Almost-summer bonanza

This weekend is a big one for downtown Kalamazoo, with the Art Hop Friday night, the Do-Dah Parade and Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair Friday evening and all day Saturday, and the Greek Fest going on throughout. Check out the Richland flavor Saturday night, June 5, at midnight at the Greek Fest, when In Custody will be playing at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place.

Meanwhile, right here in Richland, the colorful artwork of Trish Joseph is at the Little Yellow Frame Shop, and metal artist/blacksmith Holly Fisher's sculptures are at the Blue Water Gallery.

All the while, Wednesday afternoons at the Richland Farmers' Market, held at the Richland Area Community Center from 3:30 to 6:30, usually bring some local music for your toe-tapping enjoyment as you shop.

By the way, the Richland Area Community Center is offering kids' music classes, including a Jumping Beans Kindermusik group and a recorder class. Check out the website for more info.

Festival of the Senses--now with 25% more senses!

Well, at least more arts than ever! This year, the Festival of the senses had added modern dance and a performance by the dynamic original poetry duo Kinetic Affect.

The school's allied fine arts will team up with the Gull Lake Performing Arts Foundation and the Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation to present the fourth annual spring student showcase of young artists. Five student-produced one-act plays, a visual art gallery, vocal music ensembles and solos, instrumental music ensembles and solos, two original dance pieces, and six creative writing presentations will offer an evening of wonderful entertainment for our community on Friday and Saturday, May 14 and 15, from 7 to 10 p.m.

This year's dance addition will feature Patricia Palasko's Education For The Arts (EFA) student dance class, presenting two original dance pieces. The works will be choreographed by Palasko especially for the festival. The EFA dance class is offered during the school day at GLHS, drawing students from around the area, and we are very fortunate to have this popular program housed here in our district.

The powerful performance poetry duo Kinetic Affect will present their consciousness-raising work in a community performance on Friday night of the festival only. Kinetic Affect treats the listener to the art of the live spoken word. Kinetic Affect’s residency in the Gull Lake Community Schools has been underwritten by the Gull Lake Performing Arts Foundation, the Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation, and the Gull Lake Teachers Association. Kinetic Affect will be presenting three student concerts, a poetry master class, and their community concert on Friday evening, during their two-day residency at Gull Lake.

The following staff are involved in this year’s festival: Robin Nott and Laura Denick (theatre), Randy Walbridge and Carolyn Massey (visual art), Floy Latham and Michele Chabitch (band), David Woolf (choir), Matt Hawkins (creative writing), and Patricia Palasko (dance). The fine arts staff and students of GLHS wish to thank all who donated to our foundations for continuing to enrich our lives through arts and cultural activity.

Performances will be Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, starting at 7 p.m. All events will be held in the Gull Lake High School performing arts wing and cafeteria. Donations at the door will be accepted for the Performing Arts Foundation.

Thanks to Robin Nott for the scoop!

A Volunteer STAR

Hope you saw this great Gazette article about Benjamin Flaten, who won the Young Adult Volunteer STAR award this year. Ben was a member of the Gull Lake High School Performing Arts Company back in the day. He's had some major obstacles thrown his way since then, but he's accomplishing great work for others. Congratulations on the award, Ben, and thanks for all you do!

Fun with the Gilmore

There was music and fun galore at the Gilmore for Kids program April 20 at Gull Lake High School. Pianist Peter Miyamoto played for families and talked with all the kids afterwards. The Performing Arts Foundation was there to provide the celebratory punch and cookies. Fun night!

Gilmore for Kids at Gull Lake

It's almost time for the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, and you can enjoy a preview right here in Richland, thanks to the Gilmore for Kids program. The wonderful pianist Peter Miyamoto will be doing an in-school program for kids on Tuesday, April 20 . . . and in the evening, he'll do a public performance, "Piano Power," open to and fun for all but especially geared for elementary and middle school students. So round everyone up and come to Gull Lake High School's studio theater at 7 p.m. on April 20. Admission is free for students, and only $5 for adults. Immediately after the show, please join us--the Performing Arts Foundation--for a punch-and-cookies reception. See you there!

Day of Silence Art Show

This Friday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., all are invited to the Richland Area Community Center for the opening reception for a student art exhibit called "Doors." The artwork, literally painted and collaged on full-sized doors, was created by members of the Gull Lake area Gay-Straight Alliance and other students as part of their observance of the National Day of Silence. On that day--which is this Friday--students maintain silence for the school day as a way of drawing attention to name-calling, bullying, and harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. Students have been working on their art projects at RACC for the last two weeks as part of a workshop created by writer Jacquelyn Taylor and RACC executive director Bonnie Feldkamp. The workshop was funded by a Kalamazoo Community Foundation Changemakers grant. Admission to the exhibit and reception is free, and the punch and cookies will be flowing like . . . well, punch and cookies! Do come out and support these young artists!

P.S. Check the Kalamazoo Gazette's article for more details, here.

Hot off the press

The Kalamazoo Gazette is full of news of Gull Lake grads. First, a reminder to go see Mary Teutsch in the Civic's powerful production of Arthur Miller's play All My Sons can be found in this glowing review. The play is scheduled to continue at the Parish Theatre through April 11. Tickets and info are here.

Then news of two events that we are very sorry to have missed. One Mr. Adam Carter apparently did a star turn as Liza Minelli on April Fool's Day at the Epic Bistro. We can live the moment vicariously through the Gazette's photos. It was all in aid of Fancy Pants Theatre, of which Adam is one of the founders.

And, finally, there was a big story in the April 3 Hometown Gazette about another Performing Arts Company alum, Kaytee Vande Streek. Kaytee helped to stage a fabulous old-school vaudeville show in East Lansing on April 2. At this writing, there's no link on the Gazette's mLive website, but I'll add one if I find one.

Meanwhile, everyone, let me know what you have coming up. We don't want to miss another thing!