Community Foundation of Louisville

Public Radio

Artists Talk with LVA: July 10, 2025

This week, we talked with Licia Priest, the winner of the 2025 Bill Fischer Award for Visual Art. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Licia Priest: I Am We Crafting Community in Paper Tole is at KMAC Museum through August 17th, 2025

Priest is a bold interdisciplinary artist whose work blends painting, photography, digital media, sculpture, and even scent and sound. Rooted in personal reflection and cultural reclamation, her vibrant, layered pieces draw on childhood memories, travels to Zimbabwe, and a deep connection to textiles.

This body of work is an ongoing investigation into identifying and analyzing African & African-American cultural similarities & differences due to the African Diaspora.  Priest’s artistic practice explores perceived views versus the realities of Africa. Through an onsite immersion in African culture, similarities & differences are captured through photography.

Intrigued by traditional “craft” techniques, Priest utilizes them to express ideas, feelings and vision thereby creating “fine art” that appeals to the mind and touches the emotions . African art does not draw such a clear delineation & thus she, of African roots seems more drawn inherently to that way of viewing art, despite being a product of African-American heritage.

The process used in this body of art is called, Paper Tole. First comes  photographs, then manipulation of the imagery through color changes, merging imagery, altering line, space & shape. Next duplicates of the image & use of up to 40 layers occurs, cutting each layer out by hand , stacking shaping & coloring the edges & then assembling the work. This is a fresh new approach to a very old “craft”,  to create a level of depth & complexity in the work that echoes the depth & complexities of African & African-American cultural norms.

Public Radio

Artists Talk with LVA: June 27, 2024

Sara Olshansky has won the 2024 Bill Fischer Award for Visual Art and she joins us in the studio this week. Tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Sara Olshansky was born in Louisville, Ky in 1995. She is currently a working artist based in Louisville. She graduated from the Hite Art Institute at the University of Louisville in 2018 with a BFA in 2D Studio Art, a BA in Art History, and a minor in Spanish Language.  In 2017, she attended Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona where she participated in contemporary, Spanish fine art practices and engaged with international art institutions across Europe. Olshansky is a draughtsperson and 2D media artist. She is interested in exploring addition and erasure of imagery on a single picture plane and how this technique might mirror construction and perception of lived experience.

The Bill Fischer Award is granted by the Community Foundation of Louisville and Louisville Visual Art.

Public Radio

Artists Talk with LVA: March 28. 2024

This week we talked briefly with Gad Niyiragira from the Community Foundation of Louisville about the Bill Fischer Award for Visual Art. Deadline to apply is April 8.

Then Scott Scarboro talked about his latest project:

Scotchamo - "Station to Stereo"

Performing LIVE in the Art FM Performance Studio Friday, March 29  7pm EST 

On March 29 (Good Friday), Scarboro will perform his latest conceptual, improvisational musical/sound collage, "Station to Stereo", a 14 movement piece that draws inspiration from David Bowie's "Station to Station" song/album, the Stations of the Cross as a religion story, the magic of radio waves, and cosmic space travel.

The public is invited to experience the free performance in the Art FM studio or from the comfort of their favorite tune-in spot as the event will be LIVE BROADCASTED on WXOX 97.1 FM and streamed worldwide on www.artxfm.com

The ART FM station's performance space is located at 515 W. Breckinridge Street, Louisville, KY.  The event is Free, BYO food/drink.  Doors open at 6:30pm and the performance will start promptly at 7pm.

Public Radio

Artists Talk With LVA: September 15, 2022

WXOX/Art FM celebrates 10 years AND its GiveForGood Louisville so Station Manager Sharon Scott talks about the history & future of 97.1. Tune in to 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

SHARON M. SCOTT established ARTxFM in 2011 with the purpose of providing artists and community members access to the airwaves for creative and experimental use. Streaming live around the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the ARTxFM schedule includes music, talk, and experimental programming.

She is also an author, artist, and cultural historian. Her premier book Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia received outstanding reviews from Booklist, The American Journal of Play, and Lawrence Looks at Books.

Sharon has spoken on the importance of freeform broadcasting at national events such as the Grassroots Radio Conference, College Broadcasters Inc., and the CMJ Music Marathon. Her radio advocacy on behalf of artists and community members has gained the attention of publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, Southern Living, The College Music Journal, and The New York Times. 

Public Radio

Artists Talk With LVA: June 30, 2022

Lance G. Newman II is the recipient of the 2022 Bill Fisher Prize for Visual Arts. We talked with him about the impact he expects the $7000 award will have on his practice. tune in to WXOX 97.1 FM/Artxfm.com each Thursday at 10 am to hear Artists Talk with LVA.

Lance G. Newman II, is a writer, poet, host, actor, performing, visual, and teaching artist. His experience is the culmination of a 16-year career performing around the country. As a playwright, he helped create plays such as the “Smoketown Poetry Opera,“ ”The Westend Poetry Opera” and “The Blood Always Returns.“ Under the name, SpreadLovEnterprise, he teaches his creative writing and public speaking curriculum in schools, community centers, and service-providing organizations. He co-hosts the largest and longest-running poetry slam in Louisville; created the public art “LITS Project” on 4th st; just managed the annual Southern Fried Poetry Festival here in Louisville, and last night was presented with the 2022 Bill Fisher Prize for the Visual Arts by the Community Foundation of Louisville and Louisville Visual Art.