Community Calendar

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).

During this virtual ArtBreak, learn more about Nick La Marca, the multimedia artist whose Sole Lines installation is on view in the KIA lobby. La Marca is an artist and documentarian working across photography and installation. Born and raised in the Bronx, his practice is deeply informed by the city’s cultural vibrancy and diversity. La Marca’s work engages art and design as forms of social practice, using creativity as a bridge between personal narrative, community histories, and broader societal issues. At the core of his projects is a commitment to recognition and research–illuminating local or “micro” concerns and situating them within larger cultural or economic frameworks. His installations and photographic works often serve as platforms for dialogue, highlighting how lived experiences intersect with questions of value, identity, and community. Through this approach, La Marca positions art as both a document and an agent of change, underscoring its ability to connect creativity with social responsibility.

All hybrid events will be livestreamed to our YouTube page and can be found under the “Live” tab. Recordings of select past events are available on YouTube as well.

After setting a schedule with special guest leaders, the date has been changed! New date is Saturday, April 11, from 8 am – 8 pm.

Guest leaders include: Yoga instructor Apral Milan-Corcoran, collage artist Jennifer Gatz, artist Erica Bradshaw, local painter Conrad Kaufman

Join us for Rewilding the Imagination – A Creative Retreat, an immersive day designed to spark inspiration and reconnect you with your creative spirit. This retreat blends art, nature, and mindfulness in a supportive community setting. Participants will enjoy a full day of activities, including a photo scavenger hunt and hikes, hands-on art sessions, creative writing prompts, and yoga for creativity. With opportunities to work independently or collaborate in guided workshops, you’ll leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and empowered to explore your artistic potential. A delicious brunch and dinner are included, along with time for reflection and connection during our opening and closing circles.

This event will be held on the beautiful Carver house property, tucked away for a perfect relaxing and inspiring experience.

Fee: $180/Member, $200/Non-Member. Registration required. Audience: Adults Meet: Carver House, KNC’s Stryker Nature Preserve 2343 Angling Rd, Kalamazoo MI 49008

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Taylor Swift like never before! Taylorville is your ticket to a night filled with chart-topping hits and cherished deep cuts. This dynamic tribute band, armed with unmatched musical talent, takes you on a journey through Taylor's iconic career. The stage comes alive with a stunning video wall production, adding a visual spectacle that complements the music perfectly. It's a tribute that'll make you sing, dance, and relive the magic of Taylor's songs. Don't miss this extraordinary homage to a pop sensation!

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the beauty of Asian culture and champion cultural understanding, belonging, and unity in Kalamazoo. Hosted by Western Michigan University’s Asian Initiatives, this year’s Spring Gala promises a vibrant showcase of Asian artistry, cultural traditions, and community spirit.

Homeschool families are invited to learn, create, and explore at the KIA and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum (KVM). This collaborative event offers interactive activities designed to promote interdisciplinary learning, creativity, and an appreciation for art, history, and science. This event highlights the Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks exhibit. Bring your creativity and wear your favorite shoes! This event is included with the cost of KIA admission. View admission prices at kiarts.org/connect-visit/plan-your-visit.

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.

Meet a living legend in the world of of shoe design! During this Artful Evening, Wilson W. Smith III will speak about his prolific career in the athletic footwear industry. The first Black designer for Nike, Smith has created shoes for Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, and many more. After a 41-year career with the company, Smith retired as the Manager of Design Eduation with Nike’s Blue-Ribbon Studio in 2025. His work has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards, including Nike’s inaugural Design Achievement Award in 2019. In 2024, Detroit’s Pensole Lewis College, the nation’s only design-focused HBCU, dedicated the Wilson W. Smith III Footwear Design Studio. Join us to learn more about the passion and artistry that have driven Smith’s remarkable career and his life’s work in design and education.

Thank you to our event sponsor:

Warner Norcross & Judd

All hybrid events will be livestreamed to our YouTube page and can be found under the “Live” tab. Recordings of select past events are available on YouTube as well.

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).

This short collaboration celebrates sneaker culture through poetry. Consisting of two parts, part one is a micro saga-in verse about a quest to find sneakers but yields an even great discovery beyond shoes. Part two is a collection of prose poems, a kind of mixtape, which explores many aspects of sneaker culture from overarching artistic reflections to personal ties to footwear. Themes in this book will tie into Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks.

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum.

Please note that this event will not be livestreamed or posted on YouTube.
All book discussions are free, open to the public, and take place in-person at the Meader Fine Arts Library. Participants do not need to have read the book, but it will help facilitate the overall discussion. Preregistration is encouraged.

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).