Louisville Visit to Kore Gallery
by Randy L Purcell
I recently made a quick trip to Louisville, KY. I didn’t have a lot of time to explore but was able to visit one area with a gallery I’d been following on social media, Kore Gallery. Luckily, it was only a few miles from my hotel, in the Shelby Park/Germantown area. When I arrived, there were cars parked everywhere. I later found out the Logan Street Market was just around the corner and was a popular place on Saturdays. I eventually found a space a few blocks from where the gallery is located.
I knew I was in a cool area when I started seeing the old homes, railroad tracks, large warehouse type brick buildings, the colorful murals added to the vibe as well.
Kore is in the Hope Mills building which was once a textile mill and latter a storage building for tobacco. As I walked to the gallery, I took a few photos of the old buildings, the large water tower behind them that has “Black Lives Matter” painted in large white letters, and the smokestack with what looks like a lighted sign with letters spelling out “HOPE” at the very top.
The entrance to the gallery was a bright red door with the gallery’s name prominently displayed. Behind the door was the foyer which housed the entrance to the gallery and some artist studios. This space was also used as a nice little gallery, showing the work of the artist represented in the gallery.
After looking at the art in the foyer I made my way into the main gallery. As I walked into the gallery, I was welcomed by more artwork in a smaller room that led to the larger gallery. I loved how I was slowly introduced to the main gallery by seeing the artwork along the way into the space. As I was looking at the artwork in the smaller space, I could hear someone in the gallery. I eventually made my way inside and was treated to a large open gallery full of beautiful art. I was greeted by Don Cartwright, the galleries owner. He welcomed me and said to let him know if I needed help with anything. I mentioned that I had seen his space on social media and was excited to visit in person.
We eventually had a conversation about some of the artists he represents. He showed me some of the artwork and explained the techniques used. One of the featured artists is Jeanne Freibert. Jeanne is a photographer and a painter and brings the two mediums together creating beautifully textured images. I loved how her paintings had an element of photography but still came across as very painterly. The paintings that included an addition of Encaustic medium were especially textured and added a nice mystic element to her landscapes.
Another artist that stood out amongst the over 80 represented at Kore Gallery, was Cletus Wilcox. Cletus is a self-taught artist that plays with several media. For me the works that stood out were made with an acrylic image transfer from some old playbills mixed with some oil, oil pastels, and acrylic on canvas. I enjoyed the simplicity of his work. It felt playful or experimental. It wasn’t overworked or trying to say too much, it was just beautiful content with splashes of color. The artist states: “Although the aesthetics of my work are widely varied, they are nearly all rooted in the interplay between form and emptiness.”
After spending some time talking with the owner, Don, who is also an artist, it was encouraging to hear him say he likes artist that experiment with materials and subjects. He’s very open to seeing them try new things and then sharing them in the gallery.
So, if you enjoy going to a gallery with a diverse pool of artists and artworks, Kore Gallery is a great option. You can visit Kore Gallery’s website here: https://www.koreartgallery.com And here is their mission statement:
“Our mission is to provide affordable original art from emerging and established local artists and provide a “connection” for collectors of affordable art while giving back to the community. KORE Gallery frequently partners with local non-profits and foundations to assist in fund raising charitable events.”
After I left the gallery, I made the quick walk to Logan Street Market to see what all the hype was about. Along the way I saw several more murals and old buildings. People were out, the sun was shining, it was a beautiful but cold day. Entering the market, I was amazed at the amount of people and little shops. It was such a happening place. At the main entrance there was a brewery with a bar you could sit and have drink. A wine bar was located close by. There were a variety of food options too. You could get Bar-b-que, sushi, baked goods, meats, and much more. These were all in the lower section of the space. The upper mezzanine area had several local artisans sharing their crafts and an area where workshops were held. It defiantly had something for everyone. I ordered myself a Poke bowl of Ahi tuna and a cup of Boba Fete and sat down at one of the tables scattered throughout the space. After eating I headed back to the car and enjoyed seeing more of the local murals and sunshine. Find out more about Logan Street Market at: https://www.loganstmarket.com
I’ve had some great visits to Louisville and like that its less than a three-hour drive from Nashville. I’ll be going back sometime soon. Hopefully to one of the gallery openings at Kore Gallery.
see more of Randy’s work: Randylpurcell.com