Author Archives: Scott

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About Scott

A cultural thinker with a life long interest in the arts and humanities: theatre, music, architecture, photography, history, urban planning, etc.

CALS offers Puppet Making Workshop

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Puppets come in all shapes and sizes – from finger puppets to over-sized puppets requiring several people to manipulate.  On Friday June 28 and Saturday, June 29, the Central Arkansas Library System is offering a two-day workshop.  Participants will learn how to build a large-scale puppet in at the Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Children’s Library and Learning Center, 4800 W. 10th Street, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.

Participants will build puppets spanning up to 40 feet which require 3-20 people to operate and can be used in parades and theatre. Workshop attendees will learn how to make puppets with materials such as PVC pipe, wire, paper mache, fabric, clay, cardboard, recycled materials, and more. A variety of puppets will be constructed, involving moveable parts, wings, and long, undulating bodies. The workshop will be conducted by Jo Ann Kaminsky, an Arkansas native who is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, and registered play therapist.

The workshop is free, open to the public, and limited to 30 participants ages 8 and up. Attendees are expected to participate in both days of the workshop. Registration is required; to register, call 918-3879.

The CALS Children’s Library and Learning Center is one of fourteen CALS branches serving Pulaski and Perry counties. For more information, call 918-3086 or visit www.cals.org.

(Please note, based on information received, this entry originally had different dates for the workshop.)

Ark Literary Fest presents THE NEW 22 at MacArthur Museum

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1371603221-new_22_copyMilitary and literature buffs should enjoy The New 22, a free Arkansas Literary Festival program, Thursday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 East 9th Street.
The New 22 is a panel discussion featuring authors Ben Fountain, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, and David Abrams, Fobbit. These books have been compared favorably to Joseph Heller’s influential novel Catch-22. Set in Dallas and Baghdad, respectively, the novels offer satirical takes on some of the hard contradictions soldiers face. A reception and book signing will follow the program. Both books will be available for purchase.

Ben Fountain is an award-winning author whose debut novel, Billy Lynn’s Long Half-Time Walk, received numerous awards including the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. David Abrams, who retired in 2008 after a 20-year career in the active-duty Army as a journalist, has received several military commendations including being named the Department of Defense’s Military Journalist of the Year in 1994. His debut novel, Fobbit, was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2012 and a Best Book of 2012 by Paste Magazine, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Barnes & Noble.

The Arkansas Literary Festival is a program of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS). The New 22 is sponsored by the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. The event is free and open to the public; reservations are requested. Please RSVP to pedwards@cals.org or 918-3009. For more information about the Arkansas Literary Festival, visit www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org.

Movies in the Park – REMEMBER THE TITANS

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1368478223-movies_in_the_parkDon’t forget that Movies in the Park continues tonight.  The featured film is the 2000 football film Remember the Titans.  Based on a true story, it stars Denzel Washington as a coach charged with leading a newly integrated football team in 1971 outside of Washington DC.

Joining Washington in the cast are Ryan Gosling, Hayden Panettiere, Kip Pardue, Donald Faison, Kate Bosworth, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Craig Kirkwood, Nicole Ari Parker, Earl Poitier, and Burgess Jenkins

Movies in the Park is a free outdoor movie series in Little Rock’s River Market. They take place at the First Security Amphitheatre. The mission of Movies in the Park is help foster a sense of community and enjoyment in downtown Little Rock and throughout Central Arkansas by bringing people together to enjoy a movie in a unique setting along the scenic banks of the Arkansas River.

Movies start at dark. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics but please no glass containers and pick up afterwards. Those choosing not to bring their own picnic, the park does have concessions available for sale.

Bring bug spray, picnic and family and have a good time!

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau Technical Services department provides all the equipment for the movies.

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Jazz in the Park tonight: Adams Collins Group

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jazzinpark

The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau continues the new series of free jazz concerts tonight.  Adam Collins Group is featured tonight.

Jazz in the Park will be every Wednesday night in June and July from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. They will take place in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park (between the Junction Bridge and Peabody Park).

Beer & Wine will be available for sale – portions of the proceeds will benefit Sculpture at the River Market…so no coolers, please. Free to attend!

June 18 Architeaser: Arkansas Education Building

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fleurdelis

Today’s Architeaser is one of a series of decorative panels above the doors of the old Department of Education Building to the west of the Arkansas State Capitol.  Across the front facade of this rather utiltarian WPA era structure,  there are several of these panels each containng 8 fleur de lis.

While one could suppose that they are a tribute to the French heritage of both Arkansas and Little Rock, there do not appear to be records to confirm this.

The building still contains offices of the Arkansas Department of Education. But today, the offices have also expanded to a nearby building. These two adjoining buildings are now linked and the entire complex is known as the Arch Ford Education Building.

JERSEY BOYS in Little Rock this week

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6a00d8345212eb69e20115713d0c1b970c-800wiCelebrity Attractions is bringing the Tony winning musical Jersey Boys to Robinson Center Music Hall this week from June 19 – 23.

Jersey Boys is not recommended for all ages. The show contains smoke, gun shots, strobe lights, and profane “authentic Jersey language.

Jersey Boys features a Tony nominated book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice as well as a score of songs made famous by the Four Seasons.  The production is directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.  The design team includes Klara Zieglerova (scenery), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Howell Binkley (lighting) and Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound).

The cast includes Nick Cosgrove, Brandon Andrus, Nicolas Dromard, Jason Kappus, Barry Anderson, Thomas Fiscella, Kaleigh Cronin, Brent DiRoma, Marlana Dunn, Larry Esparza, De’lon Grant, Dave Hiltebrand, Hayden Milanes, Ian Joseph, John Rochette, Rachel Schur, Skye Scott, Candi Boyd, Stephen Cerf, Devon Goffman, Bryan Hindle and Michelle Pruiett.

LR Look Back: Mayor John Widgery

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LR sealOn June 17, 1802, future Little Rock Mayor John Widgery was born in Portland ME to Mr. and Mrs. William Widgery.  His father died in 1804.  At the age of 11, John Widgery entered Bowdoin College.  He was the youngest student admitted to the college.

Widgery studied law with his uncle, Nathan Kinsman.  He married Ann L. Woodward, who was from Boston MA.  According to Bowdoin College records, he later “wandered away into the Southwest” spending time “in the Cherokee country.”

Widgery spent most of his adult life in the south. For a time Widgery was clerk of the Mississippi House of Representatives.  He then moved to Little Rock prior to 1840.  By 1840, he was Recorder for the City of Little Rock.

According to media reports at the time, several tradesman groups encouraged Widgery to run for Mayor in January 1841.  He did run but lost to Rev. Samuel H. Webb.  The next year, Widgery ran again and this time was elected Mayor.  He took office in January 1842.  On May 24, 1842 he resigned from office.  He later served as Secretary of the Arkansas Senate (where he made $8 a day when the Senate was in session).

Widgery eventually settled in St. Louis.  He later returned up north.  He died on August 2, 1873 in Portland ME and is buried there.  He and his wife did not have any children.