Creative Cafe

Listen as we welcome artist Brídín Clements Cotton and Kim Shaw for a conversation about November's Kalamazoo Art Hop, themed Legacy!

We'll explore Brídín's creative journey from theatre to visual art, the inspiration behind her work, and how Kalamazoo Art Hop connects artists and audiences while building a lasting creative legacy in our community.

Plus, get a sneak peek at what's happening during November's Art Hop and tips for planning your evening!

Originally aired on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Wellspring is stepping into its 46th season with an exciting lineup of dance, live music, poetry, and creative collaborations! Join Creative Café as we welcome Artistic Director Marisa Bianan, Executive Director Julie White, and Marketing & Arts Administrator Amaya McKenzie for a conversation about the company's evolving artistic vision and its commitment to making dance accessible to everyone.

We'll explore the return of Tendrils, the upcoming Movement in the Museum, the 18th annual RADFest, and a new collaboration with the Kalamazoo Poetry Collective exploring the theme of Migration.

Discover how Wellspring continues to connect artists, audiences, and community through the power of movement.

Originally aired on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 8 am.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

This week on Creative Café, we are re-airing our earlier conversation with Michele Johnson and Denise Miller of the Institute of Public Scholarship about the power of storytelling, cultural expression, and community voice.

We’ll explore how the Institute’s work uses the arts and creative practice to support healing, preserve lived experiences, strengthen community connections, and help people reclaim agency over their own stories. We’ll also hear about programs including Artists Production, Sounds of Our Stories, and From This Place.

Join us for a conversation about creativity, justice, listening, and the stories that shape our community.

Aired on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

This week on Creative Café on WKZO, Kristen Chesak sits down with Reverend Millard Southern III—pastor of historic Allen Chapel AME Church, accomplished trumpeter, scholar, and community leader. Together they discuss the powerful connection between music, faith, democracy, and community, including Rev. Southern’s work bringing world-class cultural experiences to Kalamazoo such as a recent appearance by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. In the second half of the show, they explore his newest project made possible through an Arts Fund grant: bringing the renowned Spelman College Glee Club to Kalamazoo for “A New Song,” an inspiring evening of music, culture, and collaboration. Tune in for a conversation about leadership, creativity, and the transformative power of the arts.

Re-aired on WKZO on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 8 am on 106.9 FM and 590 AM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Dive into the underwater world with Kalamazoo artist Jean Stevens on this week’s Creative Café! Inspired by more than 30 years of diving and snorkeling, Jean’s vibrant coral reef paintings capture the mystery, beauty, and wonder of life beneath the surface.

Jean joins Kristen to talk about her current exhibition in the Arts Council’s Westin Gallery, how travel and nature have shaped her work, and her decades-long journey as an artist and museum exhibition designer.

Jean’s exhibition opened during the September Art Hop and is on view through the end of October.

Originally aired on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Meet the new leader of Fontana Chamber Arts! On this week’s Creative Café, Kristen Chesak welcomes internationally acclaimed pianist and educator Sophié van der Westhuizen, Fontana’s new Executive and Artistic Director. Hear about Sophié’s journey as a performer and educator, what drew her to Fontana, her vision for the organization’s next chapter, and what audiences can look forward to in the exciting season ahead.

Originally aired on Saturday, September 216, 2026 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

This week on Creative Café, Kristen Chesak sits down with Marvinetta Woodley-Penn to discuss a series of community screenings of the award-winning documentary Natchez. The film explores Natchez, Mississippi, a community shaped by the cotton trade and slavery that today relies heavily on antebellum tourism. Marvinetta shares why she brought the film to Kalamazoo and how the screenings and community conversations connect Natchez's history to our own region, from the Underground Railroad and Dr. Nathan M. Thomas to those who opposed abolition. Tune in Saturday at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM for a conversation about confronting history, understanding the stories in our own backyard, and what we can learn from them today.

Originally aired on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

This week on Creative Café, Kristen Chesak sits down with Phoebe of Fauna Stitch, a licensed taxidermist, sculptor, and mixed-media artist whose work blends nature's whimsical and macabre sides. Phoebe shares how she first discovered taxidermy, how the craft influences her artwork, and how sustainably sourced natural elements, thrifted finds, and foraged materials become part of her creations. We’ll also talk about her recent Art Hop experience, where you can find her work, and what’s next for Fauna Stitch. Tune in to Creative Café and discover the fascinating world behind this unique local artist.

Originally aired on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

This week on Creative Café, Kristen Chesak previews September Art Hop and the special Art on the Vine celebration with Devon Yeider, aka Dev iLL, Jucari Ivens, aka ZootMando, and Art Hop Director Kim Shaw. Hear about the artists bringing their creativity to the Vine Neighborhood, the businesses that make the district unique, and the return of the Salvador Troli, helping Art Hoppers explore stops throughout Kalamazoo. Tune in and get ready to discover new artists, new neighborhoods, and a great night of art in our community!  

Originally aired on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 8 AM on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

On this week's Creative Café, Kristen Chesak talks with Emma Master of the Edison Neighborhood Association, residency facilitator Sabine Ledieu, and participating artist Stacy Koviak-Davison of Psoma Designs about the Edison Market Gallery Artist Residency. Supported through an Arts Fund of Kalamazoo County grant, the residency brings artists and neighborhood residents together to create public art rooted in the Edison community. Hear how the project is taking shape, what the artists are creating, and why this collaborative process is so important to the neighborhood.

Originally aired on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 8 am on WKZO 106.9 FM and 590 AM in Kalamazoo, MI.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org