ArtBreak: Legendary Artist’s Talk: James Palmore

Get to know local artist James C. Palmore, who has long been a pillar of the fine and performing arts communities in Kalamazoo. Palmore’s interest in the arts was first sparked when he was a student in the Kalamazoo Public School system. In the 1970s, he took art classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College before going on to teach arts and crafts for the Parks and Recreation Department, retiring in 2003 as the Youth Program Coordinator. Palmore was a co-founder of the Civic Black Theatre and also worked with Gray & Gray Theatrical Production in Detroit. He co-founded the Black Arts & Cultural Center in 1986 and served in multiple key capacities there for more than 25 years. Over a span of decades, Palmore has worked extensively with the Farm Research Cooperative; the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program; Kalamazoo Valley Community College; and the Northside Association for Community Development.

Originally commissioned by the Douglas Community Association, Palmore’s striking portrait of jazz singer Abbey Lincoln is included in the KIA’s ongoing Legendary Voices exhibition. Join us to learn more about this painting, Palmore’s larger body of work, and his life in the arts.