This was the culminating exhibit of a summer photography and oral history program for youth and young adults in the backside community who expressed interest in the documentary disciplines. Guided by instructors from Louisville Story Program, Louisville Visual Art, and The Backside Learning Center, they learned the fundamentals of photography and were trained in the objectives and techniques of taking oral history. They photographed many aspects of daily life on the track and conducted personal interviews with community and family members. Some of the participants are the children of equine workers on the backside of Churchill Downs, others work on the backside themselves. Together they have captured a brief, vibrant glimpse into the lives and stories lived every day on the backside of the track. The exhibit will run throughout the month of October, Thursdays and Fridays 5-10 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. Thanks to UPS for providing a grant to make the whole program possible!
Open Doors
Open Doors Feature: Printmaking with Maryhurst Students at Foxhollow Farm
We have come to look forward to the end of the summer because that means it's time to work with the students from Maryhurst on a field trip at Foxhollow Farm! Last year we did cyanotypes— this year we used printmaking! All artwork created will be for sale at this year's Foxhollow Farm's Fall Festival benefiting Maryhurst— come on out on October 8th to pick up a one of a kind piece of art! RSVP on the Facebook event today!
First we explored the farm and each student selected veggies, flowers, and leaves that they wanted to use to create their prints. Students got to sample cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and green beans from the edible garden as well!
Students then rolled out the ink onto plexiglass and pressed their selected items into it— making sure to coat it evenly— a lot like stamps! They then created patterns and prints on notecards, tea-towels, and totes.
We thought for sure the veggies would be the most successful, but all of us agreed that the leaves made some of our favorite prints!
Be sure to come snag your favorite prints at LVA's table during the Foxhollow Farm Fall Festival on October 8th!
Open Doors Feature: Studio 2000 Sale
Studio 2000 Class of 2016
Tote bags, books, and cups at the first table.
The line for artwork purchases was well worth the short wait!
There was some fierce competition during the silent auction!
Studio 2000 Fiber Class of 2016
Studio 2000 Ceramics Class of 2016
Studio 2000 Mixed Media Class of 2016
Open Doors Feature: The Future Is Now
The Future is Now is mentorship program that matches JCPS high school students with professional local artists in Louisville, Kentucky. This summer we were so excited to partner with The Kentucky College of Art + Design at Spalding University to bring The Future Is Now back for Summer 2016! We had six amazing students and six wonderful artist mentors participate! You can see all their artwork at their exhibition at the Huff Gallery.
Open Doors Feature: The View From Back Here
Group photo from a field trip to Clifton Center
Photo by Evelyn
Students learning about composition in the community garden.
Photo by Vanessa
Photo by Jose
Students learning about composition in the community garden.
Photo by Imran
Photo by Siraj
Photo by Evelyn
Student Photograph
Student Photograph
Open Doors Feature: Visually Impaired Preschool
Open Doors Feature: Honor Quilt Project
We were so impressed by the student's work from the Academy at Shawnee! We worked with art teacher Beth Holladay to bring a project inspired by Judy Chicago's Honor Quilt to her classroom. Students chose a female visual artist who's work they admired and created a quilt panel to honor them. Kara Walker, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Minter, Mary Cassatt, and Bridget Riley were just a few of the artists selected by the students.
Open Door Feature: I Am Ali
We had a wonderful and inspiring time celebrating Muhammad Ali's life with the community at the I Am Ali festival this past week. Thank you so much to the Kentucky Center for hosting and to all the parents and children who joined us to create butterfly and bee masks!
Open Doors Feature: Buy Local Fair
We had a wonderful time creating "robots" from recycled materials with kiddos at the Buy Local Fair! We always love getting to meet new people from the community— especially talented young artists!
Open Doors Feature: Alltrade Mural Reveal
It is very difficult to pick out a favorite moment from the mural reveal party...but all the kiddos tackling LVA Outreach Program Coordinator Ehren Reed in a huge group hug as soon as they saw her is undoubtedly at the top of our list! We're feeling thankful for Alltrade Property Management seeing the value in public art, for Fund for the Arts' constant support, for our amazing team of teachers at LVA, and of course for the amazing students that are at the heart of all we do. Have a look at the images from the reveal party, then head over to Barret and Broadway to see in person!
We would also like to thank LVA board member Alexia Serpentini for helping us capture many of these images!
Open Doors Feature: Visually Impaired Preschool Services
We are having a great time working with Kosair Kids® through Kosair Charities and Fund for the Arts to bring a 28 week program to the Visually Impaired Preschool Services! During this class visit artist facilitator Ehren Reed and intern Zara Goldberg worked with students to mold clay into the letter of their first name and then add textural embellishments. This exercise is in preparation for a clay tile mural that the students will create next!
Open Doors Feature: Mural At Shawnee Community Center
With support from LVA, Metro Parks, as well as Fund for the Arts, Ashley Brossart designed a mural consisting of a series of vignettes highlighting the community of the Shawnee neighborhood to be installed at the Shawnee Arts and Cultural Center. Volunteers from UPS came to help paint the panels with direction from Ashley. The finished project not only beautifies the community center, but it will also act as a sound barrier to help keep the noise from the gym out of the art room that hosts Studio 2000!
Open Doors Feature: Aboriginal Art Collaboration
We had such a great time collaborating with Walden Theatre/Blue Apple Players to bring performances to compliment the Louisville Youth Orchestra's performance this past Sunday. The piece LYO performed, Dreamtime Ancestors, was written by Mr. Christopher Theofanidis and is performed only one time in each state! Ford's Made in America and now New Music for America selected the Louisville Youth Orchestra to represent Kentucky for this project— we were so honored to collaborate with them on a nationally recognized project!
Dreamtime Ancestors is based on the Australian aboriginal creation myths connected to "dreamtime", where each of us is connected to each other through our "dreamtime ancestors" in the past, present and future. Each movement had an aboriginal poem read prior to the presentation. LVA and Walden collaborated to allow Walden's students to interpret various aboriginal creation myths through performance. It was wonderful getting to help facilitate the creation of props for their performances and learning about aboriginal artwork together.
The Future Is Now Feature
We are so excited to share this short film documenting six months of The Future Is Now! A HUGE thank you to the folks over at Language&Logic for really capturing the heart and soul of the program and translating it so perfectly to film.
The Future is Now is mentorship program that matches JCPS high school students with professional local artist in Louisville, Kentucky. For half a year, each team worked towards creating individual and collaborative pieces for an exhibition in the Green Building Gallery. Along the way, the gallery and mentors taught the students about new artistic processes, portfolio building, exhibition design, installation, marketing, and what it takes to be a professional artist. Learn more here.
Open Doors Feature: Photography Time Machine
We had a great time working with Kosair Kids® through Kosair Charities and Fund for the Arts to bring a 8 week photography program as part of a full school year initiative with Home of the Innocents! Photographer Jenny Zeller took students through the history of photography— working with cyanotypes, polaroids, transfers, disposable cameras, as well as digital cameras! While exploring various photographic processes, students also learned the fundamentals of image making.
Student Work, Age 13
Student Work, Age 14
Student Work, Age 15
Student Work, Age 14
Student Work, Age 14
Open Doors Feature: Visually Impaired Preschool Services
We are having a great time working with Kosair Kids® through Kosair Charities and Fund for the Arts to bring a 28 week program to the Visually Impaired Preschool Services! During this class visit Ehren Reed and Jackie Pallesen worked with students to create and decorate their own drum using beads and tactile stickers. The students absolutely loved it!
Open Doors Feature: The Future Is Now Opening Reception
Open Doors Feature: Mini Maker Faire
We had such a great time at Louisville's Mini Maker Faire this past Saturday! Annette Cable worked with featured Summer Camp students to facilitate our booth— they helped visitors make their very own robots out of recycled materials!
Open Doors Feature: The Future Is Now
The Future Is Now students and mentors got together this past Sunday to learn new techniques and to get feedback on works in progress! They also got the chance for a visit to Krantz Gallery at JCTC. Learn more about The Future is Now Here.
Open Doors Feature: Art in the Park - Art Buffet
We had such a great time with Fund for the Arts and their cultural partners at Slugger Field for Art in the Park last weekend! So many amazing young artists were in the crowd.
