Michael Morris is a photographer and designer living in Louisville, KY and working in marketing.
​He is a self-described introvert who is much more comfortable writing to people than talking to them, who uses photograph and exploration as a way to force himself to try and connect more with the world.
He began exploring Kentucky in late 2011 with an old Hasselblad camera, some black and white film and a thermos full of coffee, looking for anything interesting to put before the lense. Since then he has traveled well over 250,000 miles around the state and "wasted more film" than he cares to remember.
His exhibition of 50 photographs titled HALLELUJAH ANYWAY - A PORTRAIT OF KENTUCKY will open at the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead on 1st August and run til 1st December 2025. www.michaelmorrisimages.com

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

Sarah Porter, Music Program Specialist at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, and Becky Soules, Director of Collections and Education, join host Kate Savage to explore the profound influence of music and craft in Shaker life. Sarah delves into the unique, unifying role of Shaker music—sung daily in a cappella unison, often accompanied by dance, and integral to both worship and work—sharing insights on its history, regional influences, and its modern-day revival through daily programs. Becky expands on the Shakers’ celebrated craft traditions, from broom making and chair caning to textiles and kitchen wares, highlighting the Village’s rotating workshops, hands-on visitor opportunities, and the enduring spirit of self-sufficiency. Together, they reflect on the ongoing relevance of Shaker values—simplicity, unity, and creative expression—inviting listeners to experience the tranquility, legacy, and living heritage of Shaker Village today.

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

Noa Gimelli, expert in female economic participation and chair of the Fund for Greater Lexington, joins host Kate Savage to discuss the ambitious vision behind incubating transformational projects for Lexington—including a proposed Visual and Performing Arts Center downtown. Noa explains how the Fund’s advisory group mapped local needs into five pillars—arts and culture, youth, green spaces, housing, and transportation—leveraging community data and qualitative research to identify high-impact opportunities. Together, Kate and Noa dive into the phased research and feasibility process behind the new arts center, why Lexington urgently needs a mid-sized performance venue, and how similar cultural investments have revitalized cities like Durham. They discuss the challenges and promise of building creative infrastructure, the economic and social ripple effects of robust arts investment, and what’s next as the project prepares to move from incubation into an independent organization, calling on the community to get involved and help shape Lexington’s cultural future.

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