SKYCTC to officially open new Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation Art Gallery, bringing student and regional art to campus
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A vision that began more than a decade ago with two display cases and a request for more space to showcase student artwork will become a reality Sept. 16 when Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) celebrates the opening of the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation Art Gallery.
The public is invited to attend a special Gallery Naming Ribbon Cutting and Artist Reception on Wednesday, September 16, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m., followed immediately by an artist reception where guests will have the opportunity to meet Notheisen and view the exhibition.
The new gallery represents a long-term effort to create a permanent exhibition space for SKYCTC student artists while also providing a venue for local and regional artists and expanding cultural opportunities for the community.
The idea began in 2013 when David Jones joined SKYCTC as an art instructor and was tasked with building the College’s art program. At the time, student artwork could be displayed in just two cases in Building G. Jones began advocating for a dedicated gallery space outside the art studio.
Building D, which was primarily used for storage, eventually became the focus of that vision. The SKYCTC Art Club held several pop-up exhibitions and fundraisers in the building’s garage space, offering an early glimpse of its potential as an exhibition venue.
Building D was eventually remodeled and reopened as the Tincher Campus and Community Center, which now includes a professional art gallery.
Leslie Nichols, who serves as the gallery director, and Jones worked together to develop the gallery’s vision and operations, earning the President’s Cup for Innovation for their work in establishing the new art gallery.
“The SKYCTC Art Gallery is another example of how we can create opportunities for our students while strengthening our connection to the community,” said SKYCTC Chancellor Michelle Trawick. “This space gives our students a professional environment to showcase their creativity and gives our community another place to experience exceptional art. We are excited to see the opportunities it will create for our students, artists and region.”
The SKYCTC Foundation, including Heather Rogers, Millie Wells and Chantal Allen, along with Associate Professor of Art Matt Kirby, also played significant roles in preparing the gallery.
“We are deeply grateful to celebrate this amazing gift from the LGT Charitable Foundation,” said SKYCTC Vice Chancellor of Resource Development Heather Rogers. “This $100,000 endowment does so much more than place a name on a wall—it brings life to a permanent space where our students and our community can gather, connect and be inspired. Art has a unique way of bringing people together, and this generous support ensures our gallery will remain a welcoming, vibrant home for local artists and students for generations to come. The LGTC Foundation shares our heart for this community, and we are honored to partner with them in making the arts accessible to everyone right here at SKYCTC.”
Nichols and Jones also sought guidance from gallery directors at other KCTCS colleges, including Abbi Ruppert at Owensboro Community & Technical College and Randy Simmons at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, as they developed the gallery’s operations and programming.
A Space for Students and the Community
Student opportunity remains at the heart of the gallery.
The gallery’s first exhibition was the Student Juried Exhibition, sponsored by Service One Credit Union, which featured artwork from students across the College.
Following the student exhibition, SKYCTC partnered with ArtWorks Inc. to showcase the work of regional artists. The gallery’s first solo exhibition features Laurin Notheisen, a Bowling Green artist and Western Kentucky University Professor Emerita. Her works-on-paper exhibition includes graphite drawings, watercolors and prints inspired by natural spaces.
The new gallery is designed to serve as both a professional exhibition space for artists and a learning opportunity for SKYCTC students, providing students with firsthand experience in presenting, promoting and engaging with artwork in a gallery setting.
OPENING RECEPTION
WHAT: A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed immediately by an artist reception where guests will have the opportunity to meet Notheisen and view the exhibition.
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 16. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m., followed
immediately by an artist reception
WHERE: Tincher Campus and Community Center, SKYCTC, 1845 Loop Drive, Bowling Green
WHO: Students, faculty, staff, artists and the public are invited
For more information about the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation Art Gallery at SKYCTC, go to: https://southcentral.kctcs.edu/community/art-gallery/index.aspx
