Where: Muse Artisan Boutique, Ludwig's Corner
On View: Through September
Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 6th from 6 to 8 pm
Muse Artisan Boutique has become a favorite spot for people looking for unique gifts, jewelry, and handcrafts since it opened in 2023. Now they are adding an art gallery which will feature a new local artist each month, “The Monthly Muse.” It kicks off with an opening reception on September 6th from 6 to 8 pm during First Friday with Wild Things by Carrie Kingsbury.
It started with inspiration. “When the Muse whispered in my ear that it's time to clear out a wall and create space for rotating artist displays, I immediately thought of Carrie [Kingsbury],” said Lisa Dawn White, owner of Muse. “We had been chatting for many months but I just didn't have the space to bring in a representative body of her work until I could envision it front and center.”
Kingsbury is a well-known mural artist, whose works adorn outdoor, public, and private spaces throughout the region. This exhibition includes mixed-media artworks featuring a variety of animals. As White points out, everyone has a favorite animal, so each piece is sure to find a fan—“they shed so much light and life on the often elusive world of our animal friends,” White said.
“The Wild Things show is just pure fun for me,” said Kingsbury. “Just to express whimsy and color and the joy and interest of creating art that has interesting textures that only collage can provide.” It is a different style than the murals she creates professionally, many of which are designed according to client requests, the space, and the environment.
Kingsbury is the owner of Promiseland Murals, and has created murals in locations around the world. “Lately I am having a lot of fun with interactive murals meant to provide Instagram photo opportunities,” Kingsbury said. These types of murals bring joy to previously unused spaces, giving people a chance to smile for the camera and share the experience.
It fits the artistic vibe of the region, which continues to grow in creative, unexpected ways. “There are new galleries popping up all over, countless art shows, events, and markets,” White said. “There are so many opportunities for artists to get their work out there.”
The new gallery space at Muse will be part of that tradition. “The primary objective of adding this element to the boutique is to showcase local artist's talent in an approachable and unpretentious environment,” White said. “I know people can feel awkward about walking into an ‘art gallery’ and so at Muse, both the fine art collectors and village passersby will have an opportunity to connect with the breadth of talent in this area.”
The First Friday Receptions will provide visitors with a chance to not only browse the gallery and the boutique, but meet the featured artists and connect with other art lovers. As White said, “When our patrons come into Muse, we encourage them to get lost for a moment, explore, check their worries at the door and see if they can hear their muse calling to them—what speaks to them, what sparks their passion, what inspires them—and with the addition of our rotating artist exhibits we'll be able to offer a whole new avenue for patrons to connect to beauty and nature through art.”
For Kingsbury, that muse has a lot of personality, whether it is in her murals, her portraits, or the animals she portrays. “I want people to come away seeing the personalities of animals,” she said. “They really do have a lot of personality, especially my cats.” Those cats feature in some of the paintings in this exhibition. “My favorite painting is Sunday Afternoon, because I was just beginning to experiment with collage in this painting,” she said. “It portrays my cat in a rare moment when he is not destroying things, ripping apart flowers, biting fruit in a bowl, and knocking things down. He was just gently smelling a sunflower and not causing sheer, utter destruction.” While all animals might not be as chaotic as our favorite cats, they each bring their unique traits and charisma. It will be exciting to see future Monthly Muses bring their own particular perspectives.
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