A NEW ARTIST ON THE BLOCK

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Dr. Bill Renzulli has had what he calls a "fractured career." Balancing the twin callings of medicine and art has been difficult and has not brought him great wealth. He quit full-time medicine at age 40 to pursue art.

Now at 62, Renzulli has decided to sell his medical practice so he can devote himself to painting. Paducah's Artist Relocation Program has given him the opportunity.

Renzulli and his wife, Patience, are selling their 18-acre farm in Maryland to come live in Paducah's Lowertown. Through the program, they have bought a brick house that really is just a burned-out shell. They hope to be able to move into the renovated house by the end of 2002.

Renzulli responded to one of the advertisements about the program that began running in January in national art magazines. He insisted on coming to Paducah then in winter, before spring spruced the city up. Mark Barone, who directs the Artist Relocation Program, was sure he'd never hear from Renzulli again. Two days later the artist called and joined up.

Renzulli laughed when he heard about Barone's fears. He admitted that the drive from the airport through a grimy section of town made him wonder "what we were doing here."

But the people and the arts organizations he and his wife found there formed a different impression.

"I was really impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of both the director and the people we met," he said.

When friends and colleagues hear what their plans are they have the same reaction: "Where in the hell is Paducah, and why Paducah?" he said. "But the people that know me know it's entirely in character with the way I have done things."