Inspired by themes of faith, hope and love, Al Nelson creates stunning sculptures from stone, impressive landmarks in the Louisville area that include “Let’s Play Ball,” the 15-ton stone baseball mitt in the Louisville Slugger Museum; the “Hearts in Harmony” family group outside the downtown YMCA; and “Chris,” a dragon boat at Cherokee Park. But perhaps most impressive is the large number of carving workshops and charitable projects he does with his wife, Penny. Nelson exercises a tremendous amount of compassion that he balances with humility.
“I feel blessed to have stumbled upon my passion,” he says. “I love everything about it — the sweat, the dust, the mess. But most of all, I love that it gives me a voice to express myself. Art is first and foremost communication, and I believe sculpture is a universal language.”
