Kentucky Holy Land

Posted on the Kudzujelly substack June 29, 2026

I am an unofficial ambassador to Kentucky’s holy land, an area in Central Kentucky, mainly Nelson, Marion & Washington Counties, abundant in creeks, knobs, convents, abbeys, and art. I love connecting folks, especially artists and activists, to the inspiration and repose found in these parts. I’ve yet to meet anyone who has taken retreat on this land and not walked away with a story to tell.

At the Sisters of Loretto in Nerinx, KY, the legacy of artist Sister Jeanne Dueber (1937-2026) shapes not only the land, but the creative lives of those who pass through it.

Large, animistic sculptures, assembled from materials Sister Jeanne gathered in the surrounding woods, hold court on the porch of Rhodes Hall and are scattered across the campus. A towering stainless steel sculpture presides over the AIDS Memorial Garden and cemetery. Her many crucifixions bear the literal imprint of her community: cast from the hands and feet of her fellow Sisters.

Read the entire post about Leah Raidt’s experience as an artist-in-residence at the Loretto Motherhouse and enjoy the photos and art on the substack post “Kentucky Holy Land.”