ST. LOUISVILLE, KY.- The Speed Art Museum is pleased to host Kentucky Home: The Colonial Revival Houses of Stratton O. Hammon on view October 16, 2007 through February 4, 2008 in the Works on Paper Gallery.

The exhibition will include architectural drawings as well as vintage and modern photographs, providing a captivating exhibit of Hammon’s delightfully livable and historically inspired homes. Admission to this exhibition is free.

Native Louisvillian Stratton O. Hammon designed homes that recalled the Colonial American past while servicing the modern needs of their owners. Kentucky Home follows Hammon’s career, from his first success as the winner of a local competition that resulted in a model home built at the Louisville Armory to his grand post-war house designs, which reflected America’s growing fascination with its Colonial past.

Inspired by the American past, Hammon quickly became a self-taught expert in the field, training as an architect wherever he could. Hammon first studied architecture at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, KY, then the YMCA, and at the short-lived University of Louisville School of Architecture, all while working as a draftsman for local companies.

Unfortunately, just as he decided to set out on his own as an architect in 1929, the Great Depression began a time of economic hardship throughout The United States. Determined to make his way through this period of financial instability, Hammon submitted sketches of Colonial Revival style houses to various national ladies magazines, a step that would bring him fame as one of America’s most important architects in this popular style.

While making his living as a “paper” architect Hammon was creating a name for himself in Louisville as a master Colonial Revival architect. During WWII he designed Atturbury Army Air Field near Columbus, IN and was later a member of the famous Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Committee (MFAA) of the United States Army. After the War, he returned to Louisville and continued building, creating houses in the Colonial Revival style until shortly before his death in 1997.

A national leader in arts education, serving over 30,000 children each year, the Speed Art Museum has repeatedly been voted Kentucky’s best museum and is considered one of the top ten sites each Kentuckian should visit. The Speed honors its mission to bring great art to our communities through its distinguished collections and as the Commonwealth’s number one venue for international art exhibitions.

Rated one of the top ten audio guides in the country by MSNBC.COM, “Passport to the Speed,” offers insight into selected works in the collection, and is available for free at the Museum’s Welcome Center. The Speed Art Museum: Highlights from the Collection, a new companion guide to the Speed’s distinguished collection will be available December 2007.

The Speed Art Museum is located at 2035 South Third Street in Louisville. Other features of the museum include a hands-on Art Learning Center for families, a café and gift shop. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. For general information, call (502) 634-2700 or visit www.speedmuseum.org .