The St. James Court Art Show, one of the country’s most acclaimed art shows, kicks off this weekend just down the street from UofL’s Belknap campus. And UofL is seizing the opportunity.
UofL’s Hite Art Institute partnered with the St. James Scholarship Foundation to host a scholarship competition for local high school artists. While this is the St. James Court Associations’ 47th year awarding scholarships, 2019 is the first year the works submitted by students were displayed at UofL’s Cressman Gallery.
The three winners were Muny Mok, Madeline Matheu and Chloe Young, all hailing from duPont Manual High School. After earning a combined $45,000 worth of scholarship money for UofL, the trio will be exhibiting their award-winning work at the three-day long show.
Kirby Holloway, chairman of the St. James Court Scholarship Foundation, believes programs like this are a necessity.
“My big driving factor … is enabling these kids and investing in the future,” said Holloway. “We must invest in our future generations, it’s our responsibility as a community.”
Since its inaugural show in 1957, the St. James Court Art Show has collected a multitude of awards while serving as a staple of Louisville culture. Each year, the show draws roughly 300,000 attendees who view and purchase the works of over 700 artists.
The scholarship competition isn’t UofL’s only connection to the art show. In 2016, members of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity student chapter used dental plaster materials to make plaster casts of hands, feet and faces at the show.
More information about the St. James Court Art Show, including hours and exhibiting artists, is available online.
Photo provided by the St. James Court Art Show Facebook page.
