Community Calendar

Material World: Ten Women, an invitational exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, features women artists working with non-traditional materials or using traditional materials in non-traditional ways. The exhibition highlights the use of the physical characteristics of material and technique as a component of both visual and conceptual themes. Many of the works use found objects common to the everyday household, or bring elements from nature into inside spaces. Painting, sculpting, weaving, and assemblage merge in surprising ways throughout the show — crocheted metal wire is transformed into complex organic shapes, steel rod is welded into traditional vessel forms and animal shapes, paintings are cut apart and reassembled on the loom, birch bark becomes quilt-like in complex geometric arrangements, and quilts become soft sculptures and drawings, amidst many other approaches that surprise and delight. The participating artists are: Marcelyn Bennett-Carpenter, Boisali Biswas, Elizabeth Brandt, Kristin Casaletto, Kim Cridler, Nanci LaBret Einstein, Hattie Mendoza Lee, Anne Mondro, Mary Stoppert, and Susan Yamasaki.

Nate Bargatze brings his Big Dumb Eyes Tour to Van Andel Arena on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 7:00PM.

Hailed as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” by The Atlantic Magazine, and “One of the Funniest People,” by CBS Mornings, Grammy & Emmy-nominated comedian, NY Times #1 bestselling author, podcaster, director and producer Nate Bargatze is selling out shows and breaking venue attendance records with more than 1.2 million tickets sold in 2024. He is currently the #1 earning comedian in the world according to Pollstar’s recent report, and #12 in overall live tour tickets sales, putting him in the company of Coldplay, Madonna and U2. Billboard recently announced that Bargatze set a new record for the biggest one-year gross by a comedy performer in history.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5th at 10:00AM. *Please note the box office will not be open for this on sale.

Ticket prices are subject to change. For current ticket prices visit Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices may vary, as market pricing applies to all tickets. Prices may fluctuate based on supply and demand. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or on-line at Ticketmaster.com. A ticket limit of 8 will apply to every order.

WHAT:
The Bank of America Museums on Us program offers FREE weekend general admission to Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank credit and debit cardholders, at two top cultural attractions in Grand Rapids, Saturday, August 1, 2026 and Sunday, August 2, 2026.

For the past 25 years, Bank of America has provided access to some of our nation’s greatest cultural experiences and brought new visitors to our partner museums. Use the Bank of America Museums on Us Location Finder tool to search for participating cultural attractions.

WHEN:
Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2 (+ the first full weekend of each month)
Call museums or check web sites to confirm hours of operation.

WHERE:
Learn something new this month with a visit to these and many more Museums on Us partners in Grand Rapids and across the country:

• Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
https://www.grcm.org

• Grand Rapids Art Museum
https://www.artmuseumgr.org

WHY:
Bank of America believes the arts have a unique ability to connect people and communities, and help local economies thrive. Through Museums on Us, Bank of America is able to provide its customers with free access to artistic and cultural experiences across the United States at celebrated institutions ranging from art, children’s and history museums to aquariums, botanical gardens, zoos and science centers.

HOW:
Simply present your Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank (formerly U.S. Trust) credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain free general admission to any participating institution during the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of each month. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Program excludes fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows. Not to be combined with other offers. Museum participation varies.

Material World: Ten Women, an invitational exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, features women artists working with non-traditional materials or using traditional materials in non-traditional ways. The exhibition highlights the use of the physical characteristics of material and technique as a component of both visual and conceptual themes. Many of the works use found objects common to the everyday household, or bring elements from nature into inside spaces. Painting, sculpting, weaving, and assemblage merge in surprising ways throughout the show — crocheted metal wire is transformed into complex organic shapes, steel rod is welded into traditional vessel forms and animal shapes, paintings are cut apart and reassembled on the loom, birch bark becomes quilt-like in complex geometric arrangements, and quilts become soft sculptures and drawings, amidst many other approaches that surprise and delight. The participating artists are: Marcelyn Bennett-Carpenter, Boisali Biswas, Elizabeth Brandt, Kristin Casaletto, Kim Cridler, Nanci LaBret Einstein, Hattie Mendoza Lee, Anne Mondro, Mary Stoppert, and Susan Yamasaki.

"HerStory of Animation: Disney & Beyond is a landmark exhibition showcasing the women who shaped animation history. This groundbreaking exhibition that redefines the history of animation by shining a long-overdue spotlight on the women animators behind classic Disney films. This first-of-its kind exhibition will be premiering May 28 through September 13 at the Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Michigan.
Spanning more than a century of innovation, from pre-cinematic storytelling traditions to the digital revolution, HerStory of Animation uncovers the essential role of the women who have shaped animation. Visitors will be able to explore production artwork, studio artifacts, rare imagery, and newly uncovered research that reveal the hidden contributions of women whose artistry has long been overlooked.
Among the many women animators featured are:
• Helena Smith Dayton - The earliest known woman animator.
• Lotte Reiniger -The legendary animator/director of the earliest surviving animated feature film.
• Mary Blair - The beloved concept artist behind Disney films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
• Lillian Schwartz – The visionary artist who brought animation into the digital age.
• Bessie Mae Kelley – The newly-discovered animator who worked for Bray, Fables and Fleischer Studios, creating the earliest-surviving hand drawn animated films directed by a woman.
The exhibition is curated by Mindy Johnson, award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, and educator. Johnson is a preeminent expert on women’s roles in animation and film history."

"HerStory of Animation: Disney & Beyond is a landmark exhibition showcasing the women who shaped animation history. This groundbreaking exhibition that redefines the history of animation by shining a long-overdue spotlight on the women animators behind classic Disney films. This first-of-its kind exhibition will be premiering May 28 through September 13 at the Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Michigan.
Spanning more than a century of innovation, from pre-cinematic storytelling traditions to the digital revolution, HerStory of Animation uncovers the essential role of the women who have shaped animation. Visitors will be able to explore production artwork, studio artifacts, rare imagery, and newly uncovered research that reveal the hidden contributions of women whose artistry has long been overlooked.
Among the many women animators featured are:
• Helena Smith Dayton - The earliest known woman animator.
• Lotte Reiniger -The legendary animator/director of the earliest surviving animated feature film.
• Mary Blair - The beloved concept artist behind Disney films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
• Lillian Schwartz – The visionary artist who brought animation into the digital age.
• Bessie Mae Kelley – The newly-discovered animator who worked for Bray, Fables and Fleischer Studios, creating the earliest-surviving hand drawn animated films directed by a woman.
The exhibition is curated by Mindy Johnson, award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, and educator. Johnson is a preeminent expert on women’s roles in animation and film history."

Material World: Ten Women, an invitational exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, features women artists working with non-traditional materials or using traditional materials in non-traditional ways. The exhibition highlights the use of the physical characteristics of material and technique as a component of both visual and conceptual themes. Many of the works use found objects common to the everyday household, or bring elements from nature into inside spaces. Painting, sculpting, weaving, and assemblage merge in surprising ways throughout the show — crocheted metal wire is transformed into complex organic shapes, steel rod is welded into traditional vessel forms and animal shapes, paintings are cut apart and reassembled on the loom, birch bark becomes quilt-like in complex geometric arrangements, and quilts become soft sculptures and drawings, amidst many other approaches that surprise and delight. The participating artists are: Marcelyn Bennett-Carpenter, Boisali Biswas, Elizabeth Brandt, Kristin Casaletto, Kim Cridler, Nanci LaBret Einstein, Hattie Mendoza Lee, Anne Mondro, Mary Stoppert, and Susan Yamasaki.

Material World: Ten Women, an invitational exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art, features women artists working with non-traditional materials or using traditional materials in non-traditional ways. The exhibition highlights the use of the physical characteristics of material and technique as a component of both visual and conceptual themes. Many of the works use found objects common to the everyday household, or bring elements from nature into inside spaces. Painting, sculpting, weaving, and assemblage merge in surprising ways throughout the show — crocheted metal wire is transformed into complex organic shapes, steel rod is welded into traditional vessel forms and animal shapes, paintings are cut apart and reassembled on the loom, birch bark becomes quilt-like in complex geometric arrangements, and quilts become soft sculptures and drawings, amidst many other approaches that surprise and delight. The participating artists are: Marcelyn Bennett-Carpenter, Boisali Biswas, Elizabeth Brandt, Kristin Casaletto, Kim Cridler, Nanci LaBret Einstein, Hattie Mendoza Lee, Anne Mondro, Mary Stoppert, and Susan Yamasaki.

"HerStory of Animation: Disney & Beyond is a landmark exhibition showcasing the women who shaped animation history. This groundbreaking exhibition that redefines the history of animation by shining a long-overdue spotlight on the women animators behind classic Disney films. This first-of-its kind exhibition will be premiering May 28 through September 13 at the Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Michigan.
Spanning more than a century of innovation, from pre-cinematic storytelling traditions to the digital revolution, HerStory of Animation uncovers the essential role of the women who have shaped animation. Visitors will be able to explore production artwork, studio artifacts, rare imagery, and newly uncovered research that reveal the hidden contributions of women whose artistry has long been overlooked.
Among the many women animators featured are:
• Helena Smith Dayton - The earliest known woman animator.
• Lotte Reiniger -The legendary animator/director of the earliest surviving animated feature film.
• Mary Blair - The beloved concept artist behind Disney films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
• Lillian Schwartz – The visionary artist who brought animation into the digital age.
• Bessie Mae Kelley – The newly-discovered animator who worked for Bray, Fables and Fleischer Studios, creating the earliest-surviving hand drawn animated films directed by a woman.
The exhibition is curated by Mindy Johnson, award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, and educator. Johnson is a preeminent expert on women’s roles in animation and film history."

"HerStory of Animation: Disney & Beyond is a landmark exhibition showcasing the women who shaped animation history. This groundbreaking exhibition that redefines the history of animation by shining a long-overdue spotlight on the women animators behind classic Disney films. This first-of-its kind exhibition will be premiering May 28 through September 13 at the Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Michigan.
Spanning more than a century of innovation, from pre-cinematic storytelling traditions to the digital revolution, HerStory of Animation uncovers the essential role of the women who have shaped animation. Visitors will be able to explore production artwork, studio artifacts, rare imagery, and newly uncovered research that reveal the hidden contributions of women whose artistry has long been overlooked.
Among the many women animators featured are:
• Helena Smith Dayton - The earliest known woman animator.
• Lotte Reiniger -The legendary animator/director of the earliest surviving animated feature film.
• Mary Blair - The beloved concept artist behind Disney films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan.
• Lillian Schwartz – The visionary artist who brought animation into the digital age.
• Bessie Mae Kelley – The newly-discovered animator who worked for Bray, Fables and Fleischer Studios, creating the earliest-surviving hand drawn animated films directed by a woman.
The exhibition is curated by Mindy Johnson, award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, and educator. Johnson is a preeminent expert on women’s roles in animation and film history."