Horses: ‘Tis the reason for the season. And if there’s any doubt, look around at the amount of equine art that is in our town right now.
If you can make it to only one location to see Derby art this year, make it CRAFT(s) Gallery & Mercantile (craftslouisville.com). Its exhibition “Horsepower” is one-stop-viewing of the top artists of the genre (through May 31).
I’ve long considered Jaime Corum and Jeaneen Barnhart to be the best equestrian artists in the state. Coming up fast is sport artist Richard Sullivan. All are in “Horsepower.” So is Tyler Robertson; while unfamiliar to me before this show, he was chosen as the official artist of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup.
Some of the artists are in multiple shows in the city. Corum is also in the Kentucky Fine Art Gallery’s “Win, Place, Show” through May 31. Located in Leslie H. Spetz Custom Picture Framing (lesliespetzcustomframing.com), the exhibition also features work by Susan Hackworth, Robert Halliday, Greta Mattingly, Mike McCarthy and David O. Schuster (another artist to pay particular attention to this time of year).
The Gallery at The Brown Hotel (brownhotel.com) is showing Corum’s art in “Artists in The Winner’s Circle” with Lynn Dunbar Bayus and Robert Clark through June 30.
Robertson is also in Revelry Boutique Gallery’s “Win Place ART Show” (revelrygallery.com). This group show of 20 artists runs through May 6.
KORE Gallery (koreartgallery.com) is showing work by Geoff Crowe. “A Perspective in Paint” through May 5 features his latest equine paintings.
Liesl Long Chaintreuil, a favorite artist of Block Party Handmade Boutique (blockpartyhandmade.com), sells her Derby art there throughout the year.
Kaviar Gallery (craigkaviargallery.com) is closing on June 29. As a result, its merchandise, including Derby-related items, is 15 to 50 percent off in-store and online.
Southern Indiana is also sharing the love of horses. ArtSeed (artseed.art) is showing “Spirit of the Horse” by equine photographer Kimara Wilhite through May 16.
Farmington, the historic house museum and plantation, is hosting a Derby Social on Thursday, April 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $60 (farmingtonhistoricplantation.org).
For one-night only, CRAFT(s) is also hosting a pop-up shop on Friday, April 26. “Leather & Vinyl” features Furug Luxury Goods and DJ Matt Anthony from 6 to 10 p.m.
The Kentucky Derby Museum (derbymuseum.org) — “Where Every Day Is Derby Day” — is presenting Fan Fest on Sunday, April 28. Triple Crown winner Justify is the focus of a new museum exhibition and panel discussions, with events for the kids as well. Tickets are $15.
The May 3 Republic Bank First Friday Hop (firstfridayhop.com) is on the same day as the Oaks. Not all galleries and museums will be open regularly scheduled hours. If there is an exhibition you want to see, check the website or Facebook before heading out.
