Dr. Randy Whetstone, Jr. • Photograhy by Kathryn Harrington
Hailing from Cincinnati, OH, a talented protégé would eventually relocate to Louisville, Ky to carry out a dream. Having studied under the tutelage of sculptor, Barney Bright, this gifted young man would soon discover his passion and creativity in the arts. He is a graduate of the Louisville School of Art (class of 1969) and studied at Spalding University and the University of Louisville. Years have passed and the sculptures of Ed Hamilton will soon find its permanent home in Louisville, Ky.
While some of his legendary works, such as Booker T. Washington, (Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia); Joe Louis, (Huntington Place, formerly Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan); La Amistad Memorial, (City Hall, New Haven, Connecticut); The Spirit of Freedom (African American Civil War Memorial, 10th & U Streets NW, Washington, DC); York (Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere, Louisville, Kentucky) and Abraham Lincoln (Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky). His sculptures have their homes around the nation and in Louisville, KY. The studio is located at 543 S. Shelby St. It will be the designated home to preserve all of Hamilton’s indelible collections of art spanning 40 years and counting. Ed Hamilton Studios and Visitors Center (EHSVC) will be a premier arts location in Louisville, KY celebrating the life achievements for renowned sculptor, Ed Hamilton (per EHSVC Info Deck).
“A defining moment growing up was not seeing anyone who looked like me in bronze. Now I can create and relate to little children the art I create and they can say, ‘hey, that looks like me,’ says Ed. “That was a defining moment that said now I am putting something in the community where people haven’t seen themselves showcased in bronze.”
The Hamilton family suffered a tragic loss in the passing of Ed and Bernadette’s son, Edward N. Hamilton, III, known as Eddie, to cancer. As part of the healing process, Ed and Bernadette’s daughter, Kendra Hamilton-Wynn, reflected over some of her dad’s older photos. She wanted to ensure that something was in place and her dad’s legacy lives on.
“It hit me like a ton of bricks and a question dad asked. He would always ask us, ‘what are we going to do with all this stuff when he’s gone,’ says Kendra. “At that point, you’re thinking about your brother’s mortality, and then you’re thinking about yourself and our family unit. I started to think, ‘I am here, I’ve got to do something’. That’s when it got real, and I started to go through the process of reading and researching the best ways to preserve a legacy.”
“To have another space here in the city where people can come and spend their money will add monetarily to the community and visitation value to Louisville. We will do similar models to what everyone is doing with merchandising and space rentals. Then we will have our own ticketing programming, and of course, collaboration. I have all sorts of plans to collaborate with existing organizations here in the city.”
EHSVC will achieve a few goals (not limited to) preserving the studio; adding to the arts scene in Louisville, educational workshops for all, an artist in residence program and a host of exhibits. The Ed Hamilton Studios and Visitors Center (EHSVC) is a 501©3 organization, their first major donation was received from The Owsley Brown II Family Foundation through Christina Brown. EHSVC will participate in Give For Good Louisville for the first time in September.
With Hamilton’s sculptures positioned around the United States, the renovation of the current studio and visitors center will draw millions of visitors who explore and learn about the city of Louisville. Common tourists stops include theMuhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Derby Museum, and one last stop… Ed Hamilton Studios and Visitors Center.
People of all ages will come to see memorable art that represents so many leaders and examples of inspiration. For the younger generation, they will be able to learn about their predecessors and their historical impact in a modern way. EHSVC will seek to provide virtual reality (and perhaps artificial intelligence) experiences to all, a major attraction for younger generations.
“I see it happening when they walk through that door,” says Ed. “That’s the impact we want when people come through the threshold, to see something they haven’t seen in a setting like this. We want to capture the immediate opening of that door and see little kids coming in and looking and touching… ‘no, no touching’ (laughs). It is being exposed beyond your little square in your community.”
“My vision was always helping people, employees, parents/children find their niche,” says Bernadette, who was a public-school employee. She retired as the former director of Options/Magnets and Advance Program for JCPS.
As a strong-knit family who lives with distinct honor and respect for Ed’s work, each person shared their favorite piece of art, maybe a conversation yet to be had at the family dinner table.
“I think it would be Booker T. Washington,” Bernadette adds. “That was the first piece that Ed created. It was a monument but it was like a first child being born.”
“I would say the La Amistad Memorial in New Haven,” Kendra recalls. “The way dad captured that story with the three different sides depicting the journey of Sengbe Pieh, a Mende captive. Most important to me was the sight of themurky water, the hands, and all the souls that were lost in the middle passage on the top of the sculpture. So that’s my favorite piece.”
“I like them all (laughs),” says Ed. “They are like children. I can’t say I like my son more than I like my daughter, or I like my daughter more than I like my son. I like them equally, but each one brings something to the table. When I look at the challenges of creating some of the most memorable memorials, I don’t know how I got hooked into being the arbiter of creating history behind these iconic stories or the historical figure. Once that happened, I was in it. But the most challenging piece was the Spirit of Freedom, because it involved creating something that would relate to a historical significance of history that most people didn’t know happened.”
For more information on the development of Ed Hamilton Studios and Visitors Center and/or ways to donate, please visit ehsvc.org or contact info@ehsvc.org. For more information about Ed Hamilton visit the site: www.edhamiltonstudios.com
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