josephine-sculpture-park

Job Opening: Finance and Administration Manager

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:25:56 GMT

ABOUT JOSEPHINE SCULPTURE PARK

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) is a distinctive landscape where art, nature, and community intersect. Founded in 2009 on Melanie VanHouten's family farm and named in honor of her grandmother, Josephine, JSP is the only park of its kind in Kentucky. Spanning 40 acres, the Park features more than 80 rotating large-scale sculptures set among mowed walking paths and wildlife habitat. JSP's mission is to connect people to one another and to the land through the arts. The Park fulfills this mission by providing creative arts and nature-based education to the community, offering transformative opportunities for artists, and conserving the beauty of Kentucky's rural landscape. The vision is to be a leader in our community that respects and reflects all voices and ideas through shared, creative experiences and responsible land stewardship practices. The Park's staff, board, and volunteers are deeply committed to advancing social justice and cultural equity, fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals feel safe, welcomed, and empowered to play, create, and heal together.

Josephine Sculpture Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) is seeking an organized, self-motivated accounting and finance professional for the position of Finance and Administration Manager (Manager). This role ensures accurate financial management, regulatory compliance, effective administrative systems, and strategic support to align with and advance the nonprofit's mission. The Manager will perform accounting tasks and provide direction on administrative management.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Finance and Administration Manager is a key member of the leadership team responsible for maintaining the organization's financial health and supporting operational effectiveness. This role has primary responsibility for all day‑to‑day bookkeeping functions, including coding and entering financial data, reconciling monthly accounts, processing invoices, and preparing and issuing payments. The Manager works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff across departments to deliver accurate financial reporting, provide meaningful financial insights, and support informed decision‑making. This position plays a critical role in strengthening and sustaining the organization's overall financial infrastructure.

CANDIDATE RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Operations Support

Develop, manage, and maintain annual budgets, forecasts, and financial reports.
Compile, verify, and organize data for financial statements and internal reports including general ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and payroll.
Follow best practices for non-profit accounting and current JSP bookkeeping procedures and update, as needed.
Ensure compliance with GAAP, tax regulations, and grant requirements and maintain all historical records. Oversee preparation and filing of quarterly tax documents, annual 990 and 1099's.
Prepare and complete monthly, quarterly, and year‑end financial close activities, including compiling schedules, reconciling accounts, and maintaining all supporting documentation.
Maintain financial records, tracking tools, and internal databases.
Support multi-year financial forecasts and scenario modeling.

Billing & Revenue Cycle Support

Coordinate billing processes, ensuring accurate and timely invoicing
Maintain documentation and reconcile revenue reports

Administrative Support

Develop and provide operational support of Human Resources functions including benefits, onboarding, and compliance when needed.
Oversee office infrastructure and vendor contracts.
Oversee insurance policies, payments and determine best financial practices and strategies for maximizing coverage while minimizing costs.
Ensure organizational policies and procedures are current and effective.
Partner with management team to ensure resources, processes, and systems are aligned with organizational goals.

Compliance & Risk Management

Maintain internal controls and ensure adherence to nonprofit regulatory requirements.
Coordinate financial review/audits and liaise with external auditors and legal counsel.

Strategic Leadership

Support the Executive Director and Board with financial analysis, strategies, and recommendations.
Contribute to long-term planning and operational decision-making.
Lead and develop administrative staff as needed.
Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field required
Two to five years professional nonprofit accounting experience required
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
High proficiency in Quickbooks and Excel and comfort working with financial data
Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with leadership direction and organizational goals
Demonstrated discretion, sound judgement, and strong integrity
Excellent communication, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Ability to collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment

COMPENSATION

This position is a part-time, exempt professional role and is benefits‐eligible. Compensation is commensurate with experience, with an anticipated rate of $30 per hour; $250 annual personal professional development stipend;

and 40 hours PTO after 90-day introductory period (PTO increases with tenure); paid professional development opportunities; professional scheduling; some remote work possible; and access to JSP supplies and venue for private use.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ashley|Rountree and Associates has been exclusively retained by Josephine Sculpture Park to oversee this search. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume. For questions or confidential inquiries, please contact Lisa Resnik at lresnik@ashleyrountree.com .

Josephine Sculpture Park is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate on the basis of any protected class, and encourages applications from people of color, people who are differently abled, women, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ applicants. Josephine Sculpture Park also celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

You Were Joy Full!

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:44:01 GMT

Together, we celebrated the people who make Josephine Sculpture Park magical.

March 20, 2026

Joy Full was a radiant celebration of connection, creativity, and gratitude at Josephine Sculpture Park, where art and community came together under the early spring sky. Guests gathered in the Barn and around to experience live music, immersive performances, hands-on artmaking, and thoughtfully crafted beverages, all set among the sculptures and natural landscape. The evening carried a spirit of warmth and wonder, a reflection of the vibrant community that sustains the Park and ensures it remains free and open to all.

Enjoy a few photos from this radiant event!

5 Ways to Have Winter Fun at the Park

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:08:51 GMT

5 Ways to Have Winter Fun at the Park

Beat the winter blahs by engaging all your senses and embracing what the park has to offer in the colder months.

1. Open Your Eyes

See the forest for the trees, and explore the sculptures coated in wintry layers of ice, rain or snow. Shapes and structures are revealed, art and nature’s edges become more defined, viewed from a fresh perspective. Watch how the light and shadows play differently in the winter!

2. Heads Up

Take inspiration from Metamorpho-Nest by Andrea Wilson Mueller, and go on a nest hunt. Leafless winter trees reveal birds’ and squirrels’ nests that are usually hidden from view. Some birds may return to the same nests each year. A fun activity is to draw your own map of where you spotted nests in trees, and return at least once each season to observe bird activity in those places.

3. Watch for Winter’s Flowers

Frost flowers form when moisture seeps out of certain plants, such as the native white or yellow wingstem plants. If the moisture meets freezing air, a frosty build-up can take on dramatic sculptural shapes. These ephemeral artworks of nature are easiest to find in areas of deep shade.

4. Hug a Tree

Winter tree identification may show you how much you don’t know about trees that seem so familiar. Where do growth buds form on stems? Do they form opposite or alternating patterns? Is the bark smooth and scaly, thick and chunky, or maybe even a little squishy? What is the shape of their seeds? Borrow the winter tree finder booklet in the JSP Visitor Center to identify species, and to deepen your tree appreciation in any season.

5. Look for Lichens

Can you find lichens growing on trees, rocks and sculptures throughout the park? Notice where you find them, and what the conditions are. How moist is it? How much air flow? How much sun? See this article to learn how these fascinating life forms are indicators of air quality. And then . . . take a deep breath.

Find more ideas to enjoy JSP in all the seasons here .

Published December 19, 2024

Thank You Gallery: Joy Full 2024

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:34:29 GMT

2024 Photo Gallery: Joy Full Gratitude Gathering

"The atmosphere was warm, open, and inviting, and I truly felt at home with your entire team."

- new Joy Full participant

We are so grateful for all who shared in our 2nd annual year-end gratitude gathering in the event barn! More than 130 warm hearts celebrated JSP volunteers, visitors, partners, artists, and donors at this free, family-friendly night with the arts, nature, and community.

Please enjoy this photo gallery as a thank you!

Special thanks to these creative partners and vendors: Cheese Luis, DJ Always, John Harrod and Tona Barkley, Kate’s Kentucky Kitchen, Little Loomhouse, Starpointe Astronomy’s Dan Price, The Flaming Femme, and Yes Arts.

Published December 19, 2024

Students Explore New Artforms at JSP

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:39:10 GMT

Art students from University of Louisville's Hite Institute of Art & Design, Franklin County High School, and Western Hills High School explore new artforms during JSP field trips in October 2024

Franklin County High School advanced art students explored plein air painting during their recent self-guided field trip to Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP). Art teacher Jody Jaques shared that she is grateful for JSP, as it is one of the few field trip sites she can bring her students for free.

JSP welcomed the University of Louisville's Hite Institute of Art & Design for a novel artmaking experience this fall! Professor Mary Carothers assigned her Installation Art class students to paint original works on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE by Peyton Scott Russell . Mary shared with JSP staff, “Thanks so much for inviting us to experiment and play. We had a super fun time.” Visit the park soon to see all of their wonderful pieces, like Self Portrait at 23 by Emma Harvey, and add a work of your own!

Art students at Western Hills High School enjoyed a guided park tour, painting on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE by Peyton Scott Russell, and a picnic lunch in the sun on their recent field trip. Teacher Jan Kirstein reflected, "We really enjoyed the tour guide and informational lecture. It made the trip so much more meaningful. [JSP has] the best thing going for hands-on art I have ever experienced!" Students are pictured exploring former artist-in-residence Lucy Azubuike's sculpture, Me in Me Sanctuary , with Mollie Rabiner, JSP Park Manager and exhibiting artist.

Join the fun! We love welcoming groups of all ages for hands-on arts and nature experiences. Request your group field trip to JSP today, and our staff will be in touch to customize your visit.

Published October 29, 2024

Nest Watchers Report on Bluebird Trail

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:14:59 GMT

Nest Watchers Report on Bluebird Trail

This spring and summer, weekly check-ins on nest boxes gave dedicated volunteers the opportunity to peek into the private lives of birds and track their progress. Wild Birds Unlimited (Frankfort, KY) manages a bluebird trail of 11 nest boxes and about as many volunteers who monitor them around the park.

For Lisa Beran, who considers herself a novice birder, her first year of monitoring the bluebird trail was a way to find community. She shares, “I was looking for more opportunities to increase my knowledge and hang out with others who have similar interests. It’s nice to be around people who enjoy and appreciate the outdoors and the arts.” Volunteer Rhonda Littleton-Roe brought her son Garrett, who captured photos of the nests. “We both really enjoyed monitoring the trails and it was an activity that we could enjoy together.”

Why Care About Eastern Bluebirds?

The sight of bluebirds in flight around the bluegrass region used to be common. In Kentucky, eastern bluebird populations are in serious decline. Harsher winters, competition for nest boxes with non-native birds, and general loss of habitat have severely impacted this joyful signal of springtime. Since 1978, the North American Bluebird Society has led a continent-wide effort to provide sufficient habitat with nest boxes and bluebird trails.

A bluebird trail is a series of safe nesting habitats for native, cavity-nesting birds, like the eastern bluebird. The bluebird trail at JSP includes 11 nest boxes throughout the park. Other species that used the same boxes this year included tree swallows and chickadees. Titmice, nuthatches, and Carolina and house wrens are also native cavity nesters. These birds might use the same boxes but don’t necessarily compete with bluebirds for space.

Please note it is illegal to remove an active nest of any native cavity nesting bird. They are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treat Act .

How Bluebird Trails Help

Helping eastern bluebirds requires understanding their particular needs. During their nesting season, eastern bluebirds feed primarily on ground-level insects. Open, grassy areas, free of pesticides or herbicides with trees nearby for perching are ideal. They avoid densely wooded areas, intensively farmed or urban spaces, according to the North American Bluebird Society . NABS also provides detailed information on how to manage a bluebird trail.

This citizen science program at JSP is one of many bluebird trails throughout Kentucky. Property owners, parks or interested groups can install boxes with support from other bluebirders. For greater impact on the broader habitat conservation efforts, data collected throughout the nesting season is tabulated and reported to NestWatch .

The Gifts and Surprises of Learning

Consistently visiting the park weekly over about six months brought the life cycle of the birds into sharper focus. While volunteers do not normally handle any eggs or chicks, Lisa called it “almost literally hands-on learning” because she and the other volunteers observed subtle changes from week to week. “It’s amazing how fast they go from being babies to fledging.”

Birders are lucky to find nests in the wild, even luckier to identify the bird who built it. A closer look at a nest provides clues. Bluebirds use only grass, while swallows add feathers - usually white ones from their chest - and chickadees use moss. Lisa reflected on finding tree swallows nests: “They pull out some of their feathers, even out of their wings. Some are iridescent, lining and woven into the nest. We open up the box and see a huge fluff of feathers, with tiny birds.”

Volunteer Betty Barr shared the highlight of her experience: “Each time I monitored, I learned so much from the knowledgeable people with me as well as learning the techniques of approaching each box, carefully opening it and using mirrors and flashlights to see inside. The egg colors, the newly born chicks, the growth and then seeing the fledging made me even more appreciative of the experience and JSP. The nesting boxes are a gift to all of us.”

The beauty of the meadows and the progression of different wildflowers in bloom were additional joys that drew the volunteers back. As a side benefit, Lisa became much more familiar with the park. “Doing it every week, I really get to see the art in a different light, different times of the year.” When she later volunteered as a docent at Symphonic Stroll, she confidently provided directions to guests unfamiliar with the meandering paths.

Keeping Count: One Nest Box, Many Births

Viewing nests instilled in Lisa an appreciation for the bird parents' hard work and persistence required to keep the next generation going. Eastern bluebirds may raise up to 4 broods of chicks (nestings) in a season, with up to 6 eggs in a nest. JSP’s most successful nest box this year hosted 3 nestings, for a total of 13 chicks that hatched and fledged

Nest box monitoring goes beyond identification, counting and reporting, to renew the birder’s sense of wonder. Lisa shares the depth of connection it has brought to mind. “Years ago, I worked with midwives. Being present at a birth is an awe-inspiring and intimate experience. In some ways it was like that with the birds, an inside window for what for most of us is out of sight.”

JSP’s mission includes connecting people to nature, and there’s no better way to learn than through up-close-and-personal, hands-on experiences like this. Contact us if you are interested in being trained to monitor the JSP bluebird trail, or to stay informed about habitat conservation volunteer opportunities.

The JSP Bluebird Trail thrives in partnership with Wild Birds Unlimited (Frankfort) and with funding support from Beckham Bird Club of Louisville, Kentucky.

Published October 22, 2024

Clarity Vehicle Restoration Unveiled

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 15:48:34 GMT

Clarity Vehicle Restoration Unveiled

JSP commemorated a milestone anniversary with the restoration of Clarity Vehicle by Mollie Rabiner, one of the first artworks installed on-site fifteen years ago.

JSP celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in September 2024. Director Melanie VanHouten founded the park in 2009 with 16 sculptures on ten acres with the help of a passionate grassroots community. Fifteen years later, the park has grown to include more than 70 sculptures on forty acres with a focus on land conservation, plus a robust Art in Public Places initiative that brings more than twenty sculptures to the city of Frankfort. Together, these programs serve 130,000 people annually with arts and nature experiences.

JSP commemorated the milestone anniversary with the restoration of Clarity Vehicle by Mollie Rabiner, one of the first artworks installed on-site fifteen years ago. This restoration is made possible by those who generously donated to the Scot Walters Sculpture Fund, with additional support from Epic Coatings.

The Scot Walters Sculpture Fund enables JSP to install new artworks at the park and to conserve beloved sculptures on exhibition. Because the sculptures at JSP are interactive and invite participation, they occasionally need restoration. After fifteen years of engagement with the public, Clarity Vehicle received new paint and acrylic panels to bring back its vibrancy and encourage more play and participation for years to come.

The Scot Walters Sculpture Fund was established in 2017 to honor the life of Mr. Walters, who was an avid sculpture enthusiast and involved member of the community. He retired from the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office in 2016 after 20 years with the agency.

Family and friends of Scot Walters, along with supporters of the Scot Walters Sculpture Fund and JSP donors, were invited to an intimate gathering to commemorate the 15th anniversary of JSP and the unveiling of the newly restored Clarity Vehicle . Director Melanie VanHouten shared memories of both Mr. Walters and artist Mollie Rabiner, current Park Manager, who also spoke at the event. All in attendance shared a toast to the sculpture, the artist, Mr. Walters, JSP donors, and the future of Josephine Sculpture Park.

Clarity Vehicle is on view at JSP in the Firefly Forest area behind the Art Barn. You can also join JSP in celebrating 15 years on December 8 at Joy Full , an annual family-friendly gratitude gathering. To support the installation and preservation of art at JSP, please consider making a contribution to the Scot Walters Sculpture Fund.

Published September 25, 2024

Cortada & Team Complete Transit Center Mosaic Installation

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:56:50 GMT

Mosaic Artist Xavier Cortada and Local Artists Complete Transit Center Mural Installation

Josephine Sculpture Park and the City of Frankfort have unveiled the latest public art installation at the newly constructed Transit Center in downtown Frankfort.

Floral River, created by artist Xavier Cortada is a 4 story mixed-media installation comprised of paint and hundreds of hand-glazed ceramic flowers. The art piece symbolizes the Kentucky River meandering through Frankfort under a moonlit night and encourages reflection on the human connection to Kentucky’s rivers and native flora.

Sculpted flowers are arranged to represent the moon (ceramic medallion in white), the riverbanks (ceramic flowers in blue hues), and the river (painted in blue with flowing and clustered white ceramic flowers). Each floor has a different gradient of hand-glazed jewelescent ceramic flowers. The colors were chosen to compliment the color of the river and give contrast to the deepening blue of the wall behind them.

A competitive two-stage process was used for the selection of the artist. Fifty artists submitted their qualifications for consideration which were reviewed by a team of 9 Frankfort residents, including 5 local artists. Selecting an artist to work on this project was challenging. It required someone who is an exceptional artist with extensive professional experience working on a project of this scale and complexity. Five qualified artists were contracted to submit designs for the stairwell which were reviewed by the same team and representatives from the City of Frankfort. In February, Cortada was officially selected and began working closely with City officials and building engineers as the stairwell was built.

Cortada is a Cuban-American artist who has created over 150 public art projects and installations around the world, including at the North and South Poles. Much of his work integrates themes of nature and environmental stewardship into community spaces. Two local artists, Lilianna Fischer and Matthew Trimble, worked with Cortada during the 10-day installation in September. Fischer is currently an Artist in Residence at Broadway Clay in Frankfort and has worked with ceramics, filmmaking, and composing. Fischer expressed that her experience working with Cortada was extremely rewarding and had the frequent opportunity to discuss what it takes to be an artist and how different disciplines build on and interweave with one another.

Cortada held a public Lunch and Learn session at the Paul Sawyier Public Library on September 3 where he discussed the power of public art to inspire meaningful conversations about the environment, and propel stewardship and engage community participation.

This installation was commissioned by the City of Frankfort in partnership with the Josephine Sculpture Park and is part of a growing collection of public art in our community. To engage with the installation in person, visit 510 Clinton St in downtown Frankfort.

Published September 25, 2024

Thank You Gallery: Symphonic Stroll 2024

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:29:29 GMT

2024 Photo Gallery: Symphonic Stroll with Lexington Philharmonic and Lexington Ballet, at Josephine Sculpture Park

The 4th year of Symphonic Stroll with the Lexington Philharmonic was a huge success! Attendees experienced LexPhil's live concerts and music making experiences at 6 featured sculptures across the park's 40 acres, plus special performances by the Lexington Ballet in the event barn. Longtime JSP volunteer Jeffrey Laird reflected, "It's one of my favorite events. This year's was the best yet."

For the second year in a row, we sold out of tickets! One attendee shared: "It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful music and lots of fun for everyone! This will be something I plan to attend every year."

Please enjoy this photo gallery as a thank you!

Special thanks to Josephine Sculpture Park’s Symphonic Stroll sponsors: Expree Credit Union, Harrod Concrete & Stone, The Paddocks, Kentucky Monthly, Snow Owl Foundation, Frankfort – Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission, The Villas at Berry Hill, Frankfort Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites, Frankfort Plant Board, Scott and Cindy Hampton, Jane Julian, Lakeview Park, Will and Anne Taylor Renshaw, Lanham Media Service Printing

Published September 19, 2024

Josephine Sculpture Park Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:58:23 GMT

Josephine Sculpture Park Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary

This September, Josephine Sculpture Park

celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of its

unconventional founding and continued growth and community impact. From the beginning, the Park has remained committed to the mission of connecting people to each other and nature through art.

In 2009, Founding Director and Chief Curator

Melanie VanHouten left a tenure-track teaching position with a bold dream. Inspired by her

experience as a Jerome Fellow at Franconia

Sculpture Park in Minnesota, VanHouten

returned to the site of her family’s farm with

the purpose of providing free and accessible

art experiences in her hometown community of Frankfort, Kentucky.

Although some of the VanHouten family farmland had been sold to developers in the late 1990’s, a portion was still owned by Melanie’s parents, Art and Beverly VanHouten. Thrilled to support the endeavor, Art and Beverly donated the use of their 20 acres for the first 12 years of the Park’s history. Now expanded to 40 acres, Josephine Sculpture Park continues to conserve and restore native woodlands, meadows and grasslands, offering a variety of environmental education experiences.

VanHouten established the Park alongside generous family and friends. She invited artist

colleagues from around the US to exhibit the first 16 sculptures at the opening of the Park in September 2009. Among the original exhibiting artists was Andrew Marsh, JSP’s current board chair and executive officer.

“We all share in Mel’s vision to foster play and exploration in people’s hectic lives. The community has generously responded to this place for vital human connection with artistic expression and the natural world,” says Marsh.

Today, nestled among the natural environment are more than 70 sculptures, most of which were created by artists-in residence . JSP has worked with more than 1,000 artists over its 15 years—from local emerging artists to internationally recognized sculptors. This includes the popular Art in Public Places program, featuring rotating sculptures and murals in downtown Frankfort and at businesses across the community.

VanHouten says, “In the spirit of my grandmother Josephine, I wanted to create a place where everyone truly felt welcome. That spirit continues to inspire our entire team every single day. We hope that people take that feeling home into their daily lives and that makes the world a better place.”

For 15 years, JSP has enhanced access to arts and culture, economic growth, tourism, quality of life, environmental education, and health and wellness for the region. As the Park embarks on its next phase of growth, it will launch a capital campaign to secure the land and establish an endowment to ensure its prosperous future for generations. Additionally, the long-standing Artist-in-Residence program will resume in 2025, in conjunction with a master plan to intentionally grow the footprint of the Park, install new artworks, and steward the land.

Unlike many arts organizations founded exclusively by wealthy benefactors, VanHouten led a community effort to bring the dream of Josephine Sculpture Park to fruition. Local community members, corporate, and foundation support have been the bedrock of JSP and continue to underwrite its growth.

The public can look forward to opportunities to celebrate JSP’s fifteenth anniversary by attending Symphonic Stroll on September 7 , a partnership with Lexington Philharmonic and Lexington Ballet. JSP’s first sculpture, Clarity Vehicle by Mollie Rabiner, will be unveiled during the event following a restoration generously supported by the Scot Walters Sculpture Fund. The anniversary will continue to be commemorated through the end of the year, culminating in a celebration on December 8, 2024 at Joy Full, an end of-year gratitude gathering. The community is invited to attend this family-friendly event, which will feature music and art-making.

Published August 14, 2024

Auction Winners & Guests Explore Lucky 7 Arts Studio

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:58:05 GMT

Auction Winners & Guests Explore Lucky 7 Arts Studio

At Barn Raisin' 2024 , JSP supporters Betty Barr and Don Kleier purchased an incredible live auction Artful Louisville Overnight package that included an exclusive tour of Lucky 7 Arts Studio for an intimate group.

Artists Andrew Marsh and Farel Fagiola transformed a neglected industrial complex, formerly Henry Vogt Machine Company (1917-1978), into a 20,000 square foot studio and gallery.

Marsh's work in cast iron, welded steel, and chainsaw carved wood are reflections of a lifelong struggle with severe chronic pain.

Marsh shared the processes involved in his explosive ritual performances, large-scale sculptures, and environmental installations.

Marsh is also Chair and Executive Officer of the board of Josephine Sculpture Park, where his work Function of Toole is on view.

Published August 2024

Why Jeri Katherine Howell Loves Symphonic Stroll

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:35:36 GMT

Why Jeri Katherine Howell Loves Symphonic Stroll

"This event is my jam. . . I take time to experience the event’s magic firsthand."

It is a creatively fulfilling and professional honor to help make Symphonic Stroll with Lexington Philharmonic happen at Josephine Sculpture Park! Back for the fourth year in a row, join us for an evening of immersive music, art, nature, and this year, dance on Saturday, September 7! Paired with sculptures throughout the park, LexPhil musicians perform chamber music continually from 4PM-8PM with a special appearance by Lexington Ballet dancers at select locations. This inclusive event for all-ages features live music, interactive music activities, and local food trucks.

As a musician, art, and nature lover - this event is my jam. Each year, I take time to experience the event’s magic firsthand.

LexPhil musicians’ performances make the sculptures come alive with sound, and the greenery illuminates. Each footstep fills with glee and wonder, as I meander through the paths to the next performance, greeting butterflies and smiling event goers. My brain lights up and I laugh joyfully as I create new sounds at LexPhil’s MusicLab. I “high five” organizers, staff, and volunteers in thanks - the folks that make this night run smoothly. And I wind down at a shaded table with delicious food and sweet treats from one of the many food trucks.

Not yet convinced to purchase your ticket or sign up to volunteer ? Read testimonials from previous Symphonic Stroll-ers:

“Experiencing hundreds of people gathered to hear live music outdoors around contemporary sculpture was truly an incredible experience.” - Celine Browning, 2022 Artist in Residence
“One of the most unique and enjoyable events in Frankfort.” - Lee Colten
“Symphonic Stroll continues to be a wonderful event that lets us experience the park in a new way!” -Lisa Munniksma
“We had a great time at the Lexington Philharmonic Symphonic Stroll at Josephine Sculpture Park in Frankfort today! Lucas climbed everything he could and only fell…in love with the harp! Alora tried to take home all the instruments from the MusicLab table. It was a great evening!” - G. L.

I hope to make joyful music with you at this year’s Symphonic Stroll on Saturday, September 7 !

Thank You, JSP event sponsors!

Expree Credit Union; Harrod Concrete & Stone; Kentucky Monthly; The Villas at Berry Hill; Scott and Cindy Hampton; Frankfort Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites; Frankfort Plant Board; Jane Julian; Lakeview Park; Will and Anne Taylor Renshaw; and Lanham Media Service Printing.

About the Author

Jeri Katherine Howell is Josephine Sculpture Park's Assistant Director, and a performing singer-songwriter and teaching artist.

Published July 22, 2024

Volunteer Spotlight: Raychel Blackburn, Studio Assistant

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:55:21 GMT

Volunteer Spotlight: Raychel Blackburn, Studio Assistant

“I think it’s important to have a welcoming space in town where anyone can go and enjoy some peace and beauty."

Raychel Blackburn has been serving as the park’s Studio Assistant Volunteer for about a year, usually spending the better part of a day each week helping the Park Manager, Mollie Rabiner. As an artist trained in jewelry making, Raychel’s metalsmithing skills scaled up to include welding and construction. She has applied these to a wide range of sculpture installation and grounds care tasks.

Highlights of her accomplishments include collaborating on:

de-installing and installing sculptures for the Art in Public Places exhibition
hanging new studio lights in the art barn
building a rustic chandelier for the Barn Raisin’ event in the tobacco barn
renovating a tent platform into a picnic shelter

Her supervisor shares that beyond providing an extra set of hands, Raychel contributes an intelligent and curious mind. Mollie explains, “Raychel has a different way of looking at things, which is valuable to me. She comes in with a fresh outlook and is really smart in a very sculptural, creative way. She understands gravity and has an awareness of space. That’s important when we’re moving large things. Plus, she has a great sense of humor.”

Raychel shares what brought her to JSP. “I was at a crucial moment of deciding whether or not to stay in Kentucky when my aunt, a supporter of the Josephine Sculpture Park as well as an advocate for arts in the community, pointed me toward the park and all the wonderful people who make it possible.”

Raychel’s first day working as a JSP volunteer included a visit from Tibetan Buddhist monks who provided a special blessing at the park. They capped off their visit by enjoying popsicles among the vivid wildflowers of Metamorpho-Nest . Although an unusual day, it reflects what Raychel enjoys about volunteering here: “I love it most for the variety of people it attracts, in both supporters and visitors. There are so many reasons to love the park: woodsy trails, fun events, sculptures you can actually engage with - it’s a magical place.”

Not every day is filled with magic, but Raychel can help turn around even the most tedious chores. She helped Mollie clean out an overpacked shed as they filled a dumpster with randomly accumulated items. Upon finding a box which dozens of snails were inhabiting, Raychel patiently removed and relocated each one before discarding the box.

“She truly gets what we’re doing here and it aligns with who she is as a person,” Mollie added. “Raychel knows plants, trees and insects. She has a deeper understanding as a self-taught naturalist; she is aware of what is around us.”

“I think it’s important to have a welcoming space in town where anyone can go and enjoy some peace and beauty,” Raychel shared.

JSP relies on volunteers to get the work done. Mollie comments, “You can’t do this stuff alone, especially with the bigger physical things. Raychel shows up with an amazing attitude and energy and is always ready to help.”

Raychel’s attitude is summed up in her words, “I am honored to be invited in on the dream they are creating and am more than happy to share my skills wherever they may help.”

Thank you, Raychel, for giving your time and talent to the park and our community.

If you would like to to share your gifts as a park volunteer, visit our Volunteer page , sign up for our volunteer newsletter and get in touch about opportunities.

Published July 19, 2024

Frankfort Audubon Society's Birding Poster

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:10:46 GMT

Thanks to the Frankfort Audubon Society and their ongoing partnership with the park for supporting habitat for our feathered friends and encouraging humans to appreciate them. Their latest contribution to enriching our understanding of birds is this helpful introduction to birding at the park. Visit the Frankfort Audubon Website for more information about their organization. Check out their Facebook page for a calendar of events, and join them for a bird walk at the park or another site in our community.

Looking for more bird-related information? Check out the Conservation page , and these blogs:

Discovering a Northern Flicker Pair at JSP

Listen to the Thrasher

Metamorpho-Nest Provides Vital Habitat in Winter

Céline Browning Reflects on JSP Residency

Published July 23, 2024

Art and Nature Thrive in the Rosens’ Garden and Studio

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:19:18 GMT

Art and Nature Thrive in the Rosens’ Garden and Studio

Josephine Sculpture Park board and staff enjoyed a guided tour of the historic downtown Frankfort home of park supporters Richard and Anna Marie Rosen. Tours included the Rosens’ printmaking studio and abundant floral garden featuring a selection of sculptures.

Richard Rosen is an accredited Hemerocallis (daylily) judgemaster and plantsman with hundreds of varieties of daylilies in his beautifully tended garden. He is also committed to enhancing economic development and quality of life in downtown Frankfort through JSP’s Art in Public Places program. Visit the Frankfort Public Art Tour website for more information.

Anna Marie Pavlik Rosen is an accomplished fine art intaglio printmaker, whose work highlights natural ecosystems. She demonstrated her printmaking processes and equipment.

Here, she displays the 28" x 22" plate of the etching, Madonna . This piece is focused on the need for protecting wildlife from human caused peril. The detail view of this etching (below) is a portion of the dress of the Madonna, which presents hydro, wind, and solar energy as resources to aide in the preservation of North American animals.

The couple’s dedication to creative expression and nature resonates with JSP’s mission of connecting people to each other and the land through the arts. Thanks to the Rosens for offering this unique experience as a live auction item at the record-breaking 2024 Barn Raisin' event, sponsored by Expree Credit Union.

Published July 25, 2024

Meet Angela Eldridge, Marketing Manager

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:29:52 GMT

Meet Angela Eldridge, Marketing Manager

published June 20, 2024

Welcome Eileen Yanoviak to JSP Staff

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:04:05 GMT

Welcome Eileen Yanoviak, Director of Engagement

Published June 20 , 2024

Thank You Gallery: Barn Raisin' - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine 2024

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:01:50 GMT

2024 - Photo Gallery: Barn Raisin' - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine sponsored by Expree Credit Union

The 2024 Barn Raisin’ fundraiser event was a record-breaking evening of culture, cuisine, and community, celebrating fifteen years of art and land conservation at Josephine Sculpture Park. A sincere THANK YOU to every sponsor, live and silent auction donor, volunteer, staff person and especially every attendee!

Enjoy reliving the fun through these snapshots of the evening.

Thank you to our Barn Raisin' sponsors: Expree Credit Union, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Harrod Concrete and Stone Co., Betty Barr and Don Kleier, Stewart Home & School, True North Catering, Chenault & Hoge Insurance, Rick and Billie Faye Duvall, Investors Heritage, Harry and Teresa Suter, Chris Schimmoeller and Joel Dufour, Cindy and Scott Hampton, Hannah Helm, Taylor and Natalie Marshall, Murphy Music Production and Layne and Natalie Wilkerson.

Welcome New Members of JSP's Board of Directors

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 30 May 2024 23:12:18 GMT

Welcome New Members of JSP's Board of Directors

Published May 31, 2024

For a current listing of board members, visit the About page

Josephine Sculpture Park’s Board of Directors volunteers their time and talents to further our mission to connect people to each other and nature through the arts. With diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the park and the community we serve. Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our board - Donald Kleier, Rebecca Norton, and Joanne Price.

Thank you, Don, Rebecca and Joanne, for sharing your skills and leadership with us. And thank you to our continuing board members who join them in renewing their dedication to the success of the park.

Earth Tools Supports JSP's Land Stewardship

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 30 May 2024 23:04:20 GMT

Earth Tools Supports JSP's Land Stewardship

For 15 years, Earth Tools has been a partner connecting the park with the resources needed to do the work.

When Josephine Sculpture Park was founded 15 years ago, the physical labor of removing invasive species and mowing walkable pathways was all done by the park’s founders, primarily Melanie VanHouten and her husband BJ Duvall. Their background in horticulture proved useful, but they had to do more plant removal than growing at first. BJ’s employer, Earth Tools, lent a hand in many ways, with donations, discounts on equipment, event sponsorships, volunteer labor and expertise.

Earth Tools helped the park buy their first zero-turn riding lawn mower and when the time came to replace its’ engine nearly 15 years later, they again stepped up and donated parts and service.

Caring for the land requires tools at the appropriate scale for the park, and for the staff and volunteers who use them. With Reforest Frankfort in 2018, 2,000 tree saplings were planted. They could quickly be overtaken by bush honeysuckle, Bradford pear and other woody invasive shrubs and trees. Careful mowing around these fragile young lives gives them a fighting chance at survival, and the perfect tool for the job is a walk-behind tractor. By partnering with Earth Tools, the park secured a grant and purchased the park’s walk-behind. Just like a four-wheeled tractor, the walk-behind can be used with a variety of implements. It can be used as a plow, mower, hay baler or even a wood chipper, but it is much more compact with no seat or steering wheel.

Unlike a tractor or riding mower, the walk-behind enables the operator to pay closer attention to details on the ground. As Joel Dufour, owner of Earth Tools explains, “It’s slower, more precise so you can see what you’re doing. This is critical to help maintain young saplings without destroying them by accident.”

Melanie appreciates this different kind of tractor. “We need something strong enough to eat woody things but very maneuverable like a push mower. The walk-behind is the perfect tool for that, we can easily train anyone to use it. It’s not a big, heavy machine.”

The implement that intern Lucy Swenson is using on the walk-behind is a flail mower. Joel from Earth Tools says, “It chews up material, handles heavy brush, cuts it low to the ground, and is better for killing privet, bush honeysuckle, and multi-flora rose.”

Earth Tools has been a long-term supporter and their practical gifts will be useful for many more years to come. Joel shares that another benefit of the walk-behind is agricultural longevity. By requiring less overall engine maintenance than having multiple machines that do all the versatile things a walk-behind will do, it will outlast our lifetimes.

Through their support, Earth Tools has given the park the means to fulfill our vision of practicing responsible land stewardship. “All the equipment they’ve helped us purchase enables us to replace invasive plants with native trees and flowers, restore wildlife habitat and enhance the overall beautification of the park,” says Melanie. Joel shares the reason for their support has been a common value. “We appreciate that the park has taken the initiative to pay attention to invasive plant management. Some parks believe all green is good but that’s not always the case. We also believe in the importance of art, and how they involve the community in everything they do.”

Partners like Earth Tools provide essential support for doing the work of natural habitat conservation and landscape management. For the fifteen years that JSP has been a park connecting people to each other and nature through art, Earth Tools has been a partner connecting the park with the resources needed to do the work.

To learn more about Earth Tools, visit https://www.earthtools.com/.

Published May 31, 2024

The Art of Barn Raisin'

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:10:38 GMT

Barn Raisin’: Conservation, Culture & Cuisine sponsored by Expree Credit Union is more than JSP’s annual fundraiser. It’s a showing of community support for the arts and nature in various forms. From the evening’s music to the unique auction prizes, every aspect of the event intentionally lifts up creativity. Learn more about the dynamic artists converging to amplify JSP’s mission to connect with each other and the land through the arts.

Guests of Honor: Karine & Matthew Maynard

Matthew and Karine Maynard, Barn Raisin' guests of honor, are celebrated artists, blacksmiths and architectural designers who use metal and architectural space as their media. They own and operate Maynard Studios Inc, in Lawrenceburg, KY. Exhibiting since 2017, the Maynards’ work has been shown across the U.S. such as at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN and Renwick Gallery, Washington DC. The duo has been honored by National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA), Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky House of Representatives and more. Maynard Studios has fulfilled custom commissions across the United States and also work internationally. The Maynards were recently featured on Off the Beaten Path .

Conservation: Live & Silent Auctions

Creativity goes into conserving the natural landscape that Josephine Sculpture Park occupies. Countless hours are poured into stewarding the spaces that hold interactive artwork, while providing a sanctuary for humans and other animals. Park staff, volunteers and partners manage water run-off and soil erosion, replace invasive plants with native, wildlife-friendly species, create exhibition spaces, design paths and maintain them. To support land conservation, bid on uniquely Kentucky arts and culture experiences in our live and silent auctions.

Auction packages will feature these art-filled experiences and more!

Take a deep dive into the sculpture studios at Lucky 7 Arts and spend the night at 21C with dinner at Proof on Main in Louisville.
Immerse yourself in the sweet melodies of Ben Sollee and his cello at your own private concert.
Treat yourself to a special tour of the sculptures on exhibit at Great Meadows followed by dinner at Barn8 on Hermitage Farm.
Bring home your very own Maynard Studios sculpture, Curious Bunny, and witness their creative process with a behind-the-scenes private tour and catered dinner.

Culture: Kaia Kater

Kaia Kater's jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR's Tiny Desk, The Guardian, Rolling Stone and No Depression . Through her artful banjo playing and lush songwriting, Kaia draws on influences rooted in Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, all of which reflect the diversity of her background; her ties to the Canadian folk music scene; her college years spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia, her father’s experience growing up in Grenada, and her recent work in film composition. Kaia Kater’s new album, Strange Medicine (coming May 2024 on Free Dirt Records/ acrönym in Canada) was created during a period of deep self-reflection and reinvention. Taking the helm as co-producer, alongside Joe Grass (Elisapie, Barr Brothers), the album finds Kater expanding her creative scope with cinematic arrangements, and working with guest artists such as Taj Mahal, Allison Russell and Aoife O’Donovan. The album celebrates the power of women and oppressed people throughout history, while also sharing meditations on her own life. Enjoy this sample video of Kaia Kater in concert.

Cuisine: True North

Expect fresh, in-season cuisine skillfully presented by culinary artists to delight and satisfy. Chef Carlie founded True North Catering in 2015 after returning to Louisville, KY to bring her vast culinary expertise back home. True North works with local farms to bring fresh food made from scratch. The team takes pride in helping folks make memories over delicious food. Chef Carlie shares, "We work really hard to make every experience feel personal, and we can confidently say that we are really really good at what we do."

The menu for Barn Raisin’ reflects their attention to detail and passion to please everyone at the table.

Mini green tomato toast with melted provolone, caramelized garlic, crispy Blue Dog bread
Little gem wedge salad, pickled garlic scape ranch, crisp vegetables, crunchy seeds
Sweet corn polenta with soft cheese, caramelized local mushrooms, herb and tomato reduction
Smoked chicken with grilled peaches over a bed of lemony massaged kale
Wisenberger Mills sweet cornbread
Flourless chocolate tart with whip cream, dulce de leche and wine soaked berries

The meal will be served family style, inspired by the Kentucky summer, with options to please various dietary preferences. Save room for dessert!

Thank You to our Generous Sponsors

Expree Credit Union, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Betty Barr and Don Kleier, Chenault & Hoge Insurance, Rick and Billie Faye Duvall, Harrod Concrete and Stone Co., Scott and Cindy Hampton, Hannah Helm, Investors Heritage, Taylor and Natalie Marshall, Chris Schimmoeller and Joel Dufour, Stewart Home & School, Harry and Teresa Suter, True North Catering, and Layne and Natalie Wilkerson

Originally published April 25, 2024 / Updated May 3, 2024

Mosaic Artist Selected for New Transit Center

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:57:19 GMT

Mosaic Artist Selected for New City of Frankfort Transit Center

Josephine Sculpture Park is excited to announce the selection of Xavier Cortada to complete a large mosaic and ceramic installation in Frankfort! JSP conducted a national call for mixed-media mosaic artists, resulting in 50 submissions from all over the globe. After a multi-stage juried selection process, the City of Frankfort and JSP selected Cortada.

Over the past three decades, Cortada, a Cuban-American based in Miami, Fla, has created art across six continents, including more than 150 public artworks, installations, collaborative murals and socially-engaged projects. He has been commissioned to create art for CERN, the White House, the World Bank, the Florida Turnpike, Port Everglades, and Miami City Hall, among many other art, science, and government venues. Particularly environmentally focused, the work Cortada develops is intended to generate awareness and action toward issues of global climate change, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss.

Cortada’s artwork for the transit center will cover 1,200 square feet with glass mosaic and hand-painted ceramic tiles. It will be installed on the back wall of a four-story stairwell in the new facility. The transit center and parking garage is currently under construction in the quadrant surrounded by Clinton St, Wilkinson St, Mero St and Saint Clair in downtown Frankfort, adjacent to the Capital Plaza hotel. The transit center is a key element of the city’s Downtown Frankfort Masterplan. It will include a 300-space parking garage and a 5,000 square foot enclosed ground-level building for administrative offices and transit user public space.

The stairwell where the mosaic will be installed is located at the center of this new parking garage and will face south, overlooking Clinton St. The front and side walls of the stairwell will be clear glass, providing views of the installation from all angles. Cortada plans to begin his work in Frankfort this summer or fall, depending upon the parking garage’s construction completion.

Images

Left: Xavier Cortada, “Sunburst Woodstorks,” hand-carved/hand-painted ceramic tile, 10′ x 8.75′, 2016 (Stirrup Plaza II, Coconut Grove | Miami Dade Housing Authority)

Right: Xavier Cortada, "Diatom Fountain, " 16' x 8' x 8' hand-carved, hand-painted ceramic and mosaic on concrete, 2017. (Smathers Plaza | Little Havana, Miami-Dade Housing Authority)

posted March 27, 2024

5 Ways to Explore JSP

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:12:08 GMT

5 Ways to Explore Josephine Sculpture Park

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) is free and open daily from dawn to dusk, located at 3355 Lawrenceburg Road in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Park features over 70 artworks along 2 miles of mowed trails that meander through 40 acres of native meadows, fields, and forests. JSP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to connect people to each other and the land through the arts. Explore 5 ways to experience JSP’s unique offerings, or plan your own adventure today!

1. Picnic on a Sculpture

The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge by 2019 Artist in Residence Heather Hart features five, five-sided picnic tables on shaded, elevated platforms. It is perfect for your next community meeting, family picnic, informal performance, craft meet-up, and more! An ADA accessible bridge from the main parking lot to the heart of the sculpture makes it a convenient and accessible place to meet up to converse, create and connect. The sculpture can seat up to 25 people. The bridge leads to the one wheelchair-accessible table; the remaining four tables are accessed via stairs. JSP does not manage reservations for use of the sculpture; it is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. JSP invites the community to make the space their own. Learn more about Hart’s sculpture.

If you are looking for a private picnic spot, or a place to reflect or journal, check out the new picnic shelter (pictured) in Firefly Forest or Nature Nook in Kestrel Fields . The picnic shelter features an elevated platform nestled in the trees with a slanted roof to protect you from sun or rain with one wooden picnic table. The Nature Nook features a concrete floor, metal roof, and two benches with backs.

JSP also provides an array of picnic and patio tables around the amphitheater, adjacent to the main parking lot.

2. Hunt for Tree Art

At JSP, you can touch every single artwork. Some of them, you can even spin, climb or paint on! Check the sign located near each artwork to learn how to interact with it safely.

Lucy Azubuike, 2018 Artist in Residence, created Me in Me Sanctuary as an interactive sculpture and “tree art” scavenger hunt. Download the scavenger hunt map and instructions here , or grab a copy at the info box near in front of the sculpture located in Kestrel Fields . You will learn to see trees in a whole new way!

Climb inside of Sky Chamber by Daniel Shieh, 2021 Artist in Residence, located in Fox Meadow , and watch the clouds roll by in an alternate sense of reality. (You gotta experience it for yourself!)

Bring your own spray paint, paint pens, or permanent markers and make your mark on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE created by 2018 Artist in Residence, Peyton Scott Russell. Find it on our map, located where Fox Meadow and Walnut Grove meet .

3. Nature Journaling & More

JSP provides several free activities to engage with the park in new ways. Download our printable activities available on our website , including an Art Scavenger Hunt, Sculpture Coloring Sheets and Nature Journal Activity . You can also grab a wildlife or plant ID resource from our Visitor Center and find names for the living things that call JSP home (please return the resource when you are finished). JSP is a popular birding and photography site, too!

4. Hit the Trails on 4 Wheels

Do you or a friend want to explore JSP, but walking is not available to you? Our mowed trails are 5-10 feet wide and traverse the landscape (including gentle hills) to be as accessible as possible by motorized wheelchair. Some trails are not accessible. Visitors that need mobility assistance can request to reserve our 4-person golf cart for up to 2 hours to experience the park. Due to limited staff availability, golf cart reservation requests must be made at least 1 week in advance and are not available on Mondays, major holidays, or after 5pm. Visitors can request to reserve our golf cart at least 1 week in advance by completing this form or calling 502-352-7082. Reservation requests are final once confirmed by JSP staff. We will do our best to return your message in 24 to 48 hours during our office hours (Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5pm).

5. Explore Art in Public Places

Through the Art in Public Places program (AIPP), JSP curates and maintains about 30 public art installations (murals and sculptures) throughout Frankfort and Franklin County at Expree Credit Union , West Sixth Farm, and in the City of Frankfort through the Arts Downtown exhibition. Learn more about the Arts Downtown exhibition and Frankfort Public Art Tour at visitfrankfort.com/art .

Published January 26, 2024

JSP Receives Ruth Foundation for the Arts 2023 Core Grant

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:06:35 GMT

Join the Ruth Foundation for the Arts in supporting JSP!

We are honored to announce that JSP is a recipient of the Ruth Foundation for the Arts 2023 Core Grant ! The annual program grants $50,000 in unrestricted, operational support. The application-based program is open to JSP as a previous recipient of the Artist Choice Award .

Join the Ruth Foundation for the Arts in supporting JSP by making a year-end donation today. Thank you!

Published December 22, 2023

Art In Public Places Exhibition Brings New Sculptures to Expree Credit Union

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 17:34:50 GMT

Four new sculptures are on exhibit at Expree Credit Union through JSP's Art In Public Places program

The dynamic grounds of Expree Credit Union have been updated with four new sculptures in their rotating public art space. The exhibit changes every few years. This round, three of the previously exhibited artworks have been returned to the artists, while one is remaining in place. A new sculpture location was added at the front entrance of the building as well.

We invite you to explore these new additions on your next visit to the Credit Union, or make a special trip to enjoy the art. Your curiosity and imagination are all that’s needed to appreciate the artwork and decide what the pieces mean to you.

Here, the artists provide insights into their creative processes and significance.

Phoenix by Adam Garey

Phoenix boldly greets you as you approach Expree’s doors. Adam Garey explains, “Four I-beams are the central elements. These were discarded parts, no longer straight or structural and pitted from years in the elements. I combined the old with newly fabricated forms to demonstrate growth and rebirth. On the side of each beam, Phoenix USA is stamped from its manufacturer. Just as a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes, so have these pieces of industrial history.”

Lexington, KY native Garey shares more about his background that shaped his approach to creating public art. “From a young age, a strong work ethic was instilled in me. Not from chastisement or reward, but from a compelling example of knowing what should be done and doing it, whatever the cost. . . My drive is not to write but to communicate visually in three dimensions. However, during my search for words, one appeared over and over: WORK. This small four-letter word expresses a great deal about my sculpture and my process.”

Look for another Garey sculpture, Deflection , on exhibit at the corner of Wapping St. and St.Clair. Learn more about Garey’s work on his website .

Drosera Maximosa by John W. Parker

Parker is a native of Grand Rapids, MI and currently lives in Glenside, PA. As a returning artist to Frankfort, his other artworks have graced the steps of Franklin county courthouse and the banks of the Kentucky River along Riverview Park trail. His work reflects aspects of the natural world that often go overlooked. He says, “This sculpture’s forms are taken from insect life: segmented, hard shelled bodies, robotic and armor coated, yet able to instantly take flight. The large scale of these otherwise small creatures comes from reality and fantasy of the prehistoric world. Steel plate is my material of choice; man made and industrial in its purchased form. I enjoy the challenge of making something animated and weightless with steel. Strong and durable, my sculptures withstand the test of time.”

Parker’s approach to public art is multi-dimensional as well. He elaborates, “Outdoor sculptures have to function in a comprehensive way as a drive-by experience, as strong and dynamic silhouettes. With further exploration for the passer-by or neighborhood resident, a deeper appreciation and enjoyment can be explored walking around, under and through the piece. Art is not an instant snapshot. It is meant to be lived with and experienced. The importance of outdoor sculpture is that one does not have to go to a museum to experience it.”

Full Circle by Andrew Arvanetes

You may recognize Arvanetes’ style from his Seeking Shelter sculpture, which was downtown in front of Stites & Harbison on West Main. He works with painted aluminum and states this about his artwork’s connection to place: “The title of this sculpture, Full Circle , refers to my recent return to my hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin, after living elsewhere for many years. The sculpture was the first piece I fabricated in that location.”

Arvanetes shares more about his process and intent, “My sculptures have always been object-oriented and narrative in nature. The interpretation of my work may not be exactly the same as the intended narrative. More importantly, the viewer should be able to feel a connection based on their own personal experiences. I attempt to achieve this connection with my audience by utilizing universal visual details. The mechanical and architectural details utilized in my work have evolved into a personal language. These details and symbols combine with the overall form to create the visual aesthetic. Because of my formal approach to fabrication, rational functionality might be expected. On the contrary, the combination of physical scale, personal references and visual details often results in a whimsical and absurd reality.”

Learn more and connect with Arvanetes through his Facebook and Instagram .

Dissident by Ben Pierce

Ben Pierce is a veteran and Missouri native. Dissident is part of a body of work that uses only 2 lines and 1 circle. He states that “the center oculus becomes a portal through which to view the world.”

Pierce explains more about his idea of using a self-imposed limit. “I create using a minimalist approach. I enjoy the challenge of using less - this forces me to focus on form and craftsmanship. I also enjoy leaving space for the viewer to think about or guess what the sculpture means to them. Another important factor in creating art is the constructive (rather than destructive) element. This has become an outlet for me to focus on diving into myself and who I am. Something I think others could benefit from.”

He states, “I have lived with depression for many years. A lot of mental illness is suffered in silence. I am choosing to use my art as a way to help others speak up. Maybe someone will hear about this or read this and feel HOPE. You are not alone!”

Like many artists, Pierce feels compelled to reach out to others who may be struggling. He hopes that this “can open a conversation for someone to encourage you to seek help or confide in someone.”

We hope this sparks your curiosity to explore the sculptures on the grounds at Expree and beyond. Thirteen more sculptures have recently been installed in the Arts Downtown exhibition. Together, Josephine Sculpture Park’s park and Art in Public Places exhibition welcome over 130,000 annual visitors to explore more than 100 public artworks along 4.5 miles of trails across Frankfort/Franklin County.

Expree Credit Union is a major supporter of Josephine Sculpture Park and the Art in Public Places Program. To learn more about any artwork on exhibit by JSP, please visit our website , josephinesculpturepark.org, to schedule a tour or come out and explore on your own.

Published December 20, 2023

Pollinators & Community Connections: Skylar Bowman's Girl Scout Gold Award Project

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 19:59:33 GMT

Skylar Bowman installs pollinator boxes at JSP as part of the Girl Scout Gold Award project

Skylar Bowman's Girl Scout Gold Award project, titled “Pollinators and Community Connections”, creates awareness and promotes education about pollinators and their habitat. Through this award project, the highest Girl Scout award, Skylar built pollinator boxes to install around the community, two of which are now at Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP). Skylar shares, "JSP has been generous to the community, and I’ve been to several of their events and wanted to give back."

Pollinators, like bees and wasps, " visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off pollen and transport pollen grains from plant to plant ," thereby pollinating crops and many other plants and helping them reproduce. Pollinator populations are declining due to many factors, including loss in feeding and nesting habitat . JSP supports pollinators by creating native plant habitat, such as in our three native flower and grass meadows. Skylar's pollinator boxes provide nesting habitat and are a source for education and inspiration. She explains, "The pollinator boxes/habitats will help the pollinators population increase and create beautiful flowers for people and other animals to benefit from them. The boxes installed at JSP could influence others to want to do the same, including in their own backyards."

Skylar also shared that building the boxes provided interactive and fun ways for others to help with the project and learn about pollinators. "During the building process, I was able to spend quality time with my brother and Grandpa. They taught me how to measure, cut, and put the boxes together," Skylar reports. The Paul Sawyier Public Library's teen advisory group helped place the nesting material in the boxes, while Skylar shared information about the importance of pollinators.

Through this project, Skylar learned about pollinators, how they are endangered, and ways to help them. She also shares, " I learned time management, communication skills, and responsibility. I learned how to measure, cut, assemble, and install pollinator boxes. Most of all, I learned others can enjoy helping me and on projects that benefit the community and how important working together can be."

Skylar recognizes the following people for supporting her Gold Award project: "Kristin Nelson at Wild Birds Unlimited was my project advisor. Melvin Weber, grandfather, and Jack Sutherland, brother, helped me build the boxes. Abigail McKinney, friend, helped me gather materials to fill the boxes. Mora Rehm, Paul Sawyer Public Library , helped coordinate the teen council meeting for us to fill the boxes and teach teens about pollinators. Deborah Black, Girl Scout of the Wilderness Road Council , advises and reviews the gold award proposals, reports, and helped me create the pollinator patch and activity sheet. Jeri Howell and Mollie Rabiner, Josephine Sculpture Park , helped me find places to install boxes at JSP and promote the project. West Sixth Farm will receive and help us find locations for three more boxes at the Frankfort farm."

Published December 14, 2023

Metamorpho-Nest Provides Vital Habitat in Winter

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 19:20:10 GMT

Metamorpho-Nest enters its winter slumber...or does it?

Although Metamorpho-Nest may appear to be sleeping in winter, it still serves a vital purpose for the ecosystem at JSP. Stems, foliage, and limbs within the plant beds and nests of this area provide cozy critter condos for a variety of wildlife during this restful season.

The nests, made up of branches of invasive honeysuckle, may be used for shelter by a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Overtime, the decaying wood will also bring insects for birds and small mammals and give nutrients back to the soil beneath. The rocks in Ditto Grove also provide hiding places and shelter for invertebrates and amphibia.

The brown color of dead foliage that would stand out as a blemish in spring and summer now provides essential shelter and food for over-wintering wildlife. Winter homes are particularly important for beneficial insects, who either overwinter themselves or use plant material to nest eggs for the following season. Beneficial insects specifically are vital to our ecosystem because many of them hatch just in time to keep aphids and other pests in check. Insects, including butterflies and moths, use dead canes from woody plants in the nests and hollowed out stems from perennials. Even the stems of smaller wildflowers and grasses are useful to insects for overwintering, in particular small stem-nesting bees.

In addition to shelter, Metamorpho-Nest provides food in winter. The seed heads of coneflower and Joe Pye Weed can remain standing tall through winter, providing continued food for year-round wildlife. The evergreen Eastern White Pine becomes a star in winter, providing both shelter for large birds such as owls and even eagles as well as providing highly nutritious seeds favored by smaller birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other animals. The deciduous trees provide shelter as well, in the form of peeling bark, hollowed out areas, and leaf debris.

When the snow falls, these plant remnants and nests offer visual and physical texture against the white blanket of winter to please the human population as well. A visit to Metamorpho-Nest this time of year provides a glimpse into the importance of a winter slumber for landscapes. Like with humans, these cycles of life are a necessary part of survival.

We live through different stages within our lives with transformations and awakenings - like the caterpillar that becomes a butterfly or moth or the plant that goes dormant and comes back for many seasons throughout many years. Soon Metamorpho-Nest will come full circle. The once newly planted and small trees will continue to develop as they emerge once again. The soil too will change overtime, as well as the nest material itself. Stay tuned for the stirrings of spring as this living sculpture comes to life once again.

About the Author : Inside Out Landscape Design

Published December 13, 2023

JSP Installs New Art for Community, Launches 7 Days of Giving

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:47:09 GMT

Kentucky’s capital city is an ever-changing exhibit of public art. Thanks to Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) and several community partners, 17 new sculptures have been installed through their Art in Public Places program for residents and visitors to explore and enjoy.

This fall, you may have seen JSP’s founding director Melanie VanHouten, park manager Mollie Rabiner, and volunteer Raychel Blackburn rotating artworks around town. Seventeen new sculptures are being installed throughout Frankfort before the end of the year, four at Expree Credit Union’s exhibition and thirteen in the Arts Downtown exhibition. Together, JSP’s park and Art in Public Places exhibition welcome over 130,000 annual visitors to explore more than 100 public artworks along 4.5 miles of trails across Frankfort/Franklin County!

You can help support JSP’s art and nature programs like Art in Public Places by donating during their 7 Days of Giving from November 28th through December 4th. Half of JSP’s budget relies on direct public support. “Donations from people like you and me allow us to provide access to free art and nature programs not only at JSP, but also with public art across the whole county,” Melanie shares, “We’re also excited and grateful to announce that longtime JSP supporters Richard and Anna Marie Rosen have very generously pledged $35,000 to match all 7 Days of Giving donations dollar for dollar!” Donations can be made online at josephinesculpturepark.org or via check mailed to Josephine Sculpture Park, 3355 Lawrenceburg Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601.

In the spirit of giving, JSP invites all visitors, donors, members, partners, and volunteers to Joy Full, a Gratitude Gathering in the JSP event barn on Sunday, December 10th from 5-8pm. “Everyone is welcome to come join the fun!” shares Jeri K. Howell, JSP Assistant Director. “We’ll have a bonfire and smores, hot cocoa bar, sweet and savory treats, fire dancing by Hearts on Fire, grooves by DJ Always, and guided stargazing with Starpointe Astronomy.” This event is free and will be a great time for the whole family. More details can be found at josephinesculpturepark.org.

Public Art in Frankfort would not be possible without the leadership of the Josephine Sculpture Park and dedication of the Franklin County Arts Council/FrankArts Jury Team. The project has received generous support from Richard and Anna Marie Rosen, City of Frankfort, National Endowment for the Arts, Expree Credit Union, Franklin County Fiscal Court, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission, Harrod Concrete & Stone, and the Kentucky Arts Council.

Published November 16, 2023

Meet JSP's Board of Directors

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:33:18 GMT

Meet the members of JSP's Board of Directors

Published November 16, 2023

For a current listing of board members, visit the About page

Josephine Sculpture Park thanks our Board of Directors for their volunteer commitment each day to governing and helping to ensure the long-term success of the organization. In addition to being general members, these individuals also serve on board committees and assist with other JSP programs and campaigns. We are proud to introduce our amazing Board of Directors.

Andrew Marsh serves as JSP's Board Chair and Executive Officer. He is an avid sculptor and owner of Lucky 7 Arts, LLC, assistant director for the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, and program officer for the Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy at the University of Louisville. Andrew is also a JSP exhibiting artist and former artist in residence. Andrew explains the roots from which JSP grows in the video below, standing with his two sculptures on exhibit at JSP, Function of Toole and Scar Garden .

Carol Baughman serves as the Secretary, Treasurer and advocacy representative. Carol is a retired librarian who dedicated her career to serving children and youth. She shares, "I am devoted to JSP because it is unique and important to our community and to the region. Its mission focus on art and the environment is critical. With the possible exception of the public library, I believe there is no other organization in Franklin County that serves such a wide range of ages, interests, and personal needs. JSP is a respite for so many, even those who only want a place to walk their dogs. There is nothing else quite like JSP."

Krystal Conway-Cunningham , otherwise known as Mrs. C-squared, is an educator with Frankfort Independent School District (FIS), artist, and co-owner of C-squared Creations 502, LLC with her wife, Tisa. Krystal enjoys bringing FIS students to JSP for field trips and advising on community and educational programming.

Emma McClellan serves on the board, providing guidance on artist programming and accessibility. She is a sculptor, JSP exhibiting artist, and occupational therapist with University of Kentucky Healthcare. Listen to what Emma works to preserve through her board membership below. In the video, Emma stands in front of her sculpture on exhibit, titled Suspended in Water or Air .

Ensuring the organization's financial sustainability is key to the board's function, as well. "JSP is a maturing organization," Carol explains, "As such, the significant thing now is its future financial security. I hope to help the board identify individuals who can and will make significant financial commitments to the park. These will ensure the existence of JSP as well as its continued growth, creativity, and contributions to the community. I want JSP to be here for the families of those children who are enjoying it today." Learn how you can support the park here .

Thank you to JSP's Board of Directors for all they do to enable our mission to connect people to each other and the land through the arts - today and for generations to come.

2023 JSP Program Report

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 20:33:46 GMT

Check out how JSP's arts and nature programs impacted our community and beyond in 2023!

Josephine Sculpture Park’s (JSP) arts and nature programs make our mission of connecting people to each other and the land through the arts come to life. JSP provides creative arts and nature education to the community and transformative opportunities to artists while conserving the beauty of Kentucky’s native, rural landscape.

Donate during JSP’s 7 Days of Giving , November 28 to December 4, to support JSP’s year round arts and nature programs in 2024. Your donations will be matched dollar for dollar by Richard and Anna Marie Rosen, who have very generously pledged $35,000 for our year-end challenge! JSP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so your donation is 100% tax deductible. Thank you!

Josephine Sculpture Park & Art in Public Places Exhibitions

Josephine Sculpture Park features over 70 artworks along 2 miles of mowed trails across 40 acres of native meadows, fields, and forests. The Park is FREE and open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. JSP is Kentucky’s only sculpture park !

More than 1,000 artists from around the globe have exhibited and/or performed at JSP since its founding in 2009, with over 40 visual artists undertaking residencies. Women and artists of color represent 55% of the works on exhibit and 65% of the resident artists . Additionally, the park supports and encourages new, diverse and underserved artists’ voices and art forms - such as graffiti and earth art - which are often created by lesser-known artists with exceptional talent. Artists in the exhibition represent 27 U.S. states and 15 countries.

Art in Public Places (AiPP) is a program of Josephine Sculpture Park. Through AiPP, JSP curates and maintains about 30 public art installations at Expree Credit Union, West Sixth Farm, and in the City of Frankfort through the “Arts Downtown” exhibition. Learn more about JSP's overall Art in Public Places Program . Learn more about the Arts Downtown exhibition at visitfrankfort.com/art .

Together , the Park and our Art in Public Places exhibitions welcome over 130,000 annual visitors , including local community members and tourists visiting Frankfort from all over the world. In 2023, JSP installed 21 new artworks , 6 at the Park and 19 through AiPP. We continue to provide free, year round access to over 100 public artworks along 4.5 miles of trails across Frankfort/Franklin County! And in 2023, we paid artists over $60,000 !

Land Conservation

Conserving the 40-acre park property and restoring its native wildlife habitat are fundamental projects for staff, volunteers, and partners. We know that connecting with nature improves the social and ecological health of our communities and inspires long term action to care for the environment.

“We come to JSP to teach [Eleanor, our 5-year-old daughter] how art and nature can coexist and how to be a responsible citizen of planet Earth.”

- Justin McDaniel

Our land management approach includes letting select areas grow naturally, introducing more native plant species, and removing invasive plant species. Example key projects include reforesting sections of the park with thousands of native tree saplings, removing invasive plant species like Callery and Bradford Pear trees, and establishing three native wildflower and grass meadows . JSP is home to more than 80 native plant species ! Explore this inventory of native and invasive plant species you can find at the park.

JSP's diverse habitat structures - a mix of meadow, young forest, and a pond - provide watering, feeding, and sheltering areas for wildlife like birds, rabbits, and deer. Native plants attract and provide food and shelter for wildlife such as butterflies and bees. The JSP Bluebird Trail hosts 11 nest boxes around the park and creates a safe nesting habitat for cavity nesting birds, like the Eastern Bluebird. In 2023, every nest box hosted a nest and 10 out of the 11 nest boxes hosted either tree swallows or eastern bluebirds. Angela Wilkins Ellis also documented a nesting flicker family’s stay at JSP this spring . Fun fact: 117 bird species have been observed at JSP ! In 2023, we have continued to accomplish this work with the help of amazing partners like Wild Birds Unlimited, Frankfort Audubon Society, Kentucky State University, and Inside Out Landscape Design.

In the future, we plan to establish a conservation easement to secure the land in perpetuity. Learn more about JSP conservation .

We believe that by increasing access to nature and providing creative experiences that cultivate visitors’ connection with nature and people , we are inspiring them to care for one another and the environment. Ultimately, we believe this work will help make the world a better place.

Volunteer Opportunities

We appreciate every volunteer at JSP. They are part of our story, our mission, and help make the organization and park what it is today. Folks volunteered over 550 hours in 2023, supporting JSP land conservation, park maintenance, and events!

"Getting to...share information on a place I adore and hold so dear to my heart makes me really excited…I'm just excited to be able to be even more a part of a place that's brought me so much joy. I hope I can help others experience the same.”

- L.B., JSP Volunteer

“...honestly volunteering with JSP is super fun.”

- Loralyn McBrayer, JSP Volunteer

Become part of the JSP family, an inclusive community of creative people that care about the arts, nature, and one another - and do something about it! Learn more about volunteer opportunities here . If you'd like to join our team of amazing volunteers, please contact us . And if you have ever volunteered with JSP or are currently engaged as a volunteer: THANK YOU!

Field Trips & Community Tours

In 2023, JSP hosted 25 field trips that engaged 750 students in arts education, environmental education, outdoor picnics, and unstructured time to play, roam the trails, and connect with nature. We welcomed students of all ages from preschools to universities from across Kentucky, like Franklin County Public Schools' Wolves Den Summer Program (Franklin Co.), Frankfort Independent Middle School (Franklin Co.), Bourbon County Middle School (Bourbon Co.), Saint Martha High School (Jefferson Co.), Lincoln County Middle and High Schools (Lincoln Co.), Bluegrass Community & Technical College (Anderson Co.), Centre College (Boyle Co.), University of Kentucky (Fayette Co.), and Kentucky State University (Franklin Co.).

“I chose JSP for this [field trip] experience because we are completing a unit on sculpture and I am excited to give the students real life experience with different forms of art. They will be keeping a journal of their responses to each of the pieces to help us kick off our unit on self- expression and discuss how people can react to the same work differently.”

- J.M., Visual Arts & Media Teacher

More than 15 community groups self-organized tours in the Park! For example, Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky Extension professionals hosted a tour at JSP during their Kentucky Master Gardeners Conference, and the Frankfort Audubon Society organized an intro to birding tour with the Capital City Activity Center. Tours provide enriching opportunities for folks of all ages. 40 percent of community tours engaged seniors in the central Kentucky community.

Music, Art, & Nature Events

This year, you all really showed up to support our music, art and nature events! These events are designed to amplify our mission and offer intergenerational opportunities to engage with the park in new ways.

This spring, we hosted 60 members at our new JSP Member Party , which featured art workshops, nature-based and exhibition tours, and sweet and savory treats for all ages. Memberships help keep the park free and open every day of the year!

This fall, we partnered with Lexington Philharmonic to host a sold-out crowd (750!) and over 50 volunteers at the 3rd annual Symphonic Stroll . This event is an immersive evening of music, art and nature during which LexPhil ensembles perform, paired with sculptures throughout the park. Symphonic Stroll also features interactive music making activities plus food and drink vendors.

This summer, over 200 attendees and sponsors garnered unprecedented support for land conservation at our annual Barn Raisin’ - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine fundraiser that featured music by The Local Honeys and premiere sponsorship, food and drinks by Chef Ouita Michel of Holly Hill.

This winter, please join us on December 10 from 5-8pm for Joy Full , a free “gratitude gathering” to thank YOU for supporting us and celebrate the coming year - our 15th anniversary! - together. At the JSP event barn, we will celebrate a wonderful year & thank fellow donors, volunteers, partners & visitors. Enjoy grooves by DJ Always, Night Sky Tour with Starpointe Astronomy, fire dancing with Hearts on Fire, hot cocoa bar & cider, bonfires & sweet treats! Free and all ages welcome.

Reflection

In 2023, our 2 5 partners made it possible to provide creative community experiences and transformational artist opportunities.

All of these accomplishments have amplified our mission to connect people with each other and the land through the arts in 2023.

We have plans to have an even greater impact with our programs in 2024, which will move us toward our vision to be a leader that respects and reflects diverse voices and ideas through shared, creative experiences and responsible land stewardship practices.

"I support all efforts to protect and enhance the landscape at JSP. Not only have sculptures bloomed upon this old farmland, native wildflowers and trees have sprouted back. They in turn provide food and cover to native birds. Your outing to the park is enriched with birdsong, bright wildflowers as well as captivating art. Please visit often and donate when you can to support this Kentucky treasure!"

- Joyce Bender, JSP Board Member

Announcing 7 Days of Giving

Half of our annual budget relies solely on direct public support, which means donors like YOU make our arts & nature programs possible and impactful. Donate during JSP’s 7 Days of Giving , November 28 to December 4, to support JSP’s year round arts and nature programs in 2024.

Your donations will be matched dollar for dollar by Richard and Anna Marie Rosen, who have very generously pledged $35,000 for our year-end challenge!

JSP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Thank you for an incredible year!

Interpretive Planning Takes Visitor Experiences to a New Level

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:37:52 GMT

JSP's Karen Lanier learns the process of interpretive planning with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI)

In September, I had the opportunity to attend a training that I’d been interested in for many years, the Process of Interpretive Planning, conducted by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) . Their definition of interpretation is “a mission-based communication process that forges emotional and intellectual connections between the interests of the audience and meanings inherent in the resource.” An interpretive plan provides an information network of opportunities for visitors to engage at different levels.

My work as a park interpreter began 25 years ago, and guiding visitors to connect with their culture and environment through meaningful experiences has been a thread throughout my career in various ways. Joining 15 other students in learning how to create an interpretive plan reinforced what I’ve been practicing and taught me new skills to apply at Josephine Sculpture Park.

The training I attended was held at Deception Pass State Park in Washington. Our teacher, David Bucy , grouped us into teams, and each focused on developing a visitor experience for a certain section of the park. My team collaborated on a plan to revamp a historic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) museum, situated along a beautiful coastline with green open space. We observed families, nature preschools, and older visitors enjoying picnics and exploring the aging museum exhibits. Our group was assigned a particular audience that our plan would serve: a family with children ages 5 and 9, from a suburban area within a few hours’ drive. This helped us direct our numerous brainstorms and daydreams into an actionable set of recommendations.

It was fun to reimagine all the possible ways a young family could enjoy the space. We played with ideas about sensory trails, augmented reality apps, and living history experiences that replicate CCC camp work, including sawing logs and building stone walls. When we came back down to reality, we addressed the limitations of a vulnerable archeological site with a small budget and few staff.

An interpretive plan is a communication tool for meeting management goals, including trip planning, wayfinding, the on-site experience, and post-visit connections. In our particular case, we addressed decreasing vandalism, increasing park entrance passes, and increasing volunteer participation. We presented the plan as a phased approach to refreshing the site with targeted strategies to coincide with the Washington CCC Centennial (2023-29).

I’m looking forward to applying the Process of Interpretive Planning techniques at JSP in the coming months, as we bring more stories to life and provide engaging ways to connect with nature and each other through the arts.

This enriching professional development opportunity was funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and through a scholarship from National Association for Interpretation.

About the Author

Karen Lanier is a teaching artist, environmental educator and nature writer who also serves as Josephine Sculpture Park’s Administrative Assistant.

Published October 12, 2023

JSP Welcomes Ann Mullins to Board of Directors

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:18:53 GMT

Ann Mullins brings experience in the arts, landscape architecture, business management, and local government to JSP Board of Directors

Ann Mullins has practiced landscape architecture for over 40 years, working throughout the country on diverse projects. She has founded and managed two design firms, Civitas and wjmdesign, working on environmentally-focused projects and historical and cultural landscapes.

As a two-term Aspen City, CO Council Member, Ann advocated for adoption of environmentally beneficial policies, specifically on water related issues, city support of Health and Human Services agencies, and support for Aspen’s Historic Preservation program.

Ann continues her work in landscape architecture, concentrating on environmental issues and cultural & historic landscapes and continues to work with the city on special projects. Josephine Sculpture Park welcomed Ann Mullins to the Board of Directors in October of 2023.

Ann joins the JSP Board of Directors as a longtime supporter and visitor, whose family has shared several special memories at the Park over the years. "I would love to be part of guiding this beautiful blending of landscape and art, which was so dear to my son, into the future," Ann shares. "Not just for the value of the art and the setting, but for the importance of the educational programs that have been developed and the awareness of our changing environment that has become part of JSP’s mission ."

"Ann has been a supporter of JSP for many years...[and] she provided the very generous lead gift to launch this [2018-2022 Capital Campaign]," reflected JSP Founding Director, Melanie VanHouten at the Grow With Us Celebration in spring 2023. "She gave me the confidence to proceed with the [10-acre] purchase as a small grassroots nonprofit. I knew that if she believed in us this much, others would too, and we were right."

Learn more about the members of JSP's Board of Directors here .

Published October 11, 2023

Public Art in Frankfort Available for Purchase

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:20:45 GMT

Last Chance to Make Public Art Your Own

Public art in Frankfort available for purchase, what you see is changing

When you take a walk or drive through downtown Frankfort you can’t help but notice incredible displays of art; large murals transform empty walls and sculptures bring vacant sidewalks to life. Did you know that many of these pieces are for sale, and that by design, the exhibit is temporary? In October, many of the sculptures that have become a treasured part of the city landscape since 2021 will leave. However, most are available for purchase through their departure dates!

The pieces for sale include C-Note by Joe Allred, Delegate by Derek Ball, Seeking Shelter by Andrew Arvanetes, Seedlings 3 by Joe Hamilton, Enigma by Kevin Lyles, Formed to Fit by Jennifer Rubin Garey, Open Heart by Matthew Duffy, and Daddylonglegs and Hairstreak by John Parker. Due to a successful fundraising campaign, the Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library is purchasing Eggcited by Kimber Fiebiger! Call Josephine Sculpture Park at 502-352-7082 with interest in purchasing a sculpture. Purchasing art helps support artists and also supports JSP, as a percentage of sales remains at JSP for continued art programming.

Sculptures that will rotate out of the Arts Downtown exhibition and are not for sale include Cultured Stone by Antoinette Schultze, All This President's Men by Scott Ross, and AR-1916 by Jonathan Forrence.

Make sure to ring the bell on the sound sculpture called C-Note, located at 300 St. Clair, one last time before it leaves in October! Beginning in November, the Arts Downtown exhibition will host all new sculptures that will remain in Frankfort until 2025. Josephine Sculpture Park manages the Arts Downtown calls for art, along with sculpture deinstallation and installation, as part of their Art in Public Places Program. This program curates and maintains public art not only for Arts Downtown, but also at Expree Credit Union and West Sixth Farm. Learn more about the Arts Downtown exhibition at visitfrankfort.com/art. Learn more about JSP’s Art in Public Places Program at josephinesculpturepark.org/exhibit-public .

Public Art in Frankfort would not be possible without the leadership of the Josephine Sculpture Park and dedication of the Franklin County Arts Council/FrankArts Jury Team. The project receives generous support from Richard and Anna Marie Rosen, City of Frankfort, National Endowment for the Arts, Expree Credit Union, Franklin County Fiscal Court, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission, Harrod Concrete & Stone, and the Kentucky Arts Council.

Download a map for Art in Public Places including images and locations of artwork that will be leaving this fall.

Published September 2023

Volunteers Bring JSP's Mission to Life

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 20:08:32 GMT

These folks regularly volunteer their time and expertise to help JSP's mission come to life.

As a nonprofit organization and public park open 365 days a year, Josephine Sculpture Park has plenty of work to share. JSP relies on volunteers year round to not only help out at large events, but also to keep the park beautiful, safe and engaging for human and more-than-human visitors throughout the year. In fact, volunteers have worked more than 500 hours at JSP so far in 2023!

We'd like to introduce and give a big, big thanks to some of the folks who volunteer at JSP monthly and weekly . They bring our mission to connect people to each other and the land through the arts alive all year by sharing their time and expertise over and over again: Billie Faye Duvall, Lee Colten, and Jenny Karem.

Billie Faye Duvall volunteers weekly as JSP's Office Assistant. But that hasn't always been her official title. She shares, "I have been a volunteer with JSP since the beginning, September 2008, before it was officially open, which entailed many duties. The park had its Grand Opening barely a year later in 2009. Since then, I

have been involved in just about every event and function in some way, either in preparation or on the

day of."

For years, Billie Faye helped coordinate the Fall Arts Festival, which flourished for 10 great years. She credits this festival as the most challenging and most rewarding project she's undertaken as a volunteer. "We would start in February with the preparation which could be chaotic and exhausting. But in the end was exhilarating."

Billie Faye continues to volunteer at JSP "first and foremost to see Melanie [JSP's Founding Director] fulfill her dream." She also loves to witness the Park's growth and to learn from and be surprised by the artworks. Billie Faye is committed to being involved in whatever way she can. "It just makes me feel good," she explains. "Every time I look at all that has been accomplished in such a short time, I’m amazed and very proud. Don’t ever underestimate a DREAM!"

Lee Colten has volunteered monthly at JSP the past few years to help with facilities and grounds projects. Lee's projects have included painting, clearing brush, repairing buildings and sculptures, planting trees, helping park cars at big events and helping set up and tear down after those events. "Probably one of the most involved projects was building a new roof on the artist trailer with one of the summer interns." Lee reflects, "It was difficult and time-consuming (over several weeks), but very satisfying."

Lee enjoys being busy in retirement. "And, if I can be busy with nice people on activities that contribute to something meaningful in the community, all the better." He also enjoys that most of his volunteer projects involve being outside in the fresh air in a "nice setting." As a bonus, Lee shares, "...it usually involves physical activity - so, it is much more fun than going to the gym for exercise."

Jenny Karem joined JSP in the summer of 2023 as a Conservation and Grounds Volunteer. "I look forward to my weekly duties at JSP, which include replenishing the facilities, emptying the trash and recycling cans, and maintaining the birdfeeders," she explains. Whenever she has some extra time, Jenny also enjoys pruning the trails, helping to remove invasive plants, and using her gardening expertise to contribute to park beautification.

As for why and how Jenny became a regular volunteer, she shares, "JSP was top on my list of organizations to apply to when I finished the Kentucky Master Naturalist Volunteer Program because it is a place that honors and blends two of my favorite things: art and nature." While Jenny knew she was passionate about the park's mission and grounds, she did not expect having so much fun using the park's utility vehicle dump feature! "I am the type of person who appreciates jobs that can be done autonomously... I'm so grateful for the opportunity [to volunteer at JSP]!"

We appreciate every volunteer at JSP. They are part of our story, our mission, and help make the organization and park what it is today. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here . If you'd like to join our team of amazing volunteers, please contact us . And if you have ever volunteered with JSP or are currently engaged as a volunteer: THANK YOU !

Published September 14, 2023

Metamorpho-Nest Transforms for a New Role

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:09:20 GMT

Plants and animals prepare for fall in Metamorpho-Nest by Andrea Wilson Mueller of Inside Out Landscape Design

Fall brings an entirely new atmosphere to Metamorpho-nest . The monarch butterflies have left and are on their journey to Mexico. The days are getting shorter and the temperatures cooler, signifying the beginning of dormancy. Some plants lose their leaves quickly when temperatures begin to cool, while others go through an entire second phase of beauty. The leaves of the Sassafras ( Sassafras albidum ) tree turn a warm orange color in fall; the Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) turns a bright yellow-orange; and, the leaves of the Black Gum ( Nyssa sylvatica ) turn red. These colors are a result of the decrease in chlorophyll and the resulting exposure of other pigments in plant leaves as the nights get longer. Some plant material, such as the Pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ) and the American Beech ( Fagus gradifolia ) produce fruit into the early fall.

Regardless of how they outwardly show it, all plants are preparing for the next season. For the wildlife that remains here through winter, this preparation is important because it is the beginning of habitat creation. What may look like dying leaves and peeling stems to humans, is the foundation of a winter home for everything from insects to birds to mammals. In addition, the invasive Japanese honeysuckle that was used to create the actual nests of the sculpture will support multiple dwellers amongst its twigs and shedding bark during the colder months. Metamorpho-Nest not only illustrates the metamorphosis or transformation of living plant material and wildlife over time, but it also illustrates the conversion of something invasive and destructive into something that provides shelter, a necessary aid to wildlife.

So as it turns from blooming showpiece to dormant slumber, Metamorpho-Nest continues to transform. Leaves that once provided shade for living creatures now transition into shelter from the cold. Soon the snow will fall and we will see an even different phase. Come witness the transformation for yourself and visit JSP to check the progress of this living sculpture. You may be surprised to see how quickly things change. Every season brings a new beginning!

About the Author : Inside Out Landscape Design

Published September 14, 2023

Lex Phil Returns to JSP for Symphonic Stroll’s Third Year

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 12:59:07 GMT

Lexington Philharmonic returns to Josephine Sculpture Park for Symphonic Stroll’s third year

Performers will include Frankfort’s own jazz great Dr. Keith McCutchen

On Saturday, September 9th from 4-8pm, Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) visitors will discover Lexington Philharmonic (LexPhil) musicians performing at sculptures across the Park’s 30 acres of trails.

Symphonic Stroll brought the two arts organizations together for the first time in 2021. “We couldn’t have been happier with the event, the crowd, or the weather. We watched visitors who’d never been to the Park before follow the music to find ensembles paired with our sculptures. It was like a dream come true,” shares Melanie VanHouten, founder and director of JSP.

This year’s event will highlight seven locations throughout the Park, such as Fly Away by Céline Browning and The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge by Heather Hart. LexPhil performances will feature oboe, flute, harp, a string quartet, and more, plus an interactive sound installation and hands-on MusicLab.

New this year, world renowned jazz pianist and Kentucky State University Associate Professor of Music, Dr. Keith McCutchen , will perform as a special guest with LexPhil’s string quartet in the event barn. Also new this year, LexPhil Music Director, Mélisse Brunet , will introduce select ensemble performances at sculptures throughout the night!

Food trucks will be onsite to provide dinner and snacks for purchase, including Amazing Gracie’s, King Gyros and Sav’s Chill, along with beverages from Pucker Up Lemonade, West Sixth Brewing and a water station provided by Frankfort Plant Board.

“The event occurs between 4-8pm with two timed entries and multiple repeat performances across the Park. This gives folks time to arrive and explore at their own pace,” shares Jeri Katherine Howell, JSP Assistant Director. “This event provides a truly unique art, nature and music experience for all ages. Symphonic Stroll has become JSP visitors’ favorite event. You don’t want to miss it!”

A limited number of tickets are available at $25 for adults, $11 for students and youth ages 17 and under, and free for children ages 10 and under. Visit josephinesculpturepark.org/events to reserve your tickets or sign up to volunteer.

This event is made possible by the support of JSP's Symphonic Stroll sponsors, Betty Barr and Don Kleier; Scott and Cindy Hampton; Harrod Concrete and Stone; Expree Credit Union; Frankfort Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites; Kentucky Monthly Magazine; John and Magdalene Stewart; Harry and Teresa Suter; and more.

Flourishing Partnerships in the Park's Meadows

karen@josephinesculpturepark.org (Karen JSP) — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 16:09:23 GMT

"The beauty of colorful wildflowers and their flying companions rewards us for our efforts, brightening our world with a sense of purpose, balance and hope."

It’s late summer at Josephine Sculpture Park, and meadows are thriving with plants at their peak, flowering, fruiting and feeding more life. This abundant life depends on multiple levels of masterful partnerships.

You can’t miss the most obvious partnership, it’s buzzing and humming all around us. Plants and their pollinators have developed incredible beneficial relationships that delight us as observers. Butterflies, bees, beetles, flies, ants, wasps and hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers that have co-evolved with their specialized friends. Being rooted in place limits a plant’s capacity to mingle with their mates. They rely on winged transportation to deliver powdery packages of genetic material to receptive members of their species.

Flowers have various and mysterious ways of attracting their allies. Notice natural flower arrangements in wild landscapes and you’ll often find complementary colors like yellow and purple, or green and red. Next to their opposite, they visually pop and grab the attention of color-seeking pollinators.

Common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) is teaming up with the wind to scatter its feather-light seeds. Spreading out the species’ chances for survival over the broader landscape will in turn support other forms of life.

Orange butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa ) provides this male monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) the fuel he needs to migrate and mate. Waystations like this are critical to the monarch's multi-generational migration to wintering grounds in Mexico. (Read more about the milkweed-monarch dance here .)

Although less obvious, the Park’s meadows wouldn’t exist today without human helpers working behind the scenes. They have fought off competition so that native grasses and flowers can thrive. Staff, volunteers and landscape crews have suppressed invasive species and woody plants in order to open up access to sunlight and prepare the soil. Landscape designers have mimicked wild arrangements, considering height, bloom time and color. Native plant nurseries have cultivated seeds. Funders have supported the Park’s conservation efforts. In a sense, our meadows are partnering with other meadows and their stewards far beyond the park’s boundaries.

The beauty of colorful wildflowers and their flying companions rewards us for our efforts, brightening our world with a sense of purpose, balance and hope. Artists share their interpretations by pairing their artworks with the landscape in a dance of shapes and light.

Around the central meadow in the Walnut Grove section, sculptures accentuate nature’s design.

Titles provides clues to the artist’s inspiration from nature, including human nature, like:

A Flowering of Time by Dave Caudill
The Conversationalist by Chakaia Booker
3 Roosters by Minnie Adkins
Rii’joo’vah’nay’shin (Rejuvenation) by Riley Fichter

Symphonic Stroll , the Park’s partnership event with Lexington Philharmonic , is a perfect example of the synergy of collaborators, an artistic flowering of harmonious art forms. You can enjoy Symphonic Stroll this year on Saturday, September 9th from 4 to 8 PM. It's an immersive evening of music, art, and nature for all ages, plus delicious food trucks, drink vendors and ice cream. Learn more and purchase your tickets here !

About the Author

Karen Lanier is a teaching artist, environmental educator and nature writer who also serves as Josephine Sculpture Park’s Administrative Assistant.

Blog published August 11, 2023

Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Educational Programs at JSP

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:48:13 GMT

Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program staff create educational resources at JSP

For several years, The Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program ( KSUCEP ) has partnered with Josephine Sculpture Park as an educational site for virtual and in-person programs and hands-on learning opportunities for KSU students.

As stated on their website , "The KSUCEP offers a broad array of educational programs related to agriculture and natural resources, community development, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H Youth Development." At JSP, KSUCEP staff have focused on sustainability and natural resource conservation projects.

This year, JSP and Kasia Bradley, Extension Associate with the Kentucky State University Forestry and Natural Resources Program, achieve a mutual goal of sharing conservation and land management learning opportunities with the public. Bradley is developing content and preparing sites for a virtual program about maintaining native tree saplings (forthcoming). Reforestation is an important part of JSP's work to provide wildlife habitat, support soil health, and increase biodiversity. Reestablishing forests also helps address noise and light pollution that disturb animal habitats. You can visit JSP to observe our native tree saplings, marked by pink tape and bamboo sticks, and how they are being managed.

Nat Colten, Community Sustainability Coordinator at Kentucky State University, used JSP as an educational site this spring to create a virtual program showing viewers how to build a rainwater capture system step-by-step (below). As stated in the video description, "Storing rainwater is a cost-effective and environmentally conscious way to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff." Be sure to check out the video description for links to extension publications that contain more detailed information about collecting rainwater for different uses. You can check out JSP's rainwater capture system in person at our event barn.

JSP is proud to partner with KSUCEP to help fulfill each of our missions and share educational programs with the public. Learn more about JSP's conservation work here . Discover our other program partners here .

Kentucky State University is "a public, comprehensive, historically black land-grant university committed to advancing the Commonwealth of Kentucky, enhancing society, and impacting individuals by providing quality teaching with a foundation in liberal studies, scholarly research, and public service to enable productive lives within the diverse global economy."

Blog published August 10, 2023

JSP joins Kentucky Green Schools Community Partners

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:29:14 GMT

JSP is a Kentucky Green Schools Community Partner

Josephine Sculpture Park was proud to be invited to join the Kentucky Green Schools (KGS) program as a community partner.

According to the KGS website , the program is "designed to inspire students to develop environmentally friendly behavior and to feel empowered to take active steps toward creating a greener and healthier world—starting with their local environment at school."

As a KGS community partner, JSP offers support, resources, and experiences to the network of Kentucky Green Schools. (Learn how your students' school can become a Kentucky Green School here .)

Specifically, JSP offers unique school field trip experiences that blend arts and environmental education. Arts-based environmental education activities are a fantastic way to enhance individuals’ environmental literacy and connection with nature, helping to inspire a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.

Our incredible staff of professional artists and educators are available to lead your school field trip on a guided tour of the park or customize an activity, such as nature-based art or service learning. Guided field trips can be aligned with Kentucky’s Academic Standards (Science, Arts and Humanities, Language Arts, and Math).

JSP hosts about 500 students each year through school field trips and would love to reach more students! Explore JSP's guided and self-guided field trip options , and submit a field trip request form here . We also offer free activity downloads on our website for all visitors to enjoy, including sculpture coloring sheets, a nature journaling worksheet and an art scavenger hunt.

JSP's partnership with the Kentucky Green Schools program exemplifies our shared commitment to work with our local communities to inspire action that helps makes the world a better place for all.

KGS is a joint program of the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education ( KAEE ) and the Kentucky Environmental Education Council ( KEEC ). JSP is a proud member of KAEE.

Blog published August 10, 2023

Make Your Mark on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE by Peyton Scott Russell

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:27:01 GMT

Make your mark on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE by Peyton Scott Russell

GRAPHOLOGYHENGE is a site-specific earthwork and sculptural installation at Josephine Sculpture Park by artist Peyton Scott Russell (Minneapolis, MN). “Graphology is the study of lettering, typography, and hand writing that captures a personal identity,” shares Russell, and “-henge” alludes to "a large circle of earth, stone, or wood that encloses a space of special importance." Together, GRAPHOLOGYHENGE is a sanctuary and safe space for graffiti art. It's a circle that invites people to make a personal mark or signature, write or paint a message, and leave evidence that you were there to visit.

Located in the Walnut Grove in the southwestern corner of the park, brightly painted walls emerge from the rolling hillside, contrasted against a natural backdrop of young forest and bushes. Visitors are invited to paint on the walls of GRAPHPOLOGYHENGE anytime during park hours, daily from dawn to dusk. Visitors should bring their own paint (spray paint, paint pens or permanent markers) and plan to take their waste with them.

Russell built GRAPHOLOGYHENGE as a JSP Artist in Residence in 2018 with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and several local businesses including Lee Brick and Block, Harrod Concrete and Stone, VanHouten Builders, John Fehsal Excavating and Cunningham Masonry.

In 2019, Russell returned to JSP as an Artist in Residence to teach SPRAYFiNGER, a weeklong graffiti camp for youth. Campers learned about the history and art of lettering and graffiti, designed their own tags, and painted on the sculpture’s walls. Russell brought in graffiti legend, TKID , as a guest artist. Russell and TKID hosted a culminating Paint Jam at GRAPHOLOGYHENGE, at which regional graffiti crews, campers, and the public made their mark and celebrated creating together with food and music.

On Russell’s website he writes: “Much of my youth and early adult years as an artist were spent trying to express an interest and love for a genre largely seen as glorified vandalism. A genre in which I have thrived and continued to succeed. My current arts organization, SPRAYFiNGER®, is dedicated to graffiti arts education. Through SPRAYFiNGER® and my personal artistic practice, my mission is to increase awareness and deepen the understanding of graffiti as a teachable fine art.”

Visitors contribute images and words to this artwork almost daily. JSP does not monitor or censor the content, and visitors’ views do not represent those of JSP. Please note that some content may not be suitable for all ages.

“This is a safe place for every person in the community to express themselves through creative lettering, painting images, writing on the wall with a sharpie…it is a place for community,” JSP Founding Director Melanie VanHouten shares. The Park has seen an increase in visitors thanks to the piece, not only from artists who come out to paint, but also from the general public who just want to see the piece. VanHouten explains, “Every week, it’s gonna be different. It’s been a tremendous asset to the park.”

Plan your visit Josephine Sculpture Park, and make your mark on GRAPHOLOGYHENGE by Peyton Scott Russell!

New Mural Announced for Downtown Frankfort: “Better Together” to be painted on VFW Post 4075 building

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 15:17:09 GMT

New Mural Announced for Downtown Frankfort: “Better Together” to be painted on VFW Post 4075 building

The Arts Downtown public art exhibition is growing. Folks will soon see a new mural materialize on the building of the VFW Post 4075 on Second St.

Josephine Sculpture Park conducted a national call for a new public mural, resulting in 65 artists from the U.S. and beyond submitting their qualifications for consideration. After a juried selection process and collaboration with VFW Post 4075 members, artist Mauricio Ramirez was selected.

Ramirez is a visual artist creating contemporary murals, commercial and fine art throughout the United States. Ramirez creates artwork that crosses borders and boundaries. His murals take on the voice and character of the neighborhoods they adorn, often with nods to culture and iconic figures and a focus on diversity.

Ramirez states, “As an artist, I hope to lead by example, by creating images that not only remind communities of their strengths but inspire them to enhance their own cultural beauty that is both embedded in the past and the future.”

The mural will reflect diversity, equity and inclusion and celebrate local history, specifically the 1964 March on Frankfort as well as the role that veterans played in the national civil rights movement. On March 5, 1964, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson (who served in the U.S. Army during WWII), and many of Kentucky's civil rights leaders marched with an estimated 10,000 people down Capital Avenue to peacefully demonstrate against segregation and discrimination. The march helped the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act in 1966 that made discrimination illegal in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The artist and VFW members were inspired by stories of several Kentucky veterans including Anna Mack Clarke, born in Lawrenceburg, and Whitney Young from Shelby County. Both attended Kentucky State University in Frankfort. Clarke helped end segregation and discriminatory practices at the base where she served. Young's work was considered instrumental in breaking down the barriers of segregation and inequality that held back African Americans.

The role that veterans played in the civil rights movement and the fact that the VFW Post 4075 building was on the March on Frankfort route make the VFW wall a perfect location for a mural with this subject matter.

On Wednesday, July 26, stop by anytime between 12 to 4pm to meet Ramirez, watch the creation process, and pick up a paintbrush to fill in a section. No painting experience is required, and all ages are welcome.

Artist Mauricio Ramirez is painting a new mural at the VFW Post 4075! Stop by

This mural is commissioned artwork by the City of Frankfort in partnership with the Josephine Sculpture Park, with federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

If you would like more information about this program, or if you would like to make a donation to support public art projects in Frankfort, please visit josephinesculpturepark.org/exhibits-public .

Guest Blog: Discovering a Northern Flicker Pair at JSP by Angela Wilkins Ellis

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 21:00:52 GMT

Angela Wilkins Ellis documents a Northern Flicker Pair at Josephine Sculpture Park from May 21 to June 23, 2023

Written and photographed by Angela Wilkins Ellis

I was enjoying a lazy late May Sunday afternoon on my back porch but feeling a little guilty

for not getting out and making use of my new camera lens. I motivated myself to grab my

camera and search for some local wildlife photography opportunities.

I knew that Josephine Sculpture Park had a bluebird trail and I was hoping to find some

bluebirds or tree swallows to photograph. We first explored the west side of the park with no

success. We were crossing the driveway to the explore the east side of the park when my

husband saw a Northern Flicker land in a tree. We spent a few minutes watching him and

saw him fly into a cavity in the tree. We spent the rest of the evening watching Mr. Flicker.

The males have a “mustache” on both sides of their beaks below their eyes. I was so

excited and knew I would spend the next few weeks on Flicker watch.

The yellow shafted Northern Flicker is a medium sized woodpecker with bright yellow on the

underside of the wings and tail that can be seen during flight. They are found in semi-open

areas. Unlike other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker is often seen on the ground digging

into the soil for ants, grubs and other insects. They also eat small fruits and berries. Like

other woodpeckers, they nest in cavities spending 1-2 weeks preparing a nest then

incubating their eggs for 11-12 days. They feed their young by regurgitation and the chicks

fledge about 4 weeks after hatching.

I could not wait to get back to JSP the next day after work. After waiting a few minutes I

was rewarded by meeting Mrs. Flicker. She was very shy but equally as beautiful as Mr. The

only difference in her appearance is the absence of the mustache. I spent the next 3 weeks

watching this pair come and go taking care of their family. I even got to see and photograph

them trading places. The nest was never left unattended by one of the parents for the first

couple of weeks. I had no idea if there were eggs or young chicks in the nest. I so wanted

to see what was going on inside of that tree!

I spent the next couple of weeks going back every two to three days. There was lots of

waiting, watching and wondering. It was usually about 30-45 minutes before the male and

female would trade places.

I also got a few chances to capture some in flight action…

… and lots of close up opportunities.

Finally, evidence of live chicks when I caught mom changing a diaper (removing a fecal sac

from the nest). And also witnessed dad doing his part!

By now, mom and dad were both spending more and more time away from the nest at the

same time. I could see them bobbing their heads into the cavity feeding the chicks. They

both worked so hard!

Tuesday June 13 was a very windy day. I went to check on the flicker family and saw dad fly

into the nest. I did not stay long as the conditions were not conducive to photography. I had

not yet seen or heard chicks and figured I had a few more days before I might start seeing

them. I wondered how many there were. I read that the chicks would become very noisy and

demanding as they got older. I made it back to the park two days later and watched and

waited for two hours. I was hoping I just lost focus and missed the parents coming and

going. It was the same the next night.

Sadly, that windy Tuesday was the last time I saw one of the flicker parents. I so wanted to

see and photograph those chicks with their heads poking out of the hole in that old tree. I

really hope I just missed them fledging. So many unanswered questions. This was such an

incredible experience! I will be back next spring in search of another flicker nest now that I

know Josephine Sculpture Park has such wonderful habitat for these amazing birds.

Artist Heather Hart builds community one porch at a time

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:38:17 GMT

Artist Heather Hart builds community one porch at a time

A new sculpture has emerged from the landscape of Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP.) At first glance it might seem at home in your own backyard. Heather Hart’s Porch Projects take a familiar and inviting space and transform it into a stylized meeting ground, a platform for community interaction and change.

Mollie Rabiner, JSP Park Manager, helped coordinate the installation of this new sculpture and shares, “We’re so grateful for our Premiere Sponsor, 84 Lumber. A project of this magnitude requires a LOT of materials, and this piece would not have been possible without this generous support.”

Hart, who was born in Seattle, Washington and resides in Brooklyn, New York has shared her artwork across the country in over a dozen states. As Hart elaborates on her website , “My work explores nostalgic futurism, amalgams of distorted traditions and symbols, handed down and mashed-up to fit our prospective needs. This work is not meant to be preserved in a vacuum, or off limits behind velvet ropes, Each piece is meant to expand with public programming and viewer activation.”

The design of her porch-like structure is based on principles of sacred geometry and Dunbar’s Number, the ideal number of people to have at the table to maintain a cohesive conversation being five. The structure itself consists of five five-sided porches that are connected, each containing a five-sided table to encourage interaction. It is also inspired by important events in the Civil Rights Movement, including the 1960 Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins and the 1979 Greensboro Massacre.

After much research and a visit to Frankfort to learn about our history, Hart determined the specificity that this porch would hold. The Porch Project at JSP is subtitled Take it to the Bridge , and includes bridge access from the main parking lot, acknowledging Frankfort’s history connected to the Singing (or swinging) Bridge.

The Singing Bridge is the site of at least two verified lynchings in Franklin county. The Frankfort-based social justice group, Focus on Race Relations and the Equal Justice Initiative placed a historic marker by the bridge in 2022 in memory of the Marshall Boston and John Maxey, two Frankfort men that were lynched. In addition, JSP and the City of Frankfort commissioned a permanent sculptural bench that was installed in March 2023, creating a space by the Singing Bridge for truth-telling and reflection about racial terrorism and its legacy.

About this sculpture, Hart shares: " Take it to the Bridge is inspired by the idea of a bridge as a space of possibility. It literally traverses liminal space and acts as the connective tissue between my territory and yours. A bridge is also a space that has been historically violently interrupted with the torture of Black people. This sculpture holds all the joy and possibility of what is in front of you and aches of a past we can never forget."

Hart’s intentions are to connect people through shared histories that are sometimes difficult to speak about. Her works create a space and place to communicate and share ideas and perspectives. Her installations also host a variety of community events, from dance performances to speed dating. “This space is open to our community, for you to decide how you want to use it. We hope to see people using it in creative ways,” shares Melanie VanHouten, JSP Founding Director, “The artist wants people to feel safe in a familiar space, but also to challenge each other, to explore our individual and collective identities and communities.”

The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge was completed in Spring of 2023 and now it is up to the community to continue transforming the piece. “We hope The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge will become a community gathering place and will serve as a catalyst for social change, community conversations, and personal transformation,” says JSP Assistant Director, Jeri Katherine Howell. “Please come get to know the sculpture and make it your own. So far, visitors have used the sculpture as a unique lunch spot, an outdoor classroom, a team meeting space, an accessible birding location, a shady space for reading and meditation, and even a concert stage during 2022’s Symphonic Stroll with the Lexington Philharmonic!”

The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge at JSP is made possible through a very generous sponsorship from 84 Lumber and grants from the Onassis Foundation USA, the National Endowment for the Arts, HSG Foundation through the Blue Grass Community Foundation, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Snowy Owl Foundation, and Fund for the Arts in partnership with LG&E and KU Foundation. Additional support was provided by Expree Credit Union and advisory board members Art VanHouten of VanHouten Builders and Kristofer Nonn. Special thanks to Marshall and Company, Lee Colten, and Don Stosberg.

Call for Outdoor Public Art due August 21, 2023

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:18:17 GMT

JSP seeks applicants for contemporary, outdoor public artworks - due August 21, 2023

In partnership with the City of Frankfort, Josephine Sculpture Park seeks contemporary public artworks for a 2 year outdoor Arts Downtown exhibit in public spaces in the historic downtown Frankfort, Kentucky area. Artwork should be physically and thematically suitable for exhibition in the outdoors, in both city spaces/sidewalks as well as in public parks and walking trails.

We encourage proposals that show creativity as well as a broad range of appeal to the general public. We look for works that capture attention and engage the public. We encourage artwork that is vibrant/colorful, whimsical, kinetic, eye-catching, sound-making and/or physically interactive in some way, including art that you can sit on, climb into, photograph yourself inside, etc.

Arts Downtown is a juried exhibition that is part of JSP's Art in Public Places program . Arts Downtown is curated by JSP in collaboration with the City of Frankfort and Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist Commission.

Submissions are due August 21, 2023. Review the full call for art and apply here .

Request for Proposal (RFP) for Program Evaluation Services due August 31, 2023

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:32:10 GMT

JSP seeks services to evaluate the Artist in Residence (AiR) program - Proposals due August 31, 2023

Throughout 2023, Josephine Sculpture Park has been assessing our programs and organizational capacity. JSP is pleased to announce a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Program Evaluation Services to conduct a full systematic review of our Artist in Residence (AiR) program .

This external program evaluation will focus on program implementation; performance; processes; facilities; staff capacity; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility; impact on artist and community; as well as strategic planning for long-term program goals. JSP seeks a consultant that has successful experience in helping similar organizations with their evaluation work.

JSP expects that the results will highlight program and process methods for improvement as well as basic equipment, facility, safety, and accessibility improvements. The results will help JSP staff and board to make informed decisions about program changes to be implemented in 2024 and beyond that will result in a strengthened AiR program that is sustainable and effective for years to come.

Proposals are due by 11:59 PM (EDT) on August 31, 2023.

Access the full Request for Proposal here .

JSP Welcomes Tad Myre to Board of Directors

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:29:14 GMT

Josephine Sculpture Park welcomed Theodore T. Myre, Jr. ("Tad") to the Board of Directors in June of 2023. Tad began practicing law in 1983 with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. His areas of expertise are health law and nonprofit corporation/tax exemption law.

Tad shares, "I know that the park has a great reputation and provides a unique artistic benefit to the community and beyond and also gets people to get outside and explore nature as well as get some exercise." During his term, Tad looks forward to broadening his horizons and "producing the satisfaction of helping a good organization."

Tad also serves as a board member for the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Portland Museum, ZeroV (formerly Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence) and Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Tad and his wife, Nancie, have been married for 31 years and have three children, Charlie, Rachel and Peter. He enjoys reading, long walks, podcasts, listening to movies, and travel by auto. Tad was born in Rochester, Minnesota, grew up in Paducah, Kentucky and is now based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Learn more about who serves on the JSP Board of Directors here .

Summer’s awakening at Metamorpho-Nest

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 13:50:45 GMT

Summer awakens at Metamorpho-Nest by Andrea Wilson Mueller and Inside Out Landscape Design

Have you visited the newest landscape addition to JSP recently? Metamorpho-Nest by Andrea Wilson Mueller and Inside Out Landscape Design is located near the amphitheater. Though still relatively young, the plant material within Metamorpho-Nest is quickly developing along with the seasonal changes. In particular, the red corn poppies in May and June were fantastic! It may take several seasons for the bulk of the plant material to fully develop to the point of producing blooms and fruit. The overall shapes of the trees and shrubs will transform over time and even the bark of the trees will change with maturity.

By now, most plants in our area are fully leafed out and spring bloomers are already beyond their flowering stage. The nights have been getting progressively shorter, signaling some plants to “wake up” and perform for the current season. In our area, the longest day of the year (shortest night) was June 21. Summer-blooming trees like the black gum (Nyssa sylvatica ) are developing buds. Spring bloomers like the serviceberry ( Amelanchier canadensis ) are now providing fruit for birds and other wildlife. The bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parviflora ), wild bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa ), black-eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia ), butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ), Joe Pye Weed ( Eutrochium purpureum ), boneset ( Eupatorium perfoliatum ) and others are producing blooms that are enjoyed by a range of pollinators. Mother Nature has quite a job of coordinating plant material with pollinator arrival. Nothing in nature is by chance.

In particular, common milkweed is beginning to bloom and adult monarchs have already begun to lay eggs on the plant, ensuring their offspring have food to eat as they develop. The monarchs that are laying eggs do not live here year-round; they come to Kentucky after overwintering in Mexico and areas of the United States south of us. Keep your eye out for them throughout the park. Although the common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) may not be developed enough yet to bloom at Metamorpho-Nest , there are other examples of the plant throughout the fields (such as the butterfly weed , Asclepias tuberosa , pictured above with a monarch caterpillar). Look closely for tiny white or cream colored eggs on the bottom sides of the leaves, but do not touch! Caterpillars will emerge from these eggs, then feed on the milkweed. Eventually, these caterpillars will develop into butterflies. From tiny egg to beautiful monarch, the entire process takes only around a month. In addition to monarchs, keep an eye out for zebra swallowtail and tiger swallowtail butterflies. You may see hummingbirds too!

When you visit be sure to take advantage of the QR Code on the sign. It will take you to a website with more details on the living sculpture, including a list of all of the plants that are included in the design. You can also find the information here: https://kentuckylandscapedesign.com/jsp/ . As its name implies, Metamorpho-Nest will change with each season and year of growth. Stay tuned and visit often to see how it develops as a literal living sculpture.

Experience conservation, culture, and cuisine at Barn Raisin’ this June

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:25:18 GMT

Josephine Sculpture Park invites you to experience an incredible concert by Kentucky folk band, The Local Honeys, and delicious dinner by Chef Ouita Michel of Holly Hill in their historic tobacco barn on Sunday, June 11th from 4-8pm. This year’s Barn Raisin’ fundraiser will support JSP land conservation.

Established in 2009, Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) is a non-profit, donor-supported park. JSP seeks to connect people to each other and the land through the arts. The Park’s 70+ artworks, primarily large-scale sculptures, environmental installations and graffiti murals, are strategically placed along 2 miles of mowed trails that wind throughout the 30-acre rolling terrain of native meadows, young forests and fields.

This year, Barn Raisin' will feature an intimate dinner by Chef Ouita Michel of Holly Hill & Co in the Park’s newly restored historic tobacco barn. Ouita’s eateries in Midway, Versailles, and Lexington proudly serve Kentucky-grown meats, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.

After dinner, attendees will be treated by a concert from The Local Honeys (Linda Jean Stokely and Montana Hobbs). For almost a decade, they have been an integral part of the Kentucky musicscape, and have toured with Tyler Childers and Colter Wall. They have been recognized as defining voices of a new Appalachia, as their website proclaims, “Kentucky runs through their veins like an unbridled racehorse.”

Throughout the evening, attendees will enjoy cash bars by Holly Hill and West Sixth Brewing and bid on uniquely Kentucky auction items.

This unprecedented concert and dining experience will sell out with only 200 tickets available. Purchase tickets and learn more at josephinesculpturepark.org/events.

Thank you to our Barn Raisin’ sponsors: Betty Barr and Don Kleier, Chenault & Hoge Insurance, Rick and Billie Faye Duvall, Expree Credit Union, Harrod Concrete and Stone Co., Holly Hill & Co., Investors Heritage, Chris Schimmoeller and Joel Dufour, Stewart Home & School, and Harry and Teresa Suter.

Josephine Sculpture Park is located at 3355 Lawrenceburg Road in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Park is free and open from dawn to dusk every day of the year.

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Contact: Jill Malusky, JSP Marketing Manager marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org

JSP Receives Award from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts

Mon, 15 May 2023 12:10:42 GMT

The second iteration of the artist-led grant program awards $1.23 million to 55 arts and cultural organizations across the nation

JSP is honored to be a recipient of an Artist Choice award from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts. Stemming from the generous bequest from Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, Ruth Arts launched last June with the first iteration of Artist Choice to honor Kohler’s lifelong and groundbreaking models of artist support and community-building across the country.

This year’s cohort of Artist Choice recipients spans 41 cities in 26 states. Artist Choice is designed to center artists in the grantmaking process, aligned with Ruth Arts’ mission and reflecting their belief in the integral role artists play in their communities. The 2023 selection process was informed by the recommendation of 53 esteemed artists across various disciplines and geographic locations, acknowledging the artistic excellence of organizations that have inspired their own practice and communities.

Learn more about Ruth Foundation for the Arts .

Listen to the Thrasher

Fri, 12 May 2023 19:21:23 GMT

Following her brief encounters at the Grandmother Tree, Karen Lanier wondered, "What could I learn by really listening to the brown thrasher?"

My almost-daily practice of observing birds for a few minutes, during a lunch break or a slow walk through the park, rewards me with something new every day. An odd character that caught my attention might seem ordinary to some observers, and looks like a mix between a robin and a mockingbird. The brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, is not quite as common as either of these. The genus name Toxostoma means arched or bowed mouth. The species name rufum refers to the reddish color of this noisy bird. Noisy, for a few reasons: thrashing, smacking and singing.

I first heard it thrashing. Its long, curved bill sweeps and probes in the shady undergrowth, searching through dead leaf litter. Next, I noticed its rusty-hued, long wings and tail, and the drop-shaped spots scattered on its chest. It had a proud look for a ground scrounger.

Later, I heard it again, and found the brown thrasher in a more dignified posture. This time, a noise was coming from above, surrounding me with smacking sounds as I walked close to the chinquapin oak affectionately known as “The Grandmother Tree.” I braced myself against the nearby Heart Bench sculpture (by Kate Clark ). From there, I hoped to give the bird enough space, as I leaned back and zoomed in with my binoculars. I wasn’t sure if it was sending me a warning call or alerting its companions of my presence. Pretty soon, I noticed a second thrasher in the tree too, holding a small prize delicately but firmly in its beak. Maybe a beetle, or a caterpillar, or a moth?

It could have been any of these. Oaks host a multitude of life forms. The nature writer Doug Tallamy, who promotes creating a widespread “homegrown national park” – wildlife habitats nurtured by everyone in their backyards – has declared oak trees to be the most important plants in North America . Its leaves are the food source for hundreds, maybe thousands, of caterpillars – nature’s best bird baby food, soft and squishy and full of protein.

The realization that I might be causing a hungry bird couple some distress motivated me to move along and leave them in peace. If they are a mated pair, they will build their nest together and share all parental duties equally. They seemed to be kissing me goodbye with the smacking that followed me down the trail.

Recalling the first sight of the thrasher in the thicket, it has a mockingbird’s silhouette, and they are in the same family of mimics. No wonder its song was hard to identify, as I probably had heard it singing and assumed I was listening to its cousin. But the brown thrasher holds the record for the richest and most complex repertoire in North America. Sources report between 1,100 and 2,000 different thrasher songs and sounds. How can we tell the difference between a thrasher’s song and a mockingbird’s? It’s in the rhythm. Mockingbirds generally repeat a phrase 3 or more times, while thrashers repeat it just twice. Here’s an example of what their songs can sound like: “plant a seed, plant a seed, bury it, bury it, cover it up, cover it up, let it grow, let it grow, pull it up, pull it up, eat it, eat it.” ( Listen to the brown thrasher's song albums here .)

Following my brief encounters, I wondered, other than puzzling over their complicated songs, what could I learn by really listening to the brown thrasher?

My first clue, hearing them foraging for food on the forest floor, opens up a world of ecological connections between this bird and land conservation here at JSP. Thrashers are omnivores and some of their biggest meals include grubs, worms, beetles, and other soil-dwelling bugs. Among the insects they eat, some are considered destructive if their populations aren’t kept under control, including army and tent caterpillars, cut worms, gypsy moth caterpillars, and grasshoppers.

Thrashers also depend on the protection of bushes and shrubs, dense thickets and thorny brambles, which is part of the reason I’m not familiar with this bird. Modern landscaping hasn’t shown much love for anything that’s not grass, a flower or a tree. Most backyards aren’t built out of thorns, and thrashers aren’t likely to show up at a bird feeder. But reforestation and regenerative landscaping includes all layers. Some of the thorniest plants also provide this bird’s (and probably everyone’s) favorite summertime food - berries. Thrashers feast on everything from blackberries to holly.

Brown thrashers may not be the most famous birds promoting the conservation of diverse forests, but they can teach us not to overlook the beauty of life in the shadows. Little is known about their mating habits because of their secluded and inaccessible (to humans) habitat. Will the pair I saw in the oak tree still be together this time next year? Hopefully we’ll have even more diverse forest understory to help them thrive, and we’ll be listening for their thrashing, smacking and melodies.

About the Author

Karen Lanier is a teaching artist, environmental educator and nature writer who also serves as Josephine Sculpture Park’s Administrative Assistant.

Public Invited to Celebrate Growth of Josephine Sculpture Park

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Mon, 08 May 2023 16:06:57 GMT

Growth is exciting, and sometimes challenging, but it brings new opportunities. Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) will be celebrating the culmination of several years of growth, thanks to the support of many donors, at the Grow With Us Celebration on Wednesday, May 24th from 5-7pm. The celebration is open to the public and we hope to see you there!

This event will begin at the amphitheater near one of our newest additions to the JSP landscape, Metamorpho-Nest , by Andrea Wilson Mueller of Inside Out Landscape Design. This sculptural landscape installation reimagined the natural area surrounding the amphitheater, repurposing the invasive bush honeysuckle into oversized nests, inviting visitors to explore within. Several volunteer events were held throughout 2022 in partnership with Kentucky State University and Remove Invasives Partnership of Franklin County, inviting community members to help remove and repurpose natural materials for the installation.

The event will culminate at the historic tobacco barn to debut a new sculpture, From a Tiny Seed , by Matthew and Karine Maynard of Maynard Studios and enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. The sculpture is dedicated to the generous donors to the JSP Capital Campaign who donated $1,000 or more. JSP’s Capital Campaign began in 2018 with the goal to secure 10 acres of land adjacent to the Park, and to re-imagine the historic tobacco barn as an event venue. In 2022, this goal was achieved. In addition, Art and Beverly VanHouten gifted an adjacent 10 acres of land, known as the Firefly Forest. “We’re so proud to celebrate the support of our donors, and excited for what the future holds for JSP,” shares founding director Melanie VanHouten, “This is just the beginning!”

We hope to see you at the event ! Learn more about Grow With Us , and how to support Josephine Sculpture Park, by becoming a member or making a donation at josephinesculpturepark.org.

Artist Heather Hart builds community one porch at a time

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:06:41 GMT

Heather Hart’s Porch Projects are a platform for community interaction and change

A new sculpture has emerged from the landscape of Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP), and at first glance, it might seem at home in your own backyard. Heather Hart’s Porch Projects take a familiar and inviting space and transform them into a stylized meeting ground, a platform for community interaction and change. In each location across the United States, a specificity to place also emerges through her research of local histories that are integrated into the overall layout.

The design of her porch-like structure is based on principles of sacred geometry and Dunbar’s Number, the ideal number of people to have at the table to maintain a cohesive conversation being five. The structure itself consists of five five-sided porches that are connected, each containing a five-sided table to encourage interaction. One of the tables is built to be wheelchair-accessible.

It is also inspired by important events in the Civil Rights Movement, including the 1960 Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins and the 1979 Greensboro Massacre. The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge at JSP includes a wheelchair-accessible bridge that references the lynchings that occurred from the Singing Bridge in downtown Frankfort in the early 1900s.

Hart’s intentions are to connect people through shared histories that are sometimes difficult to speak about. Her works create a space and place to communicate and share ideas and perspectives. Her installations also host a variety of community events, from dance performances to speed dating. “This space is open to our community, for you to decide how you want to use it. We hope to see people using it in creative ways,” shares Melanie VanHouten, JSP Founding Director. “The artist wants people to feel safe in a familiar space, but also to challenge each other, to explore our individual and collective identities and communities.” JSP hopes The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge will become a community gathering place and will serve as a catalyst for social change, community conversations, and personal transformation.

Families Invite You to Explore JSP

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:53:45 GMT

The McDaniels and Duffs invite you and your family to join us at JSP this spring!

“We come to JSP to teach her how art and nature can coexist and how to be a responsible citizen of planet Earth.” Say hello to the McDaniel family, including 5-year-old Eleanor, who’s been coming to JSP her whole life!

“I love that you’re able to touch and experience the sculptures,” shares Reighn Duff, with her family Doug, Miles, and Vincent, who have been coming to the Park for over 10 years!

Plan your visit to Josephine Sculpture Park today, and check out our upcoming events !

JSP Partners with Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 18:41:59 GMT

Check out JSP's lending library on your next visit!

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) has partnered with Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library (PSPL) to provide free, gently used books to visitors at the Park's lending library. The lending library is located on the front porch of JSP's Visitors Center. Visitors are welcome to browse the mix of books donated by Friends of PSPL, recent arts and culture magazines provided by JSP, and media that visitors donate to the library for others - following the motto "take a book, leave a book."

Thanks to this new partnership with Friends of PSPL, the Park's lending library will be fully stocked year round for your literary enrichment. Next time you visit JSP, pop up to the lending library, pick out a book of interest, and relax and read at one of our 14 outdoor tables or even on/in a sculpture!

The Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library is 501(c)3 non-profit organization composed of a group of community volunteers committed to supporting the library through fundraising, sponsoring library programs, and enhancing public awareness of the library and its services. Learn more about Paul Sawyier Public Library 's incredible services today.

Meandering Paths in the Springtime

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 18:24:10 GMT

Karen Lanier takes us through the Park's meandering paths in early spring.

Springtime brings transition, in big and small ways. It’s a time of contrasts and surprising resilience. Everywhere I look at the Park, life is emerging, despite paralyzing cold-snaps, torrential downpours, and extreme winds whipping through.

Yet while new energy surges forward this season, I tend to reflect on my journey each spring. Last April, I joined the Park’s team as a staff member. Ten Aprils before that, I moved to Kentucky from Colorado, leaving a harsh mountain snowstorm and arriving in a blossoming green paradise.

On this early spring morning, I stroll along the Park’s dewy paths and ponder my personal milestones, what has shifted in my life, in the communities that I am part of, and in the world. Even though this morning is calm, I expect to find damage from howling 40 mph winds the night before. Amazingly, most of the Park is intact. Sturdy sculptures designed for outdoor conditions are still standing. Well-established trees with deep roots have held their ground. Tall native grasses bent elegantly but didn’t break.

As I move through Metamorpho-nest by Andrea Wilson Mueller , sculpted rooms shaped out of repurposed invasive honeysuckle, I’m aware of the typical reminders of spring like bird songs and budding flowers. But my attention is drawn down to the ground itself. A soft springiness cushions my feet. It feels like a saturated sponge that absorbed last night’s thunderstorm. As I refocus my gaze to the complexity of life at my feet, neon green moss jumps out and demands that I bow down and admire it.

Moving on toward the large metal sculpture behind the nests, the ground firms up and I notice peaks and valleys. The miniature rocky mountains, part of Andrew Marsh’s Scar Garden , hold unexpected opportunities for life to thrive. This sculpted landscape provides the rich resource of edges, prime real estate for funnel weaver spiders . The uneven surfaces give the spiders plenty of places to anchor their fine webs and protect them from human foot traffic. Hidden from view at the bottom of their funnels, the spider sits and waits for an ant or other small prey to tickle their sensitive silk threads, then quickly captures their meal. They don’t even have to go out for water, as their hammock-like webs collect droplets. It surprises me that something so delicate survived the storms. These ingenious creatures get food, water, shelter and space. To me, it seems they’ve got life figured out.

The idea of edges leads me down more meandering, yet connected paths. Edges can be very ecologically beneficial. Where two different ecosystems meet, more biodiversity is often found. Animals that hunt in a meadow can retreat to a forest nearby for shelter and shade, for example. And creativity thrives on the edge, finding inspiration from life in all its forms. At Josephine Sculpture Park, where art meets the earth, the intersection of diverse interests provides multiple points of entry for visual artists, musicians, children, birders, walkers, and art-lovers of all ages and abilities. Best of all, the Park provides the perfect habitat for anyone seeking space to wander down paths, just to see where they lead.

Above: KY Fire-Chicken by Sean Lofton

About the Author

Karen Lanier is a teaching artist, environmental educator and nature writer who also serves as Josephine Sculpture Park’s Administrative Assistant.

Guest Blog: A Guide to Birding at JSP by Gary Sprandel

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:54:44 GMT

Sculpture: If the Spirit is Willing by Mike McCarthy

Guest Blog by Gary S prandel

As a regular birder at JSP, Gary Sprandel has great tips for which bird species you can see in the Park and where - throughout the year!

Just as the sculptures provide different views depending on the season, the abundant bird life provides joy throughout the year.

In winter, the highlights are the wintering sparrows - up to eight different kinds. Look for them particularly at the feeders ( donated by Wild Birds Unlimited of Frankfort ) by Heather Hart's The Porch Project: Take it to the Bridge and the fields in Fox Meadow .

In spring, the park comes alive with singing migrants and we delight in the musical warblers such as Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Parula.

In summer look for Eastern Meadowlarks on the road in, and keep your eyes open for the precocial Killdeer babies. The bluebird trail, maintained by volunteers with Bluebirds of Central Kentucky and Wild Birds Unlimited, means you should see the Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow. Summer is also a good time to listen for the Prairie Warbler in Firefly Forest .

In fall, more warblers return, but are quiet and have muted colors. To date, we have seen 113 different species at Josephine Sculpture Park ( see our eBird site for a complete list ). Will you be the one to see the next new species?

On Sunday, February 19th, Frankfort Audubon Society led a guided bird walk at the park as part of The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). GBBC is a fun citizen science project organized by Cornell University to get a snapshot of winter birds. Despite strong wind, our intrepid crew of five birders saw 27 bird species and found at least 10 works of art featuring birds ( see our eBird checklist ). Highlights were a Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew right over us and two American Kestrels around the barn. The 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count will be from Friday, February 16 through February 19.

Check out Frankfort Audubon Society's Facebook page for more bird happenings.

Students Share Journal Entries from JSP Winter Visit

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:47:32 GMT

Suspended in Water or Air by Emma McClellan

Centre College environmental education students reflect on a winter visit to JSP.

On a sunny and mild January day, Centre College students in Dr. Ellen Prusinski's environmental education course explored Josephine Sculpture Park, meditating on how the arts can influence our relationship with the environment.

Two students, Juliette Gagliardi and Grace Malone, shared their journal entries about visiting JSP.

"We left our mark by writing our names on one of the walls, but we also left our mark on nature by just being there." - Juliette Gagliardi

Juliette Gagliardi reflected: " The piece I felt the most moved by was GRAPHOLOGYHENGE [pictured above, by Peyton Scott Russell ]. It consisted of multiple walls that could be written or drawn on, surrounding letter statues all stacked together. I really enjoyed the interactive aspect of this area. Not only was the art really fascinating, but it allowed each individual person that visited to also be the artist which is very inspiring. People could leave large, spray-painted figures, or just sketch a smiley face with a pencil, but both are equally art and appreciated. Part of the description said to "leave your mark" which can be in relation to both nature and art. We left our mark by writing our names on one of the walls, but we also left our mark on nature by just being there. Whether it be walking around leaving footprints or carrying a leaf from one area to another, our mark was left on the area. It was so interesting and beautiful to see all of this represented in the art."

Grace Malone reflected on the experience via sketch:

Winter is a uniquely beautiful time to visit the Park: the sculptures stand out sharply against the bare trees and frost-heavy grasses, overwintering birds are easy to spot dancing in and out of the young forest and edge habitat, and the cool temperatures create a sense of calm and presence. The Park is free and open every day - from the coldest to the warmest of days - from dawn to dusk. Plan your visit and come enjoy the Park, where art meets the earth .

We extend a special thanks to Grace and Juliette for sharing their journal entries, and Dr. Prusinski for making this visit possible for students.

Frankfort Public Art Best of Show Award Winner

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:57:03 GMT

C-Note by Joe Allred receives Best of Show Award

Joe Allred's C-Note wins the Frankfort Public Art Best of Show Award! Joe lives and creates in the Ouachita Mountains near Hot Springs, Arkansas, working principally in steel. Reflecting on C-Note , Joe states: “I love sound sculptures because they invite people to touch the art and enjoy it physically as well as visually. I especially love it when children ring the bell and learn that art is more than just pretty things.”

C-Note is part of a temporary installation of sculptures in downtown Frankfort curated by Josephine Sculpture Park in collaboration with the City of Frankfort, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourism Commission, and Richard and Anna Marie Rosen. It will remain on exhibit until October 2023.

Most of the sculptures installed in this temporary exhibition, including C-Note , are for sale! Please contact JSP for more information.

Explore more public art on the Frankfort Public Art Tour !

Frankfort Public Art People's Choice Award Winner

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 20:34:08 GMT

Delegate by Derek Ball receives People's Choice Award

Derek Ball's Delegate wins the Frankfort Public Art People's Choice Award! Derek lives and works in Lexington, KY and is an artist who has studied architecture and worked in urban design. Reflecting on Delegate , Derek states: “After a rehearsal dinner, I was looking across an array of vacant chairs, and they seemed to be a remainder, or a temporary artifact of a narrow event: a kind of record of, say, who was huddled and whispering, turned sideways laughing, or rigid and not speaking. I sketched these assemblies of chairs on a napkin, and began to explore notions of delegations, or congregates linked in this moment, yet disparate in their intent.”

Delegate is part of a temporary installation of sculptures in downtown Frankfort curated by Josephine Sculpture Park in collaboration with the City of Frankfort, Frankfort/Franklin County Tourism Commission, and Richard and Anna Marie Rosen. It will remain on exhibit until October 2023.

Most of the sculptures installed in this temporary exhibition, including Delegate , are for sale! Please contact JSP for more information.

KY Entrepreneur Invests in Future of Kentucky’s Only Sculpture Park

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:30:19 GMT

Josephine Sculpture Park Announces New Endowment Fund in Honor of Rebecca Conn

(Frankfort, KY) — Josephine Sculpture Park is grateful to announce that this fall of 2022 an endowment fund has been established that will help to secure the Park’s future. The endowment will be called the Rebecca Fund, named in honor of philanthropists Hank and Rebecca Conn, who have provided the fund's establishing gift of $100,000.

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) was founded in 2009 by artist Melanie VanHouten on land that was her grandparents' farm. It is the only park of its kind in the state of Kentucky, and features over 80 ever-changing artworks spread across 30-acres. The Park’s mission is to connect people to each other and the land through the arts. JSP provides the community, and visitors from around the world, with creative arts and environmental education along with transformative opportunities to artists, all while conserving Kentucky’s rural and native landscape.

Hank and Rebecca understand the value of growing up on a family farm in Kentucky, and the benefits that exposure to nature can provide. Rebecca spent many days on her grandparents’ farm and shares Melanie VanHouten’s memories of the free afternoons left to roam and explore.

Hank is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Louisville and spent two decades with global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, launching over 25 start-ups, and co-authoring books on management and workplace culture. He and Rebecca founded the Conn Center for Renewable Energy at the University of Louisville and named the prestigious Conn Prize for their daughter Leigh Ann Conn. Although the Conns currently reside in Atlanta, they recognize the potential of JSP and the impact it can have on Kentucky residents, visitors, the arts, and the environment with the support of their philanthropy.

First Lady Britainy Beshear, who participated in a press conference on November 3rd sharing this gift, offered, “As a long-time children’s advocate and a mother, I understand the value of FreePlay outdoors, and wild spaces for exploration and recreation. All children, but especially those who face adversity, can benefit from the healing power of art. JSP is a place for environmental education, access to arts and places to roam freely and explore. It is open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, with free admission. There is no barrier to participation. Places like Josephine Sculpture Park are critical for Kentuckians and I am glad to be here today on behalf of TEAM Kentucky to thank the Conns for their investment.”

As Hank shares, “I believe in education and in the value of exploring new ideas. JSP is a place of inspiration and we connect it with Rebecca’s memories of good times spent on her grandparents farm. We want to help Melanie and the team ensure it is here for generations to come.”

Establishing the Rebecca Fund, and growing the endowment, will allow JSP to transition from a start-up organization to an institution whose future is secured for generations to come. The Park’s board intends to grow the endowment to $2.5 million over the next three years.

Mayor Layne Wilkerson adds, “As the Public Art Capital of Kentucky, Frankfort, is so fortunate to have Josephine Sculpture Park in our community. Access to art offers the power to enhance our city’s image and make a statement to outsiders that creative people live here. It strengthens and defines Frankfort’s identity and improves our quality of life. It is truly inspiring to have patrons like the Conns make such a leadership gift. We are extremely grateful to them for making this bold statement about the importance of Josephine Sculpture Park.”

Hank and Rebecca Conn join dozens of donors that believe in the Park’s mission, and the JSP staff and board are grateful for each and every one. Adds Melanie, "Hank and Rebecca not only see the legacy that JSP could have, they are willing to help us get there."

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Jill Malusky, JSP Marketing & Communications Manager, marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org

Cell 330-416-4567

University of Kentucky students gain "real-life" experience at JSP

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 14:48:35 GMT

Photo Caption / University of Kentucky students in Dr. Chris Sass' Studio Design II course met with Andrea Mueller of Inside Out Landscape Design to explore her living sculpture, Metamorpho-nest, and the Grow With Us Reforestation Initiative, located around the JSP amphitheater. Sculpture by Vivien Collens.

University of Kentucky (UK) students gain "real-life" landscape design experience at JSP.

Dr. Chris Sass, Associate Professor and Department Chair for UK’s Department of Landscape Architecture , partners with local nonprofits to provide experiential learning for students. “We, as a university, are in a unique position in that we can aid and learn through experiential learning while providing design ideas to those places who need help,” Dr. Sass explains. “Those partnerships provide me and my students value in knowing we are helping others, which in the end really defines our discipline of being land stewards and place designers.”

When it came time to select a nonprofit this fall semester, Franklin County Horticulture Extension Agent, Adam Leonberger , connected Dr. Sass with JSP. Leonberger and JSP Board Member, Joyce Bender, have been collaborating with several partners to help resolve and improve the natural ecosystems around the Park. He reports, “This was a way to include UK students while also resolving [those issues].”

Over the course of the semester, students will create a master plan for an event and garden space near JSP’s historic Tobacco Barn. Part of this design includes a small rain garden off the corner of the barn that would limit erosion caused by rainwater run-off. “Students always ask for 'real-life' projects, and this project is as real as it gets,” Dr. Sass shares.

Through this experience, he hopes students develop an “ecological ethic” and learn to embrace that landscape design is messy, takes time and energy, and requires adapting to quick changes. “The unique challenges to this project include habitat restoration while creating an artful experience that people will enjoy and will change over time,” Dr. Sass explains. “We hope to provide JSP with multiple design solutions that are feasible and artful in their own rights.”

JSP looks forward to reviewing students’ designs this December and thanks all involved in the project, including Dr. Chris Sass, Adam Leonberger, UK Department of Landscape Architecture, UK Cooperative Extension, Joyce Bender, and Andrea Mueller of Inside Out Landscape Design.

Céline Browning reflects on JSP residency

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:55:27 GMT

In this series of video interviews, Céline Browning shares the process of creating her sculpture as JSP's Artist in Residence.

Week One

Céline introduces herself, why she became an artist, and her project at Josephine Sculpture Park. She shares: "I'm...excited to embark on this project specifically because it's actually...based on a project that my mother, who died five years ago, designed. It was her last piece that she never got to realize...It's exciting to take her ideas and then add my own spin on it..."

Week Two

Céline Browning is creating a sculptural bird blind made of plasma cut steel panels! She explains, "each panel is going to be depicting a native bird and a native plant species." The panels she shares show morning doves with Jack-in-the-pulpit, indigo buntings with columbine, and American kestrels with mayapple.

Week Three

Experience how Céline went from sketchbook to sculpture!

Final Week

Céline reflects on the making of her sculpture as the Josephine Sculpture Park Artist in Residence. "This residency is so important. It's amazing that in KY we have this incredible resource, in Josephine Sculpture Park." She shares, "You don't need to go elsewhere to make wonderful work and to see wonderful work and just to be in a natural environment that incorporates both art and nature...I'm just very very glad that I had the opportunity to lend my work and my creative voice to such an important, long term project."

"Fly Away" by Céline Browning

Learn more about the artist at celinebrowning.com.

Jeri K. Howell promoted to Assistant Director

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 21:05:23 GMT

Jeri K. Howell (left) poses with Amythyst Kiah after JSP's Barn Raisin' fundraiser concert in 2022.

In August 2022, Jeri K. Howell accepted a promotion to Assistant Director.

Jeri Katherine Howell began her career at Josephine Sculpture Park as the Fall Arts Festival Coordinator in 2018. After a successful event, she transitioned into the Park's second staff member as the part-time Program Coordinator the following year. As the Park's programming grew under Jeri's leadership, she was promoted to full-time Program Director in 2020. Over the past two years, Jeri has been instrumental in the Park's decision making, visioning, and has started new initiatives like the Conservation and Outreach Internship, Art in Nature Camp, and native plant restoration projects.

Jeri's promotion comes at a pivotal point in the Park's development. As Assistant Director, she will focus on people and experiences - both internally with Park staff and externally with visitors, partners, volunteers, and the community at-large. "I look forward to helping cultivate a more resilient, equitable, creative, and fun place for our community to play and for our staff to work," Jeri shares. "I believe in our mission to connect people with each other and the land through the arts, and I believe the impact of this place on visitors has a ripple effect that helps make the world a better place - now and in the future. It's an honor to continue collaborating with our cultural and ecological communities as JSP's Assistant Director."

Jeri Katherine Howell is a singer-songwriter, educator, activist, and sustainable community development practitioner. She engages people in direct learning experiences and creative events that uplift our stories, embody our interconnectedness with more-than-human nature, and build community. Jeri holds two B.A.s in Environmental Studies and Spanish from Centre College and an M.S. in Community and Leadership Development from the University of Kentucky. She is an adjudicated member of the Kentucky Arts Council and Berea College Partners for Education Teaching Artist Rosters and is a certified Professional Environmental Educator and Kentucky Community Scholar. Her artistic, activist, and academic achievements have been recognized by the Kentucky Arts Council, U.S. Department of State Fulbright program, and the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Learn more at jerikatherinehowell.com .

Lexington Philharmonic Returns to Josephine Sculpture Park for Symphonic Stroll’s second year

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:01:19 GMT

On Saturday, September 10th from 4-8pm, Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) visitors will discover Lexington Philharmonic (LexPhil) musicians performing at artworks across the Park’s 30-acres of trails.

This year’s event will highlight eight locations throughout the Park, including the historic tobacco barn, pond, and several new sculptures, like Sky Chamber by Daniel Shieh. LexPhil performances at these locations will feature woodwinds, trumpets, cellos, percussion, harp, and a string quartet, plus an interactive sound installation and a hands-on activity.

Food trucks will be onsite to provide dinner and snacks for purchase, along with beverages from West Sixth Brewing and a water bottle refill station. “The event occurs between 4-8pm with timed entry and multiple repeat performances across the Park. This gives folks plenty of time to arrive and explore at their own pace,” shares Jeri Katherine Howell, JSP Program Director. “You can grab a bite to eat from a food truck, hear the music, and discover over 70 pieces of artwork among our native plant and wildlife habitat restoration projects.”

An event this large takes many hands, and the Park is grateful for volunteers. “We still have a few volunteer spots available! Volunteers receive a JSP t-shirt and complimentary admission to the event. It's a great way to become a part of the JSP team and make new friends,” adds Jeri Katherine, who manages volunteers.

A limited number of tickets are available at $25 for adults and $11 for youth ages 17 and under. Children age 2 and under are free. Visit josephinescultpurepark.org to find tickets or sign up to volunteer.

This event is made possible thanks to our sponsors! Presenting Sponsors: Expree Credit Union, Harrod Concrete & Stone Co., Josephine Ardery Foundation, Ann Mullins, Paddocks of Frankfort, LLC, and Stewart Home & School; Lead sponsor: Kentucky Monthly Magazine; Sponsors: Betty Barr & Don Kleier, and Rick & Billie Faye Duvall; Supporters: Bluegrass Realty & Investment, Chenault & Hoge Insurance, Frankfort / Franklin County Tourist Commission, Investors Heritage, Jane Julian, Matt & Karine Maynard, VanHouten Construction, and Wilkerson Financial.

Josephine Sculpture Park is located at 3355 Lawrenceburg Road in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Park is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year.

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Contact: Jill Malusky, JSP Marketing Manager marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org

Check in with Artist in Residence Céline Browning

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 16:52:32 GMT

Experience the first three weeks of Céline Browning's residency at JSP!

Week One: Céline introduces herself, why she became an artist, and her project at JSP. "I'm...excited to embark on this project specifically because it's actually...based on a project that my mother, who died five years ago, designed. It was her last piece that she never got to realize...It's exciting to take her ideas and then add my own spin on it..."

Week Two: Céline is creating a sculptural bird blind made of plasma cut steel panels! She explains, "each panel is going to be depicting a native bird and a native plant species." The panels she shares show morning doves with Jack-in-the-pulpit, indigo buntings with columbine, and American kestrels with mayapple.

Week Three: Experience how Céline went from sketchbook to sculpture!

Learn more about Céline on her website.

Native Plants & Pollinators at JSP

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 18:50:40 GMT

It's a beautiful time to visit JSP and witness a diversity of native plants and pollinators!

"Where Art Meets The Earth" is more than a tagline for JSP. Conserving the 30-acre park property and restoring its native wildlife habitat are fundamental projects for staff, volunteers, and partners. Thanks to this work, JSP is home to a growing diversity of native plants, which attract pollinating insects like butterflies, moths, and bees.

Hummingbird moth on wild bergamot, photo by Lucy Swenson / 2. Silver-spotted skipper with background of grey headed coneflower and wild bergamot / 3. Bee on blazing star

Because these plants are native to this region, they are well adapted to survive and thrive in this area. The flowers you see in this post are native plants that you can grow in your own yard or community space!

Common milkweed leaves and seedpods, host plant for monarch butterflies / 2. Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar on spicebush leaf / 3. Spicebush swallowtail butterfly

In turn, native plants provide important habitat for wildlife, including insects, which rely on plants for food and shelter. Some of the plants pictured are host plants for butterfly and moth species. Host plants are species where butterflies and moths lay their eggs, and where the hatched caterpillar lives out its stage of life. For example, milkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterfly; spicebush is the host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly; and rose swamp mallow is the host plant for 28 butterfly and moth species, such as the painted lady, gray hairstreak, and yellow scallop moth.

Enjoy the diversity of art, native plants, and wildlife on your next visit to JSP, where art meets the earth!

JSP’s 2020 Statement in Solidarity with Focus on Race Relations

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:54:02 GMT

The following is JSP's public statement that Program Director, Jeri K. Howell, shared at Focus on Race Relations' (FORR) June 3, 2020 gathering at the Kentucky state Capitol to remember the 111th anniversary of John Maxey's lynching in Frankfort and respond to the lynching of an effigy of the governor.

We are thankful for each of you, this space, this day, and the relationships in this community. (I invite you to take a moment to look around, and witness this connection.) We acknowledge and thank the organizations here and acknowledge the work that has been done over decades to bring us here today. And we acknowledge the work that needs to be done that is brought to our attention in these moments.

To paraphrase artist/activist adrienne maree brown: We are living in the past imaginations of our ancestors. We, as future ancestors, must imagine the just and liberated world we want to exist, and work to make it true, even if we may not get to live in it.

Josephine Sculpture Park remains committed to advancing social justice and cultural equity. We envision JSP as a space where everyone feels safe and welcome, and a place to play, create, and heal together.

As such:

We stand in solidarity with the Black community, and the social justice organizations working to confront systemic racism, and wholeheartedly join voices against injustice, bigotry, and racial violence.
We pledge to listen to our neighbors, leaders, and artists of color, show up in partnership and solidarity with organizations working for racial justice, and offer our resources when appropriate
We stand with our community here today to show that acts of intimidation and terror, such as any portrayal of lynching, will not be tolerated in our community.
As 2 white women, Mel and I will never understand the depths of pain and injustice that black lives have endured for so long.
We pledge to each of you to continuously educate ourselves on anti-racism and take supportive actions through JSP and in our personal lives. We hope you will help hold us accountable.
We are hopeful that all the work that has brought us here together today, and the myriad motivations of why you are here right now, will result in positive change. We challenge others to identify ways that you can act in solidarity for a more just community, and country.

Let’s take the community connection here today into our lives, work, and relationships. Again, to paraphrase adrienne maree brown: “Our resilience in the face of challenge is built on the strength and quality of our connectedness.” We look forward to working alongside you, day after day, to continuously build a better community, to continuously strengthen the quality of our connectedness, here in Frankfort and beyond. Please take care of yourselves, and let’s take care of each other.

Welcome Mollie Rabiner to JSP Staff

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 15:34:59 GMT

Welcome Mollie Rabiner as Interim Park Manager

We are grateful to welcome Mollie Rabiner as JSP’s Interim Park Manager! Mollie holds a BFA in sculpture from the University of Kentucky, an MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Certificate of Graduate Studies in Expressive and Creative Arts from Salve Regina University. Over the past several years Mollie has been honored to work with groups in various settings on large and small collaborative levels, using art and the creative process to link people and communities while also helping individuals delve deeper into their own personal depths.

Mollie brings invaluable experience to JSP as a sculptor, educator, arts administrator, and nature lover. When asked why she joined the JSP team, Mollie shared: “I love this place! It’s kind of my natural habitat. The sculptural and art aspect, the wildflowers and the trees, the natural setting - I don’t know a place more perfect for me.”

As Interim Park Manager, Mollie supports artists in residence and maintains the studio space, sculptures, and park grounds. Please join us in welcoming Mollie during your next visit to JSP!

Lucy Swenson Reflects on Internship

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:36:06 GMT

Lucy Swenson Reflects on JSP Conservation & Outreach Internship Experience

By Lucy Swenson

Over the last two months, Josephine Sculpture Park has shown me that environmental education is a cyclical process that desperately needs every observation of the natural world we can get. Even momentary observations here have drawn me closer to each living thing around me, intensifying my awareness of life itself. Working this summer with program director, Jeri Howell, has taught me the art of taking a heartfelt pause in conversation or labor to indulge this curiosity. I’ve learned to work hard, sweating through ongoing invasive species management, but my work is now always tempered with curiosity, observation, and creativity.

My ecology professor at Centre College once challenged my class to consider the real fragility of ecosystems - are they in delicate balance derailed by one shift, or do they constantly and successfully adapt to changes? The profound forest succession at JSP suggests the latter. We can (and should) cut wild teasel and invasive thistles where we can to make room for native wildflowers, grasses, and trees, but nature will do its own work with or without our help. And it is endlessly more rewarding to jump upon the opportunities in nature before us and get to enjoy the beauty that will then unfold. Respecting this natural balance of resilient function and lovely intricacy sets a Black-eyed Susan-gold standard. Human connection to nature must mirror nature itself to be a hearty balance between work and play; stamina and creativity.

As I watch friends begin to enter the workforce after undergrad and anticipate my own departure from the safety of college in two years, I’ve made my own natural observation that no work can be accomplished without joy for its purpose. Integrating creativity into manual labor or analytic work sparks a fire of joy in me that can sometimes seem to push the walk-behind tractor for me. This heartfelt creativity is a combination of awe for the powerful natural systems that I get to support and wonder about everything that I do not yet know. My current curiosity includes, but is not limited to: my future beyond college, the vivid lavender of bergamot, the future of my relationships, and a hummingbird moth’s intricacy.

Thankfully, I’ve learned that I do not need to have a clear and uncluttered mind to initiate curious observations of nature or my own life - I only must have a willing mind that can bend to the breeze on my face and the shadows of leaves in the sun.

Environmental work and education is immersion, experience, observation, and exploration. Sculpture and all creative processes require the same, making JSP such an incredible place to practice balancing my work with creativity. Leading especially with empathy for everything around me is a crucial part of finding my own balance while interacting with the JSP staff and visitors, expanding the JSP community in Frankfort and beyond, and connecting to nature. It can be hard to hear the lessons that nature whispers amid pandemic worries, technological presence, and anxieties of all kinds, but that is why every experience in nature is educational, cyclical, and requires an empathetic ear. At JSP I have been both challenged and empowered to pause, observe, and open my heart to the artistic forms all around, be they carved stone, welded metal, or fibrous cellulose. This summer, each movement of my body in conversation about the Frankfort community, in leading youth to explore the park, and triggering my camera’s shutter has simultaneously opened my heart to work harder and wonder more. Thank you to the wonderful people and natural life at JSP for teaching me to pause and relish my own life-cycle however it comes!

Artist in Residence: Céline Browning

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:58:25 GMT

Welcome Céline Browning as JSP's Artist in Residence - August 2022

Céline Browning is an artist, art writer and educator from Chicago, currently based in Louisville, Kentucky. Much of Céline's work investigates the complexity of American identity in the 21st century, and how that identity is made manifest through visual language. During her August 2022 residency at JSP, she will explore working on a larger scale to create a site-related outdoor work that brings attention to the native flora and fauna of Kentucky.

Website

Instagram @celine.browning

Nature Nook: Gillian Shepard’s Eagle Scout Project

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 17:21:11 GMT

Josephine Sculpture Park is now home to the “Nature Nook” – a shelter with a concrete floor, roof for shade and weather protection, two benches, a storage bin that can double as a table, and information about native wildlife and plants.

Gillian Shepard completed the nature nook in spring 2022 as her Eagle Scout project with Troop 269 in Shelbyville, KY. We interviewed Gillian about her project:

Why did you choose JSP as your project site?

“I have been coming to JSP with my family since I was a kid. It helped introduce me to nature and art which has become a big part of my life.”

Why did you choose to construct the nature nook?

“Learning about nature and our environment was a big part of scouting for me. I wanted to provide a place for others to learn about the same things.”

What did you gain or learn from this experience?

“I learned a lot about time management and fundraising. This gave me a lot of experience with managing other people, materials, and funds.”

What do you hope park visitors gain or learn from experiencing the nature nook?

“I hope people are able to use my project as a creative space. Not only to learn about nature but for other activities at the park.”

Gillian will attend the University of Louisville this fall. Please send her lots of gratitude for the Nature Nook and congratulations on her Eagle Scout project and college journey ahead!

You can visit the Nature Nook in Kestrel Fields at JSP. Plan your visit today!

New Sculptures by Vivien Collens, Harry H. Gordon & Boaz Vaadia

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:36:04 GMT

This June 2022, we installed new sculptures by Vivien Collens, Harry H. Gordon & Boaz Vaadia.

Plan your visit to JSP and explore the new sculptures! Blue Circuit by Vivien Collens and Ze'ev with Cat by Boaz Vaadia (pictured above) are on exhibit in Native Hill. Monk by Harry H. Gordon is on exhibit in Kestrel Fields .

Harry H. Gordon shares, "Working with stones, I don't make a maquette - I just work with the stones. I turn them around, I hang them in different ways, and they talk to me and tell me what they want to do. This [ Monk ] seems like a simple piece, but there's actually a lot of cutting and figuring...the balance is very important." Learn more about his work and why he became a sculptor in his video interview (below) with Melanie VanHouten, JSP Founding Director.

Welcome Karen Lanier to JSP Staff

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Tue, 24 May 2022 16:57:34 GMT

We are thrilled and grateful to welcome Karen Lanier as JSP's Administrative Assistant as of April 2022. Karen is a teaching artist who explores the interconnections of nature and culture through photography and writing. She is a certified Professional Environmental Educator and a Kentucky Community Scholar. Karen worked as a seasonal park ranger in state and national parks across the U.S. before settling in Kentucky, where she most recently has managed projects for nonprofit organizations.

Karen shares, "Joining the JSP team is the perfect way to share what I've learned through working with other outstanding nonprofits and parks. I'm excited to support the sculpture park by strengthening systems and building our capacity to provide a fun and creative space for everyone to enjoy." She has taught youth photography classes since 2011, including mindful nature photography at JSP, and loves learning from the different perspectives that every artist and visitor brings.

1-18-22 Live & Work in Kentucky's Only Sculpture Park

marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org (Cat Louis) — Tue, 24 May 2022 13:59:13 GMT

February Deadline for Artist Fellowships, internships at Josephine Sculpture Park

The Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) - the only one of its kind in Kentucky - is looking for artists and students for residencies, fellowships, internships, and a NEW work exchange opportunity.

JSP exhibits nearly 80 contemporary artworks across 30-acres of rolling Kentucky woodland and meadows. Habitat restoration projects are reintroducing native plants for wildlife. The park is open year round from sun-up to sunset, with no admission fee.

The Park is a place “where art meets Earth.” Founding Director Melanie VanHouten shares, “Our vision for JSP is to use our space and location to elevate messages of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We have shared the work of artists from across the globe, including Chakaia Booker, Peyton Scott Russell, Wayne Potratz, Daniel Shieh, Andrea Stanislav, Clare Koury, Rollin Marquette, Boaz Vaadia, Kiah Celeste and Heather Hart, among others. We want as many artists as possible to learn about these opportunities and apply. ”

Preference will be given to artists living, working, or from Kentucky; artists who identify as a person of color; artists who identify as a woman, gender non-conforming person or trans-gender person; artists who explore themes of social or environmental justice; or whose proposal is site specific to JSP or Frankfort, Kentucky.

Artists are encouraged to apply for a 2022-2023 Artist Residency and Fellowship. This funded opportunity includes residency, workshop and exhibition programs to support emerging, mid-career and professional artists through unique, supported and equipped non-traditional studio space for large-scale sculpture, murals and community artworks. Our application deadline is February 1, 2022.

Emerging artists, recent grads, and artists growing their experience are encouraged to apply to our NEW 2022 Work Exchange Artist Residency, to live and work onsite supporting our Park Manager, staff, and volunteers in a variety of activities. This is a 6-month, funded opportunity. Our application deadline is February 27, 2022.

We offer several internship opportunities with flexible start dates and a variety of responsibilities, generally involving arts education, environmental education, art studio, arts administration, and park grounds maintenance and conservation efforts. Applications are open now for our Artist Internship and Conservation and Outreach Internship. Our application deadline is February 27, 2022.

All applications are available at josephinesculpturepark.org.

###

Contact: Jill Malusky marketing@josephinesculpturepark.org

Welcome 2022 JSP Interns!

jeri@josephinesculpturepark.org (Jeri Howell) — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:26:20 GMT

Artist Interns

Kinley Young is an emerging multimedia artist and conceptual sculptor. She grew up in North Carolina and is now based in Arkansas. Kinley shares, "I am looking forward to learning and working with JSP staff, as well as having the opportunity to create art. I am also excited to help with park events and to learn more about the area."

Website

Instagram @works_of_nin

Makena Henriksen is a journeyman blacksmith from the Pacific Northwest whose work is inspired by the forested shores of the Salish Sea. Their primary medium is steel, but they’ll experiment with any material they can get their hands on and have a particular fondness for foundry work.

While at Josephine, Mak looks forward to working in a larger scale than usual, and to familiarizing themselves with the behind-the-scenes action involved in running the sculpture park.

Website

Instagram @nettlefireforge

Jacintha Turner is a sculptor from Colorado whose work is inspired by all of the twists and turns that her life has gone down - from nursing, to marriage, to moving, to rekindling her love for art. In 2021, she graduated from Colorado Mesa University in sculpture with an emphasis in metal casting. While at the university, Jacintha attended two iron events whilst being a part of the sculpture guild and and several student shows.

Website

Conservation & Outreach Intern

Lucy Swenson is a sophomore Environmental Studies major and International Studies minor at Centre College. She is from Owensboro, KY and is an avid amateur guitarist, hiker, and finder of sunny spots to bask in. Lucy shares, "I’m thrilled to spend my summer meeting the JSP & Frankfort community while working to offer inspiring educational & exploration experiences at the park!" Lucy will be JSP's Conservation & Outreach Intern from June-August, 2022.

Welcome Thomas Putzier, JSP Artist in Residence

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 13:52:57 GMT

Gatekeeper by Thomas Putzier

We are ecstatic to introduce JSP Artist in Residence, Thomas Putzier, who will join us this May. Thomas is a queer Minneapolis-based conceptual artist and designer. His practice imagines new worlds to examine relationships between architecture, power, freedom, and control.

Learn more on his website and be sure to visit JSP this May to witness what Thomas creates in real time!

This residency is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

JSP is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

6-05-22: Grammy-nominated Amythyst Kiah in Concert at Josephine Sculpture Park

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:32:51 GMT

Grammy-nominated, Tennessee-based singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah spans the genres of roots, alt rock, country, folk, blues, and old time music. Rolling Stone magazine called her, “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets.” As a member of Our Native Daughters , an all-women-of-color supergroup, Kiah’s song “ Black Myself ” earned a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song and won Song of the Year at the Folk Alliance International Awards. She has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR’s Mountain Stage.

Kiah will perform in the Park’s historic Tobacco Barn, recently restored to host open air events. This intimate show will sell out with just over 200 seats available. Central Kentucky-based old time and blues band, The Possum Queens , will share a hip-shakin’ foot stompin’ opening set.

Event parking opens at 4pm, with music beginning at 6pm. Grab a cold drink from West Sixth Brewing and some smokey BBQ from the Community Que food truck, both JSP favorites. Explore the Park, discovering over 80 artworks across our 30-acres, including new pieces like Sky Chamber from Daniel Shieh, and Nakki by Molly Harrington, only on view seasonally. See conservation efforts in practice through our newly restored meadows.

This unprecedented musical event is the fourth in JSP’s Barn Raisin’ concert series, established in 2019 to raise funds for the growth of the Park. As a nonprofit organization, the Park’s mission is to connect people with each other and the land through the arts.

S ponsored by Expree Credit Union and Kentucky Monthly Magazine.

Thank You to our Barn Raisin' Sponsors

Betty Barr & Don Kleier, Expree Credit Union, The Josephine Ardery Foundation, Billie Faye & Rick Duvall, Chenault & Hoge Insurance, Earth Tools, Investors Heritage, Kentucky Monthly, Stewart Home & School, Teresa & Harry Suter, Christina Bell, Hannah Helm, Scott & Cindy Hampton, Taylor & Natalie Marshall, and VanHouten Builders

Sky Chamber by Daniel Shieh

Nakki by Molly Herrington.

josephine-sculpture-park

Job Opening: Finance and Administration Manager

THE OPPORTUNITY

CANDIDATE RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Operations Support

Billing & Revenue Cycle Support

Administrative Support

Compliance & Risk Management

Strategic Leadership

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

COMPENSATION

​CONTACT INFORMATION

You Were Joy Full!

Together, we celebrated the people who make Josephine Sculpture Park magical.

March 20, 2026

5 Ways to Have Winter Fun at the Park

5 Ways to Have Winter Fun at the Park

Beat the winter blahs by engaging all your senses and embracing what the park has to offer in the colder months.

1. Open Your Eyes

2. Heads Up

3. Watch for Winter’s Flowers

4. Hug a Tree

5. Look for Lichens

Thank You Gallery: Joy Full 2024

2024 Photo Gallery: Joy Full Gratitude Gathering

Students Explore New Artforms at JSP

Art students from University of Louisville's Hite Institute of Art & Design, Franklin County High School, and Western Hills High School explore new artforms during JSP field trips in October 2024

Nest Watchers Report on Bluebird Trail

Nest Watchers Report on Bluebird Trail

Why Care About Eastern Bluebirds?

How Bluebird Trails Help

The Gifts and Surprises of Learning

Keeping Count: One Nest Box, Many Births

Clarity Vehicle Restoration Unveiled

Clarity Vehicle Restoration Unveiled

JSP commemorated a milestone anniversary with the restoration of Clarity Vehicle by Mollie Rabiner, one of the first artworks installed on-site fifteen years ago.

Cortada & Team Complete Transit Center Mosaic Installation

Mosaic Artist Xavier Cortada and Local Artists Complete Transit Center Mural Installation

Thank You Gallery: Symphonic Stroll 2024

2024 Photo Gallery: Symphonic Stroll with Lexington Philharmonic and Lexington Ballet, at Josephine Sculpture Park

Josephine Sculpture Park Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary

Josephine Sculpture Park Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary

Auction Winners & Guests Explore Lucky 7 Arts Studio

Auction Winners & Guests Explore Lucky 7 Arts Studio

Why Jeri Katherine Howell Loves Symphonic Stroll

Why Jeri Katherine Howell Loves Symphonic Stroll

"This event is my jam. . . I take time to experience the event’s magic firsthand."

Volunteer Spotlight: Raychel Blackburn, Studio Assistant

Volunteer Spotlight: Raychel Blackburn, Studio Assistant

“I think it’s important to have a welcoming space in town where anyone can go and enjoy some peace and beauty."

Frankfort Audubon Society's Birding Poster

Art and Nature Thrive in the Rosens’ Garden and Studio

Art and Nature Thrive in the Rosens’ Garden and Studio

Meet Angela Eldridge, Marketing Manager

Meet Angela Eldridge, Marketing Manager

Welcome Eileen Yanoviak to JSP Staff

Welcome Eileen Yanoviak, Director of Engagement

Thank You Gallery: Barn Raisin' - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine 2024

2024 - Photo Gallery: Barn Raisin' - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine sponsored by Expree Credit Union ﻿

Welcome New Members of JSP's Board of Directors

Welcome New Members of JSP's Board of Directors

For a current listing of board members, visit the About page

Earth Tools Supports JSP's Land Stewardship

Earth Tools Supports JSP's Land Stewardship

For 15 years, Earth Tools has been a partner connecting the park with the resources needed to do the work.

The Art of Barn Raisin'

Mosaic Artist Selected for New Transit Center

Mosaic Artist Selected for New City of Frankfort Transit Center

5 Ways to Explore JSP

5 Ways to Explore Josephine Sculpture Park

1. Picnic on a Sculpture

2. Hunt for Tree Art

3. Nature Journaling & More

4. Hit the Trails on 4 Wheels

5. Explore Art in Public Places

JSP Receives Ruth Foundation for the Arts 2023 Core Grant

Join the Ruth Foundation for the Arts in supporting JSP!

Art In Public Places Exhibition Brings New Sculptures to Expree Credit Union

Four new sculptures are on exhibit at Expree Credit Union through JSP's Art In Public Places program

Phoenix by Adam Garey

CONTACT INFORMATION

2024 - Photo Gallery: Barn Raisin' - Conservation, Culture & Cuisine sponsored by Expree Credit Union

Land Conservation

"Getting to...share information on a place I adore and hold so dear to my heart makes me really excited…I'm just excited to be able to be even more a part of a place that's brought me so much joy. I hope I can help others experience the same.”

Field Trips & Community Tours