In 1991, Don Lawler and Meg White met and shared a studio in Ekron, Kentucky where they created their individual sculptures in stone. The work ranged from small to life-size in scale, predominantly for regional private collectors.
In 1997, Meg and Don moved the sculpture studio to a larger location near Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. These improved facilities allowed the production of monumental scale works and the addition of a 6 acre sculpture garden nestled in a large expanse of woods and overlooking the Ohio River.
On January 1, 2000, Lawler-White Sculpture Studios, Inc was formed with the exclusive purpose of creating monumental scale sculptures for public, private and corporate venues. Although there are 3 collaborative projects, each artist creates their own sculptures in their distinctive, individual style.
Future business growth includes the renovation of a railroad caboose into a gallery space for maquette sized works and an office space. There is also a plan to add a living space with the old sculpture studio in Ekron, so that emerging young artists can have a place to live and work for 1 year for free. This is intended to give graduating students the opportunity to pursue a career in sculpture; reducing some of their financial burden while giving them the benefit of our professional experience. We hope to expand this opportunity with a similar plan for a painter’s studio on a wooded lot that we own in Concordia, Kentucky. There is also discussion about creating an apprenticeship program.
EDUCATION
1983 - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
1986 - Apprenticeship, Barney Bright, Bronze Sculptor, Louisville, Kentucky
1987-89 - Apprenticeship, Paul Fields, Stone Sculptor, Louisville, Kentucky
PUBLIC SCULPTURE
2009 - Highland Park, Roanoke, Virginia $10,000.00
2009 - Municipal Grounds, Sylacauga, Alabama $5,750.00
2008 - Courthouse Square, Lafayette, Indiana $4,000.00
2008 - Ft. Nugent Park, Oak Harbor, Washington, $11,000.00
Percent for Art
2008 - Life of the River Sculpture Walk, Green Bay, Wisconsin; $9,860.00
2007 - Winona Lake, Indiana, Greenway Heritage Trail; $5,000.00
2007 - Public Safety Building, Blue Springs, Missouri; $11,800.00
2007 - Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; $2,000.00
2006 - Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg, Illinois; $75,000.00
Percent for Art
2003 - Ashland Recreational Center, Denver, Colorado; $39,200.00
Percent for Art
2000 - Nia Center, Louisville, Kentucky; $91,560.00
1996 - Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, Ohio; $5,000.00
1994 - Kentucky Department of Transportation, Frankfort, KY $4,000.00
1988 - Central Park, Louisville, Kentucky; $2,000.00
MAJOR EXHIBITIONS
2009 Honorary Co-Chairperson, Sculpture Show, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, KY
2008 Honorary Co-Chairperson, Sculpture Show, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, KY
1994 Morrison Gallery, Elizabethtown College, Kentucky
1994 Kentucky Art & Craft Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky
1992 Park Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky
1991 Kentucky Art & Craft Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
The Temple, Louisville, Kentucky
Kosairs Children’s Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Brown Foreman Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky
Baser Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky
Yew Dell Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky
Berheim Arboretum, Claremont, Kentucky
SELECTED AWARDS
1997 Best of Show, Waterside Art Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1996 Best of Show, Cherokee Art Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1995 Best of Show, Cherokee Art Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1994 Best of Show, Waterside Art Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1991 Best of Show, Cherokee Art Fair
1989 Best Sculpture Entry, Kentucky State Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1989 Purchase Award, Falls City Community Art Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky
1988 Best Sculpture Entry, Kentucky State Fair, Louisville, Kentucky
1961 - born in Dayton, Ohio on June 15. He spent most of his youth in rural Meade County, Kentucky, but also spent some time in Virginia and Michigan.
1983 - graduated from Centre College of Danville, Kentucky with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. Don then moved to Mt. Shasta, California after graduation, but returned to Kentucky in 1985.
1986 - apprenticed to Barney Bright, a bronze sculptor, in Louisville, Kentucky.
1987 thru 1990 - apprenticed to Paul Fields, a stone sculptor, in Louisville, Kentucky.
1990 thru 1997 - created a stone studio in Ekron, Kentucky where he pursued a full time career in stone sculpture.
1997 to present - Don and Meg created a studio in Breckinridge County, Kentucky where they create stone sculptures on a full time basis.
VIDEO / TV
2001 HGTV Modern Masters episode 708
1994 Louisville Tonight
BOOKS
1999 Gardens of Kentucky, Spears, Amy
MAGAZINES
2008 Nov-Dec Kentucky Home & Gardens, Louisville KY
2007 Fall Centrepiece, Centre Alumni Magazine, Danville KY
2006 Sep-Oct Kentucky Home and Gardens, Louisville KY
2002 Spring Centrepiece, Centre Alumni Magazine, Danville KY
2001 Jan Stone World Magazine
2000 June 28 LEO Magazine, Louisville KY
2000 July 7 National Sculpture Society, News Bulletin, New York NY
1994 July Louisville Magazine, Best of Louisville feature
SHOW CATALOGS (selected)
2009 June Yew Dell Gardens Outdoor Sculpture Show, Louisville KY Honorary co-chair
2008 June Yew Dell Gardens Outdoor Sculpture Show, Louisville KY Honorary co-chair
2007 April Red, White and Blue Springs, Blue Springs MO
1994 Stone Approaches, a regional invitational
1994 Kentucky Art & Craft Foundation, stone show
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
2009 Jan 18 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-3
2008 May 27 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, front page
2008 Sep 3 Whidbey News Time, Oak Harbor WA, front page
2008 Aug 8 Whidbey News Time, Oak Harbor WA
2005 Nov 6 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-6
2004 Oct 22 Rocky Mountain News, Denver CO
2003 May 1 Pioneer Press, Chicago IL
2003 April 28 Chicago Tribune
2003 April 19 Daily Herald, Chicago IL, 1-7
2003 April 18 Daily Herald, Chicago IL, front page
2001 Jan 28 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-3
2001 April 29 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-4
2000 May 19 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, B-1
1999 June 13 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-1
1998 Dec 23 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, B-2
1997 June 12 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, E-1
1994 Nov 13 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts
1994 Jan 30 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1994 April 3 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, arts I-4
1993 May 16 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1992 April 2 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1990 Sep 19 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1990 April 22 The State Journal, Frankfort KY
1989 Sep 7 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1989 Aug 20 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY
1988 May 5 Martinsville Indiana Newspaper
1987 Feb 11 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1987 Feb 10 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1986 Sep 20 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1986 Sep 9 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1985 April 5 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, Byron Crawford
1985 April 3 The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
1985 April 3 The Messenger, Brandenburg KY
1984 July 16 Courier-Journal, Louisville KY, Byron Crawford
1980 Aug The Pioneer, Brandenburg KY
