Monthly Archives: September 2014

Little Rock Look Back: First meeting of Pulaski Heights City Council

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Pul Heights CC minutesOn September 28, 1905, the first meeting of the Pulaski Heights City Council took place.  The newly elected Mayor was J. H. Joslyn, the Recorder was F. D. Leaming, and new Alderman present were E. E. Moss, Maxwell Coffir and C. C. Thompson.  Pulaski Heights had been incorporated on August 1, 1905.  At that time its population was estimated at between 300 and 400.

The first ordinance, which was offered by E. E. Moss, was to set a tax rate and give the City the ability to levy taxes.  Next was a motion to establish a committee to establish rules and procedures for the council. The final business before the Council was to allow the Recorder to order stationary, a seal and a record book (that record book is now in the vault at Little Rock City Hall).

The next meeting would be October 28.  At that meeting, two other Aldermen are mentioned in the minutes (Fauble and Paul) but were absent from that meeting as well.  Mr. C. M. Fauble was present at the third meeting.  Mr. R. O. Paul did not appear until the fifth meeting (December 13, 1905).

Interestingly the Recorder had a vote in the Council meetings (which was not a practice in the City of Little Rock at the time).

The Council did not have a permanent meeting place until the third meeting.  At that point in time, they used space in the offices of Dr. Hockersmith.  They later met in a building which is now part of the Pulaski Heights Baptist Church campus.

Pulaski Heights was a separate City until January 1916.  On January 4, 1916, Little Rock voters approved the annexation of Pulaski Heights by a ten-to-one margin, and the suburb became the city’s ninth ward. This established a couple of precedents for the City of Little Rock which are in effect to this day.  The first is that Little Rock would not be a central city surrounded by a variety of small incorporated towns (in the manner that St. Louis and other cities are).  It was this thought process which has led the City to continue to annex properties.

In addition, this move to annex Pulaski Heights was the first time that the City grew toward the west.  Previous growth had been to the south.  By emphasizing western expansion, this has allowed Little Rock to continue to grow.

Kathakali, South Indian Classical Dance-Drama today at 3 as part of UALR Artspree

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Kathakali is an Indian dance drama by V. Kaladharan, K. Shanmukhan and K. Sukumaran showcasing India’s highly stylized classical dance and drama. Kathakali combines dancing, acting, vocal music, percussion and costumes in one art form dating back to 17th century India. Kaladharan and Shanmukhan will present selected scenes from prominent Kathakali plays. Kaladharan will explain the story and context, and then Shanmukhan will perform each scene. Sukumaran will present the costuming and makeup for the performance.

The performance will begin at 3pm today in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on the campus of UALR.  The program is the first of four Artspree programs during the 2014-2015 school year.

Tonight at Ron Robinson Theatre: Suzy Bogguss presented by Arkansas Sounds

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suzy_bogguss

Tonight at 7pm on the stage of the CALS Ron Robinson Theatre, Arkansas Sounds features Suzy Bogguss.

A frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, she is a singer and songwriter who has received awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. She has recorded platinum gold albums and has been nominated for a Grammy Award. Bogguss has collaborated with such artists as Chet Atkins, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. In her latest album, Lucky, Bogguss shares her interpretations of songs by Merle Haggard.

Tickets are $25, general admission, and are available online, using the button above, and from Butler Center Galleries, 401 President Clinton Avenue. The theater’s entrance may be accessed from the Main Library’s parking lot, 100 Rock Street. Tickets purchased online will not be mailed. They will be available for pick up in the lobby of the Ron Robinson Theater one hour prior to showtime.

The Arkansas Symphony’s first Masterworks Concert of 2014-15 is this weekend with Rachmaninoff, Corigliano, Brahams and pianist Andrew Staupe

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aso staupeASO_2-colorThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra launches into 2014-2015 with its first Masterworks Concert of the season. Tonight at a new time (7:30pm) and a new, temporary location (Maumelle Performing Arts Center), the evening consists of Corigiliano’s Promenade Overture, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Brahms Symphony No. 2.   Guest artist Andrew Staupe will be featured on the Rachmaninoff piece.

Andrew Staupe is emerging as one of the distinctive voices of a new generation of pianists. In 2012 Andrew made his Carnegie Hall debut to critical acclaim, for which New York Concert Review raved “Staupe gave a brilliant performance, handling the virtuosic demands with apparent ease… I was stunned- this was one of the most incredible performances… A once in a lifetime performance!”

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Music Director Philip Mann.  Tonight’s concert will be repeated tomorrow afternoon at 3pm, also at the Maumelle location.

 

 

Arts in Park and on Stages with ACANSA today

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acansaThe ACANSA Arts Festival moves into the weekend with a full day of activities.

ARTISTS IN THE PARK
12:00pm to 6:00 pm
MacArthur Park
FREE

The Arkansas Arts Center will host a visual artist day at MacArthur Park from noon to 6:00 p.m.   This event is free and open to the public.  The first two hours are dedicated to children with a variety of art activities, and entertainment by Brian Kinder, a singer/ songwriter who performs rollicking goodtime concerts for kids.

Family entertainment by a variety of musical groups will begin at 2 p.m. Bands include the Clark Family Trio, the Greasy Greens, and SOULution.  Local food trucks will offer refreshments for purchase.

Artists will produce and sell art throughout the afternoon and will have the option to participate in a friendly Quick Draw Competition during the event.  Artists will be paired off to draw each other and the winner will receive a $500 prize!

The Quick Draw competition is open to anyone.  Know an artist who would like to participate?   Please have them contact Linda Newbern at lnewbern@ACANSAartsFestival.org.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, City of Little Rock & Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Acansa PuppetSUSPENDED ANIMATION
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Scottish Rite Masonic Temple
$20 to $50

In a cabaret presentation distinctly adult in its sophistication and artistry, internationally acclaimed marionette artist Phillip Huber is in full view of the audience as he controls incredibly compelling characters through a series of variety vignettes revealing humor, pathos, drama and grace.

Phillip Huber is most widely known for his work in the 3-time Academy Award nominated film “Being John Malkovich” and his work in the Disney film “Oz the Great and Powerful,” starring James Franco, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis. Shimmering with nuance, sophistication and imagination, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience a world of sophisticated puppetry designed for entertaining discerning tastes.

 

Acansa DallasDALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
NLR High School East Campus Auditorium
$10 to $50

Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates its 36th season as the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company out of Dallas, Texas. The ensemble, a contemporary modern dance company, consists of 12 professional, full-time dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by nationally and internationally known choreographers.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, City of North Little Rock, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation, North Little Rock Visitors Bureau

 

acansa Mike Disfarmer 3DISFARMER
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Argenta Community Theatre
$30

Don’t miss this production of Disfarmer, written by award-winning Arkansas playwright Werner Trieschmann and directed by Bob Hupp of The Rep.  Disfarmer is a comedic portrait which tells the story of Mike Disfarmer, an eccentric photographer from Heber Springs, Arkansas who charged townsfolk and visitors a quarter to have their picture taken in the early forties—and caused a minor speculative mania decades later as New York gallery owners “discovered” his work and descended on the small Arkansas town.

Nothing speaks louder about Mike Disfarmer than his photographs.  Before the play, stop by  Argenta Gallery at 413 Main Street to enjoy an exhibit of Disfarmer photographs. In 1974, Peter Miller purchased the collection of Disfarmer glass negatives from Joe Albright. The Disfarmer prints in this exhibit have been archivally printed from the original Disfarmer glass negatives

Sponsored by: Peter Miller

 

Acansa St PaulACANSA Late Night II – St. Paul and the Broken Bones
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
South on Main
SOLD OUT

This Birmingham, Alabama based soul band harkens back to the region’s classic soul roots while extending the form with electrifying potency.  Lead singer, Paul Janeway, takes the soul revival to an equally outrageous place with a voice that hovers between sexy sweet and flat-out dirty.  The horn-fueled Broken Bones re-create one funky groove after another, sounding more like the truth than any band since the Seventies.

Sponsored by:  DOWNSTREAM Casino Resort with staff provided by Oxford American

Tonight at the Undercroft – the one the only – the Bonnie Montgomery

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Bonnie MBonnie Montgomery plays at one of Little Rock’s newest music venues when they perform tonight at The Undercroft. It is located on Capital Avenue just east of Scott Street, in the undercroft of Christ Church.

​Arkansas born and bred Bonnie Montgomery is a classically trained composer and opera singer by day and country queen by night. Bringing her raucous spin on traditional southern music to honky-tonks throughout the U.S. and Europe, Bonnie’s catalog hails from a place where outlaw country saddles up with Americana and folk.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. The cover charge is $5 at the door. The space is on the campus of Christ Church; the entrance is through the sidewalk-level red door on Capitol Avenue east of Scott Street.

For information about the new performance space The Undercroft, contact Rev. Scott Walters at Christ Church at swalters@christchurchlr.org or 501-375-2342.

 

Fun on Friday with ACANSA

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acansaLUNCH AND LEARN
12:00 pm to 1:00pm
William F. Laman Library
Free

Thomas E. Kaiser, Professor of History at UALR, will discuss the exhibit: “The Wartime Escape: Margret and H.A. Rey’s Journey from France.” This exhibit tells the story of the Rey’s (creators of Curious George) journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris at the start of World War II.

Sponsored by: Anita Davis, Delta Trust and Bank, and JPMS Cox, PLLC

 

acansa Mike Disfarmer 3DISFARMER
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Argenta Community Theatre
$30 to $50

Don’t miss this production of Disfarmer, written by award-winning Arkansas playwright Werner Trieschmann and directed by Bob Hupp of The Rep.  Disfarmer is a comedic portrait which tells the story of Mike Disfarmer, an eccentric photographer from Heber Springs, Arkansas who charged townsfolk and visitors a quarter to have their picture taken in the early forties—and caused a minor speculative mania decades later as New York gallery owners “discovered” his work and descended on the small Arkansas town.

Head over to Argenta Theatre before the play and pick up a signed copy of Kim O. Davis’ Disfarmer biography titled Disfarmer:  The Man Behind the Camera.

Nothing speaks louder about Mike Disfarmer than his photographs.  Before the play, stop by  Argenta Gallery at 413 Main Street to enjoy an exhibit of Disfarmer photographs. In 1974, Peter Miller purchased the collection of Disfarmer glass negatives from Joe Albright. The Disfarmer prints in this exhibit have been archivally printed from the original Disfarmer glass negatives

Sponsored by: Peter Miller

 

Acansa StreetSTREETCORNER SYMPHONY
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Connor Performing Arts Center, Pulaski Academy Campus
$10 to $20

Street Corner Symphony is an internationally known a cappella group based out of Nashville, Tennessee. These six southern gents were contestants on the second season of NBC’s reality show The Sing-Off, claiming the second place title. They have a unique, laid-back-yet-dynamic style of a cappella, with expertise in a wide variety of music ranging from gospel and barbershop to rock and pop. 

Sponsored by: Arkansas Health and Wellness Solutions

 

Acansa BatorkaloACANSA Late Night I – Bat-or-KALO Trio
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Vinos
$20

Bat-or-Kalo Trio is a rock and R&B tinged blues band fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Bat-Or Kalo with bassist Mack McKinney (from Little Rock, Arkansas) and drummer Erick Worrell.  The lead singer Bat-Or Kalo was born/raised in Haifa, Israel, and came to the U.S. to further her studies in classical and jazz music.  Kalo’s music has been compared to the sounds of Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and the White Stripes.

Sponsored by:  Richard F. Tripodi/Jane E. McKinney