For more information:
• Audubon Bird Sculptures

Producer/Videographer/Editor: Brandon Wickey

Audubon Sculptures

Henderson was once home to the famous naturalist and artist John James Audubon, and the city today celebrates him, and itself, through a series of sculptures throughout downtown.

In a grand homage to the renowned bird watcher, the city chose to have bronze sculptures made from Audubon's prints of birds. As of 2012, 13 sculptures of birds and one life-sized sculpture of Audubon himself can be found in downtown and at John James Audubon State Park.

Sculptor Raymond Graf of Louisville has worked on this project, and we visit with him to talk about how he approached his work. Graf, a graduate of Murray State University who focuses on cast-bronze sculpture and portraiture, has interpreted eight life-size bird sculptures based on Audubon's art. In our conversation with him, we discuss the importance of public art and its ability to be transcendant, visionary, and uplifting.

For more information:
• Welcome to Eddyville, Kentucky

Producer: John Schroering
Audio: Noel Depp

Our Town—Eddyville

The town of Eddyville was named for the eddies of the Cumberland River, and water still retains a sense of importance in the area. Eddyville is known for excellent fishing, particularly bass and crappie, making it a popular vacation destination for anglers and boaters. It has been popular for water sports and good fishing since the 1960s.

During the 1950s, Eddyville faced unusual tumult. Construction of the Kentucky Dam forced the relocation of the towns of Eddyville and Kuttawa, and after many years of wrangling, home and business owners in the towns moved to new plats nearby, where they rebuilt.

Eddyville is also known for its proximity to the Kentucky State Penitentiary, where executions are still held, though none in recent years. In slightly grisly black humor, the large and stately prison is occasionally referred to as the "Castle on the Cumberland."

For more information:
• Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky

Producer/Editor: Paul Smith
Videographers: Frank Simkonis, Jason Robinson, John Bacon
Audio: Dave Dampier

Joe McKinney, Falconer

If you've ever heard a spooky hoot on a dark night, admired a diving hawk, or watched a group of vultures perch in a tree, you'll enjoy meeting Joe McKinney, an experienced falconer who lives in Leitchfield, a lake community in Grayson County. McKinney's interest in raptors stems from his experience as a volunteer for Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky 15 years ago. He now devotes time to hunting with his hawk and to leading education programs for the raptor non-profit, which has been saving and releasing injured or sick birds back into the wild for 30 years.

A careful trainer, McKinney has only one hawk at a time to ensure he can devote the appropriate time and effort to training and keeping it, preferring quality over quantity. His current project is a 3-year-old red-tailed hawk named Tracy. He and Tracy hunt together with his beagles, primarily targeting rabbits, squirrels, and mice.

Raptor Rehabilitation's education programs are aimed at youth and organizations, so he spends a good deal of time taking Tracy to different schools and groups. The goal is to increase general knowledge of raptors and correct some of the misperceptions people have about them.

Eileen Wicker, the executive director of Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, also joins the program, discussing the importance of education and the beneficial relationship between falconers and raptor rehabilitators.

For more information:
• Applied Imagination  

• Applied Imagination Blog

Producer/Videographer/Lighting: Frank Simkonis
Audio: Roger Tremaine, Frank Sinkonis
Audio Post: Brent Abshear
Editor: Dan Taulbee

Artist Paul Busse

Do model trains still captivate? Then you are one of many, as the whimsy of model creations seems to have an appeal that transcends age. In this segment, we meet a model-maker whose designs are exquisitely rendered in natural garden products, such as bark, acorn, and branch.

Paul Buss, owner and chief fantasy maker of Applied Imagination in Alexandria, located in northern Kentucky, creates large-scale model garden railways and public garden exhibits out of objects found in nature. These unusual exhibits offer entertainment and fantasy in an end-product that delights all ages.

A regular at the New York Botanical Garden train show, Busse's exhibits entertain a huge influx of holiday visitors with a large and lavish display for the season. Fans of Paul Busse have two options: Plan a holiday trip to New York, or visit Cincinnati's Khron Conservatory, where the design firm erects a smaller holiday display. Both are good bets at any time of the year.