Creative Cafe

Eric talks with the third panelist, Dwandra Nicole Lampkin, and Kalamazoo RESA  Education for the Arts Director, Bryan Zocher, about their backgrounds, and what we can expect to discuss at the Artist Happy Hour on 2/11/24.  The Artist Happy Hour will feature a panelist discussion, as well as a job fair to explore the teaching opportunities available in our community to artists.  Originally aired o...

Eric Oliphant interviews Nicholas Jeffrey, violist instructor, and Marisa Bianan, dance instructor, as two of the three artists who will serve on the guest panel for the Artist Happy Hour on February 11, 2023, in which we talk about teaching artist opportunities and struggles.  The Panel Discussion will be followed by a job fair. Originally aired on Saturday, January 27, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 A...

Kristen interviews Elaine Lui, Samantha Zhang, Karin Li, and Promise Zhang of the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy about their programming, and the plans they have made to celebrate the Chinese Year: The Year of the Dragon!  Originally aired on Saturday, January 20, 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...

Kristen Interviews Sydney Schless, Director of Marketing and Communications KSO, Elizabeth Youker, Director of Education and Community Engagement KSO, and Dr. Kandace Lavender, Executive Director of Read and Write Kalamazoo about the 2024 KSO season and their special event Symphony of Brotherhood, a community event celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy. Originally aired on Saturday, J...

Kristen interviews Kim Shaw, Programs Director, for the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo about the 2024 Art Hop schedule, themes, and a little tidbit of history of how the program came to be.  Originally aired on Saturday, January 6, 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...

Kristen catches up with Managing Artistic Director, Marissa Harrington, about the plans for the 2024 season for Face Off Theatre Company.  And Marissa shares with us a Kwanzaa story to kick off the holiday.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 23, 2023 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 Art...

Kristen interviews Paul Selden, Patrick Herschberger, Heidi Weiss and Chafe Hensley about the mural projects being undertaken through the non-profit Bike Friendly Kalamazoo.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 16, 2023, 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...

Kristen interviews Amy Culp and Mark Cassino about the collective called Signature Artists, how it helps artists connect, and the Holiday Pop-Up shop! Originally aired on Saturday, December 9, 2023, 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

Our last installment of our interviews for the 2023 Community Arts Award Recipients.  Kristen interviews Community Medal of Art recipients, Carolyn Koebel and Denise Miller.  Join us in person on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the Gull Lake Center for Fine Arts at 7 pm to celebrate everyone in person.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo,...

Kristen Interviews Linda Dickey, the 2023 recipient of the Theodore C. Cooper Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, and one of our Adam F. Carter  Young Artist Award recipients. Isaac Byler.  We also discussed the awesome entertainment planned for the ceremony.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a pro...

We continue our journey of learning more about the 2023 Community Arts Award recipients.  In this episode, we interview Dr. Michelle Johnson and Elizabeth Youker, recipients of the 2023 Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO AM 590 and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalam...

Kristen interviews two of our Community Arts Awards Recipients - both will receive the Epic Award this year - Kalamazoo Academy Rock represented by Jay Gavan, and Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers - represented by Cori Terry, Marisa Bianan, and Kate Yancho.  This interview originally aired on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts C...

Join us in exploring more about Community Medal of Arts Award Recipient Frank Meintz and Young Artist Award Recipient Braeden Davis as they talk about their respective Artistic Journeys.  Join us in person on December 5, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Gull Lake Center for Fine Arts to congratulate them and all of the recipients. Originally aired on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106....

Kristen interviews Dhera Strauss, Mike Marchak, and Chad Campbell about the Kalamazoo Film Society, their membership, and their programming including the Local Filmmaker Showcase.  Originally aired on October 21, 2023 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...

Kristen interviews V Word, a co-producer at Blacksheep Music, and the Chief Inspiration Architect of the Art and Culture Collective of Battle Creek, which is celebrating its first anniversary!  Originally aired on June 13, 2023, at 8 a.m. on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM and re-aired on October 28, 2023 at 8 a.m.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a p...

Executive Director Kristen Chesak shares all about the Arts Council grants including previous recipients, grant workshops offered, what grant programs are currently open, and how to apply. Originally aired on October 14, 2023 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...

Kristen interviews Mary Reed and Dennis Martin about their journeys as artists, and their current work to help enrich and infuse arts into the Portage community.  Originally aired on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 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 - Kalama...

Kristen interviews Chinma Nnebedum and his journey as a young artist in Kalamazoo.  He discusses his struggles in school, and how music and film gave him direction and meaning. And he talks about giving that back to others.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 30, 2023 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 p...

Kristen interviews Cara Lieurance  about her 2021 Community Medal of Arts Award and the urgency of nominating a new slate of recipients for 2023 Community Arts Awards.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 23, 2023 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 -...

Kristen interviews Teaching Artist Gayle Reyes and EFA Alternative Education Coordinator Angie Melvin about the origins of this latest teaching artist exhibit. Originally aired on Saturday, September 16, 2023, 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 Kal...

Kristen interviews Dr. Khalid el-Hakim and Ernie Paniccioli on their respective exhibitions surrounding the history and influence of Hip Hop on our culture.  Dr. Khalid el-Hakim is a professor at Western Michigan University and has an exhibit at the new student center on WMU's campus.  He also founded the Black History 101 Mobile Museum.  Ernie Paniccioli is an artist with decades of photogra...

Eric Oliphant, Membership Director, interviews Sydney Schless, Marketing Director for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and Gabrielle Cerberville, Artist/Composer and Foraging Content Creator about the upcoming panel discussion on marketing yourself as an artist.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 8 a.m. on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a prog...

We interview Traci Fuhrman of Public Media Network and Kim Shaw, Programs Director about the September Art Hop which is celebrating storytelling.  Originally aired on Saturday, August 26, 2023, 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

We interview James Palmore and Kim Shaw about their careers and their awards through the Community Arts Award (CAAs)program.  Nominations for the CAAs are now open through October 10, 2023. Originally aired on Saturday, August 19, 2023, 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 Greate...

We interview Mike Depoian and Randy James about the KVBA and their Blues Bash at Old Dog Tavern. This episode originally aired on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 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