6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MUSEUMS University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) is a museum on State Street with artwork that reels in people’s attention as soon as it’s spotted. I went into this museum and interviewed Stella Moore, who was working at the front desk. Tygar: What is your all-time favorite exhibit? Stella: American Sampler because it covers U.S. history of activism and protest from the 50s to the 70s. TYGAR MOORE Groundcover vendor No. 664 the museum — did you study the art or just browse? Stella: Browsing on the first go but over time I studied the artifacts. Tygar: How would you get tourists to come visit? Stella: They notice the sculpture "Behind the Walls" and it draws the attention of the tourists. Tygar: On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate the museum? Stella:10! Tygar: What’s the audience’s favorPainting by Romare Bearden, currently on exhibit as part of American Sampler: Activating the Archive. Tygar: Have any of the artifacts reeled you in to traveling to the actual landmark? Stella: Nigerian table manners made me want to try Nigerian cultural foods. Tygar: What are some details that you can remember about a culture that is in the exhibit? Stella: Felix Gonzalez Torres (two light bulbs that glow and burn out) in American Sampler. Tygar: How was your first go around ite exhibit? Stella: "Love is What You Want" by Tracey Emin on the third floor. My interview with Stella made me wonder about how you would attract tourists to a museum without artworks in front of the exhibit, which led me to the Kelsey Museum of Archeology, also on State St., and my interview with Jordan, the front desk coordinator. Tygar: What is your all-time favorite exhibit? Jordan: Cat mummies. Tygar: Have any of the artifacts reeled you in to traveling to the actual landmark? Jordan: An arrowhead — it got me Left: Orion (2008) by Mark di Suvero. Right: Behind the Walls (2018) by Jaume Plensa, both found outside the UMMA on State Street. to travel to Sylvania, Ohio for the stone dig. Tygar: What are some details that you can remember about a culture that is in the exhibit? Jordan: Cat mummies tells the story about the mummification of the cats. Tygar: How was your first go around the museum? Did you study the exhibits or just browse? Jordan: Browsed. Tygar: How would you get tourists to come visit? Jordan: Flyers and posters on what to look for. Tygar: On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate the museum? Jordan: 9. Tygar: What’s the patrons’ favorite exhibit? Jordan: The villa exhibit with interactive artifacts. From my visits to both museums, I really enjoyed the interviewers and looking at the pieces of art to see what really intrigues people and what reels them in. University of Michigan Museum of Art is located at 525 S. State St. Tue– Thu: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m; Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. closed on Mondays. Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is located at 434 S State St. Tue– Friday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.* Sat–Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Closed Mondays and University holidays. *Open late (until 7:30 p.m.) on the third Thursday of each month! Both museums are free to the public. JULY 10, 2026 U-M campus museums lure visitors with visuals EVICTION from page 4 As far as the rest of Hellenga’s homework, here is the full list of tasks and his status report (in quotes) as of June 29: Call and arrange a meeting with BellKramer residents, the camp residents, WCO, LEAF, PATH, and Home of New Vision. “Scheduled for July 8.” Check on if the opioid settlement funds can be used by checking with the Attorney General’s Office. “Yes, if the focus is on harm reduction, the funds can be used.” Increase Ypsilanti Police Department patrols in the area. “Yes, patrols have been increased.” Place trash cans and sharps containers at the edge of the encampment. “Sharps containers were provided by LEAF, and a 20-yard dumpster has been placed there. Currently, the site is being cleaned by the SHINE Team and should be completed the week of July 6.” Overall, there seems to be some attempt at cooperation between advocates for the resolution and advocates for the people sheltering in the encampment. When asked about the climate of the June 16 city council meeting, Foster said, “It felt like the ‘window of positive growth’ was moving forward. There were a lot of people at that City Council meeting who lived in that neighborhood, BellKramer, and were there to advocate for the resolution.” Foster summarized, “Whether people there were in favor of or in opposition to the resolution, they had constructive conversations eventually. They had conversations that started out tense and sort of oppositional, and they reached a point where they could talk.” The resolution echoes best practices from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty which were read aloud at the June 16 city council meeting by Council Member Simmons. There are six: All people need a safe, accessible, legal place to be, both at night and during the day, and a place to securely store belongings until permanent housing is found. Delivery of services must respect the experience, human dignity, and human rights of those receiving them. Any move or removal of an encampment must follow clear procedures that protect residents. Where new temporary legalized encampments are used as part of a continuum of shelter and housing, ensure it is as close as possible to fully adequate housing. Adequate alternative housing must be a decent alternative. Law enforcement should serve and all members of the protect community. Update: On July 8, parties (City of Ypsilanti staff and council members, a camper and a homeowner fromBell-Kramer, CMH, LEAF and WCO) met via an online call to continue solutions-oriented conversations. Information was shared regarding the dire state of our state’s housing resources. City Manager Andrew Hellenga committed to supporting campers with employment. An informal task force was formed to draft proposal language to create a safe tenting site, for proposal at the July 21 Ypsi City Council meeting.
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