Derby Festival Through a Kid’s Eye

Okay I have to admit I fell off the resolution band wagon last week but am now back on track. I’m cutting myself some slack given a nasty case of the flu swept through my household. I even got a flu shot this year! What’s up with that?

Anyway, back to blogging. I was excited to join Louisvilleky.com as a blogger. It’s a blogging site that covers everything from soup to nuts in Louisville. I hope you get a chance to check it out. You will find different art and culture topics from me on that site as well.

Artist: Richard Quick

I ran across the Derby Festival Student Art Exhibit at the Mellwood Arts Center. It is up from now until April 25.  In light of the recent controversy over the Derby Festival’s Waterfront entrance fee to Thunder I found it refreshing to see the Derby Festival events through childrens’ eyes. After all, what’s better than enjoying Thunder with kids and feeling like a kid again. Looking at the range of events represented The Parade and Thunder seemed to be the artists’ favorites. Each age group was awarded a first, second and third place winner.  If you have a budding artist to inspire or just want to get into the Derby mood, check this exhibit out.

The Derby Festival Student Art Competition is located kind of off the beaten path at Mellwood. Just head for the restrooms on the first level and you’ll find the exhibit in the hallway.

Free parking is available at Mellwood.

Louisville Fiber Textile Artists “Sew Amazing”

Artist - Kathleen Loomis

Well I almost missed The Louisville Area Fiber Textile Artists exhibit. But I’m so glad I didn’t. The last day is February 22! Hosted by The Jewish Community Center in the Patio Gallery, this 20 piece exhibit, features beautiful fiber and textile artwork. The show was jurored by Jane Dunnewold, an internationally recognized leader in textile art. Similar to the art quilt exhibit I saw a few weeks ago, I am amazed at the patience and vision the artists have. From the little bit of sewing I’ve done, I know a small amount of what I’m seeing is serendipity. But I’m positive the planning involved, fabric choice, thread choice, detail is all painstakingly thought out.

This exhibit shows work in many fiber and textile disciplines. There’s felting, embroidery, quilting, piecing, screen printing, hand dyeing. I think everyone should learn the basic skill of sewing and not just the ladies!  If you have a person in your family just starting to sew, this would be a great exhibit to see because it demonstrates so many ways fiber and textiles can turn into pieces of art not just clothing.

The Jewish Community Center is located between Breckenridge Lane and Taylorsville Rd.

Free parking in the JCC parking lot.

Viewing time for this exhibit is less than 30 minutes.

Artist- Pat DaRif

Admission to The Patio Gallery is free, closed on Saturday.

Rediscovery – turning packaging into glass art

Artist - Sungsoo Kim

This exhibit at Flame Run Gallery is called Rediscovery. (February 4 – March 25, 2011). This isn’t a huge body of work by Sungsoo Kim – it only takes up the front room at Flame Run. I’ve been thinking about what Sungsoo Kim’s glass sculptures reminded me of . When I was small, I used to play with these brightly colored plastic pieces that would interconnect with each other. Some of those pieces, like Kims,’ had holes in them others were solid. These sculptures are very solid, structural, almost building block-like not delicate pieces of glass at all. Kim used discarded styro foam packaging and other recycled consumer product packaging to create molds for  his sculptures. I guess I am more intrigued with the way Kim must have developed and then created these sculptures then the actual work. Although in the right setting and lighting I think these pieces (like the one pictured) would be stunning. The colors are very vivid and striking. This is one exhibit I would have liked to have been to the opening so I could hear the artist speak about the work.

Free parking on the street out front of Flame Run.

Viewing time for this exhibit is less than 30 minutes.

Admission to Flame Run is free.

In Awe of Contemporary Art Quilts

This past week I made a  trip to The Carnegie Center in New Albany. Less than 10 minutes from downtown Louisville, The Carnegie Center has had excellent exhibits over the years and a fun Saturday kids program. Their current juried exhibit, “Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie” runs through March 5, 2011.

Now in its eighth year, this exhibit features 31 amazing contemporary fine art quilts from artists all over the country. Even if you don’t sew or quilt, this exhibit is awe-inspiring. Art quilts differ from traditional quilts. They typically have embellishment, like seed beads, colored thread, sequins on them. Also many times they will tell some kind of story or express a view of the artist. Many of these quilts in this exhibit were piecing of fabric to create an  abstract design or play on colors. These are not your grandmother’s quilts!  The imagination, patience and thought process that goes into these pieces amaze me not to mention the quilting. Just like my mother always asked me which piece of art I liked best, (see about) you can vote for your favorite quilt too. The people’s choice winner in this exhibit will receive $50.

Free Parking on the Street

Total time to view the exhibit: 30 minutes

Museum hours Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-5:30 pm. Admission is free. Through March 5, 2011.

Woodcarvings come alive

My first “art discovery outing for 2011″ was at the University of Louisville, Cressman Center for Visual Arts. I had never been there before and only just realized where it was located after passing it on the way to the new KFC Yum Center. The address is 100 East Main Street.

Oh Mother

I went to see the exhibit Rhythm in Relief (January 21 – February 26, 2011) featuring work by folk artist Lavon Williams. The exhibit shows 60 wood carvings by Mr. Williams. The wood carvings vary in size and shape. As I walked around I noticed the bright colors and whimsical use of metal in some of the pieces. All contain human forms, both men and women. I love the way Mr. Williams used exaggerated limbs – feet, arms, hands. He captures the character of each person so well. A range of emotions come from the work; laughter, love, devotion, sadness, rejoicing.

This exhibit is a project of the Kentucky Folk Art Center at Morehead State University. The Kentucky Folk Art Center is well worth the trip over to eastern Kentucky if you haven’t been.

Im my mind this first outing was a success!  it accomplished exactly what I had wanted… a short, 30 minute artistic diversion out of my day.

Parking was easy at the public garage right next door to the Cressman Center. On street meter parking was also available.