Speed Art Museum

Opening Night for Speed Museum's Nulu Home

Erin Keane — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:04:05 +0000

The Speed Art Museum broke ground last month for its expansion and renovation project, which will close the museum campus for three years, but its interim offices at 822 East Market Street, a satellite space dubbed Local Speed, are open.

Tonight, the museum celebrates the opening of "Welcome Neighbors: Art from Nulu" during the downtown trolley hop. Curated by The Green Building's Daniel Pfalzgraf, the multi-discipline exhibit features established and emerging visual artists who show and work in the neighborhood. The reception begins at 5 p.m. and features Mad Pixel designer Ron Jasin screenprinting limited edition posters on-site.

New Gift Accelerates Speed Museum Expansion

Erin Keane — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:48:56 +0000

The Speed Art Museum began demolition today to prepare for the construction phase of its $50 million renovation and expansion with the announcement of an additional gift from the family of Louisville philanthropist Christy Brown. The $18 million donation, the family’s largest, will accelerate the completion of all three phases of the master plan designed by Los Angeles-based firm wHY Architecture, including a new 9,500 square foot South Building to house a state-of-the-art theater.

Speed Museum Says Goodbye to Charles Venable

Laura Ellis — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:07:09 +0000

Our arts segment on this week's Byline was bittersweet; Charles Venable is leaving Louisville after five years as director of the Speed Art Museum. Meanwhile, the Speed itself will say goodbye for now, as it breaks ground on a $50 million renovation and expansion, starting next weekend. WFPL's Erin Keane spoke with Venable about what's next for him, and the institution he's leaving behind.

Symposium to Explore Louisville's Public Art

Erin Keane — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:34:43 +0000

The Commission on Public Art will host “The Power of Public Space,” a two-day event bringing together citizens and experts from national art institutions with leaders from the University of Louisville and the Speed Art Museum to lead discussions on public art history, collections and conservation in Louisville.

The events are free and open to the public. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Speed Art Museum and International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art – North America (INCCA-NA).

Speed's Interim Leadership Announced

Erin Keane — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:38:10 +0000

The Speed Art Museum board of trustees has elected three top Speed leaders to share interim director duties during the museum's executive director search.

Chief Operating Officer Lisa Resnick, Chief Financial Officer David Knopf and Scott Erbes, the museum's director of collections and exhibitions and curator of decorative arts and design, have been named co-interim directors and will lead the museum during its three-year expansion and renovation project. Resnick will chair the leadership team.

Speed Museum Director Leaving for Indianapolis

Erin Keane — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:17:08 +0000

Director Charles Venable is leaving the Speed Art Museum next month. The Board of Governors of the Indianapolis Museum of Art announced today that Venable has been appointed The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Museum.

Venable joined the Speed five years ago, leading the museum during the development and funding of a $50 million renovation and expansion project, which will close the museum to the public for three years next month.

Speed Museum Begins Staff Re-Organization

Erin Keane — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:24:28 +0000

The Speed Art Museum has eliminated eight full-time staff positions. The cuts were made in anticipation of the Speed’s $50 million renovation and expansion project, which will close the museum to the public until September 2015.

The affected positions are spread throughout the museum’s divisions and include jobs in visitor experience, collections, facilities, education, IT and security.

Back with the Band: Drummer-Turned-Filmmaker Produces My Morning Jacket Documentary

Erin Keane — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:42:05 +0000

Once upon a time, a guy from Louisville named Christopher Guetig played drums for My Morning Jacket. Those were the hard-touring van years, between the release of the critically-acclaimed “At Dawn” and the 2003 breakthrough hit “It Still Moves.”

It’s an old story. Guy leaves band, band makes it big. But this is not an episode of “Behind the Music.” Guetig doesn’t really regret leaving the band for Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in 2002, when they were all still up-and-comers.

Surreal Play Introduces Kids to Magritte

Erin Keane — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:39:38 +0000

Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte was known for his playful use of mystery–men in overcoats and bowler hats floating, an apple or a boulder suspended in mid-air. Sometimes silly, always evocative, he captured the imagination of art lovers of all ages.

Speed Museum Independence Exhibit Includes Rare Declaration Replica

Erin Keane — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Visitors to the Speed Art Museum will get a bonus history lesson this summer. A rare limited edition 19th century copy of the original Declaration of Independence will go on display in an independence-themed exhibit Saturday.