Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews the two 2024 Adam F. Carter Young Artist Award Recipients - Carly Rose Koch and Courtney Gardner .  Originally aired on Saturday, November 2, 202, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  The Community Arts Awards are on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7 pm on the 9th Street campus of KVCC.  RSVP here - 2024 Community Arts Awards - KalamazooArts.org .  Creative Cafe is a program of...

Kristen interviews Alec Wells, Judy Sarkozy, and Kim Shaw about the November 2024 Art Hop and Sarkozy Bakery's return to participation. They also chat about the other 40 stops available that night.  Originally aired on Saturday, October 26, 2024, 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 Creative Cafe is a...

Kristen interviews Michelle Hargrave about her new role at the Kalamazoo Arts Institute and the 100 year milestone, and the activities planned to celebrate!  Originally aired on Saturday, October 19, 2024 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Ho...

Kristen interviews Dann Sytsma, founder and CEO of Crawlspace Eviction about the journey from fledgling improv troupe to successful business in the newly repurposed First Baptist Church in Downtown Kalamazoo.  Originally aired on Saturday, October 12, 2024 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...

Eric Oliphant, Membership Director, interviews the panelists for our upcoming Artist Happy Hour at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, on How to Get the Gig. Eric talks with L. Sam Zhang, author and illustrator of The First Chinese Festivals Book Series; Evan Asher, a consultant from Mitchell Consulting Group; and Ellen Vandermyde, a local mural artist, about how to prepare your resume, portfolio, an...

Kristen interviews Jeremy Koch, Managing Artistic Director of Farmers Alley Theatre, about their 24-25 season!  Originally aired on Saturday, September 28, 2024, 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Catherine Ellis and John Speeter of the Kzoo Folklife Organization about their mission in our community, the ongoing annual festival, and their upcoming fundraiser benefitting Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.  Origially aired on Saturday, September 21, 2024 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 Kalamazo...

Kristen interviews Jennifer Hudson-Penkert about the 3rd annual Sounds of the Zoo Festival!  Originally aired on Saturday, September 14, 2024, on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Brad Wong, director, of Fontana Chambers Arts, about the organization and the upcoming season of events.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 7, 2024 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Aubrey Jewel Rodgers about her new exhibition, Resilience, set to open at Art Hop on September 6, 2024, in the Westin Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  They also talk about the 40 stops that make up Art Hop for September and how to plan your evening. Originally aired on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of th...

Kristen interviews Colin McKernan about his latest pivot in the music world, the Druid Drummer, and where you can see him perform.  Originally aired on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 8 am on 590 AM and 106.9 Fm in Kalamazoo, MI.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Sandra Bremer and Bryan Zocher, past Community Medal of Arts Recipients, about their experience as a recipient and their thoughts on the importance of nominating artists in our community for the Community Arts Awards. Originally aired on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Café is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative C...

Membership Director Eric Oliphant interviews Ian Gorman, owner of La Luna Recording Studios; Chafe Hensley, co-owner of Weirder Wonderland; and Aubrey Jewel Rodgers, chair of Applied Arts and Media Technologies at KVCC ahead of our next Artist Happy Hour that will discuss generative artificial intelligence, where the data that populates AI’s platforms, and how to protect your intellectual property...

Kristen interviews Jamari Taylor about her life as a working artist in both murals, illustrations and teaching in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids. Originally aired on Saturday, August 3, 2024 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - Kalamazoo...

Kristen interviews Marvinetta Penn, a recent transplant from Chicago, Illinois, about her group Global Girls, a female empowerment group.  She is also a voice-over artist, writer, performer, and workshop facilitator.  Her background as an English and Theatre instructor gives her a unique perspective on how storytelling creates a foundation for healthy girls that grow into whole, productive, happy...

Kristen interviews Lachan Niedbala, the Artistic Director and founder of Movement Reservoir Dance Company, about her experience and background in modern dance, how this company came to be, as well as some upcoming events with the company.  Originally aired on Saturday, July 20, 2024, 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 Kal...

Kristen interviews Alison Watson, the director of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council about the recent changes to the granting process, and the new goals that the MACC hopes to achieve.  Originally aired on Saturday, July 13, 2024, 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Coun...

Kristen interviews Sharmane Flanders and Kim Shaw about this month's Art Hop slated for Friday, July 12, 2024, from 5 - 8 pm.  Originally aired on Saturday, July 6, 2024, 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Syd Bastos and Sharmane Flanders about the wonderful opportunities provided by the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center. We also talk with Sharmane Flanders, a local artist working with the VCAC, about her work in the community and with the Center. Originally aired on Saturday, June 26, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a program of th...

Executive Director Kristen Chesak interviewed Kristian Walker about his career in photography and the upcoming classes he will be teaching.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen Interviews Kama Mitchell and Heather Mitchell about Rootead's community collaborations for the Juneteenth 2024 celebration in Bronson Park! Originally aired on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviewed three participants who lived at the Art on the Mall Festival in Downtown Kalamazoo: Kate Fulton from the Fulton Foundry, Shay Church from Grayling Ceramics, and Summer Rain from Glass Art Kalamazoo. Kim Shaw, program director, discussed the particulars of the festival.  The Art on the Mall Festival took place on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8, 2024, in downtown Kalamazoo....

Kristen interviews Olivia Mendoza and Kim Shaw about the upcoming Art on the Mall, June 7 and 8, 2024  in downtown Kalamazoo.  She also interviews band member McKenna Grody from Prior Noon as we gear up for another year of Concerts in the Park. Originally aired on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creat...

Eric Oliphant, membership director, talks with Connar Klock, Drue McPherson, Heather Mitchell, and Dell Darnell about the upcoming Artist Happy Hour: Queer Artists Showcase, happening on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 2 pm. Originally aired on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of t...

Kristen interviews Janine Seals, executive director, and Dani Lewis, programs director of the Black Arts and Cultural Center and their plans for the programs and future of the BACC, as well as the exciting events planned for the Black Arts Festival 2024 happening in July.  Origianlly aired on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater...