[The above image is “Namibia” by Laura Lee Brown in “From Near and Far” at Swanson Contemporary.]
Art news The city is seeking proposals from local arts and cultural organizations that wish to apply for the Our Town grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The purpose of the Our Town program is to support creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful and resilient places with the arts at their core. Proposals must be submitted via email to Public Art Administrator Sarah Lindgren at [email protected] no later than August 24 (louisvilleky.gov).
Local painter Carlos Gamez de Francisco is heading to the Art Institute of Chicago to continue his studies. He’s announced a "going-back-to-school" sale through Aug. 18. Visit his website for images and details (carlosgamezdefrancisco.com).
In-store installations by local artists were recently unveiled in area Kroger stores in collaboration with Louisville Visual Art. Ashley Brossart’s work is in the Prospect Kroger, Carrie Neumayer’s in Middletown and Claire Hirn has murals in both Highlands and Springhurst Krogers (louisvillevisualart.org).
The Anchal Project has recently opened dyeScape. Located at 1657 Portland Ave., the natural textile initiative will use its Dye Garden to demonstrate the potential of plants to provide natural color to fibers. The dyes will be used in fabric to make scarves, pillows and other textiles. Anchal is an organization that addresses the exploitation of women around the world by using design thinking to create employment opportunities, products and markets that support economic empowerment. As winners of Mayor Greg Fischer’s “Lots of Possibility Competition,” which sought innovative ideas for redeveloping vacant lots into productive community assets, the dyeScape team was awarded a vacant property and $15,000 to implement the project (anchalproject.org).
Top art events The Carnegie Center, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany, is hosting "The Subject as the Subject” on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. This event consists of a signing of artist David Iacovazzi-Pau’s new catalog followed by a live interview with fashion designer and past “Project Runway” contestant Gunnar Deatherage. Free but registration is required (carnegiecenter.org).
The Oldham County Historical Society is holding an Appraisal Fair with Mike Brown on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 11 a.m-3 p.m. at the Rails Restaurant on Main Street in La Grange. This event is part of the Vintage Market Fair on the Tracks. There is a $5 charge for each appraised item, limit of two items per person (oldhamcountyhistoricalsociety.org).
“Into the Jungle: Drawings from Taiwan” by Larry Keaty at PUBLIC Gallery, 131 W. Main St., through Aug. 22 (louisvillevisualart.org).
“From Near and Far: New Painting and Photography by Laura Lee Brown” at Swanson Contemporary, 638 E. Market St., through Aug. 22 (swansoncontemporary.com).
“Specters and Figments” by McCrystle Wood at Patio Gallery, Jewish Community Center, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, through Aug. 25 (jewishlouisville.org).
