Love & Marriage Game Show, Davis Jewelers Drawing, Ada Asenjo on Aflora Exhibition, and More
Brad Proffitt proposes to Courtney Worthington at the opening of the Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition at the Frazier History Museum, April 5, 2025.
Good Monday morning, y’all!
Whether you’re coupled up, flying solo, or somewhere in between, the Frazier’s upcoming Is This Love That I’m Feeling? program promises an evening of flirtation, fun, and maybe even a spark or two.
Mix in free gifts for attendees, a free Mary Dowling cocktail, Bourbon tastings, and a chance to win a stunning piece of jewelry from Davis Jewelers, and this event is sure to have you swiping right for days.
Here’s what’s on the menu:
· Mary Dowling welcome cocktail & whiskey tastings
· Try on the latest trending jewelry from Davis Jewelers
· Brilliance & Beyond panel discussion moderated by Editor-in-Chief of Gem + Jewel magazine
· Try on trending merchandise, get jewelry appraised, jewelry cleaning, event planning, etc.
· All attendees will take home a jewelry cleaning kit as a gift
· Meet Shahla Karimi (jewelry designer for Taylor Swift)
· Participate in our Is This Love That I’m Feeling? game show
· Engage in family law consultations from Jenkins & Wheatley
· All attendees are entered into a drawing to win a stunning piece from Davis Jewelers
So join us as we turn up the charm with a night of laughs, libations, and love, all in celebration of our Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition!
In today’s Frazier Weekly, the museum’s Aflora exhibition continues to make meaningful connections, our Step into History Walking Tours are selling out, and there’s an exciting addition to our upcoming Capturing Kentucky program!
And last, a call to action: vote for the Frazier’s Zac Hughes and Heidi Janes for the ROSE Awards!
Enjoy.
Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Aflora: We Flourish in the Midst of Chaos and Oppression
A dance performance at Mexico Lindo at Kentucky Performing Arts, October 4, 2025.
From left, La Casita Center Executive Director Karina Barillas and Aflora Curator Ada Asenjo pose during the exhibition opening and free family day at the Frazier, September 13, 2025.
The Frazier History Museum continues to grow its partnership with La Casita Center with the Aflora art exhibition as a way to collaborate with Kentucky’s Latinx community. We were recently invited to attend a performance by Mexico Lindo at Kentucky Performing Arts and experience the richness and resiliency of Mexico’s cultural history. That same richness is part of our Aflora exhibition at the Frazier, which showcases eighteen artists and their original work. Keep reading to learn how guest curator Ada Asenjo put it all together, and please come see it in person.—Jason Berkowitz, Engagement Specialist
Aflora began in 2019. It was conceived at La Casita Center under the direction of Karina Barillas and a small group of artists who believed that art is for everyone. We wanted to share and show the pleasure and release of artistic expression, and that art is a vehicle for healing and mind-opening experiences. The event was thought of and manifested as an outflow of our inner creative joy, and as such we realized this was a way of decolonizing. It was transformative and so it would be repeated.
This year’s Aflora, the largest to date, includes the work of seventeen artists whom I met with and gathered in an intuitive process of invitation and response until the whole felt complete. Because of the current political climate, we knew that there had to be a show of force—not in violence, but in the most radical way possible: as seeds. The poet Dinos Christianopoulos wrote: “They tried to bury us; they did not know we were seeds.” Once we see ourselves as seeds, we recognize our strength as pure potential, pushing toward light, becoming who we are. In the everyday expressions of our identity, in our dignity and joy, we resist erasure, and in creating, we flourish.
Some may ask whether now is the time to make art, when battles for freedoms and rights feel so urgent. Yet art itself is how we battle. The wonder of art lies in its power to be interpreted differently by each viewer, sparking new light, new possibility, new movement. The expression of our truest selves is resistance. When we show who we are, we pierce the darkness, illuminate what surrounds us, and make way for ourselves and others. Each creation in this exhibition is offered with reverence, gratitude, and care.
We are deeply honored to partner with and have the support of the Frazier History Museum to bring to you this iteration of Aflora—with special thanks to the remarkable team that prepared the displays. This exhibition presents works that reflect these times, a slice in history, and the circumstances in which we are living, how we thrive despite the odds, celebrating everyday moments, fractured identities, family unity, our existence on this planet and in the Universe, the balm that is Nature, idyllic futures and reminds us that Joy itself is resistance, an antidote to subjugation.
Ada Asenjo
Curator, Aflora
Guest Contributor
Last Call for Step into History Walking Tours!
The Frazier’s Mick Sullivan leads the first Step into History Walking Tour of the fall, September 18, 2025.
Learning history all around us while taking a walk on Main Street in the fall: It doesn’t get much better than that.
Welcome to our Step into History Walking Tours! We have two more dates, on October 16 and October 23—but spots are limited!
We cap the walk at around twenty folks, which is the optimum size for a group walking and being able to hear all the captivating history shared by our Curator of Guest Experience Mick Sullivan.
Put on your best walking shoes and prepare for about seventy-five minutes of looking up, looking down, and looking all around.
If you’re a Frazier member, the tours are free. For the general public, it’s the price of admission to the museum. Click here to reserve your spot for October 16 or October 23.
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Capturing Kentucky: What Does it Mean to Document a Place?
Capturing Kentucky flyer.
The Frazier History Museum will present a special panel discussion, Capturing Kentucky: What Does it Mean to Document a Place?, on October 22, at 7 p.m., as part of programming for the Louisville Photo Biennial and the museum’s current exhibition, Documenting Kentucky: Three Photographic Surveys. The event will bring together a distinguished group of photographers whose work spans generations, styles, and approaches to telling Kentucky’s story through the camera lens.
Moderated by Tom Rankin, professor, photographer, folklorist, and former director of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, the discussion will explore how photography shapes our understanding of place, community, and history. Panelists will reflect on their own practices as well as the larger challenges and responsibilities of documenting Kentucky.
The panel will feature five accomplished photographers:
· Ted Wathen and Bob Hower, photographers on the first Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project (KDPP) 1975–77 and co-founders of the relaunched KDPP in 2015, surveys that have become landmarks in capturing the state’s people and landscapes.
· Nate Smallwood, a photographer and visual researcher rooted in the landscapes of the Rust Belt and Appalachia. His work explores themes of vulnerability, identity, and the complexities of what it means to belong in any given space or group.
· Michael Swensen, Hearst Photojournalist of the year; a visual storyteller documenting current events with a focus on community resilience and identity.
· Brittany Greeson, Groundtruth Fellow and twice Michigan Photojournalist of the Year; a documentary photographer whose projects often highlight the intersections of place, memory, and social change.
Together, these voices will offer a rare intergenerational dialogue on the art and responsibility of visual storytelling. The conversation complements Documenting Kentucky: Three Photographic Surveys, now on view at the Frazier, which features selections from the Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project (1975–77), the Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project (2015–24), and the Farm Security Administration (1935–43).
Doors open at 5:30. The panel discussion starts at 7 p.m.
This is a ticketed event. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Ted Wathen and Bob Hower
Founders and Codirectors, Kentucky Documentary Photographic Project
Guest Contributors
Roll Models Tour Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage
The Roll Models pose in the Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition, October 4, 2025.
Kristin Hardwick poses with her wedding dress, which is on display in the Frazier’s Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition, October 4, 2025.
One of the fun things about my job is when I get asked to do a special tour of an exhibition. Overseeing the collections means I spend most of my time in storage away from the exhibitions and the public. That’s because I spend my time preserving and caring for our whole collection.
But, every once and a while, I get asked to do a specialty tour. And if I’m honest, I think my tours are a lot of fun—or at least I hope they are. Because when you tour with the Collections Manager, you learn all the secrets they have learned about the objects. And last Saturday was no exception. On Saturday, October 4, I got to lead a tour for an incredible group called the Roll Models. The Roll Models are a group of women who all have disabilities and spinal cord injuries. They booked a group tour with the museum to see our Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition and specifically Kristin Hardwick’s dress, who you all heard from last week.
As I have mentioned in previous editions, I love our Davis Jewelers’ Love & Marriage exhibition. We spent months working on the dresses making sure we knew every bride and as much information as we could. We spent six weeks dressing every dress with the hope that it looks as it did on the bride. The Frazier spent a year gathering information and content to make sure we had the most diverse group of brides as possible, as well. We always want every Kentuckian to see themselves in our work and I am proud to say that we accomplish that.
So, the tour on Saturday was very special to me, in that I was able to talk with these ladies about our exhibition. It was wonderful because Kristin was there to also talk about her dress to her friends and all the details that make it perfect for her wheelchair and her wedding day. We had a wonderful time and if you have yet to come see our exhibition, don’t wait but come and see it today.
Tish Boyer
Registrar & Manager of Collections Engagement
Frazier’s Zac Hughes, Heidi Janes up for ROSE Awards!
2025 ROSE Awards graphic.
Frazier employees Heidi Janes and Zac Hughes pose with their 2025 ROSE Award nominations, September 29, 2025.
Voting for the 2025 ROSE Awards has begun, and the Frazier’s got two nominees: work besties Zac Hughes and Heidi Janes!
Nominated in the Behind the Scenes category, Building Manager Zac Hughes keeps operations running seamlessly here at Frazier History Museum—no matter the challenge, emergency repairs, custom builds, or technical issues. He steps in and often finds even better solutions than expected. His versatility and quiet competence are essential to the museum’s success.
Nominated in the Guest & Retail Services category, Senior Manager of Operations Heidi Janes strengthens the guest experience at Frazier through thoughtful leadership and hands-on support. She trains her team personally, creates systems that keep operations running smoothly, and steps in wherever help is needed. Her careful planning and practical solutions ensure both guests and staff have what they need to succeed every day.
Thousands of votes will be cast from around the world for each of the sixty-four finalists, recognized as the elite class of ROSE Award honorees for 2025.
We urge you to VOTE FOR ZAC AND HEIDI!
Vote at louisvilleroseawards.com. You may vote once per category—then share to spread the word! Voting will remain open from now until Thursday, October 18 at 11:59 p.m.
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Museum Shop: Skeleton Earrings
Skeleton earrings sold in the Frazier’s Museum Shop.
No bones about it—our skeleton earrings are dying to meet you! Find them and lots of other Halloween earrings in the Frazier’s Museum Shop.
Camp Frazier’s All Tricks, Some Treats Fall Break Camp Wrap-Up
Frazier Engagement Specialist Jason Berkowitz tells campers about the Witches’ Tree in Old Louisville, October 1, 2025.
Frazier Collections Manager Tish Boyer educates campers about Victorian mourning customs, October 1, 2025.
Magician Sidney Lee performs tricks for campers, October 2, 2025.
I am so pleased to announce that Camp Frazier’s 2025 Fall Break Camp was a success! We had such a fantastic time meeting our campers, some of whom we have hosted before and others for the very first time. For me personally, this was my first ever camp at the Frazier since being hired on as Manager of Youth and Family Programs, and it reaffirmed that this was the position for me and the place I want to be!
Throughout the week, our campers engaged in a multitude of lessons and activities all about the different kinds of tricks (and some treats!) pulled throughout history. We planned our own museum heists where campers had to create a plan to steal the Frazier’s beloved buffalo Buffy from the third floor, sampled some candy from local shops over one hundred years old, and watched a magic performance by a real local magician! We even roped in departments outside of the education team at the Frazier to join in on the fun—with special appearances from Engagement Specialist Jason Berkowitz and Collections Manager Tish Boyer, each of whom showed up and showed out in a big way for our campers with costumes and real artifacts!
If you missed out on the fun this time no worries, we are already planning our upcoming Winter Break 2025 camp in December. So keep your eyes and ears peeled as there will be more camp fun to come!
Tori Kennedy
Manager of Youth & Family Programs
AAF-Louisville Names Carolle Jones Clay and Ken Clay 2025 Louisvillians of the Year
2025 Louisvillians of the Year flyer. Credit: AAF-Louisville.
Our hats are off to the ultimate power couple who is being honored as Louisvillians of the Year! Congrats to Ken and Carolle Clay as we thank them for all their work in our community, and their personal involvement with the Frazier History Museum. Ken has joined us for panel discussions and musical programs with his keen knowledge of music and Louisville history. Carolle has attended so many of our events and helped sponsor them through Republic Bank. A power couple who has made their mark in all the right ways for Louisville. Congrats!—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
Since 1908, the American Advertising Federation-Louisville (AAF-Louisville) has been shaping the city’s advertising landscape. In fact, AAF-Louisville is among the oldest American Advertising Federation chapters in the United States. Originally organized as The Ad Writers League of Louisville in 1906, AAF-Louisville hosted some of the earliest national advertising conventions and helped establish the vigilance committees that evolved into today’s national network of Better Business Bureaus.
In 1950, the organization created the Louisvillian of the Year Award, the oldest honor of its kind in Kentucky, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community through civic, educational, or business leadership. This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Louisvillian of the Year award, recognizing pillars of our community, including recipients like Muhammad Ali, Jerry Abramson, and Mary Bingham.
This year, AAF-Louisville proudly recognizes Carolle Jones Clay and Kenneth H. Clay as the 2025 Louisvillians of the Year. Carolle Jones Clay, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Community Relations at Republic Bank & Trust Company, also serves as President of the Republic Bank Foundation. Her community engagement spans many local boards, including the Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville Downtown Partnership, and the Louisville Fund for the Arts.
Kenneth H. Clay, known to many as Louisville’s “Renaissance Man,” is president of Ken Clay & Associates, an arts and special events consulting firm, and founder of Legacies Unlimited Inc., a nonprofit community arts organization. Over several decades, Ken Clay has played a vital role in elevating Louisville’s arts community, serving as Vice President of Programming for the Kentucky Center for the Arts and as Entertainment Producer for WorldFest.
The seventy-fifth anniversary celebration will take place Thursday, October 16, at The Olmsted. A cocktail reception will run from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the award ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets are available online. Please note that registration for the event will close on Tuesday, October 14, at 5 p.m.
American Advertising Federation-Louisville (AAF-Louisville)
Guest Contributor
