Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews Pierre van der Westhuizen about the local collaborations that helped make the 2022 Gilmore Piano Festival so successful.  Eric Oliphant and Bianca Washington talked about the upcoming Artist Happy Hour at the Black Arts and Cultural Center and the topic: Art Hop.  Originally aired on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe...

Kristen interviews Pierre van der Westhuizen, Executive Director of the Gilmore Piano Festival, about the wide array of talent descending on Kalamazoo for the 2022 Festival.  She also interviews Dann Sytsma, founder of Crawlspace Eviction, and President of the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, who is taking the First Baptist Church downtown and transforming it into a makers' and artists...

Bianca Washington interviews Harry Phillips about their upcoming Art Hop events at the State Theatre including a Gilmore Piano Festival event as well as a visual artist.  Originally aired on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Savannah Draper, a local theatre artist, about sustainability in theatre, specifically in her role as a props master.  She also talks with Connar Klock, Artistic Director of Queer Theatre Kalamazoo, bout their latest grant from the minigrant program at the State of Michigan.  Originally aired on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan...

Kristen interviews Patrick Turner and Megan Zielke of Vintage in the Zoo about their market experience for the residences of Kalamazoo and how shopping vintage is the sustainable thing to do.  She also interviews Keith Pitts, a scenic designer turned painter about his recent KADI grant awards surrounding his painting project that investigates gun violence in America.  Originally aired on Saturday,...

Kristen interviews Ellen Nelson, a local artist and member of the Earth Month planning committee for Kalamazoo about this month's events and ways artists can be environmentally responsible.  She also interviews Alisha Seibers, the Executive Director of the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center about their recent grant projects through the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council.  This is part two of a fi...

April is Earth Month, and the Arts Council celebrating sustainability in the arts.  We talk to Dana Wagner, Director of Marketing and Communications at Discover Kalamazoo about how to visit Kalamazoo and attend events with sustainability in mind.  We also talk with Pam Kirkham, local artist, and recent grant recipient about her experience applying for and getting a grant for her most recent multim...

Bianca Washington Ciungan interview Patricia Villalobos about her newest exhibit at the Westin Gallery in the Epic Center just in time for Art Hop, and Eric Oliphant interviews Dr. Chris Ludwa of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival about a very special 75th-anniversary concert with Chanticleer. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen discusses the 2022-2023 grant programs administered by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and how you can get a hold of these funds.  She also interviews Marie Lee the editor in chief of Encore Magazine about the new center section dedicated to the Arts! Originally aired on Saturday, March 19 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the A...

Kristen interviews Yolonda Lavender of Soul Artistry LLC.  She also works on the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Narrative Change Committee, and at the Stryker Johnston Foudnation.  Eric interviews Miriam Thomas about the venues available to rent through the Arts Council and ways you can hired to work in these venues.  Originally aired on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM an...

Kristen and Eric interview Rachel Miller, RADFest Curator, as well as participants in this year's RADFest. Listen to Elijah Gibson, Founder and Artistic Director of the Social Movement Contemporary Dance company from Houston, TX, and Kelsey Lee, an interdisciplinary artist working with movement and multimedia. Kelsey is a company dancer with Hixson Dance in Columbus OH. Originally aired on Sa...

Kristen interviews Elizabeth Start, Executive Director of the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music about their mission, and upcoming performances.  She also talks with Megan Slayter of the WMU Dance Department to discuss the depth and breadth of the education provided by the department and the upcoming showcase.  Originally aired on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in...

Miriam Thomas interviews artist Kylie Taft about her journey emigrating to the US and how art played a role, and Kristen interviews Kate Yacho and Rachel Miller previewing the Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RADFest) that takes place at the Wellspring Theatre March 4 - 6, 2022.  Originally aired on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creati...

Kristen interviews Rehema Barber, Cheif Curator, and Kimberly Earnshaw, Director of Advancement about the great new exhibitions open at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.  She also interviews Erik Jacobson, K College Music Faculty on the huge collaboration of the Bach Festival, Kalamazoo Male Chorus, Kalamazoo College Singers, and special guest Apollo 5.  We also learn a little about VOCES8.  Origin...

Kristen interviews Jeremy Koch, Artistic Director from Farmers Alley Theatre, the only equity theatre in Kalamazoo.  We also interview Interim Marketing Director Simon Thalmann of Kellogg Community College about the many artistic opportunities at the College as well as several community-college collaborations.  Originally aired on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in...

Kristen interviews Dr. Ying Zeng, Director of Asian Initiatives, the Soga Japan Center, and the Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies on the virtual Lunar New Year celebration for 2022!  We also talk with Sydney Davis, Executive Director of the Black Arts and Cultural Center on their move to a new space downtown, and the planned activities for the year! Originally aired on Saturday, January 29,...

Eric interviews Kenjji Jumanne Marshall on PMN's member benefits that are extended to Arts Council members, and Kristen explores the most recent projects undertaken by Tanisha Pyron, director, actress, photographer, and spoken-word artist in Kalamazoo.  Originally aired on January 22, 2022, on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of G...

Kristen interviews Nicole Lee, Felicia Thomas, and Helga Rubino-Hunter founders of the Artists of Color Initiative in Kalamazoo about their organizations and the Gun Violence Mural and event in LaCrone Park.  She also interviews Marissa Harrington, one of the founding members of the Face Off Theatre Company.  Originally aired on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo Michigan on Saturday, January 1...

Kristen interviews Dwandra Lampkin, star of the one-woman show, "The Conviction of Lady Lorraine" and Deanna Omoniyi, Program Director for Beadventure and the Handmade Boutique, two artist-centric organizations under the same roof in downtown Kalamazoo.  Originally aired on Saturday, January 8, 2022, on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Ka...

Eric, Bianca, and Kristen recap the highlights of art in Kalamazoo from 2021 and offer best wishes for 2022. Originally aired on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Harry Phillips, the Marketing Director for the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, MI - recently added to the national registry of historic places, and also interviews Jessica Mallow Gulley, the Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra on their 100-year anniversary milestone.  Originally aired on December 18, 2021, on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI Creative Cafe...

Kristen interviews KVCC Professor Mark DeYoung and former student  Liz Weddon on the current exhibition at the Center for New Media in Downtown Kalamazoo. Original air date  12/11/21 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews the 2021 CAA Medal of Arts recipients - Cara Lieurance, Bryan Zocher, and Lori Moore.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Belinda Tate of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts about their Epic Award, and Bianca interviews Maya Mokrzan about the KIA's Holiday Market.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen discusses choosing to be an artist with the 2021 Adam F. Carter Young Artist Award recipient Morgan Brown, and Eric interviews a new student member for the Arts Council, Lucy Lowis.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM, in Kalamazoo Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org