Category Archives: Lecture

First Old State House Brown Bag Lunch Lecture today focuses on Capt. Robert Sanders Burke

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oldstatehouseToday at noon at the Old State House Museum, Richard Hartness discusses “Local Hero: Captain Robert Sanders Burke, Home Guard Commander”

The new year’s first Brown Bag Lunch Lecture is presented by Richard Hartness and is the story of a south-central Arkansas farmer/surveyor, turned citizen-soldier, elected by his neighbors to lead them in their defensive quest to save their homes and farms from the ravages of enemy invasion. During the Civil War, Robert Sanders Burke was elected Captain of a group of Montgomery County mounted volunteers, initially called “Burke’s Company,” and by war’s end was mustered into Confederate service as Company “B.” Newton’s group, like many others, was composed primarily of boys too young for conscription and older men, who may have served on other units before joining local “home guard” militias.

Richard Hartness is the president of the Cross County Historical Society and is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Heritage Studies at Arkansas State University, where he is researching information on the first tenured Black professors in Arkansas’s colleges and universities. In February 2013, Hartness was honored by the Cross County Chamber of Commerce as their “Distinguished Citizen of the Year, 2012.”

Former Ambassador to Iraq, South Korea to speak at Clinton School today

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outpost-9781451685916_lgToday at noon at the Clinton School, Christopher Hill, former US Ambassador to Iraq will discuss his new book “Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy”

Ambassador Christopher Hill is the Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Ambassador Hill is a former career diplomat, a four-time ambassador, nominated by three presidents, whose last post was as Ambassador to Iraq from April 2009 until August 2010. He was the first American Ambassador to Macedonia; Ambassador to Poland, where he also served in the depth of the cold war; Ambassador to South Korea; and chief disarmament negotiator in North Korea. From the wars in the Balkans to the brutality of North Korea to the endless war in Iraq, “Outpost” is the inside story from some of the most dangerous outposts of American diplomacy.

An “inside the room” memoir from one of our most distinguished ambassadors who—in a career of service to the country—was sent to some of the most dangerous outposts of American diplomacy. From the wars in the Balkans to the brutality of North Korea to the endless war in Iraq, this is the real life of an American diplomat.

Hill was on the front lines in the Balkans at the breakup of Yugoslavia. He takes us from one-on-one meetings with the dictator Milosevic, to Bosnia and Kosovo, to the Dayton conference, where a truce was brokered. Hill draws upon lessons learned as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon early on in his career and details his prodigious experience as a US ambassador. He was the first American Ambassador to Macedonia; Ambassador to Poland, where he also served in the depth of the cold war; Ambassador to South Korea and chief disarmament negotiator in North Korea; and Hillary Clinton’s hand-picked Ambassador to Iraq.

Hill’s account is an adventure story of danger, loss of comrades, high stakes negotiations, and imperfect options. There are fascinating portraits of war criminals (Mladic, Karadzic), of presidents and vice presidents (Clinton, Bush and Cheney, and Obama), of Secretaries of State (Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Clinton), of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and of Ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Lawrence Eagleburger. Hill writes bluntly about the bureaucratic warfare in DC and expresses strong criticism of America’s aggressive interventions and wars of choice.

Susan Eisenhower discusses energy policy at the Clinton School this evening

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SE-forwebIn 1952, General Dwight Eisenhower visited Little Rock while campaigning for the presidency.  Tonight, one of his grandchildren visits Little Rock on a different type of campaign.  Susan Eisenhower will be speaking at the Clinton School discussing “Energy Infrastructure and Energy Security.”

Susan Eisenhower is the CEO and Chairman of The Eisenhower Group, Inc., a Washington D.C.-based consulting company that provides strategic counsel on business development, public affairs, and communications for Fortune 500 companies around the world.

She currently serves on MIT’s Energy Initiative Advisory Board, as the co-chair of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Board and is on the steering committee of the Energy Future Coalition and its Americans for Clean Energy Grid. The granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower, Susan has extensive knowledge of the energy industry and is a frequent speaker and author on public policy matters related to energy and national security.

This is a return visit to Little Rock for Ms. Eisenhower. In 2007, she was present for the activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

“Young and African-American in 2015” is topic of panel at Clinton School this evening

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Clinton-School-of-Public-Service-LogoThe Clinton School and the Clinton School’s Center on Community Philanthropy are hosting a panel discussion: “Young and African-American in 2015″ this evening, Monday, January 19th at 6 p.m. to commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

This timely discussion follows the deaths of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fl.; Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.; Eric Garner in New York City; and New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

Panelists include Clinton School students Quiana Brown; Melvin Clayton; Akaylah Jones; and Clinton School alum Jonathan Dunkley. Brown is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas; Clayton is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and interned with the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.; Jones graduated from Henderson State University and served with AmeriCorps; Dunkley grew up in Florida and graduated from Philander Smith College where he was Student Body President. Dunkley is currently the Director of Operations at the Clinton School. Clinton School faculty Dr. Christina Standerfer and Dr. Charlotte Williams will co-moderate.

 

Robinson Center Redux- January

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WAVW LR Jan65Since Robinson Center Music Hall is closed for renovations and restoration, this year the Culture Vulture will take a monthly look back at some of the featured attractions which have played there.  This month looks at January of years ending in “0” and “5.”

As noted earlier on the blog, even before the February 1940 opening of the music hall, the lover level exhibition hall was playing host to events including basketball games.

By 1945, things were well underway on both levels. Buddy Johnson & his Orchestra were playing a dance for African Americans in the lower level on January 10. Upstairs events ranged from a lecture on Christian Science (January 7), a play Good Night Ladies (January 17), a lecture by Dr. Emil Ludwig on Germany after World War II, and Paul Draper & Larry Adler in concert (January 23).

In 1950, Tallulah Bankhead starred in a revival of Private Lives (January 13), a Passion Play booked it for over a week (January 21 – 28) and a double-header of Shakespeare plays held court on January 30. Margaret Webster’s Shakespeare Company played The Taming of the Shrew in the afternoon and Julius Caesar in the evening. Also that month the Arkansas State Symphony (a forerunner to today’s Arkansas Symphony Orchestra) gave a concert on the 17th.

A highlight of 1955 was a women’s wrestling match on January 4 in the lower level.

In 1960, two theatrical productions were presented. On January 8 & 9, Odd Man In was presented “pre-Broadway” (it didn’t make it). Much more successful was the national tour of My Fair Lady from January 18 through 23.

Though Little Rock native Ben Piazza had helped develop the play, he wasn’t in the cast when the national tour of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? played Robinson on Januayr 25, 1965.

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Robinson was at a crossroads.  Many performers wanted to play at larger spaces (such as Barton Coliseum) or smaller venues (such as churches or the UALR recital hall).  In 1970, the Happy Goodman Family gave a concert on January 21.  Five years later they returned on January 10, 1975 in a concert with Vestel Goodman. The next night, Johnny Paycheck was in concert.  On January 21, 1975, Robert Alda headlined a tour of The Sunshine Boys.

Orchestra concerts dominated most January offerings from 1980 onward.  On January 27, 1980, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra gave a concert at Robinson. In 1985, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presented concerts (January 19 & 20) with Misha Dichter, pianist.  January 1990 saw the ASO with Stephen Burns, trumpet on January 20 & 21.

In 1995, the ASO performed Rimsky-Korskaov’s Scheherazade on January 13 & 14.  Composer, pianist and conductor Marvin Hamlisch highlighted a concert with the ASO on January 22 in 2000. Earlier in the month the ASO performed Der Freischatz on the 15 & 16th.  The day before Hamlisch, the Martins were in concert.

2005 highlights included the ASO with Elmer Oliveira, violinist (Jan 15 & 16), the ASO Side by Side concert (where Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians and ASO musicians perform together) on January 29 and the ASO Family Series: Secrets of the Orchestra on January 30.  The Irish dance spectacular Riverdance played Robinson from January 17 through 19.

Five years ago, Ron “Tater Salad” White performed his stand-up at Robinson on January 8, 2010. Later that month the ASO offered Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto on January 16 & 17. The 2010 ASO Side by Side concert was on January 30.  On January 20 the Shen Yun Chinese cultural performance took place in Robinson.

“Then and Now – The Central High Neighborhood” focus of architecture lecture tonight

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centralentranceThe Architecture and Design Network is hosting a panel presentation on the historic Central High neighborhood this evening at 6pm at the Arkansas Arts Center.

Panelists are:

  • Rachel Silva, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
  • Kwendeche, an architect
  • Nancy Rousseau, principal of Central High School
  • Vanessa McKuin, president of the Central High School Neighborhood Assocation

The westward expansion of Little Rock in the mid-1890’s gave rise to the West End, a section of the city which, in time, became known as the Central High School neighborhood. At the time the high school was completed in 1927 it was designated by the American Institute of Architects as “the most beautiful high school in America.”  For its time it was the largest and most expensive high school building in the United States.  Thirty years later its reputation would be changed as it became the site of international media coverage of efforts to fight the integration.

In addition to discussing the history and development of the area, the panel will talk about the future of historic properties in the neighborhood. A trio of neighborhood groups is actively involved in the effort. The three are: Wright Avenue Neighborhood Association, Capitol Hill Neighborhood Association and Central High Neighborhood Association.

The Architecture and Design Network is a non-profit organization. It is supported, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Center, Central Arkansas section of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and friends in the community.

A reception will begin at 5:30 prior to the lecture.

“Well, That Was Embarrassing” is theme of tonight’s Tales from the South at Oyster Bar

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talesfromthesouthWe have all fallen flat on our face, either literally or figuratively.  Tonight, Tales from the South celebrates this shared experience with “Well That Was Embarrassing” at the Oyster Bar. The storytellers for this edition are John Wells, Martin Bauer, and Grant Rollins.

Music is by Mark Currey and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $15.  Dinner can be purchased separately.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show.

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.  This program will air on January 22.