Professional News

UPK Book on Kentucky Art and Culture Wins Alice Award

of

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2016) University Press of Kentucky’s "Kentucky by Design: The Decorative Arts and American Culture," edited by Andrew Kelly and sponsored by the Frazier History Museum, has been named the winner of the Alice Award given by Furthermore Grants in Publishing. Furthermore is a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund and is concerned with nonfiction book publishing related to art, architecture and design; cultural history; conservation and preservation; the city; and public issues of the day.

"It is a privilege to be in the company of the other distinguished publilcations shortlisted for the Alice Award," Kelly said. "On behalf of all the outstanding scholars, experts and museum professionals nationwide who made this book possible, I am delighted that 'Kentucky by Design' has been recognized by the Furthermore Foundation." 

The Alice Award was established in 2013 by Joan Davidson, president of Furthermore, in honor of her mother Alice Kaplan. Kaplan, vice president of the Kaplan Fund, was a well-known patron, scholar and activist in the arts, who urged the foundation to support music, dance, libraries and the visual arts. She loved and collected illustrated books as works of art and considered them essential documents in a civilized society. The Alice Award is dedicated to recognizing and cherishing the lasting values of the well-made illustrated book, and the special sense of intimacy it affords. Each year a jury of distinguished leaders in publishing and the arts selects the winning Alice book from the hundreds of eligible titles that have been supported by Furthermore.

"Kentucky by Design" celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Federal Art Project’s (FAP) Index of American Design. The FAP was established at the height of the Great Depression under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. One of the aims of this project was to collect and record the history of American material culture, and it culminated in the creation of the Index of American Design. This work, while intended for a wide audience, was never published.

Now, after 80 years, Kentucky’s contributions to the Index of American Design have at last been compiled in "Kentucky by Design." Kelly has gathered the contributions of experts to catalog prime examples of the state’s decorative arts that were featured in the index, pairing the original FAP watercolors with contemporary photographs of the same or similar artifacts. He provides information surrounding the history and current location (and, often, the journey in-between) of each piece, as well as local or familial lore surrounding the object. In addition to a wealth of Shaker material, the objects featured include a number of quilts and rugs as well as a wide assortment of everyday items, from powder horns and candle lanterns to glass flasks and hand-crafted instruments.

The Frazier History Museum will be presented with a $25,000 grant at a reception in the Rare Book Room at Strand Books on Oct. 25. "The Frazier History Museum is dedicated to sharing the stories of Kentucky, her people, heritage, industries and culture. 'Kentucky by Design' is a wonderful representation of that commitment to Kentucky's unique story," said President and CEO Penelope Peavler. "The Frazier is deeply honored to be the recipient of the 2016 Alice Award and is very grateful to Joan Davidson and Furthermore."

An exhibition featuring more than 85 original and facsimile watercolor renderings paired with the actual objects and artworks depicted in the book is on display at the Frazier Museum through Feb. 12, 2017.

Andrew Kelly, trained at Sotheby’s New York, is a Helena Rubinstein Fellow of the Whitney Museum of American Art and has authored and edited numerous monographs and catalogs on the fine and decorative arts. He has worked in association with many institutions, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters, McNay Art Museum, Harry Ransom Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Lisbon Ajuda National Palace Museum, Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation Palma de Mallorca, Russian State Museum at the Marble Palace, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum and the Tate Gallery London.

University Press of Kentucky (UPK) is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, representing a consortium that includes all of the state universities, five private colleges and two historical societies. The press’ editorial program focuses on the humanities and the social sciences. Offices for the administrative, editorial, production and marketing departments of the press are found at UK, which provides financial support toward the operating expenses of the publishing operation through the UK Libraries.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu