Art about Town with Steve Wilson

Written by Steve Wilson

Gaela Erwin

Very often, news and feature stories written about collecting art are focused on how much a particular piece cost or how collectors go to far corners of the world to buy. Laura Lee and I enjoy traveling, and we do find wonderful work not only in third world and European cities, but also in American cities. We have purchased work at the Basel Art Fair in Miami, which was featured in the last edition of Sophisticated Living. However, we get as much or more pleasure from buying works created by local artists here in Louisville and the surrounding area.

I think attitudes about art are rapidly changing, especially here in Louisville. But, for the last few decades, many people thought of good art as mysterious, expensive and relevant only to other people. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Certainly there are many priceless works in the galleries and storerooms of great museums around the world, but there are also great works that are not necessarily so expensive in galleries and schools right here at home.

Who decides whether art is great or not is left up to you, the viewer. The age-old question of who decides, and by what measure, when art is great or not is very easy for me to answer. You, the viewer or potential purchaser, are the only one to whom the work needs to speak. The opinion of others is irrelevant when Laura Lee and I purchase work for our collection. I especially do not like to evaluate art on the basis of an expert’s opinion any more than I like to go to a movie based on a review. As a result, our collection reflects our personalities. And most people, but not all, get a kick out of seeing what we might exhibit next.

We are attracted to works that provoke us in different ways… to laugh, to cry, to marvel and even to be offended. All of these life emotions contribute to a greater understanding and tolerance for the challenges that people face in their everyday lives. In reality, art is only a piece of paper or stone or some other inanimate object. The reaction or interpretation of it comes from within the viewer based on education, environment or other aspects of personal history. When one is offended by art, the next step should be to look within and discover why the discomfort. My favorite piece in our collection, at this moment, is by a Louisville-based artist, Chris Radtke, and is currently

Chris Radtke

standing proudly in the lobby of 21c as part of a show of unusual portraits. Radtke’s work has for several years been a manifestation of a deep introspection of her physical being, as well as that of her family members. I have never asked her to explain her work to me (many artists are reluctant to do that), but, in a profound and mysterious way, it has been a mirror to me of my own life. The work consists of two tall wooden boxes about my height. They could represent lovers, mates or siblings. At their bases is a pile of shattered glass. They seem to be figures whose souls or hearts have been broken; yet the pile of glass glistens in the light with an addictive attraction.

Monica Mahoney

Radtke’s work is available at Zephyr Gallery (www. zephyrgallery.org,) and she is currently showing at Country Club, a gallery in Cincinnati. Two other Louisville artists of note are also members of Zephyr, and their works are also being featured in the show in Cincinnati: Letitia Quesenberry and Stephen Irwin.

Irwin has enjoyed national recognition recently and is now also represented by Invisible Exports Gallery in New York (www.invisible-exports.com). His work continues to evolve. Some years ago he worked with collage, then plastic, and now has developed an unusual style of painting that involves covering up images with white, allowing faint hints of an image to show through.

Another favorite artist of mine and Laura Lee’s is Gaela Erwin, who is a meticulous painter now working in pastels. She is recognized as one of the best portrait painters in America today. She was one of seven winners for a competition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., where her work will hang for the next year. (www.portraitcompetition. si.edu/exhibition2009/AllFinalists.aspx) She is one of the few local artists who have had a one-woman show at the Speed Art Museum. Erwin is also a teacher at St. Francis High School and will do commissioned portraits.

Russel Hulsey is yet another artist whose work has evolved in a very intriguing way. When we first met him, he was doing video projections on clear screens, which produced almost a holographic image with shadows cast throughout the room. After taking some time off, he is now doing straightforward drawings of famous and intellectual characters in history. He recently had a one-man show at Art Ecology (www.artecologyllc.com).

I am very excited to reveal for the first time that local painter Monica Mahoney is working on eight mammoth paintings to be hung in Proof on Main in late April. Mahoney has demonstrated a unique talent of mastering any medium she tries and continues to amaze her followers. Most of her work sells before she can finish it. We managed to convince her to take enough time away from painting to create the red beaded limousine that is a local icon for 21c.

In addition to these five artists, whose work is pictured here, I have listed several more whose work we love and respect. There are too many good and earnest artists in our community to list here, but their works are hanging in galleries all over town and even more and more public spaces. The University of Louisville exhibits student’s work, and there is a new school of art in development. I find it very exciting to be living here as we all become increasingly aware of how artistic expression can excite and stimulate our daily lives. Clearly, those interested in buying art do not have to go somewhere else to do so.

Louisville has been referred to as “The City of Parks,” but I think we are becoming “The City of Arts and Parks” … but that’s a different subject! sl

SteveWilson is a philanthropist andarts patron who seeks to engage the public with contemporary artin newways.

KENTUCKY ARTISTS OF NOTE Lauren Argo Louisville-based performance artist who gained international attention when she lived in the window of Proof on Main for 21 days in an exhibition titled “Life as Art.”.

Madison Cawein Local painter whose work is in the collections of Brown-Forman, the Speed Art Museum and the Bernheim Foundation. He is represented by B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville. www.bdeemer.com

Mary Ann Currier Louisville oil painter who has had a onewoman show at the Speed.

Thomas DeLisle Louisville-based multimedia artist who has exhibited at Swanson Reed Contemporary and Zephyr Gallery.

Ben Durham Midway, Kentucky, has developed a unique method of creating portraits of graphite text on handmade paper. He is now represented by Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery in New York City. www.nicoleklagsbrun.com

Dan Dutton Somerset, Kentucky, an inventive artist who has worked in every form of expression imaginable, including music and dance. www.dandutton.com

Marvin Francis Currently incarcerated at Kentucky State Penitentiary, is an amazing artist who did not start creating until after he was imprisoned. He makes small realistic papier-mâché figures from toilet paper and other small harmless items he is allowed to have in his cell. He is represented by Art Ecology. www.artecologyllc.com/catalog/pages/marvin_francis.html

Jill Frank A photographer and printmaker who was living in Louisville but now resides in Chicago.. www.jillfrank.org/index.shtml

Valerie Fuchs Louisville/Shelbyville-based video and multimedia artist who has exhibited at Swanson Reed Contemporary, The Green Building and the Speed Art Museum. www.valeriefuchs.com

Ross Gordon Louisville-based world traveler who documents his encounters in large scale photographs.

Kenneth Hayden Louisville-based commercial photographer who now creates large scale oil paintings. www.kennethhayden.com

Maiza Hixson Kentucky-born photographer and videographer who also has a career as a curator and arts administrator.

Shayne Hull Louisville-based prolific portrait artist whose 100 paintings of Louisvillians are hanging in Proof on Main. www.shaynehull.com