KY: Kentucky Arts Council

detail of “View from the Cabin” by Lynn Dunbar

The Kentucky Arts Council has been associated with the following public art projects.

From 1992–1994 Heritage Preservation funded the survey project Save Outdoor Sculpture!, whose acronym SOS! references the international Morse code distress signal. This project documented more than 30,000 sculptures in the United States, including over 400 across Kentucky. The arts council retains paper records of the Kentucky sculptures that were surveyed. The results of the national survey are available in the SOS! database; keep in mind, however, that most of the records have not been updated since 1994.

Frankfort

Transportation Cabinet Office Building Public Art Project

In 2003 the Kentucky Arts Council, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Finance and Administration Cabinet joined in partnership to commission Kentucky artists to design, construct and install large-scale public art pieces for two separate, site-specific areas outside of the newly constructed Transportation Cabinet Office Building on Mero Street in Frankfort. The purpose stated in the original Public Artwork Competition prospectus was to “bring meaningful, memorable visual enhancement to the public spaces.”

Garry Bibbs was awarded the commission for the public art work approaching the entrance to the building at the intersection of St. Clair and Mero Streets The site’s objective was to relate conceptually to the spirit of transportation, including the themes of motion, momentum and technology. Garry Bibbs’ “Now Get” was completed and installed on August 2, 2006.

The team of Erika Strecker and Tony Higdon were commissioned to create a public art piece at the Gateway site, at the convergence of Holmes, High and Mero Streets. The Gateway site was not to relate to one building, but downtown Frankfort as a whole. Its focus was to be of Frankfort’s history, while expressing a vision for its future. Erika Strecker and Tony Higdon’s “Nexus” was completed and installed on December 6, 2006.

Both sculptures were dedicated at a public ceremony on May 11, 2007.

Hodgenville

“The Boy Lincoln”

The sculpture group Daub-Firmin-Hendrickson of Berkeley, Calif., was commissioned to create “The Boy Lincoln,” an in-the-round, life-size sculpture depicting Abraham Lincoln shortly before his eighth birthday. He is positioned on the town square gazing at a portrait of President Lincoln by Adolph A. Weinman, dedicated in 1909.

The Kentucky Arts Council, with funding from the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, awarded the City of Hodgenville a grant to commission the sculpture. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity to the City of Hodgenville and the Lincoln Sculpture Committee in developing the guidelines, criteria and request for proposals for the public art commission.

Louisville

KFC Yum! Center

“Further,” by Al Price of Al Price Studio in Phoenix, Ariz., was commissioned by the Louisville Arena Authority and unveiled at the KFC Yum! Center in April 2011. This three-dimensional stainless steel sculpture is suspended from aircraft cable and spans 200 feet of the west side of the main concourse. It is viewable from the main concourse and the upper and lower suite levels. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity during the commissioning process.

Springfield

“In Sacred Union”

“In Sacred Union” commemorates Lincoln’s search for evidence of his parents’ marriage. Their marriage records were eventually discovered in Washington County 13 years after his death. The 10-foot tall, full-figure bronze sculpture of Lincoln stands looking toward the old Washington County Courthouse, where the marriage bond lay waiting to be discovered. Just below, out of his line of sight, is a bronze plaque imprinted with a reproduction of Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln’s Bond of Marriage. Two interlocking rings, representing the rings exchanged by bride and groom, connect the sculpture to the plaque. The sculpture was created by Paula B. Slater of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and the site was designed by Brad M. Bourgoyne of Baton Rouge, La.

The Kentucky Arts Council, with funding from the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, awarded the City of Springfield a grant to commission the sculpture. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity to the City of Springfield and the Lincoln Sculpture Committee in developing the guidelines, criteria and request for proposals for the public art commission.


		Public Art

		The Kentucky Arts Council has been associated with the following public art projects. Save Outdoor Sculpture! From 1992–1994 Heritage Preservation funded the survey project Save Outdoor Sculpture!, whose acronym SOS! references the international Morse code distress signal. This project documented more than 30,000 sculptures in the United States, including over 400 across Kentucky. The arts council retains paper records of the Kentucky sculptures that were surveyed. The results of the national survey are available in the SOS! database; keep in mind, however, that most of the records have not been updated since 1994. Frankfort Transportation Cabinet Office Building Public Art Project In 2003 the Kentucky Arts Council, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Finance and Administration Cabinet joined in partnership to commission Kentucky artists to design, construct and install large-scale public art pieces for two separate, site-specific areas outside of the newly constructed Transportation Cabinet Office Building on Mero Street in Frankfort. The purpose stated in the original Public Artwork Competition prospectus was to “bring meaningful, memorable visual enhancement to the public spaces.” Garry Bibbs was awarded the commission for the public art work approaching the entrance to the building at the intersection of St. Clair and Mero Streets The site’s objective was to relate conceptually to the spirit of transportation, including the themes of motion, momentum and technology. Garry Bibbs’ “Now Get” was completed and installed on August 2, 2006. The team of Erika Strecker and Tony Higdon were commissioned to create a public art piece at the Gateway site, at the convergence of Holmes, High and Mero Streets. The Gateway site was not to relate to one building, but downtown Frankfort as a whole. Its focus was to be of Frankfort’s history, while expressing a vision for its future. Erika Strecker and Tony Higdon’s “Nexus” was completed and installed on December 6, 2006. Both sculptures were dedicated at a public ceremony on May 11, 2007. Hodgenville “The Boy Lincoln” The sculpture group Daub-Firmin-Hendrickson of Berkeley, Calif., was commissioned to create “The Boy Lincoln,” an in-the-round, life-size sculpture depicting Abraham Lincoln shortly before his eighth birthday. He is positioned on the town square gazing at a portrait of President Lincoln by Adolph A. Weinman, dedicated in 1909. The Kentucky Arts Council, with funding from the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, awarded the City of Hodgenville a grant to commission the sculpture. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity to the City of Hodgenville and the Lincoln Sculpture Committee in developing the guidelines, criteria and request for proposals for the public art commission. Louisville KFC Yum! Center “Further,” by Al Price of Al Price Studio in Phoenix, Ariz., was commissioned by the Louisville Arena Authority and unveiled at the KFC Yum! Center in April 2011. This three-dimensional stainless steel sculpture is suspended from aircraft cable and spans 200 feet of the west side of the main concourse. It is viewable from the main concourse and the upper and lower suite levels. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity during the commissioning process. Springfield “In Sacred Union” “In Sacred Union” commemorates Lincoln’s search for evidence of his parents’ marriage. Their marriage records were eventually discovered in Washington County 13 years after his death. The 10-foot tall, full-figure bronze sculpture of Lincoln stands looking toward the old Washington County Courthouse, where the marriage bond lay waiting to be discovered. Just below, out of his line of sight, is a bronze plaque imprinted with a reproduction of Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln’s Bond of Marriage. Two interlocking rings, representing the rings exchanged by bride and groom, connect the sculpture to the plaque. The sculpture was created by Paula B. Slater of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and the site was designed by Brad M. Bourgoyne of Baton Rouge, La. The Kentucky Arts Council, with funding from the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, awarded the City of Springfield a grant to commission the sculpture. The Kentucky Arts Council served in an advisory capacity to the City of Springfield and the Lincoln Sculpture Committee in developing the guidelines, criteria and request for proposals for the public art commission.