Many of the museums, galleries, and performance venues at the University of Michigan remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions; however, there will still be plenty of online events, exhibitions, performances, and films that you can experience from home. The following is a curated list of events and exhibitions occurring this week, along with some recurring series events.

U-M HUMANITIES INSTITUTE PRESENTS: 2021 POETRY BLAST!

April is National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world. This year the U-M Humanities Institute will be joining the tens of millions of readers, students, teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, families, and, of course, poets, in marking poetry’s important place in our lives. Every weekday at noon in April, their YouTube channel will feature a U-M faculty member reading one of their poems. There will also be a daily April poetry challenge and “pop-up poems” across campus.

KELSEY MUSEUM VIRTUAL FAMILY WEEK: SELF-CARE: HEALTH & WELLNESS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

During the pandemic we have heard a lot about “self-care,” but what exactly does that mean? At the most basic level, it is how we take care of ourselves. During this virtual Family Week, we’ll learn about how people in the ancient Mediterranean practiced self-care. We’ll even try out some of their techniques for ourselves.

When: Sunday, Mar. 28–Saturday, Apr. 3

A/PIA STUDIES PRESENTS: LETTERS TO A YOUNG BROWN GIRL POETRY READING & BOOK DISCUSSION

Barbara Jane Reyes is the author of Letters to a Young Brown Girl. She was born in Manila, Philippines, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is the author of five previous collections of poetry, Gravities of Center, Poeta en San Francisco, which received the James Laughlin Award of the Academy of American Poets, Diwata, which received the Global Filipino Literary Award for Poetry, To Love as Aswang, and Invocation to Daughters. She is also the author of the chapbooks Easter Sunday, Cherry, and For the City that Nearly Broke Me.

When: Monday, Mar. 29, 4–5 p.m. EDT

ACADEMIC INNOVATION PRESENTS: FEMINISM: FROM ORIGINS TO EVOLUTION TEACH-OUT LIVE PANEL

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the U-M Center for Academic Innovation reflects on the changing definitions practices within the feminist movement and how to engage in our own communities to create change in the Feminism: From Origins to Evolution Teach-Out. This live panel discussion featuring professor Ketra Armstrong, from the U-M School of Kinesiology, and Melanie Manos, lecturer II from the Stamps School of Art & Design, will further the intergenerational conversation about contemporary feminism and how to work for gender equality.

When: Tuesday, Mar. 30, 12–1 p.m. EDT

U-M LIBRARY PRESENTS: HIGHBROW PUNK, SIMPLE & NOT AS SIMPLE BINDINGS FOR ZINES, CHAPBOOKS, OR WHATEVER

Conservation technician Kyle Clark teaches you to produce simple one and two signature book structures appropriate for making editioned books with minimal tools. You’ll be introduced to methods of designing and editioning books, zines, and artists books from scratch with the use of home and office art supplies combined with digital scanning and printing technologies. This is a single workshop offered in two sessions, so plan to also attend April 8.

When: Thursday, Apr. 1, 2–5 p.m. EDT

CENTER FOR WORLD PERFORMANCE STUDIES PRESENTS: CWPS 20TH // FACULTY IN CONVERSATION

In March 2001, the University of Michigan Center for World Performance Studies (CWPS) celebrated its grand opening, inviting the community to participate in an evening of lectures, performances and food at the International Institute. As part of the ongoing virtual celebration of this milestone, CWPS invites Kwasi Ampene, Lester Monts, Mbala Nkanga, Robin Wilson, to reflect on the Center’s founding, its contributions to increasing the diversity of arts and research at University of Michigan, and to imagine the possibilities for the next twenty years.

When: Friday, Apr. 2. 12–1 p.m. EDT

Recurring Series Events

PERFORMING THE MOMENT | PERFORMING THE MOVEMENT SERIES: DR. SOYICA DIGGS COLBERT

In this virtual series, Center for World Performance Studies invites performers and scholars from diverse disciplines to reflect on how performance is being used to respond to the political, social, health and environmental crises that we face at this moment. For this session, Dr. Soyica Diggs Colbert will discuss the ways she applies performance studies scholarship to social activism, especially through the lens of literature and historical research.

When: Tuesday, Mar. 30, 6–7 p.m. EDT

UMS DIGITAL PRESENTATION: NATIONAL ARAB ORCHESTRA

This digital offering was filmed at the Ithra Theatre in Saudia Arabia last year by the National Arab Orchestra and features music made famous by two outstanding female singers, Asmahan and Umm Kulthum, who catalyzed a period of creative vibrancy in Egypt during the middle of the 20th century. Lubana Al Quntar and Mai Farouk bring their striking voices and unique artistry to this special program.

When: Friday, Mar. 26–Monday, Apr. 5

KELSEY MUSEUM FLASH TALK SERIES: THE COLORFUL GRAVE MARKERS OF ANCIENT TERENOUTHIS

Kelsey Museum Flash Talks are 15-minute Zoom lectures by Kelsey curators, staff members, researchers, and graduate students talking about their recent research or current projects. In this talk, conservators Carrie Roberts and Suzanne Davis at the Kelsey Museum will describe their work to preserve and study stelae from Terenouthis, Egypt, including the scientific techniques they’re using to study paint colors and some of the surprising discoveries their work has revealed.

When: Friday, Apr. 2, 12–12:30 p.m. EDT

PENNY STAMPS SPEAKERS SERIES: RANEY ARONSON-ROTH, A CONVERSATION

Raney Aronson-Rath is the executive producer of FRONTLINE, PBS’ flagship investigative journalism series, and a leading voice on the future of journalism. For this speaker series event, Aronson-Rath will be in conversation with Lynette Clemetson, the Director of Wallace House, Knight-Wallace Fellowships and the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists at the University of Michigan.

When: Friday, Apr. 2, 8 p.m. EDT

NAM CENTER PRESENTS: KOREAN CINEMA NOW, “HITMAN, AGENT JUN”

All films are available through our Michigan Theater Foundation–Vimeo streaming platform. You will have 72 hours to watch after you press play. “Hitman: Agent Jun” is a 2020 South Korean action comedy film directed by Choi Won-sub. Secret agent Jun fakes his death to pursue his dream of becoming a webtoon artist. He keeps failing at comics until he starts writing and drawing about his former job, which draws the national intelligence agency to him.

When: Friday, Apr. 2–Sunday, Apr. 4

 

If you would like your event to be included in next week’s “Attend at Home” series, email arts-culture@umich.edu.