arts - The Eastern Echo

An ensemble of actors, puppets, musicians and stage hands pose for a photo on a stage.

Bug Pit Collaborative Arts to open auditions for upcoming production

By Gray Connor · Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Shared art meets wacky and abstract theater, open to all, at Ypsilanti's Bug Pit Collaborative Arts group.

This photo shows the words "You belong here" written in rainbow-colored sidewalk chalk. Two chalk art hearts surround the words.

8 art-related events to attend in Washtenaw County this summer

By Hannah Borders · Monday, April 27, 2026

From pride celebrations to art fairs, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor will have no shortage of fun this summer.

Alina places multiple shells and bones on their cyanotype paper inside their designated bin.

Roots Ypsilanti arts events: April 21, 2026

By Jada Hauser and Gray Connor · Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Looking for some creative events in Washtenaw County? Check out these local arts events featured in the April 21, 2026, issue of Roots.

Illustrated graphic with a blue background with white snowflakes. Written in red is "The Snowy Day." The outline of a child, also in red, stands to the left of the text.

EMU Theatre presents family-friendly puppet show with 'The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Keats'

By Gray Connor · Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Join Peter as he experiences the wonders of growing up in Eastern Michigan University Theatre's production of "The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Keats."

Puppet stage with a farm background and cornfields with three puppets of pigs and one of a horse.

Dreamland Theater reimagines 'Animal Farm' with puppet show adaptation

By Hannah Borders · Monday, April 20, 2026

Dreamland Theater has adapted George Orwell's "Animal Farm" into a puppet show and is putting on performances throughout April and May.

Doorway to a gray cement and red brick historic building. The glass double-door entrance has the letter "R" painted on the front in colorful patterns.

Riverside Arts Center to feature Ypsilanti Community Schools student artwork

By Bilal Ahmed · Saturday, April 18, 2026

The Riverside Arts Center will feature artwork from Ypsilanti Community Schools students for an annual exhibition in May 2026.

Three people are positioned together, with two sitting in front and one standing behind the others. The stage lights softly illuminate their faces as they all stare off into the distance.

Eastern Michigan University Theatre brings new vision to 'Our Town'

By AnnaBelle Favre · Monday, April 13, 2026

Eastern Michigan University Theatre students will perform "Our Town," written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Pirooz Aghssa, April 16-19, 2026.

7 adults sit on concrete stairs outdoors in front of a gray building.

EMU Parsons Center to hold immersive summer classes for students

By Katherine Tatomir · Friday, April 10, 2026

This summer, the Parsons Center for Arts and Sciences will hold classes that provide an opportunity for students to connect with the environment.

Five people gathered around a table working on creating a film.

Filmmakers to showcase their work at Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti

By Hannah Borders · Thursday, April 9, 2026

Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti will be showing independently made films at Riverside Arts Center from April 16-18.

Two pieces of paper featuring poems are taped to the inside of a storefront window. A parking lot can be seen in the background through the window.

Poet Tree Town recognizes local poets in celebration of National Poetry Month

By Hannah Borders · Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Poet Tree Town is an organization that allows local poets to submit work to be displayed at various locations in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.

Poster for Ypsilanti Shape Note Singing. Music notes are centered between blue text above and below them.

Shape Note Singing: An ancestral tradition open to all in Ypsilanti

By Gray Connor · Thursday, April 2, 2026

The Ypsilanti Shape Note Singing group offers an ancestral musical tradition practice to anyone interested in joining.

Two people sitting in chairs with pride flags behind them.

Crystal Skull Studio creates an inclusive environment for self-expression through hair

By AnnaBelle Favre · Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Crystal Skull Studio is a hair salon in Ypsilanti that specializes in curly hair, alternative cuts and bright colors. The studio's owners work to foster an inclusive and welcoming studio for all clients.

Chloe Gray poses wearing a leopard print coat, a thick green scarf, and bright blue eyeshadow.

Roots Artist of the Month: Chloé Gray business owner, role model and dancer

By Carol Detary · Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Ypsilanti dance studio owner, Chloé Gray, a 2016 Eastern Michigan University graduate, shares her experiences as a business owner and artist at Fun Girl Dance Company & School.

An abstract painting of scratches on a blue background hanging on a white wall.

22 North Gallery showcases EMU MFA students' work in "Visceral Soup" exhibition

By Hannah Borders · Thursday, March 26, 2026

The "Visceral Soup" exhibition at 22 North Gallery in Ypsilanti features the work of 11 MFA students at Eastern Michigan University.

Creative Washtenaw announces 2026 medalists for arts, sciences, humanities

By Hannah Borders · Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Each year, Creative Washtenaw selects medalists who have made significant contributions to arts, sciences and humanities in Washtenaw County.

Risograph machine in a room inside Dzanc House. It looks like a tall desktop printer.

Dzanc House encourages community to explore inner muse with risograph zine retreat

By Hannah Borders · Wednesday, March 18, 2026

The Risograph Zine Retreat at Ypsilanti art studio Dzanc House is a four-day event during which participants will create zines based on their inner muse and stories from their lives.

The back and front covers of "Live is Your Masterpiece." The back cover has a blue and white collage in the background with a book summary on top. The front cover has a collage inside an organic shape under pink text with the title of the book.

Eastern Michigan alum publishes debut novel, 'Life is Your Masterpiece'

By Lauren Holloway · Saturday, March 14, 2026

Eastern Michigan University alumnus Dave Marz has published a debut coming-of-age story about overcoming struggles and finding oneself.

Poster for Fawn with text that says "Fawn. A dance theater performance by Charli Brissey" with a deer in leaves in the background.

Charli Brissey's interdisciplinary solo show 'Fawn' to open at Ypsilanti Freighthouse

By Hannah Borders · Thursday, March 12, 2026

Fawn by Chari Brissey is a theatre dance performance that explores the different contexts in which deer show up in everyday life.

Customers gather around vendors' booths in a large, well-lit room with a beige-colored floor and white walls. The vendors are selling various merchandise, including shirts, jewelry and more.

Ypsilanti artisan market moves to Michigan Firehouse Museum

By Allie Beecher · Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Ypsilanti artisan market Holy Bones has moved from the Ypsilanti Freighthouse to the Michigan Firehouse Museum.

A man and woman seated at a booth. Behind them is a blue wall with golden colored frames scattered around. The man and the woman sit awkwardly, not looking at one another. The man wears a tan suit, and the woman wears a pink jacket over a white shirt.

'One Night in Tokyo' explores love beyond language barriers

By Gray Connor · Saturday, March 7, 2026

Filmmaker and Eastern Michigan University alum Joshua Woodcock returns to campus for a screening of his film "One Night in Tokyo," a story of two strangers, two different languages, and one hectic night in Tokyo, Japan.