And, as announced above, it is Ken Smith of Smithmedia! Yes, the same Ken Smith who designed all of ART’s catalogues, books, magazines, former websites, and every other publication from ART’s earliest days until a few years ago when he severely reduced his workload. Alexandra’s and Ken’s unusually long and diverse creative partnership is worth notice at some length: it began in 1991 with a very different publishing enterprise when she was editor of a Rolls-Royce magazine and needed a graphic designer for that Proper Motor Car publication; the two worked together on that until she gave up editorship at the end of 1993. So, it wasn’t very surprising that when ART’s first project came along in 1992—the ROMANTIC REALISM painting and sculpture exhibit that celebrated NYC’s Grand Central Galleries’ 70^th-Year Anniversary—she would turn to him for the accompanying catalogue design. But who would have dreamed, then, that their collaboration on dozens upon dozens of ART-related projects (and many of Alexandra’s personal writing ventures as well) would last for 30 years?

Ken designed every catalogue, book, magazine, website, and every other ART publication until the cut-back, so he and Alexandra not only collaborated on all of those projects—Alexandra is not exactly a passive client as anyone who knows her high standards and creative spirit understands--but also became good friends in the process. When it became apparent that ART needed to update its website—a tremendous task--Ken understandably refused Alexandra’s request to re-design it along with the new technology required to meet today’s standards; hence, her frustrating search for someone new. But to her chagrin none of the many designers she “auditioned” met her requirements for aesthetic acumen and detailed sensibilities--- after all, ART is an aesthetic foundation promoting and celebrating. . .art.

So. . .Ken finally gave in to her pleas for return, and the two have worked tirelessly together to bring viewers visiting this wondrous new site the joys of beauty and meaning in all forms of positive art and powerful ideas that can enrich their lives aesthetically, intellectually, and spiritually. Ken—a fine musician and composer—also composed the music that “sets the tone” of celebration on ART’s Home page of the site. For future work, he has set up the site so Alexandra can administer most of it, but he kindly will be on hand to aid her in posting new art and written works as well as contribute in the role of web hosting. So, our heartfelt thanks go out to Ken for providing this wonderful new website for all to find treasures that bring pleasure. Special thanks, also, go out to Barrett Randell and Joe and Laurie O’Rourke for providing major funding for the site. Alexandra, as usual, donated her time and talents to the project as she has for all of ART’s endeavors since its inception.