Audubon Sculpture Walking Tour - The Henderson County Tourist

BirdTour2013FINAL
9/29/13
12:53 PM
Page 1
1 - John James Audubon
[Audubon Mill Park / By River]
Henderson’s most famous resident lived
and operated a mercantile store at Main
& 2nd Street from 1810–1819. In 1817
he built a mill at this location that would
lead to his bankruptcy in 1819. Leaving
town with only a gun and his paintings
he would go on to paint and publish
his monumental work “The Birds of
America”, the most recognized natural
history work in the world. [2007]
5 - Double-Crested Cormorant
[Main Street / 100 Block] Audubon chose
to paint a simple image of a lone cormorant for the “Birds of America” even
though he had observed hundreds of this
species on their nesting islands off the
coast of Labrador in 1843. At one time
this species was confined to the North
American coasts, but over the past 20
years has extended its range along our
nation’s waterways and now can be commonly seen along
the Ohio River. [2007]
2 - White Pelican
6 - Passenger Pigeon
[Audubon Mill Park / By Audubon]
Audubon found the White Pelican
in abundance at the Falls of
the Ohio at Louisville and in
Henderson “on a well known
sand-bar that protects Canoe
Creek Island” (Henderson Island) where he “often watched
them with delight”. The Island is now fully wooded but these
majestic birds may occasionally be seen at the nearby sloughs
during spring and fall migrations. [2007]
[Main Street / Across from Cormorant]
After failing to find a publisher for his
work in Philadelphia, Audubon turned
toward home in Louisiana, but stopped
over in Pittsburgh to rest and try to
make some money by giving art lessons. This portrait of the now extinct
Passenger Pigeon was done while he
taught young Eliza Basham to draw
birds in his style. The last Passenger Pigeon, a female named
Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. [2002]
3 - Osprey
[Corner of Water & 2nd Street]
In Audubon's time this bird was
called the “Fish Hawk”, an accurately
descriptive name for a bird which
preys exclusively on fish. This and
other spectacular compositions were
done while he worked to put his
family and marriage back together
after an absence in England of
more than three years. [2002]
7 - Purple Martin
[Corner of 2nd & Main Street]
Audubon painted this view of the Purple
Martin in Louisiana in 1821, shortly after
he began to work toward the completion
of his portrait of all the birds of America,
with publication now his goal. The scene
of Martins in a hollowed gourd is one
he had seen many times in the Indian
villages he visited in the south. [2002]
4 - Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
8 - Mourning Dove
[2nd Street / 100 Block] As Audubon
and his wife Lucy lived and worked to
save enough money to finance his trip
to England in search of a publisher, he
worked long hours but found time in
1825 to add this portrait to his growing
portfolio of drawings. Though reports
still come from the Louisiana swamps
of sightings, it is believed this bird is
[Corner of Green & 3rd Street]
To understand the painting of the
Carolina Turtle Dove as Audubon
called it, we must understand a bit
of Audubon. The scene is one of his
favorites, a family scene showing
love, devotion and happiness.
Audubon saw the birds as he saw
himself and thus gifted them with
his feelings and values. [2005]
now extinct. [2002]
9 - Pigeon Hawk
[ 2nd Street /300 Block] Audubon
returned to America from England in
1829 after an absence of three years. As
he worked feverously on this painting and
others for the next volume of his work, he
pleaded with Lucy through the mail to join
him so they could be together again. She
refused and Audubon went to Louisiana
to convince her in person. They were never again separated
except for short periods until his death 32 years later. [2002]
10 - Hooded Merganser
[Elm Street /100 Block] One of
many birds painted by Audubon
that first year in Louisiana when
he was trying to get started on
his great work “The Birds of
America.” Though he had met
and studied this bird in Pennsylvania and then in Kentucky, he
painted its portrait in 1821 after finding it in its wintering
grounds in the south. [2002]
13 - Great Horned Owl
[Washington Street / Library] Audubon
often encountered this owl during his
ramblings along the Ohio River and in
the forests and sloughs of Henderson.
On one such hunting trip along the
Henderson waterfront, he found himself
stuck in "quicksand" and feared for his
life until rescued by his boatman. [2006]
14 - Bald Eagle
[Audubon State Park / Museum]
In 1820, while floating down the
Mississippi River on a flatboat, Audubon
painted this eagle feeding on a Canada
Goose. Later he replaced the goose with
a catfish which is more typical of the
bird’s diet. Audubon wrote of its strength,
courage and nobility as a fitting symbol of
our nation and freedom. [2008]
15 - American Crow
[1st Street / City Building]
Today, this is one of the most sought
after of Audubon's birds. Painted in
Louisiana in 1821, Audubon continued to rework the composition and
position. Audubon was limited in what
he could do with these very large
birds because the largest paper
available to him measured about
28" by 39''. [2002]
[Red Banks Park / Riverwalk]
Although the crow was maligned by
many across our nation Audubon
viewed them as shy, cunning, intelligent and extremely courageous.
Freely admitting that they eat
farmers crops he also recognized
their service in devouring myriads
of grubs, insects and small mammals that would inturn do even
greater damage. As one of nature’s
wonders Audubon believed that the
Crow deserved our respect. [2012]
12 - Wild Turkey Cock
16 - Belted Kingfisher
[1st Street / Post Office]
Though Audubon painted the wild turkey
several times including at least one version here in Henderson, this final pose
was done at Beech Woods Plantation
in Louisiana, in 1825. His personal seal
was a miniature of this image. For
decades the Wild Turkey Cock was
the most popular of Audubon's images,
only losing out to the more delicate herons and egrets in more
[Corner of Merrit Drive & 12th
Street] The Kingfisher is found
near water throughout the United
States. Audubon writes of the
many unique features and habits
of this species. The female rather
than the male exhibits the “belt”
for which the species is named,
they have the ability to “hover”, and they dig their own nest
holes in dirt embankments along their river, streams and lake
homes. [2012]
11 - Great Blue Heron
recent times. [2002]
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Artist John James Audubon
Sculptor Raymond Graf
Kentucky native Raymond Graf graduated from Murray State
University, Murray, Kentucky with a background in sculpture,
ceramics, drawing, printmaking, and stone carving. During
the past twenty years of his career, Graf has focused on
cast-bronze sculpture and portraiture.
The Henderson, Kentucky, public arts project features 14
life-sized sculptures based upon Graf’s interpretations of
Audubon paintings. More of Graf's portraiture may be seen in
Louisville, Kentucky, and include statues of J. Graham Brown,
Tom Simons, Al Schneider, Finis E. Davis, Father James
Maloney, Harold Henry "PeeWee" Reese, and the cardinal
mascot of the University of Louisville. His non-figurative public
sculpture projects includes the golden finial atop Actors
Theatre of Louisville and a stainless steel bike rack in
downtown Louisville.
Visit John James Audubon State Park and Museum
on U.S. 41 to see original art, folios and memorabilia of
internationally known wildlife artist, John James Audubon.
Audubon’s publications on display include
the Elephant Folio, Quadrupeds and Bien edition.
Provided by: The City of Henderson,
The Downtown Henderson Partnership,
The Renaissance Kentucky Project
Photography: Martin Studio
Henderson County Tourist Commission
101 N. Water St, Suite B, Henderson, KY 42420
Phone 270-826-3128 or 1-800-648-3128
www.hendersonky.org
Printed in part with the Kentucky Department of Tourism
Can you find ALL
the hidden items?
Library
POWELL ST
The bronze statues throughout Henderson depict paintings by
famed ornithologist, John James Audubon. This project was
conceived as a way to pay homage to a native of the area,
while bringing public art to the community. This project
originated with the Downtown Henderson Partnership and
was implemented in collaboration with the City of Henderson.
Sculptor Raymond Graf, from Louisville, Kentucky, developed
the sculptures following extensive research on Audubon‘s
paintings and native species. The sculptures are an artistic
interpretation of Audubon‘s work, faithfully depicting, in three
dimensions, his paintings.
1 John James Audubon
Audubon Mill Park / By River
2 White Pelican
Audubon Mill Park / By Audubon
3 Osprey
Corner of Water & 2nd Street
4 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
2nd Street/100 Block
5 Double-Crested Cormorant
Main Street / 100 Block
6 Passenger Pigeon
Main / Across from Cormorant
7 Purple Martin
Corner of 2nd & Main Street
8 Mourning Dove
Corner of Green & 3rd Street
9 Pigeon Hawk
2nd Street / 300 Block
10 Hooded Merganser
Elm Street / 100 Block
11 Great Blue Heron
1st Street / City Building
12 Wild Turkey Cock
1st Street / Post Office
13 Great Horned Owl
Washington Street / Library
14 Bald Eagle (not shown on map)
Audubon State Park / Museum
15 American Crow (not shown on map)
Red Banks Park / Riverwalk
16 Belted Kingfisher (not shown on map)
Corner of Merrit Drive & 12th Street
The sculptor added these
small, hidden details to
13 of the 16 sculptures.
See how many
you can match!
SCULPTURE
John James Audubon
White Pelican
Osprey
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
Double-Crested Cormorant
Passenger Pigeon
Purple Martin
Mourning Dove
Pigeon Hawk
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Wild Turkey Cock
Great Horned Owl
Bald Eagle
American Crow
Belted Kingfisher
HIDDEN ITEMS
Tree Frog
Caterpillar
Ring-Necked Snake
Elephant Stag Beetle
Fossils
No hidden item
Big-Eared Bat
Crawfish
Rhinoceros Beetle
Baby Softshell Turtle
No hidden item
Baby Box Turtle
Hawk Moth
Leopard Frog
No hidden item
Snail Fossils
ANSWERS: John James Audubon–No hidden item;
White Pelican–No hidden item; Osprey–No hidden item;
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker–Elephant Stag Beetle;
Cormorant–Fossils; Passenger Pigeon–Tree Frog;
Purple Martin–Rhinoceros Beetle; Mourning Dove–RingNecked Snake; Pigeon Hawk–Hawk Moth; Hooded
Merganser–Snail Fossils; Great Blue Heron–Leopard Frog;
Wild Turkey Cock–Baby Box Turtle; Owls–Big-Eared Bat;
Eagle–Crawfish; American Crow–Caterpillar;
Belted Kingfisher– Baby Softshell Turtle
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