Published: June 22, 2009 12:47 pm      

Brandon Long featured in July at Arts Center

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Mixed Media Artist Brandon Long will be the featured artist for the month of July in the Federal Room at the Carnegie Community Arts Center.

The Carnegie Community Arts Center will host a reception and opening in honor of Long on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 8 p.m.

It will also be Open Gallery Night at the Carnegie Community Arts Center, so the studios of all the artists in the center will be open.

The event is free to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Jazz musician Tom Taksa will be playing for the reception.

Long is a mixed media artist who combines the practices and processes of sculpture, painting, music and photography. He fuses them together in unexpected ways. His current body of work utilizes recycled/found metal, a predominantly sculptural material, in a way that most closely resembles painting – stretching the materials across a wooden frame, creating works that are simultaneously minimal and complex.

Rust, dents, paint and nail holes all give subtle clues to the history of the materials used in the work.

Long studied art at Georgetown College, earning a BA in fine arts in 2001.

He is currently the programming director of the Community Arts Center in Danville, Ky.

The Carnegie Community Arts Center is a beautiful, three-story, historic building located at 107 North Main St., one block north of the Monument Square in Somerset. Constructed in 1913, the building was originally the Somerset Post Office and later the Pulaski County Public Library. In December of 2008, it became the Carnegie Community Arts Center with the purpose of becoming a center for the arts and the community and to preserve the historic building.

Upon entering the building, the first thing one sees is the grand foyer with its original terrazzo and marble floors, elegant chandeliers and sky blue ceiling complete with clouds. The Federal Room, with its caterer’s kitchen, is the building’s main attraction. The lovely setting is just the right location for weddings, banquets, showers and receptions for a modest fee.

The facility is the perfect venue for conferences, private parties, entertainment, classes or any community event.

Each month the Federal Room features the work of a particular artist. Tables, linens and chairs are available for rent.

Another feature on the main floor is the Sheltowee Art Shop. Many of the juried artists in the guild have their fine arts and crafts on display and for sale in the cozy shop.

The lower level of the Carnegie Community Arts Center features many of Pulaski County’s artists.

A smaller venue called “The Bistro” is available for smaller, more casual events. Local people and visitors can enjoy lunch in The Bistro, by ordering a day in advance of their visit. The Bistro is another place where the work of an artist is on display.

The Yellow Umbrella, located next to The Bistro, is another shop where visitors can find unique clothing, art and an eclectic assortment of gift items. The Yellow Umbrella also has coffee, soft drinks and snacks for the hungry art enthusiast.

The artists and art studios located on the lower level include Movita Michael, CeCe Butcher, The Escape Artists including Peggy Sherry, Dave Cazalet’s Little House Studio and Rhonda Wilford’s studio and framing shop.

Master Musicians also have an office located here.

On the upper level, the Carnegie Community Arts Center is the home of the Watershed Gallery, a gallery operated by one of Somerset’s oldest art organizations, Watershed Arts Alliance. This venue is the third area for art exhibits. Watershed is noted for the wide variety of musical presentations they bring to the community.

The Lake Cumberland Children’s Theatre is the other tenant of the upper level. This group brings together young actors and actresses to present both well-known and locally-written plays presented by the children of the community.

Local patrons of the arts can become Carnegie members by purchasing a Carnegie Card. The card entitles the holder to discount tickets to Carnegie events and purchases. An Open Gallery night is held once a month from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Carnegie Community Arts Center hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is closed on Sunday and Monday. For more information call (606) 677-0333.