By Lyndsey Gilpin
Gray and white seem to have been the only colors surrounding the city of Louisville lately. The skies are dark, the wind is bitter and the ground is soaked with leftover slush.
The weather could easily keep the citizens of the city inside at night, waiting for summer to come so they can again enjoy sunshine, warmth and all the events that come with it.
But that hasn’t been the case for many Louisvillians.
On the night of Feb. 5, more than 1,000 people battled the painful winds and freezing rain to attend the second Brown-Forman Art After Dark event at the Speed Art Museum. The theme was fleur-de-lis, the symbol of the city, celebrating all that is Louisville.
Right inside the doors, Quills Coffee handed out samples of their product and Brown-Forman set up several bars. Why Louisville, the Bardstown Road store with any and all Louisville apparel, gave out their famous orange stickers to adults and children alike, who stuck them on their arms, shirts and even foreheads.
A few more steps led guests into the Sculpture Court, which contained food, more drinks, tables, several disc jockeys and a large dance floor. The Speed Museum’s motto, “Room for Everyone,” hung on signs around the room, providing an inviting atmosphere. Local artists’ work hung on the walls.
Inside every room was a taste of Louisville, and the museum was packed for most of the night. Kirsten Popp, public information associate at the museum, was ecstatic about the turnout of artists, activities and visitors.
“We had people of all ages there,” said Popp. “A lot of people were commenting to me about how wonderful the spontaneous theatrical performances by Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble were, as well as Fleur De Poetry and the artful music and performances.”
Surrounded by art, many visitors were interested in learning about drawing. Local artist Martin Rollins gave some perspectives on sketching to anyone who was willing to listen.
“Everyone can be an artist,” said Rollins. “You just move your pencil on the paper until you see something.”
Many students found the exhibits the museum shows regularly to be just as unique as the event’s activities.
“My favorite part of the evening was seeing so many young people enjoying the museum and finding exciting things within its halls,” said Laura Read, a senior communication major. “I was impressed by how imaginative and progressive the Speed got, in terms of music, exhibits and interactive features.”
However, the musical guests were the reason many people came to the event in the first place. Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line traveled around the museum playing folk music until their show began at 9 p.m.
Wax Fang, a local rock group, was perhaps the most anticipated show of the night. Inside the European art room, the band set up hundreds of candles around their stage, in front of colorful stained glass windows. When it came time for them to play, the band members walked out dressed as European royalty, complete with wigs, makeup and costumes. They played an hour-long set with a short encore that fans seemed to enjoy.
The atmosphere at the Speed Art Museum was quite different from any normal day, but it looked as though the museum truly belonged in the city of Louisville. Mint juleps were left next to ancient Egyptian artifacts, fiddlers kept up the background noise, local businesses held themselves proudly, and the symbolic and sentimental fleur-de-lis could be spotted around every corner.
