Arts notes: New show tells rest of the Story, or how magazine gets made

Fans of print media and journalism have enjoyed watching the past couple years as a new Kentucky magazine has launched and grown during an era when print publications have shut down, moved online or scaled back on print products.

Story magazine, which is based in Lexington but covers the entire state, has built its reputation and readership on strong writing and photography presented in a distinctive visual style, all with a clear affection.

In addition to an extended look at the legacy of Kentucky native and gonzo journalism founder Hunter S. Thompson, the current issue has a lovely look at Lane’s End Farm, an inspiring story about a group that braves the elements to take warm burritos to people who are homeless in Louisville, a critique of the state of filmmaking in Kentucky by filmmaker Drew Ingram, and a great piece on Kentucky’s primate rescue center by retired Herald-Leader staff writer Maryjean Wall and former Herald-Leader photographer David Stephenson.

Now Story’s story is going to be told on Kentucky Educational Television. In May, the public television network is set to debut backSTORY, a quarterly series about the making of each issue of the magazine.

“The visual element is such a key component of Story magazine in its own right, but translating the print piece to film brings out the emotional layer that most people don’t get to see,” Story publisher Julie Wilson said in a news release. “Honestly, at any given moment, it can be mass chaos or a laugh riot around here.”

The first episode will air at 7 p.m. May 14 on KET KY, KET’s substation focused on Kentucky, with several repeat airings on KET and KET2.

Governor’s Derby Exhibit features 27 artists

Works from 27 Kentucky artists are being included in the 2014 Governor’s Derby Exhibit in Frankfort.

The exhibit is coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Council and is part of the annual Governor’s Derby Celebration.

The exhibit opens Monday in the Capitol Rotunda and runs through May 5. The building is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and will be open May 3, Derby Day .

Arts Council executive director Lori Meadows says the event gives many artists in Kentucky an introduction to working with the council. Any Kentucky visual artist 18 or older is eligible to submit work for consideration in the exhibit.

Artists in the exhibit and their home counties are: Hayley Black, Rebecca Flanery, Ellen Guyer, Aubrey Nibert, Helene Steene and Augustin Zarate, Fayette; Michele Daigle and Brittain Skinner, Franklin; Billy Tackett, Boone; Patrick Fretz, Boyle; Matthew Steffen, Campbell; Betty Liles, Christian; Patricia Ritter, Cumberland; Kathy Jackson, Grant; Carol Jones, Hardin; Catherine Bryant, Judith Egerton, Sonya Penn and Joanne Weis, Jefferson; Timothy Gold, Margie Lakeberg and Ken Page, Kenton; Carolyn Gibson, Knott; Sharon Asher, Lee; Donna Burr, Oldham; Tona Barkley, Owen; and Bettye Brookfield, Washington.

This story was originally published March 30, 2014 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Arts notes: New show tells rest of the Story, or how magazine gets made."