# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper
- **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 22 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm (-04:00)
- **Event Description**: For decades, Detroit artist Olayami Dabls has explored the intersections of art, history, identity, community, and healing through sculpture, storytelling, and material culture. Founder of the MBAD African Bead Museum, Dabls presents commentary on the past, present, and future from African and African American perspectives, drawing upon traditions in which materials convey identity and serve as messages for healing and protection. In 2022, he received the prestigious Kresge Artist Award for his innovative practice and enduring legacy within his community and beyond. 

Joining Dabls in conversation is Nichole Christian, a writer, editor, and native Detroiter. Since 2019, she’s worked as the independent creative director, editor, and lead writer of the Kresge Eminent Artists monograph series, produced annually by the Kresge Foundation. The series includes The Culture Keeper, which in 2022 chronicled the ongoing legacy of Olayami Dabls and his African Bead Museum. Christian is the co-author of the award-winning public art book, Canvas Detroit. Previously, she has worked as a staff writer for publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time magazine, and the Detroit Free Press. She is currently the managing editor for Outlier Media. 

Coinciding with his Penny Stamps Speaker Series appearance, the Institute for the Humanities Gallery will present Olayami Dabls: Grand Vision from September 22 – October 28, 2026. The exhibition features Dabls’work in visual conversation with African beads and artifacts from the MBAD African Bead Museum and his collections. The project also includes the installation of his iconic outdoor sculpture, Iron Teaching Rocks Table Manners, on the University of Michigan campus from September 22 – October 12, 2026.

Presented in partnership with the U‑M Institute for the Humanities.

Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.



Content Notice
In accordance with the University of Michigan’s Standard Practice Guidelines on Freedom of Speech and Artistic Expression, the Penny Stamps Speaker Series does not censor our speakers or their content. The content provided is intended for adult audiences and does not reflect the views of the University of Michigan or Detroit Public Television.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/ann-arbor/olaymi-dabls-culture-keeper/200030704102442
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, exhibitions, fine-arts, storytelling
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 8

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Ann Arbor
- **state**: MI
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Rackham Auditorium
- **lat**: 42.280633915824
- **long**: -83.738310015843
- **full address**: Rackham Auditorium, 915 E Washington St,Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/af2b2a570ed26a1924d559ff7c312f0164a1ab34ccf0eaa4d1fcc490d04c3d7f-rimg-w1200-h675-dcf8f8f8-gmir?v=1789536344

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper being held?
  - **A:** Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper takes place on Tue, 22 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Tue, 22 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm at Rackham Auditorium, 915 E Washington St,Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper?
  - **A:** Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper is organized by Penny Stamps Speaker Series.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper is ideal for art lovers, trade professionals, collectors, and exhibition enthusiasts exploring the latest in their field. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Ann Arbor, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "Olaymi Dabls - Culture Keeper",
        "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/af2b2a570ed26a1924d559ff7c312f0164a1ab34ccf0eaa4d1fcc490d04c3d7f-rimg-w1200-h675-dcf8f8f8-gmir?v=1789536344",
        "startDate": "2026-09-22T17:30:00-04:00",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/ann-arbor/olaymi-dabls-culture-keeper/200030704102442",
        "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "Rackham Auditorium",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "streetAddress": "915 E Washington St,Ann Arbor, Michigan",
                "addressLocality": "Ann Arbor",
                "addressRegion": "MI",
                "addressCountry": "US"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "42.280633915824",
                "longitude": "-83.738310015843"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "For decades, Detroit artist Olayami Dabls has explored the intersections of art, history, identity, community, and healing through sculpture, storytelling, and material culture. Founder of the MBAD African Bead Museum, Dabls presents commentary on the past, present, and future from African and Afric",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "Penny Stamps Speaker Series",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/penny-stamps-speaker-series/3288580",
                "description": "Penny Stamps Speaker Series, Ann Arbor. 3,215 followers · 10 talking about this · 101 were here. Respected artists, designers, and innovators from a..."
            }
        ]
    }
]
```