
Christine Kuhr and Kay Hurley
Season 16 Episode 2 | 27m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
President of the Cincinnati Art Club Christine Kuhr, and Head of Development Kay Hurley
Join Barbara Kellar as she explores the rich history of the Cincinnati Art Club with President Christine Kuhr and Head of Development Kay Hurley on SHOWCASE. They share their fascinating artistic journeys and also talk about what's in store for the future of the Cincinnati Art Club.
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SHOWCASE with Barbara Kellar is a local public television program presented by CET
CET Arts programming made possible by: The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Carol Ann & Ralph V Haile /US Bank Foundation, Randolph and Sallie Wadsworth, Macys, Eleanora C. U....

Christine Kuhr and Kay Hurley
Season 16 Episode 2 | 27m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Join Barbara Kellar as she explores the rich history of the Cincinnati Art Club with President Christine Kuhr and Head of Development Kay Hurley on SHOWCASE. They share their fascinating artistic journeys and also talk about what's in store for the future of the Cincinnati Art Club.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch SHOWCASE with Barbara Kellar
SHOWCASE with Barbara Kellar is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, PRESIDENT OF THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB, CHRISTINE KEHR, AND HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT, KAY HURLEY.
STAY TUNED.
SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.
[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI, WELCOME TO SHOWCASE.
OUR TWO WONDERFUL GUESTS TODAY, WHO ARE TRULY ARTISTS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, KAY AND CHRISTINE.
AND THEY ARE REPRESENTING THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR?
KUHR: 133 YEARS.
KELLAR: YES, 133 YEARS.
THE FIRST ART CLUB THAT WE KNOW OF, RIGHT, IN CINCINNATI.
KUHR: RIGHT.
WE'RE ONE OF THE OLDEST ART CLUBS IN THE AREA.
KELLAR: YEAH.
AND YOU'RE THE NEW PRESIDENT?
KUHR: I'M THE NEW PRESIDENT.
I'VE ALMOST COMPLETED A YEAR.
KELLAR: OH, GREAT.
WELL, YOU'RE THE PERSON.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB.
KUHR: WELL, IN 1890, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, IT STARTED.
A FEW ARTISTS GOT TOGETHER, FRANK DUVENECK, JOHN REDICK, HENRY FARNY, AND DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE A SKETCH GROUP TOGETHER.
THEY, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HAVE THE CAMARADERIE AND EVERYTHING, AND SO THEY DID.
AND A FEW OTHER ARTISTS STARTED TO HAVE THIS SKETCH GROUP WITH THEM, AND SOONER OR LATER THE GROUP GOT SO BIG THAT BASICALLY THEY STARTED THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB, AND THEY WERE JUST GOING FROM STUDIOS TO STUDIO WITH HAVING THEIR CLASS, THEIR SKETCH GROUP ALONG WITH A MODEL.
AND BEFORE LONG THEY ACTUALLY BOUGHT A BUILDING.
JUST GOING AROUND TO STUDIOS WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
SO THEY BOUGHT A BUILDING DOWN ON THIRD STREET AND WERE THERE FOR DECADES, ALONG WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY DID, WHICH WERE MEMBER MEETINGS AND LECTURES AND PROBABLY WORKSHOPS.
AND BEFORE LONG FT. WASHINGTON WAY HAD TO BE BUILT.
KELLAR: RIGHT.
KUHR: AND THAT TOOK THAT BUILDING.
YEAH.
AND SO EVIDENTLY THEY WERE RECEIVED MONEY FOR THAT AND THEY WENT TO KIND OF THE FOOT OF PARKSIDE PLACE IN MOUNT ADAMS.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY BUILT THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE IN NOW, AND THAT WAS IN 1957.
KELLAR: SO I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHEN THAT BUILDING WENT IN.
KUHR: YES.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A SQUARE BUILDING.
KELLAR: YEAH.
IT'S VERY MODEST TO SAY THE LEAST.
YEAH.
KUHR: IT IS, RIGHT.
THERE'S EVEN A DECK ON THE SIDE NOT REALLY A DECK.
IT WAS MORE LIKE A YOU KNOW, A PLACE WHERE A TRUCK COULD BACK UP TO IT IN CASE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ART THING DIDN'T WORK, THEY COULD DO LIGHT MANUFACTURING IN IT.
KELLAR: OH, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE PLAN B.
YES, YES.
KUHR: THAT WAS A -- WELL, THE LIGHT MANUFACTURING NEVER HAPPENED UNLESS YOU THINK OF PAINTING AS MANUFACTURING.
KELLAR: EXACTLY.
KUHR: BUT SO WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 63 YEARS, AND LOVE IT.
BUT THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOING TO RAISE SOME MONEY TO REFURBISH THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR.
KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, CINCINNATI LOVES ART, SO I'M SURE THAT WILL BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND KAY, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE THERE?
HURLEY: I'M THE CHAIR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CLUB.
AND WHAT I DO IS WHAT I LOVE THE MOST, WHICH IS GATHERING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF ART AND PRODUCING SOME REALLY FUN FUNDRAISING EVENTS, LIKE THE ONE WE'RE HAVING COMING UP IN MAY AND RAISING MONEY FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
KELLAR: YEAH, BUT YOU'RE BOTH ARTISTS.
KUHR: UM-HMM.
SO DO YOU -- THERE'S NO PERMANENT COLLECTION THERE?
KUHR: ACTUALLY, THERE IS A PERMANENT.
KELLAR: THERE IS?
KUHR: YES, EACH YOU KNOW, FOR 133 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A PRESIDENT AND THAT PRESIDENT IS ALLOWED TO GIVE ONE PAINTING INTO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION.
SO WE HAVE 27 PAST PRESIDENTS THAT HAVE DONE THAT.
AND SO WE HAVE THAT.
THAT IS THE PERMANENT COLLECTION.
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE A NON-PERMANENT COLLECTION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN US THE WORK.
AND SO WE HAVE A VAULT, CLIMATE CONTROLLED, THAT HAS THIS WORK.
SO WE HAVE A COLLECTION.
KELLAR: SO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THAT.
THAT CAN BE A LOT OF PAINTINGS AFTER A WHILE.
KUHR: SIDE BY SIDE, YES.
KELLAR: BUT THEY'RE NOT HUNG, RIGHT?
KUHR: NO, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT HUNG.
BUT WE HAVE A GALLERY AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE OUR MEMBER SHOWS AND THE OTHER SHOWS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
KELLAR: I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS P-L-E-I-N ART.
KUHR: PLEIN AIR?
KELLAR: IS THAT PRONOUNCED PLAIN?
KUHR: PLAIN, YES.
KELLAR: ONLY JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS.
KUHR: YEAH.
IT'S NOT AIRCRAFT.
KELLAR: YEAH.
BECAUSE IT'S E-I-N. KUHR: YES, I THINK IT'S FRENCH.
AND SO IT'S OUTDOORS.
YOU TAKE ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT, YOU ROLL IT OUT THERE, YOU SET IT UP AND YOU PAINT IN PLEIN AIR, IN OUTDOORS.
SO IT'S BASICALLY A LANDSCAPE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER, THE ENVIRONMENT AND BUGS.
AND YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE IN ABOUT THREE HOURS.
KELLAR: AND WHEN YOU ARE UP THERE PAINTING OUTSIDE, DO PEOPLE COME UP AND STAND AND WATCH YOU?
AND IS THAT DISCONCERTING?
KUHR: IT'S LOVELY ACTUALLY.
YES, THEY DO WATCH AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG I'VE DONE IT OR HOW -- MEANING, I THINK, "OH, YOU DID ALL THAT IN, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR?""
AND IT'S REALLY FUN THING TO DO FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET TO SEE ARTISTS PAINTING.
KELLAR: YEAH.
DO YOU DO PLEIN ART ALSO?
HURLEY: I USED TO DO A LOT OF PLEIN AIR ART, BUT REALLY PAINT MOSTLY IN MY STUDIO.
I DO A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHY OUTSIDE AND I'M EXCLUSIVELY A LANDSCAPE PAINTER, BUT I DO A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHY FIRST, SOMETIMES SOME SKETCHING OUTSIDE, JUST CAPTURING THE FEELING AND THE VALUES AND SHAPES OF THINGS, AND THEN GO BACK TO THE STUDIO.
AND THAT'S WHERE I REALLY LOVE TO PAINT.
KELLAR: DO YOU SELL YOUR PAINTINGS?
NOT AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE?
KUHR: NOT AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE, BUT KAY DOES.
KAY IS VERY PROFESSIONAL.
YES.
HURLEY: YEAH, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE MY LIVING AS A FULL TIME ARTIST FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS.
KELLAR: OH, MY GOSH.
WELL, THAT'S A -- THAT'S GREAT.
WHERE ARE -- ARE THEY IN -- ARE YOUR PAINTINGS IN GALLERIES OR?
HURLEY: WHEN I WAS YOUNGER THEY WERE IN A LOT OF GALLERIES, BUT NOW I REPRESENTED BY THE CINCINNATI ART GALLERIES, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HOSTING OUR EVENT IN MAY.
AND THEN IN MY STUDIO, I BEEN AT THE PENDLETON ART CENTER FOR 32 YEARS AND HAVE A LARGE SPACE THERE.
SO IT'S I TEACH THERE AND ALSO IT'S MY GALLERY.
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
AND THEN I DO A LOT OF COMMISSION WORK.
KELLAR: YEAH.
SO YOU'RE ONLY LANDSCAPE.
HURLEY: YEAH.
KELLAR: AND BEING A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT YOURSELF, THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE LOTS OF PEOPLE PAINT BUT THEY DON'T SELL THEIR WORK.
HURLEY: IT'S NOT EASY ANYMORE.
KELLAR: YEAH.
UNLESS YOUR MOTHER, YOU KNOW, I BOUGHT -- I BOUGHT THOSE KIND OF THOSE KIND OF PAINTINGS.
AND YOU'RE NOT STRICTLY A LANDSCAPE?
KUHR: NOT STRICTLY LANDSCAPE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, SAY FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO GO OUT AND PAINT.
I RETIRED AND STARTED DOING PLEIN AIR BECAUSE IT'S, I THINK, IT'S ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAY THAT WILL TEACH YOU TO PAINT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE AND YOU JUST NEED TO DO IT A LOT.
KELLAR: YEAH.
IS IT THE EASIEST?
KUHR: NO, NO, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT MORE THAN JUST PAINTING.
YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AT THAT TIME.
SO YOU'RE CHASING THE LIGHT AND SHADOWS CHANGING EVERYTHING.
KELLAR: LIGHT MEANS EVERYTHING, YEAH.
LIKE PORTRAITS I WOULD SAY ARE THE HARDEST.
KUHR: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HURLEY: I DON'T DO THEM.
KELLAR: OKAY.
THAT'S THE ANSWER.
THAT'S THE ANSWER.
HURLEY: YOU CAN'T TAKE A LOT OF ARTISTIC LICENSE WITH A PORTRAIT UNLESS YOU'RE LIKE AN ABSTRACT ARTIST.
KELLAR: SURE, UNLESS YOU'RE PICASSO, THEN YOU CAN PUT THEIR HEAD DOWN.
KUHR: EXACTLY.
YES.
HURLEY: WITH THE LANDSCAPE, YOU CAN MOVE THINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
KELLAR: YEAH.
KUHR: AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD IF YOU DO, TOO.
HURLEY: YEAH.
KUHR: JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST NOT STRICT WITH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO COPY IT.
KELLAR: YEAH, I TALKED WITH CARL SAMPSON, WHO'S THE PORTRAIT -- KUHR: AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB.
YES.
KELLAR: AND WE TALKED ABOUT HANDS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE HARDEST TO GET THE HANDS RIGHT.
KUHR: YES.
KELLAR: AND WHO, I MEAN, THOSE WHO AREN'T INTO THE ART FIELD WOULD NOT THINK ABOUT THAT.
KUHR: I KNOW.
KELLAR: BUT OUR HANDS.
AND I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PAINTINGS AT THE TAFT MUSEUM WAS DISCOVERED OR THOUGHT NOT TO BE WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID THE HANDS WEREN'T RIGHT.
THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
KUHR: IT'S NOT THE REMBRANDT?
KELLAR: NO, IT'S NOT THE REMBRANDT.
BUT ONE OF THOSE HAS THE HAND IS LIKE VERY PROMINENT IN ONE OF THOSE REMBRANDT'S.
THE HAND IS VERY PROMINENT IN THE PAINTING.
I GUESS IT'S LIKE THIS.
KUHR: WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE, LIKE, THIS AND THEN ALL THESE FOUR LITTLE SAUSAGES COME OFF, YOU KNOW.
KELLAR: YEAH.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT.
KUHR: IT'S GOT TO LOOK RIGHT.
YOU GOT TO GET THE HANDS RIGHT.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BEING JUDGED ON THE HANDS.
I MEAN I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT, BUT YEAH, I THINK PORTRAITS ARE VERY DIFFICULT.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE DO DO PORTRAITS, BUT I THAT I'VE SEEN.
AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
KELLAR: SAMSUNG.
KUHR: YES, I KNOW HE DOES A BEAUTIFUL JOB.
REALLY.
KELLAR: YEAH.
HE IS FANTASTIC.
HAVE YOU BEEN PAINTING YOUR WHOLE LIFE?
KUHR: YES, I HAVE.
I GRADUATED FROM THE ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI.
KELLAR: OH, OKAY.
KUHR: AND I HAVE BEEN PAINTING MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WORKED TOO, OUTSIDE OF THAT.
AND SO I KEPT BUSY WITH, LIKE, ALWAYS TAKING A CLASS.
KELLAR: SO YOU DON'T WANT TO, YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.
KUHR: EXACTLY.
PLUS IT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
KELLAR: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHY ALL ARTISTS DO DO IT, DON'T YOU THINK?
HURLEY: YEAH.
KUHR: YEAH.
KELLAR: WHY WOULD YOU, YOU KNOW, IF IT DOESN'T MAKE -- IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO.
YEAH.
DID YOU START AT AN EARLY AGE?
HURLEY: I DID, I DID.
I WAS -- I KIND OF GREW UP WITH IT, WITH LITURGICAL ART.
MY PARENTS, MY FAMILY IS FROM GERMANY AND WE BUILD CHURCHES.
SO I WAS SURROUNDED WITH ARTIFACTS MY WHOLE LIFE.
AND I CONCENTRATED IN ART IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN WENT TO MT.
ST. JOSEPH.
CAME HERE TO CINCINNATI AND GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE.
KELLAR: OH, YEAH.
YOU DO WHAT -- YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE.
WHAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT IT?
STARTING OR FINDING THE RIGHT SUBJECT, OR?
HURLEY: THE HARDEST PART IS STARTING.
KELLAR: THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT WRITERS.
THAT FIRST SENTENCE IS THE HARDEST.
HURLEY: EXACTLY, I MEAN, WITH THE LANDSCAPE, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT'S MY PASSION, I FIND BEAUTY IN EVERY PLACE I GO.
KELLAR: YEAH.
DO YOU GO OTHER PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE?
HURLEY: I USED TO TRAVEL MORE.
FORTUNATELY, MY THREE CHILDREN LIVE IN GREAT AREAS, NOT HERE IN CINCINNATI, SO I GO THERE.
MY HUSBAND AND I TRAVEL.
WE USED TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH TO CUBA A LOT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
BUT I LIVE UP IN MT.
LOOKOUT AND HAVE A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE OHIO RIVER.
SO IT IS A NONSTOP INSPIRATION FOR ME.
KELLAR: I WOULD SAY SO.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
KUHR: I BASICALLY PAINT ALL OVER CINCINNATI.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE.
I'M WITH THE BRUSH AND PALETTE PAINTERS.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE OF PLACES THAT WE GO.
SO WE HAVE LIKE 32 EVENTS WHERE WE GO TO DURING THE SUMMER SEASON.
KELLAR: YEAH.
HAVE EITHER OF YOU GONE TO EUROPE TO PAINT?
HURLEY: NOT TO PAINT.
KUHR: NOT TO PAINT.
KELLAR: OH, YOU DON'T WORK THERE WHEN YOU'RE THERE, YOU JUST SIT THERE.
HURLEY: NO SKETCH.
KELLAR: OH, JUST SKETCH BOOKS.
YEAH.
BECAUSE I WOULD THINK TAKING ALL THAT EQUIPMENT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.
HURLEY: IT IS DIFFICULT.
I USED TO TEACH WORKSHOPS OUT OF STATE, WHEREVER I'M INVITED TO GO.
AND PACKING UP ALL THE GEAR, ESPECIALLY.
AND WHEN WE WENT TO CUBA A LOT, TOO, WE TOOK ART SUPPLIES FOR A LOT OF ARTISTS THERE, AND THEY DON'T GO THROUGH THE SCANNER WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THAT.
YEAH.
KELLAR: YEAH, YEAH.
WELL, TELL US ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO TO CUBA.
THAT SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING.
WHAT TIME WAS IT, FIRST OF ALL?
HURLEY: 2015, WHEN OBAMA OPENED UP THE BORDERS, MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED TO GO, FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE, THE ARTS.
AND BECAME VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WANTING TO SHARE THAT WITH CINCINNATI.
AND WE CREATED A BRIDGES, NOT WALLS PROJECT THAT WHERE WE DID ART EXCHANGES WITH CINCINNATI ARTISTS AND CUBAN ARTISTS.
AND WE'VE EXPANDED THAT EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE YEARS.
KELLAR: YEAH.
CUBA HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY FERTILE PLACE FOR ART AND BALLET.
A LOT OF OUR DANCERS ARE FROM -- BALLET FROM CUBA.
AND THE CURRENT ACTING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IS CUBAN, SERVILIO AMADOR.
AND HE LEFT CUBA WITH A GIRLFRIEND WHO WAS HIS GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME.
BUT HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE LEFT, AND HE, IN THE MEANTIME, HE HAS BROUGHT EACH MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HERE TO CINCINNATI.
AND HIS SISTERS ARE MUSICIANS ALSO.
BUT HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF LEAVING.
AND THEY KNEW NOTHING, THEY WERE -- THEY WERE, I THINK THEY WERE DANCING IN A TOUR, WHICH IS HOW MOST OF THE DANCERS HAVE DEFECTED.
THE RUSSIAN ONES AT LEAST.
AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.
DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH REALLY.
BUT PEOPLE HELPED THEM.
AND HE'S HERE IN CINCINNATI AS OUR ACTING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.
HE WAS OUR PREMIERE DANCER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, DANCERS' LIVES ARE VERY SHORT.
BUT ANYWAY, CUBA MUST HAVE BEEN IN -- AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN THAT THIS LITTLE ISLAND BECAME SUCH AN ART CENTER?
HURLEY: RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW, THE CULTURE.
I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN INFLUENCED BY MANY COUNTRIES.
AND THEIR CULTURE IS JUST A CREATIVE CULTURE.
IT REALLY IS.
AND WE'RE -- WE JUST WE LOVE IT THERE.
WE LOVE THE PEOPLE.
AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SUCH HARDSHIPS.
SO, WE REALLY TRY AND SUPPORT THE CUBAN ARTISTS.
KELLAR: YEAH, THEY'RE APPARENTLY NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.
HURLEY: NO.
KELLAR: TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE CLUB.
DO YOU HAVE REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS OR JUST INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER?
KUHR: OH, YES.
WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF ABOUT 280 ARTISTS.
KELLAR: REALLY?
WOW, THAT'S A LOT.
KUHR: IT IS.
THEY'RE GREAT.
SO, WE HAVE IT'S A MEMBER MEETING AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES A YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES A MEAL.
WE HAVE A CHEF, CHEF RICHARD, AND IT'S FABULOUS FOOD.
WE HAVE A PRESENTER.
AND THEN WE HOST ABOUT 12 EXHIBITIONS A YEAR.
SO DURING THE SEASON, THERE WILL BE EIGHT MEMBER TYPE SHOWS, WHICH MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, ABSTRACT SHOW, A PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW, A REGULAR ASSOCIATE MEMBER SHOW OR SIGNATURE MEMBER SHOW.
AND WE HAVE THOSE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HOST A NATIONAL ART COMPETITION.
ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, APPLY, AND THE WORK IS JURIED AND THEN IT'S HUNG.
THIS YEAR IT'S -- THAT SHOW IS CALLED VIEWPOINT.
IT'LL BE AT EISELE GALLERY IN MARIEMONT, AND IT WILL OPEN AUGUST 23RD.
BUT WE ALSO DO A PLEIN AIR COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, AND THAT'S A TWO DAY EVENT.
AND WE GIVE THEM A SHOW AND WE ALSO GIVE PRIZES.
WE ALSO HAVE ART FOR KIDS, WHICH IS A SUMMER PROGRAM, A THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS AND FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS.
AND THEY'RE INTRODUCED TO THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN THAT THEY CAN USE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
SO, WE DO QUITE A BIT FOR, I MEAN, WE'RE VERY ACTIVE.
WE ALSO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO POST-SECONDARY COLLEGE KIDS, AND WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING THAT.
SO, WE'RE CALLING FOR ENTRIES.
KELLAR: I KNOW THE ART CLUB USED TO BE THE MEN'S ART CLUB.
KUHR: IT'S TRUE.
YES.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IN 1890 ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS -- KELLAR: SEGREGATED.
KUHR: YES.
AND THEN IN 1976, THEY SAID, "OKAY, WHAT ARE WE -- WHY NOT?
LET THE WOMEN COME IN."
AND WE'RE ABOUT 50/50 NOW MEN AND WOMEN.
KELLAR: YEAH.
IF SOMEONE WANTED TO SEE THESE EXHIBITS, WHERE DO YOU FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT IT?
KUHR: WELL, WE ADVERTISE IN, LIKE, THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS SECTIONS OF THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER AND THE ARTSWAVE AND MOVERS AND MAKERS.
KELLAR: YEAH.
OKAY.
SO ANYBODY CAN COME TO THE SHOWS.
YES.
YES, FOR SURE.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE OCCASIONS WHERE I WAS, WHY I WAS THERE, BUT I'VE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT IS PRETTY SPARTAN.
KUHR: YES, YES, SO HENCE WHY WE'RE HAVING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
KELLAR: YEAH.
SO YOU NEED TO RENOVATE THE INSIDE.
KUHR: SO, IT'S THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE TOO.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S 1956.
KELLAR: IT LOOKS LIKE A STARVING ARTIST.
KUHR: IT CERTAINLY DOES.
HURLEY: WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT.
KELLAR: YEAH, YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO THE SUCCESSFUL.
KUHR: RIGHT, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE OPTICS SO WE LOOK LIKE WHO WE ARE.
PLUS THE FACT IT'S THE EAST GATEWAY TO MT.
ADAMS.
KELLAR: YEAH, YOU CAN'T MISS IT IF YOU'RE LOOKING.
KUHR: RIGHT AND EVERYBODY JUST DRIVES BY BECAUSE IT'S NOTHING TO LOOK AT AND WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.
KELLAR: YEAH, YEAH.
BUT YOU, I BET THE MT.
ADAMS -- WELL IS THE OUTSIDE GOING TO CHANGE?
KUHR: YES.
SO WE HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING OF IT AND WE HAVE A BUDGET DEFINED.
AND SO YES, IT WILL CHANGE WITH A GREAT PIERCED STEEL WALL THAT'LL BE THERE.
IT'LL SAY ART, THEN WE HAVE BANNERS ON THE FRONT.
SO YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MISS IT WHEN WE GET FINISHED.
KELLAR: IS THAT PROPERTY THAT'S THERE ON THE SIDE, IS THAT -- WHO OWNS THAT?
KUHR: MT.
ADAMS OWNS IT NOW.
AND WE DID OWN IT FOR A SHORT PERIOD.
AND THEN WE SOLD IT.
KELLAR: YEAH.
I BET THE MT.
ADAMS PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY THAT YOU'RE RENOVATING.
HURLEY: OH, I THINK, SURE.
KUHR: YES, THEY'RE PLEASED.
KELLAR: YEAH.
WELL, MT.
ADAMS IS SO ATTRACTIVE FOR ARTISTS.
YOU JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE PLACE.
KUHR: IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW.
KELLAR: YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.
KUHR: IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE ON VACATION WHEN YOU'RE IN MT.
ADAMS.
HURLEY: YES.
KELLAR: YOU'RE HAVING A PARTY.
KUHR: YEAH.
KELLAR: YEAH.
WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SETTING.
AND YOU'VE GOT, YOU ALL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE LIFE.
I MEAN, YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR ART OR YOU CAN BE A PROFESSIONAL AND YOU -- BUT YOU STILL PAINT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, RIGHT?
HURLEY: YES.
I MEAN, I DO A LOT OF COMMISSION WORK, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS LANDSCAPE BASED.
AND SOMETIMES I PAINT THINGS WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN.
BUT THE CLIENT SUPPLIES ME WITH THEIR VISION OF WHERE THEY, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
KELLAR: ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO THEY FIND YOU?
HURLEY: I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
SO EITHER THROUGH THE GALLERY OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AT THE PENDLETON FOR SO LONG.
IT JUST, I MEAN, THE WORD GETS OUT AFTER 50 YEARS.
KELLAR: WHAT KIND OF ART DO YOU HAVE AT HOME?
JUST YOUR OWN OR OTHER PEOPLE'S?
KUHR: YOU KNOW, WITH BEING WITH THE ART CLUB, IT SEEMS LIKE WE COLLECT OTHER PEOPLE'S ART.
AND WE DID JUST THIS PAST, OUR FIRST FUNDRAISING EVENT WAS THIS PAST FALL IN OCTOBER, WHERE WE HAD OUR MEMBERS, WE HAD 90 MEMBERS THAT COMMITTED TO PAINTING A 12 BY 12 INCH PAINTING.
AND WE PUT IT UP ON THE WALLS AND HAD INVITED EVERYBODY IN.
IT WAS A BIG HALLOWEEN PARTY, AND WE SOLD ALL BUT 13 OF THOSE PAINTINGS.
AND THEY WERE ALL DONATED TO US, SO WE WERE ABLE TO START THE MONEY THAT WE NEEDED TO RAISE.
SO IN DOING SO, I BOUGHT 13 PAINTINGS.
KELLAR: AND WHERE -- ARE THEY HUNG?
KUHR: THEY'RE CLOSE TO BEING HUNG.
KELLAR: CLOSE TO.
KUHR: YES, THEY'RE CLOSE TO MY HEART.
KELLAR: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO -- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL US HOW CLOSE.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE SPACE FOR ANY PAINTING.
I'D HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING DOWN.
HURLEY: YEAH, I KNOW.
KELLAR: YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
DO YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S ART HANGING?
HURLEY: OH, YEAH, YEAH, I HAVE.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STUDY WITH WOLF KAHN, WHO IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLORIST FROM GERMANY.
AND HE'S NO LONGER WITH US, BUT I HAVE SOME OF HIS WORK.
I HAVE, MY HUSBAND AND I, HE'S AN ART COLLECTOR, I'M AN ART COLLECTOR.
SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE HAVE A LOT OF CUBAN ART, OF COURSE.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW MANY ARTISTS LIVE IN OUR HOME.
KELLAR: YES, RIGHT.
IS CUBAN ART -- I THINK OF THAT AS BEING MORE COLORFUL AND BOMBASTIC, SORT OF.
WOULD THAT BE A CORRECT?
HURLEY: IT'S VERY, VERY VARIED FROM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PORTRAITS AND LANDSCAPES TO MORE FESTIVE CULTURAL WORK.
I MEAN, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CULTURE, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT.
KELLAR: YEAH.
WELL, YOU ALL, I MEAN, PEOPLE LOVE TO KNOW ARTISTS.
THEY DO.
AND BECAUSE ARTISTS, WE LIKE TO THINK THEY'RE ECCENTRIC.
AND YOU TWO DO NOT LOOK LIKE THE -- KUHR: ECCENTRIC.
HURLEY: WELL, WE'VE MATURED A BIT.
KELLAR: YEAH, WITH A BEARD AND A BERET AND THE WHOLE -- KUHR: OH YEAH, RIGHT.
HURLEY: WE KNOW THOSE PEOPLE THOUGH.
KELLAR: YEAH.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW THEM, BUT YOU DON'T -- YOU'RE NOT THEM.
YEAH.
SOMETIMES I THINK THAT'S AN AFFECTATION AND MAYBE NOT SOMETIMES.
KUHR: I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT STARTED WITH THE BERET.
KELLAR: YEAH, RIGHT, OR THE WEIRD OUTFIT OR WHATEVER.
YEAH.
I LOVE READING ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS OF WITH DUVENECK AND HIS AND FARNY AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
AND ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, EVERY ONCE, THERE'S BEEN A FARNY.
I DON'T REMEMBER EVER A DUVENECK, BUT IT'S INTERESTING HEARING THOSE APPRAISERS' ASSESSMENT.
KUHR: YES.
KELLAR: THAT THIS WAS A CINCINNATI ARTIST.
SO WE MUST HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS VIBRANT ARTIST SO-CALLED COMMUNITY.
KUHR: YEAH.
IT WAS SO IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, THEY I THINK RECOGNIZED THAT AT THE BEGINNING THAT THEY HAD TO, IN ORDER TO BUILD A CULTURE, YOU HAD TO HAVE THE ARTS.
KELLAR: YEAH, AND SO WE DID.
AND YOU GUYS ARE CARRYING IT FORWARD.
YES, WE HOPE SO.
IN A VERY GREAT WAY.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS COMING UP?
HURLEY: YES, WE HAVE AN AMAZING EVENT COMING UP ON MAY 9TH AT THE CINCINNATI ART GALLERIES, WHICH IS ON SIXTH STREET DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S CALLED CINCINNATI ART CLUB CELEBRATES ART FOR A LIFETIME.
AND DAVID HAZRATH, WHO'S THE OWNER OF THE GALLERY, HAS GIFTED US THE GALLERY, BOTH THE FIRST AND FOURTH FLOORS.
WE HAVE A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, TWO FOR TWO PAST PRESIDENTS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO ART.
WE HAVE A LIVE ART AUCTION OF EIGHT CHOSEN ARTISTS, A PADDLE RAISE, RAFFLE BASKETS, GREAT FOOD, BEVERAGES, MUSIC.
AND THAT'S ALL COMING UP MAY 9TH AND WE HOPE YOU CAN COME.
KUHR: WELL, AND AN EXHIBIT.
HURLEY: OH, THAT'S THE BIG PART.
THAT'S THE SORRY I MISSED.
KUHR: WE 27 PAST PRESIDENTS, THEIR WORK IN OUR VAULT THAT THAT WILL COME OUT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DAVID HAZRATH IS SUPPLEMENTING IT WITH ARTWORK FROM THAT PERIOD.
FROM 130 YEARS OF ART.
KELLAR: WOW.
IS EVERYTHING FOR SALE?
KUHR: THE PERMANENT COLLECTION ISN'T FOR SALE, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER WORK WILL BE FOR SALE.
KELLAR: SO, THE ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS' IS NOT FOR SALE?
HURLEY: NO.
KELLAR: THAT'S PART OF YOUR TREASURE.
HURLEY: THAT'S THE HISTORIC EXHIBITION.
KELLAR: YEAH, EXACTLY.
YEAH.
KUHR: SO, IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE VAULT OFTEN.
KELLAR: YEAH.
WELL, THAT -- HURLEY: IT'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC EVENT.
KELLAR: THAT'S A REASON TO GO RIGHT THERE, RIGHT?
TO SEE THESE PAST PRESIDENTS.
HURLEY: YEAH.
KELLAR: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
HURLEY: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
KUHR: THANK YOU, BARBARA.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT ONE OF THOSE SHOWS.
HURLEY: YES.
THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.
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SHOWCASE with Barbara Kellar is a local public television program presented by CET
CET Arts programming made possible by: The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, Carol Ann & Ralph V Haile /US Bank Foundation, Randolph and Sallie Wadsworth, Macys, Eleanora C. U....