BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - ECPv6.15.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.kiarts.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Detroit
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260408T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260408T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T141326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T165400Z
UID:10001242-1775649600-1775653200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:ArtBreak: Virtual Artist's Talk with Nick La Marca
DESCRIPTION: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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/artbreak-virtual-artists-talk-with-nick-la-marca/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:ArtBreak,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nick-La-Marca.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001173-1775732400-1775764800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-04-09/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T141515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T175152Z
UID:10001243-1775757600-1775764800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:The Great KIA Book Swap
DESCRIPTION:The Great KIA Book Swap returns! Bring up to 10 gently-used books to the KIA to trade for new-to-you titles! \nMusic and refreshments will be provided. Enter a raffle for great prizes from our sponsors! Receive one raffle ticket per book\, with a limit of 10 tickets per person. You must be present at the time of the drawing to win raffle prizes. \nPlease no textbooks\, encyclopedias\, magazines\, or used activity books. Books should be in good physical condition—no moldy\, torn\, or damaged books. Keep in mind that this is a book swap\, so bring books in the condition that you would want to receive. \nDrop your books off early to receive extra raffle tickets and skip the check-in line! Bring them to the KIA between 12:00-3:00pm on Wednesday\, April 8\, for five extra raffle tickets. \nMany thanks to our sponsors and community partners: Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library\, Kazoo Books\, and this is a bookstore & Bookbug.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/book-swap/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,Future Now,Library,Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Book-Swap-2025.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260411T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T141659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T145114Z
UID:10001251-1775903400-1775908800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Art Detectives: Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond
DESCRIPTION:Get ready to explore the color blue with Art Detectives this April! We’ll read a book that shows how artists discovered and used blue throughout history. Then we’ll explore the exhibition From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia to see how East Asian artists use blue in their creations. After our gallery adventure\, we’ll make our own brilliant blue artwork to take home.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/art-detectives-blue-a-history-of-the-color-as-deep-as-the-sea-and-as-wide-as-the-sky-by-nana-ekua-brew-hammond/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Art Detectives,Family
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Blue.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T133000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T141851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T183014Z
UID:10001244-1776254400-1776259800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Museum Explorers: Homeschool Family Program at the KIA and Kalamazoo Valley Museum
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWednesday\, April 15\, 2026  \n\n10 to 11:30am Kalamazoo Valley Museum\nNoon to 1:30pm Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\n\n \nRegister Here\n \nKIA Schedule\nDrop-in Art Projects\, All Ages\, from Noon-1:15: \n\nMy Shoes\, My Story\nPaper Shoe Sculpture\nShoe Charm Shrinky Dinks\n\nGuided Tours of Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks Exhibit\, All Ages: \n\n12:15pm \n12:45pm\n\nStorytime in Meader Fine Arts Library\, Ages 3-6: \n\n12:30pm – What Kind of Shoes Does a Hippopotamus Choose? by Kat Maconie\n\nCheck out a Gallery Go Bag from Meader Fine Arts Library to learn more about all of the art at the KIA! \n  \nKVM Schedule  \nDrop-In Activities\, All Ages\, from 10 to 11:30am  \nGuided Learning Opportunities from 10-11:30 a.m: \n\nEarly Learning Table\, Ages 3-6\nSTEM Project\, All Ages\nInnovation Lab\, All Ages\n\nPlanetarium Show\, All Ages: \n\n10:15-10:45am\n11:00-11:30am\n\nLunch space available at KVM 11:30am-noon.\nQuiet sensory space available at KVM 10am-noon \nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/museum-explorers-homeschool-family-program-at-the-kalamazoo-institute-of-arts-and-kalamazoo-valley-museum-2/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Family,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Homeschoolers.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T142014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T200929Z
UID:10001245-1776261600-1776265200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Book Discussion: Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
DESCRIPTION:When ten year old Mona experiences a sudden\, brief loss of sight\, her grandfather Henry decides to give her a gallery of artworks to visit in her mind as she faces potential permanent blindness. Through fifty-two weekly trips to museums in Paris\, Mona receives an emotional art history education. Art lessons become tied to life lessons on love\, fear\, and beauty. Their relationship strengthens as Henry gives Mona more than a deep appreciation of art.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/book-discussion-monas-eyes-by-thomas-schlesser/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Discussions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Monas-Eyes.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260415T183000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260324T154621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T154621Z
UID:10001290-1776274200-1776277800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Member Tour with Wilson W. Smith III
DESCRIPTION:KIA members are invited to join legendary Nike designer Wilson W. Smith III for an intimate discussion of all things shoe design and a private viewing of Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks! \nThis event has limited availability; pre-registration is required. Limit 2 attendees per registration. \nThe 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 Education 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. \nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/member-tour-with-wilson-w-smith-iii/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wilson-Smith-Member-Tour-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260416T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260416T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001174-1776337200-1776369600@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-04-16/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260416T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260416T193000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T142144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T194320Z
UID:10001246-1776362400-1776367800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Artful Evening: Artist's Talk with Wilson W. Smith III
DESCRIPTION:Meet a living legend in the world 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 Education 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. \nFollowing his talk\, Smith will be joined by Dr. D’Wayne Edwards for a discussion and Q&A. With a prominent career in the footwear design industry spanning more than 32 years\, Dr. Edwards has worked with L.A. Gear\, Nike\, and Jordan. He is the founder of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design\, the preeminent footwear design school in the world\, and has taught and lectured at premier schools\, including ArtCenter\, Parsons\, MIT\, and Harvard. \nThis Artful Evening is made possible by generous support from:\n \n \n \nRichmond Institute for Design + Innovation
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/artful-evening-artists-talk-with-wilson-w-smith-iii/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artful Evening,Free,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Wilson-Smith.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260417T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260417T193000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260320T174734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T184803Z
UID:10001289-1776441600-1776454200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Workshops with Wilson W. Smith III and Pensole Lewis College
DESCRIPTION:Learn from a legendary athletic footwear designer and a Michigan college focused on the design industry. These workshops are aimed at high school and college students\, or anyone interested in design\, particularly shoe design. \nSchedule:\n4-4:30pm – Check-in opens\, view Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks exhibit\n4:30-5:30pm – SPARK workshop with Wilson W. Smith III\n5:30-5:45pm – Break\n5:45-7:15pm – Color and Materials Design workshop with Greg Garcia\, Pensole Lewis College \nEach workshop is limited to 35 participants; pre-registration is strongly encouraged. You are welcome to attend both workshops\, but you must register separately. \n4:30-5:30pm\nWilson Smith will lead his SPARK workshop. Using SPARK\, which stands for Story\, Passion\, Art\, Reflection\, and Knowledge\, Smith will help you uplift and ideate your creative idea\, voice\, and energy\, all of which define sneaker culture. \nThe 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 Education 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. \nRegister \n\n5:45-7:15pm\nIn collaboration with Timberland\, Greg Garcia from Pensole Lewis College will lead a Color and Materials Design workshop. This design workshop focuses on sustainability\, telling your community’s story\, how to choose materials and colors for footwear\, and simple footwear construction using paper worksheets. \nGreg Garcia is the Director of Recruitment at Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design. His career in higher education has spanned nearly 13 years\, where he has worked in a variety of institutions. He pursued his education from the University of Texas at Arlington for his bachelor’s degree\, and from Tennessee State University (an HBCU) for his master’s. He is excited to bring premier design education to underrepresented and underserved communities! \nRegister \n\nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/wilson-smith-workshops/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wilson-Workshops.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260422T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260422T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T142331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T185845Z
UID:10001247-1776859200-1776862800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:ArtBreak: Steps through Time: A Retrospective of Shoes
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the future of shoes\, it can be fascinating to look back to see where we have already been. During this ArtBreak talk\, fashion historian and professor Iris Carney Cooper will offer an overview of notable and special shoe designs throughout time\, discussing history\, significance\, function\, and design. \nCooper is a fashion historian\, currently teaching at Western Michigan University and managing the Historic Garment Collection. She received her BA in Fashion Design and Merchandising from Dominican University in River Forest\, IL\, and her Graduate Certificate in History from WMU.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/artbreak-steps-through-time-a-retrospective-of-shoes/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:ArtBreak,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Iris-Carney-Cooper.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260423T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260423T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001175-1776942000-1776974400@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-04-23/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260501T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260501T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T141616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T141834Z
UID:10001262-1777633200-1777635000@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Wonder Walks: Looking at Landscapes
DESCRIPTION:Spring is creeping closer\, and we’re ready to get outside. Until it warms up\, join us for a stroll through the permanent collection to enjoy some sunny landscapes and think ahead to brighter days. We’ll discover how artists represent the natural world and have fun with a few gallery activities along the way.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/wonder-walks-looking-at-landscapes/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Family,Wonder Walks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wonder-Walks-Looking-at-Landscapes.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260501T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260501T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260326T141009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T170753Z
UID:10001291-1777654800-1777665600@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Kirk Newman Art School 2025–26 Residents’ Exhibition Opening Reception
DESCRIPTION:The Kirk Newman Art School’s Post-Baccalaureate Program is designed for recent fine arts graduates seeking to grow and strengthen their creative practice in a supportive community with access to professional studio facilities. The culmination of the 2025–2026 resident artists’ work will be on display in the KNAS commons from May 1–31. This unique group exhibition will feature new works in Ceramics\, Painting\, Photography\, Printmaking\, and Sculpture from our seven residents. \nThe opening reception for this exhibition will coincide with Art Hop on Friday\, May 1\, from 5–8pm. Join us in celebrating the talents of these amazing emerging artists! Learn more about each Resident and their art making journey on our YouTube Virtual ArtBreak series. \nThe Residency application deadline for 2026–2027 is May 15\, 2026. \nPhoto by Mary Whalen
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/2026-knas-residents/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-2026-Residents-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001177-1778151600-1778184000@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-05-07/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T180000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T141809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T150842Z
UID:10001263-1778175000-1778176800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Gallery Gathering: From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia
DESCRIPTION:Immerse yourself in shades of blue as we explore selected works from the exhibition From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia\, on view in the Joy Light Gallery through July 12. Together we will learn more about the cultural significance and wide-reaching influence of the color blue in the art of East Asia.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/gallery-gathering-from-cobalt-to-indigo-the-power-of-blue-in-east-asia/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery Gathering
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Gallery-Gathering-From-Cobalt-to-Indigo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260507T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T142022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T142022Z
UID:10001264-1778176800-1778180400@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Dress Code: Edward Hopper\, Urban Solitude\, and the Clothing of Modern Life
DESCRIPTION:Explore the artwork of Edward Hopper in this lecture by Dr. James Denison\, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Kalamazoo College. Denison’s presentation will consider the use of fashion in Edward Hopper’s paintings of urban American life\, interpreting his simplified representations of clothes as a strategy crucial to the sense of isolation and emotional restraint often associated with his work. Hopper’s paintings of the 1920’s\, ’30s\, and ’40s only represent a limited portion of the fashion landscape of the era\, a potent choice given the widely held notion that his pictures thematize the psychological experience of modern life. \nA native of the DC area and a graduate of Bowdoin College\, James completed his PhD in art history at the University of Michigan\, where he wrote a thesis on the connections between the Stieglitz Circle and racism in the interwar U.S. In 2023 he joined Kalamazoo College and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts as a postdoctoral fellow.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/dress-code-edward-hopper-urban-solitude-and-the-clothing-of-modern-life/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Dress-Code-Edward-Hopper.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260509T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260509T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T142140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T142140Z
UID:10001265-1778322600-1778328000@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Art Detectives: We're All Works of Art by Mark Sperring
DESCRIPTION:In May\, Art Detectives will be on the case\, searching for how artists show people in their artwork. We’ll read a book about different artistic styles\, hunt for faces and figures in the permanent collection\, and finish by creating our own portrait masterpiece to take home. Arty will be on vacation in June\, July\, and August. Please join us again in September when Arty has returned.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/art-detectives-were-all-works-of-art-by-mark-sperring/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Art Detectives,Family
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Art-Detectives-Were-All-Works-of-Art.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260514T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260514T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001178-1778756400-1778788800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-05-14/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260514T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260514T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T142459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T163439Z
UID:10001266-1778781600-1778785200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Artful Evening: Future Now
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special Artful Evening with Elizabeth Semmelhack\, Director and Senior Curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto! Semmelhack is the curator of Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks. During this program\, she will talk about why shoes matter and about how designers today are revolutionizing what we will put on our feet tomorrow. If you’ve enjoyed Future Now\, don’t miss this opportunity to meet the curator behind the exhibition! \nSemmelhack’s work focuses on the intersections of fashion\, culture\, and economics\, with a particular interest in the history of footwear. She is widely quoted in the media from the New York Times to Vogue\, and since starting at the Bata Shoe Museum in 2000\, she has curated over thirty exhibitions and written fourteen books and catalogues and over thirty chapters and articles. Her most recent exhibitions and publications related to sneakers include Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists (2024)\, Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks (Rizzoli:2022)\, Collab: Sneakers x Culture (Rizzoli: 2019)\, and Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture (Rizzoli: 2015). \nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/artful-evening-future-now-2/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artful Evening,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Artful-Evening-Future-Now.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260516T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260516T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T142819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T151821Z
UID:10001249-1778929200-1778940000@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Library Activity: Mini Origami Shoes
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by the innovation and history of sneakers\, we will provide origami paper to fold your own mini shoe! A variety of styles and difficulty levels will be provided. Check out the exhibition Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks for inspiration and then drop by the library to try your hand at this detailed paper project. \nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/library-activity-mini-origami-shoes/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Family,Future Now,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Library-Activity-Mini-Origami-Shoes.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260520T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260520T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20251219T143206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T143151Z
UID:10001250-1779285600-1779289200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Book Discussion: Sneaker Marauders: Poems by Ran Walker and Van G. Garrett
DESCRIPTION: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. \nFuture 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.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/book-discussion-sneaker-marauders-poems-by-ran-walker-and-van-g-garrett/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Discussions,Future Now
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Book-Discussion-Sneaker-Marauders.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001179-1779361200-1779393600@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-05-21/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260521T193000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T143456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T143456Z
UID:10001269-1779386400-1779391800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Best of the 48-Hour Film Festival
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, a growing number of talented Kalamazoo filmmakers\, both amateur and professional\, take on the challenge of participating in the Kazoo 48-Hour Film Festival. Assigned a genre\, prop\, character quirk\, location\, and line of dialogue to use within a short film\, participants have just 48 hours to bring their visions to life.  \nThe winning films for 2026\, selected in multiple categories\, were announced during a public screening at the GQT Kalamazoo 10 Theater on April 23.  \nDuring this celebratory event at the KIA\, watch the winning films and hear from the filmmakers themselves about their experiences and personal highlights from the festival!
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/best-of-the-48-hour-film-festival/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Films
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Best-of-the-48-Hour-Film-Festival.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260527T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260527T130000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T143633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T143633Z
UID:10001270-1779883200-1779886800@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:ArtBreak: Curating At The End Of The World: An Apocalyptic Manifesto
DESCRIPTION:What does it mean to curate as we live through apocalyptic times? Join our 2026 West Michigan Area Show juror\, Dr. Xuxa Rodríguez\, as she shares about her curatorial practice and explores what making exhibitions and writing about art means as the stakes of our collective global livelihoods grow higher. Dr. Rodríguez will offer reflections and proposals for working and living through difficult times to find meaning and hope even in the darkest of days.\nXuxa Rodríguez\, Ph.D.\, is a curator\, scholar\, and writer\, originally from Miami\, FL. Her expertise ranges across modern and contemporary Latinx and Latin American Art\, African diasporic art\, feminist and queer art\, transnational artists\, and time-based media\, with strengths in performance and video. Now based in Durham\, NC\, she is the Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Curator of Contemporary Art at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. \nOur ArtBreak program will be on hiatus in June and July. Join us in August when ArtBreaks resume!
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/artbreak-curating-at-the-end-of-the-world-an-apocalyptic-manifesto/
LOCATION:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts\, 314 S Park St\, Kalamazoo\, MI\, 49008\, United States
CATEGORIES:ArtBreak
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ArtBreak-Curating.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260528T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260528T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001180-1779966000-1779998400@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-05-28/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260528T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260528T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260317T203946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T170344Z
UID:10001285-1779991200-1779998400@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:2026 West Michigan Area Show Awards Night and Members’ Preview
DESCRIPTION:The work of West Michigan’s talented artistic community is on view during the annual West Michigan Area Show. Opening to the public on Friday\, May 29\, this crowd-pleasing annual juried exhibition was carefully curated from more than 300 submitted entries\, ranging from paintings\, prints\, and photos to mosaics\, ceramics\, jewelry\, sculpture\, and mixed-media works. This year’s juror is Detroit artist and teacher Hubert Massey. \nWinners of awards totaling over $5\,000\, including a $1\,000 grand prize\, recognizing excellence across various media\, will be announced at the awards reception on Thursday\, May 28\, at 6 pm. \nNew for 2026: Visit the WMAS gallery to vote for the People’s Choice Award during the Awards Night. The winner will be announced this same evening. \nThe 2026 West Michigan Area Show will be on view from May 29–September 27\, 2026. \nSupport for the West Michigan Area Show is provided by CWS Financial Advisors and David Isaacson in memory of his wife\, Helen Sheridan.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/2026-west-michigan-area-show-awards-night-and-members-preview/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WMAS-Awards.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260529T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260529T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260303T192553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T124944Z
UID:10001259-1780052400-1780074000@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:2026 West Michigan Area Show Opening Day
DESCRIPTION:The work of West Michigan’s talented artistic community is on view during the annual West Michigan Area Show. This crowd-pleasing annual juried exhibition was carefully curated from more than 300 submitted entries\, ranging from paintings\, prints\, and photos to mosaics\, ceramics\, jewelry\, sculpture\, and mixed-media works. \nLearn more about the West Michigan Area Show and the application process on the exhibition page.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/2026-wmas-opening-day/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ArtBreak-WMAS-Artist-Highlight.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260604T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260604T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20250127T214404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T132019Z
UID:10001181-1780570800-1780603200@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:Free Thursdays at the KIA
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays\, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Efroymson Family Fund. \n \n \n 
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/free-thursdays-at-the-kia/2026-06-04/
CATEGORIES:Free
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Free-Thursdays.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260605T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260605T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T192118
CREATED:20260320T172809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T172809Z
UID:10001287-1780671600-1780689600@www.kiarts.org
SUMMARY:2026 KIA Arts Fair
DESCRIPTION:Summer begins with the 75th Annual Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair in historic Bronson Park in beautiful downtown Kalamazoo\, June 5–6\, 2026. Please click here for more info about the 2026 KIA Arts Fair.
URL:https://www.kiarts.org/event/2026-kia-arts-fair/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arts-Fair-75th-Logo-Web.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR