“REFLECTION”: SMOKETOWN PUBLIC ART PROJECT UNVEILED

Momentum continues for The Wheelhouse Project in Smoketown.

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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (March 19, 2018) – The Wheelhouse Project in partnership with the Community Foundation of Louisville, is proud to announce Reflection. A Smoketown public art project commissioned by the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (KMAC) with artist Jibade-Khalil Huffman in collaboration with 19 artists from across the region and nation.  The installation is located in the historic Smoketown neighborhood at the former home of Hillerich & Bradsby Co.’s original Louisville Slugger Bat factory at the intersection of Preston and Finzer Streets and is free and open to the public.

 

Art and culture will play an essential role in the social and economic revitalization of the historic but underserved Smoketown. “The aim of this installation is to celebrate Smoketown’s unique history and to create a new way to invite community conversation about what types of innovative buildings, programs, and partnerships can best serve the Smoketown neighborhood in the future.” said Heather Farrer, Founder of The Wheelhouse Project. “With over 2,000 points of input from community residents and their children we felt it essential to celebrate our partnerships, progress, and plans for the site with this public art project,” continued John Hillerich IV, Chief Executive of Hillerich & Bradsby Co.

 

Reflection also serves as a welcome. We are proud to announce Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest will join forces with The Wheelhouse Project community development alliance to design community green space and outdoor programming for families.   This builds on the momentum from the September 2017 announcement for a new Boys and Girls Club of Kentuckiana (BGCK) Club and their corporate headquarters on the 2-acre parcel of land generously donated by Hillerich & Bradsby Co.

 

“Bernheim is proud to participate in The Wheelhouse Project, providing sustainable design, play and programming consultation which will help connect this community with nature,” said Dr. Mark Wourms, Bernheim’s Executive Director.  “Bernheim strives to deliver nature to people on a daily basis because experiences with nature improve health, happiness, and inspiration.”

 

“We are thrilled Bernheim and the Boys & Girls Club have agreed to join our Smoketown work. The Wheelhouse Project will act as an anchor for the Smoketown community and offer the kind of programming that will be essential for kids to succeed in childhood and to be prepared citizens equipped with the skills they will need to take on the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.” said Susan A. Barry, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Louisville.

 

The Wheelhouse Project has issued a request for proposal for design services for the site and will launch the next round of community input shortly.  To stay informed about the ongoing development of The Wheelhouse Project property visit www.wheelhouseproject.org or find The Wheelhouse Project on Facebook.

 

Reflection Artists:

The contributing artists to Reflection represent various mediums and regions, including several of the Community Foundation of Louisville Hadley Creatives.  They are: Sadie Barnette, Sandra Charles, Krista Clark, Hannah Drake, Elizabeth Foley, Devin French, Terence Hammonds, Vallorie Henderson, Bryce Hudson, Texas Isaiah, Azikwe Mohammed, Lance G. Newman, Tameka Norris, Cynthia Norton, Rebecca Norton, Christina Quarles, Kameela Janan Rasheed, Umar Rashid, and Rodolfo Salgado.

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About Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest:

Bernheim’s mission is to connect people with nature. Bernheim is the largest privately held contiguous forest block in the Eastern United States dedicated to conservation and education.  Bourbon maker Isaac Wolfe Bernheim established the arboretum and forest in 1929 as a gift to the people of Kentucky.   Fun, educational programs, diverse tree collections, 40 miles of hiking trails and diverse landscapes are available every day except Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and January 1.  Admission is free weekdays and to members.  Weekends and holidays have a $5 environmental impact fee per vehicle.  Schools and tour groups are welcome; please call in advance for scheduling and fees.   Bernheim is located in Clermont, Ky., about 20 minutes south of the Louisville airport.   From I-65 take exit 112 and follow the signs.  Bernheim is a non-profit organization that relies on memberships, grants and donations for support.   Come visit and enjoy the beauty of nature.

 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana (BGCK):

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana (BGCK) has been at the forefront of youth development.  Our mission: To inspire and enable all young people, especially those most at risk in our community, to realize and develop their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens is what drives our organization’s success. BGCK serves over 2,200 youth (ages 6-18) and services areas throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana, including Shawnee, Parkland, Newburg, Frost-Stuart, Bullitt Lick and Meyzeek.

 

About The Wheelhouse Project:

Established in 2015 The Wheelhouse Project is a community development partnership with the Smoketown neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.  The Wheelhouse Project will create a pathway to allow the longtime residents of Smoketown to participate in the economic advancement of the broader area and to eliminate multidimensional poverty in the neighborhood.  Together we will drive the social and economic revitalization of the historic, but underserved Smoketown. Central to the Wheelhouse Project’s success is the utilization of a strategic property generously donated by Hillerich & Bradsby Co. to the Community Foundation of Louisville.  The Wheelhouse Project will focus on: a safe place for children to play, community green space, an improved quality of life, and employment opportunities. For more information, visit www.wheelhouseproject.com

 

About Community Foundation of Louisville

The Community Foundation of Louisville is a force for good. As a leader in philanthropy, we connect donors, nonprofits and civic partners to create lasting impact in community so people and place thrive. Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in Kentucky with more than $530 million in assets and more than 1,600 charitable funds.  Each fund has its own name and charitable purpose as defined by its donors.  In 2017, these funds made 9,500 grants totaling $73 million, approximately 80% of which stayed in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to support area nonprofits. To learn how you can be a part of this force for good, visit www.cflouisville.org.

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About Hillerich & Bradsby Co.:

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. is a fifth-generation manufacturer of sporting goods with roots dating to 1859. Based in Louisville, Ky., the company makes Louisville Slugger® wood bats, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball®, for Wilson Sporting Goods. H&B also owns and operates the world-class Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory™ in downtown Louisville. The company designs and sells Bionic Gloves® for a variety of sports and activities.