The Whitley County Extension Community Art Center has traditionally hosted art exhibits at the art center for local artist, in our community, to promote their work.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to pivot our approach to an Online Art Exhibit. In order to continue to promote our local artist and provide high-quality arts experiences to Whitley County residents, we created an Online Art Exhibit. Our fine arts staff ask the community to submit 1-3 pieces of art, along with a bio, contact information and art prices. 

The art center received many art submissions. Because of the great response an “Adult” Online Art Exhibit was created, as well as a “Youth” Online Art Exhibit. 

One example of an artist whose income was increased through this Extension program, was Bryan Hinkle. Bryan was contacted by the Director of Marketing and Communications of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Kentucky, Mandy Prather. She saw Brian’s work via the Online Art Exhibit hosted by Whitley County Cooperative Extension Fine Arts.  Ms. Prather was seeking local art for a new office location in Somerset. The hospital commissioned two 36”x48” original sister abstracts. Below is one example of the final piece, along with my narrative of each.

Bryan shared with us this statement. “I am very grateful for the exposure created from Whitley County Cooperative Extension. I feel fortunate to be a part of the arts community in Whitley County. I was humbled to be a featured “Artist of the Month” in 2019, which I sold pieces, and then thought of again for the Online Exhibit. The exhibit was a great way to reach a wide-range of viewers in the middle of a pandemic. I feel honored to have the support of UK Fine Arts and am excited about future possibilities for myself and other artists in the area. Thank you for creating an encouraging space and platform for small town artists who may otherwise have gone largely unnoticed. Being able to have your art viewed is an incredibly difficult task and having the support of the Cooperative Extension has been a crucial step in not only my confidence as an artist, but the confidence that the arts are still alive and well loved in the state of Kentucky.”

Below is one example of the commissioned painting. 

 The Journey may bring about unforeseen paths with an infinite option of discovery. Whilst the overlapping stories have an ability to weave darkness and light projecting both the fears and excitement of a new course. Along the way, we are forced to discover what is true and what is our personal destination.