Creative Cafe
A weekly exploration of all things creative in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Originally aired on WKZO AM 590 locally each Saturday at 8 am. Podcasts will be available on Tuesday after the original air date. The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo is a membership organization serving artists and arts organizations in Kalamazoo County. www.KalamazooArts.org for complete information.
Episodes
162 episodes
Celebrating the 2024 CAA Award Recipients! DeNooyer Chevrolet and Friends of Poetry
Kristen interviews Erin Sparks of DeNooyer Chevrolet about their Business Arts Award and Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Scott Bade about Friends of Poetry and their Epic Award! Originally aired on Saturday, December 16, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 59...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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22:25
Celebrating the 2024 Community Arts Award Recipients - Arts Leadership!
Kristen interviews two recipients of the Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award - Ben Gudbrandson for Education, and Kate Yancho for Administration. Originally aired on Saturday, November 9, 202, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. The ...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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23:14
Celebrating the 2024 CAA Award Recipients! Young Artist Awards
Kristen interviews the two 2024 Adam F. Carter Young Artist Award Recipients - Carly Rose Koch and Courtney Gardner. Originally aired on Saturday, November 2, 202, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. The Community Art...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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22:39
Art Hop November 2024 with Sarkozy Bakery
Kristen interviews Alec Wells, Judy Sarkozy, and Kim Shaw about the November 2024 Art Hop and Sarkozy Bakery's return to participation. They also chat about the other 40 stops available that night. Originally aired on Saturday, October 26...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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23:14
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - 100 years under new leadership
Kristen interviews Michelle Hargrave about her new role at the Kalamazoo Arts Institute and the 100 year milestone, and the activities planned to celebrate! Originally aired on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 F...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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24:09
Dann Sytsma And Crawlspace - Where Are They Now?
Kristen interviews Dann Sytsma, founder and CEO of Crawlspace Eviction about the journey from fledgling improv troupe to successful business in the newly repurposed First Baptist Church in Downtown Kalamazoo. Originally aired on Saturday,...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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25:44
Artist Happy Hour - How to Get the Gig!
Eric Oliphant, Membership Director, interviews the panelists for our upcoming Artist Happy Hour at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, on How to Get the Gig. Eric talks with L. Sam Zhang, author and illustrator of The First Chinese Festivals Book ...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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25:15
Farmers Alley Theatre 24-25 Season!
Kristen interviews Jeremy Koch, Managing Artistic Director of Farmers Alley Theatre, about their 24-25 season! Originally aired on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is ...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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22:24
Kzoo Folklife Organization! 34 years and still going strong
Kristen interviews Catherine Ellis and John Speeter of the Kzoo Folklife Organization about their mission in our community, the ongoing annual festival, and their upcoming fundraiser benefitting Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. Origially aire...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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24:04
Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert on the Sounds of the Zoo
Kristen interviews Jennifer Hudson-Penkert about the 3rd annual Sounds of the Zoo Festival! Originally aired on Saturday, September 14, 2024, on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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24:19
Brad Wong talks Fontana's new season!
Kristen interviews Brad Wong, director, of Fontana Chambers Arts, about the organization and the upcoming season of events. Originally aired on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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27:05
Aubrey Jewel Rodgers and September Art Hop!
Kristen interviews Aubrey Jewel Rodgers about her new exhibition, Resilience, set to open at Art Hop on September 6, 2024, in the Westin Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. They also talk about the 40 stops that make up Art ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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24:24
The Druid Drummer
Kristen interviews Colin McKernan about his latest pivot in the music world, the Druid Drummer, and where you can see him perform. Originally aired on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 8 am on 590 AM and 106.9 Fm in Kalamazoo, MI. Creat...
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Season 3
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Episode 52
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22:21
We Need You to Nominate! CAA Nominations are Now Open!
Kristen interviews Sandra Bremer and Bryan Zocher, past Community Medal of Arts Recipients, about their experience as a recipient and their thoughts on the importance of nominating artists in our community for the Community Arts Awards. Origina...
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Season 3
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Episode 51
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25:22
The Good, The Bad, and The A.I. – Artist Happy Hour
Membership Director Eric Oliphant interviews Ian Gorman, owner of La Luna Recording Studios; Chafe Hensley, co-owner of Weirder Wonderland; and Aubrey Jewel Rodgers, chair of Applied Arts and Media Technologies at KVCC ahead of our next Artist ...
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Season 3
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Episode 50
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24:27
Jamari Taylor - Paying it forward, one art student at a time
Kristen interviews Jamari Taylor about her life as a working artist in both murals, illustrations and teaching in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids. Originally aired on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.&...
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Season 3
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Episode 49
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23:39
Marvinetta Penn - How Storytelling Can Change Everything
Kristen interviews Marvinetta Penn, a recent transplant from Chicago, Illinois, about her group Global Girls, a female empowerment group. She is also a voice-over artist, writer, performer, and workshop facilitator. Her background a...
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Season 3
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Episode 48
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23:42
Movement Reservoir Dance Company - an interview with Lachan Niedbala
Kristen interviews Lachan Niedbala, the Artistic Director and founder of Movement Reservoir Dance Company, about her experience and background in modern dance, how this company came to be, as well as some upcoming events with the company. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 47
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23:45
Michigan Arts and Culture Council - New Grants!
Kristen interviews Alison Watson, the director of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council about the recent changes to the granting process, and the new goals that the MACC hopes to achieve. Originally aired on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 8 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 46
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25:09
July Art Hop 2024 - Celebrating Black Arts
Kristen interviews Sharmane Flanders and Kim Shaw about this month's Art Hop slated for Friday, July 12, 2024, from 5 - 8 pm. Originally aired on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe ...
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Season 3
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Episode 45
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21:24
Lots of arts this Summer in Vicksburg - Interview with Syd Bastos and Sharmane Flanders
Kristen interviews Syd Bastos and Sharmane Flanders about the wonderful opportunities provided by the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center. We also talk with Sharmane Flanders, a local artist working with the VCAC, about her work in the community and...
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Season 3
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Episode 44
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22:10
Kristian Walker Talks Photography & Teaching
Executive Director Kristen Chesak interviewed Kristian Walker about his career in photography and the upcoming classes he will be teaching.
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Season 3
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Episode 43
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24:25
Juneteenth Celebration 2024!
Kristen Interviews Kama Mitchell and Heather Mitchell about Rootead's community collaborations for the Juneteenth 2024 celebration in Bronson Park! Originally aired on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe ...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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23:11
Art on the Mall 2024
Kristen interviewed three participants who lived at the Art on the Mall Festival in Downtown Kalamazoo: Kate Fulton from the Fulton Foundry, Shay Church from Grayling Ceramics, and Summer Rain from Glass Art Kalamazoo. Kim Shaw, program directo...
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Season 3
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Episode 41
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21:46
Art on the Mall and Concerts in the Park
Kristen interviews Olivia Mendoza and Kim Shaw about the upcoming Art on the Mall, June 7 and 8, 2024 in downtown Kalamazoo. She also interviews band member McKenna Grody from Prior Noon as we gear up for another year of Concerts in...
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Season 3
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Episode 40
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22:57