Category Archives: Local Entertainment
East Kentwood student selected for All-State Jazz Band, performs at state music conference
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Robel Abebe, senior at East Kentwood High School, performed with the All-State Jazz Band at the 19th annual Michigan Music Conference (MMC) last weekend.
“Congratulations to Robel Abebe, who performed with the All-State Jazz Band last Saturday!” said EKHS Band Director Sho Dembinski in a school social media shout-out.
“Robel was selected from over 2,000 students to play with this band, and spent Thursday and Friday at the Amway Grand in Downtown GR to prepare for his concert. Way to go, Robel!”
The All-State Jazz performance was held Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Amway Ambassador Ballroom.
MSBOA All-State
The MSBOA All-State program was established during the 2005-06 school year.
Advancing to the All-State program is a competitive process and requires talent and diligence. Being accepted to All-State is considered one of the highest honors a high school musician can receive.
Students must prepare a 10-minute recorded audition that includes sight-reading, an announced etude and a series of scales. Auditions are submitted using only an identification number with no reference to the student or school.
The auditions are then evaluated by an adjudicator and placed in order. The required number of instruments is then selected to fill each section in the five All-State ensembles: Middle School String Orchestra, Middle School Band, High School Full Orchestra, High School Band and High School Jazz Ensemble.
Approximately 2,500 students audition each year for 400 seats in the All-State ensembles.
In January, the students assemble for two and a half days of rehearsal with nationally recognized conductors. All-State ensembles then perform in a concert held Saturday of the MMC.
Michigan Music Conference
“The purpose of the Michigan Music Conference is to provide relevant professional development and
vibrant musical experiences that support music education for educators and their students,” states the MMC website.
Featuring school ensemble concerts, performances from Honors Choirs, All-State Bands, and Orchestras; sessions for in-service and pre-service teachers; professional development clinics; hands-on technology workshops; and association membership and business meetings, MMC attendance draws approximately 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers, and guests each year.
The Sunday Night Funnies’ annual Black History Month comedy show set for Feb. 4
By WKTV Staff
The Sunday Night Funnies (SNF) second annual Black History Month show set for Sunday, Feb. 4.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has always been a diverse show,” said MC and SNF Founder Brian B. (Brian Borbot). “When putting together the lineup each week, I try to have a good mix of comedians-be it race, gender, or age-range. I think our audience appreciates that.
“I wanted to celebrate the contribution Black comedians have brought to the show through the years.”
The special show features six comics: Brianna Blackburn, a local favorite who has been part of several LaughFest shows; Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition finalists JT Motley, Marcus Cusic and Silas Haley; Dionte Allen from Ohio; and Michael Chandler, a relative newcomer to the local scene.
But wait – there’s more!
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 planned,” said Brian B. “In addition to the Black History Month show, March 3 will feature a special all-women comedian show in honor of Women’s History Month.”
The following Sunday, March 10 is the SNF’s LaughFest show. Sunday, May 5 will be a celebration of Older American Month featuring comics ages 50 and up. Then begins the sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
About the SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B.
A weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country, the SNF is a free admission show that starts at 7:30 p.m. and is performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
Sleeping Beauty: Grand Rapids Ballet to perform cherished classical ballet, host princess birthday celebration
By WKTV Staff
Experience the enchanting allure of the classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty. Grand Rapids Ballet will perform the cherished tale at DeVos Performance Hall Feb. 23-25.
A traditional tale come to life
Sleeping Beauty shares the traditional tale of Princess Aurora.
From her birth, a curse by the evil fairy Carabosse foretells Aurora’s demise on her sixteenth birthday. Aurora enters a profound slumber, only to be awakened by true love’s kiss, as orchestrated by the benevolent Lilac Fairy.
With Devon Carney’s exquisite choreography that pays homage to Marius Petipa, the production will be accompanied by a live Grand Rapids Symphony performance of Tchaikovsky’s exceptional score.
Gorgeous costumes, sumptuous sets, and breathtaking dancing are a hallmark of this family-friendly classical ballet performance.
Come and celebrate!
In addition to the ballet, Sleeping Beauty’s Birthday Party will be held on Feb. 25 at DeVos Performance Hall.
The memorable royal gathering will be held from 12-1 p.m. Party guests can create enchanted crafts to take home, enjoy sweet treats, and meet Grand Rapids Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty.
Party wear, crowns and sparkles are encouraged to help celebrate Princess Aurora’s sweet sixteen.
Save your seat at the party by signing up now!
Tickets for the Sleeping Beauty ballet can be found here.
Grand Rapids Christmas Lite Show a tradition for many West Michigan families
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
The Grand Rapids Christmas Lite Show has been a holiday tradition for most West Michigan families for the past 25 years.
With over 50,000 visitors each year, the Christmas Lite Show (CLS) has grown to be the largest lite show display in West Michigan.
How it all began
A family-owned business, the CLS was founded by American veteran William (Bill) Schrader after returning to West Michigan as a wounded war veteran.
Schrader and his family would spend the days leading up to Christmas driving through neighborhood decorated in lights. It was a cherished family tradition by Schrader, his wife and their three children.
After sharing those memories with family friends, Schrader approached the LMCU Ballpark office and asked to lease the parking lot so he could bring a unique and fun holiday attraction to West Michigan.
Comprised of a 30-person team of mostly veterans, the CLS has grown from generators, gas cans, and mile-long extension cords to transformers, power boxes, and 100% LEDs, and from one semi trailer full of lights to eight.
The mission
The CLS 40-night season (Nov. 22 – Dec. 31) brings new displays and experiences every year – and is the result of a year-round effort by Schrader and his team.
“The whole mission is to bring a smile to the kids,” Schrader says on the CLS website. “It’s all about the kids.”
Schrader and his team are dedicated to spreading joy and good fortune to our community. They carry out this spirit through the CLS and by supporting and donating to local organizations like the Grand Rapids Veterans Home.
Immersive full-dome concert experience coming to Grand Rapids Public Museum
By WKTV Staff
Get ready for an unforgettable sonic journey as “Concerts Under the Stars” returns to Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM).
Curated by the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, “Concerts Under the Stars” is an immersive full-dome concert experience highlighting local musicians and visual artists.
Local West Michigan bands will perform their music, enhanced by original video art projected onto the Planetarium’s 50-foot dome. Upcoming local visual artists collaborate with the musicians to weave together an exclusive concert experience.
First to take the stage
GRPM is kicking off the 2024 series on Jan. 11 and 12 with Silent Spirit, a Grand Rapids electronic music sensation. Silent Spirit combines synthesis and contemplative rhythms to create organic atmospheres and reflective environments.
Performances will be accompanied by a full-dome visual display presented by local artist, iVy Garvey.
Attendees are invited to explore their inner selves and imagine themselves immersed in a world drawn from inspiration of the natural world.
Must-know details
Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to explore the Museum’s first two floors of exhibits during the cocktail hour before the concert.
Performers will play two sets with a short intermission in between. Refreshments, beer, and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Parking is available through GVSU and the Museum’s parking ramp and will be validated for GRPM parking ramp guests.
Tickets are $20, with discounted pricing of $16 for GRPM members. Children must attend with an adult.
Details for February and March performances can be found here.
*Please be aware that shows may contain bright lights or dizzying visuals.
Check out the Meijer Gardens Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition through Jan. 7
By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor
Looking for a family-friendly outing during these chilly winter days? Frederik Meijer Gardens has you covered.
What Is It?
For the 29th consecutive year, Meijer Gardens is holding the annual University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition. This immersive experience takes guests on a journey showcasing worldwide cultures and lifestyles through trees and displays throughout the Gardens. Each winter, as the Gardens transform into a snowy wonderland, they spotlight one unique theme. This year’s message is Gather, which highlights how people around the world come together during this special time of year.
From November 21, 2023 to January 7, 2024, Meijer Gardens transforms for the season. Guests’ favorite sculptures and exhibits are still there, just with a little extra winter flair. The Railway Garden transports guests around the park as they take in the flowers, gardens, and more than 350,000 individual lights. Each display highlights a unique tradition or cultural story from around the world. The Exhibition hasn’t left out the local community either. The Railway Garden and surrounding handcrafted buildings pay tribute to more than 40 iconic landmarks from the greater Grand Rapids area, as well as Grand Rapids’ sister cities across the globe.
What’s New This Year?
This year, Meijer Gardens has added something new. At the nearby DeVos Van Andel Piazza, guests can observe the Winter Glow lighting experience for the very first time. Surrounding The American Horse sculpture and just a short distance from the main building, this combination light-and-music show features lights dancing to a choreographed custom soundtrack while projecting winter scenes on the surrounding hills. The Gardens extend their hours for this show, which runs December 18 to 22 and 26 to 30 from 5 to 9 pm. Firepits and hot beverages are provided to warm any chilly bones.
“We are looking forward to unveiling our new ‘Winter Glow’ experience outside on the nights of December 18-22 and 26-30. These unique events will feature visuals, sound, warm beverages and fire pits and are a great way for people to gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays,” noted John VanderHaagen, the Gardens’ communications director.
The unique lights and sounds from across the world make Meijer Gardens the perfect place to reconnect with friends and loved ones this holiday season. And to anyone worried about potential accessibility issues, the Gardens have you covered. “We are open 360 days of the year,” VanderHaagen added. “All of our pathways remain plowed and de-iced, so we do make the entire grounds inside and outside accessible for our guests during the winter.” Guests should dress for the weather, as VanderHaagen noted both the indoor and outdoor areas of the Gardens remain open.
For the Community
Meijer Gardens’ original film Joy, exploring the melting pot of cultural celebrations in the local area, runs all season long in the Hoffman Family Auditorium. It also streams for free on YouTube.
The response from the community has been one of positivity, both in the local area and beyond. “[The Holiday Traditions Exhibition] is our second busiest time, other than our butterfly exhibition in the spring,” VanderHaagen added. The Exhibition offers something for everyone, regardless of your favorite traditions. The younger patrons may enjoy visits with Santa Claus at the Welcome Center or petting a few of his reindeer at Michigan’s Farm Garden.
Wintertime Walks give the kiddos an immersive investigation of the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. If classic Christmas carols are your thing, keep an ear open for The Original Dickens Carolers as they venture through the Gardens’ Bissell and Gunberg corridors, spreading songs and good cheer.
Bird lovers can join the Grand Rapids Audubon Club for their 124th Annual Christmas Bird Count as they share ways for everyday citizens to involve themselves in supporting birds. The local area’s Polish Heritage Society and Korean Connection offer an inside look at their culture’s holiday traditions and how they’re observed each year. Finally, various Christmas-themed classes present jolly learning opportunities for patrons of all ages. Fees for these events are all included with admission costs. The exact dates and times for events and details about the Exhibition can be found here.
Looking beyond this year, VanderHaagen noted that the Gardens will continue to expand their new offerings in 2024. “We are also excited to launch a series of new events later this winter in January called Winter Nights at Meijer Gardens. These new experimental evenings feature unique performances, food and drink specials, and fun photo opportunities in the Garden Pavilion surrounded by Jaume Plensa’s monumental Utopia sculpture.”
Holiday festivities kicked off with the annual holiday light parade in Kentwood on Dec. 7!
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood invited community members to celebrate the holiday season with an annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday light parade on Dec. 7.
The event kicked off with a parade, followed by outdoor activities for all ages, including take-home children’s crafts and caroling karaoke. A visit from Santa and his reindeer, Dune Buggy food truck, and complimentary coffee and hot chocolate were also available throughout the evening.
Last year’s essay winner and grand marshal, Clara Wells, accompanied Mayor Kepley on a parade float and later helped him light the Christmas tree in front of the library.
“These festivities mark the beginning of one of the most wonderful times of the year as our remarkable community gathers to bring good tidings of peace and joy to all,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley.
GRAMMY Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama will take the stage at St. Cecilia Music Center Dec. 5
By WKTV Staff
Living legends of gospel music Blind Boys of Alabama will perform their Christmas Show on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) Royce Auditorium.
From their GRAMMY® Award-winning 2004 Go Tell It on the Mountain and 2014 Talkin’ Christmas albums, this holiday performance has thrilled sell-out audiences across the United States.
Executive & Artistic Director of SCMC Cathy Holbrook says, “We are so excited to present the 5-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama in concert at SCMC this holiday season! Royce Auditorium will be filled with joy during their performance on December 5.”
Raising roofs and crossing boundaries
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform live shows that are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures. The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material.
Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s, the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world.
“Seeing the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert is part living history, part concert, all uplifting experience…the best moments come when the group join forces for stirring harmonies,” claims The Washington Post.
Achieving dreams and world recognition
The Blind Boys’ music has not only endured, but thrived during seven decades of world events and is recognized worldwide as living legends and modern-day innovators.
Band members Jimmy “Jimster” Carter, Ricky McKinnie, Paul Beasley, Rev. Julius Love, newest addition Sterling Glass, and led by Music Director and lead guitarist Joey Williams helped create a new gospel sound for the 21st century.
Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) with Lifetime Achievement Awards, and inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Blind Boys of Alabama are also winners of five GRAMMY® Awards.
Tickets for The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show are $60, $45 and $30 at scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224.
Circle Theatre 2024 season tickets available now!
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids celebrates 2024 with their 71st season of Main Stage productions and Summer Concert Series.
Dedicated to enriching the quality of life in West Michigan, Circle Theatre uses an intimate setting and exceptional theatrical arts to educate and entertain.
The only community theatre in West Michigan specializing in summer theatre, the Theatre allows community performers of all ages to hone their craft. The Theatre also provides employment for directors, choreographers, musicians, designers and technicians.
Circle Theatre boasts more than 300 loyal volunteers and employs approximately 127 local independent contractors annually. Circle also provides nine paid internships to college students, three college scholarships, and arts scholarships to children grades PreK-8 each year. An Environmental Leadership contest for ages 6-14 is also available.
How it all began
Grand Rapids Community Summer Theatre, also known as Circle at the Rowe, was founded in 1952 by Norma Brink, Ted Brink and Sydney Spayde. Its first season was held in 1953.
The Rowe Hotel housed the Theatre for eight years. Due to the shape of the rented room, the play performance area was arena-style with the audience seated around the actors.
Over the years, Circle moved to various other locations, finally finding a home at the Pavilion in John Ball Park for 40 years. Growing audiences and a need for more technically adequate facilities, Circle Theatre searched for a new home and found a partnership with Catholic Secondary Schools and Aquinas College, opening of a new Performing Arts Center at the College in 2003.
Purchasing tickets
Tickets for the 2024 season can be purchased online at circletheatre.org, the box office at 616-456-6656, or in person at the box office (1703 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids).
Local comedy competition enters final round Oct. 29, offers diverse lineup of comics
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The original lineup of 91 comedians is now down to nine as the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round Sunday, Oct. 29.
“We have a good mix of comedians performing in the finals this year,” says Brian B., MC and
founder of the Sunday Night Funnies (SNF). “The Grand Rapids metro area is obviously represented,
but we also have a comic from Niles, Michigan, one from Detroit – even one from Canada!
The lineup is diverse too. Not only in terms of race, but age-range as well with comedians in their 20s up to sixty years old.”
Along with the nine competing comics, comedian Seth Lee – the 2022 Kingpin of Comedy winner – will close the show while votes are counted.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought that the eventual winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Person In Town,” said Brian B. “The package includes prizes from local businesses including Craig’s Cruisers, LaughFest, Midtown GR, and from the host of the show Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
“The winner will also receive $500 cash, a tricked-out bowling pin trophy and a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt. The total prize package is valued close to $1,000.”
The SNF is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. A weekly live stand-up comedy performance, SNF features a variety of comics from Michigan and across the country.
SNF performances are a free admission shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, in Wyoming.
Up north folk rock band, Troll for Trout, to perform at Valley Field Sept. 16
By Deborah Reed
deborah@wktv.org
Troll for Trout, an “up north folk rock band” will be at Valley Field (Sullivan Field) Saturday, Sept. 16.
The vintage ball park is hosting a Back to the 90’s Ballpark Jam festival-style show that will feature several musical artists.
Kicking off at 2:30 p.m. and running until 10 p.m., the show will consist of continuous music, beer, food trucks and of course – fun!
Troll for Trout will play alongside Papa Vegas, Domestic Problems, Knee Deep Shag and Craig Griffith. Between band acts, guests will be treated to solo performances by Adam Mikrut, Glen Danles, Ed Dupas, and more.
Troll for Trout is celebrating their 30th anniversary of colorful musical history. Over the years, the Michigan band has earned a diehard following and generated an impressive array of recordings.
“Troll for Trout and our music has always been about a lifestyle,” Michael Crittenden, founding member and chief songwriter, says on their website. “It’s that excited feeling of leaving work early on a beautiful Friday afternoon and pointing your vehicle North where there’s no schedule. It’s about finding and reconnecting with the peace that resides in all of us, but gets buried by the day to day grind.”
“Reboot” is a benefit for the restoration of Valley Field. A portion of the proceeds will also go toward the GVSU Aris Hampers Broadcasting Scholarship.
Tickets are available via Troll for Trout’s website at www.troll4trout.com.
Grand Rapids Ballet gets ready for upcoming 2023-24 season
By WKTV Staff
Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s only classical ballet company, officially kicks off its 2023-24 season as tickets go on sale for all their upcoming productions.
The season is packed full of dynamic pieces in Contemporary Visions, Jumpstart 2024, and In The Upper Room, in the Peter Martin Wege Theatre. These unique ballets show a range of diverse styles and themes the professional company can offer.
Throughout their 23-24 season Grand Rapids Ballet continues to present beloved classical family-friendly ballets such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty on a grand scale at DeVos Performance Hall with accompaniment from the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company is pleased to present two spectacular productions, Carnival of the Animals and Snow White, at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre.
“In the 23-24 season, our audience will be able to experience a full range of what makes ballet so exciting. From the classical tradition of Sleeping Beauty to the contemporary thrill of In The Upper Room to our free Summer Dance Festival that celebrates the diversity of dance in our community, I am confident that this season will amaze, inspire, and perhaps most of all, connect us through the arts,” Artistic Director James Sofranko said.
The company continues to take artistic risks and bring new styles of ballet to the stage for its audience to enjoy. With this new season, Grand Rapids Ballet will welcome seven new company dancers from all across the United States and even from Japan. As the dancers have a month more of summer break, the ballet eagerly awaits their company dancers’ return, veteran and new, to start working on an incredible season lineup.
“Our 23-24 Season continues to uphold the reputation of Grand Rapids Ballet as a leader in the arts community, presenting the best of classical and contemporary ballet as well as commissioning new and exciting works by in-demand choreographers,” James Sofranko, Artistic Director at Grand Rapids Ballet says.
Individual tickets and season subscriptions are on sale during the duration of the season. By becoming a season subscriber, patrons can take advantage of many benefits, including the best seats for the best price, discounts on additional tickets, ticket flexibility with worry-free exchanges, exclusive invites to special GRB events, and so much more. Patrons also can participate in the Sizzling Summer Sale, where they can purchase tickets to The Nutcracker for 50% off for performances Dec. 8-18. The sale is going on through July 26 and patrons can use the promo code: SIZZLE.
Kentwood free summer concerts begin with Azz-Izz Band Thursday, June 15 and Wity Sound Band, June 22
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
Kentwood prides itself on being a city of energetic, multi-cultural residents and visitors, so what would you expect from the Kentwood Summer Concert Series but a kickoff month with bands bringing some savory rhythm and blues, and a taste of Latin love.
The Azz-Izz Band, led by vocalist Darrick Pearson, but including a stage load of local R&B+ talent, will open the free admission outdoor series on Thursday, June 15, starting at 7 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall.
Then get your Latin dance party pants on Thursday, June 22, when the Wity Sound Band hits the stage to continue a series running almost every Thursday evening through Aug. 10.
The remaining lineup includes Cabildo on June 29, Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, July 13, Good Morning Bedlam, July 20, Big Band Nouveau, July 27, Brena, Aug. 3, and RocknSoul in the series finale on Aug. 10.
More details on the entire lineup are available on a City of Kentwood webpage here. WKTV Community Media will again partner with the City to bring the concert series to the public, with details on live community cable and on-demand replays also available on the city’s webpage.
The public is invited to bring their blankets, chairs and picnic baskets to the concerts, which run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and a variety of food truck fare is available prior and during. Concertgoers also are welcomed to bring their own beer or wine to the show.
Check out the Kentwood Farmers Market beforehand
Come early and visit the Kentwood Farmers Market, which takes place every Thursday in the parking lot behind Kentwood City Hall from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bringing local talent to local audiences
The Azz-Izz Band is a “6-piece, energetic dance band performing top hits from R&B, funk, MoTown and pop music,” according to a band spokesperson. The group, which plays throughout West Michigan, has been under the leadership of Pearson for more than 35 years. Featured performers include Pearson on percussion and vocals, James Bates on vocals, Kevin Gillespie on bass, Will McNeil on guitar, Billy Gregory on keyboards and Mark Barnes on saxophone.
For more information on the band, visit their Facebook page here.
Wity Sound Band
While the Azz-Izz band has a long history of bringing their sounds to local audiences, the Wity Sound Band is fairly new to the area, but delivering their hot Latin sounds in a big way.
“The Wity Sound Band is me and my band, eight musicians from Cuba and Mexico,” band leader and keyboardist Wity Zaldívar said to WKTV. “We will be playing Latin music, like Salsa, merengue, bachata, Cuban traditional music and a mix of American music with Latin sounds.
“This is a new concept in Grand Rapids, and we hope the audience will enjoy our performance. This will be our first time playing at this summer concerts and hope not the last.”
The Wity Sound Band is already well known on the local Latin dance and club scene. For more information on the band, visit Wity’s Facebook page here.
GRAM focuses on digital art in upcoming exhibit
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Twenty-three software, video, and light-based works of art will be on view this summer at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) in Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Foundation. On view June 17 – Sept. 9, the exhibition proposes that digital technology offers distinct ways for artists to communicate with future generations.
“Message from Our Planet celebrates digital technologies as an incredible tool for today’s artists,” said GRAM Associate Curator Jennifer Wcisel. “The works in the exhibition encompass familiar technologies like digital video and photography to the unexpected visualization of data, assemblages of electronic components, and collages of found-video footage. We look forward to highlighting the myriad possibilities of digital art at GRAM and hope our guests leave with a new, broader understanding of the art form.”
Spanning the mid-1980s to today, the works in Message from Our Planet utilize a range of vintage and cutting-edge materials to create a polyphonic time-capsule, preserving their ideas, beliefs, and desires. The regional, national, and international artists featured in the exhibition include Ólafur Elíasson, Jenny Holzer, LoVid, Hong Hao, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Christian Marclay, and James Nares.
Message from Our Planet includes artwork that uses digital technologies as a tool for the creation of more traditional art objects—like a photograph, print, or sculpture—as well as art that is created, stored, and distributed by digital technology and employs their features as its medium.
The artists in Message from Our Planet engage with nontraditional mediums like video games, computer code, scanners, 3-D printers, online data, and even discarded electronic parts to create engaging works of digital art that capture the concerns and ambitions of our current era. The earliest work in the exhibition was created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kac in 1986 with a now defunct Minitel terminal, a device used to access the most popular online service prior to the World Wide Web.
Detroit-based artist Matthew Angelo Harrison uses custom software and a handmade 3D printer to explore history, ancestry, and the relationship between African and African American culture. Harrison’s work, Braided Woman, is a 3D-printed sculpture of an imagined artifact. To create this work, Harrison scanned images of historic African masks from books and online sources, then digitally blended their shapes to generate a unique, composite object.
Featured Artists:
Brian Bress
Lia Chaia
Ólafur Elíasson
Nicholas Galanin
Sabrina Gschwandtner
Hong Hao
Matthew Angelo Harrison
Claudia Hart
Jenny Holzer
Eduardo Kac
LoVid
Christian Marclay
Lee Lee Nam
James Nares
Paul Pfeiffer
Tabita Rezaire
Michal Rovner
Jason Salavon
Elias Sime
Skawennati
Penelope Umbrico
Robert Wilson
Member Event:
Member Exhibition Opening: Message from Our Planet
Friday, June 16 | 7 – 9 pm
Museum Members and their guests are invited to celebrate the opening of Message from Our Planet at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Join us for an advance look at the exhibition, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
RSVP by June 8 | 616.831.2909 or artmuseumgr.org/memberopening
Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Collection is curated and supported by the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Support for this exhibition has been generously provided by Wege Foundation, with additional funding provided by GRAM Exhibition Society.
About the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the art museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED® Gold certified status. Founded in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 6,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.
For museum hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
Free summer concerts return with GRAM on the Green
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has announced the 2023 lineup for its 14th annual free summer concert series, GRAM on the Green with WYCE 88.1 FM. Taking place on Thursday evenings from July 20 through Aug. 10, the series brings four evenings of performances by local and regional musical acts to downtown Grand Rapids.
Guests of all ages are invited to relax on the Museum’s outdoor terrace and enjoy free live music, food trucks, a cash bar, and hands-on artmaking activities. Admission to the Museum is also free during GRAM on the Green as part of Meijer Free Thursday Nights.
“The Grand Rapids Art Museum is thrilled to bring another season of free summer concerts to downtown Grand Rapids in partnership with WYCE 88.1 FM,” said GRAM Director of Communications Elizabeth Payne. “GRAM on the Green is part of our ongoing commitment to present accessible and engaging art experiences for our community, and we look forward to another year of celebrating art and music downtown.”
2023 Lineup:
- July 20: La Furia Del Ritmo (latin/world)
- July 27: Sarena Rae (soul/blues/jazz)
- August 3: The Bootstrap Boys (country/americana/folk)
- August 10: Pretoria (rock/indie/alternative)
“WYCE is excited for another year of GRAM on the Green,” said WYCE Music Director and series curator Chris Cranick. “This year’s lineup features a mix of Michigan artists making waves in the community. Whether it’s Latin groove, soul, forward-thinking country or modern indie rock, we’re elated to present the diverse lineup of talent this year. Each act is sure to get everyone on their feet dancing. We look forward to connecting with the community at the shows this summer.”
Concert guests are invited inside the Museum to explore the exhibitions on view during the summer months, including Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Collection, Ellsworth Kelly & Jack Youngerman: Surrounding Shapes, and rotating works from GRAM’s collection on all three floors of the Museum.
Wyoming business expands, adds 27,000-square-foot facility
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org
While for some the COVID pandemic caused a stall in operations, for RoMan Manufacturing it was a time when the company discovered new opportunities in the semiconductor and data center industries that have now led to the Wyoming-manufacture adding a new 27,000-square-foot facility to its location.
On May 18, city officials and business leaders joined company officials and employees for a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s future facility, which along with being a manufacturing facility also will house the company’s new training and development program, RoMan University, and its Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program. The new facility, which is expected to open in October, is predicted to create at least 50 new jobs in the next 18 to 20 months.
“The new facility will allow us to expand our overall capacity to serve our existing core business, which is what we grew up on, the markets of resistance welding, furnace and glass, and create space to serve these new markets,” said RoMan Manufacturing President Nelson Sanchez.
Along with that, the addition of RoMan University and the apprenticeship will help the company develop a talent pipeline, Sanchez said.
RoMan CEO Both Roth said the facility also enables RoMan to continue its focus on helping its customers to achieve their goals.
“It was always that vantage point I think that has been one of our north stars and has driven business forward is that we think about customers first and in doing that, we can help them succeed and when we help our customers succeed, it helps us succeed,” Roth said.
Growing and Evolving
Started in 1982 with an 8,000-square-foot building, RoMan — which is a combination of the founders’ names Dietrich Roth and Robert Hofman — the company in the past 40-plus years has grown to cover seven acres with two sites that has a combined square footage of 160,000. The main campus is located at 861 47th St. SW, which is where the new building will be located.
According to Executive Vice President Kurt Hofman, RoMan Manufacturing started as a niche business focused on low voltage, high current water cooler transformers.
“You can Google that today and you are not going to see a whole lot of people pop up on that Google search and I can tell you who is going to be on the top of that Google search, it is going to be us,” Hofman said.
Over time, RoMan Manufacturing expanded outside of welding and the automotive industry and moved into other industries, which led to the company building systems. This led RoMan being to be able to expand into the semiconductor and data center businesses.
“On behalf of the entire city council, I want to congratulate RoMan Manufacturing on its new production facility and say thank you for choosing the City of Wyoming and for providing additional job opportunities for our residents and the West Michigan community,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Circle Theatre brings the British invasion to West Michigan
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Circle Theatre will celebrate the British artistry of the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Kate Bush, Culture Club, Wham!, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and more in The British Invasion, directed by Nubia Gomez.
Sponsored by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, The British Invasion show will be May 8, July 17 and Sept. 11. Tickets are $20, with performances located inside the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, 1703 Robinson Rd. SE.
For more information on Circle Theatre’s Summer Concert Series, 2023 season, or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit circletheatre.org.
Grand Rapids Ballet presents ‘Jumpstart 2023’ featuring world premiere choreography
WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s first professional ballet company, is gearing up for its annual one-weekend performance, “Jumpstart 2023,” taking place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. “Jumpstart” is an annual production at GRB, each year bringing new artistic elements to the forefront, and this year features ten world-premiere performances.
In preparation for “Jumpstart 2023,” GRB’s dancers are challenged to refocus their creative energies, moving into the role of choreographer and building works for other company dancers, apprentices, and trainees. “Jumpstart 2023” also will feature an excerpt of “Three Offerings” by sought-after choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie.
“Not knowing what to expect when you sit down at a Jumpstart performance is exactly what is so great about it. You can only prepare to be surprised and inspired! Our dancers are so talented, and they get to show a different side of themselves when they step into the role of choreographer,” said James Sofranko, artistic director at GRB.
GRB’s company dancers, consisting of 30 professional dancers, Apprentices, and Trainees, are eager to share these works with the community. The choreographers include Isaac Aoki, James Cunningham, Anna Hughlett, Adrien Malof, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Emily Reed, Nigel Tau, Alexandra Meister Upleger, Adriana Wagenveld, and Nathan Young.
“I am amazed every year when I see the amount of creativity and energy poured into these brand-new works. Jumpstart reinvigorates my thoughts about my own choreography and challenges me to think differently,” Sofranko added.
“Jumpstart 2023” takes place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre, with tickets starting at $26 online, via phone at 616-454-4771, ext. 110, or in-person at GRB’s Box Office. “Jumpstart 2023” is sponsored by The Rosemary and David Good Family Foundation and Dave Schmidt and Robert Oracz.
Detroit musician offers a journey through the back roads of American old time, folk music
This Sunday, March 12, ArtRat Gallery hosts virtuoso banjo player and fiddler Aaron Jonah Lewis at Americana Sundays, ArtRat’s monthly concert series. The show runs 3-5 p.m. at 46 Division Ave. S in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. (Admission $20; tickets available on Eventbrite.)
The classically-trained Detroit resident has been elbow-deep in traditional American music since their first lessons at the age of five with Kentucky native Robert Oppelt. Their concerts take audiences on a journey through the back roads of American old time and folk music, with detours through ragtime and early jazz. Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV, and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA, the country’s oldest and largest fiddlers convention.
Your musical path has included both classical and traditional American music. Can you describe your musical origins and artistic progress?
It all started when my grandfather brought a full-size viola to the house when I was three years old. According to family lore, I would pull it out from under the piano every day and open the case up and say “I want to play it.” So when I was a little older I started taking violin lessons, and I made it as far as Interlochen Arts Academy for my junior and senior years of high school. After high school, I decided that I was done with the violin, and soon after that I met a musician from Virginia — Aaron Greenhood — who introduced me to bluegrass. I wasn’t especially interested but it turned out to be very fun and challenging, and we became close friends. I ended up moving to Virginia and started a band with him. Aaron introduced me to Ben Belcher, who gave me my first banjo and the inspiration to want to play, and from bluegrass I started exploring its origins and influences, old time, blues and other styles from the early 20th century, early jazz and country.
When I think about the musical decisions I’ve made in my life, they have always been informed by my relationships with people. Some people decide what kind of music they want to play and then look for people to play with and learn from. For me, it’s the other way around — I find people who inspire me and who I like to spend time with, and I end up getting into whatever they’re into. If Aaron Greenhood had been into samba or polka or reggae, I probably would be in a very different place right now!
You’re a virtuoso of banjo playing rooted in 19th-century classic fingerstyle. What distinguishes this discipline from other banjo styles?
In this style, the banjo is set up with nylon strings and played with bare fingers picking up, as opposed to bluegrass picking in which steel strings and finger picks are used, or clawhammer, which uses a down-stroke with the right hand. Much of the repertoire exists in written form, as this style was popular before audio recording technology was widely available for commercial use.
I do get a thrill reading a piece of banjo music for the first time that’s never been recorded before, knowing that I’m having the same experience as someone 120 years ago would have had, discovering the music without any audible reference. For more information about classic banjo, I highly recommend this excellent resource — classic-banjo.ning.com — and to answer this specific question in detail, classic-banjo.ning.com/page/f-a-q#whatisclassicbanjo.
You play music from a variety of musical genres and traditions. Does your classical training in violin, for example, inform your traditional playing, or vice versa?
Yes, it certainly goes both ways! My Suzuki training encouraged learning by ear, and that has served me very well in the oral traditions of old time, jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, et al. I’ve found that when I play classical I bring a lot more to the table than I did in my younger years, thanks to my experience with improvisation and diverse traditional musics.
I did have to unlearn some of my classical training in order to be able to relax and get into improvisation; let go of rigid ideas of what it means to be “in tune”; and to develop a strong sense of rhythm, which is often overlooked in classical training. The training I had in my youth gave me a solid technical foundation, which made it easier for me to pick up new musical ideas and run with them, but I also had to let go of ideas of what was “right” or “good” and get past the endless quest for excellence and perfection that can distract from what is useful and meaningful in the moment.
In addition to your solo career, you’re a founding member of The Corn Potato String Band. What distinguishes your solo repertoire from your work with Corn Potato?
Not much! My solo work is missing the musical input and voices of my longtime collaborators Lindsay McCaw and Ben Belcher, and I can’t bring the same level of variety and excitement to a solo performance as I can with Ben and Lindsay. On the other hand, I am able to get a little more into the storytelling side of things and sharing historical context when I’m on my own. With Corn Potato, we try to keep the hits coming, and in my solo shows I have a bit more space and intimacy to share the stories behind the music.
What do you like about performing in downtown GR?
The people! Anywhere I perform, it’s the people who make the show. I absolutely can’t do it on my own, and folks in GR continue to demonstrate a real dedication and love for music, both new and old, familiar, and obscure.
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
Blandford sweetens up spring with annual Sugarbush Festival
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Blandford Nature Center is marking the sweet arrival of spring by bringing back the popular Sugarbush Festival centered around all things maple-syrup for a 53rd year.
The event will take place March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids.
It features the opportunity to explore and learn along Blandford Nature Center’s Sugarbush Trail. Festival attendees can visit stations along the trail where they will learn to identify and tap Sugar Maple trees, explore historic sugaring techniques of Native Americans and Pioneers, and get an inside-look at Blandford’s Sugarhouse and syrup making process.
This fun-filled event will also include wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, games, crafts, food trucks and concessions including Mon Cheri Creperie and Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper, historical building tours, live music and performances by Beaver Xing and Blandford Environmental Education Program Students (BEEPS), blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
“This is the first full-scale Sugarbush Festival we’ve been able to have since 2020,” said Community Programs Coordinator Camilla Voelker. “Our team is so excited to be opening this event up to more people and offering some of the Sugarbush Festival favorites that have been missing in the most recent years, like our Maple Cotton Candy.”
Pre-registration is not required to attend the Sugarbush Festival, but is recommended to avoid the line during check-in. Attendees can pre-register and purchase tickets ahead of time at blandfordnaturecenter.org or walk-in registration will be available at the door. Tickets are $7 per member and $10 per non-member. Children ages 2 and under are free, but registration is still necessary. Check-in will be in front of the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center with overflow parking at The Highlands, the Blandford Nature Center Farm, and CA Frost Elementary School.
Along with the Sugarbush Festival, there will be other sugarbush-themed programs happening during the month of March.
“We have so many fun things happening outside of the festival,” Voelker sai. “Our Tap a Tree or Journey to the Sugarhouse programs give families and children the opportunity to explore and learn about the sugaring process, and our Blandford Date Night: Sunset on Sugarbush orBackyard Sugaring programs are great activities for adults looking to experience the nostalgia of the sugarbush season or learn about sugaring at home.”
Guests can view a full list of programs on Blandford’s Community Calendar at blandfordnaturecenter.org. Blandford’s Sugarhouse is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 pm from March 1-31. A general admission fee of $3 per person is required for non-members which includes access to the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center and Wildlife Education Center as well as over eight miles of trails.
Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company present ‘Wizard of Oz’
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Grand Rapids Ballet School’s (GRBS) Junior Company is ready to fill the Peter Martin Wege Theatre stage with its performance, “Wizard of Oz.” The hour-and-a-half-long ballet is ideal for all Munchkins, young and old.
The ballet, with choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the Land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.
“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” Mosolygo said. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”
Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves more than 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo said.
Premiered initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo said, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”
GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. At the events, families will make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet and greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; along with having brunch.
“Wizard of Oz” runs March 10-12 and 18-19, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on the Grand Rapids Ballet’s website.
Broadway Grand Rapids announces 2023-2024 season
By John Gonzalez
WKTV Contributor
Not one, but two Michigan premieres highlight a “thrilling”new season for Broadway Grand Rapids, which announced its 2023-2024 shows on Monday as part of a preview at DeVos Performance Hall.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR will bring the Michigan premiere of Broadway’s most Tony Award-winning new show of the season, “MJ,” and the musical comedy revival of “Funny Girl,” announced president and CEO Meghan Distel.
Other shows include: “Disney’s Aladdin,” the entertaining “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical,” and the critically acclaimed new play, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In addition, patrons will have the option to add the ever-popular “Les Misérables” and “Wicked.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary season with such a stellar line-up” Distel said. “From ‘MJ’ to ‘Aladdin,’ the season is diverse, wildly entertaining, and truly offers something for everyone. It’s the very best of Broadway, adds vibrancy to our city, and keeps Grand Rapids on the map as a cultural destination.”
Ticket Prices
Five-show season packages which include “Funny Girl,” “TINA-The Tina Turner Musical,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and “MJ,” start at $225 and are available now at BroadwayGrandRapids.com/Subscribe, at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St NW (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by calling the dedicated subscriber hotline at 1-866-928-7469 (Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Season ticket holders have the option to add “Les Misérables” and “Wicked” to their package now. All subscribers are guaranteed the same seats for each show in the five-show package and receive exclusive benefits including interest free payment plan, flexible exchanges, online ticket management, and ability to auto-renew year after year.
For current season ticket holders, the deadline to renew is Monday, March 27.
All performances will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.
Subscription Series
FUNNY GIRL – Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” this bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits. “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
Disney’s ALADDIN – Discover a whole new world at ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
MJ – The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Grand Rapids. MJ, the multi–Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
Package Add-Ons
LES MISÉRABLES – Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon. LES MISÉRABLES. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France. LES MISÉRABLES is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. LES MISÉRABLES still undisputedly “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune).
WICKED – WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
For more information about events visit www.BroadwayGrandRapids.com
Public Museum hosts new line-up of Saturday investigation programs
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM)’s Saturday Investigation Classes will return during the month of March 2023, allowing curious minds to immerse themselves in exciting and educational labs and activities led by Museum educators.
Visitors aged 8 and older are encouraged to sign up for these small-group, hands-on educational classes to investigate history, science, and culture. Saturday Investigations transform the Museum into a learning lab, giving the public an exclusive experience through behind-the-scenes exhibit exploration, artifact investigation, engaging activities, and more. This experience is great for younger children to attend with their parents or guardians to work together, or for older kids to attend on their own.
Classes will take place on Saturdays from March 4 – 25 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the GRPM. The registration cost for Saturday Investigations is just $2 with the purchase of a general admission ticket or $7 to attend the class only. As always, Kent County kids aged 17 and under enjoy free general admission to the Museum! Classes are limited to 24 registrants per session; registration is required. Once classes conclude, visitors who purchase the general admission option can also explore the Museum’s three floors of exhibits. For more information on Saturday Investigation Classes and to register today, visit grpm.org/EduClasses.
“Our popular Saturday investigations are back this spring to give learners of all ages the opportunity to dive deeper into the city’s science and history, through fun, hands-on artifact labs and brand new technology-rich experiences,” said Erin Koren, the GRPM’s Director of Education. “These small classes allow participants to fully engage with our educators and with hands-on activities to explore what piques their curiosity.”
Class offerings include The Paradox of Poison, Sustainable Fashion, Solar System Discovery & Sturgeon Excursion. Registrants can explore fascinating facts of poisons and their role in nature, human health, literature, and myth, find ways to innovate and reduce the harmful impacts of the fashion industry, choose their own adventure as they travel the solar system to visit planets and asteroids, or
play an exclusive augmented reality game that integrates with Museum exhibits and become environmental scientists while learning about the Grand River.
Saturday Investigations Classes are sponsored by Great Lakes Fishery Trust.
See The Power of Poison and the GRPM original exhibit Fashion + Nature for a limited time! Enjoy all three floors of the GRPM’s exhibits with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Museum. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch The Power of Poisonbefore it’s gone, open only through April 16.
Clothes, coffee and more are all part of Heartside’s OTONO
By Maddy Visscher
ArtRat Gallery
Since it opened in November 2021 at 317 Division Ave. S, OTONO hasn’t stopped innovating. The second-hand store doubled its floor space in August when it expanded into a neighboring storefront; now owners Emmanuel Ibarra and Alana Sawicki have carved out a space for visitors to gather for conversation and caffeine.
OTONO’s new lounge area features a commercial-grade espresso machine and comfortable seating.
Drinks are on the house (although the team gratefully accepts tips). According to Emmanuel, the space creates a much-needed hangout for visitors to OTONO and the other SoDiv businesses near Wealthy Street.
“I wanted to share something that I love, as well as add to the experience of OTONO,” he said. “We love selling clothes, but we also want to offer something more. Being associated with coffee helps us build up our reputation. People can get to know us and grow with us as we work to become a full-fledged, licensed cafe.
What Started as Pop-Up Grew Into Something More
“OTONO started as my pop-up project,” Emmanuel continued. He started hosting pop-ups in 2019 at a variety of spaces, including Heartside’s own Lantern Coffee Bar and Lounge, 100 Commerce Ave. SW. In the process, he crossed paths with Alana, whose handmade spoon rings are featured at their shop. “She has amazing taste and style,” Emmanuel said.
Alana told ArtRat she looks to another Heartside merchant for business advice: Her older sister, Melissa Looman, owns Echo Salon at 24 Sheldon Ave. SE. “I’m inspired to push further than expectations, and to take risks.”
OTONO prides itself on fitting all sizes and budgets — with clothing that ranges from XXS to 4X, frequent sales and a $5 rack. Its curated second-hand clothing includes tons of basics, neutrals and unique finds as well as name-brand activewear and home goods. “We do our best to keep our prices affordable,” Alana told ArtRat. The shop also hosts free events such as mending workshops with Betel Box Design.
The Power Duo of Alana and Emmanuel
Alana said the new coffee area helps promote OTONO’s mission to create community. “When we opened OTONO, it was partially because we wanted to be interconnected, to meet the cool young people of Grand Rapids,” she said. “After the pandemic, we felt our sense of community had suffered. And I missed talking to people!”
With Alana and Emmanuel working side by side, OTONO has grown “faster than expected,” Emmanuel told ArtRat.
“We had to work hard, to learn how to communicate with each other, how to work together, ” Alana said. “There were a lot of growing pains — but it worked out.
“We both have our roles that we play, our responsibilities, our strengths. Emmanuel does all the paperwork and the hard stuff, and I do the social media and keep positive relations with our sellers, always making sure we have stock,” Alana said. “We can’t believe we get to do this,” Emmanuel exclaimed. “This would not be possible without both of us.”
Future Plans Include Growth
Looking ahead, OTONO’s plans include additional seating and a possible new business venture.
“We’re excited to grow into a more formal cafe, and to spark more conversations and create new experiences.” Emmanuel said.
OTONO is open Thursday 4-8pm, Friday and Saturday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. It shares SoDiv’s vintage district with Zabház (222 Division Ave. S), Decaydence Vintage (71 Division Ave. S) and Second Vibess (13 Division Ave. S). OTONO is on the same block as Cocoon Art Space (327 Division Ave. S) and a 5-minute walk from ArtRat Gallery (46 Division Ave. S).
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
Gilmore Care Museum announces 2023 Car Show season schedule
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The Gilmore Car Museum today unveiled its 2023 car show and event season schedule, providing dates for its “summer season” shows scheduled to take place on the Gilmore’s historic 90-acre campus from May through October. Additional details and registration information for individual events will be posted at a later date on www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org.
Notable newer events and changes for the 2023 schedule include:
- Winter Motoring Meet on Feb 4: for winter fun and vintage snowmobiles
- Pint With The Past on Feb 11: for a Roaring Twenties inspired craft beer tasting event
- Vintage Boat Show & Travel Trailer Rally on May 13: for a combined show featuring classic boats, travel trailers, and RVs
- Corks & Crafts Wine and Beer Festival on May 13: for beer and wine enthusiasts, held in tandem with the Vintage Boat Show & Travel Trailer Rally
- Congress of Motorcars, Family Day, and Dollar Hot Dogs now held on May 20: for pre-1942 gas, steam, and electric cars, with rides, period dress, fun, and games
- MCACNMuscle CarMeet-Up returns for its second year on Jun 24: for the best Detroit Muscle, from the 1960s to today
- Tractor Show returns on July 28-29: for vintage tractors, displays, and demonstrations
- Deutsche Marques Oktoberfest on Oct 15: for fall colors, German cars, food, beer and music
As usual, the Gilmore’s popular Wednesday Night Cruise-In events with live music, food, and beverage will run every Wednesday night from 5 to 8 p.m. from May through end of September. Gilmore Car Museum members will receive early access through a separate member gate and preferred parking.
Even more, the Gilmore Car Museum plans to announce its Summer Concert Series schedule of outdoor, open-air musical performances later this year.
“We’re excited about the upcoming season of car shows, new events, and concerts at the Gilmore Car Museum,” said Executive Director Josh Russell. “It’s a calendar full of things for our members, partners, guests, and first-time visitors to be able see, hear, and experience on our campus.”
As we anxiously await spring and the start of “car show season,” all are invited to visit the museum’s indoor exhibits throughout the winter months, as the museum remains open every day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For questions or more information, visit www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org, call 269-671-5089 or email info@gilmorecarmuseum.org.
South Haven’s Icebreaker Festival returns in February
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
South Haven’s 29th Icebreaker Festival returns Feb. 3-5 with new locations for children’s activities designed to enhance existing family-friendly along with ice sculptures, a Chili Cook-off, Cardboard Sled Race, Pub Slide, outdoor ice skating, Disc Golf Tournament S’mores Roasting, Snowsuit Fashion Competition, Frozen Fish Fling and many more exciting activities through downtown South Haven.
Activities start on Friday, Feb. 3, with a winter disc gold, ice skating, and a snowsuit fashion contest.
The popular ice carving competition kicks off on Saturday morning, Feb. 4. There will be more than 40 blocks of ice, weighing 300-600 pounds each that will be carved into works of frozen art. While admiring the ice displays, be sure to enjoy the Pub Slide, with food, drink and entertainment specials offered at participating bars and restaurants all weekend long.
Also the streets of South Have will be blazing on Saturday as “Heat the Streets,” offers three fire pits open for s’more roasting. The Professional Chili Cook-Off provides downtown South Haven restaurants and bars the opportunity to vie for the coveted chili trophy and bragging rights. Also taking place on Saturday is the 4th Annual Frozen Fish Fling at the South Marina and the 5th annual Cardboard Sled Race.
Participate in beginner curling lessons or take the family ice skating at the covered rink in downtown South Haven. Proceeds from Ice Breaker help many local non-profit organizations to generate needed revenue to support local programming.
For more information about the activities contact the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 269-637-5171 or visit www.southhavenmi.com.
Public Museum’s popular concert series returns
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The Grand Rapids Public Museum popular series: Concerts Under the Stars, returns this January with performances set for Jan. 26 and 27 at the museum’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, located at 272 Pearl St. NW.
The immersive full-dome concert experience highlights local musicians and visual artists. Concerts Under the Stars has quickly become a staple of the underground West Michigan music scene. This year, it kicks off with two shows with Earth Radio.
The Grand Rapids-based Earth Radio has a sound that invokes elements of funk, rock, soul, and progressive jazz, reminiscent of Hiatus Kaiyote, Erykah Badu, Radiohead, and Knower, melded together into a sound that is uniquely Earth Radio.
Local video artist Nate Eizenga will accompany Earth Radio on Jan. 26 and 27. Eizenga is a Grand Rapids native who moonlights as a video artist, focusing on accompaniment for live musical performances.
Attendees will sit back and experience the wonders of the cosmos alongside captivating music with Concerts Under the Stars. This winter, three West Michigan bands will perform their music, enhanced by the unique environment created by the dome and seating of the Chaffee Planetarium. Completing the immersive experience will be area visual artists weaving their digital art to the music being performed.
“We’re excited for the return of Concerts Under the Stars at the Chaffee Planetarium,” said Jack Daleske, the GRPM’s Planetarium and Theater Manager. “This year will feature a broad range of musical talent from local musicians in combination with local digital artists for an incredible full-sensory experience unique only to our location.”
Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., including access to the Museum’s first two floors of exhibits. Performers will play two sets with a short intermission in between. Refreshments, beer, and other beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $20, with discounted pricing of $16 for GRPM members. To learn more about this series or to purchase tickets, visit grpm.org/concerts-under-the-stars.
Additional Concerts
The 2023 Concerts Under the Stars series will continue on Feb. 23 and 24 with a set of shows performed by the DIY group, Phabies featuring KB Brown, and will conclude on March 23 and 24 with a unique blend of folk-soul music performed by Jordan Hamilton featuring visual artist Emily Hromi.
Local singer/sonwriter Drew Nelson comes to ArtRat Gallery
This Sunday, Jan. 15, ArtRat Gallery welcomes storytelling songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Drew Nelson to Americana Sundays,ArtRat’s monthly concert series. The show runs 3-5pm at 46 Division Ave. S in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. (Admission $15; tickets available on Eventbrite.)
A native of Kent City, Michigan, Drew “writes as a witness to the lives and journeys of those he has met along the way, mixing Americana and roots-rock with traditional folk styles.”
Ahead of Sunday’s show, he graced ArtRat with an interview about his process and literary influences.
At the top of your bio, you mention your Navy service. How did that part of your life influence your creative vision?
I think being a veteran changes my perspective in so many ways. Seeing so many places and meeting so many people across the ocean from the small town where I’m from opened my eyes and heart to the larger world around me. Now, as an adult, it has once again opened my eyes to listen and hear from younger veterans about their experiences and struggles with what they’ve been through. It may seem counterintuitive, but I’m definitely a more compassionate person because of my military experience.
Your life experiences and exposure to different places inform your storytelling. Can you talk about how you spot themes that inspire you?
The great American writer Flannery O’Conner said, “A writer needs a great sense of space.” My favorite writers have a wonderful way of looking at the great big world through the lens of the geography they know. (Jim Harrison, Annie Proulx, Michal Perry and Mary Oliver are fine examples.) I’ve done my best to start my stories from this place in my heart.
The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic changed musicians’ plans around the world. How did you adapt?
COVID was so hard for so many people. I had stopped touring nationally a few years before, when my son was born. By the time the lockdown started I had two small kids, and we did our best to get through virtual kindergarten. I’m not sure I was very good at pivoting! (lol) The first gig in front of people with my band was like a big, wonderful sigh after a long day of work.
West Michigan is a thriving center for roots music. What makes it a special place for Americana?
We in West Michigan are rich in Folk/Roots and Americana music for sure. That is definitely not the end of the story. There are so many great musicians from so many different genres. It seems like a magical place. I have no idea why that is, but I’ll take it!
On Jan. 15, you’ll be accompanied by Michael Robertson. What’s the history of your collaboration, and what can the audience expect?
Michael Robertson is one of the best guitar players I’ve ever had the privilege to hear, bar none. He is also one hell of a songwriter! When we play together I just do my best to get my part done, get out of his way, and let him have space to cast his musical spells. On a side note, he is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’m really so glad we’re friends. Oh, the history of our collaboration: I was performing at the Noreast’r festival and saw Michael play with my friend Eric’s band. The next morning I was having an early morning coffee with Eric, and just said, “I feel really bad for you.” After he asked why, I said, “Because I’m stealing your guitar player!” It was all in good fun.
What do you like about performing in downtown GR?
I love Grand Rapids. I live downtown, and it’s just amazing how it’s changed in my lifetime. It’s so fun to be a little tiny part of that change. I’m so looking forward to playing at ArtRat!
Reindeer make a stop at the KDL Wyoming branch
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Santa’s reindeer will be making a quick visit to the KDL Wyoming branch on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
From 2-3 p.m., the reindeer will be at the library, located at 3350 Michael Ave. SW.
Those stopping by are reminded to dress warmly and not to forget their cameras.
If you can’t make it on Tuesday, the reindeer will be at the KDL Byron Township Branch, 8191 Byron Center Ave. SW, from 4- 5 p.m. the day before, Monday, Dec. 19.
For more KDL events, visit KDL.org.
2022 Mighty Wurlitzer series wraps with holiday concerts
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will be concluding its 2022 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ Concert Series with special themed Holiday Classics organ concerts performed by John Lauter Dec. 9, and Dec. 10.
Deck the halls this season by enjoying cheerful holiday songs on the GRPM’s 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ and classics such as Jingle Bells, Silent Night, The First Noel, and more.
Detroit native John Lauter has been presenting theater organ concerts for more than 20 years and made his public debut at the Redford Theater at age 16. Since those early days, Lauter was a featured performer at the American Theatre Organ Society’s 2009 convention in Cleveland. Lauter spent three years playing at “Theatre Organ Pizza and Pipes” in Pontiac. At home in Detroit, Lauter has presented nine concerts at the Detroit Theater Organ Society and many concerts and silent film programs at the Redford Theater.
The Museum is offering two options for guests to experience the concerts: in-person as well as a live-streaming option for those who wish to enjoy the concert from the comfort of their home. The Holiday Classics organ concerts will be Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. in the GRPM’s Meijer Theater, which is located in the Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW. Early ticket purchases are recommended as the holiday concerts are expected to sell out. For more information visit grpm.org/Organ.
In-person tickets are $15, with the discounted price of $10 for Museum members. Virtual tickets are $10 per household, with the discounted price of $6 for member households. Only one link is needed per household. Links to the live-streams will be sent to ticket purchasers before the concerts.
Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ
The 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ is an impressive icon of Grand Rapids and an artifact preserved in the GRPM’s Collections used to entertain and educate all ages through the annual concert series and annual programming.
The Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York, manufactured and shipped Opus #1836, a “3 manual special”, to the Stanley Theater of Jersey City, New Jersey, on February 9, 1928. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Kentwood Community Choir performs Dec. 2
By WKTV Staff
Enjoy the sounds of the holiday season with the Kentwood Community Choir’s Christmas concert. The group will perform classic carols and old-time favorites at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at Heritage Baptist Church, 1570 60th St. SE. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted during intermission. Learn more at kentwood.us/ChoirConcert
Narrative justice focus of upcoming GRAM event
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Grand Rapids Media Initiative and Film Incubator (GR-MiFi) together with Grand Stand Pictures is presenting stories about their upcoming documentary film and other projects centered on Narrative Justice Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Art Museum at 101 Monroe Center St. (Breonna Taylor Way)
The group is currently in the process of producing a full-length documentary film based upon the book, “A City Within A City: The Black Freedom Struggle in Grand Rapids, Michigan” by Dr. Todd E. Robinson. The film project has enabled the producers to uplift and engage local BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) content creators by establishing apprenticeships directly related to the film and has blossomed into various creative endeavors. The work of GR-MiFi, Grand Stand Pictures and the “Creators” have attracted the attention of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, who will be showcasing this dynamic group as part of the museum’s Visionnaires Series, which attracts creative young adults into lifelong engagement with the arts.
The evening’s activities
The evening’s program will include a panel discussion with the film’s producers and key Creators.
“Over the last year, this initiative has grown into an ecosystem that is vibrant, diverse, and innovative,” said Shayna Haynes Heard, GR-MiFi project manager/Creator. “Our work uplifting Narrative Justice and equipping local talent with opportunities for growth and development is transformative, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for us.”
Following a Mashup Video highlighting the many projects the Creators have initiated and undertaken together, Creators will share their stories and what inspires them as they hone each other’s skills at the Incubator headquarters every week. Also featured will be their community partner projects such as the Black History Cemetery Tours and the South High School Oral History Project and digital history mapping with HistoryPin.org.
The event concludes with some power networking, podcast interviews and photo booth opportunities. This Visionnaire’s event at the GRAM is free and includes a cash bar.
Creating a hub
Building a community-driven creative media hub is a priority focus area for GR-MiFi, where local talent can pool resources and networks, learn the process of producing media, and shore up their demo reels and skills to develop a viable client base. Industry leaders across the spectrum of entertainment businesses and movie making are exploring how to create sustainable incubator programs for marginalized groups. The Grand Rapids Media Initiative and Film Incubator (GR-MiFi) is on the front end of these developments and looks forward to providing ground-breaking strategy, design, programs and efforts in the media and film incubation space.
“We are building a very supportive ecosystem for BIPOC creators and videographers and are helping them to build their capacity to tell their own stories and to grow their skillsets and gain valuable resources and networks. When businesses, organizations and institutions are looking for quality work done in anything art or film related, from perspectives and individuals that may have been set aside before, GRMiFi is the place to come and ideate and let us create something for you,” says GR-MiFi President Rodney Brown.
New astronomy show focused on STEM comes to Chaffee Planetarium
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is pleased to announce a new show titled: Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries, is coming to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium which features three observatories located in Chile, in some of the world’s most extreme and remote places. The show will be part of the schedule of programmatic offerings at the Chaffee Planetarium beginning Friday, Nov. 25.
Through stunning visualizations, Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries shows examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep these great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer. This new show will be featured in the Chaffee Planetarium’s winter schedule among audience favorites such as Ice Worlds and Let it Snow!
“What I love about Big Astronomy is that it shows visitors, especially students and children, the real people who work on these world-class observatories. We get to meet not just the astronomers, but the engineers, technicians, and teachers who contribute to the work of astronomy,” said Jack Daleske, the GRPM’s Planetarium and Theater Manager. “We want audiences to see themselves in the people they see in our shows, and Big Astronomy will help make that connection for viewers.”
Big Astronomy: People, Paces, Discoveries will be part of the regular show schedule at the GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, beginning on Friday, Nov. 25. Tickets are $4 with general admission, $5 for planetarium-only access, and $2 for Museum members. Capacity is limited and advance ticketing is recommended. Tickets to Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries are available by visiting grpm.org/planetarium. Showtimes can also be reserved for school groups in English or Spanish by visiting grpm.org/schools.
Big Astronomy is a multifaceted research and outreach project supported by several partners and funded by the National Science Foundation.
A local artist uses her creativity to give back
By Maddy Visscher
ArtRat Gallery
Journeè Evans’ passion for Grand Rapids art, poetry and community gained new perspective in January 2022, when she relocated downtown from the city’s southeast side.
“I wanted to know my surroundings more, to expand,” she told ArtRat. “That’s why I love living in Grand Rapids: You’re always going to run into a different crowd and new culture that you can explore and bring in knowledge and connections. We have something special, something a lot of people are searching for.”
Bringing communities and cultures together is central to Journeè’s work. In our neighborhood alone, Mama Sol’Ja has performed at 106 Gallery’s Thing to Do Thursdays, at GRNoir’s Vino & Verses reading series, and at The Hai-Cuu Experience and Saturday Musicians’ Co-op here at ArtRat. On Nov. 4, she co-hosted Pass the Mic GR at the Wealthy Theatre at the invitation of co-founder Shayna “Akanke” Marie.
At ArtRat, she has sourced West Michigan artists and artisans for ArtRat’s Holiday ArtMart, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Also during ArtRat’s Third Thursday event Dec. 15, she will host a poetry paint-and-pour as part of her new Sol’s Sessions performance series.
“I met some of the most loving, caring and amazing people” at Pass the Mic, Journeè said. “It was one of those opportunities that you don’t get unless you know that this is something you’re supposed to bring to the world. There’s so many amazing things that come through Grand Rapids, and a lot of people don’t get to see them.”
Journeè has also become an ambassador for C4 (the Community Collaboration on Climate Change),a grassroots organization that is working to make Grand Rapids a model city for climate-change mitigation, adaptation and climate justice for its residents.
In her role with C4, Journeè will work closely with the residents of Grand Rapids to learn the specifics of what our community needs to move forward. (You can download more information on C4 here and here.)
Sol’s Sessions
Her experience at Grand Rapids’ art venues inspired Journeè’s latest project: Sol’s Sessions, a collaborative forum for the city’s emerging artists, poets, singers and dancers that she plans to host throughout the city. “The idea was actually born out of the idea for a dance group,” she said, “but I fell back in love with writing poetry. So it became a space for everything: You can come and speak, listen, cry, dance, even paint or sketch!
“Creativity doesn’t take from anything, or anyone — it simply gives. When you gain creativity, you gain freedom and independence. It gives you the courage to live on without fear.”
Mama Sol’Ja will host a “Sunflower World” edition of Sol’s Sessions on Nov. 18 at the Wealthy Theatre Community Media Center. The event begins at 6pm with performances by six West Michigan poets, leading into an open mic. “I want anybody who has a talent to come and show it so they can get their flowers and that love,” she said. “That’s what the Sunflower World is about.” To keep the flame lit as we head into dark winter months, you’re invited to dress in yellow and join the celebration.
Bringing it all to ArtRat
In December, Journeè will apply her community-building talents to ArtRat, introducing new vendors to the gallery at the Holiday ArtMart, then hosting a Sol’s Session that features poetry alongside participatory painting. “I get to bring in this great community of people who became entrepreneurs in their own right,” she said. “They went out and they actually did something! It’s so amazing to me to see that grit.
“COVID really just stopped a lot of things. Now that people are up and running, I want to really encourage us to gain as much as we can gain because we all went through so much. I was thrilled to be able to give people that opportunity, whether it’s local artists, or younger people who want to pursue creative endeavors.
“I’m thrilled that I get to be able to bring people a new, positive way,” Journeè said, “just to show themselves and be able to express whatever thoughts they have on their mind. We’re definitely going to change it over here. It’s important to give voice to change — and that’s what we’re doing here.”
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
