Artists in Our Midst celebrates the diverse artistic heritage of Louisville and surrounding area. The visual arts are deeply ingrained in our city and culture. Observing 26 emerging and established local artists, this show is just a glimpse into the vibrancy of our homegrown talent!

Whimsically imaginative characters frolic amongst a colorful composition in the Neo-color drawings of Bob Lockhart. Ann Stewart Anderson celebrates elegance and aging gracefully in her paper mosaic portrait series, “WOW: Wonderful Old Women.” Julia Davis is exhibiting her larger than life oil painting, “Remember Her;” Davis challenges the traditional still-life by juxtaposing a whimsically graphic flower symbol over a realistic depiction of a dying potted plant. Intricate patterns and textures abound in Amy Chase’s abstract porcelain sculptures, which capture nuances of the human condition. “Island in the Stream” colorfully merges landscape and abstraction in Billy Hertz’s mixed media painting. Suzanne Sidebottom plays with the viewer’s perception in her trompe l’oeil ceramic sculptures.

There is a great range of artistic vision to exemplify the vitality of the Louisville-area art scene. Works in this exhibition greatly vary in subject matter and media, including: ceramic, collage, painting, drawing, photography, glass, and mixed media. John Brooks explores mixed media techniques in his gouache on found magazine piece, “Into Blue.” Text and semiotics take center stage in KCJ Szwedzinski’s conceptual mixed media sculptures comprised of acrylic, wax thread, and ink.

While this juried exhibition was open to all media and subject matter, many of our Louisville artists have gathered inspiration from the history, culture, and surroundings of the region. Linear architectural elements contrast with the delicate form of a Monarch butterfly in John Davis’ acrylic painting, “Float Like a Butterfly;” the title pays homage to Louisville-native, the late Muhammad Ali. Lynn Dunbar features local shop of the Butchertown neighborhood, “Freddie’s Market,” in her impressionistic oil painting. Majestic equine beauty highlights the region’s horse culture in Kimara Wilhite’s photograph, “Lighting the Way.”

Kaviar Gallery currently represents over one hundred artists, some of whom will provide new work for the exhibition. Located off Frankfort Avenue, the gallery is filled with many fine artworks, crafts, jewelry, fiber works and furniture. Owner Craig Kaviar, who is a renowned sculptor and blacksmith, is an advocate of Louisville visual arts and an avid believer in the importance of celebrating local arts and crafts. Artists in Our Midst opens October 27 and will run through December 30th. We invite you to join us for an Opening Reception Friday, October 27 from 6:00 – 8:00PM during the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop!

WHAT: “Artists in Our Midst”
WHERE: Kaviar Forge & Gallery
WHEN: Opening Reception, October 27th, 6:00-8:00PM
Gallery Hours: Thursday & Friday 12-6, Saturday 12-4

(For a complete list of the artists, visit craigkaviargallery.com)