Sadly, we have had to postpone Open Studio Weekend until spring 2021, but we have one more interview with some of the artists talking about their work. Robbie Mueller, Chris Hartsfield, and Dru Pilmer are our guests this week, along with LVA Executive Director Kristian Anderson. Tune in each Thursday to WXOX 97, or stream on Artxfm.com to hear Keith Waits talk with artists.
Robbie Mueller is a mixed media artist working primarily with wood, paper mache, found objects, and acrylic paints; 3-D sculpture, bas reliefs, and assemblages. “Much of my work often gets labeled folk art, because of the more traditional themes that become my subjects , but as my work has continued to evolve, more contemporary themes involving found art, & salvaged art are being incorporated. Because I am untrained, I label myself a contemporary folk artist with "outsider" tendencies.” His work can also be seen at the Kentucky Folk Art Center (Morehead State University, Morehead, KY), Gallery 104 (Lagrange, KY), Meraki & Moon (Georgetown, KY),on Facebook (Robbie Mueller: Folk Art Kentucky), on Instagram (@folkartky), and on Twitter(@ibwhittlin).
Chris Hartsfield is a self-trained watercolorist who works primarily with bright, clean colors to achieve a realistic style of painting. His technique produces a complicated yet detailed scene revealing an understanding of depth and realism. He enjoys painting a variety of subjects, including still life, landscape, street scenes, and nautical scenes. His compositions are well balanced and flowing, keeping the observer's eye engaged. Since Hartsfield began his art career in 1988, he has had paintings accepted in national and regional watercolor competitions. Including The American Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor Society, Arts For The Parks, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma Watercolor Society shows.
Dru Pilmer’s art is in private, public, and corporate collections in New York state, Chicago, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, Utah, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, South America, Canada, and Scotland. She was recently one of 46 artists in 13 states and Germany to win juried acceptance in ConTEXT III Exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO. Her painting, “9 Millimeter Flowers” won Best of Show in KORE Gallery’s 2019 Black & White Show.
She was a featured artist in March 2019 Today’s Woman Magazine, exhibited in Mariott and Hyatt boutique hotels, and executed numerous watercolor and acrylic commissions throughout the U.S.
LVA Executive Director Kristian Anderson has 15 years’ experience in the arts and culture sector, most recently as Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor of Salt Lake City. In that role, he oversaw a variety of community, operational and political projects encompassing arts and culture as well as land use, urban design, economic development and more. Prior to his mayoral appointment, Kristian was for four years the Executive Director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art and Executive Director for the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries in Seattle.