Linda Bruckheimer’s photography has been shown in such prestigious museums as Chicago’s Field Museum and the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, but would it surprise you to learn that you can catch her latest exhibit on a barn at Frankfort’s Josephine Sculpture Park.
An unusual venue for sure, but one that serves its purpose, says Melanie Van Houten, executive director of the sculpture park located on her family farm. And just what is that purpose other than acquainting visitors with Bruckheimer’s photographic art?
Van Houten believes it has everything to do with Kentucky’s rich rural past dating back to the 1700s before it was even a state. By the mid-1800s, the commonwealth was a leading producer of corn, tobacco, grains and livestock. Farmers, often with the help of enslaved people, shipped their products to markets nationwide.
“These small family farms became the backbone of Kentucky’s cultural and economic foundation,” says Van Houten.
Interesting, but what does this have to do with Linda Bruckheimer, wife of Jerry Bruckheimer, the force behind television’s powerhouse CSI franchise?
Linda, a Kentucky native, has always been passionate not just about photography, but about preservation as well.
Her documentary photography collection, “Road Map to Heaven: A Photographic Journey Through Kentucky,” led to an award in her honor, the Linda Bruckheimer Excellence in Rural Preservation Award, established by Preservation Kentucky.
“Linda’s interest in historical preservation was what made me want to collaborate with her,” says Van Houten, adding that after seeing one of Bruckheimer’s photography exhibitions at the Headley Whitney Museum in Lexington, she reached out to her with an idea.
“It took two years of negotiating on the best way to mount an exhibit, but we finally made it happen, and our exhibition, “Linda Bruckheimer: Lost and Found Farmscapes,” which opened in May of this year will run through May of 2027,” says Van Houten.
The exhibition is a series of 10 large farmscapes mounted – five on each side – on the former tobacco barn once slated for demolition by developers who had title to this part of Van Houten’s family farm.
Luckily, she was able to buy it back and instead of being razed, the barn was rehabbed by a Mennonite crew from Harrodsburg.
“What you will see are photographs selected by Linda from her Roadmap book to illustrate various types of barns – dairy, tobacco, feed, equipment,” says Van Houten. “The only common denominator is that they are all in Kentucky and all showcase its history as an agricultural state.”
The four-foot by six-foot images are a nostalgic reminder of both the beauty of these farms and the backbreaking human toil it took not only for them to survive, but to thrive.
“I envisioned this exhibition of large photos of Kentucky’s farmsteads as windows into my family’s actual experience – being displayed on the exterior of the barn that we rescued and renovated here at Josephine Sculpture Park,” says Van Houten.
In addition to her personal history, Van Houten says she also sees the photos as windows on Kentucky’s agricultural history.
Fortunately, Bruckheimer, who with her husband owns a farm outside of Bloomfield, had the same vision, and this shared vision was brought to life by Louisville-based Unique Imaging Concepts.
The company printed the photos on chromaluxe panels with a UV protective coating to ensure they would be safe in Kentucky’s ever-changing weather.
Van Houten says the response from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive, as have accompanying programs such as the watercolor painting class conducted by Frankfort artist Toby Penney.
“I promise there will be more of these special programs to complement Linda’s exhibit throughout its time here,” Van Houten assures. She encourages those interested to sign up on their email list (josephinesculpturepark.org) and follow them on social media to keep abreast of upcoming events.
