April 11, 2024

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

68º | 90% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. | Sunset 8:15 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

📍Putting Louisville on the map

An artist leans over a table, working on a page.

Ed Hamilton served as an apprentice under Louisville sculptor Barney Bright for eight years. | Image via WHAS11

Did you know: The artist behind the Lincoln statue at Waterfront Park — the one that recently had its hat stolen — used to be a teacher at Iroquois High School?

It’s true.

Though he was born in Cincinnati, Ed Hamilton was raised in Louisville. Since 1978, he’s worked out of an unassuming studio — a sign above the door reads, “ed hamilton, sculptor” in lower-case letters — on Shelby Street in Phoenix Hill.

From inside that space, Hamilton has created several magnificent pieces of art that adorn Derby City — like the Lincoln statue, the statue of York on the Belvedere, and the Boxing Legends Monument in Smoketown — but his work has reached far past Louisville.

Here are four other Hamilton pieces located around the US that put his hometown on the map.

Booker T. Washington — Hampton, VA

Hamilton called this piece his “major breakthrough.” Dedicated in 1984, the sculpture stands nine-feet-tall and is located on the campus of Hampton University, where the educator + orater Washington was a student.

Amistad Memorial - New Haven, CT

This relief sculpture was dedicated in 1992 outside New Haven’s City Hall. It recognizes the events of the Amistad Affair from 1839, when 53 kidnapped Africans mutinied aboard a ship.

A bronze statue depicts Black soldiers and sailors from the American Civil War. — “The Spirit of Freedom” is located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., but was sculpted in Louisville by Ed Hamilton.
|
Image via National Park Service

“The Spirit of Freedom” — Washington, D.C.

Dedicated in 1998, this piece honors the over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors who served in the US Army and Navy during the American Civil War. Fun fact: Hamilton used his wife, Bernadette, as a model for the piece.

“The Unfinished March” — Newport News, VA

The centerpiece of the Martin King Jr. Plaza, this bronze bas relief sculpture was dedicated in 2014. It depicts King alongside other Civil Rights activists.

Bonus: Want to hear from Ed Hamilton? He spoke to the University of Kentucky’s Nunn Center in 2017 about his life and career.

Asked

When did Ed Hamilton open his Louisville studio?

A. 1978
B. 1984
C. 1993
D. 2014

Sculpt your answer

Events

Friday, April 12

“Tótem” | Friday, April 12-Saturday, April 13 | Times vary | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $8-$12 | See this Mexican film depicting a family preparing for a father’s birthday celebration, viewed through the eyes of a seven-year-old child.
Katt Williams: The Dark Matter Tour | Friday, April 12 | 8 p.m. | KFC YUM! Center, 1 Arena Plaza, Louisville | $63-$256 | See the comedian + actor known for his outrageous antics on stage.

Saturday, April 13

Fillies Derby Ball | Saturday, April 13 | 6 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Galt House Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 140 N. 4th St., Louisville | $250-$3,500 | Dress to the nines for this black-tie event where the Derby Queen will be crowned.
Racing Louisville vs. San Diego Wave | Saturday, April 13 | 7 p.m. | Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams St., Louisville | $19-$153 | Grab $8 tickets with a student ID as Alex Morgan’s club makes its annual visit to Louisville.*
Pecos & The Rooftops | Saturday, April 13 | 8 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 611 S 4th St., Louisville | $20-$35 | See this country band from North Texas, which got its start in 2019.

Sunday, April 14

Trail Discovery Hike: Millennium Trail North Section | Sunday, April 14 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd., Clermont | $15-$20 | Pack a sack lunch for this seven-mile, five-hour hike where you’ll see spring wildflowers in bloom.

Monday, April 15

The Orchestra: Distilled | Monday, April 15 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Library at Oxmoor Farm, 720 Oxmoor Ave., Louisville | $10-$50 | Hear the premiere of a commissioned piece by WUOL’s Daniel Gilliam from a full orchestra.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Real Estate

Property taxes are set to increase in some Louisville neighborhoods, including Germantown, the Highlands, and St. Matthews. Those areas were assessed by county officials this year, with the new rates to be posted on April 26. If your taxes go up, you can appeal the assessment by May 20. (WDRB)

Featured

Hotel Genevieve is one of “The 41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe,” according to Esquire. The magazine described the NuLu hotel as “lush and a little louche and sexy as hell.” The hotel opened last year, and there’s plenty for locals to do.

Gallery

Did you forget to buy glasses and miss this week’s solar eclipse? You can relive the celestial event with photos from the Louisville Astronomical Society. (WDRB)

Watch

On the 800 block of East Broadway there is a historic theater built over 100 years ago that still stands. The property is part of the Epping District redevelopment and the owners are hoping to return it to its original purpose, as a theater for the community. Take a video tour of the building.

Pets

Louisville is the sixth-best city in the US for pet owners, according to Forbes. Derby City ranked highly for its affordability for dog + cat owners, as well as access to veterinary care. Kansas City ranked No. 1, while our neighbors in Lexington took the 12th spot on the list.

Sports

Several big-name football recruits are visiting the University of Louisville. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Plan Ahead

Psst — Taxes are almost due. Use E-file for quick, online filing. Plus, file your federal taxes for free with their basic software plan.*

Plan Ahead

Something to stomp about

A singer, wearing a floral print blazer and green paints, leans into a crowd below the stage, singing into a microphone.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones are among the headliners at The Big Stomp this year. | Photo by Thornton Drury via Wikimedia Commons

It’s about to be a busy music festival season, LOU. Between Bourbon and Beyond, Louder than Life, and Jack Harlow’s new Gazebo Festival, music fans in Derby City have a lot to look forward to this summer.

That includes The Big Stomp, which returns for an eighth-consecutive year. The festival supports The Pete Foundation, an organization working to destigmatize mental health. It’s set for July 26-27 at Jones Field, a 90-acre nature preserve near The Parkland’s Turkey Run Park.

Headliners for this year’s festival include BADBADNOTGOOD, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Black Angels, and Bully. They’ll be joined by:

Ben Sollee
Saxsquatch
The Biblehauser Brothers
Doom Gong
White Whooly
Lacey Guthrie
So it Was
Shannon Vetter and the Sleepless Pilgrims
Pleasure Boys
Future Killer
Yapa

Tickets are already on sale. Two-day weekend passes start at $79 and Big Bundle VIP weekend passes are $220. Youth passes for anyone 14 or younger are free with a paid adult pass.

The Buy

Your furry friend’s new spot to sleep. Say goodbye to traditional pet beds and pick your favorite print.

Share LOUtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_17}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jeff

From the editor

If there was ever a week to prove the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers” it was this one. Good news, though, Louisville — the weather this weekend is going to be perfect, with temps in the 70s + 80s with low chances for rain.

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

* This content is paid advertising, or contains links to our Six & Main marketplace, or affiliate partners which we may receive a commission from. ^ This content is created by our content studio.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | SHOP