FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About KOAR
Is the site free?
Can I browse Kentucky fine and decorative arts online without a specific search in mind?
How do I find specific Kentucky art objects and Kentucky artists online?
What artists are included in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource?
What categories of Kentucky fine and decorative arts are included in KOAR?
What types of objects can be found in the Kentucky Online Arts Resouce?
Can I see the objects included in KOAR in person?
Where can I find more information about Kentucky art and artists?
Who supports the Kentucky Online Arts Resource?
Yes. Thanks to the generosity of the individuals and foundations listed on the KOAR Sponsors page, there is no charge to use the site. Its free usage policy also relies on donations from site users. For information on making a donation, please contact info@speedmuseum.org or call 502.634.2700 and indicate that you would like to make a donation to the Speed's Kentucky Heritage Initiative. The Heritage Initiative supports both KOAR and the Speed's long-term commitment to the collection, preservation, documentation, and exhibition of Kentucky decorative arts, Kentucky fine arts, Kentucky folk arts, and Kentucky design. The Initiative is critical to achieving one of the Speed's key goals: becoming the nation's collection of record for important Kentucky and Kentucky-associated art and design.
Can I browse Kentucky fine and decorative arts online without a specific search in mind?
Yes. Simply go to the Classification Search page, find a class of objects (furniture, paintings, etc.) you would like to browse, leave the search field blank, and click on the corresponding search button. This will display all of the objects within the selected classification. For more information on KOAR's different search capabilities, visit the Help pages.
How do I find specific Kentucky art objects and Kentucky artists online?
If you know some information about an object or an artist (for example, the name of a particular type of object, an artist's first or last name, the full or partial title of a painting, or the type of materials used to make an object), you can use one of KOAR's three different types of searches. The search types range from a general keyword search (Quick Search) to a more specific search based on an object's classification (Classification Search) to a very specific search incorporating multiple criteria (Detailed Search). For more information on the various search types, visit the Help pages.
What artists are included in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource?
The artists included in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource include Kentucky artists (both those active in the state and those strongly associated with the state) such as Kentucky painters, Kentucky sculptors, Kentucky silversmiths, Kentucky cabinetmakers, Kentucky quilters, Kentucky weavers, Kentucky potters, and others. The site also includes significant depictions of the state's cities, towns, landscapes, and citizens executed by artists from other states and countries. Visit the Kentucky Artists page to see a list of artists represented in the site.
What categories of Kentucky fine and decorative arts are included in KOAR?
The materials in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource include Kentucky furniture, Kentucky silver, Kentucky ceramics, Kentucky glass, Kentucky paintings, Kentucky sculpture, Kentucky quilts and other types of Kentucky art made prior to 1950. The site also includes works of art made elsewhere, but used and consumed within the state. Visit the Kentucky Art page to see a complete list of object classifications represented in the site.
What types of objects can be found in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource?
The objects included in the Kentucky Online Arts Resource cover a wide range of forms. Some examples: sugar chests, sugar tongs, chairs, corner cupboards, clocks, tumblers (today commonly called julep cups), tablespoons and teaspoons, flasks, quilts. These are in addition to fine arts such paintings, sculptures, and prints and drawings. Visit the Kentucky Art page to see a more complete listing of object names.
Can I see the objects included in KOAR in person?
In some cases. Each object record lists an owner. If this is a museum or public institution, such as The Speed Art Museum the object may be on public view. If you want to see a specific object owned by a particular museum, it is advisable to call ahead and make sure the object is on view. Contact information for museums and other public institutions is accessible in two ways: by clicking on the website link included in a particular object record or by visiting the KOAR Partners page. Objects owned by private collectors are not available for viewing in person. Unless otherwise listed, the names of private collectors are confidential.
Where can I find more information about Kentucky art and artists?
For further information on a particular object found in KOAR, choose the Full Detail view to see the object's associated bibliographic references (when applicable). The Speed Art Museum, the museum that developed and continues to maintain KOAR, features a Kentucky Gallery devoted to Kentucky decorative arts, Kentucky fine arts, Kentucky folk arts, and Kentucky design. Click on the link above for more information about the museum. As KOAR grows to include other museum partners, the site will also include their names and contact information on the KOAR Partners page.
Who supports the Kentucky Online Arts Resource?
A project of The Speed Art Museum, KOAR's operation and free usage policy are made possible through the generosity of the individuals and foundations listed on the KOAR Sponsors page. KOAR also relies on donations from site users. For information on making a donation, please contact info@speedmuseum.org or call 502.634.2700 and indicate that you would like to make a donation to the Speed's Kentucky Heritage Initiative. The Heritage Initiative supports both KOAR and the Speed's long-term commitment to the collection, preservation, documentation, and exhibition of Kentucky decorative arts, Kentucky fine arts, Kentucky folk arts, and Kentucky design. The Initiative is critical to achieving one of the Speed's key goals: becoming the nation's collection of record for important Kentucky and Kentucky-associated art and design.
