K.A.S. Gallery Sip and Strokes or Draw Classes Are Fun and Different

By Chris Walker on July 30, 2012

When someone in Louisville drives to the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center (MAEC) for the first time he or she must be taken off guard. The large brick factory surrounds any driver and does not give any hint of being a gallery. These buildings were actually renovated from the Fischer Meat Packing Company into 360,000 square feet of space occupied by galleries, studios and rehearsal spaces. The center’s website boasts over 200 studios, offices, stores and galleries. For the person not familiar or very knowledgeable of art there is at least one gallery to point out in particular.

The Kentucky Art Speaks or K.A.S. Gallery is located in room 121 of building A at the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center.

The Kentucky Art Speaks (K.A.S.) Gallery is tucked away in building A, room 121 but can be found with a little assistance from the convenient maps located at the entrance of the MAEC. Owner and Founder Tonya Smith opened this gallery in September 2010. “I wanted more traffic for artists and people who don’t know about art,” Smith said about her gallery.

Over the past two years The K.A.S. Gallery evolved to include a gallery, yoga classes and even art and wine classes. The yoga classes have since received 3,000 sign ups and remain a popular activity. The art and wine classes are a fun activity as well that allows anyone to create great pieces of art.

The classes break down into three different categories. Women can enjoy Girls Night Out! where they will drink wine and learn different art media. I heart Art! is designed for couples to work together and create a painting that will be shown in a 30 day exhibit in the gallery. Anyone can participate individually or as a group in the Sip and Strokes or Draw class although you must be 21 to partake in the wine tasting.

Balthus Priest taught the Sip and Stroke class on July 20 covering Pop Art. Priest is a senior Bachelor of Fine Arts student at the University of Louisville who admitted to randomly finding this job but loves the opportunity to teach. “I enjoy doing it, and I think it will do good,” Priest said about teaching the class.

Smith hired Priest because she wants her instructors to be a tranquil and peaceful person similar to anyone teaching yoga. The Sip and Stroke class is taught step by step in such a manner that no previous art experiences is necessary. Class begins at 7:30 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:45 for registration and seating. The Pop Art class hosted 16 participants. Only two were men. The class is only two hours long but the two hours is enough time with a smooth pace to finish a piece.

Instructor Balthus Priest sets up for the night's class. The class recreated a Pop Art piece of sexy red lips.

Several teachers from Price Elementary, a visual arts magnet school, attended the Pop Art class. One teacher, Zina Knight said, “We thought it would be a fun way to keep our skills sharp in the summer.”

Laid out before each person attending the class is a blank canvas, cup of water and a selection of different sized brushes. In the back of the classroom were snacks such as a vegetable tray, cookies, chips and cheeses. The gallery offers glasses of wine for $4 but attendees may bring their own (many did).

The instructor at the front has a blank canvas of his own and a finished product to his right. Of course, this finished work is what each student will be recreating. Variations are welcomed. The Pop Art selection was a painting of sexy red lips. Priest began calmly by instructing the class to “Just draw a hill.” Then in the center of his canvas he drew a curved line that would eventually be the top of the lips. With clear, concise instruction anyone could follow along. Despite Priest’s reassurance, many students took to mocking his or her work. If for some reason a line was off or a color was wrong, Priest would come and assist any student and calmly explain how to fix it.

The atmosphere stayed relaxed. A speaker system is wired through the gallery playing rhythm and blues selection from a Spotify account. Smith and Priest were partial to Frank Ocean for the Pop Art class. Halfway through the class Priest opened song selection to the class but no one was too assertive about what to hear. Clearly everyone was having fun, which is the entire point.

After two hours the class is finished but no one immediately leaves. Many people linger to continue to relax and examine what their classmates accomplished. Everyone in the Pop Art class managed to recreate the lips well.

Smith receives a lot of feedback on her classes for the serene atmosphere. “I want someone to take away how art can change you,” Smith said. “You can relax but express yourself.”

Beth Thompson, an occupational therapist, came to the class for her birthday. “[It was] something different, thought it would be fun,” she said. “We don’t go to bars but we like to drink wine.”

—

Classes can be purchased online at: http://www.kasgallery.org/#!purchase-online and a calendar at http://kasgalleryart.tumblr.com/

(As evidence for the final product of the class I have provided a picture of my own painting – I have no background in art.)