Nothing seems to slow down Barbara Sexton Smith, the high-energy, witty and philosophical acting president and chief executive of the Fund for the Arts, who is responsible for generating revenue for the arts in Louisville “all day every day.”
In the course of a year, she and her team will make close to 1,000 presentations all over the community to raise funds for 28 member groups and programs. On average she'll attend five arts events a week.
“I go to everything. I go to the Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Walden Theatre, Stage One, Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Visual Art Association exhibits. I'm always popping into the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft,” said Smith, rattling off many of the groups funded in part by her organization.
“For me to be recharged, re-energize and inspired I start every morning drinking coffee on my couch looking out over the Ohio River from my apartment on the top of the Harbison building at the corner of Seventh and Main,” said Smith, who typically shares that cup of java with her husband, Lacey T. Smith Sr., an attorney, whom she considers her best friend.
“But the true inspiration — and that physical place I like to be when I'm not at work — comes from sitting in my living room surrounded by the beautiful artwork hanging on the wall created by local artists, such as the Billy Hertz painting of olive trees in Italy,” said Smith, 54, stressing the point that visual art is an important part of her life.
Looking out her window, with her artwork to her back, Smith is smitten by the Ohio River and the Falls of the Ohio.
“That's God's art,” she said.
Indeed, another place where Smith finds inspiration and spiritual sustenance is every Sunday at St. Stephen Baptist Church at 15th and Kentucky streets.
“I'm on a mission to help everyone realize that not only is it OK to drive west of Ninth Street — but you'll get energized and inspired if you do,” said Smith, who has been attending the church for seven years.
In the course of a year, she and her team will make close to 1,000 presentations all over the community to raise funds for 28 member groups and programs. On average she'll attend five arts events a week.
“I go to everything. I go to the Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Walden Theatre, Stage One, Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Visual Art Association exhibits. I'm always popping into the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft,” said Smith, rattling off many of the groups funded in part by her organization.
“But the true inspiration — and that physical place I like to be when I'm not at work — comes from sitting in my living room surrounded by the beautiful artwork hanging on the wall created by local artists, such as the Billy Hertz painting of olive trees in Italy,” said Smith, 54, stressing the point that visual art is an important part of her life.
Looking out her window, with her artwork to her back, Smith is smitten by the Ohio River and the Falls of the Ohio.
“That's God's art,” she said.
Indeed, another place where Smith finds inspiration and spiritual sustenance is every Sunday at St. Stephen Baptist Church at 15th and Kentucky streets.
“I'm on a mission to help everyone realize that not only is it OK to drive west of Ninth Street — but you'll get energized and inspired if you do,” said Smith, who has been attending the church for seven years.
