Last year LARRY PEMBLE, eldest son of famed Kentucky writer and photographer James Baker Hall and his family decided to establish the James Baker Hall Foundation with a mission to honor and continue Hall's interest in mentoring writers by providing direct support to Kentucky literary and visual creatives. Pemble, who is President of the Foundation along with Vice President JEANINE TRIPLETT, talk about the Foundation's first Book Award which will be presented to poet George Wesley Houp who will receive $3,000 and a publication from Accents Publishing.

In addition to discussing how the selection process was undertaken, Pemble and Triplett talk about why this award is so important in the literary world, and how they intend to honor Jim’s legacy by providing financial funding for emerging and established voices who specialize in continuing the unique voice that is Kentucky.

The 1st Book Award will be presented on Tuesday, 1st October at Spalding University.

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VISIONS IN TANDEM, is a collaborative Retrospective Exhibition of Dobree Adam's fiber art intertwined with Jonathan Greene's poems. Lexington Art League, August 2 to September 20, 2024

This collaborative retrospective exhibition of works in fiber and photographs intertwined with poetry considers dialogues of vision and voice in the spirit of haiga, the Japanese tradition of painting with haiku. The art of haiga is about the synergy of collaboration, the richness and depth of an added layer of meaning each work brings to the other.

This exhibition centers on brief encounters and in-depth responses to living on their Kentucky River farm as well as to their travels. These encounters have brought reactions to landscape, sense of place, colors and rhythms, ambience, architecture, culture, and design aesthetics as well as inspirations for new bodies of work.

In the spirit of haiga, consider how the poems, fiber art, and photographs are related, and how seemingly unrelated works influence or redefine one another.

Dobree and Jonathan have developed a deep artistic collaborative relationship over their 50 years together. Dobree has become not only Jonathan’s personal editor but also a major contributor in the publishing of many Gnomon Press books and books Jonathan has designed and/or produced for others. They have had collaborative shows at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum in Missouri, the Headley-Whitney Museum, and the Evansville Museum of Art.

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William M. Duffy’s solo exhibition currently at the Speed Museum, is the second installment of the Louisville Black Avant-Garde series, highlighting local, historically significant Black visual artists active from 1950–1980. A lifelong artist, Duffy first began with painting, silk-screening, and drawing. However, after witnessing a car crash destroy a bank building’s marble column, he felt compelled to ask for remnants of the broken stone; from then on, he taught himself how to carve and sculpt through research, improvisation, and repetition. This retrospective exhibition spans over 4 decades of creativity and presents not only the sculpture that Duffy is now known for, but also his earlier drawings, paintings, and digital art. In addition to featuring works of fine art, this retrospective also includes commercial works commissioned by local community groups and works made over the course of his long career as an educator in the Jefferson County Public Schools – and done in collaboration with his students.

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Cacey Nadalilo, Executive Director of the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington, shares insights into this year's highly anticipated festival, including the variety of programming and community outreach initiatives. Joined by host Kate Savage, Cacey highlights the festival's mission to bring world-class chamber music to Central Kentucky through an array of pop-ups, educational workshops, and main stage concerts. The conversation covers the festival's partnerships with local schools and the significant impact of their outreach programs designed to inspire young musicians. Bringing together renowned artists like Nathan Cole and Ken Olson, this year's festival promises a rich blend of traditional and contemporary chamber music performances. Cacey also delves into the logistics of hosting such an event, the selection of distinguished musicians, and the importance of community engagement in fostering a love for classical music.

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Phoebe White is a 14 year old multi-instrumentalist, singer / songwriter whose first nationally released album in 2022 when she was 12, debuted at number 7 on the Western radio charts.

​Phoebe was a featured guest on the GRAND OLE OPRY in 2023 where she performed with Grammy award winners Riders in the Sky. She was presented with a special honorary exhibit at the KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL OF FAME in 2023.
​She has also performed with Suzy Bogguss, and shared the stage with Michael Johnathon, David McLean, Bluegrass band of the year: The Farm Hands, members of Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, New Grass Revival, The McLain Family Band, and many more.
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Phoebe has performed multiple times on WOODSONGS OLD TIME RADIO HOUR and WOODSONGS KIDS as well as Best of America by Horseback on RFD-TV; The country music capital of Kentucky: Renfro Valley, The Kentucky Opry, and more. Phoebe is currently getting ready to release her new album Cowgirl’s Delight featuring Grammy Award winners Riders in the Sky and Suzy Bogguss.
​To listen to the WEKU/NPR interview here

For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html

Samantha Simpson and Becky Alley, founders of the Muse Collective, a curatorial group in Lexington were inspired by the closure of Parachute Factory and the dearth of gallery space in the city. They discuss their innovative approach to building community and fostering inclusivity through pop-up exhibitions in unconventional spaces like garages and moving trucks. The guests share their vision of creating immersive art experiences enriched with music, poetry, and lectures, and their openness to showcasing works from beyond Kentucky. Challenges of balancing personal boundaries with community engagement are highlighted, alongside the excitement and flexibility their method allows. Their ongoing project, Blink, aims to nurture genuine relationships within the art world, emphasizing the collective's need for growth and collaboration.

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Larry Kezele, owner of Ruth Hunt Candy and the early champion for the soon-to-be installed Freedom Train Monument, and Yvonne Giles, Historian and Researcher also known as The African American History Guru, talk about the lives of the enslaved couple Lewis and Harriet Hayden and how once escaped from Lexington to the north, they became freedom fighters for those looking to escape via the Underground Railway.
Larry talks about how the memorial project initially was conceived by Sherry Maddoc ten years ago. Its bumpy way forward after she returned to Australia, then how it has recently gained traction and funding, and the process and selection of a sculptor as well as where the project stands today.
Yvette talks about the Haydens, their remarkable story of escape, their lives before and after breaking out of bondage, and how incredibly important it is to keep their story alive today and celebrate their quest for freedom as a fundamental human right.
Hayden, when asked why he wanted to be free, simply responded - "Because I am a man."

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Jordan Campbell, an award-winning actor and educator originally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, is a leading figure in the global arts and culture ecosystem. His career spans theatre, education, and policy, utilizing his acting background for diverse creative initiatives. While Jordan has performed worldwide, including on Broadway tours and prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center, and worked at the White House during the Obama administration, he is now back in his hometown.

Jordan is the Executive Director at the Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mt. Sterling, the place where he got his start in the arts.

​The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is the premier regional cultural center for the Central and Eastern regions of Kentucky. With a mission of providing excellent arts experiences for the communities along the I-64 corridor between Lexington, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia, GRAC is on the forefront of cultural programming and continues to grow its reach into the Appalachian and Bluegrass regions of Kentucky.

For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html