May 1, 2009 First Friday Trolley Hop

The May 1 First Friday Trolley Hop will run downtown along Main and Market Streets until midnight this year, and will be sponsored by Miller Lite in an effort to prevent drunk driving and encourage responsible celebrations. Some galleries that are normally open during the First Friday Trolley Hop may be closed for Oaks Day; however, many restaurants and galleries will remain open for evening entertainment.

Miller Lite Free Rides™ is partnering with TARC to expand the Trolley Hop hours to midnight and offer alternative transportation to the Miller Lite-sponsored Derby Eve Jam concert on the Waterfront Friday night. All TARC service will be fare free on Derby Eve.

The Bodega at Felice, 829 E. Market St.
The Bodega will be sampling Kentucky ale products and will be open late for dinner.

Rouge Noir Gallery, 333 E. Market Street
OPENING RECEPTION May 1, 2009 6-9 p.m.
On view May 1- May 30, 2009
EMPOWER, an exhiition of photographic images is the result of a collaborative project between University of Louisville Fine Art students and St. Joseph’s Childrens Home. During the spring of 2009 university students taught children the art and skills of photography to encourage them to appreciate the beauty and dignity of their own expression. Throughout the project participants worked together to make connections that unite
rather than divide.
Violine Antoine, Jessica Bellamy, Justin Benzel, Lucy Brown, Jeanette Brown, Sarah Cassidy, Sarah Davis, Jimmy Devore, Sarah Hall, Hallie Jones, Laura Kelch, Stephanie La Greca, Collin Lloyd, Crystal Ludwick, Jennifer Schatz, Alexia Serpentini, Phillip Suttmiller, Roea Wallace, Megh Zahrndt

Cressman Center for Visual Arts Gallery, 100 E. Main St.

April 15 – May 16, 2009
There are artists and there are art historians. And, seldom are they one and the same. For twenty-five years, Robert L. Douglas lectured on African and African American Art, twenty-three of those at the University of Louisville as a joint appointment in the Pan African Studies and Art History Departments. In that span, he has also published widely and curated numerous art exhibitions. He retired from U of L in December. But, Bob Douglas began his career by studying art in the studio as an undergraduate at U of L, receiving a B.A. in 1963. And, he stresses, “I never stopped painting.” In addition to painting, Douglas makes sculpture, and has had stints as an illustrator and commercial artist.Most people would have difficulty dividing their attention across disciplines this way, but Douglas found a unifying theme and motivation, which he articulates in his artist statement for the exhibition: “…my paintings, sculptures, writings and my teaching have been my self-conscious expressions that celebrate the significance, the beauty and the historical contributions of African people, affirming their potential for progress and greatness.”
All Cressman Center events are free and open to the public.

Flame Run contemporary art glass studio will feature Eoin Breadon, a glass artist whose work is influenced by Irish folklore and craftsmanship, in an exhibit that opens April 3 and runs through May 30. An opening night reception begins at 6 p.m. Breadon has trained in glass studios in Ireland, Australia and the U.S. He sees his role reflecting that of Celtic storytellers who passed down unwritten culture and history in the form of long lyric poems.
“I am transmitting the cultural experience of Irish folklore to the greater populace,” says Breadon. “I continue the artistic evolution through traditional Irish craftsmanship and the aesthetic and mnemonic value of imagery and composition set forth by the bards and monks.” Breadon received his MFA in glass from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in 2004. His art has been internationally shown in galleries and museums and he has taught at numerous schools and art centers around the U.S. He is a member of the sculpture and glass faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

• River Bend Winery will have 5 local artists presented by Alexis Brown. 
• Food will be available and Mark Stampley will perform live from 6 to 9. 
• At 9:00 a cover charge will start and old school DJs will bring you back to the late 70's and early 80's
• Complimentary appetizers will be available. 

ART ECOLOGY (224 South Clay Street, Suite 110, Louisville, KY 40202)
Opening Reception: "Autonomous" Solo Exhibition by Emil Walton
Friday, May 1st 6-9 pm
On display from May 1st - June 26th
"Greed, The Killer! A Self Portrait" by Emil Walton
Autonomous: "Responding,reacting or developing independently of the whole"Being born and raised in Africa it was not an uncommon sight to see beggers on street corners begging for food, help or money. These people always made me wonder what happened in there lives that made them stand on that corners today. Some were born into poverty and some made bad mistakes or life dealt them a bad hand of cards, but behind that cardboard sign stood a human being in need of help, a human being that could have been me or you. a recent trip to South Africa inspired my solo show, ive met a lot of people on that corners and interesting stories and decided to incorporate that into my work by mixing my African experiment with a touch of America. Out of the people that I got into contact with, two really inspired me to tell there story and incorporate them in my art.
So I kindly invite you to my solo show, come join me for some drinks and some then we can have an conversation about what my art means to me and you.emil walton
** Special Musical Performance by Sarah Hethcoat & Zoux
www.sarahhethcoat.com
www.myspace.com/zouxmusic
***Purchase t-shirts with ART ECOLOGY artists original work!!!!

21c Museum Presents Paris Kyne: The Colour of Racing
April – May 2009
in the garage street level gallery
21c celebrates the Derby racing season by bringing renowned Australian designer and Master Milliner Paris Kyne for an exhibition of artistic custom hat-making. Inspired by the sea of color he experienced at his first trip to the Kentucky Derby, Kyne has created 13 hats for this exhibition based on the colors of the silks of previous Kentucky Derby winners.