Community Calendar

"During this virtual ArtBreak, learn more about Dulce Pinzón, whose archival pigment print Catwoman is included in the exhibition For the People, By the People. A visual artist, curator, manager, cultural entrepreneur, and activist, Pinzón is particularly interested in exploring cultural, environmental, and gender issues through her personal, curatorial, and museographic projects. Her rich educational background includes studies in communication sciences, photography, film, labor law, museum curation, and art management.

In her photography, Pinzón seeks not to capture reality as it is, but rather to “invent” a new reality, frequently referencing both high and popular culture. Her work has been exhibited, published, and collected internationally, and she has received multiple prestigious awards and nominations. Pinzón is also the founder of Plataforma ArtBase, a laboratory space for artists in Puebla, Mexico."

"Join San Francisco-based artist Julio César Morales for a performance lecture exploring the intersections of music, migration, identity, and cultural resistance. Drawing from his multidisciplinary artistic practice, Morales will examine the influence of music, underground subcultures, and hybrid cultural forms throughout the Americas. Beginning with the histories of Mambo and Cumbia and their impact on popular music in the United States, he will trace how musical genres, slogan, myths, and collective rituals shape cultural identity across borders. And be sure to wear your dancing shoes! At the conclusion of the lecture, Morales will DJ a dance party celebrating music as a powerful form of cultural expression and collective resistance.

The artistic practice of Julio César Morales employs a range of media and visual strategies to explore issues of migration, underground economies, and labor, on personal and global scales. He works by whatever means necessary, from watercolors and neon to immersive installations and reenactment. His artwork has been shown at venues internationally and is included in private and public collections across the U.S. and Europe."

Take some time out to express yourself in the library. We will have supplies available to encourage meditative expression through art, including a collaborative canvas set up for community members to add their personal mark to the larger piece. Additionally, we will have a display of self-care and art therapy books available for members to check out.

Blending memoir, cultural criticism, and history, author Irvin Weathersby Jr. challenges readers to examine American history and imagine more inclusive ways of honoring the past. The author intertwines the threads of his life and ancestry into the larger conversation about the stories told in these public spaces. Whose voices are uplifted and whose voices are left out? Themes in this discussion will tie into the exhibition For the People by the People: America at 250.

"Inspired by For the People, By the People, join expressive arts facilitator Kim Shaw for a restorative arts-based workshop exploring creativity as a pathway to resilience, reflection, and self-expression. Participants will engage in mindful art viewing, guided visual art-making, journaling, poetry, and breathwork while reflecting on themes of identity, change, loss, hope, and belonging. No artistic experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided. Seating is limited, so register early!

For more than 20 years, Kim Shaw (she/her) has worked as an independent artist under the name Kim Shaw Art. Her practice has included teaching workshops and private lessons, as well as completing commissioned work in painting and illustration. Shaw is a graduate of both Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, holding degrees in Illustration and Studio Arts with concentrations in Art Education, Painting, and Expressive Arts Therapy. She is currently pursuing an MA in Expressive Arts Coaching and Community Building at the California Institute for Integral Studies. Her work centers on fostering individual and community enrichment through creative process, collaboration, active art-making, and shared human experience. "

"During the 19th century, many American artists embraced the theme of the ""Vanishing Indian."" By depicting Native Americans as disappearing, such artists spread the idea that the extinction of Native groups was unavoidable. At stake was an accurate accounting of Indigenous peoples’ experiences in the United States. In this talk, Dr. Laura E. Smith will reveal the hidden narratives of Indigenous erasure prevalent in American art of the 19th and early 20th centuries. She will also respond to works by contemporary Native artists.

Laura E. Smith is a professor of art history in the Department of Art, Art History and Design at Michigan State University, where she teaches course in the arts of the Americas, Indigenous arts, and photography. She is the author of Horace Poolaw, Photographer of American Indian Modernity (University of Nebraska Press, 2016). "

"Summer Jams concludes at the KIA on Thursday, August 27 with a lively open mic night celebrating music, poetry, and creative expression. Join us for an evening where artists and community members come together to share their voices in a welcoming and creative space.

Performers of all backgrounds are invited to take the stage. Whether you’re a musician, poet, spoken word artist, comedian, or simply someone with something to share. Not looking to perform? Come enjoy the performances, discover local talent, and connect with fellow community members in an energetic and inspiring atmosphere.

As part of Free Thursday, admission to the galleries is free all evening, giving guests the opportunity to explore the museum’s exhibitions before settling in for a night of live performances and creative connection. Summer Jams has been a celebration of community, talent, and artistic expression throughout the summer, and this final event is the perfect way to close out the series.

Whether you’re stepping up to the mic or coming to support local creatives, Summer Jams invites everyone to be part of an evening filled with art, storytelling, music, and meaningful community connection at the KIA."

Join us for a conversation on how Roger Shimomura and other contemporary artists have responded to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, using multiple artistic media to communicate messages of pain, protest, and perseverance. We will begin this Gallery Gathering by looking at Shimomura’s Nisei Triology in the For the People, By the People exhibition. Then we will move downstairs to the Joy Light Gallery to view the exhibition Resilience–A Sansei Sense of Legacy.

"In September, our youngest art lovers can explore the work of local artists featured in the West Michigan Area Show. Through close looking and playful activities, young children can explore, move, and experience art together with their caregivers in a relaxed setting.

Wonder Walks is for children 2-4 years old (but all are welcome) and is free with the cost of admission. Caregivers must stay with their children at all times. Preregistration is encouraged"

Come to the Meader Fine Arts Library to create an artistic collage with Errin Ironside and the Collage Crew Kzoo. Inspired by the exhibition For the People, we are asking participants to meditate on what America means to you. All supplies will be provided.