March 23, 2017 - Coal miners in Kentucky have been an essential element to American growth and progress. These miners deserve to be honored and memorialized for their hard and sometimes dangerous jobs.

Joyce Minnick along with her husband Jim are donating a bronze sculpture to honor the coal miners.

Joyce was born and raised in Harlan County.

“My beloved grandfather, John W. Jump, was a coal miner. I never knew we were poor, living in those mountains was the happiest days of my young life,” stated Joyce.

A world-class sculptor and engraver, Joyce has been internationally recognized. Both she and her husband have been inducted into the prestigious Corporazione Italiana Coltellinai in Milan, Italy, as “maestros.”

She has always had it in her heart to donate through her art — a sculpture — honoring the coal miners in Kentucky. She used as her model her grandfather’s original coal mining equipment, given to her by her grandmother.

This has been a very emotional five-year journey for Joyce, and she is blessed to have it finally come to fruition. The bronze sculpture, including the granite and knotty-alder base with swivel pedestal, stands 57 1/2 inches high.

Jim and Joyce have donated much of the money toward production, having three donors and cousins help to cover the costs. The Harlan Center will pay for the plaque, which will hold no more than 100 names. Joyce has donated all her work.

Any Kentucky miner’s name and county may be inscribed on the plaque at the cost of $100 by check payable to the Harlan Center, 201 South Main Street, Harlan, KY 40831.

Forms are available at the Harlan Center, or can be mailed to those interested by calling the Harlan Center at 606-573-4495. The final closing date for the names collected will be April 15.

There will be a dedication ceremony held at 1 p.m. on May 20 at the Harlan Center. To RSVP, contact the Harlan Center. 

This sculpture honoring coal miners has been donated by the artist.

Photo by Joyce Minnick