art showcase magazine - holiday 2012

4 ART SHOWCASE MAGAZINE • HOLIDAY 2012

CONTENTS

06HOLIDAY SHOPPING: DON’TGET LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

HOLIDAY 2012 ISSUE

ON THE COVER:On the cover: Anton Korsakov and

Elena Evseeva of the Mariinksy

Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia in The

Nutcracker, presented by Russian Artists

International and the Academy of

Russian Classical Ballet. Performances

at the Music Hall in Detroit on December

8 and the Brighton Center for the

Performing Arts on December 16. See

our holiday calendar listings for details.

Photo by Gene Schiavone.

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RIVER RAISIN RAGTIMEREVUEASM’S 2012 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDED.I.YPSI HANDMADEHOLIDAY FAIRCALENDAR OF EVENTSART ON THE EDGE: HEAVY METAL

HOLIDAY 2012Scrambling to find unique gifts for those on your list? Let ASM help you to not get left out in the cold this year with our annual artsy shopping trek around town with Amy Johnston.

OPEN WIDE FOR THE BROAD ART MUSEUMWHAT’S NEW IN ARTThe Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, a new Zaha Hadid-designed contemporary art museum, opened in November. Come and be amazed!

LENA & HABANAMAKES CULINARY WAVESCULINARY ARTAnn Arbor’s newest downtown restaurant, Lena and Habana, test the culinary waters on Main Street—and the water’s just fine. (So is the food!)

JOHN WEISS OF ANNARBOR’S NEUTRAL ZONEPEOPLE IN ARTMeet John Weiss, executive director of the Neutral Zone, a local teen center and incubator of creativity and leadership that provides kids an empowering and inspiring place to call their own.

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HOLIDAY 2012 • ART SHOWCASE MAGAZINE 5

PUBLISHERJonathan E. Himlin

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERRory Russell

CONTRIBUTORSBrian Cox, Writer

Amy Johnston, Writer/PhotographerErin Mann, Writer

ADVERTISING734.904.5904

[email protected]

CALENDAR [email protected]

WEBSITEwww.ArtShowcaseMagazine.com

SOCIAL MEDIAwww.facebook.com/ArtShowcaseMag

Lion Tree CommunicationsPrinted in the U.S.A.

Copyright 2012, Art Showcase MagazineAll rights reserved.PLEASE RECYCLE

Art Showcase Magazine is Southeastern Michigan’s premier print resource for fine entertainment in the arts. Our mission is to cultivate among our readers enhanced support, awareness and accessibility to local high art and culture. We help our readers to maximize the enjoyment they find in the arts, and we assist them in pairing their lifestyle interests with local arts opportunities.

Opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photographs, or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.


HOLIDAY 2012

HOLIDAY SHOPPING: DON’T GET LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

Further down Main Street at the Clay Gallery... While some of Monica Wilson’s low-temperature-fired porcelain pottery and sculpture is reminiscent of oddly beautiful extraterrestrial biological models, it can be highly functional, too. Her dappled red mugs (shown below) fit perfectly in the hand and are as tactile as they are visual. Other work includes Shirley Knudsvig’s lyrical dancers and one of my favorites, a playful sculpture of a grazing loaf of sheep, dubbed affectionately, “Lamb Sandwich,” sculpted by Craig Hinshaw.

Avert your own mid-air panic: start shopping sooner rather than later, and in place of staring blankly at a sheet of lined paper with bullets but no list to go with them, use this handy ASM gift guide to bring art, comfort and function to your holiday shopping experience.

On Main Street in Ann Arbor, Selo Shevel’s window displays are so stunning you’ll be hard-pressed to escape their visual tractor beam. Let your inner dragon draw you to Ed Branson’s glowing glasswork, Tropical Bowl, Apricot. Branson, a Massachusetts glass artist, renovated an old apple barn into a studio where he and his assistants create magnificent, bold and delicate works of art. It’s no surprise his pieces appear in prestigious US galleries and shows. Not only can you see some of his recent renderings at Selo Shevel, you can also watch a compelling video of the artist at work. Also at Selo Shevel is the rare Calcedonia glass work of Philip Yamron of Liquid Light Glassworks. Yarmon says, “The immediacy of working with glass, every moment experienced, greatly influences the success or failure of creation... every emotion and moment is recorded within the glass.” His work is rich and subtle, earthy yet cosmic. Carl Sagan would have approved. So will you.

A recent dream began with the realization that in twelve hours it would be Christmas, and I had forgotten to buy presents for everyone. Dream neurons fired in a trillion directions simultaneously, searching in adrenaline-drenched desperation for viable solutions to the predicament, but every scenario ended like the moment Wile E. Coyote looks down and finds himself standing in mid-air immediately before plummeting to his demise.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY JOHNSTON

Glass artist Ed Branson’s Tropical Bowl, Apricot.

Available at Selo Shevel Gallery.

Calcedonia glass work of Philip Yamron of Liquid Light Glassworks. Available at Selo Shevel Gallery.

Across the way at Lily Grace Cosmetics, your friendly neighborhood luxury cosmetics boutique (really, they’re wonderfully amiable in there), find a wide array of elite skin-care products for men, women and children, as well as make-up, gifts and fragrances. Knowledgeable staff will consult with you to customize a perfect holiday gift package. At the front of the store, Birmingham, Michigan jewelry artist Marlaina Stone’s rule-breaking flashy jewelry pieces will help any wearer grasp her inner extrovert. Implementing a “daredevil” design conflict philosophy, Marlaina Stone includes large stones, bulky chains and robust hardware in her pieces, and, as her website suggests, it’s “not to be worn by the meek.”

On Washington Street, the Ann Arbor Art Center’s gallery shop is home to a plethora of creative forms. From jewelry to ceramic rattles, Motawi and Pewabic tiles, delicious eye snacks reside in every corner. The Apple, a 3-D mixed media shadow box by Michelle Bagnasco is contemplative and whimsical and gives the viewer a feeling of visiting a long-forgotten childhood dream (not a shopping nightmare). Other works by Bagnasco are equally enchanting and would add intrigue and enigma to any home. In a more graphic vein, Motawi tiles can invigorate even the dullest decorating scheme with splashes of vivid color and tasteful, high quality designs made with utmost attention to perfection. Motawi tiles can stand alone in a frame or add a sense of luxury embedded into architecture. Personally, I’d like to see a few embedded beneath my Christmas tree this year! The Ann Arbor Art Center also offers workshops and classes in their studio, and what better gift is there than a new artistic outlet for the creative spirit in your life?

Speaking of creative spirits, if you don’t feel inspired to create when you enter the patterned rainbow world of Hollander’s in Kerrytown, you will by the time you have “accidentally” purchased a dozen sheets of lokta paper, Japanese screen prints and/or hand-marbled paper and/or Alphonse Mucha-inspired paper and so on, plus a new set of colored pencils, a coloring book full of Tibetan motifs, a couple of hand-made boxes with beaded clasps and several leather and other-bound journals. Oops! That happens to me all the time. If that’s not enough, you’ll find the creative urge in Hollander’s upstairs lair of excellent kitchen supplies. And if that hasn’t spurred your creativity, pick up a schedule of their bookbinding, box-making and paper-making classes in Hollander’s studio. January marks the last semester of classes, so give the gift of hands-on experience while you can.


HOLIDAY SHOPPING: DON’T GET LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

more>>>

Shirley Knudsvig’s lyrical dancers. Available at Clay Gallery.

8 ART SHOWCASE MAGAZINE • FALL 2012

HOLIDAY 2012

Necklace by Birmingham jewelry artist Marlaina Stone.Available at Lily Grace Cosmetics.



HOLIDAY 2012

ASM

Some of my favorite things to give and receive during the holidays are goody baskets. As a kid, candy and beef jerky were pretty exciting, but the culinary world has expanded since then. For an eclectic selection of exotic, local, fresh and fermented goods, stop by Babo: a market by Sava on Washington Street. Wine, burdock soda, locally produced Mindo chocolates, maple syrup with an enormous Madagascar vanilla bean suspended in it, fancy soda water, fresh produce, coffee, cookies, treats, beverages and snacks of the hand-picked variety might land you with a stuffed pantry instead of stocking stuffers if you’re not focused on the holiday shopping task at hand. Be careful in there and forget about dieting over the holidays. Babo will remind you with its beauteous bounty that dieting can wait until January... or maybe February.

Finally, when there isn’t much room left in your house for more bulky packages, go for presents that the recipient can cash in when maximum holiday stress has subsided. At Bellanina Day Spa and Gift Boutique, your loved ones can relax with a facial or massage, new splashes of color for fingernails or even a BleachBright UV tooth-whitening treatment after all that holiday wine. Bellanina offers complete skin-care lines made locally with the best ingredients available. Around the corner, Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary offers a wide variety of skin care treatments, including body scrubs, waxing, facials for men, women and teens, and organic, pharmaceutical and soft touch oncology facials, among others. Massages include Swedish and deep tissue, hot stone, Tired Foot Ritual and Royal Hair and Scalp treatment. Visit Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary to view their lines of skin care products and facility in person. You might want to give this gift of nurturing to yourself.

Ah, now don’t you feel better knowing you don’t have to depend on infomercials, spam and junk mail to make your holiday shopping list? Between downtown Ann Arbor and Kerrytown, you’ll find everything you need for your art-loving friends and family. You won’t find yourself in a sudden mid-air lurch, anxiety dream or dollar store. You will find local quality items all within walking distance, and you can be sure your loved ones won’t be getting the same present twice. Happy holidays!

ABOVE: The Apple, a 3-D mixed media shadow box by Michelle Bagnasco. Available at the Ann Arbor Art Center’s Gallery Shop.

BELOW: Eclectic Holiday Gift Baskets. Available at Babo: a market by Sava on Washington Street.

This and other beautiful Motawi tiles are available at the Ann Arbor Art Center’s Gallery Shop.


Ann Arbor Art Center117 W. LibertyAnn Arbor, MI 48104734.994.8004www.annarborartcenter.org

Babo403 E WashingtonAnn Arbor, Mi 48104734.997.8495www.baboannarbor.com

Bellanina Day Spa201 N 4th Ave.Ann Arbor, MI 48104734.327-1000www.bellanina.com

Clay Gallery335 S. Main St.,Ann Arbor, MI 48104734.662-7927www.claygallery.org

Hollanders410 N 4th Ave.Ann Arbor, Mi 48104734.741-7531www.hollanders.com

Jessica’s Apothecary301 N Fifth Ave.Ann Arbor, MI 48104734.545.4303www.jessicasapothecary.com

Lily Grace Cosmetics306 S Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104734.761.9350www.LilyGraceCosmetics.com

Selo/Shevel Gallery301 S. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104734.761.6263www.seloshevelgallery.com

Where to find these gifts and more...

Locally-made soaps and other skin care products. Available at Bellanina Day Spa and Gift Boutique.


PERFORMANCE ART

emphasis is given to the contributions of African American composers and the obstacles they overcame in attempting to gain acceptance of this unique, original art form.

On this special evening, the group will premier William Hayes’ newest ragtime gem, the “New City Slickers Rag,” and Dapogny’s orchestration of his attempt to write the rag that Johannes Brahms never did. All of this will be emceed by John Neville-Andrews, the hilariously funny head of the University of Michigan Theatre Performance department.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and $50 for premium reserved seating. They are available at www.ticketwweb.com or by calling 1.866.468.3401. For more information, visit www.ragtimeband.org. Proceeds benefit R4’s community outreach programs that combine outstanding music performance with engaging historical narrative.

RIVER RAISIN RAGTIME REVUE

The River Raisin Ragtime Revue (R4), a 13-piece ragtime orchestra founded in 2002, presents a wonderful evening of vaudeville, burlesque and music hall. Joining R4 will be the acclaimed song duo of William Bolcom and Joan Morris, internationally-renowned ragtime and jazz pianist and composer James Dapogny, Grammy-winner Ian Whitcomb on ukulele and vocals (some will remember Ian from his British Invasion days as a mop-haired pop-star, singing the hit “You Turn me On”), burlesque dancer Lily LaRue from Hollywood, California and Erin Morris and the Ragdolls.

R4 is a professional theater orchestra based in Tecumseh, Michigan, which is situated on the River Raisin in Southeast Michigan. The group is dedicated to educating and entertaining via the presentation of significant American music. R4 highlights the development of our country’s original musical style–ragtime. Utilizing a meticulously researched and engaging narrative, R4 transports the audience to the cultural and social conditions of turn-of-the-century America. Special

Performing on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor

Tecumseh-based professional theater orchestra, entering its second decade, combines outstanding, authentically-reproduced period music with an engaging historical narrative.

PEOPLE IN ART

John Weiss hears it all the time from adults when he gives a tour of The Neutral Zone in downtown Ann Arbor: “I wish there’d been a place like this when I was a kid.”

It’s an understandable envy. The teen center, after all, is a hive of activity. From the boardroom upstairs where three teens are planning a Halloween party to the drop-in area downstairs where dozens of kids play on computers, do homework, grab a bite to eat, shoot pool or just hang out, the place is humming with creative energy.

Despite probably having given countless tours over his nearly 8 years as the center’s executive director, it is clear in the enthusiastic lift of Weiss’s voice that he still carries a certain amazement at all the creative, positive activity percolating within the center’s walls. The tour leads from one pocket of dynamic pursuits to another. The beanbags and throw pillows scattered around the Leadership Lounge resemble the remains of a slumber party. The room evokes a sense of comfort and ease but also of kinetic energy. The casual space is used by a teen poetry project; a discussion group for young women; a leadership program that promotes diversity; and a youth-led LGBT association that is committed to fostering safe environments for kids. And that’s just upstairs.

Downstairs is the art room, an incubator of creativity where teens are encouraged to paint, sculpt, draw or create multimedia projects. The back of the square brick building on E. Washington Street is a warehouse-like area with a stage where concerts are held on Saturday nights. Off in the corner is an actual recording studio where teens can learn audio engineering techniques; the center even has its own youth-run recording label. Another room cluttered with turntables is where aspiring DJs can learn the art of mixing and scratching.

There is something, it seems, for everyone.

With so many access points and creative outlets for teens, it’s easy to imagine the center’s appeal. But it’s not primarily the programs that keep the kids involved, according to Weiss.

“Teens come here for the content but they stay for the relationships,” he says. “Especially the relationships they make with the adults.”

He warmly engages teens as he walks through the center. He stops to greet a student playing pool with a warm handclasp and asks him how school’s going.

“John is so in touch with what’s happening with the teens not only in the center, but in the community,” says Tara Mahoney, president of the Neutral Zone’s board. “He has the pulse of everything.”


JOHN WEISS OF ANN ARBOR’S NEUTRAL ZONEPROVIDING KIDS AN EMPOWERING AND INSPIRING PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN

BY BRIAN COX

Neutral Zone Executive Director John Weiss

ASM

Mahoney says Weiss is adept at addressing the various needs of the center’s teens, staff and board, keeping everyone connected and making each group feel informed and supported.

“He’s able to move seamlessly from group to group,” she says. “He is key to the operations of the Neutral Zone.”

Weiss, however, is quick to spread credit for the center’s success — it is considered one of the leading teen center models in the nation — among staff and especially the teens.

“We don’t do anything unless the teens want it,” says Weiss, “which is what I think makes us unique and successful.”

Teens play a prominent role in the decision making process at the Neutral Zone. In fact, of the center’s 28 board members, 12 are teenagers. In addition, there’s a Teen Advisory Council that serves as program advisors to the board, approves funds and leads evaluations of programs. Teens are even allowed to draw on the walls, if they want. And they definitely do. It is, after all, their space.

And that is a key underpinning to one of the center’s—and Weiss’s—core beliefs: Kids thrive in a rich environment where they are empowered and can see the product of their work.


Weiss first saw the truth in that approach when he was with the San Francisco Conservation Corps in the early 1990s working with young adults between the ages of 17-22 to build playgrounds and gardens in community parks and run recycling programs.

“I understood that engaging young people in real work was most effective in helping them be successful,” says Weiss.

He had just come off a two-year stint with the Peace Corps, serving as a secondary teacher in The Gambia, West Africa. It was there that his love for working with kids was revealed to him and it became clearer what he wanted to do with his life. His experiences with the San Francisco Conservation Corps crystallized his passion.

The Oak Park native eventually returned to Michigan from California to start a family after marrying his wife Sarah. (They now have three children: Miles, 16, Nya, 13 and Jerzy, 9.) Weiss took a position with HighScope Educational Research Foundation as director of its adolescent division, providing training for more than 100 youth-serving programs. It was right up his alley.

Having received a degree in cellular molecular biology from the University of Michigan, Weiss went on to earn a dual masters from the U-M in public policy and urban planning and got his teaching certificate from Eastern Michigan

University. After seven years with HighScope, Weiss transitioned to the classroom, teaching chemistry for a year at Ypsilanti Middle School before being hired by Willow Run to develop a middle school curriculum.

But it wasn’t the best fit for Weiss, who after his years with the conservation corps and HighScope found the classroom confining.

“I think part of the problem with schools for me is that they don’t let kids have enough of a voice,” he says.

Which is why when the position for executive director at The Neutral Zone came along, Weiss jumped at it. He describes it as his dream job.

Now he spends his days overseeing the center’s operations, finances and program initiatives; managing fundraising efforts; and reaching out to the community.

He is also considering the center’s long-term viability and is working with the board to position the center financially to ensure its existence well into the future. The center is primarily reliant on grants and fundraising for its operating revenue, but Weiss and the board are hoping to develop other, more consistent revenue sources.

Despite the many demands requiring his attention, Weiss insists his door is always open to any teen who wants to pop her head in with a concern.

“My first responsibility is to the kid who comes in here,” he says.

Without doubt, that sentiment is the key to the Neutral Zone’s success.

“The caring and love that John shows for the Neutral Zone family is really astounding,” says Mahoney. “Neutral Zone would be at a loss without him.”

For more information on the Neutral Zone and its programs, visit www.neutral-zone.org.


WHAT’S NEW IN ART

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, a new Zaha Hadid-designed contemporary art museum, opened in November.

Dedicated to exploring global contemporary culture and ideas through art, the Broad Art Museum at MSU will serve as both an educational resource for the campus community and a cultural hub for the Mid-Michigan region. The museum will present contemporary works within a historical context through access to a study collection of more than 7,500 objects, ranging from the Greek and Roman periods to modern art.

The museum is named in honor of MSU alumnus Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe, longtime supporters of the university who provided the lead gift of $28 million for the museum. The total fundraising goal for the building is $40 million, of which $38.8 million has been raised to date.

“Great art deserves great architecture, and so does a great university,” Simon said. “The Broad Museum’s bold concept and design reflect Michigan State’s ethos of connecting both campus and community to world-class innovation, global vision, and transformative opportunity.”

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, the 46,000-square-foot Broad Art Museum at MSU features a striking façade of pleated stainless steel and glass, distinguishing the building from the traditional brick Collegiate Gothic north campus, and signaling the museum and the university’s forward-looking approach. The building features galleries for special exhibitions, modern and contemporary art, new media, photography and works on paper. The facility also includes an education wing, a works on paper study center, shop and café. Adjacent to the museum is an expansive outdoor sculpture garden and a large pedestrian plaza.

Located at one of the main entrances to campus at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Farm Lane, the Broad Art Museum will serve as a gateway between the university and the East Lansing community.

“Edye and I are delighted to make this innovative museum possible, and we expect that people from East Lansing and around the world will be drawn to see this bold architecture as much as to view the art within its walls,” Broad said. “This museum has special significance to us because it represents the intersection of two of our passions—art and education. There is no doubt that this museum will help propel MSU far into the future as it serves and enriches the students and community.”

OPEN WIDE FOR THE BROAD ART MUSEUMEli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University Opens New Zaha Hadid-Designed Building

Photo by Paul Warchol

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“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, and are eager to bring our full spectrum of programs to the campus and the East Lansing community,” Rush said. “With this extraordinary new building, our great study collection, and our focus on exploring contemporary art from around the world, we are creating a university art museum unlike any other.”

The Broad opens with two major exhibitions, Global Groove 1973/2012 and In Search of Time, and several new commissions and special projects by artists Fritz Haeg, Marco Brambilla, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Marjetica Ptroč, Chen Qiulin, and Nguyen Phuong Linh. Curated by founding director Michael Rush, the exhibitions exemplify the museum’s dual focus on presenting international contemporary art in all media, as well as thematic exhibitions that investigate contemporary works within a historical context.

For more information about The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, visit www.broadmuseum.msu.edu.

Photo by Paul Warchol

GIFT GUIDE 2012


ASM 2012 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDEA FEW THOUGHTFUL & UNIQUE GIFT IDEASFROM SOME OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPS & GALLERIES

NOTE: All prices deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Please contact merchant for more information.

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[1] COOKING TAGINE STYLE Use this exotic Moroccan Tagine from Emile Henry to prepare your next slow cooked meal. Hollander’s kitchen store, located on the second floor in the Kerrytown Shops. 410 N Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor. 734.741.7531 | www.hollanders.com$125

[2] FIREFLY’S SIGNATURE COLLECTIONLimited edition bracelet from Firefly’s Signature collection, with Austrian crystals and mosaic setting.Collected Works, 303 Detroit Street, Kerrytown Shopping District, Ann Arbor.734.995.4222 | [email protected].$225

[3] LEE ANDERSEN VEST Something special and beyond ordinary. A show-stopper for the chic, extraordinary woman on your holiday list. Available from small to plus size. MIX Gallery, 128 W Michigan, Ypsilanti734.961.8704 | [email protected]$196

[4] DOOR POTTERYThe finest quality handmade arts and crafts pottery from Door Studios in Door County Wisconsin. Materials Unlimited, 2 W Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti.734.483.6980 | MaterialsUnlimited.com$75-$250

[5] ANTIQUE TREASUREAntique sterling match safe with Greek goddess and cherub detail.Treasure Mart, 529 Detroit Street (Kerrytown), Ann Arbor.734.662.9887 | www.treasuremart.com$195

[6] ROSE & WHITE GOLDOne ladies beautiful 18k rose & white gold interwoven diamond fashion ring with 1.50ct tw diamonds. Lewis Jewelers, 2000 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor. 734.994.5111 | www.lewisjewelers.com$3,900.00

[7] TEA TIME30g of Organic Japanese Matcha, $24.95; and a handmade Japanese Matcha Bowl set $75.Tea Haus, 204 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor.734.622.0460 | www.teahaus-annarbor.com

[8] SCARAB PECTORAL PINKelsey Museum of Archaeology, 434 S. State, Ann Arbor734.764.9304 | www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey$22.50

[9] ICE PRINCESS EARRINGS(Wired) jewelry collection incorporates surgical tubing, bike chain & industrial surplus.FOUND, 407 N. 5th Avenue,Kerrytown Market & Shops. Ann Arbor.734.302.3060 | www.foundgallery.com$50

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VISUAL ART

The D.I.Ypsi Handmade Holiday Fair will bring holiday cheer to all attendees on Saturday and Sunday, December 8-9 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti’s thriving Depot Town. This most unique holiday fair will be stocked with handmade goods from local artists and will offer a variety of one-of-a-kind holiday gifts that are high on creativity, affordability and originality. Artists and D.I.Ypsi organizers Cre Fuller, Sherri Green Carroll and Marcy Davy have lived in Ypsilanti for several years and participated in fairs throughout the Midwest. They are excited to host an event that brings shoppers to downtown Ypsilanti and connects them with independent artists for the holiday season.

D.I.YPSIHANDMADEHOLIDAY FAIRLOCAL DIY ARTCOMING TO YPSILANTI ON DECEMBER 8 & 9AT THE CORNER BREWERY IN DEPOT TOWN

D.I.Ypsi is the newest event in a series of handmade fairs that are putting Southeast Michigan on the “do-it-yourself” map. While consumer attitudes continue to shift to more authentic, local shopping experiences, these events are quickly gaining popularity both in Michigan and around the country. The event will take place on Saturday, December 8th from 11-7 and Sunday, December 9th from 12-6 at Corner Brewery, 720 Norris Street, Ypsilanti. D.I.Ypsi will host 36 vendors with specialties ranging from upcycled sculpture, hand-pulled prints and personal and home goods. This third year fair will also host incredible vegan fare created by the Lunch Room, a food cart in downtown Ann Arbor. All proceeds from the 25-cent admission will go to FLY Children’s Art Center, a local non-profit organization that provides local kids with art making opportunities. For more information on D.I.Ypsi, including a complete vendor list and directions to the event, visit www.diypsi.com.

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CULINARY ART


ANN ARBOR’S NEWEST RESTAURANT MAKES CULINARY WAVESLena and Habana test the culinary waters on Ann Arbor’s Main Street—and the water’s just fine.

If you love to surf, you don’t idly wait on the beach for the waves to come to you. You go to the waves. Gabriel Vera, Executive Chef at Lena, applied this surfer mentality to his dreams of becoming a successful chef.

Vera used to spend his days in Ecuador hitting the beach in search of churning ocean swells. “It’s just the waves, the ocean and you. [Surfing] gives you a direct connection with nature.”

LESSONS LEARNEDHe speaks fondly of his surfing days and credits the sport for keeping him humble and teaching him to overcome obstacles. “No matter who you are or how much money you

have, it doesn’t matter in the ocean.” The point being that if you don’t have the skill and the drive, the culinary world can swallow you up just as quickly as a giant wave on the open water.

Vera’s path to culinary excellence began as a child learning to cook traditional South American dishes with his grandmother with whom he spent a lot of time while his father worked and his mother attended medical school.

Six years ago Vera left Ecuador for the United States in pursuit of bigger waves—metaphorically speaking. He attended culinary school at Macomb Community College and later studied at the Art Institute in Novi. He’s cooked in numerous kitchens,

holding down multiple jobs simultaneously, and sometimes without pay in order to gain experience and hone his culinary skills. Vera has worked all over the metro Detroit area including the Oakland Hills Country Club, Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market, and the MGM Grand in Detroit. He spent the last year and a half as a sous chef with the Michael Mina restaurant group.

THE OPENING AND BEYONDMission Management Services, the team responsible for area restaurants like Grizzly Peak, Jolly Pumpkin, and the Blue Tractor (as well as a handful of restaurants in Royal Oak and Traverse City) reached out to Vera about their plans to open a new restaurant in

WORDS BY ERIN MANNPHOTOS BY AMY JOHNSTON


ANN ARBOR’S NEWEST RESTAURANT MAKES CULINARY WAVES

the former Parthenon space in downtown Ann Arbor. Although he had never opened a restaurant before, he accepted the challenge without hesitation. He seems to be a fearless risk-taker. (As a case in point, he told me rather nonchalantly about the time he encountered a school of 60 hammerhead sharks while surfing near the Galapagos Islands.)

According to Vera, opening Lena in late August was easy. “The hard part is what happens now. Keeping [the restaurant] going and maintaining consistency.”

He credits the success of Lena to the hard-working team at Mission Management and the restaurant’s staff. “Employees are everything. If they’re happy, we’re happy,” says Vera.

Lena’s decor is crisp and modern, but not in a way that feels pretentious or uninviting. The floor plan is open with the exception of a row of private booths lining the interior wall of the restaurant.

ON THE MENUThe menu at Lena is comprised of modern interpretations of traditional dishes from Ecuador, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. Vera marries flavors he knows well with classic French and Italian cooking technique. The dinner menu offers diners a variety of small plates, soups, salads, platters of various nibbles, and main courses. Those familiar with South American cuisine will recognize dishes like ceviche, and ingredients like yuca and plantains.

Vera refined the humita, a savory corn cake topped with a lemongrass tomato stew, by adding a creamy polenta and queso fresco running through the center of the cake.

Caldo de bolas is a traditional soup from Ecuador that contains braised beef, corn and a dumpling made of plantains, olives, and raisins. The hot broth is poured over the meat and dumpling at the table when served. Caldo de bolas is a stick to your ribs bowl of soup; perfect to eat on a cold winter night.

The corvina, a meaty white fish with good ocean flavor and aroma, is a signature dish at Lena. The fish is seared and served with rice, plantain chips, peanut sauce and escabeche salsa. Corvina caught on Monday off the coast of Ecuador is served in the restaurant by Wednesday.

Another traditional offering, the beef churrasco, is grilled skirt steak flavored with cumin, paprika and topped with a fried egg. The whole thing sits over a bed of citrus cream rice, which lends a delicate contrast to the flavor of the meat. more>>>

ABOVE: Gabriel Vera, Executive Chef at Lena; AT RIGHT: Delicious Plantain Tostones are made with smashed and fried plantains with fresh tomato salsa, chimichurri and melted chihuahua cheese.


CULINARY ART

FOR THE HOLIDAYSLena plans to offer a holiday dish available mid-December through the New Year. A work in progress, Chef Vera referred to the dish as Cena Navideña: a brined turkey leg stuffed with traditional stuffing, rolled and braised in beer served over a bed of Christmas rice (long grain rice with almonds, cherries, cilantro, parsley, orange and olives) with a rose petal syrup and side of glazed baby vegetables.

BEHIND THE BARThe folks behind the bar at Lena have redefined the term “craft cocktail” to fit the restaurant’s concept. You won’t find a hand crafted Manhattan or an Old Fashioned on the menu ala The Raven’s Club or The Last Word. The cocktails have a Latin flare and incorporate fresh fruit and syrups, juices and infusions made in-house.

More adventurous imbibers can choose from a list of cocktails like the Vaquero (Bulleit 95 rye, fresh mint, lemon juice, orange honey syrup and whiskey cube) or the Desert Healer, a well-balanced gin drink flavored with apricot brandy, orange juice and ginger beer. Standard Latin libations like mojitos, margaritas and caipirinha are also available.

WHAT’S DOWN BELOW?Habana (formerly Café Habana), a latin-inspired cellar lounge, occupies Lena’s lower level. According to Mission Management’s Director of Marketing, Stephen Thrall the new location retained the best things about the old cafe; it’s still a great place to get a drink and go dancing on salsa night (Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. if you didn’t already know).

Habana replaced the dishes from the former cafe menu in favor of spicy and savory small plates developed by Vera that pair well with the drinks. Habana also features chopp beer, a Brazilian method of serving beer from an iced tower that creates a full creamy head atop your glass of suds.

The space is dark and intimate with plenty of cozy seating throughout. On Thursday evenings Habana transforms into a vibrant salsoteca where the rum drinks are flowing and strangers meet on the dance floor to step, twirl and shake their hips to the syncopated salsa rhythms of DJ Sabor.

Offering cool atmosphere and a fresh take on flavors south of the equator, Lena and Habana are promising new additions to downtown Ann Arbor’s dining scene.

Lena226 South Main Street(734) 994-2773www.lena-annarbor.com

Habana226 South Main Street (lower level)(734) 994-2774www.cafehabanas.comSalsa Thursdays 10p - 2am

ASM

PHOTOS FROM TOP: SECO DE POLLO

A semi-boneless adobo chicken breast, with

onion jus, rice and fried plantains.

BEEF CHURRASCOA grilled skirt steak

with white rice, tomato sofrito, matchstick

plantains and fried egg.

Chef Vera’s soon to be famous CARAMEL FLAN.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS - HOLIDAY 2012

Nov 23-25THE NUTCRACKERUsher in the holiday season with an enchanting Nutcracker production by BalletMet Columbus. Toy soldiers, sugar plum fairies, the handsome prince, and all the rest (including dozens of local dancers) will be accompanied live by the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. Live reindeer on site prior to performance. Tickets: 313.237.SING. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit. 313.961.3500, www.motopera.org.

Nov 23-Dec 23PLAID TIDINGSOld-time comedy filled with Christmas standards. See website for ticket info. The Encore Theatre Company. 3126 Broad St. Dexter; 734.268.6200, www.theencoretheatre.org.

Nov 24DEXTER WINTER FESTIVALDecorated trees, caroling, antique sleigh, and shopping specials. Christmas tree lighting at 5pm in Monument Park. Sat 10-7, downtown Dexter. 734.426.0887. www.dexterchamber.org.

Nov 24ANNUAL HANDSPINNERS’ HOLIDAY FAIRHandmade and unique woven goods and fiber-art items, including knitted, woven, and felted clothing, along with hats, mittens, dolls, as well as gifts, toys, and hundreds of skeins of handspun yarns. Free

admission. Sat. 10-4. Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor. 734.475.7922, www.spinnersflock.org.

Nov 24 & 25ART ON THE LAKEShow and sale of clothing, ceramics, jewelry, art glass, and more by local artists Carol Furtado, Margo West, Idelle Hammond-Sass, and Annette Baron. Refreshments. Sat 11-4pm, Sun noon-4. 505 Lakeview Ave. (off Liberty east of Wagner). Info: 734.663.7114.

Nov 25SING-ALONG WHITE CHRISTMASSing right along with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen in the campy 1954 romantic comedy. Lyrics are provided onscreen and theatergoers receive a package of props to participate

with the audience. Sun 4pm. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, www.michtheater.org.

Nov 25KERRYTOWN ANNUAL TREE LIGHTINGSanta lights the tree, with caroling, luminaries. Sun 5-6 pm. Kerrytown Market and Shops courtyard. 734.662.5008, www.kerrytown.com.

Nov 252012 TRAIN SHOWDisplay and sale of vintage and modern model trains and equipment. Includes a realistic giant layout, a kids track, and a Lego train display. 10-4pm, Admission $3 (children age 11 & under, free with an adult). Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor Saline Rd. 734.994.9872. www.railsonwheels.com.

Nov 27-Dec 30WSG HOLIDAY GIFT SHOWSpecial one-of-a-kind gift pieces for sale. Washington Street Gallery, 306 S. Main., Ann Arbor. 734.761.2287, www.wsg-art.com.

Nov 29 -Dec 2THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVERStone Arch Arts & Events Building, 117 S. Ann Arbor St., Saline. 734.677.3727, www.salineareaplayers.org.

Nov 30KERRYTOWN KINDLEFESTKerrytown’s 4th annual KindleFest takes place during Midnight Madness. Taken from the European tradition, the Farmers’ Market area turns into a holiday bazaar with artists, music, food vendors, and burning fire pits to keep warm. www.kerrytown.com.

Nov 30MIDNIGHT MADNESS IN ANN ARBORHoliday sales and strolling musicians with unique stores open until midnight. And you just might run into Santa. The four downtown neighborhood associations - the Main Street Area Association, the South University Area Association, the State Street Area Association and the Kerrytown District Association - each organize their own Midnight Madness events. Info: www.mainstreetannarbor.org, www.a2southu.com, www.a2state.com, www.kerrytown.com.

Nov 30STARLIGHT SPREE AND TREE LIGHTINGCarols, hot chocolate & cookies, and unique shopping. Fri 6-8pm. Info: 734.481.0141. Downtown Ypsilanti. www.daypsi.com.

Nov 30 - Dec 2THE 35th ANNUAL BOAR’S HEAD FESTIVALStudents, faculty and staff of Concordia University come together to enact medieval Christmas traditions and the story of Christ’s birth in this moving spectacle. Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 4pm. Tickets: $8- $15. Chapel of the Holy Trinity, Concordia University, 4090 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor. www.cuaa.edu/kreftarts. Nov 30 - Dec 2CHELSEA HOMETOWN HOLIDAYSDowntown Chelsea will be decked out in holiday

Nov 9-Dec 30EARTHLY TREASURES HOLIDAY SHOWThe pottery’s annual holiday show will showcase the 2012 Snowflake Collectible Ornaments series, as well as works from over 100 ceramic artists. Mon thru Sat, 10-6pm, Sun noon-6pm. Admission is free. Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit. 313.822-0954. www.pewabic.org.


splendor to warm your hearts and your spirit. Browse the unique shops and attend the many special events planned throughout the weekend to capture the spirit of the holiday season. 734.475.1145, www.chelseafestivals.com.

Nov 30 & Dec 2EVENING OF LIGHTS AT HIDDEN LAKE GARDENSEnjoy a winter outing with friends and family. More than 2,000 candle-lit luminaries will be placed throughout the grounds. Festive designs adorn the hillsides and colorful lights accent the trees. Fri & Sun 5-8pm. Admission: $3 Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton. 517.431.2060, www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

Nov 30-Dec 9MIRACLE ON 34TH STREETCreate a holiday memory at this wonderful, family-friendly stage production! Based on the beloved and timeless film. Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, 517.264.SHOW. www.croswell.org.

Dec 137th ANNUAL SALINE HOLIDAY PARADECome and watch local bands, floats, vehicles, as well as reindeers, dogs, goats, burros, llamas, horses and other assorted animals. Parade starts on the corner of Harris and Michigan Ave. Sat 5:30pm. www.salinechamber.com.

Dec 129TH ANNUAL CITY CLUB ART & CRAFT FESTThis wonderful, juried show is filled with creative and talented artists and crafters. The Grounds Committee will also have fresh greenery for you to purchase for some beautiful wintry holiday accents. Free Admission. Sat. 9-4. 1830 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. 734.645.5718, www.annarborcityclub.org.

Dec 116TH ANNUAL EVENING OF SACRED SONGA seasonal celebration of peace, community, and spirit with songs from numerous spiritual traditions worldwide. Proceeds benefit SOS Community Services. Reception follows concert. Sat 7pm. $15 in advance, $20 (or what you can afford to pay) at the door. Kids under age 12, free. Vineyard Church, 2275 Platt, Ann Arbor. Info: 734.369.4977.

Dec 1ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL AT HIDDEN LAKE GARDENSMusical groups will lift your spirits as they perform holiday favorites. Santa will arrive early to visit with children and the young at heart in the Gardens’ Visitor Center. Sat 4-8pm. Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton. 517.431.2060, www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

Dec 1HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYSJoin the Village of Dexter for their annual holiday celebration downtown Dexter. Shopping, music and carolers. Sat. 8:30-5pm. 734.426.0887, www.dexterholiday.com. more>>>

Dec 1TOO HOT TO HANDELThe Jazz Gospel Messiah continues its holiday tradition at the Detroit Opera House. With outstanding soloists, the Rackham Symphony Choir and the Too Hot Orchestra. Sung in English. Sat at 7:30. Tickets: 313.237.SING. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit. 313.961.3500, www.motopera.org.

Dec 1 & 2ANN ARBOR POTTERS GUILD ANNUAL SALEDon’t miss the stimulating experience of perusing exceptional pottery in heated tents on a chilly winter’s night. An Ann Arbor “Townie” event not-to-be-missed. Sat & Sun 10-5. Free admission and parking. 201 Hill Street, Ann Arbor. 734.663.4970, www.pottersguild.net.

Dec 1 & 2HANDEL’S MESSIAH AT HILLAn Ann Arbor tradition featuring the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and Grammy award-winning UMS Choral Union. Jerry Blackstone conducts with Edward Parmentier on harpsichord. Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor. Tickets: 734.764.2538, www.ums.org.

Dec 1 & 2NORTHVILLE WINTER MARKETThe two-day event will feature a carousel, ice carvings, greens market, fine art and craft booths, horse and carriage rides, santa and more. Noon - 8pm. Downtown Northville. www.downtownnorthville.com.

Dec 1 & 2FRIENDS BOOK SHOP HOLIDAY SALEGently-used books, puzzles, games and curiosities on sale to benefit the Ann Arbor District Library. Free admission. Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4. Friends Book Shop, Downtown Library, lower level, 343 S Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. 734.302.7774. www.faadl.org.

Dec 1 & 2CHRISTMAS ON THE FARMTours of the ten-room farmhouse, authentic log house, eight outbuildings, and the one-room Dewey School. Handcraftedgreens, home-made baked goods, and gift items. Free refreshments and live music. Enjoy a homespun weekend at Waterloo Farm Museum, 13493 Waterloo Munith Rd, Grass Lake. 517.596.2254, www.waterloofarmmuseum.org.



Dec 1 & 2HOLIDAYCELEBRATIONS IN GLASSThe Glass Academy studio offers decorative glass for gift-giving, plus glassblowing demonstrations. Featured ornament is the blue “Michigan Icicle”. The Glass Academy, 25331 Trowbridge, Dearborn. 313.561.4527, www.GlassAcademy.com.

Dec 2TECUMSEH POPS ORCHESTRA & COMMUNITYThis popular annual holiday concert features more than 50 local musicians and 30 local singers. Together they make an outstanding musical force. Sun 4pm. $10 adult/$7 student/senior. Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 400 N. Maumee, Tecumseh. 517.423.6617, www.theTCA.org.

Dec 2ANN ARBOR TUBA CHRISTMASAn Ann Arbor tradition in its fifteenth year, this free, annual event brings together over 40 tuba and euphonium players in a fun and festive musical showcase. Holiday carols are heard as never before as these instruments show off their melodic and harmonious qualities. Conducted by Bass Trombonist George Thompson, this family favorite gets bigger and better every year. Dress warmly and come enjoy (and sing along if you wish). Sun 2-3pm. Info: 734.395.9544 Kerrytown Farmers’ Market, 415 N. Fifth Ave. at Detroit St, Ann Arbor.

Dec 2 & 16HOMEGROWN AT THE COBBLESTONEShow and sale of works by local artists, including hand-dyed silks, photography, jewelry, painting, textiles, bricolage, pottery, and more. 10-5pm. Free. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard, Ann Arbor. 734.276.4025. http://festivalnet.com.

Dec 6-9A CHRISTMAS CAROLWild Swan Theater’s version of this wonderful holiday classic has been created especially for family audiences, including small children. Tickets: 734.995.0530. Towsley Auditorium, Morris Lawrence Bldg., Washtenaw Community College. www.wildswantheater.com.

Dec 7SALINE MOONLIGHT MADNESS CRAFT SHOWOver 135 craft booths, concessions and bake sale. Includes decorative painting, stoneware, rugs, birdhouses, ceramics, calligraphy and clothing. Fri 5-11pm. Admission $3. Saline Middle School, 7190 N. Maple Rd, Saline. www.salineshows.com.

Dec 7, 8 & 9TINSEL & TREASURES HOLIDAY MARKETMore than 75 hand-selected, juried artists and fine craftspeople from the Midwest will showcase their one-of-a-kind pieces of work. From glass design, gourmet foods, jewelry, original fashions, home décor. Community Center, 303 W. Main, Northville. www.downtownnorthville.com.

Dec 7HOLIDAY POPS CONCERTA brand new annual concert with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra featuring season favorites including The Nutcracker, Strauss’ Overture to Die Fledermaus, Vaughn Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleves, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and many more pieces that will put you in a festive mood! Guests for the evening will include Measure for Measure and the choirs from Pioneer and Huron High Schools. Fri. 8pm. Hill Auditorium, 825 N University, Ann Arbor. 734. 994.4801. www.A2SO.com.

Dec 7CHRISTMAS CONCERTConcordia University’s Music Department will present a free program of traditional and new holiday favorites. Fri 8pm. Chapel of the Holy Trinity, Concordia University, 4090 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor. www.cuaa.edu/kreftarts.

Dec 7 & 82012 CANDLELIGHT HOME TOURVisit historic homes in Tecumseh decorated for the season. Fri & Sat. 5:30-8pm. 517.423.2374, www.downtowntecumseh.com.

Dec 7-9THE NUTCRACKERThe Youth Dance Theatre of Michigan presents its 14th annual production of this classic holiday ballet. Chelsea High School Auditorium. Fri. 7pm, Sat 2pm and 7pm, Sun 2pm. Special Sugar Plum Fairy Tea offered prior to each matinee. 734.475.3070. www.youthdancetheatre.org.

Dec 7, 8 & 9YOURIST STUDIO ANNUAL SALEShow and sale of works by local ceramics artists. Yourist Studio, 1133 Broadway, Ann Arbor. 734.662.4914, www.youristpottery.com.

Dec 8TINY EXPOINDIE HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIRThe Tiny Expo features 20 local artists and crafters selling their wares, displays of unusual merit, food, film and libations! The holiday pandemonium takes place in a new location. Metal, 220 Felch St., Ann Arbor, www.tinyexpo.com.

Dec 8A HOLIDAY CONCERTThe local men’s chorus, Measure for Measure, and the U-M Men’s Glee Club perform programs of holiday music. Fri 8pm. Tickets $15. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium, Ann Arbor. Info: 734.649.7664.

Dec 8 & 16THE NUTCRACKERThe traditional Russian Nutcracker, presented by Russian Artists International and the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. With Guest Artists from the famed Mariinsky Theatre of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Sat at 7:30pm. Tickets through Ticketmaster. Info: 248.982.7882. Music Hall, 349 Madison, Detroit. www.russianclassicalballet.com.

Dec 8HOLLYMARTJackson’s premier holiday art market and sale. Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, 3225 Fourth St. Jackson. 517.787.2320. www.ellasharp.org.

Dec 8 & 92012 YPSILANTI HOLIDAY HOMES TOURIf you’ve never experienced the Ypsilanti Holiday Homes Tour, this is the year to step over the threshold of some of the most striking homes and buildings in the Ypsilanti area. Annual benefit for Meals on Wheels. www.visitypsinow.com.


Dec 8 & 9D.I.YPSI (DIP-SI) – A HANDMADE HOLIDAY FAIRFeaturing indie art from a wide variety of talented vendors, handcrafted food and drink by local legends, and a full bar, this show has something for everyone. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. Info: www.diypsi.com.

Dec 9HANUKKAH CELEBRATIONFamily-oriented program featuring candle lighting, singing and dancing, bounce houses, games and shop. Lots of latkes! All invited. Free. 10:30-noon. Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Dr., Ann Arbor. 734.975.9872. www.jccannarbor.org.

Dec 9A CHRISTMAS CAROLAnnual community read-aloud of the holiday classic. To read a part, email [email protected], though non-readers are welcome too! Sun. 3-4:30pm. Free and open to the public. Earhart Manor Living Room, Concordia University, 4090 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor. www.cuaa.edu/kreftarts.

Dec 11LEE MURDOCK: THE CHRISTMAS SHIP CONCERT“Seasonal Lore of the Great Lakes”A holiday show commemorating the turn-of-the-century tradition of carrying Christmas trees to Great Lakes port cities. Tues 8pm, $15. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 14MOONLIGHT MADNESS IN DEPOT TOWNLocal merchants will be offering special discounts until 10pm. Depot Town, Ypsilanti. Info: www.visitypsinow.com.

Dec 14THE KLEZMATICSCelebrate Hanukkah with the Grammy-winning klezmer music superstars. Fri at 8. The Ark, 36 S Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 14, 15 & 16ANN ARBOR BALLET THEATRE’S THE NUTCRACKERAn Ann Arbor holiday tradition. Be sure to arrive early to enjoy the holiday spirit with live music performed by various local Suzuki violin musicians before each show. Fri 8, Sat 2 & 8, Sun at 2. Tickets:734.763.8587. The Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. 734.668.1001, www.annarborballettheatre.org.

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Dec 15SING-ALONG WITH SANTAPopular annual holiday event with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Sing your favorite holiday songs, hear Santa read “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and enjoy cider and holiday cookies. Sat 4pm. Family photo with Santa included. Bethlehem United Church, 423 S. 4th St., Ann Arbor. www.a2so.com.

Dec 15WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ART HOPThe homes and studios of several westside artists are open for a show and sale of their art and craft items. Live music at some venues. Noon-5pm. Free admission. 734.996.0702. Venues and map available at facebook.com/WestsideNeighborhoodArtHop.

Dec 15GLENN TUCKER PRESENTS A JAZZ NATIVITYDetroit-based, Ann Arbor-bred pianist Glenn Tucker presents experimental, newly-arranged holiday material, including selections from Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur. Sat at 8pm. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Dec 1827th ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERTWashtenaw Community Concert Band presents this annual free concert with the Ypsilanti Community Choir. Tues. 7:30pm. Pease Auditorium, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. 734.355.0708, www.ypsicommband.org.

Dec 21WINTER SOLSTICE SINGAll adults and older children are invited to join an outdoor circle to learn and sing seasonal songs, rounds and chants. Michigan Friends Center, 7448 Clark Lake Rd., Chelsea. Donation. Pre-registration requested. 734.475.0942. www.mfcenter.org.

VISUAL ART | MUSEUMS

ARAB AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUMThe Arab American National Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn. Open Wed. thru Sun. Info: 313.582.2266, www.arabamericanmuseum.org.

CHARLES H. WRIGHT MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORYSept 20-Aug 4, 2013VISIONS OF OUR 44TH PRESIDENTA groundbreaking, collective art exhibit, created to honor and celebrate the significance of the first African American President of the United States, Barack Obama. Forty-four busts was created from a model that served as a blank canvas, giving each of forty-four contemporary artists from across the country free reign to creatively interpret this milestone in American history. The Museum is located at 315 East Warren Avenue, Detroit. Open Tues thru Sun. Info: 313.494.5800, www.thewright.org.

DIAThru Jan 6, 2013PICASSO AND MATISSE: THE DIA’S PRINTS AND DRAWINGSThis exhibition features almost all of the works by Picasso and Matisse in the museum’s prints and drawings collections, showcasing their revolutionary achievements that defined much of 20th-century art. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, www.dia.org.

Thru Jan 21FABERGE: THE RISE AND FALLFeatures more than 200 precious objects from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, home of the largest collection of Fabergé in the United States.

ELI AND EDYTHE BROAD ART MUSEUMThru Feb 10IN SEARCH OF TIMEThe impossible urge toward expressing time has taken many forms in all media and gives voice to the longing artists have held for hundreds of years. This exhibition occupies two galleries and features work from medieval times to the 21st century.

Thru Feb 24GLOBAL GROOVE 1973/2012This exhibition features Nam June Paik’s seminal video from 1973 “Global Groove” as a jumping off point to explore current trends in international video art.

Thru Feb 24FRITZ HAEG:DOMESTIC INTEGRITIESHaeg explores the patterns and rituals of local domestic landscapes.

March 3MARCO BRAMBILLA: EVOLUTION (MEGAPLEX)Epic work in stereoscopic 3-D.

Many more exhibitions mark the inaugural opening of this new, striking contemporary museum designed by Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The Broad Museum, 556 East Circle Dr., East Lansing. 517.884.3900. www.braodmuseum.msu.edu.


FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTSThru Dec 30DRAWING TOGETHER: INTERNATIONAL CARTOONSDrawn from the international cartoon contest held annually in Istanbul, Turkey, this exhibition presents more than 100 award-winners from over 35 countries, with dates ranging from the competition’s inception in 1983 to 2011.

Thru Aug 13, 2013AROUND THE WORLD WITH 80 OBJECTSRarely seen selections that cross borders and time have been drawn from the FIA’s vault and assembled into this provocative and stimulating exhibition. Flint Institute of Arts, 120 East Kearsley St., Flint. 810.234.1695. www.flintarts.org.

FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARKThru Jan 6, 2013BODY DOUBLE:THE FIGURE IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTUREFeaturing Carole Feuerman’s new monumental sculpture “Quan” on display publicly for the first time. The exhibition runs in conjunction with Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize. 1000 East Beltline Ave., NE, Grand Rapids. www.meijergardens.org.

Thru Oct 2013BERNAR VENETA special, yearlong exhibition showcasing the revolutionary sculptor’s iconic work in steel. Five of Venet’s large-scale sculptures are installed outdoors. 1000 East Beltline Ave., NE, Grand Rapids. www.meijergardens.org.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTERNov 18 - March 10LIGHT FROM THE ASHESIn 1984, thousands of precious photos telling the story of life before the Nazi atrocity were discovered at Birkenau. From school bicycle tours to squalling infants, wedding toasts to beaming grandparents, their story is compelling. Photographs on exhibition from the collection. Permanent galleries, lectures and special events. Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills. 248.553.2400. www.holocaustcenter.org.

KELSEY MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGYThru FEB 10CONSERVING ANTIQUITYThis exhibition focuses on the often hidden work of preserving art and artifacts. Visitors are invited to step behind the scenes and experience the fascinating work of conservators. Free Admission. 434 South State St., Ann Arbor, 734.764.9304. www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey.

MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. www.mocadetroit.org/upcomingexhibitions.

THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART

Thru Jan 1, 2013MANET: PORTRAYING LIFEToledo is the exclusive U.S. venue for this major exhibition that explores the creative force of Édouard Manet (French, 1832–1883) and his twofold work in the genre of portraiture: posed portraits as well as portraits depicting everyday life in the Paris of his time. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and school age children. Admission is free for Toledo Museum of Art members.

Thru Jan 20, 2013MADE IN HOLLYWOODMore than 90 images on the stars, the sets and the scenes created by the American film industry and captured by the most important Hollywood studio photographers between 1920–1960.

Thru Jan 13, 2013LESLIE ADAMS: DRAWN FROM LIFEAdams presents a new body of approximately 20 works incorporating Old Master painting compositions and drawing techniques. 2445 Monroe St., one block off I-75, Toledo. 419.255.8000. www.toledomuseum.org.

U-M MUSEUM OF ART (UMMA)Thru Dec 30YOUNG-HAE CHANG-HEAVY INDUSTRIESThe Seoul-based art collaborative, Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries (YHCHI) is known for innovative video works that exist at the nexus of visual art and digital literature.

Thru Jan 13, 2013BENJAMIN WEST: GENERAL WOLFE AND THE ART OF EMPIREBenjamin West’s 1770 canvas The Death of General Wolfe was one of the most celebrated paintings in eighteenth-century England. Rare items from British America of the 1700’s are also exhibited.

Thru Feb 3, 2013AFRICAN ART AND THE SHAPE OF TIMEThirty works organized around five themes that explore the multiplicity of time in Africa: The Beginning of Things, Embodied Time, Moving Through Time, Global Time, and NOW. Admission to the Museum is free. $5 suggested donation is appreciated. 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor 734-764-0395. www.umma.umich.edu.

Admission to the Museum is free. $5 suggested donation is appreciated. 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor 734-764-0395. www.umma.umich.edu.

VISUAL ART | GALLERIES

Ongoing on ThursdaysPENNY W. STAMPS SPEAKER SERIESNov 29 - Janine Antoni: At Home in the BodyDec 6 -Jim Hubbard: United in AngerThursdays at 5:10pm. Free admission. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. http://art-design.umich.edu/stamps.

Thru Nov 18ANTONIA KUOReception and Gallery Talk, Nov 2, 7-9pmWinner of the 2012 Kreft Juried competition, Antonia Kuo returns with an exhibition of drawings, paintings, and prints exploring the idea of conatus, the inherent life force pervading all spheres of nature, matter, and the mind. Concordia University Kreft Center for the Arts, 4090 Geddes, Ann Arbor. 734.995.7358. www.cuaa.edu.

Thru Nov 24MICHELLE A. HEGYI: HOW THE DAY CHANGES WITH THE LIGHTReception: Oct 19, 7-10pmHegyi’s works have been described by reviewers as both “landscapes of the soul” and “ethereal dreamscapes”. WSG Gallery, 306 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.761.2287. www.wsg-art.com.

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Thru Nov 27THE ANN ARBOR WOMEN ARTIST FALL EXHIBITIONReception: Thurs. Oct 18, 6-8pmThis juried exhibition will be held at the Ann Arbor District Library, 3rd floor. Our juror is Vicki C. Wright, Director of Collections and Exhibitions for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Downtown AADL branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. 734.327. 4200. www.aadl.org.

Thru Nov 30INSTRUCTORS SHOWA varied collection of work by our talented faculty. Two Twelve Arts Center, 216 W. Michigan Ave., Saline. 734.944.ARTS. Info: www.twotwelvearts.org.

Thru Dec 22“10 UNDER 40”A juried exhibition of art in all media by 10 artists under the age of 40. River Gallery Fine Art, 120 S. Main St., Chelsea. 734.433.0826, www.chelsearivergallery.com.

Nov 23-Dec 30PROCESS AS CONTENTReception: Fri. Nov 23, 6-9pmA multimedia exhibit in which 24 local, regional, and national artists explore a wide range of iterative and often intense processes for making art. Gallery Project, 215 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor, 734.997.7012. www.thegalleryproject.com.

Nov 30-Jan 6IMPRESSIONS: SELECTIONS FROM STEWART & STEWARTReception: Fri. Nov 30, 6-8pmGallery Talk, Sat. Dec 1, 11-12:30Stewart & Stewart is a fine art printer, specializing in screenprinting. A selection of exceptional prints will be exhibited. The Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, 734.994.8004. www.annarborartcenter.org.

Dec 5-Jan 2ONE WEEK ON LAKE SUPERIORReception: Thurs. Dec 5, 5-7pmAcclaimed local artists Steven Coron and Karin Wagner Coron exhibit photographs and paintings from summer 2012 in the Upper Peninsula. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. 734.769-2999. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

THEATER & DANCE

Thru Dec 15SUPERIOR DONUTSTracy Letts’ warm, comedic drama about a burned-out donut shop owner and his new idealistic employee. Directed by Guy Sanville. The Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea; 734.433.7673, www.purplerosetheatre.org.

Thru Dec 30A LIITLE NIGHT MUSICSet in Sweden in the early 1900’s, Stephen Sondheim’s 6-time Tony-winning romantic musical follows a series of love triangles during a weekend

in the country. Performance Network Theatre, 120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor. 734.663.0681, www.performancenetwork.org.

Nov 30 -Dec 9THE STORY OF SNOW WHITEEMU Theatre Dept. presents a warm and mysterious version of the tale of Snow White. For family audiences. Sponberg Theatre, 103 Quirk Hall, Ypsilanti. Tickets: 734.487.1220, www.emich,edu/emutheatre.

Nov 30-Dec 16WOLF CRY WOLFLooks at the fine line between memory and imagination and at the lies we tell to survive our shadows. A beautiful new play from the playwright of last season’s comedy If You Start a Fire [Be Prepared to Burn]. Mix Studio Theatre, 130 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, www.thenewtheatreproject.org.

Dec 1CIVIC OPEN 2012Ann Arbor Civic Theatre presents the finalists for its vocal competition for musical theatre style performers. Cash prizes will be awarded. Doors open at 7pm, and the competition begins at 7:30pm. Tickets: 734.971.2228. The Last Word, 301 W Huron Street, Ann Arbor. www.a2ct.org.

Dec 2-5FIRESIDE NEW PLAY FESTIVALShowcases four full-length plays from emerging American playwrights. Selected from hundreds of submissions, these plays are developmental performances, known as “staged readings”. Performance Network Theatre, 120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor. 734.663.0681, www.performancenetwork.org.

Dec 6, 7, 8 & 9A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, conjuring a mystical existence where chaos, love, obsession, and transformation collide.Presented by UM Dept of Theatre & Drama. Directed by Malcolm Tulip. Thurs at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. Tickets: 734.764.2538. www.music.umich.edu/performances.

Dec 6-9 & 13-15AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE HOLLOWAn unhappy game of romantic “follow the leader” explodes into murder one weekend at The Hollow, home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell. Dr. Cristow is at the center of the trouble: Henrietta, his mistress; Veronica, his ex mistress; and Gerda, his wife are all at The Hollow. PTD Productions presents at the Riverside Arts Center, 76 N Huron St., Ypsilanti. Tickets: 734.483.7345, www.ptdproductions.com.

MUSIC

Nov 23MATT WATROBAA Michigan folk music institution, Matt presents his latest CD “Shine Right Through the Dark”, with all-original songs. This annual post-Thanksgiving show always attracts some great unannounced guests, so get ready! Fri 8pm. The Ark, 36 S Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Nov 28MAD ABOUT CHAMBER MUSICStudents from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance perform a variety of chamber music works. Professor Christopher Harding, Director. Free admission. Wed 8pm. Info: 734.769.2999. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Nov 30-Dec 7“JAZZ WEEK” CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF JAZZ AT MICHIGANUM School of Music features a series of performances, workshops, and panel discussions in commemoration of the history of the Jazz department. The department will welcome back alumni, many of whom have launched highly successful careers in the field, to perform with current students and faculty. Free admission. Various venues include Hill Auditorium, Rackham, Walgreen Drama Center, and the EV Moore Bldg. Info: www.music.umich.edu.


Dec 1ANNUAL CROISSANT CONCERTWith “Today’s Brass Quintet”. Concert guests will enjoy complimentary fresh baked croissants, hot coffee and juice while taking in the rich, sonorous, festive sounds of traditional brass quintet music. Sat 11am. Tickets: 734.769.2999. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Dec 2BOOM TIC BOOMDrummer Allison Miller performs with pianist Myra Melford, violinist Jenny Scheinman, and bassist Todd Sickafoose to celebrate their highly- acclaimed CD (top 10 jazz picks of 2010). Sun at 7. Tickets: 734.769.2999. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Dec 2THE ROBERT CRAY BANDContemporary blues master Cray, famed for his hits in the 80’s such as “Strong Persuader” and “Smoking Gun”, comes to Michigan with a new release, “Nothin’ But Love”. Sun at 7pm. Presented by The Ark at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W Fourth St., Royal Oak. Tickets: 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 7HOLIDAY POPS CONCERTA brand new annual concert with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra at Hill Auditorium. (see holiday listings).

Dec 8DIANNE REEVES QUARTETJazz great Reeves returns with her quartet for her first UMS performance in 5 years. The concert features special guest Raul Midon, a blind singer- songwriter and guitarist known for his distinct voice, strumming, and vocal trumpet. Sat 8pm. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University, Ann Arbor. Tickets: 734.764.2538, www.ums.org.

Dec 12SHAWN COLVINThe folk-rock icon comes to town performing songs from her new album, ”All Fall Down”. Wed 8pm. The Ark, 36 S Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 13GLOBAL JAZZ PROJECTPresents traditional to avant-garde jazz infused with world music concepts, giving global jazz with free and experimental creative dimensions. Thurs 8pm. Tickets: 734.769.2999. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Dec 14THE KLEZMATICSCelebrate Hanukkah with the Grammy-winning klezmer music superstars. Fri at 8. The Ark, 36 S Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 15YOUTH ORCHESTRA DECEMBER CONCERTA spirited performance with works by Mendelssohn, Gliere and Offenbach, presented by the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. Sat 3pm. Admission $5. Students and children free. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. Info: www.aa-spa.org.

Dec 21OUT OF THE BOX: ROBERT SPALDING NEWCOMB & FRIENDSNewcomb is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, computer programmer, theorist, writer and poet. “A musical tribute in honor of the end of days, the end of the Mayan Calendar, as we look inward for a view of our possible futures”. Fri 8pm Tickets: 734.769.2999. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor. www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Dec 28 & 29CROSSROADS CEILIPopular Celtic/ British Isles music. Fri & Sat at 7:30. The Ark, 36 S Main St., Ann Arbor. 734.763.8587, www.theark.org.

Dec 28-Jan 1MITTENFEST VIIHead to Ypsilanti’s Depot Town as Mittenfest VII rings in the New Year with five nights of dancing and 60 bands. This annual music festival features mostly Michigan musicians and a few regional acts. http:// visitypsinow.com.

Dec 1 & 2HANDEL’S MESSIAH AT HILL (See Holiday listings on p27.)

Dec 3BAND OF HORSESWith Jason Lytle. The indie-rock darlings, presented by Live Nation. Mon at 7:30. Tickets: Ticketmaster or MUTO. Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty, Ann Arbor. www.michtheater.org/events.


ART ON THE EDGE

HEAVY METAL

On December 8th METAL, along with Pot & Box, will co-host the Tiny Expo, an Indie holiday arts and craft fair from 10am-7pm. Other events can be found at: www.metaloffmain.com/#!events/cez9.

METAL is: Claudette Jocelyn Stern (Owner/Artist/Designer), John Daniel Walters (Owner/Designer/Fabricator), Andrew Kyte (Blacksmith/Fabricator), Sarah Carroll (Administrative & Marketing Director).

METAL220 Felch Street, Ann Arbor800.613.6385 / [email protected] 9am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday

“We ship both our custom and gallery items worldwide. Our design service has no geographic limit and can be employed independent of fabrication. Should installation be required, METAL will supply the contacts necessary to ensure a superb and complete job. If a project requires in-person consulting or design, our dedicated team will go above and beyond to provide our clients with everything necessary to accomplish the desired result.”

“METAL is a full-service design and fabrication studio with the purpose of providing individuals, designers, and companies with quality pieces of sculptural, utilitarian and mechanical forms from metal. We produce beautiful, long-lived, and exceptionally-made objects through traditional and digital processes. We invite you to visit, see our blacksmithing and fabrication in action and peruse our shop’s unique collection. METAL takes concepts to fruition as we work with our customers to design and fabricate—or find—the ideal item. Our custom shop focuses on architectural and sculptural works of metal and has the skill to provide anything from complex mechanized design to classic restoration services.”

John Daniel Walters’ Straw Humanoid

Phot

o by

Mar

y Wha

len

Andrew Kyte’s Smithed StairAndrew Kyte, Blacksmith. Photo by Pat Young

HEAVY METAL

art showcase magazine - holiday 2012

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