This winter, the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series will feature a renowned theater director, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the world’s foremost architects, among others.

The season will kick off at 5:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Michigan Theater with Eva Respini, chief curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and curator of “Art in the Age of the Internet,” an exhibition currently on view at the U-M Museum of Art.

Other highlights in the season include American artist, writer and performer Juliana Huxtable, whose work is included in “Art in the Age of the Internet”; Carrie Mae Weems, a MacArthur Genius awardee who will also perform as part of the University Musical Society’s season during her visit; Peter Sellers, a theater director noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and current operas and plays; and Sarah Vowell, New York Times bestselling author and former contributing editor to NPR’s “This American Life.”

A program of the U-M Stamps School of Art & Design, the Penny Stamps Series is dedicated to bringing top artists and innovators from a broad spectrum of fields to give public lectures and engage with students, faculty and the greater university and Ann Arbor communities.

“We are all reeling with the recent passing of Mrs. Stamps and are more dedicated than ever to continuing her legacy through her gift of this series to the greater community,” said series director Chrisstina Hamilton. “This winter, the series promises another dynamic roster with something for everyone. I am particularly excited by special partnerships with a number of organizations which allow for deeper engagements of the speaker’s work with exhibitions and performances alongside the talks.”

Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at 5:10 p.m. Thursdays at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, and are free of charge and open to the public.

Jan. 17: Eva Respini: Art in the Age of the Internet

Jan. 23: JuYeon Kim: Consolation

Jan. 24: Marisa Morán Jahn: Unraveling Power Through Art, Play, and Hijinks

Jan. 31: Amanda Williams & Andres Hernandez: Practice or Holding Space for ______

Feb. 7:  Juliana Huxtable: Post

Feb. 14: Carrie Mae Weems: A History of Violence, Heave

Feb. 21: Clyde Petersen: Alternate Realities, Intentional Histories and Queer Survival: Building Your own World in Dystopic Times

Feb. 25: David Adjaye: Output *6 p.m.

March 14: Mapplethorpe in Performance: Featuring Bryce Dessner and Korde Arrington Tuttle

March 21: Peter Sellars: Art as Moral Action

March 28: 57th Ann Arbor Film Festival: Image Makers

April 4: Sarah Vowell: Live

Check out the full lineup winter 2019 lineup.

The Penny Stamps Series was established with support of alumna Penny W. Stamps, who recently passed away in December 2018. Additional support is provided by series sponsors Michigan Radio, ArtsEngine, Washtenaw County Arts Alliance, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.