CLERMONT, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2013) – Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest will hold a public opening Oct. 17 of a new sculpture honoring Barry Bingham Jr., the former publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times who guided the publications to win three Pulitzer Prizes.
In addition to his contributions in the field of journalism, Bingham was an avid environmentalist, photographer and strong supporter of Bernheim, serving on the Bernheim board of trustees from 1970-2006 and chairing the capital campaign for Bernheim’s platinum LEED-certified visitor center.
The sculpture honoring Bingham was created by Louisville sculptor Matt Weir and is constructed and carved entirely out of massive blocks of stacked limestone.
Weir, whose work also includes The Tiger, a bronze statue at Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, chose not to design a traditional tribute sculpture of Bingham. Instead, he conducted extensive research on the principles that were important to both Bingham and to Bernheim.
That research led Weir to create a large-scale (72’ x 42’) multidimensional piece that explores science, geometry, sound and architecture all in the context of nature. Positioned on the edge Bernheim’s Big Meadow, large geometric shapes frame the natural environment like a camera lens and also capture sound in a unique way.
Bernheim is located in Clermont, Ky., approximately 20 minutes from the Louisville airport. From I-65, take exit 112 and follow the signs. The entrance is approximately one mile from the interstate. The public unveiling will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 17.
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