Matrix is an ongoing series of short stories celebrating the wide diversity of Arts and Humanities in Michigan, produced by Michigan Television in partnership with Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council. These shorts are distributed to PBS stations throughout Michigan.








Songwriters Retreat



For two weekends each year, songwriter/musician John D. Lamb creates a safe haven where budding songwriters come together with diverse professional musicians to work on the craft of songwriting and performance. Tucked away in a cozy inn near Harbor Springs, Lamb's Songwriters Retreat welcomes seasoned performers and novices alike in a friendly but furious creative burst of musical energy. Each year, Michigan's songwriting scene becomes a richer landscape.

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The Grand Rapids Ballet



Grand Rapids Ballet illuminates the creative energy of Michigan's only professional ballet company. A multi-talented group of ballet dancers bring to life the flowing choreography of artistic director Gordon Peirce Schmidt in a wide range of shows year in and year out. Embraced by the community of Grand Rapids, the ballet company continues to grow in stature as it opens its own new performance theater.

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The Great Michigan Read



The Great Michigan Read examines Ernest Hemmingway's formative years around Walloon Lake and his Michigan based "Nick Adams" stories - encouraging today's readers to explore this Michigan treasure. Professors Fred Svoboda of UM-Flint and David Calonne of Eastern Michigan University provide detail of the influence of Michigan on Hemmingway's stories. Archival footage and photographs augment a dramatic reading from Nick Drake stories by actor Brian Greminger.

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Arab American Museum



Arab American Museum - Since its inception just a few short years ago, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn has carved a strong identity as the foremost purveyor of Arab and Arab American culture. This short highlights the wide diversity of arts and culture on display at the museum and explains its critical mission in illuminating visitors to the vast contributions of Arabs and Arab Americans to worldwide humanities.

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Argus Cameras



Argus Cameras highlights the glory years of Ann Arbor's Argus Camera Company from the 1930's through the 1960's. Professional and amateur photographers fondly remember the reliable camera which traveled the world with tourists and captured everyday images in the back yard - a testament to one Michigan company's ingenuity and manufacturing prowess in the creation of a legend.

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Michigan Foodways



Michigan Foodways explores the many regional foods that have been created in Michigan over its history. From muskrat in the south to the cudighi sandwich in the U.P., a wide range of foods were influenced by the ethnic groups who migrated to Michigan. Of particular focus here: the coney, a sandwich whose rich history is matched only by its deliciously spicy flavor.

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The Bijou Orchestra



Bay City's Bijou Orchestra has carved a unique creative niche for itself in performing highly interesting works of the late 18th and early 19th century. Bringing life to the beautifully renovated State Theater, the orchestra's performances encompass a wide range of salon and theater music - reminding us of the fun and vitality of this music even a century later.

Additional footage graciously provided by Chris and Bill Harris

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Project Roots



The Michigan Humanities Council engaged with Folklorist Michael Ball to bring creative musical expression to incarcerated young people in southern Michigan. Working with professional musicians to craft their own songs with their own messages, the girls at Adrian Training School gain a sense of empowerment in musical expression.

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The Howell Opera House



The Howell Opera House opened its doors in 1881 and operated consistently until 1925. It has been closed and boarded up ever since but remains in remarkably good condition considering 80 years without any use. The Livingston Arts Council is working to raise funds to restore this magnificent gem and its vital role at the center of the area's cultural milieu. Archival photos courtesy Howell Area Archive.

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Shadow Towns



Many towns in Michigan have seen periods of boom and near bust in their history, in many cases brought on by the logging era and its aftermath. Examining the common histories of the towns of Au Sable, Lewiston and Grand Marais, we are able gain insight into the plight of these towns as they search to preserve their heritage while seeking to develop a long lasting economic base. Based on the book, Shadow Towns, by author Gene Scott.

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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum



The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Lighthouse at Whitefish Pointe in the Upper Peninsula has a long, storied history of bravery in assisting ships navigating through the treacherous waters of Lake Superior. As it celebrates the renovation of the Coast Guard's quarters on the site, Michigan Television explores its remarkable history.

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Notable Books



Each year the Library of Michigan celebrates new books by Michigan authors and books about Michigan with its list of 20 Notable Books. Michigan Television delves into the authors and their works while exploring the role of libraries in maintaining a strong aural tradition.

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Arts and Humanities Touring Program



The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council co-publish a bi-yearly resource book on musicians, historical reenactors and other performers who are available for visits to schools and communities throughout Michigan. We explore one such event as the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble visits the community of Mio, Michigan and the Kirtland Center for the Arts.

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Grand Rapids Transformation



Artists, business people and residents have transformed former furniture factories into a thriving arts and cultural destination in Grand Rapids. This seems perfectly fitting with the city's long standing reputation as a design center. Now a new generation is redefining this image.

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Michigan Opera Theatre



Michigan Opera Theater executive director David DiChiera could not have chosen a more challenging undertaking when he decided to renovate a dilapidated old theater for MOT's new home in downtown Detroit. Perhaps nobody envisioned the vital role the glimmering new theater would play in the rebirth of the entire area with new restaurants, clubs and stadiums.

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