Creative Cafe

We take a look at On This Day in History in the Arts, Things Going on Around Town, and interview Jon Hayes, a local musician, who is releasing his first album this month!  Originally aired on February 4, 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 Ka...

We talk about what's happening around town, a new grant program, and we interview Jeanne Fields, a local artist who has a new show in the Westin Gallery at the Epic Center, entitled "Dare to Be Aware, Our Planet Needs You".  Originally aired on Saturday, January 28, 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 G...

Kristen interviews Lucy Waters, Community Programs Manager, and Kenjji Jumane Marshall, the Media content and Technology Coordinator, about Kalamazoo's Public Media Network.  They chat about the instrumental voice that this organization gives to our community.   Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen Chesak And Kim Shaw talk about the history of Art Hop, its journey in our community, and the wonderful things planned for Art Hop 2023.  Originally aired on Saturday, January 14, 2023, 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 take a trip down memory lane and talk about all things art on December 7 in history, and then we interview Rob Barrett about his work being exhibited in the Westin Gallery through the month of January.  We discuss techniques and his vision for his work.  Originally aired on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a program of the...

We look at all of the great holiday celebrations happening in and around Kalamazoo, as well as interview Deb Droppers about the 2022 New Year's Fest for Kalamazoo, MI.  Originally aired on December 24, 2022 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

We interview Karen Trout, Community Engagement Librarian, about the benefits of reading and reading out loud.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 31, 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

We look at what happened on December 17th in the art world throughout history, plus what is going on in Kalamazoo this week.  We also interview Janet Gover, a once-Advertising Rep turned Marketing Director turned Advertising Director, about the difference between advertising, publicity, and promotion in the arts.  She also discusses how all of them are so important.  Originally aired on Saturday,...

We look at interesting arts events on December 10th in History, what is happening around town this week, and part II of the Community Medal of Art interview with Cal Gill-Street, one of the founding members of the Velvelettes.  Originally aired on December 10, 2022 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 C...

We interview John Speeter, Cal Gill-Street, and Patricia Carlin about the Community Medal of Arts 2022.  Patricia Carlin nominated Bertha Barbee McNeal and Caldin Gill-Street.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  A program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kala...

We interviewed Krystal Gast, co-founder of Jerico, a maker's space in the Edison Neighborhood in Kalamazoo, MI.  Jerico is the 2022 recipient of the Business Arts Award.  We also interviewed Stephanie Hinman, Executive Director of the State Theatre.  She is this year's recipient of the Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award in Administration.  Both will be honored at the Community Arts...

We interviewed artist Kim Shaw regarding her 2022 Community Arts Award for Leadership in Education, and we interviewed Syd Bastos, the 2022 recipient of the Theodore C. Cooper Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Creati...

We interview the 2022 Community Arts Awards Recipients of the Gayle Hooogstraten Arts Leadership Awards for Educators - Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard and Bridget Fox.   We are celebrating them at the Community Arts Awards on December 7, 2022, at 5:30 pm at the Gull Lake Center for Fine Arts.  This broadcast originally aired on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM in Kalamazoo, MI. This...

We interview Rehema Barber about the latest exhibition "Unmasking Masculinity" a collection of borrowed and permanent collection works.  We also congratulate Dann Sytsma, co-founder of Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, on their 2022 Epic Award.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MIchigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Counc...

Kristen interviews Austin Rounds and his father Joe Rounds about his most recent successful as an illustrator and how he navigates the world as a neurodiverse artist.  She also announces the 2022 Community Medal of Arts recipients!  The celebration begins and will continue right through to Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 5:30 pm.  Originally aired on October 29 at 8 am on WKZO 590 am and 96.5 FM i...

We interview Stephanie Lee from Unwinding Movement, about her journey in mental/physical health and the arts and we discuss an open house at the Institute for Massage Education happening on Friday, November 11 from 4-6 pm. We also recap important events that happened on this day in history and upcoming local events in our community.  Originally aired on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 5...

In this episode, we highlight notable events on this day in history (October 15), as well as report out the cool events going on around town in Kalamazoo.  We also interview Ginger Owen-Murakami, Professor of Photography and Intermedia at Western MIchigan University along with two of her students, Jessalyn Kline, a Senior BFA Printmaker, and Lindsay Meeker, a Senior BFA Photographer about their up...

In addition to our regular "On This Day in History" and "What's Happening Now" segments, we interview Karen Bondarchuk, Professor of Art, at Western Michigan University, about her exhibition Ergo Sum: A Crow A Day, which is currently on display at the Richmond Center, on Western Michigan University's campus.  The exhibit explores a year in her life while she cared for...

IN addition to the segments - "On This Day In History"  and "What's Happening Around Town", we interview Brad Poer, Theatre Director, of the Theatre Program at Kellogg Community College about the program and their upcoming fall show - Rocky Horror Picture Show!  Originally aired on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  A program of...

We explore arts-related events in history during our "On This Day in History " segment, followed by a recap of What to Do Around Town, and then we talk with founder and Creative Director, Alessandra Pye, of the Chrysalis Institute about their Milkweed Learning Cohort for emerging BIPOC artists.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM, and 96.5 FM in Kala...

We interview Bryan Zocher, Executive Director of Kresa Education for the Arts about the Community Arts Awards, and the impact of twho provide artistic experiences to our community and how we celebrate them.  Originally aired Saturday, September, 3, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooAr...

We interview Alison Watson, the Executive Director of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council about the state arts council, their programming, and their upcoming visit to Kalamazoo!  Originally aired on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Eric Oliphant, Operations Director, interviews Ish Klein about neurodiversity in the arts, and our upcoming panel on the topic during the September 29 Artist Happy Hour .  Also This Day in History, and What's Happening Now! Originally aired on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 96.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. ...

We interview Earlene McMichael of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and Jermaine Jackson of the Kalamazoo Public Library about the upcoming exhibit and play, A HeLa Story: Mother of Modern Medicine that illuminates the story of Henrietta Lacks and her ties to Kalamazoo.  We also get to speak with the featured artist of the October Art Hop, Nayda Collazo-Llorens about her work in digital art, and her car...

Kristen interviews Quincy Thomas, Professor of Theatre at Kalamazoo College, who talks about getting a liberal arts education at Kalamazoo College, and in the Theatre Department.  She also interviews David Kyhn, Scenic Designer, at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre about the internship program for designers, TDs, and Stage managers.   This program originally aired on WKZO 590 Am and 106.5 FM on Saturday...