Events, Artist Support

Fischer Prize 2018 reception

Keith Waits ·

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LVA partnered with the Community Foundation of Louisville in congratulating Elizabeth Hardy, the inaugural winner of the Bill Fischer Award for Visual Art! The celebration was held at the Tim Faulkner Gallery, located across the street from LVA's of…

LVA partnered with the Community Foundation of Louisville in congratulating Elizabeth Hardy, the inaugural winner of the Bill Fischer Award for Visual Art! The celebration was held at the Tim Faulkner Gallery, located across the street from LVA's office in Portland.

Hardy plans to use her prize money "to provide a suitable environment with tools to establish a space to be able to create works on a larger scale than I am physically capable of doing with the restrictions of my current studio space. I could expand my practice for my own productions as well as have a proper venue to function as a learning environment that I could share the techniques I have learned with others."

PUBLIC Radio

LVA's Artebella On The Radio 01.04.18

Guest User ·

For our first show of 2018, we talked with three of the Hadley Creatives: Printmaker Brianna Harlan, Glass Artist Devin French, & Performance Artist Cynthia Norton. Anne McKune of Community Foundation of Louisville joined us to explain this new program. Join us every Thursday at 10am on WXOX 97.1 FM

Developed in partnership with Creative Capital, a New York-based nonprofit that supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country, Hadley Creatives is a 6-month learning and engagement experience for local artists who are at a pivotal point in their careers.  Through a competitive application process, we selected fifteen artists who demonstrated a strong creative vision and a readiness to pursue or extend their career as a working artist. The six-month program will help the selected local artists build their professional practice, cultivate an expanded peer network and dedicate time for reflection and planning.

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Mural, Artist Support, Community

The Hunt for Fiber

Amy Chase ·

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LVA was thrilled recently to discover that Amanda James, an Assistant Director of Young Alumni & Student Philanthropy at the University of Louisville and self-described "wall crawler" (mural fan!) ended her 2017 by visiting the trio of murals LV…

LVA was thrilled recently to discover that Amanda James, an Assistant Director of Young Alumni & Student Philanthropy at the University of Louisville and self-described "wall crawler" (mural fan!) ended her 2017 by visiting the trio of murals LVA & Google Fiber helped bring to life for artists Carrie Donovan, Liz Richter and Carlos Gamez de Francisco.

She credits her friend Josephine Lee for introducing her to the murals and said of them, "I absolutely love these additions to Louisville!" We do, too, Amanda! Thank you for these wonderful photos.

CFAC, Mural, The Academy of LVA, The Future Is Now

An Appreciation: Jackie Pallesen, LVA Education & Outreach Director, 2011-2017

Amy Chase ·

Children's Fine Art Classes (CFAC), founded in 1925, has remained the cornerstone of Louisville Visual Art's program. Jackie Pallesen came onboard as CFAC director in 2011, and it wasn't long before she charted a path of innovation that brought that…

Children's Fine Art Classes (CFAC), founded in 1925, has remained the cornerstone of Louisville Visual Art's program. Jackie Pallesen came onboard as CFAC director in 2011, and it wasn't long before she charted a path of innovation that brought that program, and all of LVA's education department, online and into the 21st century.

She did it by building a management team, one that recognized that the long-term future of non-profit arts centered on the expansion of education programming, and brought innovation to the table. Her first step in that process was hiring Sarah Davis to be CFAC director.

"It's easy to understand what an amazing impact Jackie has made on LVA when you see the numbers rapidly growing under her leadership," Sarah observes, "but I think the most significant thing she contributed to LVA is harder to quantify. Jackie made sure programming was meaningful and thoughtfully executed."

"Both LVA, as well as the entire Louisville community, have been fortunate to have her for the past six-and-a-half years, and I can't wait to see how she brings this same energy and passion to her new students," says Sarah.

Once the CFAC selection and registration process was a mountain of paperwork that descended upon the LVA office twice a year. Now it functions in a streamlined manner through an almost entirely online registration.

Recognizing that the CFAC high school curriculum demanded an upgrade, and needing to address the needs of students preparing for college, Jackie led her team in researching what other visual art programs for ages 14-18 were doing around the country. In 2015, they launched The Academy at LVA, an ambitious advance for the Louisville community.

When Kroger prepared to launch a mural initiative for their Louisville market, it was Jackie that took charge of the project, acclimating Kroger executives to a process of issuing the Call to Artists, reviewing portfolios and original proposals, and the final selection of artists for each location over the last 2 1/2 years.

One reason for Jackie's enthusiasm for the Kroger Mural Project was that it provided a first step in realizing a long-developing desire for LVA to initiate a larger mural initiative - one that would encourage community leaders and local businesses to invest in local artists and the expansion of public art.

Lindy Casebier, Executive Director of LVA, expressed appreciation for her leadership and laying a solid foundation for the next successful chapter in the life of the organization.

There have been a long line of innovative leaders in the education department; Peg Smith and Linda Sanders come immediately to mind. Talented people move in and out of non-profits all the time, but if the hope and ambition is that you leave the place better than you found it, then Jackie Pallesen's time at LVA was certainly well-spent. The organization, the programs and the people involved can only be grateful for that legacy.

Written by Keith Waits.
Photo by Sarah Davis.

Community, Artist Support

Announcing "Taking Art in a New Direction"

Keith Waits ·

Louisville Visual Art is a recipient of a Jennifer Lawrence Foundation Fund for the Arts Imagine 2020 grant!"Taking Art in a New Direction" - In partnership with New Directions Housing Corporation, LVA will expand its existing Mural Art Program…

Louisville Visual Art is a recipient of a Jennifer Lawrence Foundation Fund for the Arts Imagine 2020 grant!

"Taking Art in a New Direction" - In partnership with New Directions Housing Corporation, LVA will expand its existing Mural Art Program and target locations throughout Louisville's West End to develop a vibrant mural network.

LVA is grateful to the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund at the Fund for the Arts, Louisville Metro Government and Imagine Greater Louisville 2020. We are thrilled to partner with New Directions on this initiative in West Louisville!

PUBLIC Radio

LVA's Artebella On The Radio 12.14.17

Guest User ·

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We kicked off the show talking with LVA's Ehren Reed about the Call For Artists for the Artxfm Mural!!! Then Costume Designer Donna Lawrence-Downs was our guest on LVA's Artebella On The Radio. This is an example of her work, from last summer's Richard II for KY Shakespeare. Tune in each week to WXOX 97.1 FM/ A R T x F M.com, 10am Thursdays.

Events, Artist Support, Community

Seeking Nominations For LVA's "The Stars Among Us" Visual Art Awards

Guest User ·

"Enchanted Rider" by Bob Thompson, oil on canvas, 1961

"Enchanted Rider" by Bob Thompson, oil on canvas, 1961

LVA is seeking nominations to celebrate those who have made a significant impact in our visual art community. At the  Louisville Visual Art Honors the Stars Among Us... inaugural luncheon on March 1, 2018 at KY Center for African American Heritage, the awards will presented to those selected from the categories listed below. Award Recipients must be available to attend the ceremony on March 1, 2018.

Final selection of award recipients will be made by a select panel of judges.

Rising Star Award - In Memory of Bob Thompson

Thompson was a Louisville-born African-American figurative painter known for his bold and colorful canvases, whose compositions were appropriated from the Old Masters. He was prolific in his eight-year career, producing more than 1,000 works before his death in Rome, Italy, in 1966. The Whitney Museum in NYC mounted a retrospective of his work in 1998.

The Rising Star Award is an annual recognition of an emerging artist in the Kentuckiana region. The artist receiving this distinction will be considered a new and/or up-and-coming artist; however, age will not be a determining factor. The winner of the award will separate them self from the rest of the candidates by demonstrating a widely acknowledged expert skill set in their respective field. Commercial success will help in distinguishing candidates - however, it will not be the most determining factor. The Rising Star Award-winning artist will be an individual whose future is bright both in terms of commercial success and in impacting the local visual arts community.

Visual Art Educator Award  - In Memory of Anna Huddleston

Huddleston was born in Louisville, where she taught elementary school for 19 years with Louisville Public Schools and then was a junior high school art teacher and consultant for 20 years. She was also president of the Kentucky Art Education Association and the first African American to receive the Milner Award.

This award will be given to an individual in the Kentuckiana region who has had a longstanding and important impact on developing, teaching, and inspiring artists. This individual will be recognized for their dedication to enriching the lives of students of all ages by meaningfully and continuously educating people in the world of visual art.

Benefactor of the Year Award - In Memory of Charlotte Price

Price was a gifted sculptor and painter committed to supporting the arts in the community, especially Louisville Visual Art (formerly the Art Center Association).

This award will be given to an individual who has gone above and beyond in giving back to the local visual arts community. Whether it be through funding education initiatives, sponsoring events, or through personal/familial/estate gifts, this individual has left a lasting impact on the visual arts community over the past year.

Legacy Award  - In Memory of Julius Friedman 

Friedman was a Louisville-based graphic designer, photographer, artist and design studio owner who was one of Kentucky’s most influential artists and an invaluable part of the Louisville arts community.

The Legacy Award will be given to an individual who has positively impacted and improved the visual arts community in many different ways for a time period spanning decades. This individual truly represents what it means to leave the world a better place than you found it, and their positive impact in the visual arts community will be felt, seen, and remembered for generations to come.

The deadline for suggested nominations is December 29, 2017.

PUBLIC Radio

LVA's Artebella On The Radio 12.7.17

Guest User ·

"Onions and Tomato" by Mary Ann Currier, Oil pastel on mat board, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Onions and Tomato" by Mary Ann Currier, Oil pastel on mat board, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Cathy Shepherd and Peter Morrin joined us December 14 to discuss the work and impact of the late, great, Mary Ann Currier. Cathy was a former student and Peter was Director of The Speed Museum when a retrospective of Mary Ann's work was mounted there several years ago. Join us each Thursday at 10am for LVA's Artebella On The Radio on WXOX 97.1 FM/ A R T x F M.com.

Community, Artist Support, Exhibits

Mayor Fischer announces steps to explore Louisville’s history and values through public art and monuments

Keith Waits ·

"Colonel William Oldham" by sculptor Matt Weir. Photo by Keith Waits."In an effort to ensure Louisville’s public art and monuments not only tell our history but also showcase our community values, Mayor Greg Fischer today announced steps to establis…

"Colonel William Oldham" by sculptor Matt Weir. Photo by Keith Waits.

"In an effort to ensure Louisville’s public art and monuments not only tell our history but also showcase our community values, Mayor Greg Fischer today announced steps to establish principles for such works, while creating additional opportunities for artists to explore issues of race, discrimination, xenophobia and values."

Read more, including about LVA's role in this process, here now.

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