Member Monday: Shohei Katayama

When did you first know that art was going to be a big part of your life?

Maybe after dropping my math / psychology major for sculpture.  Although now, I believe that any subject's zenith is great art.

What does LVA add to your life?

A sense of community and love. <3

How else are you involved in the community?

I run a small gallery called "ThinkBox Contemporary".  It's an experimental art venue that functions as a residential project space, evolved from an interest in exploring the relationship between people, their environments, and the community.  As a practice for urban regeneration, the development was initiated in the heart of Old Louisville. The venue was completed in late 2013 through the collaborative support and effort of locals, to increase dialogue for the betterment of the area’s social discourse and to provide a location that acts as a catalyst for spreading ideas. Local artist / educator at KYCAD, Andrew Cozzens (I think... now a board member at LVA?) has helped with inviting national to international artists to broaden the scope. Hopefully someone will continue it after I leave.  

Describe your perfect Sunday afternoon.

Mimosa at Wild Eggs, trail hiking and cycling at Bernheim Forest, napping at Cherokee park, lunch at Kashmir, playing the piano with a giant jug of espresso. Ah, so many things I love to do and so little time.  

Who is your favorite local artist?

Hmmmmmmm. They're all my favorites. 

Where would you like to see Louisville 10 years from now?

That'll be about half way into the Move Louisville plan...so an efficient public transportation. Google'll be nice. More art critics! 

What neighborhood do you live in? What are some of your favorite things about it?

Old Louisville! The affordable and beautiful neighborhood, where law enforcers frequently leaves me a letter encased in a green envelope on my windshield.

What three items would you bring to a desert island?

Multitool survival kit, fishing rod, and a bottle of Pappy 23yr.

What advice would you give your past self if you could?

"If you truly love something, don't tell anyone." 

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Shohei Katayama is a Japanese American artist living and working in Louisville, Kentucky. His work includes line drawings, sculpture and conceptual installation art. He received a B.A. in Studio Art from Bellarmine University (2010) and undertook additional training in glass blowing with Ché Rhodes at the University of Louisville.

In 2012, Katayama served as the artist-in-residence at the Asia Institute – Crane House and he continues to be an active leader in Asian culture education in the community. He is a former preparator at Land of Tomorrow gallery and currently an Associate Member at Pyro Gallery. 

Katayama’s work has been shown extensively in local and regional venues, from Pyro Gallery (2011-2013) and Land of Tomorrow (Lexington, 2013) to the Crane House (2012, 2013, 2016), The Brew House (Pittsburgh, 2014), and the Local Speed exhibition at the Speed Art Museum (2013).

www.shoheikatayama.com

www.facebook.com/thinkboxcontemporary

Member Monday: Annette Cable

How did you first get involved with LVA?  

My husband, Mark and I are both artists, we joined years ago. Our daughter, Izzy, is a CFAC alumni. And both my husband and I have taught summer camps and classes for LVA, me for many years

When did you first know that art was going to be a big part of your life?

When I started elementary school, always with the teacher’s bulletin boards, posters for school events, elaborately decorating my folders with scenes from plays, 4-H projects and homework were always artfully oriented. It started when I was little.  

What does LVA add to your life?

A community of artists, creatives who are also business minded. A community of creative, silly, youthful students to help keep me young at heart. Great opportunities to expand my teaching and illustration career.  

How else are you involved in the community?

I work for a lot of educational institutions, the Portland Museum, Riverside the Farnsley-Mormen Landing, the Carnegie Center for Art and History, coming up with all kinds of creative and history based art projects. Teaching people to be creative in all aspects of life, that’s how I like to be involved.

Describe your perfect Sunday afternoon.

In my little tiny garden and yard, listening to birds and the wind, and neighbors in the distance. Listening to life. Digging in the dirt, playing with color and lots of shade

Who is your favorite local artist?

Julia Comer, jewelry designer and artist. I’ve worked with Julia in many capacities, shared a studio, been a shop girl in her gallery, learned more patience and more tenacity, quality of craft and goodness from her, to push myself through her excellence, creativity and perseverance.

Where would you like to see Louisville 10 years from now?

I would like to see a more positive, peaceful place, brought on by working together, communicating thoughtfully and rationally, and more and better education. People paying attention to each other, nature, our environment. People unplugged! Beauty - art, music, dance and poetry surrounding us and helping to answer problems.

What neighborhood do you live in? What are some of your favorite things about it?

I live in a little house in the Highlands. A little house on a little street, we can walk, ride bikes to dinner or the grocery or the green parks or to visit with friends and neighbors. Big old trees and gardens, red-tailed hawks soaring between the trees, families and doggies everywhere. People young and old, mixed together, living everyday together!

What advice would you give your past self if you could?

Get your masters in education and business!!! A freelance career gives you a lot of freedom but not a lot of stability, it would be nice to have more choices in job opportunities. Be in the now, and start a retirement plan now. Keep a small, sunny place in the country. Be happy, create, use your mind and don’t stop exercising your mind and your body!

Member Monday: LaNia Roberts

Photo by Sarah Katherine Davis for LVA

How did you first get involved with LVA?

In my art class at Central High School, my art teacher, Mr. Patrick Robertson noticed my strong interest in art, and suggested that I go apply to be in LVA's CFAC classes! I applied, and got in. It was amazing, and from there, my art and my life truly began to thrive. 

When did you first know that art was going to be a big part of your life?

I believe it was the day I graduated from Governor School for the Arts. The experience was so great for me, it was almost like a dream. I began the road of finding my true self there. After graduation, and winning an award, I realized that the only thing that had brought me to that wonderful experience was Art and God. I consider both to be one. And when I left GSA, I knew for a fact that I couldn't go anywhere or do anything without it. 

What does LVA add to your life?

LVA has given so much to my life. Really, I wouldn't be wherever I am, or wherever I will be, without the love that was given by LVA to me. LVA has and always will add support, love, and family to my life. LVA is definitely apart of my Art Family—-people I love that give support that have came into my life because of Art. 

Photo by Sarah Katherine Davis Photography

Describe your perfect Sunday afternoon.

Since I am in college, there is something that is always due, a meeting to always attend, a class to always go to. My perfect Sunday is a day where I get a full 8 hours of sleep the night before, I wake up around 10am, go for a run, shower, and then go straight to the studio. I paint solely on a personal piece since I magically have no homework for however many hours needed to get to a point in which I am happy with the creation. I then magically have no meetings to attend, and since it is also spring, it is sunny, dry, and 75 degrees— the perfect weather in which to lay out in the grass and read on the Quad. As I read, I see a few buddies walking past and have nice conversations with them all. Reading-talking-reading-talking. Afterwards, when it begins to get dark, I will get up and go back to my studio and work on anything further that will enhance my journey of personal growth (research watching a documentary, learning something new, etc.). At around 9-10pm, I will get up and go back home, order Wings over Syracuse and choose a book or movie to loose myself in. I will then eat, and go to sleep by 11pm to rise early the next morning. Now, THAT is a perfect Sunday!!! Lol! 

Who is your favorite local artist?

Kevlen Goodner, a freelance illustrator, is definitely my favorite local artist. Besides him being purely amazing, his soul, like his art, is full of beauty, love, and knowledge. He is a friend of my dad, but ever since he has seen my art, he has been an extreme supporter—a very precious gift I did not know how to hold while I was younger! He has helped me a lot in the past, and every action he seems to take inspires me in ways I can not explain! With his character personally, and as an artist. I only have love for Mr. Kevlen!  

Provided by LaNia Roberts

Provided by LaNia Roberts

Where would you like to see Louisville 10 years from now?

I would like to see Louisville with more jobs, higher minimum wage, more art, and more available resources for children needing a creative outlet. Especially for the children that don't have parents that can mentally or financially support their artistic journey. 

What neighborhood do you live in? What are some of your favorite things about it?

I grew up in the West End and Beuchel. When I left for college, my family moved to Shivley. So I've lived in a couple of different areas here in Louisville. I must say that my favorite thing about any of them is the amount of access I have to different things. Busses, stores, centers, anything. Being in three different areas with three different amounts of access really showed me how segregated simple access is to human beings.  

What advice would you give your past self if you could?

Essentially, none. But something that would have put a bit less stress on my back would be to not compare myself and my journey to others. I did a lot of comparing, and feeling bad about myself and my place in life while I was younger. If I had known what life had in store for me, I would have realized that even my laziest days were leading up to a success and love filled life.

Want more LaNIa? Confidence by LaNia on Huffington Post Rise. 

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Member Monday: Clare Hirn

How did you first get involved with LVA?

In third grade I was invited to take free after school art classes from LVA.  I still remember one of the paintings I did of my family packing up the back of the station wagon for a trip.  Sorry to say I don’t know what happened to the piece but it may be best as my memory has preserved it.

When did you first know that art was going to be a big part of your life?

In college I planned to go into medical illustration.  To be honest, it wasn’t until college I realized art making could be a full-time gig.   I took time before grad school to work at a frame shop and paint, and there was no looking back. I went on to receive a graduate degree from the New York Academy of Art, painting and drawing, versus pursuing a more practical degree of medical illustration.

What does LVA add to your life?

LVA has been a staple in that I circle back around at different times in my life to re-find the organization: from being taught art lessons as a child, to teaching children as an adult, to showing in the annual shows, to having my own children take classes, to the Open Doors programs and to Open Studio weekend.  I commend the people that have kept the art spirit of LVA alive, vibrant, connecting, and giving over many years. Thank you!

How else are you involved in the community?

I have been a local artist for over 25 years, working as an artist in the community as a muralist, as a teacher at times, and as a believer and supporter of the regional visual arts.

Describe your perfect Sunday afternoon.

Out door time in sun- working in my yard, contemplating flowers and where in the yard they would be happier. 

Who is your favorite local artist?

I need to get out to galleries and studios more because there are many great working artists in our community!  And there is no central water cooler hang out!  Looking back, I will always be grateful to Mary Louise Schrodt, who showed me how to bring those patches of yellow oil paint together into the petal of a rose. It was magic before my eyes to make form happen on canvas.

Where would you like to see Louisville 10 years from now?

I do wish the visual arts of Louisville received more community support.  I would like Louisville to join the ranks of other cities that devote a certain percentage of new building dollars to art within and around the building site. It makes total economic sense as we make our city ever more inviting.

What neighborhood do you live in? What are some of your favorite things about it?

I live in Old Louisville and wouldn’t live anywhere else in Louisville!  From the architecture to those within – all are unique, some in peculiar ways ;-) It makes for a fairly diverse community.

What three items would you bring to a desert island?

A pencil, since drawing is at the heart of art making for me, lentils, and my kitty cat Tux, who is forever entertaining and loving.

What advice would you give your past self if you could?

Doors open, even as they close.

Want to become a member of LVA?