WKU News

The Great Meadows Foundation and the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University are pleased to announce a special event celebrating the life, legacy, and lasting impact of Mary and Al Shands, two of Kentucky’s most influential champions of contemporary art.

A reception for the exhibition Tangents to Heaven will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 2:00–4:00 PM (CT) at the Kentucky Museum. The exhibition, on view from April 17, 2024 through July 31, 2027, features selected works from the Shands Collection—45 pieces generously donated to the Kentucky Museum following Al’s passing. This gift is part of a broader philanthropic vision that saw their extraordinary contemporary art collection dispersed to institutions across the Commonwealth, ensuring continued access and inspiration for generations to come.

Tangents to Heaven honors Al Shands (1928–2021), an Episcopal priest, writer, filmmaker, and passionate art collector, along with his wife Mary Norton Shands (1920–2009), whose support of artists and cultural institutions helped shape Kentucky’s contemporary art landscape.

“Al and Mary Shands believed in the power of art to transcend boundaries—spiritual, cultural, and geographic,” said Brent Bjorkman, Director of the Kentucky Museum. “Their generosity and vision live on not only in the works they collected, but in the opportunities they created for artists across Kentucky to grow and connect beyond the state.”

The April 26 reception will also celebrate the launch of the new book Rounding the Circle: The Legacy of Mary and Al Shands, a richly illustrated hardcover volume published by the Great Meadows Foundation. The book chronicles the couple’s contributions to art and culture, featuring essays and reflections from critics, curators, and artists touched by their generosity and vision.

“Al and Mary Shands’ vision for art and artists has left an indelible mark on Kentucky’s cultural landscape,” said Julien Robson, Director of the Great Meadows Foundation. “Through Al’s thoughtful bequests to the Kentucky Museum and other institutions across the state, as well as the continuing work of the Great Meadows Foundation, his legacy continues to inspire and support artists and communities alike.”

The afternoon will feature a panel discussion moderated by Natalie Weis, arts writer and contributor to Rounding the Circle, with panelists:

• Brent Bjorkman, Director, Kentucky Museum and Kentucky Folklife Program, WKU
• Leslie Nichols, Assistant Professor, First Year Experience, SKYCTC (Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College); artist and Great Meadows Foundation grant recipient
• Yvonne Petkus, University Distinguished Professor of Art & Design, WKU; artist and Great Meadows Foundation grant recipient
• Marilee Salvator, Associate Professor of Art & Design, WKU; artist and Great Meadows Foundation grant recipient
• Julien Robson, Director, Great Meadows Foundation

The conversation will explore the themes of the exhibition and the book, while also highlighting the Artist Professional Development Grants (APDG), a core initiative of the Great Meadows Foundation. Offered three times annually, these grants support Kentucky-based artists in their professional growth by enabling them to engage with the broader national and international contemporary art world. 

Artists Nichols, Petkus, and Salvator will share personal stories about how the grants expanded their practice—through travel, exhibitions, and research—and how those experiences continue to influence their work. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the APDG application process, eligibility, and the types of activities the grants support.

Free and open to the public, the event will include light refreshments and the opportunity to purchase Rounding the Circle at a special discounted price exclusive to attendees.

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For more information:

Brent Bjorkman

Director, Kentucky Museum

270-745-6261

brent.bjorkman@wku.edu

Julien Robson

Director, Great Meadows Foundation

502-693-2593

director@greatmeadowsfoundation.org

About the Kentucky Museum:

Located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, the Kentucky Museum is dedicated to celebrating the art, history, and culture of the Commonwealth. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community partnerships, the Museum fosters creativity and preserves Kentucky’s rich artistic heritage. More information at wku.edu/kentuckymuseum.

About the Great Meadows Foundation:

Established in 2016 by contemporary art collector and philanthropist Al Shands (1928–2021), the Great Meadows Foundation is a non-profit, grant-giving organization based in Crestwood, Kentucky. The foundation supports visual artists and professionals throughout Kentucky by providing opportunities for travel, research, and international engagement in contemporary art. The Artist Professional Development Grant program strengthens the regional art community by fostering critical dialogue, expanding networks, and raising the visibility and caliber of contemporary art produced in the state. Learn more at greatmeadowsfoundation.org.