I hustled out to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest after supper. The evening promised a twin bill of fun and I wanted to reach Clermont while the sun was still out. I was able to take in the “Model Homes and Habitats” exhibition of bird houses and bird inspired art. The show had a strong Murray State University flavor to it with many past alumni and one current professor showing work. Murray grad, Brad White assembled the exhibition for Bernheim. I even saw my old drawing professor Dale Leys there as well which was a nice surprise. Twenty five years goes by fast!
The designs of the bird houses ranged from the traditional to the conceptual. Because the light level was getting low, I’m surprised I had images to work with. Unfortunately, I can’t credit many of the artists because I didn’t see an exhibit guide and some labels were hide to find. This house with the scary back has a more traditional hole in front. I liked this picture once I downloaded it from my camera…the house seems to be suspended in mid air.
My friend Raymond Graf had a nice piece in this show. Inspired by dovecotes and Japanese architecture, this piece looked like a bird skyscraper. The piece is primarily made of wood and incorporates many Louisville Slugger souvenir baseball bats in its construction.
At Bernheim it can be hard to tell how many people are attending an event because the park can accommodate them all. I know I saw several hundred people enjoying the music, food, and art. The bird houses were scattered along a walking trail. Once the darkness fell, the white screen behind the band would become center stage. Folks would concentrate in the informal amphitheater sitting on old limestone blocks from the renovation and expansion of Louisville’s McAlpin Locks and Dam. Kentucky’s first sanctioned “Pecha Kucha” event was about to start.
Now I will confess that I have never heard of Pecha Kuchas before in fact I kept calling it Machu Picchu all week-long! Apparently, two American architects decided that the traditional slide show was too boring and could be shortened and made livelier. The idea is the presenter is limited to 20 projected images and 20 seconds a piece for a total talk of 400 seconds. That’s it. Pecha Kucha is said to be Japanese slang for “chit-chat”. To me, it sounded like it could have some pace to it like a poetry slam.
Fourteen presenters interpreted the idea that “Mother Nature wants me to tell you something…” in very personal ways. Many of the speakers were artists who are aligning what they make and do with the needs of the planet. A concern for where society is going and what should we place value in were common threads in many of the talks. Not all the presenters were smooth during their 400 seconds and you could tell a few less experienced speakers were nervous, but the crowd supported everyone with applause regardless of the performance!
This evening and the one before it were successful because of the collaboration and partnership between Bernheim and the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana. The weekend began with the opening of Julia Oldham’s “Possumhaw Plant Electrics” exhibit at the Carnegie Center which consisted of four videos and a gallery of wonderful line drawings. Julia is the 2010 Artist in Residence for Bernheim Forest and the videos were created during her ten week stay. For those who have followed this blog, Julia is a new friend that I shared a couple of outings with that we posted on our respective blogs. It was great seeing her in Kentucky again! Sometimes it’s a big world and sometimes it’s not…perhaps we will meet again? I hope so. The next Pecha Kucha will be held in December at the 21C Hotel in Louisville. That’s another fine venue to take in an event.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
Sounds a very interesting day out Al! I like all the bird houses. the ‘haunted house’ one looks like one of those Chinese monsters that you see at festivals:)
I quite like the idea of the Pechu Kechu approach: only haviing a few seconds to get your point across must really concentrates the mind and I suppose you can really get down to the nitty gritty. I can also understand your comaparison to the delivery being like a poetry slam – fast and furious!
It must have been great to see your old drawing tutor after all this time! I know at least 2 of mine have died (and they weren’t even that old). interesting post:)
Thanks Lynda…yes seeing my old drawing instructor took me back a bit. I think I had a 7:30am drawing class every semester I was at Murray. I thought that was early, but Dale was already in his studio by 4:30am! I’m not sure if he maintains that schedule anymore, but I appreciated the lesson in dedication. I’m thinking I might try doing one of these talks at the next venue.
Hi Al, looks like a fun show, need to get out to see those birdhouses. THe Pechu Kechu sounds like fun too. How often are they going to have those?
Hi Meg! It’s great to hear from you! The Pecha Kechu is next slated to be at the 21C hotel in early December. Doesn’t it feel great to have a little relief from this summer’s heat? Now, if we could only get a little rain! It’s always something.
Hi Al,
We were just at 21C for the first time. Quite impressive. We’ll try to make the Pecha Kechu there. It has been hot this summer, ah well, makes you appreciate pleasant temperatures. I hope it stays like this for a while and doesn’t immediately go into unseasonably cold…..
Al,
You are a champ. Thanks greatly for supporting the evening with your presence and then writing about it on your blog. If you want to be a Pecha Kucha-er in the future, and I hope you do consider that, please let me know.
Cheers,
Crow Hollister
Thanks Crow…I will consider what to talk about. I’m sure it helps to have a theme to lead into. It was another nice night out at your place!
Hey, Al. Thanks for sharing your take on the weekend and the kudos. You got some great photos from the Pecha Kucha. You should definitely do it next time! It was a very different format, but a fun talk to do. I’d love to hear yours!
Karen
Thanks Karen! I’m toying with the idea of doing one of these talks…we shall see. I’m not sure I can contain myself to 400 seconds! I think the collaboration between the Carnegie Center for Art and History and Bernheim should be applauded. I love how each event builds upon the one before it. I also appreciate when a museum or gallery takes the trouble to put together an exhibition guide. You are doing good work there! Sorry to have missed Julia one last time. That was the only regret of the evening for me. Thanks for your comments!
You’re welcome, Al, and thank YOU! Your comments are very appreciated. I always love to get feedback — especially when it’s as nice as yours! 🙂 I’m glad to hear that you like our partnership (working with Bernheim has certainly been a fabulous experience for us) and I’m glad you like our gallery guides here. I was very sorry to not have Julia at PK and I know she was very disappointed to miss it. We just have to work on getting her back here again! I was glad that her visit gave us the chance to hang out some too. You absolutely should do a Pecha Kucha talk!! I wasn’t sure if I could contain myself either, but once I got the idea that I could really only say one thing about each slide, it got easier and it was an interesting exercise to figure out what that one thing would be! I also liked the talks that were more of a story that flowed as the slides changed too. Hope to see you at the next event!