- Welcome to Kalamazoo Lively Arts.

The show that takes you inside Kalamazoo's vibrant creative community and explores the people who breathe life into the arts.

[Upbeat music playing] - [Voiceover] Support for Kalamazoo Lively Arts is provided by the Irving S Gilmore Foundation, helping to build and enrich the cultural life of greater Kalamazoo.

- I'm Jennifer Moss here at Miller Auditorium.

On today's show, We meet Nikki Horner, a stylist and painter with Kalamazoo roots.

Gene Haulenbeek a caricature artist with a love for graphic design and we'll introduce our latest Artist in Residence organization, The Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center.

- [Shelley Irwin] Here we are, the spotlight on the Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center.

You bet there'll be music involved and you bet we have those to talk about it with us here today.

So I'm going to bring one on who has the last name of Fox.

Joseph Fox.

Good day to you.

- [Joseph Fox] Hello, how are you?

Good afternoon.

Good.

Good afternoon to you, Bridget Gondor.

Glad that you are here as well.

- [Bridget Gonder] Thank you very much.

Happy to be here.

- [Shelley Irwin] All right.

The team in the making and I have to get this question out of the way.

If I may, Mr. Joseph Fox.

Helen L. Fox are we ever going to know what L stands for - [Joseph Fox] Sure.

It's Louise.

Her middle name was Louise.

So she was my mother, a lot of work in the music and the community.

And so Bridget and I formed the Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center to carry on her legacy.

- [Shelley Irwin] Joseph Fox tell us about your mom.

- [Joseph Fox] My mom is, she was always very giving person.

She was a very humble individual.

And what I remember about her is that she used to teach lessons, give music lessons the kids in the community.

And the other thing is that she always charged something.

They weren't lessons for free.

It may have been twenty-five cents, maybe a dollar but she felt that added value to it.

- [Shelley Irwin] But she was always your mom?

- [Joseph Fox] Correct.

[Presenter laughs] - [Shelley Irwin] Mrs. Gunder would you introduce us to your early memories of, of Helen?

- [Bridget Gonder] She just had a lot of energy.

And I think when I met her, she was probably in her sixties but at the time six for her, 60 was the new 35.

She had more energy than anyone that I knew in her age group.

And she was very busy.

She was very engaged.

She was the one who was walking all over Kalamazoo.

As a matter of fact, some people would refer to her as the lady with the cart because she would go all around the community.

She was sharing her faith.

Ah.

She was selling books.

She was teaching music.

Ah.

This is somebody who just had an incredible amount of energy.

- [Shelley Irwin] Cutting to present day.

There is a Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center.

Joseph, can you begin with the beginnings of, of the center and why?

- [Joseph Fox] Bridget and I known each other a long time.

She said well we should, we should actually start.

We should start something to carry on the legacy of Helen L Fox.

So we, you know, we've met and we came up with the name.

We came up with the logo.

Shared the information with my mother cause wasn't thrilled because she said, well why don't you name the center after you referring to me?

And I said, I didn't do all this work.

I can't take credit for it.

So basically, put the foundation together but we really didn't discuss it with her that much cause she did not want any fame or any attention drawn to her.

So in 2016 when she, when she passed that's when we actually launched the Fox Gospel Music center and we're located in the Douglas Community Association.

And the reason we put it there is because behind the Douglas there's a housing project called Interfaith Homes.

And she used to spend, over the years numerous times going there, talking to the kids talking to the parents.

So we wanted to be, we wanted to locate the center and the community where it would be accessible from the target audience that she wanted to have music provided for - [Shelley Irwin] Share a bit more of the beginnings and how this has turned into what it is today.

- [Bridget Gonder] And I think if you were to approach any member of church congregations, you'll see a lot of the same musicians kind of moving from church to church.

And so Joe and I took notice of the fact that where are the young people that are learning music and kind of put that together with what Helen Fox used to do and decided that there needs to be an opportunity ah for young people to learn music.

And a lot of that opportunity just did not exist.

We didn't see that it existed.

The research is replete with evidence that music enhances comprehension, language, math skills critical thinking and so we bring not just music.

But we are bringing life skills.

- [Shelley Irwin] Bridget Helen L. Fox Gospel Music Center where does the word gospel play its role?

- [Bridget Gonder] ] Helen Fox was all about sharing her faith.

She walked it, she talked it, she lived it.

The word gospel is really Good News.

And so it's Good News that she would share.

While we take the spin that providing access to music in the community for young people who might otherwise not be able to access it is awesome Good News.

So it's a dual meaning.

We don't just teach gospel music.

We teach all genres of music because it's important for the students themselves to choose the genre that they're most drawn to.

- [Shelley Irwin] What does this center do for your community?

- [Joseph Fox] It really does, I think give students hope.

We, and we've seen changes in students' lives there.

They eventually.

They've told them about the music center.

In fact, we've actually acquired new students based on some of our students telling their friends about it.

If the student wants to be an orchestra.

You need to some type of music training it by the fourth grade.

Bridget, is that what the statistic is?

- [Bridget Gonder] Yes.

Yeah.

- [Joseph Fox] So, so if they miss that, if they're not involved, if they don't have any experience, then they can't be an orchestra.

And so this basically what we're providing is a pathway of success.

And music is one of those paths that they can go down.

Giving students options that they may not have the opportunity for exposure to - [Bridget Gonder] There's something else that you bring to the community.

And that self-esteem.

Just kids accomplish things.

When they give recitals and when they are able to play a song you can just see the radiance in them have that, that feeling of accomplishment.

- [Shelley Irwin] My toughest question thus far.

What would mom think?

- [Joseph Fox] She would, she would be shocked.

She has, I think probably the most students that she ever was like 12 or 13.

And currently we're close to 40 students.

So there's been a lot of growth.

I think, you know, she'd be very, very thrilled.

- [Shelley Irwin] I hope both of you have taken a lesson somewhere along the way.

- [Joseph Fox] Well, people ask me well since your mother was so involved in music, you know, surely you are, but I don't, I mean I don't play piano, I don't sing, but I feel this, you know I'm carrying on my, my mother's vision.

So I feel that's, that's how I can best support her but I couldn't play a note for you if I, you know, if I had to.

So - [Shelley Irwin] Never too late to start.

Thank you all.

- [Kim Carson] Well today my conversation is with Nikki Horner who is a mother, a stylist and artist.

Thank you so much for talking with me here today.

- [Nikki Horner] Thanks for having me Kim.

- [Kim Carson] So first thing I want to talk to you about is Seedling Studio.

What is it and how did it come to be?

- [Nikki Horner] Seedlings Studio is my styling business here in Kalamazoo kind of came from a place of I'm a classically trained artist but also a stay-at-home parent.

And so I was looking for a medium in my life that I could still be at home with my kids but also work as an artist with a medium I love which is our houses and our homes.

- [Kim Carson] Yeah, probably do maybe like a color consultation or something like that.

- [Nikki Horner] Yeah.

If you would like to change your wall color we would do a color consultation as well as a creative meeting where I would walk through the space.

We would talk about what you feel like works and doesn't work.

And then from there I would take measurements and come home and give you a mood board so that you can see my design ideas sort of virtually.

And then from there we would work on sourcing products and I would come back into your home and style it and stage it for you in a way that feels - [Kim Carson] I wish I would've known you when I when I moved into my new place in Kalamazoo.

Yeah.

When I was on your website, going through through some of your designs, it was just so relaxing to be able to look at and you incorporate nature into your designs often times don't you?

- [Nikki Horner] I do.

Yeah.

I grew up in Oregon where it's very lush and green and for me nature is just always a place where I connect and relax.

So I try to put some of that into my interiors as well.

- [Kim Carson] And in looking at all the different things that you do because there's a lot of them, all, it kind of struck me as you're probably, you're probably like you have to express yourself in all different ways.

Is that true?

- [Nikki Horner] I think that you've hit the nail on the head.

Yeah.

I think I've been this way since I was a small child.

I was already repainting my bedroom by the time I was eight, I think.

And also if I'm not creating I don't feel like my truest self.

So it's spread a little bit thin between my styling, painting and being a fabric artist, but they're all, actually there's a common thread to all of them which is sort of minimalism in nature.

And so I, it's just really, it's really fun to, to explore.

And so I.

It's just.

It's really fun to explore.

- [Kym] I'd love to see that.

I'd love to see what that looks like.

- [Nikki Horner] Sure.

So when I'm painting I'm very messy but essentially I'm taking a knife about this big - [Kim Carson] And what are you painting on?

- [Nikki Horner] I'm paining on a wood panel that I've just coated with one layer of paint.

I typically start with a black background.

It helps me kind of focus in and then I just have white oil paint here.

And as I'm painting I'm just like intuitively making big shmears.

And very often pieces will come just from kind of working the paint like that.

- [Kim Carson] I've never even thought of that before.

- [Nikki Horner] It's very calming.

- [Kim Carson] Where does an abstract painting start for you?

Where does the idea come from?

How do you choose the colors?

- [Nikki Horner] That's a really great question.

It kind of happens just organically.

Abstract painting is, is hard for a lot of people to to hold onto because it is abstract.

It's not a subject, but I typically I'll start by making little drawings and then I'll just start painting.

And then from there things kind of start to develop.

I, a common thread is these days is plants and earth and things like that.

So I'll start to think of things.

For example, this next series I'm doing is about seeds that are in the ground.

- [Kim Carson] Now tell me about your painting Pink Soul.

That was one of my favorites.

- [Nikki Horner] Oh Thank you.

I guess all of my work is derivative of also feelings that we have.

And so I very often feel like most of us do vulnerable.

And so sometimes I think of my soul or my heart as in colors.

And so pink is a very soft tone.

And so I guess that's kind of where it came from.

- [Kim Carson] So Nikki, can you tell me a little bit about how it's different painting with the pallet knife as opposed to a brush?

- [Nikki Horner] Yeah.

They feel really different when you're doing it, first of all, but also as you're painting, it's much less exact.

So it's sort of like, you could maybe decide to create a square that way, but it's gonna be a very different feel than if you had used a brush to kind of swoop in and exactly make a square.

- [Kim Carson] So, so would, would pallet knives be more for abstract or can you actually paint something fairly intricate?

- [Nikki Horner] I think you can paint, you can paint things fairly intricate that way.

It just takes a lot of dedication and little teeny ticks at a time.

It's just going to give you a different texture than with a brush.

So if you want something that's a little bit off the canvas you would use something like a palette knife - [Kim Carson] And it seems like that would add more dimension as well.

- [Nickii Horner] Mmmm mmm yeah, I think that, that's the main thing that a pallet knife will do for you is add texture and dimension.

- [Kim Carson] And then you do, I was on your website.

You neck towels you do reuseable bamboo cutlery set.

How do you come up with all of those ideas?

They're beautiful.

Everything on your website.

It's just, it's one of those places where you can go and just get lost just in all the, in all the photos.

- [Nickii Horner] That's really nice.

Thank you.

It's just sitting at home deciding what I would want in my life.

I was looking at having reusable cutlery sets.

And so I designed my own The same with the neck cowls.

I like wearing scarves and I have had two neck cancers now so I'm constantly trying to cover up and stuff like that.

So that's kind of where the neck cowls came from.

- [Kim Carson] How did that change you, and did it affect your work, your art?

- [Nikki Horner] Oh yeah, it did.

I was 19.

The first time I had cancer and I spent about a year recovering from that.

So it was really life changing and I'm really grateful for that time.

I think that it really changed my perspective on life But specifically as an artist for years, I drew and painted sort of cells and abstract feelings about the cancer, but this past cancer was very easy and not a big deal, but I think that my work is always influenced by being a cancer survivor just because I'm so grateful for this life.

So - [Kim Carson] Well, Nikki, thank you so much for talking with me here today.

Mother, artist, stylist.

Extraordinaire.

Thanks so much for your time today.

It was fun.

- [Nikki Horner] Thank you.

- [Shelley Irwin] Well have you ever had a caricature made of you?

Let's bring in Gene because I have a feeling we're going to play in this sandbox.

So take us through the process.

We've just sat down.

You're going to do a caricature of me, of another friend.

Where do you even start?

- [Gene] Well, it, it it's bantering.

You know, I, I liked the idea of being able to chatter with people.

The thing that I get the most benefit out of is to do a caricature and take it off of a pad and see what the reaction is.

And the reaction is the thing that really kind of makes me keep coming back because you know, the reveal is always a lot of fun.

- [Shelley Irwin] So Gene I a hire you to do, well, my caricature, Good Lord.

Where are you going to start?

- [Gene] Let's talk price.

Yeah one moment.

[Shelley Irwin laughs] - [Gene] I'm just going to start with just, just a basic head shape here and, aright.

And I'm just going We're going to kind of throw your hair in over the top here - [Shelley Irwin] Are the eyes more important?

Is the, is the chin, is the color of the hair or does it all go together, Gene?

- [Gene] Well, it all depends on the person.

If you come, you sit down before me, you have great big black horn-rimmed glasses and that's the first thing I'm going to see.

Well, that's going to be a primary focus in the, in the drawing.

It depends on the person.

A lot of times, eyes are striking.

A lot of times they're not, and everything kind of works in proportion to everything else.

So I have to look at the whole face.

I pretty much have to see the whole thing at the same time and realize that ooh no, these eyes are small and gentle as composed to their large nose.

And you know, I try to be personally very sensitive not to over-exaggerate anything.

That's just kind of my style.

I do not over-exaggerate.

I just make it as full as to their or representation as I can a quick, small amount of time - [Shelley Irwin] Well you're working And I'm waiting for this reveal.

What do we do with these once we're finished?

Do we take them right away to a framing opportunity?

Do you do that?

- [Gene] Sure yeah, I, I just, I leave them in your care and you can do whatever you want with and it.

You can set a fire with them if you like.

You know, it's out of my hands.

So - [Shelley Irwin] Wow.

Are all black and white or would you use color?

If that was my request?

- [Gene] I would prefer, always do black and white.

Otherwise people will wait, wait too long and they won't stick around.

You know I mean.

Especially the events that I do it's necessary to work quickly and people will wait very patiently, but they won't wait you know, for all the time it takes to do color.

So I, I don't, I don't do that in, in those events.

They don't want to wait for me to take care of people's color.

Because it's I should have a better greater three marker here.

- [Shelley Irwin] Doing fine here.

How important is the shading that you're doing now?

- [Gene] It's not terribly important.

It's just, it's kind of a, it's just a thing.

It's a thing of mine more than anything else.

So it's not really something that's important to the effect of the whole drawing.

I like to do it.

So I think it brings out certain things better than than I would do just with a line.

And so I, I do that by routine.

Nobody asked any questions, so I don't give any answers.

[Gene Chucking] - [Shelley Irwin] You do an, a caricature of an animal.

- [Gene] Oh yeah, I've done quite a few, quite a few of those and you know, a dog.

And a lot of times when I do, I don't do it right from the animal.

I will again ask for a picture or something like that.

So this is about the kind of thing that I would do and I may be rushing us a little bit, but - [Shelley Irwin] That is wonderful Gene!

- [Gene] well thank you.

And I'm making your pink shoulders there.

See that?

- [Shelley Irwin] Yes, yes, yes.

- [Gene] So you've got your pink shoulders in there.

- [Shelley Irwin] Yeah.

And bottom line, it's certainly arts, but it is I would say 99.9% of the time you're making us feel; good.

- [Gene] That's right.

And that's what it's all about for me.

I just like people to feel to feel good about what they're getting.

I get comments from people all the time.

You know, you did my character five years ago and it's sitting on the refrigerator door right now or it's hanging in my family room and we're just kind of gratifying.

- [Shelley Irwin] Well, hold that pose.

I'm going to take a closeup of your caricature of me.

Ooooo Got it.

Gene thank you again.

And keep up your great work in the great city of Kalamazoo and the talents you do.

Caricatures by Gene.

- [Gene] You bet.

Sure.

Come on out to the ballpark this summer.

I'll probably be out there.

- [Jennifer Moss] Thank you for joining us on this week's episode of Kalamazoo Lively Arts.

Check out today's show and other content at www.wgvu.org We leave you tonight with a performance from the migratory music event at the Kalamazoo Nature Center as part of the 2020 Connecting Chords music festival.

I'm Jennifer Moss have a great night.

[Singing In Foreign Language] [Drumming Starts] [Panpipes Start] - [Voiceover] Support for Kalamazoo Lively Arts is provided by the Irving S Gilmore Foundation.

Helping to build and enrich the cultural life of Greater Kalamazoo.