The People Could Fly is a poetic look into the history of Black gathering spaces in Louisville, KY, from the 1960s to mid-2000s. Intimate video portraits reveal the ritual of skating and how roller rinks emerged as sanctuaries for Black culture, joy, and resilience. This short documentary explores the magic conjured by one community as…
Author Nicholas Smith examines the history, innovation, and societal impact of sneakers in American life through marketing, economic, and cultural trends. Smith weaves together a story of how the sneaker evolved over the course of a century. As production methods were revolutionized, the perception of this iconic footwear shifted as well, making them into must-have…
Company members from Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers will lead this engaging lecture-demonstration that invites participants to explore improvisational movement and discover the power of following their own physical impulses. Blending guided instruction with creative exploration, the program will be accessible to movers of all ages and experience levels. Inspired by Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to…
Explore Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks through the medium of poetry! Local poet and Kirk Newman Art School instructor Elizabeth Kerlikowske has led her poetry students in composing original works responding to selected shoes featured in the exhibition. During this ArtBreak, the students will share their work and offer new perspectives on this…
The KIA invites the community to Nuestro Futuro, a free evening celebrating Latinx art, culture, and visions of the future. Held in conjunction with the exhibition Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, this special Free Thursday experience centers creativity, innovation, and community connection. Guests will enjoy free admission, live performances by Latinx artists, a…
Learn about an exciting footwear design exhibit and create your own unique sneaker with the KIA and Kalamazoo Public Library. This teen event will take place at the Kalamazoo Public Library Oshtemo Branch Community Room. The shoes created as part of the program will be on view at the Kalamazoo Public Library Oshtemo Branch in…
Join us for a closer look at some of the shoes featured in Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks! This provocative exhibition considers how cutting-edge technologies, unexpected materials, and new ideas are transforming footwear today. Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe…
Lace up and let’s explore Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting Edge Kicks! We’ll check out shoes from the past, super-cool styles of today, and shoes that exist only in the virtual world. Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated…
Join RADFest, hosted by Wellspring, for a Community Dance & Drumming Jam! This movement and music celebration welcomes everyone—whether you consider yourself a dancer or not—to explore movement through open improvisation scores with live music, or to simply observe and enjoy the magic of dancing and drumming. The session will feature live music provided by…
Sneakerheadz is a 2015 documentary film that explores the global subculture of sneaker collecting. The film examines the cultural impact of sneakers, from their origins in sports and hip-hop to their status as high-value, collectible art pieces. Directed by David T. Friendly and Mick Partridge, Sneakerheadz takes a comprehensive look at the lives of sneaker…
Grab your favorite pair of sneakers and come along for March Art Detectives! We’ll explore Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, enjoy a story about amazing footwear, and spot some eye-catching shoes in the galleries. Afterward, Wellspring dancers will help us get up and groove in our cool kicks. We won’t make a project…
Step into a day all about shoes! Wear your favorite pair for fun photo ops. Discover incredible footwear in Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting Edge Kicks and then get creative with shoe inspired art projects. Have shoes that need some flair? Bring them along and stop by the auditorium between 12:30 and 1:30pm to…