Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at the Power Center

Under the auspices of the UMS (University Musical Society), the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dance troupe returned to Ann Arbor to perform on  Thursday, April 22, through Saturday, April 24.  Each night the program would vary slightly to showcases their diverse repertoire.

I attended tonight's performance with a former co-worker who has been an angel during times when I've really needed one.  Her behavior is dictated by what she knows to be righteous, not what is politically or socially beneficial to her.  It is a rare display of gentility and graciousness that is seemingly outdated.  For me, she exemplifies humanity in the most forthright, unprissy manner.  How lucky I have been to know her.  It has been at least two years since we've done anything together in a social setting so tonight was a treat for me in many ways.

Walking Mad

The performance was all it was touted to be.

Extraordinary.  Innovative.  Mesmerizing.

On their next visit to Ann Arbor,
I hope to see them again.
http://www.ums.org/assets/pdf/PressRelease/Hubbard_Street_Dance.pdf

Joanne Leonard, Photographer/Collage Artist

Tonight I attended a presentation by Joanne Leonard about the work encompassed in her book, Being in Pictures: An Intimate Photo Memoir.  Ms. Leonard is a renowned photographer who recently retired from her professorial position in the School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan.  She entered the field of photography in the 60's when it was still a male-dominated field.  Within the book are stunningly personal photographs including one of a former husband shaving and others of people sleeping.  Particularly artful is Sonia, 1966, a photograph of her very pregnant sister-in-law that is still highly praised for Ms. Leonard's use of light.

http://art-design.umich.edu/people/detail/joanne_leonard

Tradition Transformed

Also today at UMMA I viewed the Tradition Transformed exhibit featuring the work of Chinese master painter, Chang Nu-kien, a member of Taiwan's fabled Seven Friends Painting Society.  The exhibit showcased his transition from his early very formal traditional Chinese painting to a much more personal and expressive technique.  The exhibit had been running since January 23 and was scheduled to close tomorrow.   Even for the untrained eye, his evolving style was evident.  His landscape scenes in Taiwan contrasted nicely with his North American landscapes to provide perspective.  I was especially struck by a simple sketch he did on a sheet of styrofoam which may have served as a cooler lid at some point.  I wish I could remember what the piece was entitled - it was something like True Food and pictured a carrot and other vegetables - a pleasing piece of whimsy.

Taiwan Cross-Island Highway

Valley Curtain - collage, 1971

The first Christo and Jean-Claude work collected by Herb and Dorothy Vogel was a collage entitled Valley Curtain, a preliminary piece for their environmental installation in Rifle, Colorado, 1970-1972, by the same name.  The addition of the collage to the Vogel collection led to a friendship spanning almost 40 years.

 

                               collage                               installation

There was a missed opportunity earlier this year to see a Christo/Jean-Claude exhibit in Detroit which may have been especially meaningful since Jean-Claude unexpectedly and suddenly passed away last November - a lesson for me about hesitation. 

"You Can't Spell Heart Without Art"

Today I met a friend at UMMA to see the Economy of Means exhibit.  The exhibit is less about the artwork displayed and more about the married couple, a postal worker and a librarian, who managed to build a world-class art collection.  The documentary film, Herb and Dorothy, chronicles their story.

Herbert and Dorothy Vogel
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061802720.html