Will Evans said he’s found his calling for what he hopes to accomplish with his art. Evans was crowned the winner of the United Way of the Ohio Valley’s Barrels of Heart competition on Wednesday, but said the real prize is how the event benefits community members in need.
The Barrels of Heart event was a special fundraiser that UWOV first adopted in 2023 from the Bourbon with Heart organization. This year, 15 artists painted bourbon barrels donated by Green River Distillery with various themes. The money raised is used during the UWOV grant cycle when local nonprofits apply for funding.
Vikki Embry, UWOV’s director of community investment and community impact, said they raised approximately $55,000 at this year’s event. She said they fund 52 nonprofits in a six-county area, including 19 nonprofits in Owensboro.
Embry said the event is rewarding on many levels, including the positive impact on the artists.
“It continues to open the doors for artists. We love to see that it’s benefiting them, and it’s also giving back to the community as well. We are thrilled that it was more than just a fundraiser,” she said.
Evans has experienced those benefits firsthand. After placing third last year, he decided to create a youth art camp to share his skills with others. When he decided to enter Barrels of Heart again this year, winning wasn’t his only goal.
“I was surprised and super happy (to win). It was a great feeling,” he said. “You hope you win, but if you don’t win, everybody still wins with this. This year we raised $55,000, and that’s going to be helping a lot of people.”
Evans’ barrel depicted two scenes, and he had a personal connection to each. On one side, he recreated photos of the 2nd Street Fam Jam that has taken place downtown this summer. On the other, he recreated a photo from his own art camp.
“(On the Fam Jam side,) there’s music and food, but my favorite part is we draw sidewalk chalk — me and the kids, adults, old folks, everybody. Everybody in there is from photos that I took down there. Same thing with the other side of the Estes Bulldog art camp. It’s a photograph from all the kids sitting around the table on easel painting day,” he said.
Evans said he put several hours into the artwork, and he received plenty of community support.
“Although I painted in my house, I also took it down to The Lot every Thursday. That’s where I cleaned it up, sanded it down, primed it up, and did all that. Everybody was really cheering me on and positive about it, so that was cool,” he said.
As the judge’s winner, Evans received a $1,000 check. He was also able to pick a nonprofit to receive $500 from UWOV. His choice was Beverly’s Hearty Slice.
“Travis Owsley over at Beverly’s Hearty Slice, he’s an inspiration to me,” Evans said. “He’s one of the people that I started looking to when I was like, ‘What can I do in the community?’ He has a huge reach and impact, the way he’s gone all over the city and all the things he’s done.”
Evans said he hopes to continue to find ways to use art to give back to the community.
“I have found my calling, I feel like,” he said. “Every artist kind of searches like ‘what’s my calling, what’s my style, where do I fit into the big, wide world of art?’ Using my art, keep refining my craft, and using that to inspire and help others and raise money for others — I found my calling with what I want to do with art.”
Barrels of Heart also presented a People’s Choice award this year, with Brittany Samsil winning that prize. She will receive a one-night stay at the Hampton Inn, a meal from Olive Garden, and supplies from the Owensboro Art Guild.
