Arts Weekly

A contemporary artist is the focus of a new stage production in Lexington.  Plus, modern dance is back for a second winter at the University of Kentucky.  Previewing those events and a unique duo performing Sunday is arts reporter Rich Copley who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader. 

What started out a couple of decades ago as Richmond Community Theatre has grown into Rose Barn Theatre. While the group no longer performs in the tobacco barn that gave them their current name, community is still a very big part of the mission. Art's Weekly's Roger Duvall talked with Alice Jones, one of the actors in the current production of Steel Magnolias.

Fashion is the focus of a couple events this weekend in Lexington.  An author discusses the gowns made for a Lexington-born First Lady. And, modern works from designer Thom Heyer are on display.  Here to discuss fashion and this weekend’s other events is arts reporter Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader. 

The mountains meet the Jersey Shore in a production staged this weekend in central Kentucky.  Also, the season for Bluegrass music begins, if ever really ended, in Clay City. And, an art show that zooms in on the purely human form returns to Lexington.  Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader, offers a preview of this weekend's events. 

Writer’s Digest calls Barbara Kingsolver “One the most important writers of the 20th Century.  Her latest novel, “Flight Behavior,” was released last month. 

Holiday theater hits a climax this weekend in central Kentucky.  Two very different versions of Handel’s “Messiah” are performed.

On December 24th, 1945, a small town businessman from upstate New York was in the fight of his life.  Deeply troubled by a fiscal misdeed, 38-year-old George Bailey was suicidal.  That evening’s events have since evolved into an American myth.  Today, we re-examine his vision and explore other interpretations, including a couple of theories his “guardian angel” was not heaven sent.

When weaving a basket, form does not necessarily follow function.  The basket-making tradition runs deep in both Appalachian and the Andean Mountains of South America.  Arts professor Herb Goldman says the baskets may share the same job, but, they often look quite different.  Goldman, who teaches at Eastern Kentucky University, recently curated a show for the Lexington Public Library.

The Kings Singers are a vocal ensemble with a range that crosses boundaries….both stylistically and geographically.  In fact, during the past year, the six-member group has performed in over three dozen countries. They sing the work of contemporary composers, long-established classics and even specially-commissioned pieces.  Kings Singers, Jonathan Howard and Paul Phoenix, spoke with John Hingsbergen about the group itself and Friday night’s performance of “Travel Songs” at Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts. 

When a celebrated piece of sacred music is performed next Friday inside the Singletary Center, there’s a lot of room for conflict.  The composer of the Five Mystical Songs was Ralph Vaughn Williams, who was an agnostic. But,Vaughn-Williams uses poetry written in the 16-hundreds by an Anglican priest.