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: August 29, 2024

Keith McGill is clever, insightful, and a little bit eye-opening.  His comedy is truth with a twist. Indianapolis’ NUVO said, "Keith McGill has a style that is smooth and temperate, and lacks any gaudy gimmicks or catch phrases, making him one of the best standup acts within earshot... His material is positive and PG-13, yet still intelligently critical of the comical absurdities [of life]...The Louisville native is impossible not to like." Keith was also a STANDUP NBC Competition finalist. As well as touring internationally on Royal Caribbean and Holland America Cruise Lines, Keith has appeared on BET, CMT, LAUGHS on FOX and is a Bob and Tom Show favorite, and a much sought-after entertainer for corporate events.

Over My Dead Husband - Louisville Fringe Festival 
September 15 at 7 pm  For Tickets: Actorstheatre.org

Aaron Raymer earned a BFA in 2006 at the University of Louisville, and a MFA in 2008 at New York University with full scholarship support at both institutions. He has shown in New York (Kate Werble Gallery), across the US Midwest and South, and in Santiago Chile in an exhibition curated by Sebastian Errazuriz. He has been interviewed and reviewed by the New York Times along with other publications. Raymer is a father, and has taught in the University of Louisville Hite Institute of Art + Design since 2017. 

He is represented by Garner Large and Garner Narrative in Louisville KY.

Aaron Raymer - Between Boredom and Oblivion
Aug 29-Oct 26, at garner contemporary narrative gallery
Reception Sept. 14, 2-4 pm with Artist talk 3 pm

Over My Dead Husband & Between Boredom and Oblivion

Keith McGill & Aaron Raymer

Artists Talk With LVA: July 14 2022

Multi-disciplinary artist Colleen Toutant Merrill’s work examines the simultaneously personal and social history of textiles. Her adorned, embellished, and sometimes garish composite forms scrutinize the beauty and tension of our most interdependent relationships

She has exhibited her work here in Kentucky in  Lexington & Louisville but also in New York, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh, and at the International Textile Biennial in Haact, Belgium. Merrill has received grants from the Kentucky Federation for Women and the Great Meadows Foundation. She has been awarded fellowships for the Byrdcliffe Artist Residency in New York, and the Pentaculum Textiles Residency at the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Tennessee. 

Merrill is currently an Associate Professor of Art at Bluegrass Community & Technical College and a part-time Instructor in Fiber & Material Studies at the University of Kentucky.

Her latest body of work, Day In & Day Out, opens at  WheelHouse Art  Saturday, July 16, 3:00 - 5:00 pm. The exhibition continues through September 3, 2022.

"Day & Day Out" at Wheelhouse Art

Colleen Merrill

Artists Talk with LVA: April 28, 2022

This week we talk about "Seeing Sam Richards Sculpture", the new book by Frances Kratzok, and others, including Melinda Walters & John Begley. Tune in to WXOX 971.1 FM/Artxfm.com Thursdays at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Sam Richards was a prolific sculptor. His experimentation was broad, deep, and lifelong. He was knowledgeable, articulate, and down-to-earth, a man of sparing speech, and personal and artistic integrity. Richards taught at the University of Louisville for almost 19 years and making most of his sculptures in his campus studio. 

Louisville sculptor Frances Kratzok received a B.F.A. in sculpture from the Tyler School, Temple University, and an M.F.A. in sculpture from Rinehart School of Sculpture of Maryland Institute College of Art.

She has taught sculpture and art classes at several colleges in the Louisville area and exhibits regionally. She was married to sculptor Sam Richards.

Melinda Walters is currently a special education teacher in Louisville. She received her BA in Fine and Studio Arts with a concentration in Sculpture from the University of Louisville where she studied with Sam Richards. She went on to earn an MFA from the University of Albany SUNY before returning to U of L to get a Masters in Education.

John Begley is a freelance art worker (artist, curator, art services provider) He was Gallery Director, Assistant Professor of Art (Emeritus), Critical and Curatorial Studies graduate program coordinator for the Allen R. Hite Art Institute, University of Louisville 2001 – 2014 (Retired). He was also the Director, Louisville Visual Art Association 1983 - 2001

Seeing Sam Richards Sculpture

Fran Kratzok, Melinda Walters, & John Begley

Artebella On The Radio: June 17

The (Un)Known Project is a collaborative, two-year initiative led by IDEAS xLab to tell the stories of both known and unknown Black men, women, and children that were formerly enslaved and hidden figures in Louisville, Kentucky. This week we talk with old friends William Duffy & Dave Caudill, the two sculptors working ion this project, which will be unveiled Saturday, June 19.

William Duffy was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Always having a special talent for painting and drawing, Duffy graduated from the Louisville School of Art with a BFA in painting.

Duffy’s work can be found in numerous private, corporate, and public collections, including Phillip Morris USA, Brown-Forman Corporation, Kentucky Fried Chicken (now YUM! Brands, Inc.), Humana Inc., The Louisville Orchestra, and the J.B. Speed Art Museum.

David Caudill creates artworks for public, corporate and private collections. His larger public works are found at Louisiana’s Rip Van Winkle Gardens, East Tennessee’s Horizon Center park, the University of Kentucky’s Singletary Center for the Arts, and the University of Louisville School of Music. Corporate collections include Brown-Forman Corporation and Fire King International. Individual collectors across America have acquired his work.

He is also one of the few sculptors in the world who have created an environmental undersea sculpture. Caudill’s artwork was placed on the seabed near Nassau, The Bahamas.

The {Un) Known Project’s first public art installation "On the Banks of Freedom" gets unveiled June 19 as part of Juneteenth: Past, Present, Future.

The (Un}Known Project

William Duffy & David Caudill