Arts and Culture

Northern Michigan University senior Zoe Fess was invited to participate in the Biennial United Nations Global Indigenous Youth Forum in Rome, Italy. She joined peers representing all seven socio-cultural regions of the world to raise their voices, share concerns and work on proposals for the UN and its member states on improving the lives of Indigenous youth. Topics included climate and biodiversity action, the impacts of pesticides and ultra-processed foods, and the protection of plant genetic resources.

Northern Michigan University alumnus, filmmaker and author Jeff Vande Zande will hold a screening of his short films at the Peter White Public Library. The event is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the library's Community Room. It is free and open to the public. 

Northern Michigan University will present its 23rd annual Sonderegger Symposium exploring Upper Peninsula topics from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the Northern Center Ballroom. This year's theme is “Perspectives on 1820 and Beyond.” All sessions will relate to the Beaumier Center's current exhibit, “Claiming Michigan: the 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass.”

The Northern Michigan University Orchestra, under the direction of Barbara Rhyneer, is holding a concert at the Reynolds Recital Hall. They are performing with “Symphony Strings” from Marquette High School in a concert titled, “You Will be Found.” The 7:30 p.m. performance on Tuesday, Oct. 24, is free and open to the public.

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance invites youth ages 13 through high school seniors to attend a musical theater and dance intensive. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, with lunch provided, in Forest Roberts Theatre.

A Halloween concert tiled "The Witching Hour," with performing artists and a costume contest, will take place at Northern Michigan University. The event begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Northern Center's Grand Ballrooms. It is the second annual concert presented by Northern Michigan Artist Discovery (NoMAD). The general public pays an entry fee of $10 cash, and NMU students enter for free with a student ID.

“Perhaps We Wrong Them,” a choreographed dance film that visually explores powerful themes relating to childhood trauma and its lingering effects on a survivor's everyday adult life, won Screendance Short of the Year at the 2023 Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film was conceived and produced by 2015 NMU theater alumnus John Scheibe of Yonder Studio in Marquette and stars Karina Johnson, NMU director of dance and assistant professor. Alumna Kasey Scheibe served as production manager and Riley Owen was choreographer. All four walked the red carpet at the September awards ceremony.

Northern Michigan University's Visiting Writers Series will host poets Christina Olson and Matthew Minicucci from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Northern Center Peninsula II. The event will showcase Olson's “The Anxiety Workbook: Poems” and Minicucci's scheduled October release, “Dual.” It is free and open to the public.

North Carolina-based artist, curator and author Endia Beal will visit Northern Michigan University, where she will give a keynote presentation at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in Art & Design room 165. Those who register to attend can also sign up to participate in a two-hour workshop with Beal at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the Peninsula V room at the Northern Center.

Emily Lanctot, director and curator of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum, recently participated in a two-week residency that brings an international consortium of artists to Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy. The gathering culminates in an exhibition of artworks and corresponding catalog.