VISUAL ARTS
Meet Our 2022 ARTIST
Jessica Hightower
“Her paintings reflect the beauty of people of color—not just the tones of their skin but the expression of their auras.”
Daniel Ellis
“The use of composition, color, space, movement, etc. are what’s important in a painting and not whether it’s done on a computer.”
Paul Marquardt
“My creative work is “content driven”
with visual elements and media chosen by what serves the project best.”
Kandy Grady
“There is a lot of freedom in mixed media that isn’t in fine art and finding a good mixture of both is my desired effect.”
Mila Lynne
“As an artist I center my creativity with a set of three pillars; inspiration, education, and upliftment.”
Maya James
Elijah Hamilton Wray
“My artwork tends to incorporate the human form in combination with surreal or unusual elements giving light to different views and interpretations.”
Brent Harris
“Nature provides the shapes and patterns that repeat in our body and in our subconscious. My job as an artist is to know when to step out of the way and let our stories speak.”
Meet Our 2021 ARTIST
Shaquona Espinoza
“A recent graduate from Western Michigan University, I studied both social work and art and intertwined both social justice and art through photography and printmaking to confront the realities of injustices that occur in/to individuals within the Black community.”
You can view Shaquona’s gallery here
Keyon Lovett - The ArtSchool Dropout
“After escaping from the maze of academia he constantly envisions himself overcoming the obstacles ahead of him and obtaining his destiny to be great.”
You can view Keyon’s gallery here
Linda- Manguiat-Herzog
“The figures in my paintings is my way of capturing the beauty and essence of humanity.”
You can view Linda’s gallery here
Jerome Washington
“Drawing is not just a hobby for Mr. Washington but a passion or as some would say, a calling that God has placed on his life.”
You can view Jerome’s gallery here
Aerick Burton
“… art serves to represent the belief that love, peace, & beauty can be found anywhere & everywhere we look, especially if that’s what we’re looking for”
You can view Aerick’s gallery here
Anthony Fitzpatrick
” I have been painitng for 7 years and been drawing all my life. it is a gift, so i want to share with others.”
You can view Anthony’s gallery here
Michael DeLaRosa
“As I continue growing my online base. All the compliments and random people telling me they interpret my abstract pieces gives me the drive that I so much need to keep going!”
You can view Michael gallery here
Tyree Broadway
“Texture and wildlife hav a prominent role in what I create. I have for as long as I can remmeber been able to look at a picture, image, or person and reproduce their likeness.”
You can view Tyree’s gallery here
Johnson Simon
“I use the artistic God-given gift of painting to allow me to demonstrate my passion for active motion.”
You can view Johnson’s work here
Michael Parker
“Art is universal and it should not be stifled or reduced. I encourage all who have a gift to use it while they have it.”
View Michael’s gallery here
Meet Our 2020 ARTIST
Jamari Taylor
Jamari Taylor is a portrait artist from Battle Creek, Michigan. Using charcoal and oils she creates images with character, power, and strength. Through her illustrations, she lovingly seeks to portray a sitter’s strength and self-confidence. With meaningful approaches, Jamari uses her passion to portray each sitter’s growth.
Daniel Ellis
Daniel Ellis is a Chicago native living in Kalamazoo. Graduate of American Academy of the arts in Chicago.
Marlena Smith
GRANTS
Gail Sydnor Artistic Development Grant is funded through annual fundraising & grants to develop artist of color in Kalamazoo. The grant is designed to support individual artists in their endeavor to develop themselves and their art through projects or professional development. Attention is paid, and weight is given, to the artistic merit of a project, or how a professional development opportunity will help further an artist’s career. There are two separate categories for this grant: Professional Development and Project Support.
GRANT DETAILS
Arts Project Grant Maximum Ask: $2,000.00
Artist Support Grant Maximum Ask: $1,000.00
Grant Guidelines: 2020 Grant Guidelines
Application Deadline Date: May 1, 2020
Final Report: Required to maintain eligibility. Please review final report requirements upon receipt of your grant award.
GRANT SCOPE
Arts Project Grants are for arts projects, including creations of original works, installations, large-scale exhibitions and similar.
Artists Project Grants are for professional development, apprenticeships, certifications, conferences/training sessions, etc.
RENT A POP UP EXHIBIT
Black Cowboy Exhibit
A Long Hard Ride Into History consists of 30 to 40 pieces including Black Cowboy Movie posters, original paintings and drawing by historian, artist, and collector Mr. Murphy Darden, books, newspaper clippings, and other artifacts taken from Mr. Darden’s extensive collection.
Black History Exhibit
Among this unique collection are rare artifacts, fashions and art pieces representing hsitorical categories including (but not limited to) African culture, slavery, politics, Jim Crow, science, religion, education, music, sports, and civil rights. Variuos films are available to accomany exhibit.
Black Culture Exhibit
Get a hands on experience with african fabrics, head wraps and artifacts. Make music with african instruments. Dig into our activity box of puzzles, crafts, mask and bead making supply. This exhibit is perfect for educational organization with youth and young adults.
Stay In Touch
Get updates in your inbox on what's going on with the Black Arts & Cultural Center and your community.
Call Us
(269) 349 - 1035
Address
Black Arts & Cultural Center
359 S Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 102
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Email Us
info@blackartskalamazoo.org
Office Hours
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Gail Sydnor Gallery Hours
Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm
Office hours are sometimes flexible. We encourage calling before visiting and emailing to schedule Gail Sydnor Gallery viewing and Executive Director appointments.