The 2020 Biennial Lexington Art League’s Members Show!

I can’t believe I’m typing this out, but we’re almost at the end of 2020! It would be an understatement to say that this has been a historic year and for local businesses and arts organizations, 2020 has been everything but easy. Here at the Art League, we’ve had to make some tough decisions, cancel a few events, and re-evaluate the ways things are normally done. But despite it all, we’re still here, we’re still adapting, and we’re still advocating for central Kentucky’s thriving arts scene. Our current exhibition, The 2020 Biennial Lexington Art League’s Members Show, is a celebration of our region’s art and artists. 
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Curated by Assistant Director Faville Donahue, fellow intern Blake Borwig, and myself; The Member’s Show was a challenging but incredibly rewarding project to collaborate on. Months of preliminary brainstorming, planning, and writing led up to a solid week of hanging and installing artwork. We had many artists submitting work, and we were able to accept just over 120 pieces. Not a space in the house has been left empty as each room and each wall hosting several of Kentucky’s unique and individual creative voices. The diversity of the artworks exhibited reflect the diversity of our artistic community, and it was such a pleasure to place these works into conversation with each other. A wide variety of styles, mediums, and methods are represented: from expressive abstract paintings to traditional portraiture, photography and video art, to basket weaving and ceramic sculpture.

For me, one of the joys of curating this show was picking up on the passion and energy behind these works. I don’t know if it’s because this year has felt so negative or if it’s because the end-of-semester hustle has thrown me off, but something about being around these works was really uplifting. I think that the passion and love that an artist has for their practice is reflected in their artwork, and for me at least, it’s both energizing and joyful to be around that. It’s like being at a concert where the musicians are totally absorbed in their instrument, or at a performance where the dancer is really feeling a movement... the passion of one body can affect another body. Art is able to affect us in ways that are both conscious and unconscious. The care that an artist has for their work can, I believe, project from the work. 

So, as you can now tell, I highly recommend a visit down to the Loudon House to see The 2020 Biennial Lexington Art League’s Members Show. As we wrap up this rough year, this exhibition is a great way to transition to 2021. It’s a colorful, lively, and most of all joyful assemblage of artworks. It’s a testament to the necessity of art at a time when things seem bleak and a reminder that there’s always something to celebrate. 

It was such a pleasure to help put this show together, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. 
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The 2020 Biennial Lexington Art League’s Members Show runs November 20, 2020 to January 16, 2021. We look forward to seeing you!

Author: Aaron Reynolds
Aaron Reynolds is the curatorial intern for the Lexington Art League. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and visual studies from the University of Kentucky, and is now working towards an MFA in curatorial studies.