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.

iPhotos 2011: The Odd

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Like many people, the Little Rock Culture Vulture has an iPhone and takes many iPhotos. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, the entries highlight some of his favorite personal iPhotos taken in Little Rock during 2011. The are divided into the Good, the Odd and the Arty.

Today focuses on The Odd. These 11 from ’11 are presented chronologically. None of these are staged or altered photos. They are just things witnessed.

Hillcrest Kroger before a snow - January 2011

 

 

Blessings of medicines cancelled due to illness. Oops. - January 2011

 

Theater or Theatre? (pre-renovation Arkansas Rep signage) - April 2011

 

Cinderella in the River Market? - Downtown Little Rock - May 2011

 

New take on liquidity of deposits -- downtown Little Rock - May 2011

 

A new downtown eatery? Alley between 2nd and Markham in downtown Little Rock - June 2011

 

Sunday morning - The party's over - July 2011

 

Unique take on outdoor lighting along Kavanaugh - October 2011

 

Perhaps enough coffee for the Culture Vulture - November 2011

 

The wind disobeys signs - Heights 2011

 

In case anyone feels like repairing the steps -- supplies will be provided -- Pulaski County Courthouse - December 2011

iPhotos 2011: The Good

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Like many people, the Little Rock Culture Vulture has an iPhone and takes many iPhotos. Today’s entry, and the next two, will highlight some of his favorite personal iPhotos taken in Little Rock during 2011. The are divided into the Good, the Odd and the Arty.

Today focuses on The Good. These 11 from ’11 are presented chronologically.

Allsopp Park snow - February 2011

 

A sidewalk near MacArthur Park at night - March 2011

Kids playing by Dickinson Fountain at Arkansas Arts Center - April 2011

 

Jordan Johnson in a rare moment of sitting still on grounds of Clinton Library - May 2011

 

Ducks crossing street in downtown Little Rock - May 2011

 

Little Rock Sky - June 2011

 

After at party in black box at Arkansas Repertory Theatre - June 2011

 

Setting sun reflected on Arkansas River - June 2011

 

Downtown reflection - June 2011

Bill Worthen joining with a band at 2nd Friday Art Night at Historic Arkansas Museum - July 2011

 

Snow along Kavanaugh - December 2011

 

Sculpture Vulture: DAEDALUS AND ICARUS

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Happy 2012.

With the end of the holiday season, the Sunday Sculpture Vulture feature returns. 2012 marks the 45th anniversary of Raymond Rebsamen giving the sculpture Daedalus and Icarus to the Little Rock Public Library (now Central Arkansas Library System). Rebsamen, a local businessman and philanthropist, had served on the Library board. It was originally displayed in a courtyard at the corner of 7th and Louisana Streets on the site of the original Carnegie library building. When CALS moved to Rock and 2nd Streets, the statue was moved to a new courtyard where it is more visible.

The statue depicts a scene from the Greek myth of hubris where Daedalus is trying to keep his son from flying too close to the sun. It is created by EvAngelos W. Frudakis. This was one of his first commissions; he is still active with a studio in Kerrville, Texas.

A Capitol Christmas in Arkansas

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When the Culture Vulture was just a Baby Vulture, he, his parents and sister would go to the State Capitol building to look at the decorations on Christmas night.  Over the years, the Office of Secretary of State has changed the decorations.  He remembers the alternating red and green lights on the dome during the Bryant (Kelly and Winston) era. He also remembers the disco dome during Bill McCuen’s tenure. Thankfully during the Priest, Daniels and now Martin era, the building is outlined in white lights.

The nativity scene has also changed in location and materials having once been plaster or plastic and at the top of the stairs in front of the brass doors, later moving to several different places on the grounds. It is now had carved wood.  The interior decorations have changed over the years as well. 

Whatever the decorations may be, it is wonderful to see families of various sizes from all corners of the state come to their state capitol building to experience the wonders of the season.

Oxford American music issue: Thank God for Mississipppi. truly

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The Oxford American’s 13th annual Southern music issue came out earlier this month.  The focus for December 2011 is the Magnolia State. It comes complete with a 27-song CD.  The website also has links to music not contained on the CD.

As the Little Rock and Conway-based magazine notes, Mississippi can lay stake to being birth of blues, rock and country.

The issue contains articles on:

* Sam Phillips’s greatest musical

* The x-rated origins of blues lyrics

* Mississippi John Hurt

PLUS: A special section of The OA featuring lists and musings by contributors including Roy Blount, Jr., Nick Hornby, and Rosanne Cash.

Last Chance: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Ark Rep ends Sunday

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There are just a few chances remaining to see the Christmas Spirit alive and well on stage of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  Actually three Christmas Spirits (past, present, and yet-to-be) are on stage as the Rep presents the Menken-Ahrens-Ockrent version of A Christmas Carol. The performances are sold out, but there may be some returns or no shows, so if you think your Christmas won’t be complete without it, call the Arkansas Repertory Theatre Box Office at 501-378-0405.

Two Jewish Guys Chanukah Special on KUAR

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Chanukah begins at sundown tonight.  To get everyone in the spirit of it, KUAR – UALR Public Radio – is presenting the 11th annual Jewish Guys Chanukah Special tonight at 7pm on KUAR – FM 89.1.  Little Rock attorney Phil Kaplan and adman Leslie Singer recorded the broadcast before a live audience earlier in the month.

The Jewish Guys Chanukah Special celebrates cultural Judaism and features skits, music and general shtick. Musical guests included the Meshugga Klezmer Band and the Bauman Brothers.

“This year’s special guest is Susan McDougal who special prosecutor Ken Starr sent to prison for no cooperating with his investigation of President Clinton,” Leslie Singer says. “I’m going to ask her if she celebrated Chanukah with the Jewish inmates she has said took her in.”

Kaplan and Singer started identifying themselves as the Two Jewish Guys during KUAR’s semi-annual on-air fund drives several years ago. In 2001, the Two Jewish Guys and UALR Public Radio began producing an annual recorded Chanukah Special. After first featuring a live audience at the Central Arkansas Library System main campus, it outgrew that space and moved in 2007 to the Clinton Presidential Center.

“Interesting enough, at least two-thirds of our audience are not Jewish. That really inspires me that they are interested in the religious and cultural part of Judaism,” Singer noted to KUAR. “They enjoy a peek into another culture. And they like it.”

The program will also be broadcast on Christmas Day at 1pm. That is also the 5th of 8 days of Chanukah.