Kevin Nance is a writer and photographer in Lexington. His books include EVEN IF and MIDNIGHT, both collections of photographs and haiku; GENEVA’S GARDEN: FOUR SEASONS OF BEAUTY IN LEXINGTON’S GRATZ PARK, a book of photographs; and most recently SMOKE, a poetry collection just out from Accents Publishing,

As an arts journalist, Kevin writes for Lexington’s online arts magazine Undermain and has also written for the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Poets & Writers Magazine and other publications.

​As a photographer, Kevin’s work has been exhibited widely and will be represented in the upcoming Lexington Camera Club show, opening at the Gray Design Building on Sept. 8 through Oct. 17.

For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html

Seth Tusker, son of the late artist and educator John Regis Tusker, joins Kate to recount the creation and evolution of the Mythos Experience—an immersive, reflective art encounter originally inspired by his father’s work. Seth shares the story of how the program moved from its first pop-up in a church sanctuary to being embraced by Lexington’s schools, and how the experience centers on guided journaling, self-discovery, and connecting deeply with art through touch and personal reflection. He discusses recent collaborations with Fayette County Public Schools and Dunbar High School, where students created poignant, collage-based responses to Tusker’s art, culminating in a mobile exhibition designed to inspire self-examination and empathy in viewers of all ages. The conversation also highlights Seth’s Operation Lion Drop, a global initiative delivering creative, hope-filled toolkits to children in crisis, connecting Tusker’s message of empowerment and introspection to new generations and communities.

For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html

Celeste Lewis, longtime manager of the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center (PMDAC), joins host Kate Savage to reflect on more than a decade of transformation at this Lexington cultural hub. Celeste traces the building’s evolution from a retail block to a multi-use arts center, noting key milestones like the closure of beloved venues Alfalfa’s and Ann Tower Gallery, changes in gallery spaces, and how the center navigated challenges—including revitalizing underutilized floors through crucial ARPA funding. She details the diversity and purpose of PMDAC’s three galleries, the explosion of community engagement in the newly renovated event and rehearsal spaces, and the joys and logistics of programming for both Moondance Amphitheater and the upcoming Phoenix Park amphitheater. Along the way, Celeste and Kate touch on the vital role the arts play in community vitality and share how Lexington’s collaborative spirit keeps the arts scene both accessible and ever-evolving.

For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html