Community Calendar

"George Takei recounts his childhood imprisonment in Japanese American internment camps during World War II in this richly illustrated graphic novel. The memoir explores resilience and patriotism while connecting past injustices to discrimination. Blending history with storytelling, the book urges readers to challenge prejudice in America. Themes in this discussion will tie into the exhibition Resilience.

Please note that this discussion will take place one week earlier than our usual meeting."

Join us for a 6-week course exploring the twelve principles of permaculture design. Each week the class will dive into two principles, blending thoughtful discussion with hands-on practice in a living garden installation at Tillers International. Skills will vary based on garden needs and weather, but will include multiple fall bed preparation methods, mapping and planning, tool maintenance, and more!

The music of Stundom is Nordic in its essence. Inspired by the traditional dance music from their ancestors, the trio invites you into their wondrous world, blending folk traditions with classical chamber music and symphonic elements.

With a blend of the violin, the cittern and the piano, Emma Kragh-Elmøe, Villads Hoffmann and Julian Svejgaard share a rare musical chemistry and a strong sense for memorable, finely crafted melodies.

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Celebrate the unifying power of the world’s music at the 2026 Connecting Chords Music Festival, running from August 14 – November 29. Established in 2001, the Festival features an incredible variety and quality of musicians every year – if you know, *you know*!

Learn more about the Festival at ccmusicfest.com.

Representatives from several Midwest colleges and universities will be available to meet with students to review their portfolios and offer admissions advice. Registration is strongly encouraged. This event is free to attend and open to all high school junior and senior art students.

• 8 – 9am: College and university presentations
• 9am: Galleries open
• 10:30am: Kirk Newman Art School Tour
• 9 – 11am: Portfolio reviews
• 10:30am: Kirk Newman Art School Tour

This event is free to attend and open to all high school juniors and seniors. Representatives from several Midwest colleges and universities will be available to discuss your students’ portfolios and give admissions advice. Please register by October 8, 2026. If you have any questions please email Amy Hudson at museumed@kiarts.org.

Please note:
• Students bringing digital portfolios must bring their own computer/tablet on which to display. Please do not use cell phones for this purpose.
• The galleries will open at 9:00am and Portfolio Day participants will be able to explore for free.
• Free parking is available in our lot on South St. The Lovell St. lot immediately adjacent to the building is reserved for contractors, but is available for dropoff. The lot on the south side of Lovell St remains open for parking.

Portfolio Requirements:
• All colleges and universities will accept digital work. Digital portfolios should be organized neatly in a Powerpoint or Google Slide Presentation.
• Submit 8-10 works and a sketchbook.
• Videos should be 2 minutes in length or less.
• Come prepared to talk about your work.

"Jimmy Mirikitani (1920-2012) was a Japanese American artist who survived the trauma of WWII incarceration, the loss of family and friends in his ancestral city of Hiroshima, a harsh life on the streets of New York, and the chaos of 9/11 – all by making art. Sitting alone on a windy corner in Soho, he drew whimsical cats, bleak concentration camps, and the angry red flames of the atomic bomb. Blending beauty and humor with tragedy and loss, The Cats of Mirikitani is an intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war and the healing power of art.

This film was directed and produced by Linda Hattendorf, who has worked in the New York documentary community for decades. Her editing work has aired on PBS, A&E, and The Sundance Channel, as well as in theatrical venues and hundreds of festivals. Produced in 2006, The Cats of Mirikitani was her directorial debut and won awards at more than thirty film festivals around the world. The film has a run time of 74 minutes. "

Looking for something whimsical or theatrical? This half-day class is perfect for broom dancers, fall festival lovers, Halloween enthusiasts—or anyone who wants to make a statement piece! These brooms are designed to look amazing, not necessarily to sweep up dust. This class sets aside the usual rules and goes wild with colors, textures, and decorations. Students may bring their own sticks, handles, or other materials. No experience needed—just creativity!

Nature Pop Culture Trivia
Could you identify every tree on Endor? Know which species of eagle comes to Gandalf’s aid? Then you’re our type of nerd, and you belong at our Nature Pop Culture Trivia Night! Come answer a gauntlet of questions on the ecology of your favorite media and compete to bring prizes home for your team.

This is a great time to make new friends and enjoy friendly competition! Teams of up to 5 players are welcome.

Thursday, October 15, 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm

Meet: Coopers Glen Auditorium inside the Visitor Center

Fee: KNC Members $12; Non-Members $15

Please Register >

Audience: Adults

All the pageantry and vibrant energy of a harvest festival in rural Korea comes together in the flying footwork, brilliantly colored dress, and joyful percussion of pungmul, breathtakingly presented by the master artists of the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago.

This event will take place at the Light Fine Arts Building on the campus of Kalamazoo College.

Founded in 2013 as a drumming program for youth, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago hosts a slate of projects including instruction in a variety of percussion, wind, and string instruments; artist residencies; performances; workshops; and lectures to more than 50,000 people annually in Chicago and beyond.

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Celebrate the unifying power of the world’s music at the 2026 Connecting Chords Music Festival, running from August 14 – November 29. Established in 2001, the Festival features an incredible variety and quality of musicians every year – if you know, you know!

Learn more about the Festival at ccmusicfest.com.

Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it's her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. As the years race by, birthdays become milestones in a life shaped by family, loss, laughter, and the quiet moments we often overlook until they've become faded memories.
Noah Haidle's Birthday Candles is funny, tender, and quietly profound. It’s funny in the way real families are funny, aching in the same places. It reminds us that extraordinary lives aren't measured by fame or fortune, but by the people we love and the moments we share. By the end, you're not just watching Ernestine's story - you're thinking about your own.

Take a Fall Fun Run! Start off your day at the popular 5K Raptor Run/Walk along some of KNC’s most beautiful fall trails. All proceeds support the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s education program.

1K Kids Run
Starts at 9 am Saturday, October 17, 2026
$30, includes short sleeved shirt if registered by October 4.

Kids ages 8 and under head out on a stroller-friendly, 1K romp around the Habitat Haven Trail.

Raptor Run 5K
Starts at 10 am Saturday, October 17, 2026
$50, includes long sleeved shirt if registered by October 4.

Run or walk along some of KNC’s most beautiful trails. The untimed event includes steep hills, forest views, and a variety of terrain.

Register by October 4 for a FREE run shirt!