Having a safe, accessible, and collaborative space is paramount to the creativity, productivity, and overall success of working artists. Kalamazoo is home to an abundance of space-makers, and we’re featuring many of them, some brand-new and some well-established, as a part of this panelist discussion. Attendees will have the chance to learn more about these spaces and opportunities directly from the people cultivating them. Additionally, the networking segment will allow Arts Council Members, Artists, Organizations and Space-Makers to connect with each other directly.
The panelists for July’s Artist Happy Hour are Dann Sytsma, Board President of the KNAC, Kimberly Guess, owner of The Xperience Event Center, Matthew Schmidt, owner of The Wax Factory, Krystal & Jeb Gast, owners of Jerico and Start Here Coffee, and Kim Shaw, local artist, and resident of Jerico.
This one-of-a-kind event will take place at the Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, located in the Kalamazoo Non-Profit Advocacy Coalition Building, a 168-year-old church-turned-into-hub for non-profits and community groups, located right downtown Kalamazoo at 315 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Complimentary food and drinks provided. Event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Learn More About the Artist Happy Hour Panelists
Dann Sytsma
Board President of Kalamazoo Non-Profit Advocacy Coalition and Founder of Crawlspace Eviction
Dann has been performing improvisational theatre since 1997. Dann’s formal improv training includes studying at the esteemed Improv Olympic (iO) and Second City in Chicago. He has worked with – and tutored – some of the top improv performers in Southwest Michigan.
Dann’s professional history is in chemistry, including method development & validation, business development, and college instruction. He is also the owner of Crawlspace Theatre Productions and the founder of Crawlspace Eviction, Kalamazoo’s premier improv troupe. Dann also serves as Board President of KNAC, a nonprofit center for performing arts and entrepreneurship.
Kim Guess
Serial Entrepreneur and Owner/Operator of The Xperience Event Center
The owner and operator of Guess Who’s Dancing Fitness, has been in business since March of 2018. Her signature class Twerk Werk has helped women not only transform their bodies but also transform their self-esteem. Twerk Werk averages over 50 women a week of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and ages. Kim will help you shed calories, while having fun and creating bonds with the other ‘Twerk Divas.” Kim also offers other classes like, “Twerk n Tone,” “Dance Fitness with a Twist,” “More Than a Conqueror, Gospel Dance Fitness,” and “Trap Yoga.” Guess Who’s Dancing hosts the best all girl special events, “Twerk n Wine,” “Twerk, Wine & Fly,” and “Twerk Fest.” Kim has been blessed to travel all over the state of Michigan, promoting women empowerment, sisterhood, and positive body image. As a business owner Kim has partnered with Downtown Kalamazoo, Sisters in Business, Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, Twine Urban Winery, Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, and Western Michigan University. Kim’s clientele is a special demographic that isn’t easily reached, and this is a great way to empower individuals by meeting them where they are. It’s her mission to take what she has learned and share it, to foster a space where the community can come together in the city of Kalamazoo.
Most recently a “dba” was established under Guess Who’s Dancing Fitness called “LuXury Escapes.” Under LuXury Escapes, Kim and her business partners Symphony Ollie & Bryan Sims has successfully launched a profitable AirBnB business & their own commercial space centered in downtown Kalamazoo, MI called, The Xperience Event Venue by LuXury Escapes. The Xperience is a modern, downtown venue that is the perfect space for your special day. Whether it be a wedding reception, family reunion, class reunion, corporate event, open house, private dinner, seminar, meeting, dance rehearsal or fitness class “The Xperience” is the perfect place. The feng shui foyer entrance leads to a spacious luxury vinyl wood floor and elegant pillars. The high industrial black ceilings create a feeling of space and luXury feel. With over 3200 square feet of open floor space, featuring bright light gray interior walls, floor to ceiling front windows, iron chandeliers, raised stage, adjustable lighting, and a fully stocked bar with custom cocktails. The Xperience is a great canvas to create your very own LuXury Escape. The location of the Downtown Kalamazoo Mall City Center creates a great backdrop for beautiful photo opportunities that only “The Xperience” can provide.
Krystal & Jeb Gast
Owners of Jerico and Start Here Coffee
Krystal and Jeb Gast envisioned the collective that has become Jerico when they purchased the buildings in 2014 for their own business and quickly realized they had much more space than they needed. They sought to surround themselves with creatives and artists to establish a vibrant and collaborative community of folks in Kalamazoo’s largest neighborhood. In 2016, they opened the neighborhood cafe, now named Start Here Coffee, as the public starting point to discovering all that Jerico has to offer.
Jerico has grown into a community of creative entrepreneurs, makers, and artists that share space in three old foundry buildings on the industrial end of the Edison neighborhood. Makers past have filled the walls with a legacy of innovations and they take pride in continuing that tradition. Today, Jerico hosts events such as artist markets, workshops, live music, and more year-round. Some residents of Jerico have their own public business hours as well. Find out more at hellojerico.com or stop by Start Here Coffee to see for yourself!
Matthew Schmidt
Owner of The Wax Factory
Matthew Schmidt is originally from New York and grew up on Long Island. After some time away serving in the US Marine Corps, he went back to NYC for several years only to discover that he was no longer comfortable in that dense urban environment. Matthew decided to move to Michigan in 2011 and instantly fell in love with Kalamazoo. Here, he found himself a career in the craft beer industry working for Bell’s Brewery.
When the pandemic arose in 2020, Matthew had a “now or never” moment and cashed in his life savings to start what has now evolved into The Wax Factory. Having been exposed to and inspired by the booming New York art scene of the 1990’s, there was always a dream to be a person who could provide the space where individual and collective creativity will flourish. This was that opportunity. Once completed, these studios will look to serve as an incubator for the careers of local artists.
The Wax Factory, located in the Edison Neighborhood, will be providing space to members at affordable pricing. Artists and small businesses need a place to do their work but are usually operating on small margins and can’t carry the burden of expensive overhead. The simple and open-floor design of The Wax Factory will help keep costs down, thus passing the savings onto our members. The Greenspace, Gallery, and Lounge can be reserved for a wide range of functions. We will be attracting artists, musicians, organizations, and the public to rent these spaces for their shows or gatherings. The industrial design of the property will attract those looking for a raw and urban feel to their event. The entire site will be open for filmmakers and photographers to rent.
Up until this point, Matthew has financed the project on his own. He is currently seeking grant opportunities, angel investors, and community donations in order to move the project further along and ultimately achieve the goals of The Wax Factory. For more information, please visit the website at www.thewaxfactorykzoo.com or find me on Facebook and Instagram as @thewaxfactorykzoo
Kim Shaw
Local artist and resident of Jerico
Kim Shaw (she/her) is an educator, illustrator, and working art maker with an emphasis in painting and the practice of expressive art therapy. Kim teaches at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, is a teaching artist with Education for the Arts/KRESA and facilitates independent programs in Kalamazoo.
Kim enjoys painting, collecting rocks and treasure along the shores of Lake Michigan, gardening, and loving on her big, beautiful family.
“My main objective in art education is to create a safe and creative environment for individuals to try new things, express themselves, and build their knowledge of skills to improve and foster a positive relationship as a lifelong learner. The focus of my work is to grow individual and community enrichment through creative process, collaboration, active art-making, and human experience. In all of my artistic endeavors I strive to stay connected to current world art makers, new ideas, and artistic partnerships. Social justice, equity, and restorative justice are a priority in my personal education and the programming I cultivate in the community.”
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