Community Calendar

Painting with Water and Light—Watercolor
Cheryl Boc-Chidester
Thursday, February 5, and Friday, February 6, 2026
10 am–2 pm
GAAC Classroom
Beginner to Intermediate
$150 member / $165 nonmember

In this class, Cheryl Ann Boc-Chidester will guide students through the beauty and versatility of watercolor with hands-on experimentation. Participants will explore color theory and mixing, and practice fundamental techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry-on-dry. They will also experiment with different papers and texture-making methods to expand their creative possibilities. Most projects are based on enlarged photographs, though students may bring their own references or select from images provided by the instructor. For those less confident in drawing, there is an option to trace or transfer images onto watercolor paper, with guidance on drawing and composition. Geared toward beginning and intermediate students, the class welcomes all who wish to paint, create, and enjoy the artistic process.

This exciting event takes place during NFL Super Bowl weekend, and we can’t wait to heat up downtown with a cozy celebration of community, flavor, and fun!

Stroll between participating businesses anytime from 1–5 p.m. to sample a variety of soups — from hearty stews and creamy chowders to flavorful bisques — or enjoy a comforting coffee, tea, or punch provided by local retailers and restaurants.

Join The Kingsley Folk School at Kingsley Branch Library for a relaxed, no-prep storytelling community circle. Inspired by NPR’s The Moth, the Everyone Has a Story series invites you to simply show up and share—no scripts, no pressure. Just real moments from your life, told in the moment.

Together, we’ll listen, laugh, reflect, and connect with neighbors through the power of spontaneous storytelling.

Participants are welcome to speak for up to 5 minutes, or simply come to enjoy the stories and the sense of community.

This gathering happens on the second Thursday of every month from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at the Kingsley Branch Library.

Event is free and open to all, with no registration required.

For more information or to request reasonable accommodations, please call the Library at 231-263-5484 or follow us on Facebook.

Join a conversational tour of the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s current exhibits on February 14, 1 pm. GAAC Gallery Manager Sarah Bearup-Neal leads a Walk + Talk of INteriors, and Small Accomplishments.

INteriors brings to the GAAC Main Gallery work that explores interior spaces real and imagined, in the home and mind. In the GAAC’s Lobby Gallery is Small Accomplishments, a group of acrylic paintings by Leelanau County artist Harvey Gordon that capture unremarkable events with remarkable technique.

The February 14 Walk + Talk is free and open to the public. Read more about both exhibits, and look at the artwork online at GlenArborArt.org / EXHIBITS.

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.

Need a day to play and let go of those February blues? Join local artists Jessica Kovan and Lauren Everett Finn in this fun, collaborative, fast-paced day of art play and camaraderie, inspired by the INteriors exhibition (January 9–March 12, 2026), which explores inner spaces, both real and imagined.

Beyond the comedic routine of these two friends, you'll enjoy hands-on mixed media experiences, cookie eating (chocolate promised!), and a day of artful fun—all designed to beat those February blues. Using the exhibition’s theme as inspiration, we'll explore the “interiors” of our own minds and create playful, expressive artworks that reflect our inner landscapes.

If you joined us before, we have new projects up our paint-covered sleeves this year, so don’t hesitate to sign up! All supplies included.

Spend two days immersed in the subtle beauty of the Zorn Palette.

This classic set of just four colors—vermilion, yellow ochre, black, and white—unlocks a surprisingly rich and expressive range. Named after Swedish painter Anders Zorn, the palette is renowned for its ability to evoke mood and atmosphere.

This workshop begins with hands-on exercises in color mixing, value, and theory, designed to deepen your understanding of this elegant palette. Then, you’ll apply what you’ve learned through guided painting projects using landscape and still life imagery provided by the instructor. Along the way, we’ll discuss mark-making, composition, and when and how to thoughtfully expand the palette. All work will take place in the studio.

Spend two days immersed in the subtle beauty of the Zorn Palette.

This classic set of just four colors—vermilion, yellow ochre, black, and white—unlocks a surprisingly rich and expressive range. Named after Swedish painter Anders Zorn, the palette is renowned for its ability to evoke mood and atmosphere.

This workshop begins with hands-on exercises in color mixing, value, and theory, designed to deepen your understanding of this elegant palette. Then, you’ll apply what you’ve learned through guided painting projects using landscape and still life imagery provided by the instructor. Along the way, we’ll discuss mark-making, composition, and when and how to thoughtfully expand the palette. All work will take place in the studio.

What is Soup and Bread? It’s simple. Local restaurants donate soup. You come, eat, and pay what you want. All money raised goes to a local non-profit.

November: Planned Parenthood
December: North Sky Raptor Sanctuary
January: FLOW For Water
February: Jubilee House
March: Women's Resource Center

Participating Restaurants include: Bubbies Bagels, Cooks House, S2S, Umbo, Modern Bird, Black Star Farms, Common Good Bakery, Identity Brewing, and Farm Club

Sparking Creativity with instructor Carol Hohle

Registration Deadline: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Location: GAAC Classroom
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $130 member/ $145 nonmember

Launch the new year with a new view of creativity. Using “best hits” from the book The Artist’s Way–A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, participants will engage in journal writing and creative play to express ideas and intentions and come away with a deeper, creative approach to life.

Back again for 2026! Launch the new year with a new view of creativity. Using “best hits” from the book The Artist’s Way–A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, participants will engage in journal writing and creative play to express ideas and intentions and come away with a deeper, creative approach to life.