Apr 25 Thursday
Through much of the nineteenth century, steam-powered ships provided one of the most reliable and comfortable transportation options in the United States, becoming a critical partner in railroad expansion and the heart of a thriving recreation industry. The aesthetic, structural, and commercial peak of the steamboat era occurred on the Great Lakes, where palatial ships created memories and livelihoods for millions while carrying passengers between the region’s major industrial ports of Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Toronto. By the mid-twentieth century, the industry was in steep decline, and today North America’s rich and entertaining steamboat heritage has been largely forgotten. Joel’s presentation, Floating Palaces of the Great Lakes, brings this era to life again.
Hosted online via zoom by the Leelanau Historical Society. Register with the "get tickets" link to receive the zoom link.
Apr 27 Saturday
BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHYFor DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Users.Not intended for iPhone cameras.SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2024 Time: 10am - Noon
REGISTER BY: April 24CLASS FEE: $25, or 22.50 for members
For ages 12 and up!In the class, we will cover topics such as how to best use the camera you have, shooting modes, settings, the exposure triangle, the rule of thirds and composition, editing your photos, and more. In 2 short hours you will be able to learn many of the key basics, and dramatically increase the quality of your photography! Class presenters: John E Doskoch and Rebecca Rhea of the Charlevoix Photography Club.
In celebration of Earth Day, please join FLOW (For Love of Water), Michiganders for a Just Farming System (MJFS), Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action (MiCCA) and VegMichigan for a screening of "The Smell of Money” at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City on April 27, 2024 from 6-9 pm.
"The Smell of Money” is a David vs Goliath tale of one woman’s battle against one of the world’s largest pork companies to reclaim her right to clean air, clean water and to protect her beloved community.
The evening is FREE to attend and will include tabling with local partners, food, a cash bar, and a guest panel discussion led by Carrie La Seur from FLOW after the film.
May 02 Thursday
This lecture by Dr. Robert Van Dellen will explore the turbulent life of Ernest Hemingway and examine more closely the last novel he finished before his death. "Grace under pressure" was his mantra, and "The Old Man and The Sea" dramatically demonstrates its meaning.
Limit of 34, please register in advance. The ticket price reflects the cost of admission to the museum.
May 04 Saturday
ENAMEL ON COPPER CLASSSATURDAY MAY 4, 2024 Time: 10am - Noon
REGISTER BY: April 30CLASS FEE: $100, or 90 for members
With Courtney Uhrick! Join Courtney for a creative and fun workshop!
During your class, she will guide you step by step through the process of kiln firing to create a one of a kind colorful dish. Learn how to kiln fire enamel on copper and choose from a wide array of colorful enamel and textures.The dish measures 3-3/8”x3”x3/4”, perfect for holding your go-to earrings, rings - a beautiful catch-all dish.
All materials provided.
The Glen Arbor Arts Center celebrates human handwork in a time of machine dominance in its By Hand project. On May 4, the GAAC will host a panel discussion of generative artificial intelligence [AI], and its incursion into the arts. Visual artists Randy Melick, Tim Nielsen, Rufus Snoddy, and writer Bob Butz will talk about the role of AI in their work. The discussion begins at 1 pm and is facilitated by Anne Stanton, National Writers Series executive director, and Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager. It is often asserted that AI is just a tool. In the May 4 discussion, the panel will explore a range of questions including their experience with AI; and weigh in on whether or not it’s a benign “tool.” Is AI art “art”? How does AI change the way we understand the visual and literary arts? What purpose does AI serve in the arts? What’s the purpose of turning over human creative work to a machine? What are the harms? Melick and Snoddy teach visual art and art history at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Nielsen is the former president of Nielsen Design Group, Traverse City, and now a studio practitioner. Butz worked for 20 years as a freelance writer, and is now the Senior Creative Copywriter and Creative Strategist for the Wisconsin-based Vortex Optics. . This By Hand program is free. The GAAC is located at 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor. The By Hand project runs March 29 – May 30. The By Hand project enjoys the support of a Michigan Humanities Bridging Michigan grant. It is comprised of a series of visual art exhibitions and community conversations. For more information go to GlenArborArt.org / EVENTS.
May 05 Sunday
Northwestern Mi Orchid Society is having a membership drive meeting on May 5 2024 at 2pm. Free orchid to the first 5 people who join. Dues are $20. Repotting demonstration and refreshments. Location: Presbyterian Church, 701 Westminster Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686.
May 09 Thursday
“Lumber Era Ghost Towns Of Benzie: Gone But Not Quite Forgotten”Presented By: Jerry HeimanThursday, May 9th, 7:00 P.M.The Mills Community House And On Zoom
In The Late 1800’S, Benzie County Was Filled With Short-Lived Villages Built Around Large Sawmills. This Is The Story Of Two Of Them, Averytown And Edgewater, On Opposite Ends Of Big Platte Lake. We’ll Learn How And When They Began, Who Lived There, Their Life, And How The Towns Disappeared.
This presentation, part of the Benzie Area Historical Society’s Benzonia Academy Lecture Series, is open to all. It is held on the second Thursday of each month; admission is by donation, making it accessible to everyone. We recommend a donation of $ 5, but any amount is appreciated.To learn more about the May 9th lecture, visit the Benzie Area Historical Society’s website, benziemuseum.org, Instagram, or Facebook page; call the Museum at (231) 882-5539; or email info@benziemuseum.org.
May 12 Sunday
The Old Art Building came into being in 1922 as the result of planning and fundraising done by the Walter T. Best Women’s Club, led by Allie Mae Maro. In 1923 Allie Mae opened her own business, The Blue Lantern Tea Room which offered lunch as well as afternoon tea. Those who knew Allie Mae knew her to be a generous hostess and a great supporter of arts and culture in the region.
Drawing from all of this rich history, The Old Art Building is pleased to introduce the Blue Lantern Tea Room program monthly through the winter. We offer the intimate salon-style interaction with artists along with refreshments and tea to be enjoyed in the sunlit ambiance of this historical space.
Sunday, January 14"Art As Renewal" — Anne-Marie Ooman and Robert VivianWriters who have worked independently and in collaboration describe how the act of creating art can contribute to a sense of renewal both for the artist/writer and the reader.
Sunday, February 11"Classical Guitar" — Matthew Cochran and students from Interlochen Arts AcademyRenowned solo guitar composer/performer Matthew Cochran brings students from his studio to “air out” new compositions and talk about the inspiration and discipline it takes to bring a new composition to life.
Sunday, March 10"Bon Appetit" — An Operatic Biography of Julia ChildIndulge in what is arguably the world's most famous chocolate cake while getting the story straight from the baker’s mouth. An actual transcript of Julia baking her cake is masterfully set to music and sung by nationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lindsey Anderson.
Sunday, April 14"She Does Shakespeare" — Women actors shake up ShakespeareArea actresses take their stab at famous scenes and monologues intended exclusively for men. We will be joined by actor/writer Shelby Lewis who has a wealth of experience in adapting The Bard for modern audiences. She and the actors will address the challenges and delights of reimagining these familiar words for women.
Sunday, May 12"Spring Madrigals" — A selection of seasonal vocal music from Leland Public School Honors ChoirIt’s May! Time for flower crowns, strawberries and cream, and a flourish of spring madrigals, performed by the youthful voices of the Leland Honors Choir.
May 19 Sunday
Ernest Hemingway casts a long shadow in literature—reaching beyond his status as a giant of 20th-century fiction and a Nobel Prize winner—extending even into comic books. Appearing alongside Superman, Captain Marvel, and Cerebus, Hemingway has even battled fascists alongside Wolverine in Spain and teamed up with Mickey Mouse in Italian comics.
Robert K. Elder’s research into Hemingway’s comic presence demonstrates the truly international reach of Hemingway as a pop culture icon. In more than 120 appearances across multiple languages, Hemingway is often portrayed as the hypermasculine legend: bearded, boozed up, and ready to throw a punch. But just as often, comic book writers see past the bravado to the sensitive artist looking for validation. Hemingway’s role in these comics ranges from the divine to the ridiculous, as his image is recorded, distorted, lampooned, and whittled down to its essential parts.
As Elder notes, comic book creators and Hemingway share a natural kinship. The comic book page demands an economy of words, much like Hemingway’s less-is-more “iceberg theory,” only in graphic form. In addition, he turned out to be the perfect avatar for comic book artists wanting to tell history-rich stories, as he experienced beautiful places during the most chaotic times: Paris in the 1920s, Spain during the Spanish Civil War, Cuba on the brink of revolution, France during World War I and during World War II just after the Allies landed in Normandy. Hemingway in Comics provides a unique lens for considering one of our most influential authors. Not only for the dedicated Hemingway fan, this book will appeal to all those with an appreciation for comics, pop culture, and the absurd.
Robert K. Elder is the curator of the exhibition "Hemingway In Comics "on view at the Dennos through May 26, 2024.