What it is

Lapidary Basics & Beyond is a 10-week cabochon class at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) Kirk Newman Art School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Blackbaud enrollment page and the Winter jewelry schedule say beginning students learn cutting, grinding and polishing stone slabs into calibrated and free-form cabochons, while students with prior lapidary experience can practice and refine techniques. Some materials are provided; additional materials are available for purchase.

The class meets in the Jewelry Studio with instructor Dawn Coeur. KIA’s Plan Your Visit page places the museum and school at 314 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

Who it’s for

Beginners and returning cutters in southwest Michigan (and visitors willing to travel) who want a structured, multi-week arts-school introduction to cabochon work with studio equipment, rather than buying a machine first. It also suits jewelers enrolled in other KIA jewelry classes who want finished cabs.

Why it’s listed

It is a first-party arts-school class with printed Winter 2027 dates, hours, tuition, instructor name, studio location and an official enrollment URL on KIA’s Blackbaud system, also mirrored on the public jewelry schedule. The listing covers this lapidary class, not the whole museum. It is Lapidary Plaza’s first Kalamazoo workshop (Michigan already has other club and supplier listings in other cities).

Official URL

https://1000.blackbaudhosting.com/1000/Lapidary-Basics—Beyond

Jewelry schedule: https://www.kiarts.org/educate-learn/kirk-newman-art-school/schedule/jewelry/
Plan your visit: https://www.kiarts.org/plan-your-visit/
Winter 2027 Sightlines PDF: https://www.kiarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/KIA-Winter-2027-Sightlines.pdf
Home: https://www.kiarts.org/

(All checked 2026-11-06 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Phone 269-349-7775. The class meets in the Jewelry Studio at the Kirk Newman Art School. Administrative / class-registration offices are listed Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on the Plan Your Visit page.

This is a workshop (an arts-school class). It is not a club and does not sell lapidary equipment.

Notes

Dated session (Blackbaud + jewelry schedule + Winter 2027 Sightlines PDF, check date): Mondays, January 4–March 8, 2027, 1:00–3:30 p.m., 10 weeks, Jewelry Studio.
Tuition: $415 / Members $395.
Instructor: Dawn Coeur.
Level: Beginning students and those with previous lapidary experience (practice and refine).
Materials: some materials provided; additional materials available for purchase.
Enrollment path: public schedule links to Blackbaud. On the check date the Blackbaud page showed a members-only / member pre-sale gate for ticket purchase (“please sign in”) while still printing full class details and prices; non-members are pointed to sign-in/register options on that page. Confirm current open registration with KIA when enrolling.
Small source note: Michigan geography overlaps yesterday’s Bedrock Lapidary (Bellaire) supplier ship — different city and category; KIA was the explicit Nov 5 workshop backup held for geo spread that day.
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. Nothing was bought, and no registration, email or form was used.

FAQ

Q: Where is the KIA Lapidary Basics & Beyond class held?
A: In the Jewelry Studio at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts / Kirk Newman Art School, 314 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

Q: When is the class?
A: Mondays, January 4–March 8, 2027, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. (10 weeks).

Q: How much does it cost?
A: $415, or $395 for members, per the Blackbaud enrollment page and Winter schedule.

Q: Do I need experience or my own machine?
A: No. It is described for beginning students as well as those refining prior skills, and it uses the school’s Jewelry Studio.

Q: Who teaches it?
A: Dawn Coeur.

Q: Is this a club meeting?
A: No. It is a dated Kirk Newman Art School workshop class listed for public enrollment through KIA.