Kimono is the national dress of Japan and can be traced back in their history for 1000s of years to the Heian period. Kimono have a distinct style, fabrics and construction and are worn in a very particular way. Representatives from the Japanese Society of Detroit's Women's Club will demonstrate how to wear a Kimono and you will get a chance to see some beautiful examples up close! 

This event is part of Japan Week and is in partnership with the Japan Society of Detroit Women's Club.

AADL welcomes Dr. Sean M. Donovan for an engaging presentation centered around horror films and queerness, followed by a Q&A session. Expect a wickedly informative evening full of campy, frightful fun.

Join us for a relaxing and challenging afternoon of chess—one of the world's most popular games! Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Drop in at any point over the course of the program to play old friends and meet new ones. Instruction is not provided, but tutorial handouts are available. Chess sets are provided.

Join us for a relaxing and challenging afternoon of chess—one of the world's most popular games! Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Drop in at any point over the course of the program to play old friends and meet new ones. Instruction is not provided, but tutorial handouts are available. Chess sets are provided.

Get creative with some simple wire-wrapped jewelry making techniques. Use copper wire to twist and twirl your way to beautiful jewelry creations. Local crafter Beth Battey leads this workshop.

Join AADL for a screening of The Unabridged Mrs. Vera's Daybook.

The Unabridged Mrs. Vera's Daybook tells a story of activism, art, and love, through the work of David Faulk and Michael Johnstone, two San Francisco artists and long-term AIDS survivors. During one of the darkest periods in US History, the two men decide to bring joy and color to a broken community. Taking to the streets bedecked in glitter, baubles, and recycled plastic, the two form a cadre of colorful kindred spirits they call Verasphere.

This 80-minute documentary is rated PG.

Experience a multi-sensory cascade of movement, dance, abstract visuals, storytelling, sound, and audience participation.

trace/play is the collaboration between transdisciplinary performing artist Chrissy Martin and interactive artist Owen Lowery, who use AI body tracking to create real-time visual projections and motion-reactive musical sonification, resulting in immersive experiences for all ages.

Audience participants will be invited to dance, move, and play to create a one-of-a-kind collective artwork they can take home as a print.

Anime Your Way is a comprehensive step by step drawing program developed over 10 years by former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III that teaches you how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter what your drawing level is!

Using simple shapes and easy to understand instructions, you will gain the knowledge to create your very own unique anime characters. All materials are provided.

Synthesizers can be mysterious instruments and it can be hard to know why they make the noises they do. I played several for years, but did not truly understand them until I started using modular synths. This workshop will begin to demystify synthesis, give you some hands-on experience with a modular synth, and direct you towards resources to continue the journey on your own. 

Please note all are welcome, but there will be a limited number of modular synths for hands-on participation in the workshop.

After leaving the workshop you will be able to:

Create your own shark origami bookmark that will fit on the corner of a book to mark your page!