Earth Measure Set to Open October 17
Bernheim’s Arts in Nature Program is designed to inspire and develop even deeper connections with nature and next month’s public opening of our newest sculpture, Earth Measure will do that in a magnificent way. You are invited to join us for the official public opening on Thursday, October 17 at 10:00 a.m. as Louisville sculptor, Matt Weir, presents his completed work.
Weir was commissioned three years ago to create a sculpture in honor of Barry Bingham Jr., the Former publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times who guided the publications to win three Pulitzer Prizes. Bingham was an avid environmentalist, photographer, supporter, and fund-raiser for Bernheim, who served on the Bernheim Board of Trustees from 1970-2006.
Instead of designing a traditional sculptural tribute, Weir conducted extensive research to discover the principles that were important to both Barry Bingham Jr. and to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. The result, an educational, interactive and multi-dimensional limestone earthwork that must be experienced to be appreciated.
For more information about the Earth Measure visit the Arts in Nature section of our website.
Earth Measure was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor.
Bernheim Participates in Louisville Photo Biennial
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest will take part in Louisville’s Photo Biennial this October and November. This is the eighth Louisville Photo Biennial, and it continues its evolution with focused events each weekend, to educate and entertain the public with the richness and variety of photography as both a documentary and an artistic medium. The major themes are Historic/Alternative, Exchange/Generational and Exceptional People.
Bernheim will showcase the photography of artists, Todd Smith, and his collaborator Natalie Biesel, and Nori Hall. All have worked at Bernheim in two different Arts in Nature Programs. The exhibition will take place at Bernheim’s Education Center an artists’ reception on October 13th from 2-4:30. The exhibition will run through November 30th.
Todd Smith was awarded a Bernheim Artist in Residence Fellowship in 2011 during which time he created a series of photographs called Bernheim Light Maps Series. These photographs document Smith’s tree climbs in locations at Bernheim at night. Natalie Biesel was his collaborator on this project.
Smith wore a handmade light suit and used long exposure photography to visually track his path through the trees. The suit consists of five strands of colored lights, each corresponding to his limbs and head, resulting in a color-coded legend to of Smith’s body positions throughout the light path. The large format works, typically 30 inches by 50 inches, are printed on aluminum.
Nori Hall, who resides in Lexington, has been visiting Bernheim for one-week stays throughout all four seasons to photograph Bernheim’s ever-changing beauty. She is a participant in the new Arts in Nature program called Local Use by Local Artists.
Hall uses both analog and digital techniques to shoot film, and print digitally. Her basic tools are a Hasselblad 501 C/M medium format camera, a wide format digital printer, and highly textured paper which she suspends in shadow box type, simple wood frames. Her prints most often are 32 inches by 40 inches once framed.
Be sure to visit the Education Center to see the work of these amazing artists and be sure to join us for the artist reception on October 13.
