Through the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery’s residency, artists have the opportunity to engage and interact with gallery visitors, the library’s permanent art collection, library resources and gallery staff. We’ll have our first Artist-in-Residence, Brad Leduc, April 2 & 3, noon-4 pm. I asked LeDuc a few questions to learn more about him. Read on for his answers.
Meet Brad LeDuc
“Remote Learning,” Brad LeDuc, Acrylic on Panel, 40″ x 32′
“My family and I currently reside in Topeka, KS where I teach high school art at Washburn Rural High School,” said LeDuc. “Creating has and always will be, an important component to my life. As an art educator, I am passionate about providing examples to my students of my work and find it important to be a positive role model in terms of being an active artist who is involved in our community. This residency will be such an honor and provide me the means to model this artistic behavior to my students; all while investing in the community I live in. I have been an active painter and printmaker for years and would be thrilled to share some of the printmaking techniques I use and teach in my classroom. I (will) use the opportunity to the best of my ability to further develop my art, invest in our community and have meaningful conversations with visitors at the gallery through my work.”
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
“My most favorite artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Porter Fairfield, Marc Chagall, Julie Green and Zac Barnes.”
How do you define success as an artist?
“I feel the most successful when I am growing/learning during the process of creating work. It is always a big win when others can relate to what you have you say visually and/or moved by your work.”
Describe how art is important to society.
“Art is a language and can be an instrumental tool for communicating ideas. Art is beautiful, kind, can tell stories, challenge perceptions, advocate for change and touch the deepest parts of one’s soul. Very few things can compete with arts ability to do that.”
Talk to LeDuc April 2 & 3
Stop in the gallery Sat or Sun, April 2 or 3 to watch LeDuc creating art and talk to him about his work or yours.
Betsy Roe
Betsy is the associate curator and museum educator at the Sabatini Gallery. She has an MFA from the University of Missouri with a major in Fibers. Betsy has taught art classes at UMKC, Kansas City Art Institute and Washburn University. As an artist, her work is sculptural fibers and focuses on ecological concerns such as the preservation of Kansas prairies in the Flint Hills.