(Story from BG Lexington, The Lane Report’s young professionals magazine)
A group of heavy hitters from Louisville recently made a scene in downtown Lexington. It wasn’t a basketball team coming for a tussle, though, it was the founders of 21c Museum Hotel — and they came bearing art.
Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown announced plans for a new 21c Museum Hotel in Lexington at a meeting with local officials, and they were accompanied by a familiar sight for 21c fans: the penguin. But this time, it was not 21c’s famous Red Penguin, as originally created by Cracking Art Group, but one ever so slightly better adapted to its future habitat. This time, the penguin was blue.
That meeting confirmed rumors, breathless whispers and blatant hopes that 21c would in fact bestow upon Lexington its acclaimed brand of artsy hospitality. Properties in Cincinnati, and Bentonville, Ark., still are in development (expected in 2012 and 2013, respectively), but the original location in Louisville has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of the world’s best hotels (2010, 2011, 2012). Plans recently submitted for review to the Courthouse Area Design Review Board for the Lexington property, the historic First National Bank Building, include potential for a similarly recognized experience in Central Kentucky.
The hotel will offer a unique dining experience. One feature of the proposed layout is a glass wall facing the street that will provide a view directly into the kitchen, and a venue for the performance art of gourmet food preparation. There are expected to be approximately 80 guest rooms, one of which will be a penthouse suite spanning two floors with a rooftop terrace.
While details such as financing and a final close on the property are pending, there is broad local support, and indications are that the plans will move forward to an opening date for 2014.
Lexington’s thriving and growing downtown will swell just a bit more when the project is complete, but in the meantime, its movement toward art, community and downtown life is what drew in 21c Museum Hotel from the outset.
“21c looks for places with strong local partners and somewhere that there is, or going to be, a vibrant art scene,” said Chelsey Cox, brand marketing administrator at 21c Museum Hotel. “And with all the sports and people who are coming to Lexington. There’s a need for downtown hotels. Our founders, Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, the passion that’s close to their hearts is revitalizing downtowns. That’s been the case here in Louisville; that’s been the case in Cincinnati and Bentonville and will continue to hold true Lexington as well.”
The 21c Experience
All the talk of plans for 21c Museum Hotel’s Lexington location have you curious about the 21c experience? You don’t have to wait until 2014 to take it all in. With the original location in Louisville so nearby, a quick trip may be in order for a weekend getaway, gourmet dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Proof, or a tour of the new exhibitions.
The sights
“One of the great things about 21c is that you don’t have to be an overnight hotel guest to get the full experience,” Cox said. “We host frequent events, like artists lectures, that are free and open to the public. We also participate in local events like Louisville’s First Friday trolley hop, but you can also walk in any time and tour the museum spaces. The thing our guests enjoy the most about 21c is the element of surprise. There is art everywhere: in the elevators, in the bathrooms, in the hallways, in every nook and cranny. That’s the great experience of 21c – everybody is able to engage with contemporary art.”
And you can engage entirely on your own schedule. Stop by at your leisure. Exhibitions are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, free of charge. Or check out the website for updated information on events such as gallery hops. Cox said one of her favorite parts of 21c are the artists lectures that frequently are offered.
“Even living in New York, I didn’t have the same opportunities as I do in Louisville to meet artists,” she said. “And because we collect contemporary art, the artists are living. To be able to meet the artists face to face, that is such an amazing opportunity. I think the thing that struck me the most about 21c is the fantastic art programming and that we’re able to bring such a high caliber of artist here.”
A new exhibit just installed at the 21c Museum Hotel lobby gallery in Louisville is called “Blue: Matter, Mood and Melancholy” and features works by artists from around the globe. The multi media exhibition features meditations on the color blue, its meaning, interpretation and feeling. In the atrium galleries, new pieces were added to “Convergence: Highlights from the Collection 2012,” which features photography, video, paintings and sculptures that comment on our lives and work in a changing global community.
For the more playful art admirers, check out the larger-than-life, 30-foot golden replica of Michelangelo’s David that was installed just prior to Derby. He’s taken up Louisville residency along with several Red Penguins outside 21c following a trans-oceanic trip from Turkey, where workers constructed him, along with another statue, at the behest of artist Serkan Ozkaya. The twin David remains in Istanbul.
The tastes
The property’s restaurant, Proof, has become a destination itself and is worth a trip just to try one of the fresh and innovative dishes (try the Bison Burger or Curried Quinoa), or a signature cocktail, many of which have been dreamed up by bartenders and include tasty garnishes. Proof also celebrates Kentucky’s signature spirit, Bourbon, with style and creativity.
As with the rest of the property, Proof features art installations that surround diners, enveloping the space in a brash but comfortable atmosphere of art. Even a leering boyish statue of Pan isn’t too intimidating, offering a forbidden fruit (rub it for good luck) as he perches on the end of the bar.
The feel
Cox does acknowledge there’s something to booking a stay at the hotel. Various room types, from basic to over-the-top, are available, though even the basic room is a study in contemporary aesthetics with exposed brick and photography or paintings on the wall that far exceed typical hotel art.
“Staying here is amazing — the guest rooms are both modern and comfortable, and include Malin & Goetz amenities,” she said. “We have a list of packages on our website and we’re always updating those, so prospective guests can check the site for the most recent offerings.”
For more information, pricing, packages and a calendar of events and exhibitions, visit 21cmuseumhotels.com/louisville.
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