The High School Area Show offers a unique opportunity for high school artists from Kalamazoo and surrounding counties to participate in a juried exhibition and display their work in a museum setting. The KIA is proud to support emerging artistic talent and committed to increasing young people’s access to the arts and arts education. This…
by Shonda Buchanan This powerful, deeply personal narrative explores Buchanan’s complex identity. She reflects on the trauma, resilience, and strength passed down through generations, as well as the tensions and misunderstandings she encountered due to her mixed heritage. Throughout, she weaves in stories of her ancestors, shedding light on the hidden and painful history of…
Detroit artist Richard Phillips started painting while in prison with a mail order watercolor set: landscapes, portraits of famous people, jazz musicians, and more, eventually creating over 400 paintings. Arrested in 1971 for a murder he didn’t commit, Phillips was in prison for 46 years. Creating art enabled him to persist and deal with the…
In anticipation of Wellspring’s annual RADFest, hear from this year’s RADicle Resident! Puerto Rican movement artist Lourdes del Mar Santiago Lebrón will discuss their new work, Tejer, inspired by the process of weaving. They observe, “Tejido (weaving) relies on pattern making and repetition; the practice, much like dance, requires patience, consistency, and practice. The ephemerality…
March is all about movement! Join us as we engage our hands with a story and a colorful painting project, followed by a fun movement session led by a Wellspring Academy teaching artist. Wellspring Dance Academy provides modern and contemporary dance instruction, while emphasizing organic movement and valuing community, expression, and inclusivity. We will be…
During this fun-filled Community Day, guests of all ages are invited to come to the KIA to move and to play, to imagine and to create. Following a special Art Detectives led by a teaching artist from Wellspring Dance Academy, guests of all ages are invited to gather for games of all sorts -- from…
KIA members, community partners, and those exhibiting their treasured objects are invited to join us for a special preview event celebrating Sourced from the ‘Zoo. Hear from the KIA's Executive Director, Michelle Hargrave, and Director of Curatorial Affairs, Rehema Barber, on this dynamic exhibition dedicated to highlighting community voices. Light refreshments will be available. About…
Join us as we wander through the galleries and see how many unique and creative lines we can find in the artworks.
Sourced from the 'Zoo opens to the public in conjunction with Art Hop on Friday, March 7 from 5–8pm. Sourced from the ‘Zoo is a community-wide exhibition celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of Kalamazoo and its residents. This dynamic, crowdsourced exhibition is a platform for everyone in Kalamazoo to participate, creating a shared space for…
Thinking of taking a class at the KIA? "Make it and take it all in one night" and join us for the School's Hands On event as it returns during Art Hop on Friday, March 7 from 6 to 9pm! This fun, fast-paced art making evening features a range of activities and creative projects highlighting…
3/11 UPDATE: This event has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Kalamazoo Art League Presents: Dr. Abbas Daneshvari, Art Historian & Scholar: Postmodernism Across Western and Eastern Arts: Of Language and Truth Explore the cultural transformations anticipated and reflected in the arts of Europe and the United States from the Surrealists to the Postmodernists.…
by Javier Zamora This poignant memoir recalls Zamora's harrowing journey from El Salvador to the United States, making the dangerous trek alone at nine years old. Zamora reflects on the emotional toll of being separated from his family as well as fear of the unknown. Solito is a raw and powerful exploration of the immigrant…