Karpf to Speak at Jan. 9 Art Exhibit in Danville

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 8, 2014) – The Community Arts Center in Danville will hosts its second annual “New Year New Art” exhibit this month, featuring works less than four months old by more than 20 Kentucky artists. The limited engagement exhibit is open  through Saturday, Jan. 25. The exhibit reception Thursday, Jan. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., features guest speaker Dr. Michael Karpf, University of Kentucky Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, presenting “The Ripple Effect: How the Arts Drive Economic Development.”

Karpf is a champion of the UK Arts in HealthCare Program, which provides opportunities throughout the Albert B. Chandler Hospital for the public to see art, listen to music and enjoy the cultural landscape when they are healthy, so that when needed, the facility will be more familiar and comfortable. The program features exhibits and performances by local, national and international artists as well as a therapeutic arts component, which utilizes art in the clinical setting to contribute to healing.

The “New Year New Art” exhibit began last year as a way to encourage Kentucky artists to create new works with the goal of exhibiting it at the very beginning of the following year.

“It all comes down to New Year’s resolutions,” says Brandon Long, programming director at the Arts Center. “A lot of artists are looking for exhibiting opportunities, and you always want to be in more shows this year than you were in the last. It gives artists a strong start to the new year with one show under their belt.”

The reception begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, and also features music performed by pianist Larry Bitensky, an associate professor of music at Centre College. Dr. Karpf will speak at 6:30 p.m.

Visual artists exhibiting in “New Year New Art” include Connie Estes Beale, Emily Clark, Jack Cochran, Allan Crain, John Dixon, David Farmer, Donna Forgacs, Amanda Hendershot, Judith Jia, Eric Johnson, Robert Lackney, Barbara Lockhart, Brandon Long, Nancy Martindale, Marianna McDonald, Gay McGuire, Paul Muth, Kathleen O'Brien, John Robinson, Paul Sirimongkhon, Sheldon Tapley, Paula Whitaker, Mark Wilhelm and Bernice Wood.

The exhibit is open free to the public Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about this exhibit and upcoming exhibits at the Arts Center, visit www.communityartscenter.net or call 859-236-4054.