Artists

Louisville native Elmer Lucille Allen discusses growing up attending African American schools and later working in mostly white environments. She worked at Brown Forman for 31 years. She didn't begin working as an artist until she attended art classes at UofL in 1981. Allen also mentions her connections to the Louisville Art Workshop and years spent travelling with sculptor Ed Hamilton along with her photographer husband.

Louisville journalist and civil rights activist Mervin Aubespin talks about his days as a student at Iowa, his brief stint as a middle school shop teacher, and his time as an active member in civil rights protests including those outside department stores which did not allow Black people to try on clothes. He then earned a position at the Courier-Journal, first on the art team and then as associate journalist and chief recruiter. This work allowed him to travel to many places. Merv also discusses his involvement with the Louisville Art Workshop. He identifies as an artist who incorporated painting into a life full of other responsibilities including work and family.

Harold Berg grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended elementary and secondary school. His parents had come to the US from Russia. Berg's father attended trade school and worked as a plumber in New York. Harold came to Louisville to attend the University of Louisville for his pre-medical and medical education. Berg received his MD and completed his internship before being drafted in the US Army during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater as a surgeon and after the war returned to the US to complete his residency in surgery. Since 1951 he has practiced in Louisville. Berg is also known for his work in mosaics, examples of which were on display at the Jewish Community Center and the School of Medicine at the University of Louisville at the time of the interview.

Bibbs describes growing up in the California neighborhood in Louisville, teachers who mentored him in elementary and secondary school. He talks about Richard Hunt’s influence on his work, and his love of making public art. He discusses the “Firefighter's Flame” memorial, the ladder motif he uses in his work, the things he has learned about metalworking, the need for continued maintenance of public art. He also talks about the piece “Boogie Chillin’”, the developments in the Russell neighborhood, his teaching philosophy, the Commemorative Bridge piece for the Kentucky Human Rights Commission, the changes in public art he’s witnessed, the experience of what it takes to get a commission, what considerations he makes when taking on a job and he reflects on the role of public art in the community and debates about confederate monuments being removed.

Block discusses his career as a photographer and a painter.

Carothers talks about her travels, her work before coming to the University of Louisville Art department and her work on Beneath the Surface public art project which was exhibited on the bank of the Ohio river.

Ken Clay talks about his experience growing up in Louisville. He performed in choirs as a high school student at Central High School and studied at Bellarmine, eventually working for the Kentucky Center for the Arts as a producer for many years. He discusses his experience creating programs for African American youth in Louisville and the positive impact these programs had. He founded the Renaissance Development Corporation in the mid-1970s. Clay also discusses the significance of Walnut Street as a cultural hub in the West End of Louisville and the negative impact of urban renewal on Black businesses. He talks about the store he ran for several years called the Corner of Jazz which operated not only as a store but as a cultural and intellectual space for conversation related to the national Black movement. Clay witnessed a large riot near his store during which a police car drove into a crowd gathered on Walnut Street.

Interview with artist Madeline Covi.

Coxe and Hamilton are local Black artists and their opinions on Black history in Louisville are discussed as well as their personal histories. The difficulties of training and establishing oneself as an artist are stated. The Louisville Art Work Shop and its importance to young artists is mentioned.

Interview with artist Mary Ann Currier.