Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews Adam Schumaker about the education programs for all ages at the Gilmore Piano Festival.  She also talks with Amy Thill, artist and educator with MRC Artworks in downtown Kalamazoo. This program originally aired on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  This is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a progra...

Membership Director, Eric Oliphant, interviews Ian Gorman of La Luna Recording Studio's ongoing free workshops.  Kristen Chesak  interviews Julie Devers, a Potter, about her work as an artist and arts educator at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Originally aired on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 8 am in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of...

Kristen interviews current Secrtary and past Chair of the Kalamazoo County Public Art Commission, Patrick Jouppi, about what the commission is tasked with accomplishing and how to interact with this important group regarding public art in Kalamazoo County She also interviews Kim Shaw, a local artist, and educator, about her new show in the Westin Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo th...

Kristen interviews Associate Box Office Manager, Nicole Weber, about the new Community Box Office one year after its opening.   She also interviews Emily Duguay, Director of Arts Administration at WMU in Theatre and Dance, and Laura Henderson, Executive Director of All Ears Theatre about an inspirational consortium called Theatre Kalamazoo. Originally aired on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 8 am on WK...

Eric interviews Krystal Gast of Jerico and Start Here Coffee about her panel participation in the Arts Council's upcoming Artist Happy Hour.  Artist Happy Hour will focus on placemaking for artists in the Kalamazoo Area.  Kristen interviews Sandra Bremer, about her upcoming one-woman show that details her life as an actress touring the country and working in several different theatres through...

Miriam Thomas interviews Hannah Gregus about her work on display during the July 2022 Art Hop, and Kristen interviews Tony Mitchell and Paul Schaedig about their recent grant award to produce a full-length album by the group Basic Comfort. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Dani Lewis, the Programs Director at the Black Arts and Cultural Center, regarding all of the wonderful events scheduled in Kalamazoo, MI for the celebration of Freedom Day 2022.  They also speak about the Black Arts Festival 2022, scheduled to take place on July 9.  Originally aired on June 18, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a progra...

Kristen interviews John Speeter of Schlitz Creek Bluegrass Band about their summer schedule, as well as their history playing bluegrass in Kalamazoo County.  She also speaks to Jilisa Williams about Richland's July 8th Art Hop and the subsequent after-hop concert with the cover band SHOUT!  Originally aired on June 25, 2022, at 8 am on WKZO 590 am and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, MI Creative Cafe i...

Kristen interviews Ed Menta, retired professor of theatre at Kalamazoo College, about his band Blueback, their origins, and their participation in Summertime Live.  She also talks with Twala Lockett-Jones, author of the just-released book "Princess Mackie Buys A House."  We discover how Twala used her talents and a grant to complete this chapter book that is intended to inspire young BIP...

Miriam Thomas interviews Dani Lewis of the Black Arts and Cultural Center about their plans for Art Hop and Bianca Washington interviews Ariel Koehler about her involvement as an artist in the upcoming Art on the Mall Festival.  Originally aired on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. ...

Listen to Kristen battle traffic and the winds while she chats with Tom Dockham of White Pine Furniture and April Seybold of Seybold Designs about their experiences as artists and festival artist in this year’s Art on the Mall. Originally aired on Saturday, June 4, 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.  Home...

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...