For Release: Jan. 2, 2007
A historic school and a residence for people with mental handicaps are the focus of the next edition of Kentucky Life, airing Saturday, Jan. 20 at 8/7 p.m. CT and Sunday, Jan. 21 at 4:30/3:30 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, Jan. 21 at 7/6 p.m. CT on KET2. Hosted by Dave Shuffett and his dogs Charlie and Sadie, the program also features printmaker Julie May of Shelby County.
First, Kentucky Life takes a tour of Science Hill School in Shelbyville, a private school for girls in Shelbyville for 114 years. It closed in 1939, but former graduates of the school remember their days there with great warmth and fondness. The former site now houses Science Hill restaurant and the Wakefield-Scearce antique galleries and shops, and serves as a reminder of all of the young women who passed through its halls.
Next, the program introduces Julie May, who combines her love of beauty in nature with artistic expression. She uses a little-practiced form of printmaking called vitreography to create extremely detailed works of art using leaves, stems and other flora.
Finally, Kentucky Life visits a special residential facility in Oldham County. In 1988, a group of parents dreamed of a place where their adult children with mental retardation could live and work independently in a safe environment. The result was the non-profit Apple Patch--but what was originally planned as an exclusive community was dramatically shifted after research showed that inclusive living arrangements within the general community is considered best practice in the field of mental retardation. The result was an exciting new direction for the organization.
Kentucky Life is a KET production, produced by Joy Flynn. Segment producers for this program are Tom Thurman, Brandon Wickey and Tom Bickel. More about KET programs and educational services, and how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.