two years, at a cost of $11.5 million, almost four times the cost of the original structure. Each floor was expected to take some four months to com- plete, with additional time to complete the exterior and bridges connecting the UGLi to the Graduate Library and West Engineering. MacAdam said, ...the new exterior should be a dramatic aesthetic improvementthe masonry, roofing, granite, tiles, etc., were carefully chosen to mesh harmoniously with existing campus structures while still being a building that looks contemporary and inviting. According to library lore, when the UGLi first opened for, service on January 16, 1958, there was a line of students outside, waiting for the doors to open. And although the past 30 years have seen quite a few changes to the UGLi, one thing surely remains the same, the UGLi is one place universally recalled with fondness as a home away from home. By David Monroe 32 Michigan Life