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.
PLANNING FOR SUMMER KNITTING
Joann Gadbaw / Meader Fine Arts Library
Sat 4/26
10am-1pm / One Day
$70 / Members: $50
The season is changing. It’s time to get something light and summery on your needles whether it's a shawl, sweater, socks, or other item of interest. Where do you start? Join us for this workshop to learn about the style that is right for you including the correct fit, type of material, how to use Ravelry effectively, how to read a pattern correctly, and so much more. Together we will knit a swatch to check our gauge and get started so you can wear your item as the weather warms up. Please bring your knitting supplies such as yarn and needles if you have them.
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.
DESIGN SEMINAR
Taylor Scamehorn / Boardroom
Sat 4/26
10-12:30pm / 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.
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.
INTRODUCTORY JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
Charles Coates / Print Studio
Sat 4/12
9am-4pm / One Day
$115 / Members: $95
In this one-day workshop, students will learn the basics of how to create a simple black-and-white print edition using watercolors and traditional Japanese tools and techniques. Through demonstrations, individual guided support, group feedback, and studio time, students will learn about this timeless process and how it is perfect for making art at home. All materials are non-toxic, clean-up is fast and easy, and prints dry instantly.
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.
DYE & STITCH: ABSTRACT FABRIC COLLAGE
Rita Petteys / Studio 4
Sat & Sun 4/26-4/27
Sat 1-5pm, Sun 12-4pm / Two Days
$135 / Members: $115
Create your own textile art supplies for an abstract fabric collage. In the first session, students will dye a palette of fabric and threads using fiber reactive dyes. In the second session, these personalized sets of colorful materials will inspire a layered, stitched collage.
Summer Enrollment for Members May 5th / Enrollment for the Public May 12th