Heads up, Bourbon Trail, you’ve got company. The new UK Art Trail makes its debut on Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. with maps at each stop, docents to answer questions, and passport stamps provided. The self-guided walking tour shows off the school’s vast, eye-opening collection of fine art.
What to know
Spanning five featured locations, works on view include those by masters, emerging artists, and up-and-coming MFA students. The first 50 people who collect stamps from three galleries can receive a free original artwork, available to collect at the UK Art Museum while supplies last.
Some stops may be surprising. A hospital? But the UK Chandler Hospital’s art collection has more than 4,000 pieces on walls and in waiting rooms. The tour focuses on its Celebrate Kentucky Wall and two of its eight rotating galleries. Meanwhile, the College of Design Gallery is just getting started. Its current show is one of its first and aims to expand the idea of what interior design can be with light displays and sculpted, collapsible textiles.
The UK Art Trail is a grant-funded collaborative effort. Organizers hope it will illuminate the incredible depth and breadth of campus art, according to Liz Swanson, an associate dean and faculty fellow from the College of Design.
Where to go
Begin the tour at any of the following:
- UK Art Museum | Singletary Center for the Arts | 405 Rose St.
- Gatton Student Center | Great Hall Gallery (outside Harris Ballroom) | 160 Avenue of Champions
- School of Art & Visual Studies | 235 Bolivar St.
- Gray Design Building (Only open for a year, this building is a work of art.) | 349 Scott St.
- UK Chandler Hospital, Pavillion A | 1000 S. Limestone St.
What to see
There’s much to see, but don’t miss UK Art Museum Director Stuart Horodner’s pick: “Rauschenberg’s Reach,” located on the second floor of the UK Art Museum.
