The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by the University of Michigan’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, brings together leading artists, designers and cultural thought leaders for engaging discussions that foster creativity, collaboration and community. These events, mostly held on Thursdays at 5:30pm at the Michigan Theater (unless otherwise noted below), are free and open to the public.
The series is named after Penny W. Stamps, a University of Michigan alumna, philanthropist, design professional, educator and passionate advocate for the arts.
Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Spring 2025 Event Lineup:
Tuesday, March 11
Gluklya – “Gulmira’s Fairy Tales”
A special screening of “Gulmira’s Fairy Tales” (2022), a film by performance artist Gluklya. The film emerged from a collaborative process involving female garment workers in Kyrgyzstan (2021–22), and blends storytelling, dance and street performance while exposing the garment industry’s relentless emphasis on efficiency at the cost of workers’ well-being.
Following the screening, Gluklya will join Elizabeth King, associate professor of health behavior & health equity and CREES Faculty Associate Irina Aristarkhova, professor at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design and the Digital Studies Institute, for a discussion.
University of Michigan Museum of Art, Helmut Stern Auditorium. 5:30–7pm.
Thursday, March 13
Gary Tyler – “Art as Resilience”
Gary Tyler is an artist and activist whose work bridges art and social justice. Wrongfully imprisoned for 42 years at Angola State Penitentiary, he found resilience through textile-based art, using quilting as a tool for healing and community-building. His art explores themes of mass incarceration, hope and transformation.
During his time at Angola, Tyler played a key role in the prison’s hospice program and led the drama program, fostering civic engagement and introspection among incarcerated individuals.
This event is presented in partnership with Library Street Collective and the Prison Creative Arts Project.
Michigan Theater. 5:30pm.
Related Exhibition: The 29th Annual Exhibition of Prisoner Art will be on display at the Duderstadt Gallery, University of Michigan, from March 18 – April 1.
RELATED: Prisoner Creative Arts Project Holds 2022 Auction
Thursday, March 20
Phung Huynh – “Angkorian Homecoming: Resettlement and Returning Home”
Phung Huynh, a Los Angeles-based artist and educator, explores themes of cultural identity, assimilation and representation in her work. Using unconventional materials, such as pink donut boxes, she examines the immigrant experience, particularly among Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees.
One of her focal points is beauty standards and racial identity, questioning how plastic surgery reflects cultural pressures and assimilation within Western societies.
Michigan Theater. 5:30pm.
Related Exhibition: Huynh’s installation, “Angkorian Homecoming,” will be on display at the Institute for the Humanities Gallery from March 20 – May 2.
Thursday, March 27
Trinh T. Minh-ha – “The Everyday Interval of Resistance”
Trinh T. Minh-ha is an acclaimed filmmaker, writer and composer whose work is deeply shaped by her experiences of colonialism, war and displacement. Born in Vietnam, she later moved to the U.S. and France in the 1970s to further her studies.
Her body of work includes nine feature-length films, such as “What About China?” (2021), and multimedia installations, such as “In Transit” (2020). Minh-ha’s work critically examines cultural identity, gender, and the politics of representation.
Michigan Theater. 5:30pm.
Thursday, April 3
John Cameron Mitchell – “Is This My Story to Tell?”
Michigan Theater. 5:30pm.
A visionary in theater, film and television, John Cameron Mitchell is best known for “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” the groundbreaking rock musical he co-wrote and starred in. His work challenges conventions, exploring themes of identity, love and self-acceptance.
Beyond “Hedwig,” Mitchell has continually pushed artistic and social boundaries, making a lasting impact on storytelling across various media.
Friday, April 11
George Vargas, Ana Luisa Cardona, and Jess Gonzalez – “La Raza Art and Media Collective: 1975 to Today”
In the 1970s, a pioneering group of Latinx students at the University of Michigan formed the La Raza Art & Media (RAM) Collective to uplift Chicano, Hispanic and Latinx voices through art, journalism and activism. Their grassroots efforts laid the foundation for future Latinx artistic and cultural movements.
This event brings together key figures from the collective to reflect on their legacy and continued impact on Latinx art and social justice.
U-M Museum of Art, Helmut Stern Auditorium. 5:30pm.
Related Exhibition: “La Raza: Arts and Media Collective 1975 to Today” is at the University of Michigan Museum of Art through July 20.
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series continues to be a platform for meaningful dialogue, artistic exploration and social activism. All events are free and open to the public. These Spring 2025 events feature a diverse lineup of artists, filmmakers and cultural leaders, each offering unique perspectives on identity, justice and creative expression.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
