Our 1- and 2-day workshops offer a taste of something new and a little digging deep, while teaching artists from around the country provide in-depth exploration for the benefit of our instructors, advanced students, and curious learners during Visiting Artist Workshops.
Summer
INDIA INK PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPES
Taylor Scamehorn / KNC Visitors Center, Lower Classroom
Sat 6/28
9am-4pm / 1-day
$120 / Members: $100
Learn techniques to capture light, texture and atmosphere using India ink with sharpened stick pens and other natural found materials. With the beautiful Kalamazoo Nature Center as both muse and studio, spend a day creating unique and striking black and white landscapes. All materials are provided. Please pack a lunch and water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes for a moderate hike.
ROCK LOOM WEAVING
Jessica Sundstrom / Studio 4
Sun 6/22
1-4pm / One Day
$65 / Members: $45
Let's try weaving on a smaller scale. Bring in your favorite rock, brick, or tile, and use your favorite weaving draft to create something new. The instructor will bring some rocks from Lake Michigan as well. Open to all levels of experience; more experienced weavers are welcome to adapt familiar patterns to a smaller scale.
COPPER AND BEADED WALL HANGINGS
Lauren Tripp / Jewelry Studio
Sat 7/12
1-4 pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Students will create free formed and unique copper wall hangings with hand made copper links and incorporating beads in the metalwork. Techniques such as hammering, forming, filing, and sawing will be utilized. No prior metalworking experience is needed.
SPOON MAKING
Danny Giancaspro / Jewelry Studio
Sat 6/14
1-4pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Learn to fabricate a copper spoon using traditional techniques. A focus on the history of the spoon and how it evolved over time will be emphasized. With guided demonstrations, students will learn several jewelry and metalsmithing techniques and how these humble utensils can be used to tell a story or become a treasured heirloom.
GETTING READY FOR WINTER KNITTING…
Joann Gadbaw / Meader Fine Arts Library
Sat 6/21
1-4pm / One Day
$55 / Members: $35
If you want to be ready for winter knitting, planning ahead is a must! Learn about colder weather yarns and how to choose a style and difficulty level that's just right for you. Discover how to knit a gauge swatch, use Ravelry, and how to mark patterns to tell the story of your work. Please bring your ideas and any knitting supplies you have.
FRAMING WORKSHOP
Mary Whalen / Studio 6
Wed 6/18-6/25
6:30-8:30pm / Two Days
$80 / Members: $60
Learn to make your own simple frames for paintings, prints, and drawings using accessible materials and methods that can be replicated at home! Some basic woodworking skills will be covered as well as tips and tricks for upcycling thrifted frames.
MEDITATION, MINDFULNESS AND MUDRAS
Patra Ryder / Auditorium
Sun 6/29
1-3:pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Discover new skills for relaxing the mind and body, while developing inner clarity. Hand mudras for physical, mental and emotional health will also be explored. Please feel free to bring a yoga mat or use the chair that will be provided.
FRENCH POUR S’AMUSER (FOR FUN)
Elise Head / Boardroom
Mon 7/21-7/28
6-8:30pm / 2-day
$90 / Members: $70
Brush up on your French conversation or start from scratch in a fun and supportive environment. Visit the galleries to practice discussing art in French! Learn basic French terms while discussing popular French music, film, art, and food.
INDIGO DYEING
Gretchen Huggett / Studio 1
Sat 7/19
11am–4pm / One Day
$115 / Members: $95
Immerse yourself in the color blue for a day! Learn the care and feeding of natural indigo dye pots plus the instant gratification of pre-reduced indigo. Stitched and clamped resists will be discussed as well as other resist techniques. Two silk scarves will be provided with the course plus other blank items will be available for purchase.
SOUND BATH: THE FLOW OF CREATIVITY
Kara Markovich / Auditorium
Wed 6/11
6-7:30pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Immerse yourself in an evening of sound that will take you to a place of peace, stillness, and connection. During the sound immersion various instruments will fill the space such as Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, and gongs. These allow you to move into a state of deep relaxation. Rest, recover, and heal your physical, emotional, and energetic bodies while dislodging creative blocks. Students are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and blanket.
HANDMADE PHOTO BOOK
Laurie Pruitt and Mary Whalen / Computer Lab
Fri 7/11 & 7/18
10am–4pm *lunch 12-1pm / Two Days
Prerequisite: A basic knowledge of Photoshop or Lightroom is helpful
$165 / Members: $145
Select, edit, print, and bind your photos into a handmade book while viewing and handling a selection of artist-made books to serve as inspiration for your own. The first day will be devoted to the editing, sequencing, and printing of images. The following session will be committed to folding, stitching, and binding into a hardcover book. Instructors will email instructions to enrollees for images to be used.
SIGN LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
Tanya Timmerman / Boardroom
Sat 6/21
12-2pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Elevate your communication skills and embrace language accessibility with American Sign Language (ASL). Get ready to dive into dynamic conversational ASL, practicing and mastering essential linguistic structures. Along the way, you'll explore the rich tapestry of U.S. Deaf culture and history. Open to all students, whether you're a beginner or have prior experience, this workshop promises an engaging and enlightening journey.