Our 1- and 2-day workshops offer a taste of something new and a little digging deep, while teaching artists from around the country provide in-depth exploration for the benefit of our instructors, advanced students, and curious learners during Visiting Artist Workshops.
Spring
KILN ENAMEL BASICS
Meg Tang / Jewelry Studio
Sat 5/25
1-4pm / One Day
$85 / Members: $65
Whether you want to try kiln-fired enamels for the first time or just want to brush up on the basics, this one-day workshop is for you! Students will explore kiln-fired powder enamels on copper.
WATERCOLOR MONOTYPE PRINTMAKING
Charles Coates / Print Studio
Sat 5/17
9am-4pm / One Day
$115 / Members: $95
In this one-day workshop, participants will create a cohesive series of one-of-a-kind prints by making stencils, drawing, and applying watercolors directly onto vellum plates, then print them onto Japanese and Western papers with the etching press. You'll learn how to build up layers of texture and visual interest by printing multiple plates at once, in addition to blending colors, overlapping stencils, and incorporating collage elements to achieve a range of dynamic effects.
TEXTURAL COPPER EARRINGS
Emily Wohlscheid / Jewelry Studio
Tue 5/13
6-9pm / One Day
$95 / Members: $75
Create earrings from copper sheet metal! Students will be introduced to metalsmithing basics in this beginner-friendly, project-based workshop. Simple copper shapes cut out with a jeweler's saw will act as a base for textural experimentation to complete a unique pair of earrings.
SHIFU
Gretchen Huggett / Studio 4
Sat & Sun 5/3-5/4
1-4pm / Two Days
$110 / Members: $90
Shifu is the term used for weaving with a spun paper weft. In this two day workshop, we will practice the art of spinning paper, from cutting the strips and preparing them for spinning, to the actual practice of spinning into thread. We will talk about historical and contemporary practice of shifu, the types of paper that can be used, and how it can be woven into cloth.
HANDSPUN BUBBLES
Emily Wohlscheid / Weaving Studio
Wed 5/21
6-9pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Create an interesting visual texture with corespun yarn and silk hankies! Students will learn the basics of how to spin fibers around a commercial yarn as a core. The resulting corespun singles will then undergo experimental plying with silk hankies to yield a bubbly textured yarn.
DRAWING MICHIGAN WILDLIFE WORKSHOP SERIES: BIRDS
Taylor Scamehorn / KNC Visitors Center, Lower Classroom
Sat 5/10
9am-4pm / One Day
$120 / Members: $100
Learn to draw wild birds at the beautiful Kalamazoo Nature Center. Drawing from both live and preserved specimens, acquire skills for field sketching to fully-rendered animal studies. Please bring drawing pads and graphite pencils as well as lunch and drinking water.
INTRO TO TORCH FIRED ENAMELING
Deb Flook / Jewelry Studio
Sat 5/24
1-4pm / One Day
Prerequisite: Intermediate Jewelry or equivalent
$85 / Members: $65
Kilns aren’t the only way to enamel! This introductory workshop will begin with how to set up a torch enamel workstation and what tools are required and will quickly move into how to add enamel to your work. How to coat headpins, flat and curved surfaces, beads, and more will be covered. All materials are provided with additional available for purchase.
BUDGETING 101 FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES
Rachel Stickney / Boardroom
Sat 5/10
9am-12pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Does the thought of managing money make you sweat? Toss out that starving artist trope and let’s have an open and honest discussion about managing money for artists! Learn different budgeting methods, as well as best practices for overall money management. Laptops or tablets with Word and Excel capabilities are encouraged. This workshop is for art students, emerging artists, makers, and those looking to brush up on their art business skills. All are welcome in this nonjudgmental and informative environment!
THE NATURAL LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT
Holly Trevan / Photo Studio
Sat 5/17
12-5pm / One Day
Prerequisite: A camera capable of manual exposure and familiarity with the camera controls
$85 / Members: $65
Use natural light and learn how to make the most of it when making a portrait! In this one day workshop, Holly will demonstrate various techniques to simplify a portrait session while utilizing the beauty of natural light. Students will experience photographing various subjects in this hands-on class.
SOUND BATH: THE FLOW OF CREATIVITY
Kara Markovich / Auditorium
Wed 4/30
6-7:30pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Immerse yourself in an evening of sound that will take you to a place of peace, stillness, and connection. During the sound immersion various instruments will fill the space such as Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, and gongs. These allow you to move into a state of deep relaxation. Rest, recover, and heal your physical, emotional, and energetic bodies while dislodging creative blocks. Students are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and blanket.
SIGN LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
Tanya Timmerman / Studio 2
Sat 5/10
12-2pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Elevate your communication skills and embrace language accessibility with American Sign Language (ASL). Get ready to dive into dynamic conversational ASL, practicing and mastering essential linguistic structures. Along the way, you'll explore the rich tapestry of U.S. Deaf culture and history. Open to all students, whether you're a beginner or have prior experience, this workshop promises an engaging and enlightening journey.
Summer
INDIA INK PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPES
Taylor Scamehorn / KNC Visitors Center, Lower Classroom
Sat 6/28
9am-4pm / 1-day
$120 / Members: $100
Learn techniques to capture light, texture and atmosphere using India ink with sharpened stick pens and other natural found materials. With the beautiful Kalamazoo Nature Center as both muse and studio, spend a day creating unique and striking black and white landscapes. All materials are provided. Please pack a lunch and water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes for a moderate hike.
ROCK LOOM WEAVING
Jessica Sundstrom / Studio 4
Sun 6/22
1-4pm / One Day
$65 / Members: $45
Let's try weaving on a smaller scale. Bring in your favorite rock, brick, or tile, and use your favorite weaving draft to create something new. The instructor will bring some rocks from Lake Michigan as well. Open to all levels of experience; more experienced weavers are welcome to adapt familiar patterns to a smaller scale.
COPPER AND BEADED WALL HANGINGS
Lauren Tripp / Jewelry Studio
Sat 7/12
1-4 pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Students will create free formed and unique copper wall hangings with hand made copper links and incorporating beads in the metalwork. Techniques such as hammering, forming, filing, and sawing will be utilized. No prior metalworking experience is needed.
SPOON MAKING
Danny Giancaspro / Jewelry Studio
Sat 6/14
1-4pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Learn to fabricate a copper spoon using traditional techniques. A focus on the history of the spoon and how it evolved over time will be emphasized. With guided demonstrations, students will learn several jewelry and metalsmithing techniques and how these humble utensils can be used to tell a story or become a treasured heirloom.
EARTH-CAST MOBILES
Taylor Scamehorn / KNC Visitors Center, Lower Classroom
Sat 6/7
10am-4pm / One Day
$120 / Members: $100
Create a custom mobile from casts of natural objects at the beautiful Kalamazoo Nature Center. Learn to make both relief and two-part molds from a variety of natural materials like clay and sand, to cast organic forms and textures in lead-free pewter and plaster.
Explore the trails to “catch and release” your designs, then sketch and construct your mobile with guided instruction and design inspiration. This is a leave-no-trace approved workshop. Please dress for the weather, bring lunch and water, and wear comfortable shoes for a moderate hike.
GETTING READY FOR WINTER KNITTING…
Joann Gadbaw / Meader Fine Arts Library
Sat 6/21
1-4pm / One Day
$55 / Members: $35
If you want to be ready for winter knitting, planning ahead is a must! Learn about colder weather yarns and how to choose a style and difficulty level that's just right for you. Discover how to knit a gauge swatch, use Ravelry, and how to mark patterns to tell the story of your work. Please bring your ideas and any knitting supplies you have.
DESIGN SEMINAR
Taylor Scamehorn / Boardroom
Wed 6/18
12-2pm / One Day
$65 / Members: $45
Grab a notebook and join us for a comprehensive lecture on design psychology. Learn about trailblazers of design theory in Modernism; become familiar with the elements and principles of design, Gestalt, and composition, and take inspiration from the many ways these ideas have carried influence through history. The marriage of art and function is all around us, from architecture to furniture to advertising and user interface; design is always communicating! Learn the language and your art will speak for itself. Artists in all media are encouraged to attend. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
FRAMING WORKSHOP
Trevor Grabill / Studio 6
Wed 6/18-6/25
6:30-8:30pm / Two Days
$80 / Members: $60
Learn to make your own simple frames for paintings, prints, and drawings using accessible materials and methods that can be replicated at home! Some basic woodworking skills will be covered as well as tips and tricks for upcycling thrifted frames.
MEDITATION, MINDFULNESS AND MUDRAS
Patra Ryder / Auditorium
Sun 6/29
1-3:pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Discover new skills for relaxing the mind and body, while developing inner clarity. Hand mudras for physical, mental and emotional health will also be explored. Please feel free to bring a yoga mat or use the chair that will be provided.
PILATES WORKSHOP
Patra Ryder / Auditorium
Sun 6/15
1-3pm / One Day
$65 / Members: $45
Come engage in a more gentle yet still beneficial form of Pilates, called mat Pilates. Improve core strength and endurance while increasing general flexibility. Options for modifications make it fun and effective for any individual skill level. Please bring a thick Pilates mat or two or more yoga mats for extra padding.
FRENCH POUR S’AMUSER (FOR FUN)
Elise Head / Boardroom
Mon 7/21-7/28
6-8:30pm / 2-day
$90 / Members: $70
Brush up on your French conversation or start from scratch in a fun and supportive environment. Visit the galleries to practice discussing art in French! Learn basic French terms while discussing popular French music, film, art, and food.
INDIGO DYEING
Gretchen Huggett / Studio 1
Sat 7/19
11am–4pm / One Day
$115 / Members: $95
Immerse yourself in the color blue for a day! Learn the care and feeding of natural indigo dye pots plus the instant gratification of pre-reduced indigo. Stitched and clamped resists will be discussed as well as other resist techniques. Two silk scarves will be provided with the course plus other blank items will be available for purchase.
SOUND BATH: THE FLOW OF CREATIVITY
Kara Markovich / Auditorium
Wed 6/11
6-7:30pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Immerse yourself in an evening of sound that will take you to a place of peace, stillness, and connection. During the sound immersion various instruments will fill the space such as Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, and gongs. These allow you to move into a state of deep relaxation. Rest, recover, and heal your physical, emotional, and energetic bodies while dislodging creative blocks. Students are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and blanket.
HANDMADE PHOTO BOOK
Laurie Pruitt and Mary Whalen / Computer Lab
Fri 7/11 & 7/18
10am–4pm *lunch 12-1pm / Two Days
Prerequisite: A basic knowledge of Photoshop or Lightroom is helpful
$165 / Members: $145
Select, edit, print, and bind your photos into a handmade book while viewing and handling a selection of artist-made books to serve as inspiration for your own. The first day will be devoted to the editing, sequencing, and printing of images. The following session will be committed to folding, stitching, and binding into a hardcover book. Instructors will email instructions to enrollees for images to be used.
SIGN LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
Tanya Timmerman / Boardroom
Sat 6/21
12-2pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Elevate your communication skills and embrace language accessibility with American Sign Language (ASL). Get ready to dive into dynamic conversational ASL, practicing and mastering essential linguistic structures. Along the way, you'll explore the rich tapestry of U.S. Deaf culture and history. Open to all students, whether you're a beginner or have prior experience, this workshop promises an engaging and enlightening journey.