Amanda Matthews Explained

Amanda Matthews
Birth Date:September 1, 1968
Birth Place:Louisville, Kentucky
Education:University of Louisville
Occupation:Sculptor, painter, CEO of Prometheus Foundry
Spouse:Robert (Brad) Connell
Children:2

Amanda Matthews (born 1968) is an American sculptor and painter from Louisville, Kentucky, United States, who lives in Lexington, Kentucky.

Early life, Education, and Family

Amanda Matthews was born in 1968 in Louisville, Kentucky to James (Jim) Matthews III and Brenda Matthews. She attended Bullitt East High School in Mt. Washington, Kentucky and graduated in 1986. Matthews earned her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky in 1990.[1] She studied abroad in Paris, France in 1989 with the University of Louisville, studying Fine Art and Architecture while abroad.

Career

Matthews is known for her award-winning work that honors women and celebrates diversity and inclusion. She began her career as a painter and faculty member for the Louisville Visual Arts Association. She founded Wild Honeysuckle Studio in 1998,[2] which merged with Prometheus Bronze Foundry, LLC in 2009.

Matthews received her first grant as part of the Sister Cities International program and travelled to Mainz, Germany in 2006 to represent the City of Louisville, Kentucky and the United States during the tenure of Mayor Jerry Abramson. She participated in the Kunst in der Stadt, Kuenstlerarbeiten Public Exhibition at Gutenbergplatz, Mainz, Germany. Fourteen artists, two artists each from seven countries, were selected to participate. Her work while in Mainz was a permanent gift to the City of Mainz, Germany from the City of Louisville, KY. Later that year, she participated in the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Appalachian Mountain Witness Tour for Artists and Writers in the fall of 2006,[3] which marked the beginning of her decades-long body of large scale bronze Dryads, titled Messengers.[4] In 2007, on Earth Day, she completed a 210' long Ephemeral Environmental Sculpture Installation, called Water is Life for the Louisville Zoo, an AZA and AAM Museum, with the help of 20 volunteers. Diane Heilenman, Visual Arts Critic for the Courier Journal stated, "The work, 'Water is Life,' fits the context of all her sculptures and paintings, which are often about environmental issues."[5]

In 2015, she founded the Artemis Initiative, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

In 2018, her work honoring Alice Allison Dunnigan, the first African American female to receive White House and Congressional credentials, was unveiled at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.[6] The statue of Alice Dunnigan traveled extensively [7] and was featured for programming at Kentucky State University, University of Kentucky, and the Truman Presidential Library.[8] The bronze sculpture of Alice Dunnigan now permanently stands at the SEEK Museum in Russellville, KY, which was added to the United States civil rights trail in 2020.[9]

In 2019, she was selected to create a monumental sculptural installation titled, "The Girl Puzzle", in New York City on Roosevelt Island honoring investigative reporter Nellie Bly, which was planned to be unveiled in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was completed and unveiled on December 10, 2021.[10] [11]

On November 14, 2021, at Kentucky's COVID-19 Memorial Ceremony to mourn the over 10,000 Kentuckians who lost their life to the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was announced that Matthews design proposal "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" (based on the Kentucky State Motto)[12] was chosen for the permanent Team KY COVID-19 Memorial Monument.[13] [14] [15]

Matthews is Nettie Depp’s great-great niece, and a bronze statue of Nettie created by Matthews was approved for display in the Kentucky Capitol. It is the first permanent large-scale monument of a woman inside that state capitol. While Nettie's influence was not statewide, the Historic Properties Advisory Commission considered her a representative example of Kentucky women who achieved professional and personal success. The statue’s unveiling occurred in November 2022.[16] [17]

Selected public works and collections

Nominations and awards

Public mentions and media

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Linkedin profile . Linkedin . 23 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Fasttrack Organization Search – THE WILD HONEYSUCKLE, LLC. Kentucky Secretary of State Online Services. Commonwealth of Kentucky. December 3, 2016.
  3. Web site: Mountain Witness Tours | Kentuckians for the Commonwealth . Kftc.org . October 26, 2016.
  4. Web site: Dryad Series Messengers by Amanda Matthews . Prometheusart.com . October 26, 2016.
  5. News: Louisville News, Sports, Business . . October 26, 2016.
  6. News: Zraick . Karen . August 23, 2018 . Alice Dunnigan, First Black Woman to Cover White House, Will Get Statue at Newseum . The New York Times .
  7. Web site: Alice Dunnigan Bronze Sculpture for Russellville, Kentucky . 2021-03-05 . artemis-initiative . en.
  8. Web site: Alice Dunnigan Statue Stops at the Truman Library on National Tour . 2021-03-05 . Truman Library Institute.
  9. Web site: Alice Allison Dunnigan Statue at the SEEK Museum – US Civil Rights Trail . 2021-03-05 . en-US.
  10. Web site: HOME . 2021-03-05 . The Girl Puzzle . en.
  11. Web site: Governor Hochul Announces Opening of the Girl Puzzle Monument Honoring Nellie Bly Governor Kathy Hochul . 2022-06-12 . www.governor.ny.gov . en.
  12. Web site: Kane . Jack . COVID-19 Memorial unveiled at Kentucky State Capitol . 2021-11-17 . WPSD Local 6 . November 14, 2021 . en.
  13. Web site: 2021-11-15 . Ky. Remembers 10,000+ Lost to COVID-19; Permanent Memorial Planned . 2021-11-17 . The River City News . en.
  14. Web site: New art installation to honor over 10,000 Kentuckians lost to COVID-19 . 2021-11-17 . spectrumnews1.com . en.
  15. Web site: Wolf . Stephanie . 2021-11-14 . A new monument in Frankfort will honor the Kentuckians who died from COVID-19 . 2021-11-17 . 89.3 WFPL News Louisville . en-US.
  16. News: Brammer. Jack. In 2018, Kentucky's Capitol will finally get a life-size statue of a woman. 27 December 2017. Lexington Herald-Leader. 22 December 2017.
  17. Web site: Kentucky unveils statue of Nettie Depp, the first woman to have a permanent large-scale monument inside the state Capitol. Aya Elamroussi,Amy. Simonson. November 11, 2022. CNN.
  18. Web site: Archived copy . October 23, 2019 . October 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191023224844/https://rioc.ny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2902/Amanda-Matthews-of-Prometheus-Art-Selected-to-Create-Nellie-Bly-Monument---10-16-19 . dead .
  19. News: Eblen. Shannon. This massive monument to women is quietly taking shape in New York City. Washington Post . November 2, 2021 . 2021-11-12. en-US.
  20. Web site: Home . 2022-06-12 . Legacy Greenscapes . en-US.
  21. Web site: Project: John Lewis: Good Trouble. 2021-03-15. www.prometheusart.com.
  22. Web site: Aviation Museum to unveil bronze sculpture of aviation pioneer Van Meter . KyForward.com . June 22, 2016. October 26, 2016.
  23. Web site: Zack honored with Singletary Center plaque | Copious Notes . Copiousnotes.bloginky.com . November 12, 2011 . October 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027060457/http://copiousnotes.bloginky.com/2011/11/12/zack-honored-with-singletary-center-plaque/ . October 27, 2016 . dead .
  24. Web site: Other Sculptures – Fine Art Galleries . Georgetowncollege.edu . October 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160508025459/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/galleries/galleries/public-sculpture/other-sculptures/ . May 8, 2016 . dead .
  25. News: Saint Paul Catholic Church | Martina Brothers Company, Inc . Martina Brothers Company, Inc. . Martinabros.com . June 20, 2014 . October 26, 2016.
  26. Web site: KY: Kentucky Arts Council - Governor's Awards in the Arts: Recipients . 2023-01-16 . artscouncil.ky.gov.
  27. Web site: Kentucky Oral History Commission KY Historical Society . 2022-08-23 . Kentucky Historical Society . en.
  28. Web site: May 15, 2020. Governor Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions. 2021-10-27. kentucky.gov.
  29. Web site: The Committee. 2021-10-27. Monumental Women KY. en.
  30. Web site: 2018-03-21. Business Briefs. 2021-03-15. The Voice-Tribune. en-US.
  31. Web site: Simonson . Aya Elamroussi,Amy . 2022-11-11 . Kentucky unveils statue of Nettie Depp, the first woman to have a permanent large-scale monument inside the state Capitol . 2023-01-16 . CNN . en.
  32. Web site: 2022-11-10 . Nettie Depp statue unveiled at the Kentucky State Capitol . 2023-01-16 . LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX) . en.
  33. Web site: Governor Hochul Announces Opening of the Girl Puzzle Monument Honoring Nellie Bly. 2022-01-01. www.governor.ny.gov. en.
  34. Web site: How Roosevelt Island sculptures amplify stories of strong women. 2022-01-01. NBC News. en.
  35. Web site: How Roosevelt Island sculptures amplify stories of strong women. 2022-01-01. www.yahoo.com. December 17, 2021 . en-US.
  36. Web site: https://twitter.com/nbcnewsnow/status/1471857751458562054. 2022-01-01. Twitter. en.
  37. Web site: Monument honoring journalist Nellie Bly opens: "This installation is spiritual". 2022-01-01. www.cbsnews.com. December 11, 2021 . en-US.
  38. Web site: Monument honoring journalist Nellie Bly opens: "This installation is spiritual". 2022-01-01. news.yahoo.com. December 11, 2021 . en-US.
  39. Web site: Gov. Beshear,Lt. Gov. Coleman Hold Memorial Ceremony for More Than 10,000 Kentuckians Lost to COVID-19 . 2022-01-01. kentucky.gov.
  40. News: Chisenhall. Jeremy. November 14, 2021. 'Not just a number.' Kentucky art installation will honor 10,000-plus COVID-19 deaths. Lexington Herald Leader. November 16, 2021.
  41. Web site: Yetter. Deborah. 20 months, more than 10,000 deaths: Kentucky memorializes those who have died from COVID. 2021-11-17. The Courier-Journal. en-US.
  42. News: Eblen. Shannon. 2020-10-21. Placing Women on a Different Sort of Pedestal. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-05. 0362-4331.
  43. Web site: Machemer. Theresa. Kentucky State Capitol Will Unveil Its First Statue Honoring a Woman. 2021-03-05. Smithsonian Magazine. en.
  44. News: Must-See Outdoor Art Installations of 2020.
  45. News: African American Journalist Alice Allison Dunnigan.
  46. Web site: 2019-08-21. Shade sculpture will soon 'grow' at Legacy Grove. 2021-03-05. Winchester Sun.
  47. Web site: First black female White House reporter gets Newseum statue. September 22, 2018. AP NEWS.
  48. News: Alice Dunnigan, First Black Woman To Cover White House, Gets Statue At Newseum. NPR.org.
  49. News: Brammer. Jack. Kentucky's Capitol will finally get a life-size statue of a woman. 27 December 2017. Lexington Herald-Leader. 22 December 2017.
  50. News: OJ. Stapleton. Dunnigan to be honored with bronze statue. News-Democrat & Leader. September 29, 2016. November 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161105095845/http://newsdemocratleader.com/news/6707/dunnigan-to-be-honored-with-bronze-statue. November 5, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  51. News: Tom Eblen . Tom Eblen: Lexington sculptor seeks – and starts creating – more statues of notable Kentucky women, minorities . . Kentucky.com . July 25, 2015 . October 26, 2016.
  52. Web site: Dreamers & Doers: Voices of Kentucky Women « KET . Ket.org . June 15, 2015 . October 26, 2016.
  53. Web site: Lifesize Bronze Statue of Nettie Depp, Kentucky Education Reformer. The Artemis Initiative. December 3, 2016.
  54. Web site: Restored Gratz Park 'kids' return to James Lane Allen fountain . The Bluegrass and Beyond . Tomeblen.bloginky.com . June 24, 2015 . December 3, 2016.
  55. Art World News Magazine, May 2006, Page 47, Artists Worth Watching List featured image of Reforestation by Amanda Matthews Fields with size, price, details, and website

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