UK’s Crystal Gregory Named Kentucky State Fellow by South Arts

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Could 26, 2022) — Crystal Gregory, affiliate professor within the College of Kentucky Faculty of Tremendous Arts’ College of Artwork and Visible Research (SA/VS), has been named considered one of 9 State Fellows by South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts group. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts empowers artists, organizations and communities, and will increase entry to arts and tradition. Gregory will function the consultant from Kentucky, one of many 9 member states of South Arts. 

“The 2022 State Fellows are a testomony to the sturdy creativity throughout our area,” mentioned Susie Surkamer, president and CEO of South Arts. “Every State Fellow speaks to what it means to be an artist who lives, works and creates within the South. By way of their work, we’re exploring themes very important to our regional understanding, together with local weather change, cultural assimilation, self-identity and police violence. South Arts is grateful to rejoice their imaginative and prescient with these awards.” 

In partnership with the Nationwide Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Businesses of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee — with further funding from different private and non-private donors such because the Doris Duke Charitable Basis, the Ford Basis, and the Andrew W. Mellon Basis — South Arts helps artists and organizations via a wealthy and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships and applications.

The State Fellowships include a money award of $5,000 and inclusion in an exhibition on the Bo Bartlett Middle in Columbus, Georgia, from Sept. 2-Dec. 10, 2022, earlier than touring to further places throughout the area. The State Fellows are additionally now in consideration for the 2 bigger Southern Prize awards. One fellowship recipient can be named the Southern Prize winner receiving a further $25,000 money award, and one other fellow can be named the Southern Prize Finalist receiving a further $10,000; each Southern Prize recipients additionally obtain a two-week residency on the Hambidge Middle for the Inventive Arts and Sciences. The 2 winners can be named on the opening reception for the exhibition this fall. The Southern Prize and State Fellowships are adjudicated awards recognizing creative excellence that displays and represents the variety of the area.  

“I’m extremely honored to be named the South Arts Fellow for Kentucky and be included amongst many actually fantastic artists from across the South,” Gregory mentioned. “This yr’s group is so inspiring I’m thrilled to be counted amongst them.” 

Gregory’s work is concentrated on sculptural work utilizing textiles and different supplies. 

“My work makes use of material building as a elementary middle, a spot to start out from and transfer again to. With a background in weaving, I see myself as a builder; drawing clear connections between the traces of thread laid perpendicularly via a warp and the development of architectural areas,” Gregory mentioned. “Formally, my work takes form via a pallet of constructing supplies both paired with or mimicking textiles. I discovered a pressure between supplies like concrete and the structural patterns of fabric. By pairing these seemingly reverse worlds collectively I invert materials stereotypes, utilizing the ‘delicate’ materials to exhibit power or exposing the ‘structural’ supplies’ instabilities. These gestures enable for a reinterpretation of fabric identities, leaving the viewer to confront their understanding of those on a regular basis utilities.” 

The UK College of Artwork and Visible Research has seen three of the six Kentucky State Fellows come from the ranks of its college since South Arts launched the competitors in 2017. The respect was beforehand awarded to SAVS college members — senior lecturer Becky Alley in 2017 and affiliate professor Garrett Hansen in 2018.  

“The College of Artwork and Visible Research is so proud to have such excellent artists on our college, “mentioned Ruth Adams, appearing director for the College of Artwork and Visible Research. “Crystal has been an enormous asset to the varsity and our college students within the brief time she has been right here. She has introduced thrilling new collaborations and applied sciences to the fiber space, exhibiting college students that one can work throughout media to articulate the concepts and aesthetics wanted to reach right now’s up to date artwork subject.” 

The UK College of Artwork and Visible Research, on the UK Faculty of Tremendous Arts, is an accredited member of the Nationwide Affiliation of Faculties of Artwork and Design and provides undergraduate and graduate levels within the fields of artwork studio, artwork historical past and visible research, artwork training, curatorial research and digital media design.