Community Calendar

Aspiring artist Louisa becomes enchanted by three figures nestled in the corner of a famous painting. Intrigued, she embarks on a cross-country journey to uncover their story. Twenty-five years earlier, in a coastal town, four teenagers–misfits with bruised pasts–bonded over summer days on an abandoned pier, forging fierce loyalty and creative escape. Their friendship inspired the painting, and its legacy touches Louisa’s life in unexpected and emotional ways. Please note that the author will not be in attendance for this event.

Through tactile experiments with 3D printing and various conventional and unconventional materials, including ceramics, Taekyeom reimagines design as both visual, tactile, and spatial. His work combined design practice with digital fabrication to create tangible typography, graphics, and even designed objects. This presentation highlights the inventive journey into DIY toolmaking, material exploration, and the playful possibilities of experimental design.

Taekyeom Lee is a distinguished interdisciplinary graphic designer and visionary design educator known for his innovative integration of emerging technologies into visual communication design. He is currently an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Indiana University Bloomington. His research explores unconventional materials and alternative solutions to create tangible typography, graphics, and even designed objects using digital fabrication. He infused 3D printing into his research and has been experimenting with various methods and materials for tactile experiences.

Stop by the KIA’s Meader Fine Arts library to create a fun bookmark using a variety of lettering styles. We will have stencils, stickers, and stamps on hand for you to create unique bookmarks to use in your next read. Experiment with different letters, styles, and colors to create a font collage or quote. All materials will be provided.

Typography brings form to words both beautiful and mundane. What factors do graphic designers consider as they’re selecting the “clothes” our words will wear? How have changes in technology influenced fonts, designers, and the work they make? What effects have these developments had on the philosophy of typography? Join Ryan Lewis for a brief journey through the p’s and q’s of typographic expression.

Ryan Lewis is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Western Michigan University, where he teaches courses in typography, bookmaking, letterpress, and advanced problem solving. His research interests include stop-motion animation, type design, and animated typography. His video work has been exhibited and screened in the US and abroad. Lewis earned an MFA from Ohio University and a BFA from Utah State University.

Professor Margaret Bohls is an American potter and educator who teaches at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. During this talk, she will discuss her artwork, which consists of several different series of vessel forms, including her Italian Series and Modernist Series. Bohls will also speak about her inspirations, which include ancient Etruscan and Apulian pottery and Modernist era/mid-century designs in ceramics and silver.

Bohls has taught hands-on workshops at art centers such as Greenwich House Pottery in New York, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Aspen, and Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. Bohls’ work has been shown in over 100 group and solo exhibitions since 1995 and is included in the permanent collections of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA), the Weisman Museum of Art, and the Everson Museum of Art. She has written articles for the Journal of the National Council for Education on Ceramic Arts and Pottery Making Illustrated, and her ceramic work has been featured in periodicals such as Ceramics Monthly and Studio Potter Magazine.

During this Gallery Gathering, we will take a closer look at Charles Henry Alston’s Untitled (Couple), said to have been inspired by Langston Hughes’ 1925 poem “The Weary Blues.” An original member of the Abstract Expressionist movement, Alston was a painter, muralist, sculptor, illustrator, and educator, as well as the founder of two major African American art collectives, 306 and Spiral. Join us to discuss Untitled (Couple) and to learn more about this trailblazing artist of the Harlem Renaissance.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.
Gallery Gatherings are short, lightly-moderated conversations about selected artworks from ongoing exhibitions. Chairs and gallery stools are available for guests. This program is free, but preregistration is encouraged.

Announcing the return of the Marble Rollercoaster event at Glass Art Kalamazoo! Join us on Friday February 6 from 5-8pm for this awesome experience. Our all-glass marble rollercoasters from the last two years will be setup in the main space, along with a new addition that our flame working team has been working on. Come witness these structural marvels in person and take a turn dropping a marble down the tracks as our artists weld new sections together before our eyes. This has become one of our favorite events of the year and we are stoked to bring it back to life and share it with you!

Also featuring marble-making torch demonstrations, a make-your-own fused glass project (for a small fee), and a new exhibit in the gallery.

Friday February 6
5pm – 8pm
FREE to attend and open to ALL AGES.

Avian Arts Exhibition Artist Reception
KNC has invited artists and photographers of all ages to showcase their creative talents for the Avian Arts Exhibition contest. This event is designed to inspire a deeper appreciation for birdlife and promote awareness of avian species through visual storytelling. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or an avid birdwatcher with a camera, this contest is a great way to engage with nature, express your artistic vision, and contribute to bird conservation awareness.

During the exhibit, visitors will be asked to vote on their favorite pieces, with the winners announced the week before the end of the show.

Artist Reception Sunday, February 8, 2-4 pm with FREE admission!

Show runs in KNC’s Glen Vista Gallery February 6 – April 30, 2026
The show will run through two of KNC’s popular events, Maple Sugar Festival and the Earth Day Celebration!

See the artists and learn more at NatureCenter.org/AvianArts.

This fun, funky evening is all about cool art in a hot setting! Mix and mingle with arts enthusiasts, professionals, and talented artists while bidding on fantastic, one-of-a-kind glass art pieces in both live and silent auctions. Enjoy exciting glass blowing demonstrations as you dine on delicious hors d’oeuvres, sip on custom cocktails in your own keepsake blown glass tumbler, and swing to the sounds of The Lana Hoffman Trio, all while helping to support programming and outreach at Glass Art Kalamazoo.

The stunning art to be auctioned has been collected from visiting artists, public demonstrations, and the high octane excitement of Glass Blowers Battle 2025! This is Kalamazoo’s only glass art auction and you will have the chance to take home your very own piece of glass art – an investment in the arts community that you will enjoy for years to come. Guests are encouraged to wear blue or blue-accented attire for this event.

All proceeds for this charitable event will benefit Glass Art Kalamazoo glass education opportunities, youth scholarships, visiting artist programs, and community outreach initiatives such as Journey Beads.