Tonight on CALS Ron Robinson Theater stage: Hot Club of Cowtown

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Scott

CALS Arkansas Sounds presents Hot Club of Cowtown

Since 1998, the Western swing-gypsy-jazz trio Hot Club of Cowtown has traveled the world bringing their magical musical chemistry to audiences. Violinist Elana James, guitarist Whit Smith, and bassist Jake Erwin are equal partners in this original marriage of gypsy and jazz inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt—which accounts for the “Hot Club” portion of their name—with the hoedowns, traditional tunes, and Western swing–inspired music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, represented in the “Cowtown” part of their name. This performance features a special musical tribute celebrating 50 years since the release of The Band‘s self-titled album, featuring Arkansas music legend Levon Helm!

Tickets are $25 for general admission seating. The doors open at 7:00 pm and the concert starts at 8:00 pm.

Presented by CALS Arkansas Sounds and the Acansa Arts Festival.

Sponsored by Friends of the Central Arkansas Library System (FOCAL), Acansa Arts Festival, FM 89.1 KUAR, Dr. Elizabeth Fletcher Dishongh Charitable Trust and David Austin at The Charlotte John Company.

September 2FAN at CALS Library Square tonight

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Scott

Image may contain: indoor In addition to the ACANSA opening events, CALS Library Square will be hosting its own 2nd Friday Art Night events.

Opening in the Underground Gallery – Carol Corning: Reflections
Artist Carol Corning’s works seek to recreate shared memories of a simpler time when everything important seemed to happen around the kitchen table. The fused glass and textile artworks in this exhibition are reminiscent of the quilts Corning’s mother made for her family and friends, evoking the lives of the women she grew up with in the country.

AND

Opening in Concordia Hall – “Pass the Biscuits!”: The King Biscuit Blues Festival and Arkansas Blues
Since 1986, the annual King Biscuit Blues Festival has assembled the world’s best blues artists to perform in historic downtown Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. For this exhibition, King Biscuit Blues Festival posters and other musical artifacts provide a visual timeline to tell the festival’s story and to celebrate the past, present, and future of the blues in Arkansas.

Musical Guest: Fonky Donkey Duo (slide blues guitar & percussion vocal duo)

West Gallery: Arkansas Society of Printmakers: Big Impression Prints

Loft Gallery: Melissa Cowper-Smith – Natural Treatment, 2018–2019

The Bookstore at Library Square is proud to present new works from Arkansas Artist Carly Dahl in her show “Making Appearances” for sale at the monthly event, 2nd Friday Art Night.

Join us on the second Friday of every month for #2FAN, a free downtown art gallery walkabout from 5pm-8pm with light refreshments, art show, and late bookstore shopping.

Visit The Bookstore six days a week. Three floors of books, gifts, locally made art & jewelry, plus an art gallery. By far the best place to buy used books in central Arkansas. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Gallery open during regular bookstore hours.

September 2FAN at HAM – soothSAY

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Scott

Join HIstoric Arkansas Museum for the opening reception of “soothSAY” an exhibit by Culture Shock Arkansas. Shannon Boshears Band will provide the live entertainment. Kat Robinson, renowned author and food blogger, will be signing copies of her new book, “101 Things to Eat in Arkansas Before You Die,” in the Museum Store.

The reception is sponsored by the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation, with special thanks to 107 Liquor. Beverages and appetizers will be served in the Stella Boyle Smith Atrium. The exhibits and reception are free and open to the public.

Dr. Christy Drale named 10th leader of UA Little Rock

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Scott

Image result for christy drale ualr The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas today unanimously accepted UA System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt’s recommendation to name Christina Drale, Ph.D., chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Bobbitt previously named Drale acting chancellor following the resignation of former Chancellor Dr. Andrew Rogerson that went into effect on Sept. 1. The Board voted to approve Bobbitt’s recommendation to hire Drale as permanent chancellor at its regularly scheduled meeting today at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

“I’m very pleased to have been given the confidence and support from Dr. Bobbitt and the Trustees to help guide UA Little Rock into a new era of improvement in many areas on campus,” Drale said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring the campus and the community together and work with our students, faculty, staff and alumni to move UA Little Rock forward in the most efficient and effective ways possible. I appreciate the supportive reception I’ve gotten so far on campus and in the community, and I look forward to helping make this institution all it can be.”

Drale has served as interim executive vice chancellor and provost at UA Little Rock since October 2018. She previously served as associate vice chancellor for faculty relations and administration. She earned a doctorate degree in sociology, a Master of Arts in sociology, and a Bachelor of Arts in communications, all from the University of California, San Diego.

“Dr. Drale is widely respected on campus and is equipped with the necessary skillset to guide UA Little Rock through the challenges it currently faces and help solidify its unique standing as a comprehensive metropolitan university serving our Capital City and the entire state,” Bobbitt said. “I appreciate her stepping in recently to accept the challenge as acting chancellor and look forward to working with her and supporting her efforts to improve the institution.”

The campus started out as Little Rock Junior College in 1927 and was housed inside the new Little Rock High School (now Little Rock Central High School). After transitioning to Little Rock University, in September 1969, it joined the University of Arkansas System and became the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Dr. Drale is the tenth permanent leader of the campus. Previous presidents and chancellors have been:

R.C. Hall (1927-1930)
John A. Larson (1930-1949)
Granville Davis (1950‐1954)
Carey V. Stabler (1956‐1972)
G. Robert Ross (1973‐1982)
James H. Young (1982‐1992)
Charles E. Hathaway (1993‐2002)
Joel E. Anderson (2003‐2016)
Andrew Rogerson (2016-2019)

CALS Ron Robinson Theater BingoFlix presents ROBOT MONSTER

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Scott

Robot Monster (1953, NR)

Join the Central Arkansas Library System for BingoFlix!

Play bingo to some of the most hilarious movie cliches during a SPECIAL 3D SCREENING of Robot Monster! Win prizes including free movie and event tickets to upcoming shows at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater!

Robot Monster, also known as Monster from Mars, is a 1953 independently made American black-and-white 3D science fiction film, remembered in later decades as one of the worst movies ever made. The film tells the story of moon robot Ro-Man’s mission to Earth to destroy humanity. He manages to kill all but eight survivors, who have become immune to his death ray.

Ro-Man runs afoul of the Great Guidance, his leader, when he becomes attracted to the human Alice. She is the eldest daughter of a surviving scientist, and he refuses to harm her. The Great Guidance must now come to Earth and finish what the Moon robot started.

The Ron Robinson Theater doors open at 6:00 p.m. Film starts at 7:00 p.m. Beer, wine, and concessions will be available!

Sept. 12, 1958 – A Day of Uncertainty in Little Rock schools

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Scott

Thurgood Marshall, of the NAACP, sits on the steps of the Supreme Court Building after he filed an appeal in the integration case of Little Rock’s Central High School. The students are, from left: Melba Pattillo, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, escort Daisy Bates, Marshall, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, and Elizabeth Eckford. (AP Photo, file)

On September 12, 1958, in an extraordinary session, the U. S. Supreme Court found that “the federal judiciary is supreme in the exposition of the law of the Constitution” and all state officials must adhere to the Court’s decisions and follow the rules laid down in those decisions in similar future cases.

The genesis of this decision (Cooper v. Aaron) was at the heart of the matter as to whether the Little Rock schools would remained integrated (albeit severely limited) or return to a segregated state. With the SCOTUS ruling, the road that was set before the LRSD was integration.

Following the decision, the Little Rock School Board issued a statement that the schools would open as planned on Monday, September 15, 1958. One of the School Board members, Henry V. Rath, resigned his position on the board that day. He was frustrated that the School Board was caught between federal law and state law.

Later that afternoon, Governor Faubus signed several bills into law which had been passed in a special session. These bills were designed to make it more difficult to integrate public schools. One of them gave the Governor the authority to temporarily close schools to keep them segregated. The Governor would then call a special election for the voters in that district to decide whether to remain closed or be opened and integrated. (One of the other laws, which would come in to play later during the school year, laid out the plans for a recall of school board members.)

Shortly after signing the law which gave him the authority to close the schools, Governor Faubus did just that. He announced that Little Rock’s four public high schools would not open on Monday, September 15. He set October 7 as the date for the special election about keeping the schools closed.

No one seemed to know what the next steps were.

That night, high school football took place, as previously scheduled. Central came from behind to defeat West Monroe, Louisiana, by a score of 20 to 14.

Over the weekend, there were many meetings and phone conversations as people were trying to figure out what to do.

One meeting that took place on September 12 was at the home of Mrs. Adolphine Fletcher Terry. She invited a few friends over to discuss what role the women of the city could play in solving this crisis. The group decided to meet on the following Tuesday, September 16, at Terry’s house. It would eventually grow to over 1,300 members and have the name of Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Public Schools.

Arkansas and Mexico: The Early Years is focus of Old State House Museum Brown Bag lecture today

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Scott

Arkansas and Mexico each became political entities in the first decades of the 19th century. Both before and after Mexican Independence, Arkansans looked for commercial and political opportunities in Mexico.

Join the Old State House Museum on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 12 to 1 p.m., as Dr. Kristin Dutcher Mann explores the first 100 years of relationships between Arkansas and Mexico.

Dr. Kristin Dutcher Mann is professor of history and social studies education coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

She is a specialist in the history of colonial Latin America and the U.S./Mexico Borderlands. In addition, she frequently works with teachers and students on public and local history projects and grants.

Little Rock Culture Vulture

Cultural events, places and people in the Little Rock area

Category Archives: Government

Tonight on CALS Ron Robinson Theater stage: Hot Club of Cowtown

September 2FAN at CALS Library Square tonight

September 2FAN at HAM – soothSAY

Dr. Christy Drale named 10th leader of UA Little Rock

CALS Ron Robinson Theater BingoFlix presents ROBOT MONSTER

Sept. 12, 1958 – A Day of Uncertainty in Little Rock schools

Arkansas and Mexico: The Early Years is focus of Old State House Museum Brown Bag lecture today

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: