Elizabeth Busey has been inspired by global travel to explore the forces that shape our world – growth, pressure, erosion and decay. Through this exploration, she highlights patterns from many disparate perspectives in order to celebrate their universality in the natural world. Her work is created by printing multiple layers of ink onto cotton rag paper, where a single linoleum block is gradually reduced with each color layer. Busey is a primarily self-taught printmaker who produces her work in Bloomington, Indiana on a press made of recycled steel.

A driving force in Monte Nagler’s artist quest is to have others see the world in a finer light and to appreciate life a little more. He has the ability to make visible what others can only sense, sharing with viewers the emotional beauty he experiences. Nagler’s photographs, which have won numerous awards, are found in many private and public collections, including the Detroit Institute of Art, the U-M Museum of Art and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. He is also a noted writer, lecturer and teacher of photography and the author of six highly successful photography books.

A driving force in Monte Nagler’s artist quest is to have others see the world in a finer light and to appreciate life a little more. He has the ability to make visible what others can only sense, sharing with viewers the emotional beauty he experiences. Nagler’s photographs, which have won numerous awards, are found in many private and public collections, including the Detroit Institute of Art, the U-M Museum of Art and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. He is also a noted writer, lecturer and teacher of photography and the author of six highly successful photography books.

By day, Jean-Marc Fontaine is a molecular biologist, and by night and weekend, he is an artist. He spent his childhood and youth in Normandy, France, and his dream of becoming a scientist grew together with his imagination and passion for oil painting and drawing. After moving to the US in 1998, Fontaine became fascinated with sculpting. This self-taught artist explores funny and familiar subjects, with close attention to details in human anatomy. Viewers will meet French, Belgian, British and American characters. Fontaine hopes that “…these cartoon characters will bring a smile to patients (children and adults, alike).”

A driving force in Monte Nagler’s artist quest is to have others see the world in a finer light and to appreciate life a little more. He has the ability to make visible what others can only sense, sharing with viewers the emotional beauty he experiences. Nagler’s photographs, which have won numerous awards, are found in many private and public collections, including the Detroit Institute of Art, the U-M Museum of Art and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. He is also a noted writer, lecturer and teacher of photography and the author of six highly successful photography books.

Elizabeth Busey has been inspired by global travel to explore the forces that shape our world – growth, pressure, erosion and decay. Through this exploration, she highlights patterns from many disparate perspectives in order to celebrate their universality in the natural world. Her work is created by printing multiple layers of ink onto cotton rag paper, where a single linoleum block is gradually reduced with each color layer. Busey is a primarily self-taught printmaker who produces her work in Bloomington, Indiana on a press made of recycled steel.

Traditional kunqu, a genre of classical Chinese theatre, comes alive in the large scale photographs of Xu, Zengquan. The viewer experiences the personalities of the characters and the spirit of the dance, opening a window into traditional Chinese culture and history. Now a local practicing engineer, Xu was born into a family of 10 brothers and sisters, in Jiangsu, China, and discovered his passion for photography in his teens. His work has been published by the Smithsonian Institution. Gifts of Art is pleased to present this exhibition in partnership with the U-M Confucius Institute.

Valerie Mann has been showing her work professionally throughout the US and in Canada and Germany for 23 years. She grew up on a large family farm in Indiana, went to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana to earn a BFA in painting, then to MSU to earn an MFA in sculpture. Now working and teaching in Ann Arbor, Mann’s use and study of tools inspired this body of work. Used every day and sometimes taken for granted, tools are indispensable in the making of art. These favorite tools are beautifully designed and well-thought out for their specific job.

Darryl Baird is Associate Professor of Art at U-M Flint in graphic design and photography. This body of photographic work is a series of highly magnified plant sections offered as homage to natural life cycles and the inherent potential for beauty in mature forms. These images are a means to explore the cycles of all living things and a way to find understanding through the process. For this series, Baird used antique lenses and the now discontinued Polaroid Positive/Negative 55 film. His work is included in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Art, Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas and U-M Museum of Art in Ann Arbor.

This year, Gifts of Art celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Employee Art Exhibition! This eagerly anticipated annual event showcases the exceptional talent and creativity of the people who work at the University of Michigan Health System, and for the first time this year, family members too! There are ribbon awards for Best in Category and Best in Show, and a People's Choice award will be determined by the votes of visitors to the exhibit. Winners will be announced at the Artist Reception and Award Ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012 from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the exhibition gallery, which will be hosted by Dr. Ora H. Pescovitz, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs.

The exhibit "Translating Homer: from Papyri to Alexander Pope" includes papyri and early printed books illustrating how the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems originally composed in the oral tradition, were first written down, edited, and eventually translated into the main European languages. This journey of transmission and interpretation throughout the centuries ends with the first editions of Alexander Pope’s renderings of the poems.

Visitors to the exhibit will hear a series of readings from the poems in the original Greek and in several other languages, including Latin, English, Dutch, and Spanish.

The exhibit is part of the LSA Fall 2012 theme semester, Translation.

Are your walls looking a little bare? Check out the Back to School Poster Sale - the largest of its kind on campus all year. With the start of the school year, now is the perfect time to add some color to your walls. We have thousands of posters to choose from!

Keynote Speaker Dr. Maura Cullen: In the spirit of CHANGE Day of CHANGE is a program during Welcome Week on Labor Day for students to begin to explore social identities and connect with Michigan’s commitment to creating an inclusive campus climate. All are welcome to attend and engage in the conversation. Dr. Maura Cullen's keynote address will discuss the differences between "saying" the right things and "doing" the right thing. Considered one of the most inclusive sessions on diversity, this honest and engaging program gets to the core of the problem; our fear of being judged and misunderstood which prevents good people from taking meaningful action. This engaging talk will leave you inspired to take action for CHANGE! Two Sessions in Two Locations: 11:00-1:00PM (Stamps Auditorium, Walgreen Drama Center on North Campus) 3:00-5:00PM (Rackham Auditorium, on Central Campus)

Celebrate the last day of summer vacation with the LGBT Commission of the UM Central Student Government! Gayz Craze is one of the University’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally directed events. Aside from having a blast playing games, listening to music, and eating free food, attendees can pick up a bunch of information from LGBTA friendly organizations on and near campus! Gayz Craze is also a great place to find new friends or meet up with old ones! This is a completely FREE event and everyone is welcome! LGBT Commission, Central Student Government.

This annual festival is a FREE outdoor event complete with a DJ, dancing, food, performances, giveaways, henna, and more! There will also be opportunities to network with student organizations on campus, meet tons of new friends, and watch some of the best on-campus performers at the University. The theme this year is "We Are All Heroes," highlighting the fact that people of all identities can achieve amazing things.

Gayz Craze is an annual celebration hosted by the LGBT Issues Commission of the Central Student Government. It promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQA-identified students, as well as allies.

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Keynote Speaker Dr. Maura Cullen: In the spirit of CHANGE Day of CHANGE is a program during Welcome Week on Labor Day for students to begin to explore social identities and connect with Michigan’s commitment to creating an inclusive campus climate. All are welcome to attend and engage in the conversation. Dr. Maura Cullen's keynote address will discuss the differences between "saying" the right things and "doing" the right thing. Considered one of the most inclusive sessions on diversity, this honest and engaging program gets to the core of the problem; our fear of being judged and misunderstood which prevents good people from taking meaningful action. This engaging talk will leave you inspired to take action for CHANGE! Two Sessions in Two Locations: 11:00-1:00PM (Stamps Auditorium, Walgreen Drama Center on North Campus) 3:00-5:00PM (Rackham Auditorium on Central Campus)

Head to Palmer Field the night before classes begin (and your LAST night of summer!) to kick off the year with free food, free T-Shirts, music, games, prizes, mingling and an all-around great time!

Looking for a barbecue on Labor Day? Come join us for a late afternoon cook-out in the courtyard to meet other students and learn about the Catholic Student Association and St. Mary Student Parish. FREE FOOD!

U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum and the U-M Residential College present two students-only Welcome Week performances of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Directed by Katherine Mendeloff of the Residential College and performed by U-M students and staff and community members, Shakespeare in the Arb is a “traveling show” that moves audience and players through Nichols Arboretum, taking advantage of the Arb’s natural settings to highlight each play’s action and dialogue. If you’re a new or returning student and have never seen a Shakespeare in the Arb performance or been to the Arb, the Welcome Week shows are a must-see!

Tickets are free to students with ID; one ticket per student. Arrive early; audience size limited. Meet at the Washington Hts. entrance to the Arb and follow the signs. 734-647-7600.