Meet the Artists and Buy Their Creations at the Art for Nature Show at Fort Thomas Coffee During the August 18 Art Around Towne Event

"Come On In" by Bill Dirkes

The monthly Art Around Towne is always fun because we get to socialize, eat, drink, and buy art from area artists. Well, the August 18 Art Around Towne event will be little extra special this month. Stop by Fort Thomas Coffee to meet, view, and buy art from some of the area’s finest artist and collectors. The sale and display will run through the end of the month. 

Jan Jolley organized the event for the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy’s effort to restore the Harlan Hubbard Studio. She says, “We have a variety of mediums including fiber art, stained glass, pastel, oil, watercolor, metal print, beadwork and ceramic. The prices vary from $55.00 to $400.00 and everything in between. There truly is something for everyone.”

The proceeds will help to restore the Harlan Hubbard studio now on the National Registry of Historic Places. All of the artists have donated pieces and some pieces have the studio as the subject.  The Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy was created in this studio and the organization realizes the value to preserving this seminal piece of history belonging to Kentucky’s Thoreau. 

Collin Shadwell, artist

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Jolley says, “Most artists hale from Northern Kentucky but we have donations from as far away as Nashville, Tennessee. The Northern Kentucky Society of Plein Air Painters is well represented and there will be plenty of work from Fort Thomas artists like Joe Hall, Sara Hamel, Jackie Braden, and Collin Shadwell to name a few.”  Regional favorites Ken Swinson, Jackie Braden, stain glass artist Jane Pompilio, and local nature photographer Leonard Beck have donated pieces as well.  And more.

Ken Swinson, artist

“But the very best part has been the generosity of the artists themselves and their enthusiasm and support for this endeavor,” Jolley says. And Fort Thomas Coffee does so much to support local artists. Savor the art, a cup of coffee, and conversation. 

Hubbard, of course, is famous for his landscape paintings of his beloved Ohio River as well as being an early advocate for conservation and sustainable living. Contributing artist Bill Dirkes says, “I have long had an interest in self-sufficient & sustainable living. I feel it is important to know how life was in our past.  The more we know & experience that life, the more we can appreciate it, and the life we live now.  Harlan Hubbard's life and art is a close and wonderful example for the entire Northern KentuckySouthwest Ohio region.  We all can benefit in some way by having his life and art available to us. I am well aware that this will not happen without funding.  As an artist, I donate my art because I know all of this to be true.”

Leonard Beck, photographer

Stop by Fort Thomas Coffee during the Art Around Towne. Meet the artists. Buy their work. Help a great cause. The exhibit and sale run through the end of the month. 

You can learn more about the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy at www.ftfc.org and on Facebook or like the Harlan Hubbard Studio and Nature Preserve on Facebook.