SNOT ♪ >> Renee: ART ON WHEELS.

WE CATCH UP WITH THE NEW LEADER OF THE ON THE MOVE ART STUDIO THAT BRINGS THE JOY OF ART TO UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY WITH FREE CLASSES FOR KIDS AND THEN, WE CATCH UP WITH A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WHO, ALONG WITH OTHERS, HAVE FORMED THE COLLABORATIVE TO PRESERVE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A WINNING AFRICAN-AMERICAN HORSEMAN.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

FIRST UP TODAY, WE MEET THE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ON THE MOVE ART STUDIO THAT IS ART IN MOTION.

SERVICING UNDERSERVED KIDS AND INSPIRING SOME FUTURE CREATORS.

KATHY WERKING TALKS WITH US ABOUT HOW THE ORGANIZATION IS REBOOTING IN THE REBOUND FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC.

KATHY, WORKING WITH THE ON THE MOVE ART STUDIO, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAVE YOU HERE IN THIS STUDIO.

>> I KNOW.

THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT ON THE MOVE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, RIGHT WHEN WE THINK IT WAS JUST A CONCEPT, AND IT HADN'T REALLY BORN OUT YET AND THAT WAS 2015.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN THAT LONG.

>> I KNOW.

IT'S SO FAST.

>> Renee: FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT PREVIOUS SHOW, TELL US ABOUT WHAT THIS IS AND ON THE MOVE ART STUDIO HAS A LOT OF SIGNIFICANCE LITERALLY.

>> IT IS ABOUT HOW TO BRING ART LESSONS TO AT-RISK YOUTH.

AND ONE OF THE BARRIERS IS THESE YOUTH IS TO GET THEM PLACES.

WE WANTED TO BRING THE ART LESSONS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THEY COULD ENJOY THEM AND LEARN FROM THEM.

AND WE, I HAVE HAD A VERY WEIRD OBSESSION WITH VINTAGE CAMPER TRAILERS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I'M NOT EVEN A CAMPER.

I JUST REALLY LOVED THEM AND SO I FINALLY REALIZED IT WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO PUT ART SUPPLIES IN A VINTAGE CAMPER AND , YOU KNOW, DRIVE IT AROUND LEXINGTON.

>> Renee: THAT'S AWESOME.

>> SO ALL OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, HOURS OF DREAMING AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT VINTAGE CAMPERS FINAL WILL I PAID OFF.

BUT-- BUT SO WE HAVE A 1969 STREAMLINER NAMED ARTHUR, WHO CARRIES US AROUND TO EVENTS AND DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD DAYS AND AS WELL AS SCHOOLS.

WE DO A LOT OF PARTNERING WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AROUND TOWN.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SORT OF ANNOUNCE OUR PRESENCE, WE ARE HERE.

>> Renee: LITERALLY, RIGHT?

DOES ARTHUR MAKE A LOT OF NOISE?

HE IS A 1969 STREAMLINEER.

>> HE DOES NOT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE BUT HE IS 29 FEET.

>> Renee: SO HE IS HEALTHY.

HE TRIPLE PARKS, I GUESS.

>> RIGHT, PARKING IS NOT TOO EASY IN SOME SITUATIONS.

BUT BUT IT'S GREAT ADVERTISING FOR OUR PROGRAM AS WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THE KIDS REALLY LOVE IT.

>> Renee: SO ALL OF THIS IS INSIDE OF ARTHUR.

IT'S NOT-- OR THERE IS SOME OUTSIDE ACTIVITY?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER.

BUT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, TABLES THAT WE PUT UP.

OTHER TENTS THAT SO THAT WE CAN WORK OUTSIDE IF THE WEATHER IS GOOD.

SOME OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE US WORK INSIDE THEIR FACILITY AND SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AT THE EVENT AS TO WHAT WE DO.

SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

WE PLAY MUSIC AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS CREATE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART AND BRING A LOT OF JOY.

>> Renee: WE CAN ALL STAND A HEALTHY DOSE OF THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PRE-COVID WE WERE REALLY, I BELIEVE JOSH IS OUR OTHER CO-FOUNDER, THE KEEPER OF THE SPREAD SHEETS.

>> Renee: YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE.

>> IT'S A GREAT SKILL SET.

IT'S JUST NOT MINE.

AND WE HAVE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 30,000 STUDENTS.

>> Renee: THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

>> PRIOR TO COVID.

ALL OVER THE STATE.

IT WASN'T JUST IN LEXINGTON.

>> Renee: THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.

HOW MUCH CAN ARTHUR MOVE ACROSS.

>> ARTHUR CAN MOVE.

WE HAVE BEEN UP TO NORTHERN KENTUCKY WE HAVE BEEN IN FRANKFORT, McQUERY COUNTY.

JUST WHEREVER THE NEED IS AND THE REQUEST COMES FROM, WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

>> Renee: THAT BRINGS UP A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT HOW PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GET TO YOU OR DO YOU REACH OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PARTNERS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WHEN WE STARTED THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO MARKET OURSELVES AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

PEOPLE ARE CALLING US AND WE WERE BOOKED SOLID PRIOR TO COVID AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THE COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED SO, YEAH, THAT WAS-- WE ARE IN ONE OF THOSE UNUSUAL BUSINESS KINDS OF SITUATIONS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO MARKET.

>> AND NICE.

>> Renee: THAT CAN BE A BUDGET BUSTER JUST HAVING TO DO THAT.

PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT IS THEIR FEE OR HOW DOES IT WORK IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO COME TO McQUERY COUNTY?

>> IT'S FREE TO THE CHILDREN.

OUR PARTNERS, WE ASK THEM IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PAY US FOR OUR INSTRUCTORS AS WELL AS SOME SUPPLIES THAT WE MIGHT DO.

BUT IT'S VERY REASONABLE FEE.

WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ASK THAT QUESTION AND IF THEY SAY, I DON'T KNOW.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT, AND THEIR MISSION IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MISSION, THEN WE DO IT.

>> Renee: YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW COVID THREW A WRENCH INTO THINGS AND THE KIND OF PAUSE YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ON THIS LAST 15, 16 MONTHS.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE?

>> WELL OBVIOUSLY ALL OF OUR FACE-TO-FACE PROGRAMMING WENT AWAY.

WE DID PROVIDE ZOOM LESSONS.

>> Mayor: FUN.

>> THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK GROUP AND THROUGH A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT, NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WERE DOING, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO STAY ENGAGED VIA ZOOM.

WE TOOK A PAUSE TO LOOK AT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OUR FUNDING COMPONENT AND WE REALIZED THAT THE WE WERE TOO DEPENDENT ON THE PROGRAMMING FUNDING.

SO WE DEVELOPED, WE ARE STARTING TO DEVELOP A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SO THAT WE HAVE A STEADIER STREAM OF REVENUE THAT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON JUST THE CLASSES THAT THE WE GIVE.

>> Renee: IF YOU THINK ABOUT A TIME, EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID, WHICH WE HOPE WE ARE MOVING TOWARD, THAT PEOPLE ARE NEEDING ALL KINDS OF THERAPIES, ALL KINDS OF OUTLETS, CREATIVE AND OTHERWISE.

THERAPEUTIC, TO REALLY HELP THEM , YOU KNOW, REBOUND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A HECK OF A 15, 16 MONTHS.

>> OH YES, VERY MUCH SO.

>> Renee: FOR ADULTS AND FOR KIDS I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW YOU SEE ART AS THIS MEDIUM THAT CAN BE THERAPEUTIC FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE MOVE.

>> UNWITH OF THE THINGS WE DID DURING COVID IS THAT THE WE KIND OF EXPANDED WHO WE SERVE, OKAY, BECAUSE WE LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS A VERY FLEXIBLE ORGANIZATION AND THERE WERE SOME GROUPS THAT WERE REALLY SUFFERING BADLY AND ONE OF THOSE WAS OUR ELDERLY POPULATION.

SO I DEVELOPED A PROJECT CALLED ELDER ART AND WE WOULD-- I WOULD MAKE VIDEO INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS AND SEND IT TO NURSING HOMES AND THEN THEIR STAFF AND ALONG WITH THE SUPPLIES.

AND THEIR STAFF WOULD HELP THE RESIDENTS THROUGH THAT.

SO THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME IS THAT IT GAVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO, TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

>> Renee: BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR OTHER ACTIVITIES WERE PROBABLY ELIMINATED DURING THAT TIME.

>> THEY WERE STUCK IN THEIR ROOMS FOR SO MANY MONTHS.

AND IT STILL GAVE THEM A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WAS AN OUTLET FOR THEM TO FEEL CREATIVE AND IT ALSO HELPED TO RELAX THEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF UNIVERSAL.

WE ALSO PROVIDED FREE ART CLASSES TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS AS A MEANS FOR, YOU KNOW, RELIEVING THEIR STRESS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO WHAT ART DOES, IT JUST GETS US IN TOUCH WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR CREATIVITY WITH A FLOW THAT WE OFTEN TIMES DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WITH THE BUSY-NESS OF OUR DAY.

IT IMPROVES FOCUS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS.

IT'S LIKE I'M A TERRIBLE MEDITATOR.

I HAVE BUSY BRAIN.

BUT ART IS A WAY, IS A FORM OF MEDITATION.

>> Renee: DIDN'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY.

IT REQUIRES SOME INTENSE FOCUS THERE.

>> INTENSE FOCUS.

YOUR HANDS ARE DOING SOMETHING.

AND-- >> Renee: AND YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU BETTER TAKE THAT UP.

>> Renee: I THINK I WILL.

I WAS JUST THINKING BECAUSE WE THINK OF IT BEING PERFORMATIVE THAT OKAY, I'VE TAKEN THOSE PAINTING CLASSES WHERE YOU GO IN AND THEY SAY OKAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO PAINT.

AND LIME LIKE, AT THE END, MINE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

AND SO BECAUSE IT'S FUN AND IF YOU HAVE A GLASS OF WINE WITH IT, IT IS EVEN MORE FUN.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT TAKES THE EDGE OFF AND IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE PICASSO HERE, THAT IT IS JUST REALLY ABOUT YOUR OWN FORM OF EXPRESSION.

SO WHAT IF YOUR TREE IS CROOKED AND YOUR SKY IS NO THE QUITE BLUE.

>> THROUGH COVID I STARTED DOING MORE PROCESS ART WHERE IT'S THE PROCESS OF CREATING THAT HIVE THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS IS RATHER THAN ON THE PRODUCT.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND PEOPLE REALLY GET INTO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MISTAKES.

IT'S FREEING.

FREEING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT KIND OF ART.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND HOW TO PRESENT ART TO THEM.

WITH OUR YOUNGER KIDS, WE ALSO HAVE INTEGRATED CRITICAL THINKING INTO IT AND THEY LOVE IT, PUTTING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING UP A BIG PICTURE OF A PIECE OF ART AND HAVING THEM LEARN TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE ON THEIR CLAIMS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, TO START EXPLORING THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH ART.

AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, TOO.

>> Renee: AND WE KNOW THAT 21st CENTURY CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, THAT'S PART OF THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM.

IT COULD BE VERY HARD TO TEACH CRITICALLY BUT YOU ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS HANDS ON.

THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT?

WHICH PROBABLY LENDS TO GREATER SUCCESS WHEN THEY'RE NOT BEING TOLD, NOW YOU ARE THINKING CRITICALLY.

YOU ARE JUST PUTTING THEM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ASK THEM QUESTIONS AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THEY'VE COME UP WITH SOMETHING VERY PROFOUND.

>> AND IF ANY OF YOUR VIEWERS ARE INTERESTED, I HAVE BEEN TAKING ONLINE CLASSES WITH THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART AND THEY HAVE A FABULOUS PROGRAM ON HOW TO INTEGRATE CRITICAL THINKING AND ART INTO CURRICULA.

>> Renee: AND WE KNOW THAT SCHOOLS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO OFFER THE TYPES OF ARTS PROGRAMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO JUST BECAUSE BUDGETS ARE TIGHT AND SO I CAN SEE ON THE MOVE REALLY BEING A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER WITH THEM AS YOU MENTIONED.

AND FILLING?

GAPS, PARTICULARLY WITH THESE KIDS WHO ARE AT PROMISE WHO MAYBE NEED TO HAVE THIS OUTLET AS A GOOD DIVERSION FROM OTHER THINGS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE NOW?

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH ON THE MOVE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER BIG PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PAST YEAR IS A PROGRAM CALLED ARTIST OF ALL COLORS.

AND WE WORK WITH A VERY DIVERSE, YOU KNOW, POPULATION.

AND WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK IS THAT TRADITIONAL ART CURRICULUM, THEY DON'T TEND TO FEATURE ARTISTS OF COLOR AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO FILL THAT GAP THIS WILL BE A PAID MEMBERSHIP GEARED TOWARDS HOME SCHOOLED PARENTS, PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO LIKE ART, AS WELL AS PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS WE HAVE CREATED LESSON BUNDLES THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE ARTIST, THEIR LIFE STORY, HOW IT IS INTEGRATED IN THEIR WORK AND INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT HOW TO COMPLETE AN ART PROJECT THAT IS INSPIRED BY THE ARTIST'S WORK.

>> Renee: COOL.

>> WE ARE CALLING THEM ART LESSON BUNDLES AND WE ARE WORKING ON RAISING MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT PROGRAM TO FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE STILL THE OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES WHO NEED IT BUT CAN'T AFFORD IT AS WELL AS KEEPING US GOING THROUGH THE REVENUE THAT WE CAN GENERATE THROUGH THE MEMBERSHIPS.

>> AND YOU ALL HAVE LOTS OF GREAT VOLUNTEERS YOURSELF, RIGHT?

COULD YOU DO IT WITHOUT THEM?

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] NO.

I HAVE GREAT 12RUBG INSTRUCTORS.

WE HAVE GREAT VOLUNTEERS, GREAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WE ARE JUST REALLY , REALLY, REALLY BLESSED.

>> Renee: AND SO PERHAPS COVID HAS BEEN A TIME TO BE REFLECTIVE AND INTROSPECTIVE.

I THINK WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH THAT PHASE.

AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS, TOO, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, LET'S RESET HERE.

>> YES.

>> Renee: AND SEE THE SILVER LINING AND WORK TOWARD THAT AND HOW ART CAN BE EMPOWERING, REGARDLESS WHAT SEASON WE ARE IN IN OUR LIVES.

>> RIGHT.

>> Renee: YEAH.

>> AND THIS SUMMER WE ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE SUMMER IGNITE PROGRAM IN FAYETTE COUNTY AND IT'S GREAT TO BE SEEING THE KIDS AGAIN.

>> Renee: ISN'T IT?

THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN FACE TO FACE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR SWEET FACES AND EXCITEMENT.

YOU CAN GET THAT THROUGH ZOOM BUT MORE MAGIC IS RIGHT HERE.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE ALL DOING ART TOGETHER THAT IS FABULOUS.

>> Renee: IT'S A GREAT, JR.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT ENERGY THAT YOU ARE DOING AND JOSH AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THAT ON THE MOVE IS ON THE MOVE.

AND WE SHOULD JUST SAY REAL QUICKLY THAT ARTHUR SAID IT WAS A 1969 STREAMLINER IS GOING TO BE REPURPOSED.

TELL US WHERE HE IS GOING TO LIVE.

>> I HAVE A BUSINESS IN PARIS, KENTUCKY, CALLED ART ON HIGH.

AND I'M DEVELOPING A PROGRAM IN THE BACK OF MY BUILDING THAT WILL HAVE A FOOD CANTEEN, ARTHUR IS GOING TO BE AN ART EXHIBIT AREA PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN'S ART.

AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A CANDLE COMPANY SO IT'S GOING TO BE A PRODUCTION CANDLE COMPANY AND I'M PARTNERING WITH PARIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO MAKE THIS KIND OF A WORK STUDY KIND OF SPACE WHERE THEY WILL BE LEARNING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WORKFORCE SKILLS AND WORKING AT REASONABLE WAGES.

>> Renee: THAT'S AWESOME.

>> ARTHUR WILL BE PART OF THAT.

>> Renee: WE'LL HAVE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

ON THE MOVE AND HOW ARTHUR IS STILL LIVING AND THRIVING AND TAKING UP A LOT OF SPACE IN A BACKYARD.

[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO SEE PICTURES OF THAT AS WELL.

>> I WILL DEFINITELY STAY IN TOUCH.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Renee: THAT'S AWESOME.

KATHY THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE BROUGHT THE STORY ON THE MOVE A FEW YEARS AGO AND KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH YOU ALL AND THE TREMENDOUS WORK YOU ARE DOING NOT JUST IN LEXINGTON BUT THROUGHOUT.

>> THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> Renee: STAY WITH US ON CONNECTIONS AS WE TALK WITH AN ORGANIZER OF PHOENIX RISING LEXINGTON.

JIM EMBREY, HE TALKS WITH US ABOUT WAYS THE COLLABORATIVE IS PRESERVING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN JOCKEYS.

EVEN IF IXZ RISING LEXINGTON HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FIVE YEARS AND INSPIRED BY THREE-TIME DERBY WINNING JOCKEY ISAAC MURPHY.

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE NOT JUST IN SPORTS BUT SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

I'M JOINED BY JIM EMBREY, THE DIRECTOR AT LARGE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PHOENIX RISING, AN ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO PRESERVE AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK HORSEMEN WHO FORMED THE BACKBONE OF THE HORSE INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY AND BEYOND.

THAT'S IS A CORRECT ASSESSMENT, RIGHT?

>> WF.

A BLESSING TO BE HERE AGAIN, RENEE.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WE LOVE THE KET FAMILY AROUND YOU.

OUR ANCESTORS.

IT'S A BLESSING.

IT'S AN HONOR I WANT TO JUST DRESS IN THE PURPLE COLOR TO HONOR OUR ANCESTORS.

>> ISAAC MURPHY IS GETTING A LOT OF OVER DUE PRAISE.

FRANK X WALKER HAS WRITTEN EXTRAORDINARY WORK ABOUT HIM.

PELLHAM McDANIELS WHO THIS BOOK PRINCE OF JOCKEYS WROTE A SIGNATURE BIOGRAPHY OF HIM.

ALMOST THE DEFINITIVE WORK OF ISAAC MURPHY AND SADLY WE LOST HIM IN 2020.

>> IT BROKE OUR HEART.

AS YOU MENTION, PELLHAM WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR PHOENIX RISING FORMING ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, HE WAS HERE SPEAKING ABOUT HIS BOOK.

HE SPOKE AT U.K. AND THEN HE SPENT ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS COMING TO LEXINGTON FOR WEEKS AT A TIME TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH PHOENIX RISING FROM LECTURE SERIES AT THE LYRIC, MURPHY ART GARDEN, LECTURES AT LOCAL SCHOOLS.

HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY AT LYRIC COMING FROM THIS BOOK AND WORKING ON A FILM ADAPTATION OF THIS BOOK AND AGAIN THIS IS A SIGNATURE BOOK ON ISAAC MURPHY AND HE IS REGARDED IN OUR TERMS AS ONE OF THE VERY BEST OF THE BLUEGRASS FOR ALL OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO RACING, HE BROUGHT RIDING OFF THE PACE WHICH MEANS RATHER THAN RIDING YOUR HORSE FAST FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, HE WOULD HOLD THE HORSE IN CHECK MAYBE UNTIL THE LAST QUARTER MILE, LAST EIGHTH MILE AND THEN SAY GIDDY-UP AND HE WON ALMOST HALF OF HIS RACES IN THAT KIND OF A STYLE AND JOCKEYS NOW RIDE MOST OF THE TIME OFF THE PACE.

THANKS TO ISAAC MURPHY.

>> Renee: THANKS TO ISAAC MURPHY WHO SET THE PACE, A TRUE PACE SETTER.

DO YOU THIS I THAT NOW BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION OF ISAAC MURPHY THAT WE ARE GIVING BLACK HORSEMEN THEIR DUE?

AND WE'VE GOT SOME RISING STARS WITH GREG HARBAUGH AND OTHERS WHO FORMED THAT GROUP.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE A RESURGENCE OR RENAISSANCE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE INTO THE EQUINE INDUSTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2006, WHEN BROTHER BRUCE MUNDY AND I WERE WORKING WITH LEADERSHIP LEXINGTON TO CREATE A PROJECT LEADERSHIP LEXINGTON.

WE WERE ALREADY NAMING ART GARDENS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS LIKE MARY BRITAIN ON SEVENTH STREET AND THEN WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO DO ANOTHER ONE, WE FOUND THIS PIECE OF LAND ON THIRD STREET THAT WE KNEW WAS NEAR HIS HOME.

IT WAS NEAR THE HOME OF ISAAC AND LUCY MURPHY, MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE SAME SPOT AS IT WAS.

TO HAVE THIS ART GARDEN CREATED NAMED FOR ICE ISAAC MURPHY BUT THE NAME MORATORIUM ALSO MEANT TO RECOGNIZE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO BE ON A HORSE.

PEOPLE LIKE THE GROOMS, THE BLACKSMITHS, THE TRAINERS PROBABLY WHO SOLD THE SILKS, MADE THE LEATHER, THE REINS, THE SADDLE.

PEOPLE WHO GREW THE HAY.

THOSE ARE ALL THE FOLKS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ISAAC TO RIDE AND BE SO SUCCESSFUL AND HE LIVED, WAS BORN HERE.

HIS DAD FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR, DIED IN THE CIVIL WAR.

BUT HE CAME TO LEXINGTON TO LIVE AND MAKE A LIFE AND WHAT A LIFE HE AND LUCY HAD.

SO WHEN WE BEGAN THINKING THIS YEAR ABOUT HAVING THIS JAZZ SERIES, WE CALLED IT FROM THE FRONT PORCH JAZZ SERIES BECAUSE THEIR HOME WAS LOCATED, THIS HUGE TWO STORY MANSION, OKAY, IN THE 1890S THAT OVERLOOKED THE OLDER RACETRACK.

THEY WOULD HAVE THESE PARTIES THAT WERE WRITTEN UP IN THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER," LEXINGTON NEWSPAPERS PARTIES, BUT ALWAYS HAD MUSIC.

SO WE ARE JUST CHANNELING THE SPIRIT OF ISIS AK AND LUCY BY HAVING THIS JAZZ SERIES.

>> AND HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A HORSEMAN AND FAMOUS JOCKEY.

HE WAS POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS AND LOVED ART AND CULTURE.

>> HE SURE DID.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MASONIC ORDER.

HE WAS ALWAYS CHAMPIONING OTHER BLACK FOLK TO BE IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY.

HE HELPED SERVE AS A MENTOR FOR OTHER JOCKEYS.

HE HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR DIFFERENT TRAINERS THAT WERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO GET JOBS AT DIFFERENT HORSE FARMS HE WAS A SOCIALITE AND HE WAS A PERSON WHO RECOGNIZED THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS HE COULD HELP CREATE GENDER EQUITY AND JUSTICE WAS THROUGH BEING AN OUTSTANDING JOCKEY BUT ALSO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN HE DIED AT THEIR HOME ON THIRD STREET, IN THE NEWSPAPER SOME 500 PEOPLE WERE IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION THAT LEFT THEIR HOME AND WENT DOWN THROUGH THIRD STREET AND AROUND DOWNTOWN AREA AND CAME BACK TO THE CEMETERY ON SEVENTH STREET.

>> Renee: WOW.

>> HE WAS LOVED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE NATIONALLY.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

HE WASN'T JUST A HERO IN THE BLUEGRASS AREA AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUT THROUGHOUT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Renee: AND THE FACT THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS UNTIL THE LAST PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE LAST CENTURY REALLY?

>> YEAH, AND SOME OF US KNEW WHO HE WAS, BUT WHEN HE FORMED THE ART GARDEN, THEN WE REACHED OUT TO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.

LEADERSHIP LEXINGTON BACK THEN JIM NEWBURY WAS THE MAYOR, WHO REACHED OUT TO THE HORSE PARK WHERE HE WAS BURIED AT, OKAY, AND COMMERCE LEXINGTON, VARIETY OF PEOPLE, WE INVITED IN TO BE A PART OF THIS ART GARDEN CREATION AND THE LEGACY TRAIL, WHEN MY FOUNDATION LEFT HERE, THEY WENT TO LEAVE SOME TYPE OF LOCAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THEIR FOUNDATION ABOUT-- 200... AND WITH THE IDEA OF LINKING MURPHY AND LUCY'S HOME, NOW THE ART GARDEN WITH WHERE HE WAS BURIED AT AT THE HORSE PARK WAS THE REASON FOR THE LEGACY TRAIL.

HORSE PARK DEVELOPED THEIR OWN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HORSE EXHIBIT.

YOU MENTIONED OUR DEAR FRIEND FRANK WALKER'S BOOK, WHO WE LOVE VERY MUCH.

WAS WRITTEN AND A PLAY WAS WRITTEN AS AN INSPIRATION FROM THE ART GARDEN.

YOU MENTION AGAIN, ONE OF OUR DEAR BELOVED BROTHERS, GRAYING HAR BAUGH WHO FORMED THE SOCIETY TO HELP CHANNEL PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN INTO BECOMING OWNERS AND ACTUALLY RACING HORSES.

INSPIRATION FROM THE ART GARDEN.

AND THEN, WITH PELLHAM'S BOOK, WITH THE ART GARDEN AND HIS BOOK, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, WHICH WAS RIGHTLY SO, BEGAN CELEBRATING, RECOGNIZING ISAAC MURPHY AS WELL AS OTHER FOLKS WHO WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO WERE JOCKEYS, TRAINERS, GROOMS AND SO FORTH.

WE HAVE A WALKING TRAIL NOW THROUGH DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON THAT ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND, RUE FUSS RUFUS FRIDAY HELPED FUND.

ANN BUTLER FROM KSU, THEY WERE SO HELPFUL.

>> Renee: DECEASED NOW.

>> EXACTLY.

SO YEAH, AND RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR PART OF THE RECOGNITION HAS INSPIRED THE LIKES OF MAKERS MARK DISTILLERY, KEENELAND RACETRACK, LEXARTS TO HAVE THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS WHERE NOT JUST ONE BOTTLE OR TWO BUT THREE BOTTLES OF MAKER'S MARK THIS YEAR IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, ARE HAVING ARTISTS PAINT AN IMAGE OF SOME KIND OF HORSE SCENE AND THEN THOSE BOTTLES, THE PROCEEDS FROM THOSE BOTTLES WHATEVER THAT MIGHT MEAN, WILL COME BACK TO THE ART GARDEN AND HELP US PURCHASE ART AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PURCHASING SOME ART FROM OUR DEAR BELOVEDLEY VON BELOVED LEVON.

WE ARE MANIES LOOKING AT ALSO SOME TYPE OF SHADED COVERING THAT CAN PROVIDE BOTH SHADE AND ALSO BEING OUT OF THE RAIN.

>> Renee: SURE.

A LITTLE PAVILION.

>> WE HAVE YET TO DESIGN THAT KIND OF A COVERING.

SO AGAIN, SO WE ARE JUST THANKFUL AND FEEL BLESSED THAT AFTER 15 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET ISAAC'S NAME OUT AND GET SUPPORT AND GET HELP, THAT NOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THESE MAJOR CORPORATIONS FROM KENTUCKY CHURCHILL DOWNS IS ALSO DOING A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS.

THEY NOW HAVE A CHURCHILL DOWNS MUSEUM LIKE THE HORSE PARK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HORSEMAN EXHIBIT.

>> Renee: AND THERE IS A JAZZ SERIES THAT IS COMING UP AND WE'LL LET PEOPLE GO TO YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: AND TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE THAT IS A FREE EVENING OUT.

>> WE INVITE ALL THE KET FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

WE LOVE Y'ALL.

COME OUT AND SUPPORT FROM THE FRONT PORCH JAZZ SERIES, AGAIN, AUGUST 14.

AND AUGUST 18 AT THE MURPHY ART GARDEN.

>> Renee: PERFECT JIM EMBREY FOR ALL THE THAT YOU DO AND KEEPING ALL OF US ENERGIZED AND CULTURALLY AWARE AND ENGAGED IN OUR ART COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING CONNECTIONS TODAY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT ART AND CULTURE AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH OTHER PROGRAMS ON CONNECTIONS AT ket.org/CONNECTIONS AND LISTEN TO PODCASTS TOO, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT AS WELL.

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND I WILL SEE YOU NEXT