What: Drop-in sessions to get one-on-one assistance with accessing Google Apps using assistive technology, exploring Google features that may provide accommodations, and any other topic of interest.

Who: For students, faculty, and staff with disabilities or others with accessibility-related questions. Registration with the SSD office not required. Please bring your laptop or mobile device.

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.

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).”

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.

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.

Visit the Pierpont Commons Wall Gallery located just outside of the Commons Cafe to see this beautiful exhibit featuring framed photography of nature in North America.

​Photographs by Artists: Sue and Dick Rigterink

Artist Statement: These images communicate the diversity, characteristics, habitats, behavior, and beauty of the plants and animals with whom we share the earth. Rather than simply looking, we hope you will pause, observe and really see. By stopping movement, the patterns and grace of those around us are there for us to learn from, enjoy and protect.

The exhibit will be displayed until Friday, September 28th.

All pieces in the exhibit are for sale. Please contact the Center for Campus Involvement (uminvolvement@umich.edu) if you are interested in purchasing art from this exhibit.

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.

Visit the Michigan Union Art Lounge to see this art exhibit featuring landscape oil on canvas paintings from some of the most beautiful places in Michigan.

Exhibit: “Beautiful Michigan” - Landscape Paintings, Oil on Canvas

Artist: Anil Dhir

Artist Statement: For a painter, Michigan offers one of the most beautiful landscapes, whether here in Ann Arbor, up-north or anywhere else. These paintings are my attempt to capture some of the Michigan beauty. I believe that a great painting is a like a beautifully composed piece of music. My wish is to create a painting with a simple aim of honestly capturing the very essence of what I saw, and be able to make the viewer feel what I felt. (To read the full artist statement, please visit campusinvolvement.umich.edu, it is also posted with the exhibit.)

The exhibit will be displayed until Friday, October 5th.

All pieces in the exhibit are for sale. Please contact the Center for Campus Involvement (uminvolvement@umich.edu) if you are interested in purchasing art from this exhibit.

Please note: The Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) provides opportunities for student and professional artists to display work suitable for a general audience. CCI hosting an artist’s work does not mean we endorse the artist’s point of view; we recognize the free speech rights of our exhibitors.

"Understanding & Enhancing Communication Skills"-- Wednesdays, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Sept 12-Sept 26, Peggy Clough, $35 What role do biology, culture, gender, self-esteem, the unconscious mind, and psychological processes play in communication? Learn to communicate more effectively.

"Living Your Myth"-- Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon Sept 12-Oct 17, Mike Murray, $35 What does mythology have to do with daily life? We will view and discuss video presentations of Bill Moyers interviewing Joseph Campbell, author of "The Power of Myth."

Please go to the OLLI website for additional class information.

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Faculty, staff and students are invited to learn more about making meals that are quick, delicious and healthy for the entire family. MHealthy is holding a free chef demonstration at the Michigan Union, Rogel Ballroom, on Wednesday, September 12, from 12 – 1 p.m. Led by U-M executive chef Chris Carr, the demo will include food samples, recipes and healthy eating tips. A variety of dishes will be prepared including:

• Spiced Pumpkin, Lentil & Goat Cheese Salad

• Chicken Breast Sandwich with Roasted Peppers

• Apple Brown Betty

No registration is required but space is limited. To accommodate those who are unable to attend, the chef demo will also be streamed live on the MHealthy website.

Benefits-eligible faculty and staff who attend the chef demo live at the Michigan Union will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of six prizes valued up to $500 each. Employees are asked to bring their U-M ID to the event.

The Pussy Riot affair divides Russia. While polls show that many Russians, especially Orthodox believers, approve the severe punishment the band members received, others denounce it. What explains this mixed response to the two-year sentences that thousands around the world are protesting? Are there social or feminist issues that divide Russia? The panel will address this issue by looking at the local contexts to unveil the social, legal, and cultural meanings of the event.

Moderator: Olga Maiorova, CREES director. Presenters: Elena Gapova, associate professor of sociology, Western Michigan University, and European Humanities University; Holly Hughes, professor of art and design and professor of theatre and drama, U-M, and performance artist; Ekaterina Mishina, assistant professor of law, Vysshaia shkola ekonomiki, and visiting professor of law, U-M.

Part of the series Pluralism in Politics and Culture, a new initiative jointly sponsored by CREES and WCED that examines the foundations of free and open societies. The project builds on the university’s rich legacy of study and support of the dissident culture in the former Soviet Union and on several existing efforts at U-M. The series focuses on multiple facets of political pluralism, including its legal, cultural, and economic dimensions, and explore them in a broader historical context.

Expecting upcoming medical school interviews? Attend this workshop to discuss presenting your story to a medical school during interviews. Learn different ways to prepare and start practicing with your peers at this session!

Are you shooting, printing and e-mailing photos? Do you want to do more of it and do it better? Members of this group share photos, albums, videos, and slideshows. Through friendly feedback and guest speakers, this group will cover composition, printing photos, and creating DVDs. Participants don’t need to shoot photos.

First Wednesday of every month (except September, when it is the 2nd Wednesday) September 12, 2012 - August 7, Beverly Chethik and Jon Stinson

Participants will write about memories of times, people and places important to them. The stories will be read aloud to the group, discussed, and suggestions made. The discussions are lively, helpful, and they elicit additional memories. The class will be guided by Zibby Oneal, who has published books and stories based on her memories of earlier times.

Wednesdays, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. September 12 - December 12

Undergraduate and graduate student employees through the School of Public Health will engage in interactive activities designed to strengthen their communication skills in the workplace, specifically to recruit other U of M students to participate in a research study.

This discussion group is for people interested in what’s happening at the local, national, and global level. All opinions receive a courteous hearing. No materials or special expertise required. Just bring an open mind and a good sense of humor.

Wednesdays, September 12 - December 19, Norm McIver

Dr. Howard Koh, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health, will be present at the University of Michigan School of Public Health to announce a national initiative to eliminate tobacco use on college campuses. Dr. Koh will be joined by University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, SPH Dean Martin Philbert, and tobacco policy experts and educational leaders from the across the country.

The program begins at 3:00 p.m. at the School of Public Health. Dr. Koh’s announcement will be followed by a panel of experts who will discuss how this policy initiative will impact U.S. college campuses. The event will conclude with a reception at 4:30 pm.

The September 12 kickoff also marks the official launch of a website portal at tfcci.org, which will include resources, information and support for tobacco-free campuses.

In this hands-on workshop you’ll get an orientation to the various types of tools that make Photoshop so powerful. We’ll include some basics such as cropping, resizing, and using the “Content-Aware” fill. We’ll combine images and parts of images together (using “layers”) add text, and apply effects, such as a bevel to make an image look like a button. In addition, you’ll be introduced to the Adjustments Palette, and begin to learn the different ways you can improve the look of your images.

All sessions are free, but registration is required.

FREE workshop to learn skills and strategies that can help you in the most common dangerous situations on campus. Open to all genders, identities and abilities.

Register at kines.umich.edu/umove/u-move-fitness. Use course #210239. You can also come to 3064 CCRB to register in person. Workshops meet from 5–6:30 pm in G20 Intramural Sports Building (corner State/Hoover). You must have building access to participate.

Explore native plantings and lawn alternatives at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Meet in the main lobby. Presented by Wild Ones Ann Arbor. 734.604.4674; wildones.org/chapters/annarbor/.

The health of the hive in preparation for winter will be reviewed. Topics covered include the status of pests and pathogens; determining if the hive is strong enough to go into winter cluster and survive; last-minute interventions to aid in hive survival. Presented by Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers (A2B2).

Please join us for a fun “get acquainted” gathering to learn more about OLLI About Town and to meet fellow About Town participants.

About Town with OLLI offers exciting opportunities to meet interesting people, while enjoying the Ann Arbor area’s numerous entertainment, dining and cultural events.

For $15, you can join About Town and go to any or all of the events and bring a guest. If you wish, you can meet the group for dinner at a nearby restaurant prior to an event. Many events are free and others are reasonably priced. When there is an admission fee or restaurant bill, you must pay for it on your own. After registering, you will receive frequent e-mails announcing upcoming events.

Events currently planned include: • Plays at Performance Network • All that Jazz • Concerts at the University of Michigan • Kerrytown Concert House • Sip and Savor (Food and Wine Tasting)