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Events in February 2023
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February 1, 2023
“Salt: Dispersed”: University Musical Society Digital Presentation.
Jan. 17–Feb. 13. Online presentation of this very personal monologue by performance artist Selina Thompson which premiered at the 2017 Edinburgh festival. At once dramatic, sad, and comic, it’s about a journey she made by cargo ship to retrace the triangular route of the transatlantic slave trade. Salt is Thompson’s response to being both British and a descendant of a people enslaved by the British. Anytime from Jan. 17 until Feb. 13. For URL, go to ums.org/performance/salt-dispersed, or preregister to be reminded. Free. 764–2538.
“The Plastic Bag Store”: University Musical Society/U-M Museum of Art/U-M Graham Sustainability Institute.
Every Wed.–Sun., Jan. 18–Feb. 5. Film and theater director Robin Frohardt’s public art installation and immersive film screening uses humor and a critical lens to question our culture of consumption and convenience, with a focus on the effects of single-use plastic addiction. Shelves are stocked with thousands of original sculptures of everyday goods—produce and meat, dry goods and toiletries—all made from discarded single-use plastics. Several times a day, the “store” is transformed into a film screen that uses puppetry, shadow play, and handmade sets to tell a darkly comedic story of how what we value least may become our most lasting cultural legacy. The Plastic Bag Store premiered in Times Square in 2020 and has toured across the U.S. 6 & 8 p.m. (Wed.–Fri.); 2, 4, 6, & 8 p.m. (Sat.); & 2, 5, & 7 p.m. (Sun.), 777 Eisenhower Pkwy. Mask required if Washtenaw County is in the CDC’s high-risk category. Tickets $30 (students $12) in advance at tickets.ums.org, at the Michigan League box office, & by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764–2538.
Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory.
Every Mon.–Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play various forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Wed. 5–8 p.m.: Casual Commander, the most popular form of the game, free. Fri. 6:30–10 p.m.: Magic rotating draft, cost varies. Sat. noon–3 p.m.: Intro to Magic: The Gathering, free. Sat. 6–10 p.m.: Commander Pods, casual groups of 4 players, free. Mon. 6:30–10 p.m.: Power Cards, $10. Tues. 6–9 p.m.: MTG Pauper, a fun and fast format for all skill levels, $5. Prizes paid in store credit. Various times. Sylvan Factory, 2459 W. Stadium. info@sylvanfactory.com, 929–5877.
Preschool Storytimes: AADL.
Every Mon.–Fri. Half hour program of stories and songs for kids ages 2–5 (with caregiver). Mon. 10:30 a.m. (Pittsfield), Tues. 11 a.m. (Downtown & Malletts Creek), Wed. 10:30 a.m. (Malletts Creek), Thurs. 11 a.m. (Traverwood & Pittsfield), Fri. 1 p.m. (Westgate), and Tues., Feb. 21, 7-7:30 p.m. (Westgate).
Coffee & Conversation: Pittsfield Township Community Center.
“Healthy Living”: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
“Investigate Labs”: U-M Natural History Museum.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops.
Tai Chi: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
“A2SC Trivia Live!”: Ann Arbor Senior Center.
"2023 Humanities Afrofutures”: U-M Institute for the Humanities.
Feb. 1, 6, 9, 15, 20, & 23. A month-long series of talks, panel discussions, and film screenings on the past, present, and future of feminist African and Afroamerican studies. Feb. 1 (5 p.m., Rackham Amphitheatre): Durham, NC-based writer, independent scholar, poet, and activist Alexis Pauline Gumbs, a self-described “queer Black troublemaker and Black feminist love evangelist,” joins U-M English professor Madhumita Lahiri to discuss her work. Various times & locations. Free. 936–3518.
“Welcome to Commie High”: Ann Arbor District Library.
(Donald Harrison, 2021). Screening of the new PBS version of this documentary exploring the unfolding experiment in public education that is Ann Arbor’s Community High School, one of the few remaining public schools from America’s “free school” movement. Featuring an introduction by the director and behind-the-scenes stories & footage. 6–7:30 p.m, AADL Downtown. Free. 327–4200.
Latin Jazz Wednesday: Alma Con Alma: Blue LLama Jazz Club
ALMA CON ALMA is a 7-piece Latin jazz ensemble featuring Jeff Trudell & Rob Killips. Get ready to dance!
314 S. Main St ,Ann Arbor. Pre-Pay Cover at opentable.com $15. hello@bluellamaclub.com bluellamaclub.com 734-372-3200.Ann Arbor Bridge Club.
Every Wed., except Feb. 8. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge. Bring a partner if you can, or call in advance or arrive 20 minutes early if you can’t. 7–10:30 p.m., Walden Hills clubhouse, 2114 Pauline east of Maple. (Park in the designated spaces in the lot on the north side of Pauline.) $6 per person. 945–6021.
Annie Bacon, Michelle Held, & Jan Krist: On the Tracks Singer-Songwriter Showcase.
Three veteran singer-songwriters perform in the round. A transplant 4 years ago from San Francisco to Ann Arbor, Americana folk-rocker Bacon writes lush and earnest story songs. Soulful pop-folk singer-songwriter Held, and Krist, known for her incisive, gritty songs about contemporary urban life, are both based in Detroit. 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), online at onthetrackschelsea.com. $20 suggested donation. 330–5226. OnTheTracksSS@gmail.com.
Kerrytown Crafters.
Meditation & Discussion: Ann Arbor Karma Thegsum Chöling.
“Our Carnal Hearts”: University Musical Society.
Feb. 1–4. U.K.-based performance artist Rachel Mars is joined by 4 female singers in her gleefully wicked ode to the humblebrag and the other forms of envy engendered by the competitive spirit of capitalism. “Not just honest... very funny, too, and streaked with regret,” according to The Guardian reviewer. Structured like a church service, this Edinburgh Fringe Festival hit features audience participation and music by Louise Mothersole. 7:30 p.m. (Wed. & Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri.), & 2 p.m. (Sat.), Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin Ave. Mask required if Washtenaw County is in the CDC’s high-risk category. Tickets $25 (students, $12), in advance at tickets.ums.org, the Michigan League box office, & by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764–2538.
Visitors Night: Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club.
“Wednesday Night Swing”: Ann Arbor Swing Dance Association.
Every Wed., except Mar. 1. Lindy hop, East Coast swing, Charleston, and Balboa dancing to music spun by DJs. No partner needed. Wear comfortable low-grip shoes. Preceded at 7 p.m. by a free beginner lesson. 8–10 p.m., Michigan League Vandenberg Rm., 2nd fl. Mask, full vaccination, and boosters required. $5 (free for SAA members). Swingannarbor.com.
University Symphony Orchestra: U-M Music School.
Ken Kiesler directs this music student ensemble in Brahms’ compact and richly romantic 3rd Symphony, Ravel’s colorful and revolutionary orchestral showpiece La Valse, and contemporary American composer Nkeiru Okoye’s spiritual and jazz-influenced Charlotte Mecklenburg, written in 2018 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Charlotte, NC. Preceded at 7:15 p.m. by a brief introduction to the program. 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Free. 615–3204.
