Enjoying the Arts! Art Hop in Downtown Kalamazoo

We’re lucky in Kalamazoo to enjoy a community that values art.  Every June the Kalamazoo Institute for the Arts puts on a major art show in Bronson Park with quality fine art and fine craft, plus there are exhibits at the KIA and the local colleges, Western Michigan and Kalamazoo College.  In between, on the first Friday of every month, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo partners with downtown businesses to offer Art Hop.

Businesses stay open late with throngs of art lovers touring the different exhibits that artists set up in participating stores.  Sometimes we’ve had dinner downtown, but usually we meet our friend Loren, walk around to savor the art, then go back home to have dinner at our house.

Friday our first stop was the West Michigan Glass Center.

The Glass Center offers classes and studio space and has demonstrations during Art Hop.  Both Loren and I love glass art so this is always our first stop.

My favorite artist this month was Jenni Sanderson of Edgemoor Pottery. She calls this piece her Nutmeg Glaze Bowl on her Facebook page. I liked her shapes and the glaze both a lot.  Jenni’s pieces were well made, simple styles, well finished; for example, her bowls had raised bottom rims that had been hollowed out for a fine touch. Her pieces were lovely and affordable.

Jenni Sanderson, Edgemoor Pottery, Nutmeg Glaze Bowl

Brittany Bauman exhibited a few lovely nature photographs at the Michigan News Agency. She has a nice sense of composition and color.

Brittany Bauman’s Glorious Nature Photography Exhibited at the Michigan News Agency

We lucked out with the weather this Friday. October can get cold here and I’d forgotten a jacket, but it was in the 70s and we got hot walking.

All of the 2D work in our home has emotional depth, usually with something that makes you want to walk into the picture, something secret and inviting. Sandy Stafford had a picture that pulled me in from the sidewalk. I don’t have a picture of it, and this one is tiny, but you can see what drew me.

Art brings me joy and one of the blessings we have is easy access to lots of it.  We had a great time walking the outdoor Kalamazoo mall, seeing the art and people watching.  Next month I hope we do it again!