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.
Fall
FALL ARRANGEMENT
Sherri Synder / Auditorium
Tue 9/26
6 – 8pm / One Day
$75 / Members: $55
Arrange gorgeous locally grown flowers, including dahlias, sunflowers and zinnias, in a fun container. Rich colors of maroon, red, oranges, yellows, and greens will create a stunning floral display to keep for yourself or give as a gift. No previous experience is required, as this class is great for beginners. Shears/pruners are helpful but not required.
FALL SWAG
Sherri Synder / Studio 6
Wed 10/11
6 – 8pm / One Day
$75 / Members: $55
Love dried florals? Create a natural decoration using fresh materials that will dry into a lovely swag. This swag will last a minimum of a year, maybe more. The technique is easy for crafters of any skill level. Once learned, it can be replicated at home to create more, to keep for yourself or give as gifts. All materials will be provided, but bringing pruners to class is recommended.
EVERGREEN WREATH
Sherri Synder / Auditorium
Tue 11/28
6 – 8pm / One Day
$75 / Members: $55
Fir, pine, and cedar, as well as other locally grown evergreens, create a luxurious premium wreath. Make a beautiful wreath to display in your favorite location. Made from fresh materials, with a choice of holiday bow, this decoration will last well through the winter. Class requires no previous experience, making it perfect for beginners. If you are adverse to sap, please bring gloves.
PUNCH NEEDLE EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP
Martha Rosenfeld / Studio 2
Sun 10/22
12-4pm / One Day
$110 / Members: $90
Experience the fun of making miniature fiber art using punch needle embroidery. Design a small coaster, then bring it to life using embroidery floss and other threads. At the end of the day, the punch needle tools and materials to finish your project will be yours to keep. We will cover basic design and fabrication, how to use the punch needle, appropriate materials, and finishing options. Please bring a sharp pair of scissors and a tote bag.
MAKE METAL STAMPS!
Danny Giancaspro / Jewelry Studio
Sat 9/30
11am-3pm / One Day
Prerequisite: Beginning Jewelry or equivalent
$85 / Members: $65
Customize your jewelry and metal projects with handcrafted metal stamps! Learn to create stamps from steel stock that may be used to add pattern and texture to your work.
SILVER RETICULATED EARRINGS
Danielle Vincent / Jewelry Studio
Fri & Sat 11/10-11
11am-3pm / Two Days
Prerequisite: Beginning Jewelry or equivalent
$150 / Members: $130
Learn the art of reticulating silver and produce a beautiful pair of earrings! Reticulation creates an unpredictable wave-like, rippled texture on the surface of metal. This reticulated surface acts as an inspiring backdrop or component, allowing you to design a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings.
CYANOTYPE AND COLLAGING NEGATIVES
Amelia Volwiler-Stanley / Computer Lab & Darkroom
Sat 9/30 & 10/7
1 – 4pm / Two Days
Prerequisite: A basic knowledge of Photoshop is helpful.
$100 / Members: $80
In this two-day workshop, you will learn two processes. First, the process of cyanotype, an analogue photo process that results in a beautiful blue image. Second, how to construct a unique cyanotype negative using non-traditional processes rooted in the printmaking technique of collagraphy. Construct repeatable compositions for cyanotypes by collaging film negatives, pressed botanicals, found objects and hand-drawn elements. Fine art paper or fabric will be hand-coated with light sensitive cyanotype chemistry to create your one-of-a-kind sun-printed artwork.
BOTANICAL PRINTMAKING
JoAnne Laudolf / Printmaking Studio
Sat. 9/30
10am- 4pm (Bring lunch) / One Day
$110 / Members: $90
Create a colorful wreath using fresh leaves and flowers. The botanical materials will be hand-rubbed onto printmaking paper after being coated with special paints. When this process is done in a circular shape, the results are a lovely 20x20 piece suitable for framing. We will warm up by printing some card-size pieces. You will leave with a unique work and several small prints. Students are encouraged to bring plant specimens of their own; some will also be provided.
JAPANESE PAPERMAKING
JoAnne Laudolf / Printmaking Studio
Sat 10/28
10am-4pm / One Day
$110 / Members: $90
Study the art of Japanese papermaking, using the three main fibers used in Asia: Kozo, Gampi and Mitsumata. These plants produce long fibers which requires them to be beaten by hand after cooking. Each has a unique look and texture. After learning about each one, we will beat the fibers and make amazing papers! Additives will be used: dried flowers, silk thread, dyed pulp, and much more. The end products are many lovely papers that can be used in mixed media, collage, bookmaking, or a work of art in itself! Please bring lunch and wear clothes and shoes that can get wet.
CURRIER & IVES HOLIDAY CARD WORKSHOP
Deborah Mattson / Printmaking Studio
Sat 12/2
9am-4:30pm / One Day
$120 / Members: $100
Learn about lithography and America’s most famous print studio, then draw and print your own holiday card or illustration using plastic plate lithography. This workshop is a great introduction to the medium, a favorite printmaking method of those who love to draw and paint. Bring lunch to this all day workshop; hot chocolate will be provided.
TAXIGAMI ELEPHANT HEADS
Aerick Burton / Studio 1
Sat 10/14
3-5pm / One Day
$70 / Members: $50
In this class, you will learn how to create beautiful and realistic elephant heads out of paper using the art of origami. Taxigami is a trauma-free way to create a taxidermy look by using origami and other paper sculpting skills. By the end of the class, you will be able to create your own unique and beautiful elephant head. This class is perfect for anyone who loves animals, origami, or art. No prior experience is required. All materials will be provided.
EXPRESSIVE FORM AND SURFACE: CERAMICS WORKSHOP WITH SUZE LINDSAY
Guest Artist Suze Lindsay / Studios 3, 5, 7
Sat & Sun 2/10-2/11/24
9am-5pm / Two Days
$230 / Members: $210
North Carolina potter Suze Lindsay will present a two-day workshop focused on crafting unique, altered pots for daily use. With a blend of thrown and hand-built elements, she assembles vessels that suggest figure and character. Her lively application of slips and glazes enhances the volume and personality of the form. With years of experience in all aspects of studio pottery, she will share techniques for adding depth to your clay surfaces, her knowledge of studio practices and life as a studio potter. This hands-on workshop will provide the opportunity to try her techniques and fire them in the KIA salt kiln. All levels of experience are welcome.
MINDFUL ORIGAMI
Aerick Burton / Boardroom
Thu 9/14
5:30-7:30pm / One Day
$60 / Members: $40
Discover the relaxing benefits of origami in a hands-on mindfulness modular origami workshop. Modular origami uses multiple interlocking sheets of folded paper to create designs and sculptures through a variety of folding techniques. Learn about the history of paper folding while making intricate creations! Open to ages ten and up.
SILK SCREEN WORKSHOP: PRINTING T-SHIRTS
Patrick Kinne / Printmaking Studio
Sat & Sun 10/14 & 10/15
1 – 4pm / Two Days
$165 / Members: $145
Personalize and enhance T-shirts and other attire using screen printing! Students will learn some screen printing basics and then apply their own designs to the fabric items of their choice. Practice fabric will be provided; bring your own t-shirts or other blank apparel.
SILVER STACKED RINGS
Emily Wohlscheid / Jewelry Studio
Sat 10/7
11am - 3:30pm / One Day
$95 / Members: $75
Experience jewelry making in this all levels workshop, creating a stack of simple rings from sterling silver. The basics of soldering, finishing, texturing, basic stone setting, and polishing will be covered as students fabricate a stack of rings in copper or bronze before moving on to silver. Students will leave with several completed rings.
NEEDLE FELTING OR DRY FELTING
Sarah Nott / Studio 2
Tue 9/12-9/19
5:30-8pm / 2-day
$90 / Members: $70
Come make soft wool into three dimensional objects and bas-relief images! Students will learn the terminology, techniques, and materials necessary to create works of needle felting out of wool.
HANDBUILT HAND TOOLS
Rachel Stickney / Jewelry Studio
Sat & Sun 10/14-10/15
Sat 9am-3pm Lunch at noon / Sun noon-4pm / Two Days
$155 / Members: $135
Shape, scrape, file, and carve your way to making your own set of handcrafted tools made from animal bone! This class will focus on crafting your own bone folder and burnishing tools using traditional materials with modern methods. Files, carvers, axes, and saws will be used in this class. Come with a notebook or sketchbook and leave with a small collection of tools ready for use for your next art project.
PRINTMAKING AT THE KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER
Deborah Mattson / Kalamazoo Nature Center
Sat 9/16
9am - 4pm / One Day
$120 / Members: $100
Explore printmaking projects at the Kalamazoo Nature Center! We will be foraging for materials, making nature prints and collagraphs, using “backpack presses,” and more! See what amazing materials and subject matter can be found outdoors in Michigan's natural areas, and how prints can be made from your discoveries. Come ready to hike a little ways and spend time outdoors. Adults will need to bring lunch for Saturday.
PRINTING FUROSHIKI
Deborah Mattson / Printmaking Studio
Sat 10/21
9am-4:30pm / One Day
$120 / Members: $100
Furoshiki are cloths used by the Japanese to wrap gifts, parcels, and other small objects that need to be carried. You will make a simple stamping matrix and learn how to use it to print cloth with a repeat pattern, to create your own furoshiki. You will also learn different ways to tie furoshiki as a container for various gifts and objects. Please bring lunch to this all day workshop.
CREATIVE FUN NIGHT: GELLI PLATE CARD MAKING
Debbi Kreps / Printmaking Studio
Fri 11/10
6-9pm / One Day
$80 / Members: $60
Celebrate the coming of the holidays with a night out! Make beautiful monotype cards without a press using a remarkable product called Gelli Plate. By using a combination of paint, soft rubber rollers, color shapers, and stencils, you’ll create unique cards and gift tags perfect for giving to your friends and family.
INTRO TO TORCH FIRED ENAMELING
Deb Flook / Jewelry Studio
Sat 11/4
1 - 4 pm / One Day
Prerequisite: Beginning Jewelry or equivalent
$80 / Members: $60
Kilns aren’t the only way to enamel! This introductory workshop will begin with how to set up a torch enameling workstation and what tools are required, then quickly move into how to add enamel to your work.
SUPPORT SPINDLE BASICS
Emily Wohlscheid / Weaving Studio
Sat 11/4
1 - 4 pm / One Day
$65 / Members: $45
Learn the basics of and variations within the realm of support spindles. Support spindles require very little space to work with and can be spun on virtually anywhere! Students will have the opportunity to try several spindle types and learn their origins around the world.
FALL WREATH
Sherri Synder / Auditorium
Mon 10/9
6 – 8pm / One Day
$75 / Members: $55
Create a beautiful wreath, which can be proudly displayed from Halloween through Thanksgiving, out of natural materials. No previous wreath experience required. All materials will be provided, but bringing a pair of pruners and garden gloves to class is recommended.
HOT CLAY NIGHT
Tom Richards and Amy Hudson / Studios 5 & 7
Fri 9/15
6:30 - 9:30 pm / One Day
$105 / Members: $85
Spend a perfect autumn night in the KIA ceramics studio! Come as a pair and work side-by-side on the potter’s wheel or meet new friends after your workweek. We’ll fire up the raku kiln, firing pre-made pieces you’ll glaze and take home. It’s the ideal opportunity to have a creative introduction to clay. Bring an apron and a beverage and be ready to experience something new. Dress for the mess!
DAHLIAS
Mary Jo Asmus / Multi-Purpose Classroom & Field Sessions
Sat 9/16 - 9/23
1–3:30 pm / 2 Day
$90 / Members: $70
Dahlias are exquisite flowers to photograph and going to the source on a sunny afternoon is a perfect opportunity to capture their beauty. Besides photographing a variety of dahlias in a local garden, we will also have cut flowers for photographing in natural light with various surfaces and backgrounds. Bring your camera with manual settings, including at least a 40-60 mm lens. A tripod and macro gear are optional, but suggested if you have it. Directions to the dahlia garden will be emailed to registered participants. The second session is to review your images with the group.
INTRO TO HAND EMBROIDERY
Jessica Sundstrom / Multi-Purpose Classroom
Sat & Sun 9/23-24
12-4pm / Two Days
$125 / Members: $100
Let's learn how to embroider! In this two-day workshop, we'll explore the magic of needle and thread. Learn how to select supplies and use them to master up to ten stitches. After two enjoyable afternoons of stitching together, students will leave with the confidence and knowledge to start their first project. All materials will be provided.