Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University's Halle Library Gallery is currently hosting "You Are Here," an exhibition featuring contemporary portraits and figurative art. The collection, on display until May 9, 2025, includes works from South African artists and others around the world. The exhibit is housed in Halle Library at 955 W Circle Dr., Ypsilanti.

The gallery presents pieces by notable local artists such as Niagara, Tyree Guyton, and Leni Sinclair, along with emerging talents from Detroit and South Africa including Ryan Shava, Mncedi Madolo, Torrence Jayy, Giovanni Gulley, and Sheefy McFly. According to the organizers, the exhibition explores faces and forms while fostering cultural connections between global and local artistic expressions.

"As a lifetime collector, happenstance frequently takes over a collection," said Brian Steimel. "Many of these works are portraits—pieces that look at you, make you look back. These news pieces transcend the cosmic consciousness, reflecting how art imitates life and life imitates art—it isn’t an either/or; it’s a both."

Steimel has a background in English literature with minors in art history and drama/theatre for the young. He also holds a master's degree in drama and theatre for the young from Eastern Michigan University. After serving EMU's library for 35 years and teaching puppetry as an adjunct lecturer from 1996 to 2014 in the Communication, Media and Theatre Arts Department, he retired in 2019.

The exhibit is curated by Alexis Braun-Marks from university archives; Finn Vincent-Fix of Historic Preservation Department; Brian Steimel; with help from Danny Baskin of EMU’s School of Art and Design gallery program. It receives support from Bruce T. Halle Library and University Archives at Eastern Michigan University.

Located on the first floor of Bruce T. Halle Library, the gallery welcomes visitors during regular library hours. Further details on directions or parking can be accessed through EMU's library website.

For additional information about this exhibit or related queries contact lib_archives@emich.edu.

Founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university, Eastern Michigan University educates nearly 13,000 students across various fields like arts sciences business education engineering technology health services among others offering more than three hundred majors minors concentrations combined delivered through its multiple colleges recognized nationally for excellence diversity applied education commitment regularly acknowledged visit their websites stay updated via EMU Today