10D - The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 3, 1996
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Book browsers
and lovers find
favorites here
JONATHAN LUIE/GUaIy
FILE PHOTO
A man sweeps in the Museum of Art, located across the State Street from the Michigan Union. The
museum is the second largest in the state of Michigan, and is free to visitors.
more than meets eye
By Anitha Chalam
Daily Arts Writer
What's that temple-looking building next to
Angell Hall?
No, it's not where the students in the Honors Pro-
gram take Great Books, nor is it a place of worship for
our pagan peers. It's the University Museum of Art,
and it's a great place for students to visit, new or old.
Though the building may seem small on the out-
side, the Museum of Art is the second largest in the
state of Michigan, and one of the premier universi-
ty art collections in the country.
There are almost 13,000 works in the ever-grow-
ing permanent collection, including pieces by big-
name artists such as Henri Matisse, Claude Monet,
Pablo Picasso and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The
Museum also houses a very impressive collection
of Asian and African art.
The Museum is divided into several galleries.
which organize the works on display by time period
or general location, spanning several thousand years
and almost every continent.
In addition, there are other areas of the museum
reserved for the special exhibitions, which come 13
times a year and feature various types of art from
other institutions and individuals, such as the Venet-
ian Art exhibition coming to the Museum in Sep-
tember, featuring paintings from the Sarah Blaffer
Foundation of Dallas, Texas.
There is also a gift shop, where one can buy posters
and other things to grace dorm room walls.
In spite of all there is to see, however, there is so
much more to the Museum of Art than its paintings
and sculptures. The Museum offers a wide range of
activities, for a variety of
interests.
Planned for September is a Museum c
live radio broadcast by the
student radio station. Where: 525 S. Ste
Throughout the year, the Telephone: 764-0:
Museum plays host to a num- WWW:
ber of musical events, such as http://www.umici
School of Music Masters Hours: 10 a.m. to
Recitals and various chamber through Saturday,
ensembles from around the hours until 9 p.m.
country. noon to 5 p.m. Su
On Wednesdays and Thurs- Admission: Free.
days, art videos pertaining to Collection: More t.
all aspects of art are shown, ings, sculptures, p
free of charge, to interested photos and mixed
visitors. And on Sundays, the
Painting
returns to 'U'
By Josh White
Daily Staff Reporter
Twenty-eight years after leaving the Universi-,
ty in a traveling exhibit, sketches by Pablo Picas-
so and Henry Moore came home.
Federal Bureau of Investigation officials in Cal-
ifornia recovered the two drawings Jan. 24 at the
residence of a Los Angeles woman. The artwork
was stolen from a University exhibit on loan to
Delta College in Bay City, Mich., during the sum-
mer of 1967.
The discovery, the result of a lead received by
the FBI last year, ends a lengthy search that
began in 1967, said John Hoos, director of the
Los Angeles FBI media relations department.
Charlie Parsons, special agent in charge of the
FBI's Los Angeles office, said the two pieces of
art are valued at approximately S100,000 each.
Special Agent Greg Stejskal of the FBI's Ann
Arbor field office said the artworks were recov-
ered after the Los Angeles woman tried to sell the
Henry Moore piece, titled "Study of a Seated
Figure," to a major consignment agency in Cali-
fornia.
Stejskal then contacted the Los Angeles FBI,
whose officers located the woman in the Holly-
wood Hills area, along with the University's Picas-
so, titled "Sketches from a
Window."
Art Bill Hennessey, director of
the University's Museum of
St. Art, said the University is just
glad the art has been recov-
ered.
du/~umma "The Museum is in every
a.m. Tuesday way delighted to have these
th extended two wonderful works of art
ursdays. 12 back with us again after so
ay. many years," Hennessey said.
Both works were on display
I 13,000 paint~ from June 19 to July 14, 1967
ts, drawings, at Delta College in a show
dia works. originally titled "Thirty Con-
temporary Drawings." After
the theft, the show was renamed "Twenty-eight
Contemporary Drawings."
The drawings have since returned to the Uni-
versity.
By James Wilson
Daily Arts Writer
While literature lacks the broad,
popular audience that television
and music attract with mind-
numbing ease, in a large, universi-
ty-based community such as Ann
Arbor, books do mnanage to gener-
ate a substantial audience. Since
this audience, however moderate in
size, gives Ann Arbor the position
of "lonely cultural center of
Michigan," many known and
unknown authors flee to its golden,
sheltering walls and cheering,
intellectual citizens, just like Dante
did during the Middle Ages.
Well, all right, perhaps there are
no actual -walls protecting Ann
Arbor and, if there were, they
probably would not be made of
gold and, to be a touch more real-
istic, perhaps the local literary
audience is not a swarming and
swooning mob of word-lovers.
However, that has not deterred
some fantastic authors from drop-
ping by and showing their wares.
Just in the last year, Ann Arbor
has hosted such major novelists as
Martin Amis ("The Information," "Time's
Arrow") and Richard Ford ("The Sportswriter,"
"Independence Day").
And famous poets have come as well, includ-
ing Louise Gluck, who won the 1993 Pulitzer
Prize for Poetry for her book "The Wild Iris,"
and Maxine Kumin, who served as "writer in
residence" for the College of Engineering this
spring.
Then, of course, there is the indelible Gins-
berg. The Beat poet and geriatric genius has
made Ann Arbor a second home. He comes at
least once a year to read in benefit of Jewel
Heart (a Tibetan Bhuddist organization) and,
whenever he has a new book or CD box set out,
you can be sure he will pop up again. Given the
sell-out crowds at Hill Auditorium four years in
a row, an Ann Arborite who has not witnessed
Ginsberg howl a verse or two may be an endan-
gered species.
It is, of course, a gross under-count to end
this list with only a few famous names men-
tioned. With only rare exceptions, for every
major and minor writer - whether they pen
prose or poetry, are newly published or a senior
word-smith - if they have a new book out, they
will be here. i
Coming to bookstores for promotional pur-
poses, however, is only one reason
writers come here. Many are invited
by the University, whether to be Eve
writer-in-residence or to give the
annual Hopwood Lecture. or in
This last reason is worth noting
The University sponsors the semi- W iE
annual Hopwood awards program
for creative writing. The program is e
open to undergraduates and gradu- new
ates (in separate categories) and isn
one of the University's greatest tra- out,
ditions. Pulitzer Prize winner Arthur
Miller also won a Hopwood, as have be h
a great deal of other authors who got
their start at the University.
Indeed, the Hopwood program is
one of the great niches of the Ann
Arbor literary scene (if such a term is applica-
ble). It encourages young writers by rewarding
them with a large amount of money, and brings
veteran authors to Ann Arbor to speak on their
trade. Gluck came last spring and Diane John-
son (who, among many other projects, helped
pen the screen play of "The Shining") lectured
the year before.
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How vital the literary life of Ann Arbor is,
perhaps, depends not only on who comes to it,
but rather, upon who lives within it.
Ann Arbor is filled with writers and poets of
various stature and ability. There are, of course,
the Masters of Fine Arts students, who give reg-
ular readings throughout the school year. Then,
there are the professors,
- some of whom can be ranked
major among the best writers of our
time (Charles Baxster,
nor Nicholas Delbanco and
Thalias Moss, to name a
r - If few).
hav Last, but perhaps not least,
av a there are hordes of people
-ook that give readings in coffee-
shops and at poetry-slams
'hey will (such as the famous, multi-
round slam held annually at
eM2. the Hiedleberg).
Some are so prolific (or,
perhaps, .profligate); they
have made a name for them-
selves throughout Ann Arbor.
Arwulf Arwulf was voted "Best Local Poet" in
a poll by Current Magazine. Then, also, poet
Ted Springer, appears almost nightly, some-
where, shedding his neo-Shakespearean verse.
So, while Ann Arbor is in no way similar to a
medieval city, it is a very literate one that has
much to offer those willing to stop, look and lis-
ten for a good line.
Bobby Seale, left, a founder of the Black Pan-
thers, signs books after delivering a speech
Jan. 15 at the University as part of the Martin
Luther King Jr. Day celebration. (top)
A man reads a book inside Borders Books and
Music on East Liberty Street. (middle)
First lady Hillary Clinton speaks to children dur:
ing a signing at Borders Books and Music for
her book, "it Takes a Village." (above)
Rosita Arvigo reads from her book, "Sastun" at
Shaman Drum on Feb. 25. (below)
Museum features docent-led tours for a more infor-
mative look at the works on display.
The Museum of Art also provides interested stu-
dents with an opportunity to volunteer in a number of
ways, from hanging pictures to giving tours.
Volunteer Coordinator Karen Gainard said she is
always eager to meet with students to discuss the infi-
nite ways in which to help out. Volunteering at the
Museum is not only good for one's resum6, but it is
also a lot of fun, and generally quite interesting:
In keeping with the past-paced, computer age
society, the Museum maintains a website. To be
found online is information about current and
upcoming exhibitions, highlights of the permanent
collection, and information about concerts and
family and educational programs. The page is locat-
ed at http://ww .urnich.edu/~umnmia, and is con-
stantly updated, and one can always be assured of
up-to-date information about the Museum and its
objects.
The Museum of Art turns 50 this year, and has a
number of special activities planned to celebrate the
event. If ever there was a time to visit the Museum,
now would be that time.
If you want, you can even bring your Great
Books along.
MARK FRIEDAN/Ca-v
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STAMOS TRAVEL
STUDENT TRAVEL
BREAKS
VACATION SHOP
663-4400
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BOOKSTORES
Continued from Page1D
ture section is not as extensive, but does
have a unique emphasis on local writers.
Shoppers will also come across staff-
recommended books, and signed copies
of works. Shaman Drum is further set
apart from other area bookstores by its
textbook department on the second
floor. Whether to buy a textbook or just
to shop for fun, most students will have
occasion to visit Shaman Drum - and
will be glad they did.
U Dawn Treader (514 E. Liberty St.):
Believe it or not, this used-book store is
not part of the University library system
,.. although it could well be. It's doubtful
if any other store in Ann Arbor has so
many books - stacked floor to ceilirig,
piled on the floor and in corners, and
overflowing onto the street in $I-a-book
carts. In Dawn Treader's mazelike interi-
store in Ann Arbor in which things can
be easily found, even though there's a
wide selection of books. The literary
criticism and drama sections are espe-
cially good, but there are books available
on a variety of topics. Books in General
is probably not the best place for brow
ing, as it doesn't have the overflowii1
plethora of books that other stores do,
However, it's a great place for readers
who know what they're looking for and
want to find it quickly. Like other used-
book stores in the area, too, its books are
in good condition and sell for about half
the original price, making Books in
General a very attractive option for the
average student's budget.
® David's Books (622 E. Liberty St.
The first thing to note here is: Don't trip
on the steps! This is an occupational
hazard of visiting David's. But once this
obstacle is safely passed, shoppers can
roam freely through the intriguing twists
and turns of this upstairs rabbit-warren.
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