Art Throb

In this episode, Chip Sebastian discusses his upcoming production of Death and the Maiden , exploring themes of justice, trauma, and societal reflection through the play. He shares insights into the play's background, its social message, and how it connects to current issues.   Local agencies involved in  dealing with these issues - domestic violence, sex traffiking -  will have a presence in...

Devin Marks discusses the inspiration, planning, and community involvement behind the Ginkgo Galore Festival in Wilmore, Kentucky with show host Kate Savage.  The conversation covers the festival's unique activities, the restoration of the historic granary, and how the event celebrates local history and culture. Devin is President of the Ginkgo Foundation and Producer of the Ginkgo Galore Fes...

In this podcast my guests Sherry Jackson Thompson, Director; Wylie Caudill, Steve; and Kyle Wade, numerous roles - all female - discuss the upcoming production of Jeffrey by Act Out Theatre, exploring its themes of love, humor, and the impact of the AIDS crisis. They share insights into the mission of Act Out Theatre, the character dynamics within the play, and the challenges of rehearsing without...

Step inside one of Lexington’s most creative spaces, what does it take to transform a crumbling historic building into a vibrant arts hub?  This episode of ArtThrob features Marco Logsdon and Michael Satterley, artists and co-owners of Louis Gard Studios & Event Space. Host Kate Savage leads an engaging conversation about the arduous restoration of a former hemp factory and jazz club, how the...

Livia Theodoli-Wing joins Kate to celebrate the remarkable legacy of Carleton Wing, a self-taught collage and assemblage artist known for his vibrant imagination and wit. They explored how Carleton's unique vision, his playful use of found objects, and his philosophy that "nothing is new" shaped a creative journey that continues to inspire. From founding Wingspan Gallery to influenc...

Laverne Zabielski, Lexington poet, writer, and fiber artist, joins host Kate Savage to discuss her deeply personal new chapbook, "Disbelief," which traces a 20th-century life marked by both joy and tragedy, including the loss of her son and her daughter’s battles with addiction. She reflects on the transformative power of journal writing, the act of crafting experience into art, and the...

Drew Barr, acclaimed director of new, modern, and classical plays known for his work on Broadway and internationally with productions such as War Horse, joins Kate Savage to discuss his latest project: directing Harvey Fierstein’s Casa Valentina for the Act Out Theatre Group in Lexington. Kate Savage delves into Drew Barr’s background, prolific career, and previous challenging productions like Ang...

Artist Stacey Chinn-Hart discusses her conceptual art exhibition 'Recreation,' exploring themes of identity, vulnerability, and transformation through personal and powerful works. Host Kate Savage delves into Stacey's creative process, the significance of her pieces, and the emotional journey behind her art. Stacey R. Chinn (Chinn-Hart) is a Lexington, Kentucky-based visual artist,...

JoEllen Wilhoite, Director of Corporate and Annual Giving at the Nest, along with artist and illustrator Pam McDaniel and singer-songwriter Buffy Lawson, discuss their heartwarming collaboration on the children’s book "The Nest We Built," launching June 16 at Arts Place. Jo Ellen talks about the Nest’s holistic mission to prevent abuse and neglect, and how the idea for the book was inspi...

Vanessa Becker Weig, co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of Voices Amplified, and Rylie Sudduth, rising senior at the University of Evansville and Associate Producer, discuss the ambitious first Voices Heard Women’s Theatre Festival in Lexington, themed “Reclamation.” Vanessa explains the festival's origins, its mission to reclaim and amplify women’s stories, and provides an in-depth l...

When Tom Willis first encountered the Icarus myth, it felt like a warning to him: don’t fly too close to the sun. But then he thought - what if instead, it’s a call to leap into the unknown? That’s the heart of his new ballet, Icarus in Heat , where the fraught relationship between a father and son is explored, and how those big leaps can be necessary for growth. Podcast host Kate Savage explores...

In this engaging interview, Willie Davis discusses his innovative novel Honeysuckle Season, which uniquely recounts a single incident through 12 diverse perspectives. The conversation with host Kate Savage, explores the book's creative format, influences, and the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of events.  The different voices in the book reflect the subjective nature of tr...

Allison Lankford  has overseen the Gatton Park project for more than a decade. In addition to raising the money necessary to build the park, with more than $55 million secured, Allison led the planning related to the design, programming, revenue model and governance structure for the future park. The team broke ground in August 2023 and opened to the public on August 23, 2025. In conversation with...

Kevin Lane Dearinger, retired Broadway actor, singer, English teacher, and prolific author, joins Kate Savage to share the fascinating story behind his new book, At the Lexington Opera House: A Scrapbook, 1887–2026 . In a lively and engaging conversation, Kevin delves into the rich history of Lexington’s beloved opera house, from its 19th-century glory days—when everyone from world-famous performe...

Gregory Turay, internationally recognized operatic tenor, educator, and civic arts leader, joins host Kate Savage to discuss his visionary project, ElevateART—a proposed civic and community arts center aimed at transforming Lexington’s arts landscape. Gregory shares how his experiences performing globally, teaching at the University of Kentucky, and engaging with local nonprofits underscored the c...

Ave Lawyer, founding member of the theater group On the Verge, and artist/horticulturalist Claudia Michler join host Kate Savage to reflect on the life and art of Dan Stone, a prolific yet private Lexington artist and poet whose works are now on public view following his passing. Longtime friends and supporters, Ave and Claudia share stories of their decades-long friendship with Dan, his philosoph...

Zak Foster, a community-taught textile artist, joins host Kate Savage for an exploration of his exhibition "Southern White Amnesia" at the Morland Gallery, which delves into the family stories white Americans tell—and forget—about their historical roles in slavery. Zak describes how discovering records of his ancestors’ involvement in slavery became a catalyst for both his research and c...

Daniel Pfalzgraf, longtime preparator, curator and now gallery owner, sits down with Kate to discuss the seamless transition of Lexington’s beloved New Editions Gallery into its next chapter as Wheelhouse Art. Daniel recounts his two-decade journey through museum and gallery worlds, how mentorship and timing made gallery ownership possible, and the remarkable parallels between his Louisville and L...

Lori Meadows, Board Chair of Kentuckians for the Arts and former Executive Director of the Kentucky Arts Council, joins host Kate Savage to discuss the essential role of arts advocacy across Kentucky. Lori sheds light on the dramatic decline in state arts funding—from $4.5 million in 2001 to just $1.8 million today—ranking Kentucky 45th in the nation and second lowest in the South for per capita a...

Jim Clark, Executive Director of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation, joins Kate Savage for a wide-ranging conversation about Ashland, the historic Lexington estate once home to Henry Clay. They discuss Ashland’s architectural evolution, the intentional landscape design echoing European traditions, and the site’s ongoing role as a gathering place for arts, culture, and community. The conversation a...

Keelan O’Sullivan, writer, curator, and executive director of Institute 193, joins host Kate Savage to discuss Casey Joiner’s exhibition "Housekeeping," a dreamlike photographic meditation on family, grief, and the architecture of memory. Keelan explains how Casey’s images—rooted in the experience of losing her father and inheriting the family home—balance personal specificity with unive...

In my conversation with Jeremy Kisling we talk about the importance of creating a sense of belonging for young people at the Lexington Children's Theatre.  Jeremy emphasizes the universal need for all individuals to find spaces where they can be authentic and free from societal expectations.  The discussion also explores the role of theatre in personal development, community engagement and th...

Joe Farrell, veteran director with a distinguished 60-year career, and actor Joe Gatton, well-known in the Lexington theater scene, join host Kate Savage to discuss their upcoming production of Conor McPherson’s "The Weir" at the Antagonist Theatre. The conversation explores the play’s haunting Irish folklore, its setting in a rural pub where ghost stories are shared to impress—and ultim...

Dr. Vicki Bell, Professor of Music Theory at Asbury University, and Dr. Stephen Bolster, retired Chair of Music at Berea College, join host Kate Savage to share their story as newly appointed co-artistic directors of the Kentucky Bach Choir . Vicki and Stephen recount decades of collaboration, their combined musical backgrounds, and the unique advantages of co-directing a choir—such as sharing res...

​Marina Ubaldi Ritter and Lucinda Zoe, members of the Carrot Cake Collective, join Art Throb host Kate Savage to talk about about their efforts to document the history and recipes of the beloved Alfalfa Restaurant in Lexington. The conversation explores the impact of the restaurant's closure during the pandemic, the importance of preserving its legacy, and the community that formed around it....