Kentucky Arts and Culture

A documentary revives the memory of a 19th century Kentuckian who led the fight against slavery in the south.  The film, titled “Cassius Clay, an Audacious American” was created by Lexington Film maker Michael Breeding.  Breeding says interest in the abolitionist is growing.

Spin-offs are not exclusive to television sit-coms.  A four-year old music festival called Boomslang has prompted multiple spin-offs, all of which take place this weekend in Lexington.  Here with a preview of Boomslang and this weekend’s other events is Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald Leader.  He spoke with WEKU reporter Charles Compton.

The  Kentucky Theatre in downtown Lexington is preparing to celebrate its 90th birthday and a group of local volunteers is working to raise up to $1.5 million for renovations to the movie house. The theatre, which is owned by the city of Lexington and leased to a private management firm, was last renovated 20 years ago after a fire. Since then, the seats have become worn out and paint has started to chip. But theatre manager Fred Mills says the biggest issue is Hollywood’s ongoing shift away from 35 mm film to digital production of movies.

CARROLLTON – Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, his wife, Madeline, and the Kentucky State Parks kicked off a series of celebrations Friday as General Butler State Resort Park and five other resort parks commemorated the 50th anniversary of the opening of their lodges. “Several generations of Kentuckians and out-of-state guests have enjoyed these resorts since 1962,” Abramson said in a park system news release. “These are great places for families to visit and I’m proud to be able to help these six Kentucky State Resort Parks celebrate this milestone.”

It’s an old joke among musicians.  After a sub-standard performance, one tells the other, you better keep your day job.  It’s advice the women of Sugartree say they’re sure to follow; each has a career outside of music.  And those day jobs limit their travels, a bit.

It’s a busy weekend for culture in central Kentucky. Lexington’s symphony and its ballet are in action, as is Studio Players.  But, perhaps the most popular events will be the region’s fall festivals.  And, Rich Copley, who reports on the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, says festival goers should experience a beautiful fall weekend.

A story told this weekend at the Balagula Theater in downtown Lexington is about a woman who can’t get away from crazy men.  Here with a preview of “Bug” and this weekend’s other events is reporter Rich Copley.  Rich, who covers the arts for the Lexington Herald Leader, spoke with WEKU’s Charles Compton.

The first weekend during the fall months is set aside for some digging around a historic site.  It’s tabbed ‘Archaeology Days’ at White Hall in Madison County.  White Hall was the home to Cassius Marcellus Clay, a major general in the Union Army, an ambassador to Russia, and a friend to Abe Lincoln.  The archaeological digs there are coordinated by Jon Endonino with Eastern Kentucky University.

The Kentucky Opera announced today that the organization ended the year with a budget surplus. This is the third season under general director David Roth that the Opera has come out ahead. The season was marked by controversy over how the Opera filled its orchestra pit during the prolonged labor dispute between Louisville Orchestra musicians and management. That controversy, which included labor protests during the spring production of "The Merry Widow," apparently had little impact on the Opera's bottom line.  

Chris Rogerson was a musically precocious child, playing church hymns by ear on the piano when he got home from church. His parents got him piano lessons, but they didn't quite go as planned. It's not that they went badly, but "I was not really playing what was on the page," Rogerson says. "I was just making up my own stuff, so my teacher suggested composition lessons."

The Derby Clock (technically called the Louisville Clock) is back on Fourth Street. Barney Bright's kinetic sculpture was first dedicated in 1976 in the Louisville Galleria. Over the subsequent 36 years, the clock has been broken, repaired and moved. It was placed in Theater Square last year and crews have spent the last few weeks making sure the carved figurines that run a mock horse race around the clock are in working order. 

The members of Louisville rock band My Morning Jacket appear in a new campaign by non-profit Earthjustice that opposes mountaintop removal coal mining. Earthjustice's Mountain Heroes campaign includes photos and videos submitted by people who are against the controversial form of surface mining.