Charles Burke: Tales of a Maestro CEO
October 11, 2023
Charles Burke spoke about his journey as an arts administrator, arts educator and his vision for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. In February 2023, Charles Burke became the new President and CEO of Meijer Gardens succeeding David Hooker, who announced his retirement in 2022. Burke brings years of experience in arts and culture to his new role. He was president and CEO of The War Memorial Association in Grosse Pointe Farms for nine years and spent a significant portion of his career as both an executive and orchestral conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
This program was not recorded.
Nayda Collazo-Llorens: unmappings
November 8, 2023
An engaging speaker, artist Nayda Collazo-Llorens discussed her interdisciplinary practice and how she explores concepts of navigation and dislocation through her art. From the moment she began taking classes at an art school in her native San Juan, Puerto Rico at the age of five, Collazo-Llorens knew she wanted to be an artist. Today, her work is exhibited widely nationally and internationally and spans drawing, painting, printmaking, installation, video, and public art.
Laura DeBecker: Wish You Were Here
March 13, 2024
Laura De Becker is Chief Curator and the Helmut and Candis Stern Curator of African Art at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, She will discusses the complex issues of repatriation, provenance, and collaboration which are among the pressing issues facing museums with collections of African objects.
Tuliza Fleming: Building the Collection
April 10, 2024
Dr. Fleming is the Curator of American Art at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian Institution where she worked to build the museum’s foundational American art collection.
Craig McDonald: Alden B. Dow- A Way of Life
May 8, 2024
Calling all fans of mid-20th century modern! Craig McDonald, Director of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, delves into Dow’s influence and extensive career, which includes a number of buildings here in Kalamazoo.
Links to 2020-2022 Art League Programs
During the Covid pandemic, Art League presented programs via Zoom. When in-person programming resumed, many were recorded during presentation at the KIA Auditorium.
Diana Seave Greenwald: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
October 2020 (presented on Zoom)
Gardner Museum curator, scholar and author Dr. Diana Greenwald explores some of the lesser-known masterpieces in the collection of this unique museum.
Victoria Cook: Degas in New Orleans
November 11, 2020 (presented on Zoom)
Curator Victoria Cook discussed the New Orleans Museum of Art’s exhibition exploring Degas art and life, including his little-known family connections and time spent in New Orleans.
Virginia Mecklenburg: Edward Hopper and the Power of Place
Mar 15, 2021 (presented on Zoom)
Smithsonian American Art Museum Senior Curator Virginia Mecklenburg discussed the iconic American artist.
Gloria Groom: A New Light on Monet
April 14, 2021 (presented on Zoom)
Monet’s paintings not only captured the eye of local collectors when they were shown in 1890s Chicago, they ignited a collective passion. Gloria Groom, Senior Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, shares the story behind the art and exhibition Monet and Chicago.
Suzanne Smeaton: An Insider’s View of the Art of the Edge
May 19, 2021 (presented on Zoom)
Frame historian, consultant, appraiser, and scholar Suzanne Smeaton explores the often-unsung art of the frame.
Nir Shafir: Forging Islamic Science
October 13, 2021 (presented on Zoom in 2 parts)
University of California San Diego historian Nir Shafir discusses the problem of “fake miniatures” of Islamic science: small paintings that look old but are contemporary productions. As these images circulate in museums, on book covers, and on the internet, they tell us more about what we want “Islamic science” to be than what it was.
Reni Gower: Artist as Curator-Taking Your Show on the Road
Mar 16, 2022 (presented and recorded at the KIA)
Hear from Reni Gower, a visual artist, curator, and educator, whose award-winning work in painting and multimedia has been represented in many national and international collections. Known for her curation of thought-provoking traveling exhibitions, Gower will show how she brings exhibitions to life.
Kelly Church: Black Ash Basketry, Past and Present
Apr 13, 2022 (presented and recorded at the KIA)
Join Kelly Church, a nationally recognized Ottawa and Pottawatomi Culture bearer, as she discusses her exquisite artistry. According to the artist, her work as a black ash basket maker connects ancient tradition with “issues that affect us all … especially those who come after us if we do not act today.”
Dr. Robert Bruegmann: Art Deco Architecture
May 18, 2022 (presented and recorded at the KIA)
A historian of architecture, landscape, preservation, urban development, and the built environment, Dr. Robert Bruegmann discusses general and regional Art Deco architectural characteristics.