ART DRAWN FROM NATURE: KIRK NEWMAN ART SCHOOL AT THE KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER

As muse and motivation for new art making experiences, the Kirk Newman Art School and the Kalamazoo Nature Center are thrilled to announce an expanded partnership that brings the talented School faculty to the landscapes of the Nature Center. Explore the beauty of the trails, prairie blossoms, trees, animals, and scenery through a range of nature-inspired art courses. Pre-arrival information will be shared with enrollees prior to the start of each course.

MINDFUL PINCH POTS 

Engage your sense of awareness and presence as you learn the art of forming pinch pots, one of the oldest methods of shaping clay. Using wild clay sourced from Northern Michigan, participants will make two vessels—one that will be pit fired to take home and one that will be returned to the earth at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. After making the vessels, we’ll walk the trails, where each participant will find a special spot to leave their offerings. Subject to weather and time, they will disintegrate, becoming a part of the land and life cycle of the soil. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. No prior clay experience or special tools are required.

Susan McHenry

Tue (2-day) 6/18-6/25  5-8pm

KNC Barn   $120 / KIA & KNC Members: $100

Enrollment for summer semester opens to members on May 6 and the public on May 13 at 8:00am

ART DRAWN FROM NATURE: KIRK NEWMAN ART SCHOOL AT THE KALAMAZOO NATURE CENTER

As muse and motivation for new art making experiences, the Kirk Newman Art School and the Kalamazoo Nature Center are thrilled to announce an expanded partnership that brings the talented School faculty to the landscapes of the Nature Center. Explore the beauty of the trails, prairie blossoms, trees, animals, and scenery through a range of nature-inspired art courses. Pre-arrival information will be shared with enrollees prior to the start of each course.

NATURE SKETCHING IN CLAY

Wet clay invites impressions and the walking trails at the Kalamazoo Nature Center are full of inspiring imagery. Using drawing tools and found objects, we will create compositions from the Nature Center grounds on small ceramic tiles. Each student will have access to several tiles on which to create “clay sketches”. On day one, we will walk the trails, find inspiration, and make several clay sketches. Tiles will be fired and ready for completion with cold finishes on day two. This course will include traditional as well as non-traditional finishing techniques utilizing waxes, polishes, and acrylics. Dress appropriately for this outdoor class. No prior clay experience or special tools are required.

Anna Ill

Tue (2-day) 7/9-7/16  5-8pm 

KNC Barn $120 / KIA & KNC Members: $100

Enrollment for summer semester opens to members on May 6 and the public on May 13 at 8:00am

HOT CLAY NIGHT

Spend a summer evening in the KIA ceramics studio! Come as a pair and work side-by-side on the potter’s wheel or meet friends after your work week. We’ll fire up the raku kiln, firing pre-made pieces you’ll glaze and take home. It’s the ideal opportunity to have a creative introduction to clay. Pots thrown on the wheel during the workshop will not be fired. All tools and materials supplied, but dress for the mess! Bring an apron and a beverage and be ready to experience something new. Parent and teen pairs are welcomed, but youth must be over the age of 14. 

Wyatt Lane and Amy Hudson

Fri (1-day)  7/19  6-9pm

Studio 5 & 7 Pair: $150 /  Members: $130

Please login to see your member discount applied at checkout.

Enrollment for summer semester opens to members on May 6 and the public on May 13 at 8:00am

PIT FIRED PINCH POTS 

Engage your sense of awareness and presence as you learn the simple art of forming pinch pots, one of the oldest methods of shaping clay. Using processed wild clay from Northern Michigan, participants will make pots during the first class. They will be finished by pit firing during the second class. One unfired pot will be returned to the earth as we walk the KNC trails and select a special spot to leave an offering. Subject to weather and time, they will disintegrate, becoming a part of the land and life cycle of the soil. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. No prior clay experience or special tools are required.

Susan McHenry

Thu (2-day)  9/19, 9/26  6-8:30pm

Please login to see your member discount applied at checkout.