Leading with Vision: Highlights from Lexington Arts Day

“The arts are essential to the community, city, life, and humanity.” – Tim Kirkman
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Throughout the day, we saw this reflected in every corner of Lexington. Whether it was the artwork showcased in the East End, the rich history brought to life at the Lexington Children’s Theatre, or a hidden gem that was once a movie theater and is now Lex Studios, the impact of the arts was undeniable.

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The day began with an exciting, vibrant, high-energy performance by Mariachi Escudo de Bryan Station High School - Kentucky’s first public mariachi. The students performed 4 musical pieces. It was beautiful to witness the diversity of their talents and confidence shine through each solo, whether instrumental or vocal. After the performance, we had the opportunity to learn about traditional instruments and their origins, such as vihuela and the guitarrón (string instruments with round backs to help amplify sound).

After being serenaded, the class was put to the test on their flexibility. We were invited to join Allegro Dance Project in a movement and exercise session, where we learned that every body can move.

After an exciting morning, the momentum continued as we toured East End. Learning about visual art by Kiptoo and the inspiration behind the sculptures. We also learned how Mark Johnson supports local artists in teaching them markable skills, how to appraise art, and communicate with galleries. After, we ventured to explore Artists’ Village, something I have never heard about, which was super cool! Artists' Village is a specialized live/work community in the historic East End designed for artists, creatives, and makers. Featuring affordable homes with attached studios surrounding a shared "Art Park" used for exhibitions and concerts. I can’t wait to return this summer!

Honoring a powerful legacy—Tyra Harbut stands beside artist Kiptoo Tarus and his tribute to her great-grandfather, Will Harbut, and Man O’ War.

At Lex Studio we welcomed Tim Kirkman and David Gerhard for the panel discussion. The class gained insight into the day-to-day lives of film and animation artists, how to support the art, and how they are sharing their knowledge with the youth. One of the most powerful lessons from this panel was the importance of resilience in the arts. With a thousand “no’s,” all you need is one “yes.” Despite external challenges, artists continue to create.
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We ended the day at the Lexington Children’s Theatre with a brief overview of Opera Lex and an interactive lesson of the American Spiritual Ensemble founded by Dr. Everett McCorvey. Later we were split into two rotating groups. One group learned about the history, impact, and mission behind Lexington Children’s Theatre and participated in an acting exercise. While the other group learned from our very own classmate, Lyndy Smith, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Lexington Theatre Company. Lyndy shared an inspiring overview of the company’s mission and accomplishments and ended with an interactive ​activity. She asked the group to raise their hand if they thought they were creative. As expected, a few of hands popped up. She continued to connect leadership and creativity and said “creativity is connecting the seemingly unconnected dots” hitting the ball out of the park that everyone is creative.

I am a little biased as someone who grew up in the arts, but this was by far my favorite day. Every moment was interactive, immersive, and the perfect reminder of why the arts matter so much. Key takeaways from the class: There are opportunities in art no matter the age, art highlights individuality, and art is the soul of the city. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible!

Written by Bailey Milam, Kentucky Event Company
​Photos by Mahan Multimedia