Kickstarter: Good Folk Fest

If you follow me on Twitter (@loueyville), you know that I am on a mission when it comes to Kickstarter projects.  I've backed several local Kickstarters. I can't give much... I'm on a limited budget these days. But when something really good-- and local-- pops up on Kickstarter, I am in.

As I said, I'm on a mission. And when I say that I am "in," it's conditional.  I will back your project on Kickstarter, if I believe in it. But I will NOT back your Kickstarter-- not even if you're my BFF or you have a project that I would likely champion--  if you've never backed anyone else.

Give a little. Get a little. It's just good karma.

I have been a fan of the Good Folk Fest for as long as I have lived here. I attend. I support. I buy stuff. I cheerlead.

But when Scott Scarboro, the high priest of the festival, posted a Kickstarter and encouraged me to contribute, I noticed that, despite I was already a fan, he had backed zero other projects. I emailed him with my concern. And less than 24 hours later, he'd backed another project.  And I immediately backed his. What an awesome response!

Good Folk Fest is a fantastic event, and I am proud to be a Kickstarter backer. If you've ever been, or think it sounds great, pledge a little money and help them meet their goal.

From the Kickstarter page:

Good Folk Fest is an event where new materials and techniques merge with older traditions and take on the forms of art and music. The term folk has been around for a while and has been used to describe all kinds of art and music. In the context of this festival, We are celebrating those people who might come to mind when you hear the word folk but bringing attention to those who have similar esthetics and passions, bringing to light the parallels in thought processes, craft and creating. How has the modern age determined the materials we use to express ourselves? Do crafting traditions still exist and are they being handed down to future generations?

Good Folk Fest is a three-day festival of contemporary folk art that will take place from November 2-4th, 2012. Good Folk Fest happened in 2006-2008 then had a break while we searched for another venue. This year marks the return of the festival which will be held for the first time at the The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage on the corner of 18th St. and Muhammad Ali Blvd. in Louisville, KY. It will feature over 80 visual artists and 24 performers.

The goal of this kickstarter campaign is to raise the funds needed to help cover the production cost of this event. These funds combined with income from artist booth fees and ticket sales will be used to advertise the event, venue rental, audio/video needs, staging, performer fees, commemorative shirt production etc. Our goal is to raise $4000 to cover our basic needs. Any money raised over this $4000 - and any money raised through ticket sales, once all expenses are covered will go towards securing the future of Good Folk Fest 2013.

This festival is on a shoestring budget. A grassroots project.
Every little bit helps. THANK YOU!

Forge Presents: Artists are Startups

This event sounds so fantastic. I have this friend who is a pretty talented writer but doesn't have a lick of business sense in that crazy creative noggin of hers. I'm totally dragging my friend to this event. My friend could really use a good talking to about how writing can be a business and how my friend should think of her talent as a product that should be paid for. My friend is going to get so much out of this event. And it looks like Falls City is a sponsor, and that's her favorite beer, so maybe that will help convince my friend to go.

What? 

I have friends.

I have friends who are writers and have no business sense and love Falls City Beer.

Lots of them.

I'm not talking about me here. Not everything is about me.

Forge presents "Artists are Startups" featuring Ashley Capps, founder of Bonnaroo, with music by Alanna Fugate and art by Sloan Showalter, Leia Facewalker, and Shawn Khily. Thursday July 12 at the Butchertown Pub Studios from 530p-730p.

Humana Festival 36: Locals Week March 1 - 11 #hf36

I know I throw around the hyperbolic "most wonderful time of the year" a lot. And mostly, I mean it. One of the great things about living in Louisville is that you have a "most wonderful time of the year" for all your varied tastes and interests. IdeaFestival. Bats Season. Some of you may fancy Derby Season...

But really, it doesn't get much better than Humana Festival. Last week I was able to attend the Humana Festival preview at the Loose Tie Happier Hour; the preview featured the Apprentice/Intern Company performing 3-5 minute snippets from all of the Humana Festival plays. If I hadn't already been hooked... it would've hooked me. What a range of subjects, moods, and settings!

If I were to bet on the plays I am going to enjoy the most, my money would be on (italic descriptions are from the Actors website:

A) MICHAEL VON SIEBENBURG MELTS THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS (Greg Kotis)--Meet Baron Michael von Siebenburg: a 500-year-old Austrian bachelor living in an American city, whose secret of eternal youth involves endless first dates and a special meat tenderizer. But when his landlady gets suspicious and the ghost of a medieval comrade commands him to take Constantinople back from the Turks, Michael finds himself haunted by past and present. A hilariously dark comedy about the rigors of vampiric immortality. The snippet that we saw was pretty Monty Python-y.  And... what's not to love about that.  The particular interns who performed this piece were so good, I can't help but wish they were the actual actors for the play.  Kotis is a member of the Neo-Futurists and also wrote the acclaimed URINETOWN.

B) THE VERI**ON PLAY (Lisa Kron)-- When Jenni called customer service, all she wanted was to fix a minor problem with her cell phone bill. Instead she was sucked into a vortex of unimaginable horror. Now she wants revenge—or to get her cell phone service turned back on. Part thriller, part screwball comedy, part inspired by events that have undoubtedly happened to YOU.  I love screwball comedies, and the scene we saw at the preview was a delicious send-up of customer service departments and group therapy sessions, two pet peeves of mine... so this is bound to be good. If I am remembering correctly, Kron is not only the author but she is also set to star (correct me if I'm wrong, theatre types). I get to see this one in a few days... psyched!

Check out the entire line-up here.

If you're a local-- and by golly, I bet you are if you're reading this-- we are lucky ducks when it comes to Humana Festival.  Locals' Week is March 1 - 11, and locals can purchase a pass to see SIX of the Humana Festival plays for just $99.  See the website for more details.  Remember though, this deal is only good for those ten days, so start blocking off your evenings now.

Don't forget, there are also discounts for industry professionals and students. Lots of different package options.

As always, this Lou will keep you informed about the "can't miss" shows for Humana Festival 36.  Watch the blog and follow me on Twitter @loueyville. I'm so excited, I'm already giggly about it.

As the Doctor would say, "GERONIMO!"

Humana Illustrator @ Green Building

The Louisville Graphic Design Association sure has a snazzy website. Which makes sense. Of course. If you're in the graphic arts/design biz, this site also has a fairly nice-looking job board.

The LGDA also sponsors regular events: speakers, shows, screenings. Their first event of the year is tomorrow, and it features Wayne Brezinka, the illustrator of this year's Humana Festival Poster.

6pm: cash bar & appetizers
7pm: event
At the Green Building.
Thursday, February 9
RSVP HERE

About Brezinka:

Wayne will be sharing his personal story of how he became interested in art, share his work and give an in depth behind the scenes look into his process. As an illustrator and contributing artist, Wayne Brezinka has been commissioned by The New York Times, Neiman Marcus, The Johnny Cash family, The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune. He has also illustrated for many ads, posters, music and consumer packaging, and is always looking for new venues for his work. His illustrations have appeared in Communication Arts, Print Magazine and most recently, the Society of Illustrators 52 in New York.

Great Oaks, Tiny Acorns

Acorn commissioned by Roommate by David Landenwich

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating: I hope all y'all have a friend like Roommate in your life. This Christmas, the only thing I asked for was "some kind of jewelry with an acorn on it" -- because of my blog symbol, because I knew I was getting ready to make a big life change, and I thought it would be a good reminder of why I chose the acorn as the symbol for this blog.

Side trip: Why the acorn, Lou?  I'm a literary nerd, to be sure. But one of my favorite sayings is one that I can't attribute to Shakespeare or Yeats or Whitman. In fact, it's tough to figure out where it came from.  But for years, I've had a little decorative dish that I bought at one of the Vanderbilt estates in Newport, and it says: "Great Oaks from Tiny Acorns Grow." That's Loueyville, the blog. Not quite a Great Oak yet. Neither am I. But hopefully we're getting there.

So, I asked Roommate for acorn jewelry, and he scoured our local stores to find me something.  And when he couldn't find the right piece-- this is where the BFF part comes in-- he commissioned a local artist to make me one.

Turns out this local artist is also a bartender at Roommate's (our) home-away-from-home, and Metromix's "Best Bar in Louisville," the Back Door.  David Landenwich has been working with glass for three years. When Roommate gave me the acorn necklace, I immediately said, "I've got to get Dave on the blog." So after a few text messages, I got his email; I asked him a few questions, and here was his response:

I'm glad you liked the pendant that [Roommate] asked me to make for you. I kind of got carried away and made about ten of them. My friend and co-worker Gail Oyler introduced me to "Soft glass." Soft glasshas a lower melting point than other glass. A lot of the glass earrings and necklace you see are of this variety. With the right amount of control you can do incredible things with soft glass. Unfortunately for me, soft glass melts too quickly and usually  ends up in a puddle in front of my torch.

After a while, I got into using borosilicate glass, more commonly known as Pyrex. It is considered to be a harder glass with  a higher melting point so it works a little slower. The colors you can develop with Boro can be very intense depending on  how you "Strike" the glass (working the glass with greater or lesser amounts of oxygen). I know, technical, smecknical.

Anyway... Gail and I do shows at art fairs and farmers' markets. She does all kinds for bead work. necklaces, ear rings, blown vessel, you name it. She has done many commission pieces for clients. I tend to do more pendant work. Like I said, I have only been working with glass for three years. I have a lot to learn. But that's the fun part.

Gail displays her work on ETSY.com. I don't have a website or page, but you can reach me at dlando1@mac.com. 

I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on my new acorn necklace. I wish Dave had a website or an ETSY shop, but I will keep in touch with him and let y'all know if that changes. In the meantime, Dave seems willing to try new things and work on commission (according to Roommate, when he brought the 10 or so acorn pendants to the Back Door to let Roommate choose one, he actually sold at least one more that night). So if you have a glass pendant need, hit him up at his email address. Or ask for him at the Back Door. 

Kentucky Homefront Fundraiser: Sunday Funday

I don't normally just cut and paste press releases, but this is already late notice, and I want to get it on the interwebs before people clock out of work for the weekend. You know how I loves me some jug bands... this is jug bands AND wine. On a Sunday.  Perfect.  Here's the press release:

Please join us this Sunday, January 29th, from 4-8pm for the 11th Anniversary fundraiser for the Kentucky Homefront Radio Show!  

Kentucky Homefront is a show featuring Kentucky's finest acoustic folk, traditional, blues, country, and bluegrass musicians, and its best storytellers. Their front porch broadcasts that air each Wednesday on WFPK at 8PM are reminiscent of radio variety programs of a bygone era. Hosted by the talented and inimitable singer/songwriter John Gage, Kentucky Homefront is recorded on the 2nd Saturday of every month (except January and July). 

You can expect a rollickin’ good time as River Bend will provide a limited menu, a full bar and is donating 15% of their proceeds to Kentucky Homefront! Also, a new guitar will be raffled off and there will be three 50/50 raffles. There will also be a “Keep the Front Porch Light Burning Bright” booth where you can buy season tickets at a discounted price.

Here is the entertainment schedule:
4:00PM - Songwriters in the Round with John Gage, Turley Richards and Mickey Clark
5:00 PM - Hog Operation
6:00PM - Mickey Clark & The Blue Northern
7:00PM - The Juggernaut Jug Band
Please join us for a great night! 

$10 suggested donation. 

River Bend Winery

120 S 10th Street

Louisvillle

Linda Golden: Photo Exhibit

Students at the Tokoin-Gbonvie elementary school in Lomé

This week the Gardiner Lane Heine Brothers will start featuring and exhibit of ten photos taken by the lovely and talented Linda Golden. The photos, taken during her time in the Peace Corps, feature Togolese women and girls.

The photos are for sale for $50 each, and all profits from each sale go to Pathways Togo.

For more information about the exhibit, visit Linda's blog, LJ Golden-- Just Exploring. Here's a brief excerpt:

The images feature Togolese women and girls, who were my closest friends during my time in Togo. They welcomed me when I arrived, showed me how to carry water from the pump (a short-lived endeavor on my part), made sure I was appropriately dressed for the mosque on the important holy days, guided me through the village (it was a small village, but I still needed help finding the middle school), and saw me off each time I said “goodbye.” They let me advise them on how to care for their children’s health, even though I have no children of my own. At least one told me she wanted me with her when she delivered her fourth child.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Linda's work. Hope you go check it out too.

ReENTRY at Actors: More Must-See Theater

Shows like ReENTRY are exactly why I love Actors Theater so damned much. When the lights came up at the end of the show last Thursday night, the audience was quick to bolt to its feet. Not only was it good theater, acted and directed by true artists, it made the audience feel privileged to have been witness to the telling of these powerful stories.

ReENTRY is based on interviews conducted by co-authors KJ Sanchez and Emily Ackerman with more than 100 active duty and veteran Marines and their families, and every word of the script cites these interviews verbatim. The show investigates what it means to return from war, and the struggles and successes of both these returning soldiers and their families.

After the show, Sanchez and Ackerman conducted a moving and compelling Q&A. And when the actors came out to watch from an empty row of seats, my heart actually skipped a little to see them. It's so rare that such a short show (it's intermission-less) provokes such profound feelings of appreciation and investment in the performers.

The best job I've ever had in my life was teaching a writing class to veterans for the Veterans' Upward Bound program in New Orleans. I taught this class for almost three years, and this was mostly pre-9/11 (in fact, I had a class the night of 9/11... instead of canceling class, I found a television, rolled it into my classroom, put on the news, and wept and ranted with the three students who showed up for class). My vets were mostly of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, old enough to be my father or grandfather (it was almost all men, always), and every minute of the two hours I spent with them each week were the best minutes of my week. Despite the fact that both of my grandfathers and one of my grandmothers served in WWII, I learned everything I know (admittedly, still little) about what it meant to be a solider from those men. That job was such an honor and a blessing. Politics aside, spend some quality time with strangers who have given years of their lives serving this country, and you will come away transformed and inspired.

And so ReENTRY is a taste of that. Powerful (true) words and powerful performances. Definitely a don't-miss show at Actors. It runs through December 17; for more information click here.

Land of Tomorrow: Music & Art Intersect

Andrea Stanislov's Diamond Dog

The Land of Tomorrow (LOT) gallery in Louisville is a new-ish gallery space for experimental art. They have a sister facility in Lexington.  As Michelle said on Consuming Louisville, the first time I heard of this gallery was during Idea Festival.  I still haven't been, but I am really looking forward to seeing the Expanded Music Project, which opens on November 18th with a reception at 7pm. The Expanded Music Project will showcase work that illustrates the connection between art and music. From their press release: 

Included in this exhibition will be work by Heather Cantrell, Aurora Childs, Saiman Chow, Geneva Jacuzzi, Leslie Lyons, Andréa Stanislav, as well as Raurouw, Thieves Like Us, Peaking Lights with artist Letitia Quesenberry, musician EMA with artist Jacob Heustis, and Hirsuta design firm.  

The premise of this show is to highlight the fluidity between creative forms and artistic practices.  The influence of album art, video production, stage design, graffiti and the appropriation tactics of remixing have established an ongoing conversation between artists and musicians.  This dialogue between visual artist and musician continues to play a major role, and creative forces as diverse as Elvis, The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, and Afrika Bambaataa have delved into the realms of the visual and the auditory to produce work that both fields accept and champion.

I'm perhaps most excited to see this installation, seeing that the disco ball and Louisville are so connected (I'm sure all of you fantastic Louisvillagers know that 90% of all disco balls are made right here-- right down the street from my house-- at Omega National Products). And, hello, Bee Gees reference? Swoon! 

The Hirsuta design firm will present a re-examination of the form and context of the Disco Ball in “Variations on the Disco Ball or, the Bee Gees Have Left the Building.”

Admission is free to the exhibit and to the reception.  

Highlands Festival... a mystery this year

I'm afraid, loyal readers, that I am batting zero trying to get you specifics on tomorrow's Original Highlands Art & Music Festival.

It's an event I love, and it's in my backyard (almost literally), but this year they've done a crap job of getting the information out there. The LEO had a blurb about it, but no times for the music lineup, which includes The Instruction and Alanna Fugate (and at risk of sounding all "get off my lawn-y:" when you google both of those performers the primary links are to MySpace... ugh, MySpace!  And there's no upcoming shows listed on their MySpace pages).

What I do know: The Festival runs from 11am -11pm. Baxter Ave will be blocked off from Highland Ave to either Christy or Breckenridge. There will be music and food vendors and lots of art vendors and usually a lot of community-oriented booths. Stuff for kids... everything you'd want for a good street fair.

The event is also associated with the 4K Tap 'N Run, which involves running and drinking and costumes.

Wish I could share more, friends. I hope that the lack of info out there this year doesn't bury the event for   the future.  And if you read this before the event and have info to share with me, email me or tweet me, and I will update this post!

Art in the Highlands

Art in the Highlands is kind of cursed.  Last year, the event was plagued by downpours and was scheduled the same weekend as the big UofL-UK game.  This year it falls during the Jewish Holidays.

But this juried art fest is well worth checking out!  You couldn't ask for better weather for an open air art festival.  And it's held on the beautiful campus of the Louisville Collegiate School.  I'll be there for early holiday shopping and to see the local and national artists.  Some really good music lined up too.

From their website:

Louisville Collegiate School is proud to presentArt in the Highlands, a community-wide event featuring juried artists from across the country. The event will take place on September 18 and 19on Collegiate's campus at 2427 Glenmary Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art mediums represented will include watercolor, oil painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, pottery and much more.

Entertainers Schedule:

Saturday, September 18
12 p.m. Augmented Five (Jazz Combo)
1 p.m. Bob Douglas
2 p.m. Will Cary
3 p.m. John Gage
4 p.m. Joel Timothy

Sunday, September 19
11 a.m. Citizen's Arrest (Classic Rock)
1 p.m. Bob Douglas
2 p.m. Will Cary
3 p.m. John Gage
4 p.m. Joel Timothy

Awesome Louisvillager: Courtney Paris

Welcome to the first installment of Loueyville's newest periodic feature: Awesome Louisvillagers.  It's no secret that my favorite thing about our fine, fine city is the people.  And one of my favorite things about Louisvillagers is that they always seem to be doing nifty, innovative, and/or kind things.  Wouldn't it be great to get to know these Awesome Louisvillagers a little better?  

Today's Awesome Louisvillager is a New Albany photographer who specializes in boudoir photography.  Meet Courtney Paris!  

LOU:  I know you're a traditional photographer who shoots weddings and engagement photos and senior pictures, but some of my favorite work of yours has been your boudoir pictures.  How did you decide to do boudoir photography, and what do you like most about boudoir sessions? 

Actually, I don't shoot weddings anymore (unless they're family or close friends). After I shot my first 5 or 6 weddings, I decided it was just too stressful. I've already been married and had to go through the wedding stress, I certainly didn't want to do it over and over again! My studio partner, Tracy Dupaquier, does the weddings and she loves and it shows in her work!

The boudoir and pinup photography are my favorite types to shoot, by far, and right now, it's about 70-80% of my business, and I couldn't be happier. I did my first boudoir session for a friend who wanted something different for her husband's birthday; she called to see if this would be something I was interested in doing for her. I said absolutely! That first session was in my home, in our master bedroom. She loved, he loved, and I was smitten. She referred a friend to me whose husband was deployed with the military. The rest, as they say, was history.

I was in love with these types of sessions. Not only are they fun (who doesn't like to play dress up?), but I could see what it was doing for women and how they saw themselves. My most popular package includes a photo album with 20 images. So many times I have a girl walk in at the beginning of her session and say something about how she's so nervous and she's sorry if we don't get many good pictures, and she doesn't think we'll get anywhere close to the 20 images for the book. It never fails, once their photos are up on their password-protected gallery, I'll get an email saying they just can't choose, there are so many that she likes. To me, that's flippin' awesome. As a female, I know what it's like to be totally self-conscious about our bodies and NEVER EVER feel like we look good enough, let alone sexy. So to know that I'm able to take this gift of photography that I've been blessed with, and use it to help a woman feel good about herself, and strengthen the relationship she's in, well, that's just awesome!!!

LOU:  Looking at the boudoir samples on your website, it seems that most of your clients are young fiancees wanting pictures for their soon-to-be husbands.  Do you have a marketing pitch for older women?  Single women with no immediate prospects?  Do you shoot boudoir photos of men? 

The clients on my website actually only represent about 10-20 % of my client base. I never post anyone's picture without their permission, and the ones that give permission, are all usually younger. They're typically more confident about their bodies and more comfortable with people seeing them.

I would say that I have about 30-40% of my clients are over the age of 35! A lot of them are doing them for their (or their husband's/boyfriend's) milestone birthdays (40, 50) or anniversaries (25, 30). And I do have a good number of women who do these sessions just for themselves! In fact, I have a couple clients who have a session once a year!

LOU: I follow you on Twitter, and I am in love with how sweetly you talk about your kids, your husband, and your extended family.  How does your family life inspire your photography? 

Thanks! My family has been HUGELY supportive of me and my photography, in so many ways. My kids are my inspiration for everything I do; I work to provide for them, and now I'm working for myself so I can rearrange my schedule and spend more time with them. They love coming down to the studio and 'helping mommy work.' My husband has encouraged me from day one, as cliche' as it sounds, we've always supported the other in doing what they truly enjoy and are passionate about. My parents and my husband's parents have always been there to help me with watching the kiddos if I have pictures, and my husband is out of town with his job or the military. Plus, they're (almost) always ready to lend a face for some new ideas!

LOU:  You recently opened a studio in New Albany.  Tell us about it and how it has changed your business. 

Yes I did. I opened a studio in Historic Downtown New Albany with Tracy Dupaquier. It's a great feeling being able to tell people that I'll just meet them at the studio. We have a separate office and shooting space. I think people see me as 'more legit' having a studio, and my husband is happy to have all my photo stuff out of the house! ha!

LOU:  Finally, tell us what you love most about living in the Louisville area.

I live over in downtown New Albany so the kids can be close to their grandparents but at the same time we love the proximity to the Louisville area, especially Old Louisville. We used to live in an apartment down there and were married at the Conrad-Caldwell House; the architecture there is amazing. The Waterfront gets a lot of use by my family too;  the Waterfront Wednesdays is always a blast and the kids love the park. I think that we've got some of if not the best public radio in the country!

Thanks, Courtney, for being the first Awesome Louisvillager!

Contact Courtney:

Courtney@CourtneyParisPhotography.com
www.CourtneyParisPhotography.com
www.LouisvilleBoudoir.com
812.987.6199
Twitter is Ceece and Lou_boudoir

21c Expansion: Hoping for the Best

If you live in Louisville and are on Twitter, you've no doubt already heard about 21c's announcement that they intend to expand into fifteen cities, starting with Bentonville, Arkansas-- home of the anti-21c, Wal-Mart.  


Most of the people I follow on Twitter have responded with shock at the first location and with cautious congratulations to one of the coolest (and that word is truly applicable) businesses in the city.  The 21c tweet machine has countered with good humor and optimism.  


I personally haven't seen much anger out there about the expansion, but others have mentioned it. And the 21c facebook page already features people questioning the Wal-Mart connection (there is none, instead it is with the Crystal Bridges Museum-- which I will have to look into).  


I've said any number of times that 21c is one of the things that makes me proudest to be a Louisvillager.  (If you read that post, the answer is no-- I never did treat myself to a night at 21c post-chemo-- what's wrong with me?).  I am cautiously optimistic. 


Best case scenario:  21c stays headquartered here and has to hire a whole bunch of creative locals to work in the HQ.  As they expand, they proudly wave the Louisville flag (I jokingly tweeted that all future 21c Hotels should be called "The Louisville 21c Hotel in Bentonville" or what have you).  All major exhibits/events must debut first in 21c's Mother City before moving on to shows at other 21c's.  Chef Paley stays at Proof.  All new hotel initiatives use the Louisville 21c as their incubator... You catch my drift, right?


Worst case scenario:  As 21c expands, the quality of exhibits/events becomes diluted by 1/15th.  The groundbreaking, superstar artists choose to debut their shows at 21c Chicago or Atlanta.  It suddenly makes sense to move the 21c HQ to a larger city. Our 21c becomes "the old model."  Much sadness ensues.


I'm going to cling to the Best Case Scenario as the Only Case Scenario.  I believe that the 21c is committed to our fair city.  I wish them the best, and look forward to our 21c becoming the "mothership."  


Update: WFPL's Elizabeth Kramer allays some of my bigger fears-- good news!  

Glass Arts Society Conference 2010: Louisville Glasses up for GAS

You can put art right up there on the list of things I know nothing about (also on the list: technology, theater, and 'birthin' no babies.').  I'm grateful to have attended a university that required all students to take an art appreciation course in order to graduate, but my formal art education ends there.  So my appreciation for art begins and ends at "I like what I like."

It used to be that I didn't particularly like glass arts, but the fact that Louisville is a glass-arts-rich community, with Glassworks and Flame Run leading the charge, has done much to change that.  Last Friday's Downtown Trolley Hop, in particular, introduced some truly exquisite glass arts exhibits in advance of this weekend's 40th annual Glass Arts Society Conference. 

Most of the Market Street exhibits will be up through the summer, so I urge you to get out there and check them out.  Of particular note, in my opinion, is the joint exhibit at Zephyr and Swanson Reed called "Glass Uprising."  

As I said, I like what I like when it comes to art, and usually what I like lends itself to the spooky/moody side.  Give me an exhibit that looks like stuff that came out of the twisted little mind of Spike from "Toy Story 2," and I'm usually on board.  At Zephyr, the work of Stephen Paul Day and Sibylle Paretti gave me the good creeps.  Tim Tate's multimedia/tech/glass work at Swanson Reed was both eerie and darkly humorous (The sculpture "My Love Live Thus Far" featured a tiny video screen endlessly looping the implosion of an enormous brick building.).  Check out the "Glass Uprising" link above to view some of their work.

The fact that Louisville is a glass-arts-rich community makes it a no-brainer to host the 40th annual Glass Arts Society Conference.  The list of exhibits associated with the 3-day event is impressive and exciting.  Seems like just about every gallery and museum in town has gotten on board with this event.  

Other events associated with the conference include a Glass Armonica Ballet Performance by the Louisville Ballet Civic Company.  (Fun Fact: the Glass Armonica-- one of the creepiest-sounding instruments ever created-- was invented by Benjamin Franklin.  It was originally thought that the sound of the glass armonica drove its players to insanity, but it turns out it was the combination of friction and water that helped the lead from the glass leach into the players' systems, giving them lead poisoning.)  Check out the event list for information.

Also up for the GAS Conference and continuing sporadically through July is ShoeString Productions' staging of Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie" at the Water Tower.  Check out the website for dates and ticketing information.  I'm personally very excited to see this particular play in this particular unconventional location.

This post really doesn't do the magnitude of the exciting glassy stuff going on in town justice, but the GAS website does an excellent job noting all the events and exhibits, so I'll direct you there. 

4th Street Art Festival This Weekend

For the most part, a night at 4th Street Live is like spending a night bar-hopping in an airport concourse with the "Girls Gone Wild" crew.  But this weekend, 4th Street is hosting an event that I'm sorry I will have to miss.  The Downtown Louisville Art Festival will feature over 150 artists on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm.  I'm always up for a good, juried art festival.  This one features artists from around the country, but I sure hope we have a good local showing.  The website promises that this will be an annual event.

And the early end time for the event assures the artists that no (or few) of the usual patrons will tip their Irish Car Bombs or Long Island Iced Teas into their hand-crafted pottery fountains or besmirch their watercolors with Midori Sours.  At least we hope.

Speed Museum and More

My goodness, I have so much to blog about! Sorry for the downtime, but Mama has been on Spring Break. And while Spring Break may have one time meant pina coladas on the beach, this year, it was more of a Staycation. I did spend three days in New England visiting Family O' Lou, but then it was back to Kentucky for stuff around the house and a few days out in the "real" Kentucky (ie. Lexington). There will be more on that in later blogs. But here's some local stuff that I gots to be covering...

• Did you know that the Speed Art Museum is now open til 9m on Fridays?? I am embarrassed to note that I only discovered the Speed a month or so ago. Parking at U of L is just so hideous that I have avoided the museum. I still don't have a good solution to that problem (email or comment if YOU do), but I just LOVE the fact that we have a museum open late on a Friday night. (on a side note, when you enter the Speed, the gallery to your left-- I swear it is painted the most beautiful shade of blue I have EVER seen).
  
  
• Actors Theatre has announced its 2010-11 season. Here's the line-up: THE KITE RUNNER (based on the best-selling book), THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP: A PENNY DREADFUL (a gothic melodrama-- the play I am most looking forward to seeing), BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (the Neil Simon masterpiece), THE SECOND CITY: IT TAKES A VILLE (a production of the famous Second City comedy troupe), MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (an August Wilson play), and POOR BEHAVIOR (a world premiere).

• Next weekend is Thunder over Louisville. I'm always at odds with this event. The display of military might and the expenditure of so many natural resources kind of leave me feeling ... bleh. That being said, it's a big day for us Louisvillagers; let me know how you're celebrating. In years past, I've gone to the Quonset Hut or watched from Waterfront Park. Alternatives??

As I said, I have lots of catching up to do. Hopefully will get to it in the next day or two. In the meantime, love this weather and love the pre-Derby vibe.

Tuesday Afternoon Randomness

I'm having yet again another "I'm feeling jazzed about Louisville" day. There's just so much good stuff going on these days, it's hard not to feel the jazz. Even when it's totally yucko outside like it is today.

• First up: tomorrow is the last Waterfront Wednesday of the year. Sniffles. I am not familiar with any of the artists, Bell X1, the Workers, or Company of Thieves. But it's Waterfront Wednesday, so I will be there. I'll be there hoping that the Company of Thieves guy wears the hippo on his head again.
  
• This is the final week to see Rocky Horror live. It's practically sold out, you know. And I've been hearing super good things about it. This Louisvillager is going to lose her Rocky virginity on Thursday night. There are still tickets left for Thursday night, so you could watch!
• Thanks to Broken Sidewalk for bringing us information about the adorable art installation on East Market Street. I actually startled someone on a bicycle while walking toward Nulu Fest. I saw the crazy white doggie prancing around the window of the old Wayside building and exclaimed, "Holy crap!" (Yes I said "crap" not the other word.) Sorry, bike dude. If you haven't seen "Sniff" yet, go, go, go! He'll (she'll?) only be around til Oct 30. (I think there's a missed Halloween opportunity there. Couldn't they make the puppy go all Cujo on Halloween and scare the bejeezus out of people? Good times.)
• This weekend is the Louisville International Film Festival. This is a very exciting event, chock full of new films you won't see anywhere else. (But not Adventures in Power) And like with the Labryinth seminar, if I didn't have a Meatspace job, I would TOTALLY shell out the $60 for the all day Friday and Saturday pass. It's a steal.

Brrr... do I really need to turn on the heat in September? Disappointing. Otherwise, Louisville, you're my hero.

Original Highlands Music & Art Festival: Why You Have To Go

A little while ago it dawned on me that I had stopped accumulating Rock Star crushes. Once upon a time it seemed like there was no end to the leather-panted, long-haired parade of front men and bassists (always those two, never guitarists or drummers) that peopled my wish list. There was even room to boot the occasional malefactor from the list when his bad boy behavior became... genuinely bad. (I'm thinking of you, Scott Weiland).

The fact that there are no new additions to my Rock Star crush list isn't really a head-scratcher. The names Jonas and Wentz and Meyer don't comfortably nestle with names like Springsteen, Vedder, Le Bon (c'mon, he was beautiful in the 80's!), Bono, and Capps.

Capps? you ask.

Oh yes, Louisvillagers. Grayson Capps. And he's coming to your Original Highland Art and Music Festival on Saturday. (Can you hear my heart pounding through the series of tubes?) I first fell in love with him and his country/blues/Southern rock when we both lived in New Orleans. He played Phoenix Hill last winter, but this is your chance to hear the man in his natural environment-- outside, on a beautiful (we hope) late summer's night, surrounded by beer.

If the marriage of the OH Arts & Music Festival and Grayson Capps were a Facebook status, I would "like" it a dozen times. You'll love this man. You'll love his music. You'll love his soul. And I'd bet good money he'll end up on your Rock Star Crush list too, no matter how you roll.

www.graysoncapps.com

http://ohnamusicandartfest09.weebly.com/music.html

PS. This year, the OH Music and Art Fest benefits Gilda's Club. That's actually a better reason why you have to go.

Art in the Highlands is the New Ursulines Art Fair

Earlier this year the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville announced that after 22 years the Ursulines Art Fair, which used to draw upwards of 35,000 people in September, was no longer. Enter the Louisville Collegiate School to pick up the art fair baton.

Art in the Highlands will be September 19 and 20 from 10am-5pm on the Louisville Collegiate campus. The event will feature 80 juried artists, including many who used to show at the Ursulines event.

According to the website:

Introducing this event to the community is a way for us to extend our arts education beyond our campus community. All proceeds from the event will support Collegiate students through tuition assistance and scholarships, technology, fine arts, athletics and professional development for faculty and staff.

A list of the artists and craftspeople is available here. This city is just silly for art fairs; here's hoping that this one is as successful as so many others have been!

PYRO Gallery Opening: Gatherings, Aug 21-Sep 26

Mixed media PYRO artist, Susan Harrison, will be joined by guest artists JD Schall, Waseem Touma and Annabelle Wilson in an exhibition featuring installations, paintings, and ceramics opening this Friday, August 21. The reception is from 5pm-9pm, and I have it on good word that there will be sangria available. It's always lovely to have a little sangria with your daily dose of culture. The exhibition runs through September 26, and if you can't catch the opening, there will be another reception during the Trolley Hop on September 4, also from 5pm-9pm.

According to the PYRO website:

Susan Harrison will exhibit a new mixed-media wall installation that juxtaposes precious etched copper with discarded waste materials and sentimental keepsakes. The materials she incorporates, such as inked plates and sculpted blocks, reflect her background experience in printmaking and sculpture. However, Harrison chooses to present these same materials in non-traditional ways: the inked plates remain unprinted and sculpted blocks remain two-dimensional wall paintings. Harrison hopes this installation inspires thinking about latent and realized potential, and the nature of order, dysfunction, memory, and attachment. This work is the result of her efforts to limit, re-order, use up, and transform years' worth of accumulated materials. She explains that she is turning the “bits and pieces, the junk and stuff” of her life into art.

Susan rocks, and her art is always surprising and thoughtful. Just another reason to check out great art downtown!

Pyro is at 624 West Main Street.