Kentucky Life travels to downtown Paducah, where a thriving community of artists, galleries and museums have helped the city develop a reputation as one of Kentucky’s most creative communities. The program also tastes world-class barbeque in Union County, visits with Owensboro artist Aaron Kizer and tours Bowling Green’s Historic Railpark and Train Museum. The episode airs Saturday, April 4 at 8/7 pm and Sunday, April 5 at 4/3 pm on KET and Monday, April 6 at 7/6 pm on KET2.

In Paducah, Kentucky Life tours the city’s vibrant downtown and uncovers some of the city’s unique history – including its roots at the convergence point of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers.

Then, the program travels to Waverly, Ky., in Union County, home of Peak Bros. Bar-B-Que, where current owner Irene Rich and her siblings are continuing to serve up their father and uncle’s famous recipes for barbecued whole hams, chipped mutton and more. The restaurant’s black pepper ham is highlighted in the “Today’s Special” segment.

Next, self-taught artist Aaron Kizer of Owensboro shares his striking portraits of pop culture figures – from Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix to Steve Jobs. Kizer uses black backgrounds, capitalizing on the negative space in the paintings. His goal for his artwork, he says, is “to create art that prompts people to see all things in their lives from a new and different perspective.”

A segment on a historical marker in Warren County highlights the achievements of Ernest Hogan – called “The Father of Ragtime.” Known for his starring roles in minstrels, vaudeville and musical comedy, Hogan was the first African-American to produce and star in a Broadway show, 1907’s The Oyster Man.

Finally, the program travels to Bowling Green, where the city’s Historic Railpark and Train Museum at the former L&N train depot offers something for everyone. From displays of vintage train equipment and artifacts to interactive exhibits and restored railcars, the Railpark brings visitors face-to-face with the by-gone elegance of the “Golden Age” of American passenger trains.

Kentucky Life is a KET production. Series producer is Brandon Wickey. Segment producers for this episode are Frank Simkonis, Rob Elliott, Jim Piston and John Schroering.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, serving more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization on Twitter @KET and facebook.com/KET and at KET.org.

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Todd Piccirilli
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
859-258-7242
tpiccirilli@ket.org