Click here to view a media gallery of the exhibit at Bowman Field.
In honor of Black History Month, the Louisville Regional Airport Authority has announced the return of its event, “The Sky’s the Limit: A Celebration of the History of Black Achievement in Aviation,” at Bowman Field for the second year in a row. Throughout February, the exhibit will feature Black aviation community members and their achievements. In honor of Black History Month and the event, the Louisville Regional Airport Authority is also holding an art contest for students of all ages to have their work featured on display at the exhibit.
“This exhibit was a success last year, and we are glad to offer this free experience to our community once again,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport. “We hope to educate and inspire more people on the importance of Black achievement in aviation and celebrate the advancements that each of these leaders piloted.”
Through the use of visuals, visitors will once again see how Black men and women in history got their start in aviation, any adversity they experienced and how they ultimately achieved greatness and rose to prominence. The exhibit will spotlight 14 individuals and organizations, including Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to receive a pilot’s license, Robert Lawrence, pilot designation as the first Black astronaut, and the Tuskegee Airmen.
From February 1-28, the free exhibit will be open to the public without appointment Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bowman Field in the historic Art-Deco terminal building located at 2815 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205.
Organizations wishing to bring a group should contact Kim Pemberton at (502) 363-8506 or Kim.Pemberton@FlyLouisville.com to schedule a time to visit the exhibit. The exhibit will be operating under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state of Kentucky’s COVID-19 safety guidelines.
As part of this exhibit and to celebrate Black History Month, Louisville Regional Airport Authority is also holding a student art contest. Students ages kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to submit their artwork that shows what the exhibit, “The Sky’s the Limit: A Celebration of the History of Black Achievement in Aviation,” means to them.
“To further our educational efforts from this exhibit and engage the next generation of aviation professionals, we are proud to offer an art contest for students to showcase their knowledge, talent and inspiration. We think this will be a fun and engaging way to see what this means through the eyes of our community,” added Mann.
One winner will be selected from each category: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade. The winners’ artwork will be on display as part of the exhibit at Bowman Field and will also be featured on Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport’s social media pages. A grand prize winner 10 years or older will receive a complimentary scholarship to the 2022 Louisville Aviation Camp at Bowman Field in July 2022.
Submissions are accepted now through Friday, February 4, 2022, and may be dropped off at Louisville Regional Airport Authority from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or mailed to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) at 700 Administration Drive Louisville, KY 40209. Electronic art submissions may be sent to Kim.Pemberton@FlyLouisville.com.
For more information about the exhibit or the art contest, contact Natalie Chaudoin at Natalie.Chaudoin@FlyLouisville.com or Darrell Watson at Darrell.Watson@FlyLouisville.com.
