Exhibition:Behind the Curve: Rainbows and the Science and Culture of Color
2025-06-04 09:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Hatcher Graduate Library - Hatcher Gallery Exhibit Room (1st floor)
We have many significant books from the history of our understanding of rainbows and color theory, from the writings of scholar Ḥasan Ibn al-Haytham to Isaac Newton’s 1704 Opticks. Rainbows appear across the spectrum of our collections, and this exhibit includes a handwritten illuminated manuscript, practical color manuals of the industrial age, contemporary artists’ and children’s books, and more from our vast holdings.

Rainbows have captivated people for all of recorded history. It’s hard not to think of them as physical objects, but they are really just distorted images of the sun, positioned around the viewer’s head. They require someone to perceive them to exist, and thus have much in common with colors and color theory in general. And, like colors, they are about relationships: of one color next to another, and of colors and the people who see them. The rainbow has had many different cultural interpretations over the years, and most recently has become synonymous with gay pride, appearing all over each June.

Hatcher Gallery Exhibit Room Hours:
Sunday, 2-8pm
Monday-Thursday, 9am-8pm
Friday, 9am-4pm
Saturday, 11am-5pm

Exhibition:Carlo Vitale Exhibition
2025-06-04 09:00 - 17:00 | North Campus Research Complex Building 18 - NCRC Galleries
Carlo Vitale is a distinguished Michigan-based artist whose vibrant contributions to the Detroit art scene have flourished since the 1970s. A native of Detroit, Vitale's work is celebrated as part of the second generation of the Cass Corridor Art Movement, Detroit’s first avante garde. His art draws inspiration from the sweeping vistas of farmland seen from above, the intricate patterns of quilt-making, the dynamic energy of cityscapes, and the rich tapestry of daily life. Vitale eloquently characterizes his mesmerizing oil paintings and prints as “kinetic, metaphysical abstractions,” inviting viewers to engage with the depth and vitality of his creative vision.

Vitale received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts from Wayne State University in Detroit. His work can be found in many collections including The Whitney Museum of Fine Art in New York, The Detroit Institute of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, Wayne State University Collection, University of Michigan Museum of Art and corporate, hospital, and private collections throughout the country.

Conference / Symposium:Michigan Cosmology Summer School
2025-06-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Central Campus Classroom Building
Summer school will run the week of June 2nd

Exhibition:Redefining the Crown
2025-06-04 09:00 - 16:00 | Lane Hall
In Winter 2025, the Lane Hall exhibit space will feature a portraiture series titled Redefining the Crown showcasing the powerful stories of six Black breast cancer survivors.

Based on a photo essay by U-M Faculty Versha Pleasant (MD/MPH) and Ava Purkiss (PhD) in Medicine at Michigan, this exhibition examines the cultural and personal significance of hair within Black communities, particularly through the lens of breast cancer treatment and recovery. The term "crown" is deeply symbolic in Black culture, signifying beauty, strength, and identity. The featured photo essay by photographer Tafari Stevenson-Howard captures the intimate journeys of Ann Chatman, Tanisha Kennedy, Felecia McDaniel, Shantell Elaine McCoy, Tamara Lynn Myles, and Veleria Banks.

Through their narratives and portraits, the exhibit examines how these women have navigated the profound impact of hair loss caused by chemotherapy, inviting the audience to witness their stories with radical empathy. It explores the cultural pride and personal identity intricately tied to their hair, and how these elements are redefined amidst their battles with breast cancer.

The exhibit will be on view from January 21, 2025 to August 8, 2025. This exhibition is presented with support from IRWG, the Department of Women's and Gender Studies, and Michigan Medicine.

Located on the first floor of Lane Hall (204 S. State Street), the Exhibit Space is free and open to the public, M-F, 9am-4pm.
