The Michigan State University (MSU) Museum is thrilled to announce a launch event commemorating a new programming space at 311 Abbot in downtown East Lansing while the Museum undergoes building renovations. This special event will not only celebrate these important milestones but also highlight the MSU Museum’s commitment to exploring and shaping the future of interdisciplinary academic museums.
Guests are invited to dress in artfully inspired cocktail attire for an exceptional evening on Friday, October 4. The night will be a feast for the senses, featuring live culinary demonstrations by renowned chefs. Among them are Sarah Welch, executive chef at Marrow and co-founder of Mink, an MSU graduate, James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Great Lakes, and former contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef; Joseph VanWagner, an MSU graduate who has held top positions at leading restaurants in Detroit and Chicago; and Michael Ransom, a Traverse City and East Lansing native who, after honing his skills in San Francisco and Baltimore, returned to Detroit to open the acclaimed “Ima,” known for its Japanese-inspired dishes with Midwestern ingredients. Each chef will craft unique dishes before your eyes, showcasing their culinary mastery. An open bar will feature signature cocktails, all set to the fresh beats of acclaimed electronic music artist John Collins of the pioneering Detroit-based techno collective and record label, Underground Resistance.
As a highlight of the evening, attendees will get the first look at Monumentum, a new immersive light and sound installation by Berlin-based artist Abel Korinsky. This work, developed as part of the inaugural MSUFCU Arts Power Up artist-in-residence program, in collaboration with the MSU Museum and MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), explores the intersection of art and cutting-edge scientific research. The installation will officially open to the public shortly after the event.
“We are excited to introduce innovative, immersive experiences at our off-site location while the MSU Museum undergoes renovations,” said Devon Akmon, MSU Museum Director. “These efforts represent a bold step in blending the arts, sciences, cultures, and technologies, redefining the role of a 21st-century academic museum.”
Tickets for this exclusive event are priced at $175 per person. All proceeds will benefit the MSU Museum, supporting its renovation and re-opening. Thanks to the support of the MSU Federal Credit Union, every dollar raised will directly contribute to the Museum’s continued growth and future endeavors. Learn more and buy tickets.