A good beer’s story never begins in the brewer’s tank. Every hop, grain of barley and drop of water in that tank comes from one place: The Earth. Without the fields and the farmers that work to sow them, our mugs would be empty.
For 26 years Classic Stereo was a hi-fi fixture in West Michigan. Then, following the economic recession, the retail outlet closed in 2008 – but the story doesn’t end there. The audio/visual electronics retailer, which previously had locations in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, is now prepping for a comeback in Grand Rapids.
Art Martin is not only a painter, he’s also associate curator/collections manager at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Martin chatted with REVUE about West Michigan’s art scene and offered some advice and insight for emerging artists.
ArtPrize rapidly became the cornerstone of West Michigan culture, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Grand Rapids every year. In 2014, The Art Newspaper listed it as the most heavily attended art event on the planet. As the 19-day competition enters its seventh year, ArtPrize Executive Director Christian Gaines said he is working with his team to keep things fresh and exciting.
Salvador Jiménez-Flores says his work is inspired by his multiculturalism and the need to communicate — two pivotal aspects of the artist’s life. Since moving to the United States in 2000 from Jalisco, Mexico he has created several socially-conscious installations as well as studio-based and public art. His work can be seen at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Casa De La Cultura in Texas, Koehnline Museum of Art in Illinois, and locally at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art.
From rock and indie to punk and hip-hop, West Michigan has its share of hidden gems. Revue music writer Nolan Krebs suggests 10 must-hear local acts.
To the uninitiated, raw fish, rice and seaweed may not seem like the most appetizing building blocks for dinner. But when placed in the hands of an accomplished sushi chef, something magical happens. The ingredients mix into an alchemic blend of gustatory bliss. While there’s certainly no shortage of quality sushi in West Michigan, the following restaurants are must-tries for newcomers and sushi snobs alike.
A rundown on notable news and events from the West Michigan music scene.
Michigan is responsible for spewing out some primal iconic garage rock bands. From high velocity acts like The Stooges and MC5, to the primitive sounds of the Gories, White Stripes and the Hentchmen – Michigan is notorious for its noise. But it’s not all about the Motor City.
If the vinyl sales boom hadn’t pulled Vertigo Music out of dire straits amid the MP3 uprising, Vertigo Music store manager Herm Baker would’ve found another solution to keep the store afloat. Failure is not an option for this music-shop veteran.