Organ Recital This Evening – Scott Dettra

sdThe Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents Scott Dettra in an organ recital this evening.  It is a benefit for the Pediatric Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.   The recital takes place at 8pm at Christ Episcopal Church

As the state lead center, the Injury Prevention Center at ACH and UAMS is responsible for developing the master plan of care for children and young adults with brain injuries throughout the entire state of Arkansas.

One of the finest concert organists of his generation, Scott Dettra combines an active concert schedule with his post as Director of Music at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas, where he oversees one of the largest traditional Anglican music programs in the country. Prior to this recent appointment, he was for five years Organist and Associate Director of Music at Washington National Cathedral, where he served as principal organist and assisted with the direction of the Cathedral choirs.

Mr. Dettra’s performances have been praised by audiences and critics alike for their clarity, rhythmic intensity, and musical elegance. Recent and upcoming performances include recital appearances in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, Winnipeg, Barbados, and Essen, Germany. He has performed at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Festival appearances include the Lincoln Center Festival, the Carmel Bach Festival, the Arizona Bach Festival, the Bermuda Music Festival, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

Majestus, his most recent recording on the Loft label, features large-scale organ favorites performed on the Great Organ of Washington National Cathedral. Tongues of Fire features French music performed on the 325-rank organ of the Cadet Chapel at West Point, and may be found on the Pro Organo label.

A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Mr. Dettra holds two degrees from Westminster Choir College and has also studied jazz piano at Manhattan School of Music. He has previously held positions at St. Paul’s Parish, K Street in Washington; St. Mark’s Church, Philadelphia; and Trinity Church, Princeton. Additionally, he was accompanist of the American Boychoir for several years. His principal organ teachers have been Joan Lippincott, Dennis Keene, and his father, Lee Dettra.

 

 

Arts Center, studioMain present lecture on Bauhas tonight.

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Photograph by Gordon Watkinson
Bauhaus Building – ‘Bauhaus Sign’

The Arkansas Arts Center, the state’s premiere center for visual and performing arts, together with studioMain, presents a special symposium, “From the Bauhaus to Our House,” discussing the history and influence of the Bauhaus movement to be held Friday, May 24, at 5 p.m., in the Arkansas Arts Center Lecture Hall. This symposium is in conjunction with the Arts Center’s current exhibition, Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy – Photographs by Gordon Watkinson, on view May 24 – September 1, in the Winthrop Rockefeller Gallery.

“The Arts Center is pleased to be hosting such a notable panel of expert speakers,” said Arkansas Arts Center director of education Lou Palermo. “The Bauhaus movement was inspired by a world-changing vision to unite artists and craftsmen, and we will take a deeper look into that vision with the upcoming symposium. We are so excited to be partnering with studioMain to be able to offer this event to our friends and members of the Arkansas Arts Center.”

There will then be an hour break for viewing the exhibit and refreshments, followed by a 7 p.m. discussion with a panel of architectural experts in the design fields. Admission is free and no ticket required. The symposium will feature four of the top speakers in the state to discuss this important movement in architectural history. They are as follows: Dr. Floyd Martin (UALR, Art History), John Greer (WER Architects and Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas), Mia Hall (UALR, Applied Design) and Dr. Ethel Goodstein-Murphree (UA Fay Jones School of Architecture).

This exhibition conveys the lasting philosophies of the Bauhaus, a German expression meaning “house for building” and the name of an important German School principle of architecture and design. The Bauhaus school was founded by Walter Gropius in 1919 and introduced the sleek, functional architecture that is found in many of today’s modern buildings.

The exhibition is comprised of photographs, plans and elevations, and furniture that capture the essence of Bauhaus design and its influence on architecture. By pairing Bauhaus buildings with contemporary examples by leading architects, Gordon Watkinson explores the legacy of such modern ideas as passive solar, radiant heat and prefabricating housing.

May 23 Architeaser: First Security Amphitheatre

DSCF5168Today’s Architeaser is the new First Security Amphitheatre in Riverfront Park.  It is built on the same pad as the original amphiteatre which opened in 1988, so this marks the 25th anniversary of an amphitheatre in Riverfront Park.

The amphitheatre was designed by Mike Steelman of SCM Architects, with construction overseen by Flynn Remodeling and Construction.  The curved roof mimics the curved trusses of the Junction Bridge (visible in the background) and the Clinton Presidential Bridge which flank either side of amphitheatre.

The sloped roofing and wooden ceiling are designed to send the music out to the audience better (and to keep performers drier) than the previous stage covering did.  Though not visible in the photos, the roof is sheathed in teal metal to match the First Security Bank color scheme.  The seats in the amphitheatre will be replaced later this summer and and have the same color.

In recognition of the financial commitment made by Riverfest and the festival’s status as a cultural touchstone for the amphitheatre, the stage is known as Riverfest Stage.

The First Security Amphitheatre will be a focal point of this weekend’s Riverfest.

LR Look Back: Mayor Thomas D. Merrick

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Thomas D. Merrick grave in Mt. Holly Cemetery

Thomas D. Merrick was born on 23 May, 1814, in Hampden County, Massachusetts. He later moved to Indianapolis IN and Louisville KY before ending up in Little Rock.

On January 17, 1841, he married Anna M. Adams of Kentucky at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock. They had seven children: George, Annie, Ellie, Mollie, Lillian, Dwight, and Thomas. Thomas died at age ten.

Merrick became a prominent member of the Little Rock business community, as a merchant and cotton broker. He was involved in Freemasonry, holding the position of Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas in 1845.

In 1855 Merrick entered into a business partnership with future LR Mayor John Wassell. Merrick was also involved in city politics, serving on the city council and also as mayor from January 1854 to January 1855.

He saw active service during the Civil War. On February 6, 1861, Merrick delivered an ultimatum to Captain James Totten of the United States Arsenal at Little Rock, demanding the surrender of the federal troops. Merrick also raised a regiment of Confederate Arkansas Militia, holding the rank of Colonel of Infantry at Camp Conway, near Springfield, Arkansas.  Following the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), Merrick resigned his commission and returned to Little Rock.

Merrick died in his home in Little Rock on March 18, 1866.  He is buried in Mt. Holly Cemetery.

Museum of Discovery, Clinton Library lower admissions during Riverfest

rvrfstlogoIn support of and in cooperation with the 36th annual Riverfest, the Museum of Discovery and Clinton Presidential Center are offering visitors special deals on Memorial Day Weekend.

Both major River Market attractions will offer $5 admission all weekend – Friday-Monday, May 24-27 for the Clinton Center and Saturday-Monday, May 25-27, for the museum, which will be closed Friday, May 24.

Also, for Clinton Center, Clinton Museum Store and Museum of Discovery patrons not attending Riverfest, there will be free parking and a free round-trip shuttle from the designed lot located between 4th and 5th streets and Collins Street to each of the attractions.

“Riverfest will bring around 250,000 people to our backyard over Memorial Day Weekend,” said Kelley Bass, CEO of the Museum of Discovery. “A large part of the festival will take place on the grounds of the Clinton Center and Heifer International, so it only makes sense for us to join our neighbors and welcome Riverfest patrons to the museum.”

Besides $5 admission – which equals half-price for adults and $3 off for children – Bass said the museum is offering special programs at the museum throughout the holiday weekend to give people even more reason to visit. Museum educators also will be on-site at Riverfest doing hands-on “tinkering” activities with festival-goers at the Deltic Timber Kidzone Area from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 26.

In addition to engaging with the 85 hands-on, interactive exhibits, museum visitors on Memorial Day Weekend will be treated to a full schedule of special programs, with “The Electric Show,” “Awesome Science” and “Meet the Museum Animals” being presented in rotation, on the hour, from noon until 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 26; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, May 27.

Also, Tommy’s Terrific Magic Show, which will be presented Sunday at Riverfest, will be featured at 1 p.m. Saturday at the museum.

Operating hours:

Museum of Discovery
Friday, May 24: Closed
Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 26: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, May 27: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clinton Presidential Center
Friday, May 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 26: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, May 27: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LR Film Fest: Golden Rock Documentary and Courage in Filmmaking Awards

dirty_warsThe Golden Rock Documentary Award went to Dirty Wars by Richard Rowley.  This documentary follows journalist Jeremy Scahill as he investigates covert military operations on several fronts.  Scahill also received the Courage in Filmmaking Award from the Little Rock Film Festival.

The Dirty Wars website describes the film:

What begins as an investigation into a US night raid gone terribly wrong in a remote corner of Afghanistan quickly transforms into a high-stakes global investigation into one of the most secretive and powerful military units in American history… As Scahill digs deeper into the activities of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), he is forced to confront painful truths about the consequences of a war without end that extends through Republican and Democratic administrations. Pulled deeper into the stories he investigates and the lives of the people he meets along the way, Scahill realizes that the investigation has transformed him…

Tracing the rise of JSOC, the most secret and elite fighting force in U.S. history, Dirty Wars reveals cover operations unknown to the public and carried out across the globe by men who do not exist on paper and will never appear before Congress. In military jargon, JSOC teams “find, fix and finish” their targets, who are selected through a secret process. No target is off limits for the “kill list,” including U.S. citizens. Dirty Warstakes viewers to remote corners of the globe to see first-hand wars fought in their name and offers a behind-the-scenes look at a high-stakes investigation. We are left with haunting questions about freedom and democracy, war and justice.

The other nominees for Golden Rock Documentary were 12 O’Clock Boys by Lotfy Nathan, The Kill Team by Dan Krauss, Pussy Riot-A Punk Prayer by Mike Lerner & Maxim Pozdorovkin, and These Birds Walk by Omar Mullick & Bassam Tariq.

LR Film Fest: Golden Rock Narrative Award

short-term-12-brie-larson-sliceShort Term 12, Destin Daniel Crettin’s film which opened the Little Rock Film Festival, captured the Golden Rock Narrative Award. Set in a foster-care facility, it explores the lives of some of the kids as well as the supervisors as they wrestle (often with honest humor) with life.

The film features Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Keith Stanfield, Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, Alex Calloway, Kevin Hernandez, Lydia Du Veaux, Frantz Turner, Diana Maria Riva, Harold Cannon, Silvia Curiel, Bran’dee D’Allen and Melora Walters.  Crtittin both wrote and directed the film.  Brett Pawlak is the cinematographer, Nat Sanders the film editor and Joel P. West composed the score.

Short Term 12 has won awards at several other festivals.  Cinedigm has announced plans to release the film later in the summer.

The other nominees were David Riker’s The Girl, Josh Barrett and Marc Menchaca’s This Is Where We Live, Daniel Patrick Carbone’s Hide Your Smiling Faces and Barmak Akram’s Wajma—An Afghan Love Story.