Sourced from the ‘Zoo is a community-sourced exhibition that celebrates residents of Kalamazoo.
Community members were invited to submit objects and artworks that are treasured parts of their daily lives or family history or related to regional history. The exhibition features items in 10 categories: climate and the environment, the curious and unconventional, dance and movement, equity and social justice, glass and glassmaking, life in Kalamazoo after the pandemic, music and musical instruments, people and places in Kalamazoo, self-care and well-being and an unclassified category.
The exhibition, which features nearly 170 entries, is on view at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (through June 1) and other downtown venues: the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo (through April 25), the Black Arts & Cultural Center (April 4–25), Glass Art Kalamazoo (through April 21) and Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Arcus Gallery (through April 25).
There are many interesting objects to discover and activities to participate in during Sourced from the ‘Zoo. Here are just a few of these and where to find them.
Checker Cab
KVCC’s Arcus Gallery
Karen Matson’s painted Checker Cab is an especially interesting object that represents a community wide initiative from years ago, through which artists were selected to paint smaller versions of the iconic Kalamazoo-made autos in a manner of the artists’ choosing. I love seeing how people continue to share the cultural history of Kalamazoo and help our community to remember some of the important artistic endeavors that have happened here.
Sunrise at Portage Little League Field
Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
This color digital photograph by Paul May is a striking image. With the sun’s rays beaming brightly through a slightly cloudy sky, viewers see the peacefulness of dawn and a serene setting that will soon feature the hubbub and youthful excitement surrounding Little League games.
Rainbow Stained Glass
Glass Arts Kalamazoo
I have always loved rainbows. They represent so many different things for people, but for me they represent the promise of the future. This stained-glass piece by Kim Loftus is no different. Although glass can be a static medium, Loftus has made a work that reflects movement and vitality.
Me Too: A Therapist’s Journey to Heal, Find Liberation, & Joy
Black Arts & Cultural Center
Wellness and self-care may seem like recent trends, but they are becoming more visible in our society as pillars of healthy living. This book by Demarra West shows not only how those charged with facilitating the well-being of others need the same kind of care for themselves, but also how it’s important to emphasize self-care in the Black community, where mental health care can frequently be looked upon with suspicion. West destigmatizes mental well-being with a focus on resilience fostered by the intentionality of healing, and the joy that can result after embarking on that journey of self-care. There will be several copies of her book on hand for visitors to explore.
Various artworks and objects
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
We have several intriguing artworks and objects that will be on view at the KIA, creating a challenge for me to select just one item to highlight. Visitors will have a chance to play the BurgerTime arcade game, generously on loan from Neil Murphy, and experience The Rope Project: A Community Connected and Jack Michael’s coprolite dinosaur fossils, to name just a few items. The Rope Project was a five-year collaborative artistic endeavor between Education for the Arts teaching artists and 15 Kalamazoo high school art students. The artwork that resulted features large metal sculptures that incorporate more than 100 “story ropes” — stories handwritten by community members on strips of cloth.
