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Kristina Wong, Cheech Marin, and More Join the Penny Stamps Speaker Series

You won't want to miss this lineup.

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Leading artists, designers, performers, and thought leaders headline the Winter 2023 Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series. The series starts with a presentation by Robin Frohardt on Thursday, January 12: events take place at the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor on Thursdays at 5:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

From climate change to social justice, master artisans and designers, comedian and cabaret performers, the new Penny Stamps Series season offers a dynamic roster of guests to challenge and inspire, gathering us around creative minds to connect across the University of Michigan campus and the community at large,” said Chrisstina Hamilton, director of the Penny Stamps Speaker Series.

The hands of two seated figures work at a table full of cutout articles about Detroit
Amanda Alexander will give a presentation titled Building Our Communities’ Freedom Dreams on March 30.

Highlights of the upcoming series include:

  • U‑M alum Lynn Goldsmith, a renowned photographer of rock stars and album covers, will discuss her work from the 1980s. Goldsmith is awaiting a ruling from the United States Supreme Court on a pivotal case involving her work and impacting artists’ rights.

  • Prolific entertainer Cheech Marin is well known for his film, television, and comedy work and is also a leading advocate for Chicano art. The audience will hear about his efforts to share and amplify the importance of this art form globally.

  • You’ve seen their work in films like Harry Potter and Wonder Woman, and they’ve dressed everyone from Megan Thee Stallion to U‑M alum Madonna. Now, hear directly from Whitaker Malem about their innovative approach to design made for the human body.

  • Entertainer Kristina Wong is discussing her role as founder of the Auntie Sewing Squad in her tour Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord—a​“New York Times Critics Pick” that premiered off-Broadway at New York Theater Workshop.

  • Filmmaker Sam Green will speak about 32 Sounds, his immersive documentary and profound sensory experience that explores the elemental phenomenon of sound. The film is a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and open our perception to the world around us.

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Tania El Khoury will give a presentation titled Cultural Exchange Rate — A Case Study on January 26.

The full lineup runs weekly on Thursdays unless otherwise noted, from January 12 through April 13 and features the following speakers:

January 12 — Robin Frohardt

January 19 — Titus Kaphar

January 26 — Tania El Khoury

February 2 — Kristina Wong

February 9 — Martha Schwartz

February 16 — Nicole Marroquin

February 21 — YehRim Lee

March 9 — Cheech Marin

March 16 — Whitaker Malem

March 23 — Sam Green

March 30 — Amanda Alexander

April 6 — Lynn Goldsmith

April 13 — Ty Jeffries

Established with the generous support of alumna Penny W. Stamps (19442018), the speaker series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor to conduct weekly public lectures and engagements.