Lina Tharsing and Liz Swanson, Lexington-based artists featured in the Lexington Art League’s “Axis Mundi” exhibition, join Kate to discuss the deep thematic roots and personal resonances behind their work. Liz reflects on her fascination with the ethereal—clouds painted atop near-forgotten architectural renderings, exploring temporality, memory, and the shifting value of creative artifacts. Lyna shares how profound loss and dreams of her late parents led her to paint luminous landscapes and “portals,” searching for thin places where the boundaries between worlds feel especially permeable. Together, they contemplate ideas of grief, gratitude, connection, and the vital need for meaningful community gatherings—moments that, both in their work and in the energetic exhibition opening, transcend the everyday and invite viewers into a richer, more tender understanding of life and art.

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About Ghost Music
It’s only been a month since Dawn’s musician husband, Clark, suddenly died. When his former student shows up with missing pages from Clark’s unfinished book, voices from the pages are reawakened. A portal from the past cracks open, transporting us back to German Romanticism and renowned pianist Clara Schumann. As she desperately tries to preserve the dignity of her husband, the brilliant composer Robert Schumann, he descends further and further into madness. Separated by a gulf of both time and space, Dawn and Clara grapple with grief and lunacy, and the hope that long-ago melodies can heal their broken hearts.

This production is sponsored in part by the AthensWest Emerging Play Grant awarded to the theater program and sabbaticals for both Dr. Greg Partain and Professor Tosha Fowler. The production will feature a team of professional actors and a director working in residence at Transylvania. The production will include the live musical performance of Dr. Greg Partain as an essential component of the play’s concept and design. Professor Tosha Fowler will be helming the role of Clara as well as head producer. Professors Daniel Bennett and Melissa Gilbert will lead the design team.

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

Georgia Henkel, a recently retired Lexington-based artist, joins host Kate Savage on Art Throb to explore her unique approach to art through the use of organic materials. Georgia delves into her lifetime of collecting bones, body parts, and other found objects from nature, as currently showcased in her collaborative exhibition "Axis Mundi" at the Loudon House. The show, which is ongoing until the 16th of May, features her work alongside fellow artists Lina Tharsing and Liz Swanson. They share a thematic exploration of earthly realms, with Georgia's creations focusing on the earth's elements and below. Her work balances between being intriguing and humorous, as she transforms these remnants into narrative-driven tableaux that evoke both beauty and curiosity. The episode offers an insightful discussion on finding beauty in the macabre and the whimsical nature of her materials, providing listeners a chance to rethink their perception of life and death.

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