Nights at the Museum, UMMA’s first-ever exterior media art initiative, is open to the public, and will run from September 2-9 from 8:30 p.m. to dawn along its State Street-side facade, on the west side of the Maxine and Stuart Frankel and the Frankel Family Wing.
Nights at the Museum begins Friday, Sept. 2, during Artscapade!, a Welcome Week event for new U-M students, and concludes on Friday, Sept. 9 at UMMA’s twice-annual After Hours community celebration.
“This week-long event fulfills our goal of extending arts experiences beyond the galleries of the Museum,” says Joseph Rosa, UMMA’s Director. “Nights at the Museum has something for everyone to enjoy.”
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from dusk to dawn, UMMA will showcase a digital art installation by Quayola calledPleasant Places. Inspired by the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Quayola has returned to the same countryside of Provence 125 years later to create of a series of digital paintings exploring the boundary between representation and abstraction. Pleasant Places will also be projected overnight throughout the remainder of the week.
Monday, Sept. 5 will feature a movie night with a screening of Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story.
Tuesday through Thursday, UMMA is collaborating with arts partners at the University of Michigan, including the University Musical Society (UMS), the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The Museum invited each organization to showcase a related video performance or art installation.
The full schedule for Nights at the Museum includes:
- Friday, Sept. 2: 7–10 p.m., Artscapade!; 10 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places by the artist Quayola.
- Saturday, Sept. 3, 8:30 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
- Sunday, Sept. 4, 8:30 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
- Monday, Sept. 5: 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., Movie night with a screening of Toy Story; 10:15 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
- Tuesday, Sept. 6: 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., A selection of performances by U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance students and faculty, including the Men’s Glee Club, University Symphony Band, University Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir; 10:15 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
- Wednesday, Sept. 7: 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., Short art films created by U-M Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design faculty and students; 10:15 p.m. – 7 a.m.,Pleasant Places.
- Thursday, Sept. 8: 8:30-10 p.m., Screening of Snarky Puppy’s Family Dinner - Volume Two in collaboration with UMS; 10:15 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
- Friday, Sept. 9: UMMA After Hours from 7-10 p.m.; 10:15 p.m. – 7 a.m., Pleasant Places.
“UMMA hopes to expand the availability of arts and culture beyond our walls,” says Carrie Throm, UMMA Deputy Director of Development and External Relations. “We invite the community to join us for this week of experimentation, collaboration, and fun.”
UMMA encourages viewers to send feedback using the #ummanights hashtag on social media sites.