By Fran Watson

JACK TRUE, furniture maker extraordinaire, will begin teaching a brand-new woodworking class at the Art Academy this year. Eight lucky students will learn the art of interpreting their fantasies in wood, True's forte. Improbable design elements are child's play for the local artist, who does such otherworldly pieces as music stands that almost sing by themselves and custom designed desks for the discerning CEO. Just another step forward the ever-evolving Academy curriculum.

Where there's visual art, can language art be far behind? Strike an artist(gently, please) and find a writer. The downtown YWCA is featuring that logical progression with a show of both disciplines that opened Aug. 10, and celebrates the 10th anniversary of WOMEN WRITING FOR (A) CHANGE. Strong painting and graphics are paired with creative writing, displayed side-by-side, from nine double-threat artists. Women Writing for (a) Change, founded by MARY PIERCE BROSMER, began with 15 women participating in courses offered by semester. Peer critiques, prompts (exercises in writing), explorations of published poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The organization has been expanded to include Young Women Writing for (a) Change; Women Writing for (a) Change on the broadcast on WVXU on Sunday evenings; Second Saturday Workshop Series. It's also offering scholarships and planning new outreach programs. A special evening of art and poetry will mark the closing week of the YWCA show on Sept. 7, 5:30-8 p.m. Info: 513-241-7090

Downtown's Main Library offers so much more than books, it's easy to miss something terrific on a quick trip. Like the display Pieces of Dreams, ALICE BALTERMAN's decoupage items on the third floor. Comedia dell'Arte, a Parisian apartment house tottering upward in a wine glass shape, a shadow box of nostalgic mirror pieces and old-fashioned visages, boxes, books, scrapbooks ... an imagination gone wild in building miniature worlds of cut and pasted images. Her pieces have been shown at Closson's and Miller Gallery, purchased by Princess Grace of Monaco, sold by the thousands. They have decidedly outstripped the crafty do-it-yourself fad of the '60s and '70s to achieve true art. Inspired by Joseph Cornell's box constructions, Balterman has carried her concepts "from the magic domains of antique shops, and memories" to the public in an extra special kind of nostalgia.

Those painted ponies -- Lexington's version of the Big Pig Gig last summer -- proved to be so popular that the city is now requesting artists to decorate a 60-by-100 foot wall on the Phoenix Building in that city. The project may be either painted or installed on the building, light sculpture accepted, with a rather nice remuneration of $25,000 to be awarded to the chosen proposal. Deadline: Sept 5. Send your prospectus to: tdeatly@lexarts.org or call 859-255-2951

E-mail Fran Watson

The Queen's Generosity (June 28, 2001)
Quick Draw (June 21, 2001)
A Show on Fire (June 14, 2001)
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