Artists Talk with LVA: March 20, 2025

Julien Robson and Natalie Weis joined us this week to discuss Rounding the Circle, their book about the Al and Mary Shands collection. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 a.m. to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Rounding the Circle: The Legacy of Mary and Al Shands is a handsome hardcover volume, rich with full-color photography, that celebrates the art collection and philanthropy of the two late Louisville collectors.

The book's four essays (authored by Julien Robson, director of the Great Meadows Foundation; Peter Morrin, former director of the Speed Art Museum; John Yau, celebrated poet and art critic; and Natalie Weis, arts writer) chronicle Mary and Al's collection, the 2023 exhibitions at the Speed and at KMAC Museum, the sculpture preserve established on their Crestwood estate, and the creation of the Great Meadows Foundation. This non-profit has given more than $1M to Kentucky artists. It also includes short recollections by 12 artists impacted by Al or the foundation.

Trained as an artist at Bath Academy of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art, Julien Robson has held curatorial positions at the John Hansard Gallery at the University of Southampton (1984-1989), Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky (2000-2008) and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum (2008-2012).

Natalie Weis is a writer and creative director based in Louisville, Kentucky. As an arts writer she has been featured in Dwell, Hyperallergic, Sculpture, Collectors, Burnaway, Ruckus, and on NPR. 

For over 13 years in the advertising world, she was a creative director who developed strategy and has written award-winning campaigns for brands including Maker’s Mark, Utz, Monogram, Carrier, GE Aviation, OhioHealth, The Speed Art Museum, Louisville City FC, Bardstown Bourbon Tourism, and The Library Foundation.

Rounding the Circle: The Mary and Al Shands Collection

Julien Robson & Natalie Weis

Artists Talk with LVA: June 6, 2024

Rescheduled from May 30: Printed Zine III Stop Digging happened June 1 with an exhibition at Outsider Art Museum & Gallery. Lindsey Cummins & William Smith will tell us all about it this week. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Lindsey Cummins (she/her) is a Louisville-based independent curator, collector, archivist, and arts community organizer. As the Founder of AVID Collectors, she strives to impact local arts communities by uplifting artists, patrons, and private collections. Lindsey received her education at Louisville’s Hite Art Institute with a degree in Studio Art, Art History, and Modern Culture. She currently serves on the Board of the Portland Museum and the SNAP Art Foundation.  Lindsey was recently selected to be a Curate Purchase Inspire (CPI) Fellow with Louisville Visual Art.

William Smith (he/him) is an Art History and Economics graduate from the University of Louisville. There he acted as Vice President of the Honor Student Council’s Outreach Committee, working to raise awareness for and facilitate interactions between the campus and the creatives of its greater city. William has interned with the Fund for the Arts, and today works as the Administrative Coordinator of the Portland Museum.

Printed Zine III: Stop Digging

Lindsey Cummins & William Smith

Artists Talk With LVA: November 3, 2022

Melissa E. Feldman just wrapped up a stint as the 2022 Great Meadows Critic-In-Residence and she spoke with us about her experiences in Kentucky. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Melissa E. Feldman is an international contemporary art curator and writer. Her practice of over 25 years has focused on novel curatorial approaches, the geo-cultural context of art, and identifying emerging artistic trends. Recent traveling exhibitions include Indie Folk: New Art and Sounds from the Pacific Northwest organized by the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Pullman, WA (2022-25); Free Play, Independent Curators International, NY (2013-17); Another Minimalism: Art After California Light and Space, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh (2015-16); and Dance Rehearsal: Karen Kilimnik’s World of Ballet and Theatre, Mills College Art Museum, Oakland (2012-13).

Feldman has held positions for the last several years as Distinguished Visiting Faculty at Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, and Director of the Neddy Artist Awards at Cornish. A contributor to Art in America, Frieze, and Third Text among others. Feldman has taught at the California College of Art, the San Francisco Art Institute, and Goldsmith's College.

2022 Great Meadows Critic-In-Residence

Melissa E. Feldman

Artebella On The Radio: September 30

Esther Callahan is the 2021 Great Meadows Critic-in-Residence. We had a blast talking to her this week halfway through her residency. You won't want to miss this interview so tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM or stream on Artxfm.com Thursday at 10 am.

Esther Callahan is an African American independent curator, arts organizer, and feminist scholar with roots in Minnesota. Over the past 20+ years in the Twin Cities, she has created and co-created various platforms for cultural production rooted in interrogating the impact of racial and gender equity. She is the former Co-Director of the Emerging Curators Institute, a Minnesota-based nonprofit designed to build the individual practices of emerging curators from diverse backgrounds. In 2018-2019 she was Curatorial Fellow at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Mia), where she co-founded the Curatorial Advisory Committee—embracing all departments in Mia, including facilities, accounting, and visitor information—which has been adopted at Mia and other museums to help inform Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion practice in curatorial work. 

And LVA is excited to announce that Esther has agreed to conduct the next entry in our Artist Resource Series in October. Look for the date and how to register to be announced SOON!

2021 Great Meadows Critic-in-Residence

Esther Callahan

Artebella On The Radio: December 3

Julien Robson has curated "The Shands Collection: New Directions" which opens at John Brooks' Quappi Projects this week. Both joined us this week to discuss this unprecedented exhibit. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM, or stream on Artxfm.com every Thursday at 10:00am to listen to LVA's Artebella On The Radio.

Julien Robson is Director of Great Meadows Foundation, the INhouse Foundation, and Curator of the Shands Collection and the collection of Brook Smith. He also works as a project-based Independent Curator/Consultant. He is based in Louisville, Kentucky in the USA and Vienna, Austria.

Visual artist and poet John Brooks explores themes of identity, memory, death, place, and the transformative power and emotional resonance of particular experiences and what Max Beckmann described as “the deepest feeling about the mystery of being. he is the founder and director of Quappi Projects in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Shands Collection: New Directions is on exhibit December 4, 2020 through January 16, 2021.

The Shands Collection: New Directions

Julien Robson & John Brooks