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Exhibitions and Events

U-M Museum of Art lights up exterior with art, video for 'Nights at the Museum'

By Dave Lawrence

UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
The University of Michigan Museum of Art will once again illuminate its facade with eight days of artwork, performances and video during “Nights at the Museum” in September. UMMA’s exterior media art initiative is free and open to the public, and will run from early evening to dawn along its South State Street-side facade, on the west side of the Maxine and Stuart Frankel and the Frankel Family Wing. “Last year’s ‘Nights’ event was a big hit with the local and campus community,” said Kathryn Huss, UMMA’s interim director. “This year, we’re making it bigger and better as we work to extend UMMA’s reach beyond the walls of the museum.” Throughout “Nights,” UMMA will showcase Chris Doyle’s video piece, “In the Labyrinth,” from 10 p.m. to dawn. The digital animation video features an imaginary landscape built as a repository for environmental and economic anxieties.
  • UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
    UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
  • UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
    UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
  • UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
    UMMA Nights at the Museum, September 6, 2016, photographs by Leisa Thompson.
UMMA is once again collaborating with U-M and community partners—including the University Musical Society; U-M Bicentennial Office; U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance; U-M Department of Screen Arts & Cultures; Ann Arbor District Library; and Neutral Zone—to display video performances and art throughout the event. Highlights include: a U-M Bicentennial documentary Sept. 15; Pixar's "WALL-E" Sept. 16; "Heart of Tones" live dance event Sept. 17; live simulcast of the New York Philharmonic performing Mahler's 5th Symphony Sept. 19; and a screening of Robert Wilson and Philip Glass's seminal opera "Einstein on the Beach" Sept. 22. The full "Nights at the Museum" schedule is as follows:
  • Friday, Sept. 15: Screening of U-M's Bicentennial documentary "An Uncommon Education" at 8 p.m. and "Big Ten Elite: 1997 Michigan Football Team" documentary at 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 16: Family-Friendly Sustainability Night, with the Ann Arbor District Library hosting a design challenge activities at 7 p.m. and a showing of "WALL-E" at 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 17: Dance Night, with a live performance by U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance of "Heart of Tones" at 8 p.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 18: "In the Labyrinth" on view starting at 8 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 19: Live simulcast of the New York Philharmonic performing Mahler's 5th Symphony at 7:30-9 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20: Student Film/Digital Art Night with U-M Screen Arts and Cultures and the Neutral Zone at 8-10 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 21: Video highlights of performances by the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance at 8-10 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 22: Screening of Wilson/Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" at 6:30-11 p.m.
UMMA encourages viewers to send feedback using the #ummanights hashtag on social media.

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