Category Archives: Holidays

Labor Day Sculpture Vulture: John Deering’s RICK REDDEN

Posted on by

ReddenLabor Day celebrates a time to take a break from work and relax.  Today’s Sculpture Vulture showcases John Deering’s sculpture of Rick Redden which depicts the visionary architect doing just that.

As an architect, Rick Redden designed many downtown buildings including several in the River Market District.  He was involved in new projects like the 300 Third Building and River Market Tower, as well as rehab projects such as the Ottenheimer Market Hall and the Museum Center.  One of his last projects was the Arcade Building.

This sculpture, by John Deering, was commissioned by Jimmy Moses, Rett Tucker and the Central Arkansas Library System Endowment to honor Redden’s memory.  It shows him playing his banjo, with architectural drawings rolled up behind him. The piece looks like he had just taken a break from work to relax a little by playing music.

It is appropriate that the sculpture is located in front of the Arcade Building. Not only was the project one of his designs, but the building also contains space for work and for entertainment.  The placement is also a continuation of the commitment of both Moses Tucker Real Estate and the Central Arkansas Library System to include sculpture in their projects.

2015-16 ASO Pops includes Cirque, Broadway, Movies and Holiday Favorites

Posted on by

aso_2-colorThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra returns to the Connor Performing Arts Center on the Pulaski Academy campus for the 2015-2016 season.  There is still time to order your tickets.

Things get started on October 24 & 25 with “Cirque Musical.” Debuting this summer at the Hollywood Bowl, this evening will feature contortionists, balances and jugglers providing a visual feast for the eyes while the ASO will play classical and contemporary music.

From December 18 to 20, it will be “Holiday Pops with the ASO.” This long-running tradition will feature Christmas carols and other holiday songs

February 13 & 14 will be “Broadway Rocks!” Featuring Broadway stars Christiane Noll, Carpathia Jenkins and Rob Evans, this evening will feature songs from such Broadway shows as Rent, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, The Wiz and The Phantom of the Opera.  A lot of people throw around the term “Broadway stars” but these three deserve it.  If they are in a show, they steal it!

The Pops season will conclude with “The Movie Music of John Williams” on May 7&8.  The ASO will play selections from some of Williams’ mist famous movies. He has win 5 Oscars, 6 Emmys, 25 Golden Globes and 22 Grammys.

Nativity Scenes from the Americas on exhibit at UALR

Posted on by
Dr. Bill Wiggins at UALR's Sequoyah National Research Center on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.

Dr. Bill Wiggins at UALR’s Sequoyah National Research Center on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.

Christmas is four months from today – yet you can see a variety of Nativity scenes at UALR.

Dr. J.W. “Bill” Wiggins took a different route with his Nativity scene collection. Essentially, if he ran across something native-arts related that he liked during his travels, he bought it.

“As I started to collect Nativities, it quickly became a folk art collection,” Wiggins said.

Figures and paintings Wiggins accumulated during the past four decades found a home in his “Nativities from the Americas” exhibit, available for viewing 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 9 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Sequoyah National Research Center.

The exhibit features about 45 Nativity scenes, mainly crafted by Native American, Mexican and South American artists, although there also are some from other parts of the world.

Wiggins is fascinated with how different cultures view Christianity and the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of the artists represented in his collection incorporate their culture into the imagery.

That means, for example, visitors might see a buffalo or an eagle among the Nativity animals in some displays, and they’ll have a chance to view the figures presented in different mediums — from wood to clay, to even mud.

Wiggins said the Nativity collection is one of his most popular and most-requested exhibits. It was last on display in 2011, and Wiggins’ collection has grown since then.

One of the reasons for the exhibit’s popularity is that so many families decorate with Nativity sets of their own, Wiggins said, and the exhibit lets people see different interpretations of that venerated tradition.

Visitors to Wiggins’ exhibit shouldn’t expect to find Nativity scenes similar to those that annually line department store shelves. His collection features unique artistic perspectives such as a display that uses characters from other American holidays to symbolically represent the birth in Bethlehem.

Wiggins enjoys meeting the artists as he adds to his collection, and he tries not to miss an opportunity to discuss the displays with guests.

“I’m always interested in people’s reaction,” Wiggins said. “And what they see and what they don’t see is interesting.”

The Sequoyah National Research Center is home to one of the largest collections of Native American expression in the world. Its mission is to acquire and preserve the written and visual ideas of Native North Americans.

For more information, visit its website: http://ualr.edu/sequoyah/

Revolutionary War battle in Arkansas

Posted on by

Colbert's_RaidBecause Arkansas was part of the Louisiana Territory, and under the Spanish flag, one does not think about there being any Revolutionary War battles being fought on Arkansas soil.  But on April 17, 1783, the British and Spanish skirmished at Arkansas Post.  Sometimes known as Colbert’s Raid, this was part of a four year campaign of intermittent efforts by the British to stop the Spaniards from funneling money and supplies to the colonists via the Mississippi River.

James Colbert, a former British Army captain, led a loose group of British mercenaries as well as anti-Spanish members of the Chickasaw tribe on a series of raids in Louisiana and the lower Mississippi area.  He targeted Fort Carlos at Arkansas Post because of its proximity to the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers.

The Fort had 33 Spanish soldiers and four members of the Quapaw tribe.  Colbert had over 80 men with him.  After an initial attack on the Post, several residents made it to the Fort which was then attacked.  Expecting surrender (and indeed there had been a brief truce), instead a Spanish sortie of 14 faced the 82. Shouting Quapaw war cries and firing their muskets, under the cover of darkness, this sortie surprised and confused the Colbert party.  Convinced that a large collection of Quapaw was attacking them, they scattered and retreated.

Today, the National Park Service at Arkansas Post offers information on this battle, one of the last of the Revolutionary War (and a full 18 months after Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown).

32nd Democrat-Gazette Pops on the River tonight with ASO and fireworks

Posted on by

popsonriverPops on the River, presented by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, is the state’s largest Fourth of July celebration and takes place this year on Saturday, July 4th in downtown Little Rock.

Pops on the River, in it’s 32nd year, is FREE to the public and will begin at noon outside the main gates of the First Security Amphitheater in the River Market Pavilions with a Kid’s Pavilion and Car Pavilion. The event will also have a marketplace with shopping, food trucks, a car show and other activities below the River Market Pavilions.

The event is free to the public and a portion of proceeds benefit a local charity. This year’s benefiting charity is Easter Seals of Arkansas. Pops on the River is also sponsored in part by the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Chick-fil-A of Central Arkansas, Arkansas Flag and Banner and Landers FIAT.

There is a Military Appreciation Tent as well as musical performances throughout the day. The “Oh Say! Can You Sing?” finalists will also perform this evening.

Activities begin at noon.  Gates to the amphitheatre open at 5:30.  Chairs, blankets are encouraged. Open amphitheater seating is available, but limited. No coolers or outside food or drinks. No pets or fireworks allowed.

5:30pm – 9:30pm – Salute to the Troops. Sponsored by CHI St. Vincent (Riverfront Park) Record a video message to our men and women in the military in our Salute the Troops tent.

8:30pm – The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (First Security Amphitheater) Conducted by Philip Mann. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performance is one not to miss.

9:30pm – Fireworks Celebrate our nation’s independence with the Pops on the River Fireworks finale – shot over the Main Street Bridge and visible to all of downtown Little Rock.

 

Frontier 4th at Historic Arkansas Museum today

Posted on by

FrontierFourthCelebrate Independence Day as it was celebrated on the Arkansas frontier. During the territorial and early statehood days of Arkansas, July 4 was THE holiday to celebrate.

Historic Arkansas Museum will be offering activities and demonstrations all day.  The afternoon activities include an old-time patriotic parade, 19th century music and encounters with people from the past.

Cheer “huzzah” during a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Congressman French Hill (around 3pm) and sign your own copy in the print shop. Watch out for Red Coats! This year marks the 240th anniversary of the start of the revolution. Watch a reenactment of two battles and a duel on the lawn near the farmstead.

Children can walk on stilts and play other pioneer games, and they’ll be invited to take up brooms and wooden rakes to train with the militia. They will also have the opportunity to create flags, streamers and signs to use in the parade.

Visit Historic Arkansas Museum for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun!

All activities are free and open to the public.

Free Admission to Clinton Center for Independence Day

Posted on by

CPC july4Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, the Clinton Presidential Center will feature free admission to the exhibits.

Explore the Clinton Center’s newest exhibit, “Dinosaurs Around the World,” as well as our permanent exhibits. Acoustiguide audio tours narrated by President Clinton are also free.  The Clinton Center is open from 9am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday.

Dinosaurs Around the World takes you back in time on a dinosaur adventure and a tour of an Earth very different from today – a time before the continents as we know them existed, when lush landscapes covered Africa and greenery was the norm in Antarctica! With 13 life-sized animatronics, a multi-layered narrative, fossils, authentic casts, cutting-edge research and immersive design elements, you’ll experience the Age of Reptiles as it comes to life!

The permanent exhibits include: