Two Exhibition Openings

Two exhibitions running concurrently will open at the Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD) beginning March 6. “TradeCraft” — an exhibit of works by PSAD visual communication alumni, and “Flora” — a collection of prints and mixed media drawings from Murray artist Autumn Johnson — will be featured. An opening reception for both shows will be held Thursday, March 6, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Tradecraft—the annual alumni exhibition—will include pieces ranging from organizer Drew Johnson’s acrylic works to a “Live Print” t-shirt screen printing by Andrew, Jen & Abi Evitts during the opening. The featured alumni artists include Rachel (Morgan) Hall, Andrew Evitts, Abi Evitts, Drew Johnson, Morgan Siebert, Nathan Lawson, Kelley Johnson, Emily Esau, Adam Harper, Randall Griggs, Shelby Preklas, and Kirsten Meadows. The “Live Print” will take place during the opening reception with other t-shirts available during the exhibition. Tradecraft will be exhibited in the Bill Ford Gallery.

“Everyone in this show is either a graduate of the Visual Communication program or took the classes they needed to upskill and kick-start a career,”said exhibit organizer and artist Drew Johnson. “Several of the people from the Visual Communication program have built their own businesses and are successful artists. The show highlights the success of these students.”

“There are many fantastic graphic artists that have gone through our program,” said Emily Esau, PSAD Visual Communication program coordinator. “This exhibition is a great way of honoring those students previously and to inspire new ones.”

In the PJC Gallery, “Flora”, a collection of prints and mixed media drawings from Murray artist Autumn Johnson, will be on display. During the opening reception, Johnson will have additional prints for sale.

“My work explores the intersections of nature, identity, and transformation. Printmaking allows me to engage with processes of layering, repetition, and mirroring—methods that reflect the organic symmetries and disruptions found in the natural world,” said Johnson. “I am particularly drawn to the hollyhock; its towering form and self-seeding nature serve as metaphors for queerness—thriving in unexpected places, adapting, and persisting across generations.

“My work invites viewers to consider nature not as fixed or binary, but as fluid, ever evolving, and inherently expansive,” Johnson added.

The two exhibits will be open March 6 through April 10, 2025 at the Paducah School of Art & Design, 905 Harrison Street. Gallery hours are Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the two gallery exhibits, the Helen LaFrance Exhibition in the Paducah Junior College Library will also be open for viewing during the reception. All events are free and open to the public.

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