ADAM TAYLOR BROWN better known as ATB, is a metamodern artist.
In his work — a lifelong vocation titled SOULED, he conspires with his audience fusing performance and visual art through time to explore the universal truths: how perception creates reality, how mortality gives life its urgency, and how time, finite yet immeasurable, becomes the ultimate measure of meaning.
Grounded in the artist's personal history - witnessing his father's paralysis while celebrating his eighth birthday - SOULED began as a meditation of finiture. It has since grown into a profound and universal invitation: to confront the fleeting nature of our days, to question how we assign value, and to reflect on what we leave behind.

ATB releases his work in a WAVE which is a series of 12 identical works sold consecutively for up to 12 days.
The price of the first WORK is determined by the number of its WAVE.
The price of each subsequent WORK doubles sequentially.
WAVE #12 titled SMOKE will be released on January 4, 2025.
WORK not sold by the end of the WAVE is burned at a WAKE.

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In this episode of ArtThrob, host Kate Savage engages in a riveting conversation with Ave Lawyer, the visionary co-founder of the site-specific theatre company "On the Verge." Celebrating 16 years of transforming unconventional locations into immersive stages, Ave discusses their upcoming production of the historical drama "The Lion in Winter," set to premiere in late January at the storied Luigart Studios. Kate and Ave explore the unique appeal of site-specific theatre, from performing in eclectic venues like historic homes and vibrant gardens to the tactile challenges of lack of changing rooms and maneuvering audiences through intricate settings.

Ave provides a captivating glimpse into the complexity and intimacy of producing such immersive experiences, sharing an amusing anecdote of an audience member's spontaneous involvement in a previous production. They delve into the rich history of Luigart Studios, a venue that transitions seamlessly from its past as a hemp factory and jazz nightclub to its current role as an artistic hub, ready to host the dynamic narrative of "The Lion in Winter."

The discussion brings forth the modern relevance of the play, likening its power dynamics and family intrigue to contemporary figures such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Ave also emphasizes the flexibility of the script's anachronisms, allowing for a contemporary interpretation that resonates with today's audiences. Adding layers of depth, the episode touches on the seasoned cast, including Missy Johnston as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Kevin Hardesty as Henry II, who bring a familial atmosphere both on and offstage.

Ticket urgency is a recurring theme, with production popularity leading to quick sell-outs, and the consideration of providing refreshments at their current venue adds to the full immersive experience for the audience. Kate and Ave conclude with a broader discussion on the state of local theater in Lexington, mutual gratitude for each other's contributions, and a hint at a future episode dedicated to this topic.

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Don Ament made his first photographs at the age of ten with a Polaroid Big Swinger camera, and has been photographing professionally since high school in the 1970’s. From 1995 to the present, he has worked full-time as a Fine Art photographer.

He was born with cataracts in both eyes, and, beginning at age three, had several surgical operations in the early 1960’s to save his vision. However, he remains legally blind in one eye, and experiences visual challenges in his other “good” eye. He does not have normal 3-D vision.

Ament has studied under, and worked with, some of America’s leading contemporary photographers, including John Shaw, Bill Fortney, Charles Cramer, and Bill Atkinson. He is a recipient of the Kentucky Al Smith Fellowship award, as well as numerous other financial grants and awards, and has led many workshops on photography and the art of seeing.

His work has been collected by over 5000 patrons throughout the United States and Europe. He talks about his work and his recent commissioned installation of 12 photographs in the Lexington Senior Center titled: FAYETTE COUNTY: NATURE'S RADIANCE, a deep dive into the natural areas of Fayette County spanning a 12-month period.

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