October at Art Center of the Bluegrass

October is here, and we have lots to see and do at Art Center of the Bluegrass! 

Artist David Farmer in his studio at Art Center of the Bluegrass, in Danville, Kentucky, with a work in progress.

Celebrating Our Artists – We will start this month with a series of profiles spotlighting our Art Center studio artists. We have six studio artists who have open studios here at the Art Center, where they create and display their work. We will begin these profiles with painter David Farmer. He is well-known in the region for his colorful landscapes and is a longtime Art Center studio member. Learn more about David Farmer HERE.

Adaptive Reuse – We continue to work toward our goals of adaptive reuse at our historical downtown Danville campus. As we near the first anniversary of the opening of GLASS National Art Museum, Murrini Café, and Fern Curated Gifts, we are continuing the renovation of 409 W. Main Street in downtown Danville, Kentucky. 

Plans are underway to install a small lift, or dumbwaiter, to carry food from our second-floor culinary kitchen to the street-level Murrini Café. We are also preparing to install baffles for noise control in our Art Classroom and expand our second-floor gallery space at 401 W. Main Street to accommodate larger exhibitions. These improvements are part of our ArtSee campaign and are possible through generous donations from people like you. Please consider supporting our expansion HERE.

Matching Challenge – October puts us even closer to the deadline for our $600,000 matching challenge! We have raised more than $400,000 toward this goal, but we need your help to cross the finish line. An anonymous donor has offered Art Center of the Bluegrass a gift of $600,000 but only if we can match that amount by December 31, 2024. You can help us reach that goal HERE.

Fall Break Camp – Looking for some creative fun over fall break? Join us for our Fall Break Camp, Oct. 7-11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This camp is for kids in grades 1-5. Space is limited, so register HERE.

Fall Festival – Fall is a favorite time of year and we are excited to announce our Fall Festival will be held from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at the Art Center. Come and enjoy a day filled with fun, games, crafts, music, and more! Local artists will be selling their work, and Murrini Café will be serving up fall flavors. We hope to see you there!

“Among the Trees” by Jennifer Vaughn.

Urban Forest Initiative – Art Center of the Bluegrass is proud to participate in Danville Tree Week! In fact, we are going to celebrate trees all month long. The Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) is a collaborative group of University of Kentucky and Kentucky community stakeholders whose purpose is to promote and protect the urban tree canopy on the UK campus, in Lexington, and throughout the region. UFI is dedicated to maintaining the current tree canopy while promoting and planning for our future urban forests.

A Tribute to Trees will be on display from Oct. 1 – 31 in our Main Street Gallery. This exhibition includes works by local artists and invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of art and environmental stewardship. 

Mini Makers Club will enjoy tree-themed stations during October. This is a special time set aside for children 0-5 years old and their caregivers to explore and create in our Art Classroom. Donations appreciated. Join us most Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fall Birch Tree Canvas Painting for children ages 6 and up, from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. $25. Register HERE.

Truffula Trees: Edible Art & Paint Party for kids age 2 and up with a caregiver. Make a colorful craft, paint Truffula trees, and enjoy a fun culinary project provided by Murrini Café. Registration is only required for the child participating in the creative fun, so grab your little ones and get ready for a day of imagination, crafts, and treats! Register HERE.

Bob Ross Painting Class is Oct. 19 at Art Center of the Bluegrass.

Interactive Tree Mural – Come and contribute to our tree mural by creating leaves throughout the week of Oct. 12. This is a free, drop-in activity.

Bob Ross Fall Trees Painting Class – Learn from a certified Bob Ross instructor and create a work of art, no experience is necessary. All materials are included. 1-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. $65. Register HERE.

Events and Classes

Tea at Murrini Café – Join us for a Traditional Tea at Murrini Café from 2-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Reservations are required and can be made HERE.

Halloween Crafts in the Art Studio – We have lots of fun projects in our Art Studio at 409 W. Main Street. Drop in anytime to make something special! We have lots of Halloween and fall-themed Paint-Your-Own Pottery including figurines, vessels, kitchenwares, and more! 

Halloween and Fall crafts are available anytime in our Art Studio.

Starry Night Studio Spooky Ghost Canvas Painting – This event has been rescheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 18. Come and enjoy an evening of creativity in our Art Studio. This guided painting class is for everyone 14 and over. You will create a 16×20 canvas, and all materials and supplies are included. Register HERE.

Halloween Spooky Tea with Story Reading – Erie meets elegance at our special Halloween-themed Tea Service at Murrini Café from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25. Reservations are required and can be made HERE.

Pottery Intensive: Mastering the Wheel and Beyond – Ideal for intermediate to advanced potters, this intensive class will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Oct. 22 – Nov. 7 and requires a solid foundation in basic pottery skills. It’s perfect for those considering our monthly Ceramic Studio Membership, providing a deeper exploration of the studio environment and preparing you for independent work. Come prepared to take your pottery to the next level! Register HERE.

We hope you will make Art Center of the Bluegrass a destination in October! Come see how we are reimagining what an art center can be!