COLLIDER, the South Central Regional Library’s artist-in-residence program, connects the public with art and
the people who create it.
Generous funding from Councilwoman Madonna Flood makes the COLLIDER Artist-In-Residence program
possible.
Click to view a list of our previous COLLIDER artists.
2021 COLLIDER ARTISTS
August
Merlin T. Lee, Interdisciplinary Artist
Merlin T. Lee is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist and designer currently based in Louisville, Kentucky. Merlin has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University where he focused on Digital Art and Art History. He has shown work in numerous local, national, and international exhibitions, presented at several regional conferences, and received multiple grants and fellowships to produce work. Inspired by his times in limbo, Merlin’s work focuses on uncertainty, liminality, and existence. Through this work he works through the times while creating a sense of solidarity with others in a place of limbo.
The Beauty of Breaking Things: Glitch Art
Thursday, August 26, 6:00-7:30pm
Do you like the glitch effect photos you see on Instagram and other social platforms? Join COLLIDER artist-in-residence Merlin T. Lee for this Zoom workshop to learn how to make your own. Making glitch art is even easier than using pre-made filters, and can yield you even better results! Attend this class to see how you can make glitch art using only free and easy to use computer software.
Registration is required. Please email Liz.Magee@lfpl.org. Participants will receive the class link and recommended supply list when they sign up. Ages 16+.
UPCOMING ARTISTS
September
Morgan McGill, Mixed Media Artist
Morgan McGill graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from the University of Louisville in 2018. She focuses on exploring various painting techniques involving the theme of hands to convey community. After studying painting in Spain, she was commissioned to paint a mural on the Jefferson Community and Technical College campus, install drawings with Kentucky Refugee Ministries around Louisville to promote art collaboration with refugees, and create a mural at Churchill Downs for Downs After Dark. She is currently working on a grant project with the Kentucky Foundation for Women, using feminism to motivate her paintings, and she will be traveling to California in the fall to participate in an artist residency at there.
Working with Our Hands art workshop
Monday, September 27 at 5:30pm
Join COLLIDER artist-in-residence, Morgan McGill, for this virtual workshop. Participants will be making paper out of recycled materials.
Registration is required. Please email Liz.Magee@lfpl.org. Participants will receive the class link and recommended supply list when they sign up. Ages 9+.
October
Nedra McNeil, Electronic Artist
Nedra (they/them) is a queer electronic artist. They make interactive sculptures, synthesizers, novelty electric vehicles, wearables, and light installations. Their work has been displayed in Revelry gallery on Market, KMAC, and other galleries around Louisville. Nedra's work focuses on themes of sustainability and self-making, though repurposing of abandoned materials. They have never had formal training on the arts or electronics, instead learning from others in community settings like at LVL1 Hackerspace, where they now regularly teach others as young as 5 and and old as 80 how to solder.
November
Claire Krueger, Artist & Educator
Claire Krüeger is inspired by analog experiments, love of camp, and melancholic humor. Her work takes the form of videos, photographs, illustration, and zines and she is passionate about community arts, printed matter, and accessible media. She received an MFA in Photography & Film from VCU in 2013
PAST ARTISTS
July
Norman Spencer, Printmaker
A Louisville native, Norman Spencer is known for his printmaking. His work focuses on themes such as identity, community, and the human relationship to our surroundings. His artwork is in private collections around the country.
Meet Norman Spencer, Printmaker
Tools & Tips for Making Linocut Prints
Make a Lino Block with Norman Spencer
Introduction to Linocut Printmaking
Thursday, July 29, 12:00 pm
Join COLLIDER artist Norman Spencer for this zoom workshop introduction to linocut. Class participants will get an introduction to the tools used in block printing and will get hands on instruction on how to create a print of the Louisville skyline.
Registration is required. Please email Liz.Magee@lfpl.org. Participants will receive the class link and recommended supply list when they sign up. Ages 13+.
June 2021 -
Martin Edlin, Clay/sculpture artist
Martin Edlin is an artist who works in several disciplines of traditional art media. His artwork is
technically rigorous yet highly imaginative, giving shape and form to emotions and ideas in sculpture,
pottery, paintings, and drawings. He studied art at the University of Louisville under renowned potter
Tom Marsh and earned a Master’s degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago under sculptor and
art therapy pioneer Don Seiden. His artwork has been exhibited publicly since 1984.
Martin teaches workshops for many schools and community programs with people of all ages and has been
directing a community art education center for many years. He worked as a stained glass craftsman for
glass artists Peter Eichhorn and Bob Markert while in high school and college and has practiced art
therapy in a multitude of settings.
Meet Martin Edlin, June COLLIDER Artist
Introduction to Glazing with Martin Edlin
Clay Techniques with Marty Edlin
May 2021 -
Maizie Clarke, Illustrator
Maizie Clarke is an illustrator and designer based in Louisville, Kentucky. She owns Maizie Clarke LLC
which specializes in wholesale home goods featuring her original illustrations. Working primarily with
museums and corporations - Maizie’s illustrations feature the built environment and she loves sharing
her knowledge of drawing with all ages. Maizie earned her BA in Interior Design and her MA in Exhibition
Design.
Meet Maizie Clark, May's COLLIDER Artist
Tips & Tools for Drawing with Maizie Clarke
1-Point Perspective Drawing with Maizie Clarke
April 2021 -
Tim Robertson, Alternative printmaker/Photographer
Tim Robertson has spent much of his adult life moving and living in places that are new to him--places
where the culture is different from the one in which he was raised (Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia,
Thailand, Vietnam, India, Northern Indiana and now Louisville). Observing these contexts and the ways in
which people live and connect in them forms the main current of inspiration for Tim's work. Much of his
work comes about as a result of interaction and collaboration with others.
The process of creating images is an important part of Tim's work. Photography helps him explore and
understand the world around us and alternative printmaking gives him a way to process and respond to
what he finds. He often experiments with different photographic formats and printing techniques and
materials, such as pigment transfers and risograph prints.
Meet Tim Robertson, April COLLIDER Artist
Tim Robertson's Influences
Pigment Transfer Prep
March 2021 -
Randy Gray, Cartoon artist
Randy Gray II began his career at a young age copying the cartoons he would see on tv and in the
newspaper. He is a graduate of duPont Manual High School's Visual Art program and the University of
Kentucky. His work includes My Quest for Cool and Lil Dude, while his comic book Lil Dude and Rooney
Explore Black History was put into circulation at the JCPS library. Randy has extensive experience
leading cartooning comic book creation workshops for summer camps and schools. He draws every day,
illustrating children's books and creating caricatures.
Meet Randy Gray, COLLIDER Artist
Leveling Up Your Drawing with Randy Gray
Randy Gray Talks Style!
February 2021 -
Joan Brannon, Percussionist
Joan Brannon is a Percussionist, Teacher and Drum Circle Facilitator based in Louisville, Ky. Joan
respects the drum as a sacred instrument that utilizes rhythms for ritual, celebration and as a tool for
strengthening community. She performs and teaches throughout the US and studied in Guinea, West Africa.
Joan is a teaching artist with Kentucky Center’s ArtsReach and the Kentucky Arts Council.
Joan facilitates dynamic rhythm experiences for organizations, community groups and in schools. She
founded the group Sisters of the Sacred Drum, who perform rhythms of West Africa and original
compositions. Joan has performed live and recorded with Sabari Bengoma, American Spiritual Ensemble,
Sistah La La and a host of other artists.
Meet Joan Brannon, COLLIDER Artist
Djembe Lesson with Joan Brannon
Make a percussion instrument at home with Joan Brannon
January 2021 -
Liz Richter - Visual Artist
The COLLIDER welcomes back 2019 Artist-in-Residence Liz Richter to be 2021’s first virtual COLLIDER
artist. Liz is a muralist, visual artist, and illustrator living and working in Louisville, KY. Born in
Paducah, and raised in rural Southeast Missouri, Richter moved back to Kentucky in 2009 and taught art
for over six years before pursuing opportunities as a freelance artist. Richter is primarily focused on
painting and drawing, but also explores wearable art, printmaking and other mixed media. Look for
several art tutorial videos from Liz coming soon to this page, then be sure to join us for her Zoom
class on January 28.
Meet Liz Richter, COLLIDER Artist - a muralist, visual artist, and illustrator living and working in
Louisville, KY
Liz Richter talks about her Smoketown murals and public art
