StoryCorps OutLoud Initiative
We all have a story to tell. StoryCorps recognizes the profound historical importance of capturing the stories of the LGBTQ community and the urgent need for this work to happen now. The StoryCorps OutLoud Initiative will be coming to Kalamazoo in partnership with WMUK and the KGLRC, November 5-7, 2015. If you would like to sign up for an interview recording time, you will be able to fill out an application beginning October 1. For more information, contact Jay.
October 1st Mixer is at Shakespeare’s
Join us on Thursday October 1st, from 6-9pm for the First Thursdays LGBTQ Mixer, upstairs at Shakespeare’s! 44 taps, pool tables, darts, some of the best nachos in town, and great company. What’s not to love? See you there.
Love Who You ART Winner: Amber Browning
Open House will feature winner’s artwork
Please join us for our annual Open House on Friday, October 2nd, from 5 to 8 pm to see the winning artwork from our June Art Hop “Love Who You ART” event. The winning piece, with 27 votes, was “Proud to Love Michigan,” a hand-drawn collage by Amber Browning. The picture, along with other artwork by Amber, will be displayed in the lobby of the Resource Center for the month of October.
About Amber Browning
Amber Browning
Amber is a 29-year-old southwest Michigan native and Kalamazoo resident. Currently, she is a senior at WMU majoring in Biomedical Science with a minor in Chemistry and she is the mother of KPS 5th grader, Skyler Browning. Amber’s plans for the future include launching RabidPeach Art Company, pursuing a career as a Medical Technologist post-graduation, and continuing to be a loving and supportive mother.
“Proud to Love Michigan” – By Amber Browning
This collage is a hand-drawn, Prismacolor pencil drawing featuring numerous pop culture items, eight total outlines of the state of Michigan, the letters spelling out LOVE in each corner, with a beautiful rainbow and Petoskey stone heart in the center with the big and little dippers guiding the beauty of the northern lights in the Upper Peninsula jutting out of its points on the top, bottom, left and right, and much more.
Art by Amber Browning
I originally did this piece as a final project for a class at Western Michigan University called Human Flourishing and Happiness, taught by Dr. Dini Metro-Roland. The assignment was to pick from three themes and I chose to show my vision of “flourishing” in this vibrant design. I see my personal flourishing largely revolving around being an artist, and I was inspired to use my passion after reading about Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow.” “Proud to Love Michigan” is a direct reflection of my personal love for Michigan and also of the pride that I have in my community and university.
See if you can find the skulls and the disco ball “Death Star” (one of my mash-ups). Other characters are related to video games, like the Destiny logo, and Mario Brothers box, star, and sun, with the Zelda triforce. Also look for: Archer, Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys, Snoopy and Woodstock, Batman and the Joker, Harley Quinn, Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat, Nibbler from Futurama, stormtrooper helmet, wonder woman logo, WMU emblem, Bell’s bells, DNA helix, a magnifying glass looking into a neuron, Bird of Paradise flower, eye of Sauron, a jellyfish, and a peacock feather.
Annual Events
