2015 Artist in Residence

An alligator that rides racehorses? A slow, lazy racehorse with a bad attitude that beat a Triple Crown winner in a match race?

It all happened in the D. Wayne Lukas Gallery as Stage One Family Theatre brought their unique talents for storytelling and drama, serving as the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Artist in Residence for 2015.

The four person show took two children’s books, “Gaston Goes to the Kentucky Derby” by James Rice and “Seabiscuit: The Wonder Horse” by Meghan McCarthy, and transformed those stories into a raucous, participatory celebration of children’s literature. Students in grades 1-3, from five local schools (and one homeschool) were treated to storytelling at its best, by one of the country’s finest children’s theatres.

Students also toured Churchill Downs and the Museum stable, explored two floors of interactive exhibits and watched the “Greatest Race” 360-degree movie, for a fun-filled morning of activities.

As the Curator of Education, I am honored and thankful to collaborate with so many talented people in our community. Over the years, the Museum has hosted artists like Kentucky Opera, the Juggernaut Jug Band, Squallis Puppeteers and Hound Dog Press, among many others. We also have a collaborative field trip with the Rauch Planetarium in the works. With every partnership, I’m always awed by the commitment of these talented artists, willing to share their love of the arts with our community’s children – many of them walking away inspired to become artists themselves.