Story Archives – Page 3 of 4 – Mellwood Art Center

Butchertown Brewing Set to Open

Posted on 11/20/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Butchertown Brewing Set to Open

Louisville’s beer scene will soon be welcoming its newest member with the eminent grand opening of Butchertown Brewing. A part-time passion project for Andy Cobb, who operates two other companies, Butchertown Brewing makes the brews its sole focus.

"You’re not going to go to my place and watch the game or anything. It’s going to be about the beer."

Andy’s passion for beer spans decades. He first started with homebrewing back in 1994. Over time, he experimented with different styles of beer. Andy also connected with other beer aficionados to share information, recipes, and their enthusiasm for the sudsy goodness. He was even given the title of “Louisville Beer Mayor” by his fellow members of the Louisville Beer Snobs Facebook group.

Amongst his fellow brewers, Andy is best known for his stouts. He has particular fondness for bourbon barrel aged stouts. As such, it has always irked him to see how few Kentucky-based breweries capitalize on the opportunity available to them.

"We’re in bourbon country, and I love barrel aged beers. It upset me that there were all these breweries from outside of Kentucky getting all these bourbon barrels and putting beer in them, putting great beer in them, making great beer, and we go and buy that beer. I’d like to see more Louisville breweries do that, so that’s going to be one of my main focuses: barrel aged beers."

Besides its focus on bourbon barrel beers, another aspect which will set Butchertown Brewing apart from other Louisville breweries will be its invite only membership. Members will have a 1 – 2 week window of time for first pick of the bourbon barrel aged stouts. Afterwards, these stouts will be available to the public at large. Andy plans to brew up other styles as well. Each month, Butchertown Brewing will offer two other types of beers, which will be available to members and non-members alike upon release, no member-exclusive purchasing period.

Once open, Butchertown Brewing will have monthly tastings to allow people to sample Andy’s small batch craft beers. Sessions will run around 45 minutes with groups of 20 – 25 people. All purchases, including beer, will be done through Butchertown Brewing’s website at butchertownbrewingco.com. To keep up with the latest news and announcements from Butchertown Brewing, be sure to check out their Facebook or Instagram pages.

Artist Spotlight: Karl Otto

Posted on 11/13/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Artist Spotlight: Karl Otto

As much as we like to see ourselves as the architects of our own destinies, we can’t deny how much chance plays a huge role in determining our future. No one knows this better than Karl Otto. If you’ve stopped by our office, you’ve seen some of his work hanging on our wall. It exists thanks to the chance encounters Karl has had which helped him discover his aptitude for and interest in geometric designs.

Karl Otto: Wood and Marker Piece in Mellwood Office

Currently, Karl’s primary focus as a tattoo artist is black work, heavy layers of black ink used to create geometric and ornamental designs. While this style makes up the majority of his work, this wasn’t always the case. Seven years prior, he had been primarily doing American traditional tattoos; simple bold tattoos with small color palettes. By chance, he was approached by a friend and fellow tattoo artist with a request to do a tattoo of a mandala. Karl had never received such a request and had to learn how to design one. This one tattoo would change everything for Karl.

Once it was completed, he posted a picture of his work on social media, where it took off. Over the next few years, Karl gained a reputation for his mandalas. Eventually, it became the bulk of his requests. As Karl studied, traveled, and worked with other tattoo artists, he saw how much more he could do with geometric patterns inspired by Eastern art.

It was another chance request which would open another creative outlet for Karl. He was invited by the people in charge of the party cove at the Forecastle Festival. Being familiar with Karl’s work, they asked him to do one of his geometric designs on a boat; they would provide him with supplies. When he arrived, he received paint markers, which turned out to be the perfect tool to allow him to create his designs quickly on a large scale. He quickly fell in love with medium and now seeks every opportunity to engage with it. He’s made videos of him creating and has done live events as fundraisers for some local non-profits.

You can find more of Karl’s work on his Instagram @unflappable_karl and @unflappablekarl_designs.

Karl Otto: Muhammad Ali wood and marker piece

You can find more of Karl’s work on his Instagram @unflappable_karl and @unflappablekarl_designs.

Artist Spotlight: Kevin Warth

Posted on 11/12/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Artist Spotlight: Kevin Warth

Our teenage years are a time of self-discover; we figure out our strengths, interests, and passions. We often plan our futures, scrap them, and then plan again as we learn more about ourselves. Kevin Warth, an interdisciplinary artist here at Mellwood, was no exception. Initially, Kevin had charted a path which would ultimately take him to med school. At 16, he took his first photography class, which completely changed the trajectory of his life.

Through that class, he discovered part of himself he didn’t know existed before. He found a passion to create, a passion he knew he needed to follow in college. Halfway into his college years, Kevin identified what would be the focus of his art: identity, sexuality, and the body. He found that he enjoyed exploring these topics and drawing comparisons between lived experience and the cultural norms pushed by mass media, advertising in particular. In his photography, Kevin tries to find new ways to interpret the home and family while subverting the dominant social narratives.

During his time in college, Kevin took a fiber arts course to fulfill a requirement for his major. At the time, he had very little enthusiasm or interest in the medium. It wasn’t until after he had graduated and took on a studio here at Mellwood that he began to experiment with it. As he played with fiber art more, he found ways to incorporate his experience as a photographer, desire to subvert norms, and explore identity with this new medium. His embroidery portraiture examines the AIDS crisis, how it impacts the LGBTQ community today, and highlights those who passed away from HIV/AIDS complications.

To view more of Kevin’s work, you can visit his site at kevinwarth.com or his Instagram at @kevinmwarth.

Business Spotlight: P & P Collectibles

Posted on 11/12/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Business Spotlight: P & P Collectibles

For Dennis of P & P Collectibles & Antiques, his foray into candle making was a challenge put forward by another candle manufacturer. Prior to making candles, Dennis’ focus was on his antiques business, where he sold candles made by this manufacturer when he was notified that he would no longer be allowed to sell their candles. When told he couldn’t do it on his own, he was determined to prove them otherwise. Four years and thousands of candles later, Dennis is still making and selling candles, as well as essential oils and fragrances, defusers, and beard and hair oil for men, with plans to expand into other products in the future.

P & P Collectibles: Bourbon Barrel Candle Display

Dennis’ environmentally friendly candles are made with a blend of soy and coconut waxes, wooden wicks, and come in over 60 different scents derived from essential oils and fragrances, making his candles easier on those who struggle with asthma. He’s best known for his Kentucky-themed scents, which include Bourbon Barrel (housed in custom made clay bourbon barrels courtesy of Betty Blu Pottery), Cherry Tobacco, and Mint Julep. He also has some more unusually named candles, like Hillbilly Homebrew, Witch’s Brew, Terrestrial, and Butt Naked. Be sure to check out his shop here at Mellwood or his online stop on Etsy at etsy.com/shop/PpcollectiblesStore.

P & P Collectibles: Glass Pigs and Skulls

Business Spotlight: Uneena’s

Posted on 10/16/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Business Spotlight: Uneena's

When Uneena wraps up her workday as an administrative assistant at U of L’s Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, she makes her way to Mellwood to start her fun job: making and selling jewelry. For Uneena, coming into her shop is a way for her to engage her creativity and forget about the stresses of the day.

Uneena's: Necklaces, rings, bracelets, and stones

While she’s always had a creative streak, Uneena discovered her passion after taking a jewelry making class here at Mellwood 10 years ago. After speaking with the teacher about what she wanted to do with her creations, Uneena opened her studio/shop with her sister, Kay, and began selling their work.

When entering her shop, you’ll find an assortment of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. While some of her glass bead work is still available, Uneena has been transitioning to natural stones and crystals. The gems she works with all carry special meanings and dictate the shape each piece ultimately takes. If you have an idea for a piece or would like to have an existing piece of jewelry further customized, Uneena does take special custom orders. To see more of her work, or to have something custom made, be sure to visit her shop, Uneena’s, here at the Mellwood Art Center.

Genna & Absolute Studio Theater

Posted on 10/10/2020 by nathaniel

Genna & Absolute Studio Theater

Genna Greene’s Absolute Theater was open a month and a half before shutting down due to the pandemic. The community theater aims to give local thespians a creative outlet. Now, Absolute Theater has reopened and Genna has big plans.

Genna always knew she wanted to be a fashion and costume designer. After formal training in New York under Nicole Miller, Genna teamed up with Matthew Tyldesley to combine wig art and fashion design. Still partners to this day, you can view their eccentric combinations on social media.

Currently, Genna splits her time between her theater and her home studio. She creates costumes for a variety of clients from theme parks to major motion pictures such as Hell on the Border. You can also see Genna’s work anytime you visit Kentucky Kingdom or Disney theme parks. Plan on traveling to Shanghai Disney? You are sure to see her costumes there too (up to 36 to be exact).

Absolute Theater’s post-pandemic debut will be Rocky Horror Picture Show with a twist.

“We had to think outside the box to keep people safe.”

Along with zany costumes, actors will be adorned with masks and gloves as well. The shows will be quaint, with a maximum booking of 50 people in order to adhere to social distancing standards. Reserve your seat for October 24th and 30th by purchasing tickets online at MellwoodArtCenterAbsoluteStudioTheater.com. Additionally, keep an eye out for the ever-so-entertaining Drag Pageant hosted by Unsupervised Adults also in October.

In addition to her theater, Genna is working to make the Mellwood Art Center the “happening spot” for artists and art lovers. Currently, she is organizing a Shop Small Day on December 5th to encourage the community to buy local for their holiday gifts. Lastly, the Absolute Theater will also perform a Christmas play and additional performers will be outside caroling and entertaining guests during the event.

To learn more about Absolute Theater and upcoming shows, visit MellwoodArtCenterAbsoluteStudioTheater.com.

Danny Mac’s: Surviving COVID-19

Posted on 10/10/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Danny Mac’s: Surviving COVID-19

At this point, many of our readers are well aware of the struggles facing small businesses resulting from COVID-19. For many, the best case scenario is remaining open with an unclear future looming ahead, while others have been forced into closing their businesses for good. One of our tenants, Danny Mac of Danny Mac’s Pizza, finds himself among those able to stay open since the outbreak of the pandemic.

“We’re service people and we’re trying to make the best of the situation. The first three weeks really made us nervous. We didn’ t know what was going to happen, if we were going to be shut down. We were prepared to do anything we had to do to survive.”

In the 14 years Danny Mac’s Pizza has been in business, he has faced nothing like COVID-19 before. With such an unprecedented health crisis, Danny saw the need to adapt his business in order to keep going. “It’s just a totally different situation. We were probably 95% dine-in and we had to modify things, like add curbside service and we modified our operations on carryout. We added a bar right at our front door so nobody has to touch any knobs or come in the building.”

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Remaining open and ensuring the safety of his staff and customers has come with some frustrations. Suppliers running out of goods and price hikes has meant that Danny had to adjust his menu in order to cope, something he did reluctantly. But to Danny, it is all worth it when he sees his smiling customers. Despite the challenges and frustrations posed by the pandemic, Danny Mac feels blessed to be able to stay open and that his business has seen healthy sales. He credits much of this success to the words of praise he and his business have received from his customers regarding not only the quality of the food and the friendly demeanor of his staff, but also the precautions he and his staff have taken to keep everyone safe.

When asked for advice he would share with other small business owners, Danny encourages owners to be creative.

“You definitely have to think outside the box. There’s a lot of changes we have to deal with. Just continue to think of different ways to sell.”

If you are looking for some of the best pizza in town, Danny Mac’s Pizza is sure to satisfy. You can find them online at www.dannymacspizza.com or call (502) 890-6331 to place a to go order.

Photos courtesy of Danny Mac’s Pizza

Business Spotlight: Betty Blu Pottery

Posted on 10/09/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Business Spotlight: Betty Blu Pottery

The desire to pursue art can develop at any point in life. For some, it’s a lifelong passion. For others, like Betty of Betty Blu Pottery, it’s a more recent calling. For her, it started with a class 12 years ago. While she wasn’t certain it was something she would like, Betty invested in a pottery wheel after the first class so she could practice what she learned between sessions. As a lifelong learner, Betty didn’t stop with pottery. When the pandemic hit, Betty saw an opportunity to expand her skills into stonework, which she now sells alongside her pottery. Among her wares are cups, vases, salt shakers, and polished stones and crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Be sure to stop by her studio in our courtyard to see more of her work. On nice days, you may even catch her outside, working at her wheel.

Betty Blu Pottery: Pottery and Salt Shakers

Betty Blu Pottery: Pottery on Shelf with Animal Figure

Betty Blu Pottery: Pottery on shelf with earrings

Business Spotlight: Designs by The Johnson’s

Posted on 10/02/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Business Spotlight: Designs by The Johnson's

“If it’s something somebody wants custom made, we do it.” That’s the mantra Minniequa Johnson follows. What began with selling some custom work out of her mother-in-law’s boutique shop is slowing growing into something Minniequa sees becoming her full-time gig. She makes many custom items, including t-shirts, tutus, face masks, mugs, tumblers, and wine glasses.

Her passion for custom design work is something she shares with her three kids, who make their own t-shirts and tie-dyes. You can checkout more of Minniequa’s work at @designsbymae or stop by her studio here at Mellwood tomorrow during her grand opening event!

Business Spotlight: Dead Sled Leather Co.

Posted on 09/25/202009/07/2021 by nathaniel

Business Spotlight: Dead Sled Leather Co.

Ever seen a hearse in the Mellwood Art Center parking lot? It likely belongs to Dead Sled Leather Co. owner, Jonathon Baker. A paramedic for Jeffersontown by day, he is no stranger to the macabre. In fact, his curiosity for the gruesome is the inspiration for his brand. But don’t let the headstone keychain scare you, Jonathan is a skilled artisan in leather goods.

Jonathan crafts a variety of products including belts, wallets, barbour bags, and even gear for firefighters and other paramedics. He wants his customers to know where their stuff comes from and that it’s going to last “‘till your last ride”.

Looking for something American made with high quality leather and craftsmanship? Check out the amazing pieces for sale at deadsledleather.com.