Field Trip to the UMMA
Posted by: Jocelyn Edin
Last week, the Q crew took a field trip to the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA). Although the renovation and expansion has been complete since March of this year, many of us had not been over to experience it in person (at least I have a newborn baby to blame it on, but still…). It was a wonderful to finally see, such an amazing treat for the University and for the city of Ann Arbor.
Back in college I was a graphic design intern for the museum. At the time, they relied heavily on our student work, not having a more senior design person on staff. Therefore, I was able to create the look and feel for visiting exhibitions, design large-scale banners, and produce the monthly printed newsletter. Having had that kind of intimate experience with the space, the art, and the people, I was even more amazed by the changes. The art actually felt very new to me. Many permanent collections now have room to be on view (maybe I had never seen it!), and past work has so much more room to breathe. And then of course there are so many new pieces and new fantastic spaces, vantage points to see multiple floors of artwork at one time. And the opportunities for the University are wonderful as well; multiple rooms for classes, studio-type sessions, an auditorium for lectures and presentations. I wish it were all there when I was a student. But of course learning never ends, right? I can’t wait to take my children there.
Thank you to Stephanie Rieke Miller who took time out of her busy day to take us on the tour and share her knowledge of the building and the work. And thank you to the folks at the Great Lakes Gazette blog, who also posted about the museum and included this lovely photo of our group in the space.
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