Category Archives: Lecture

Sandwiching in History – The BPOE Building in Little Rock

Posted on by

Each month the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program sponsors a “Sandwiching in History” tour which features a historic property. Today at 12 noon is the first one for 2013.

This month’s tour is of the B.P.O.E. building at 401 S. Scott Street.  Now known at the headquarters of the Junior League of Little Rock, it was originally built as a lodge for the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks.  The building was designed in the Second Renaissance Revival Style in 1908 by Theo Sanders and was constructed in two phases around 1910.  In 1927 the building was purchased by the Women’s City Club.  In May 2001 it was purchased by the Junior League of Little Rock.

The Sandwiching in History tours are free and open to the public. All tours begin at noon and last no more than one hour. An AHPP historian delivers a brief lecture about the property before leading guests on a tour. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunches with them.

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage) identifies, evaluates, registers, and  preserves the state’s historic and cultural resources and seeks to instill a preservation ethic in future generations of Arkansans. The agency also houses the Main Street Arkansas program, which works with local communities to revitalize downtown commercial areas.

Clinton School Speakers Series Continues in December

Posted on by

Though things may be winding down for the year in most arenas, the Clinton School speaker series continues to be strong throughout December (thanks to the efforts of Dean Skip Rutherford and Director of Public Programs Nikolai DiPippa).  Here is the roster for the remainder of the month.

“Cameras in the Courtroom: The West Memphis Three Case,” a panel discussion
Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. (Clinton Center Great Hall) *In partnership with the Arkansas Times
– Join us for a panel discussion on “Cameras in the Courtroom” with Jason Baldwin of the West Memphis Three; Joe Berlinger, director of the documentary film series “Paradise Lost” about the West Memphis Three case and Mara Leveritt, author of “Devil’s Knot,” which also chronicles the case.

“The Little Rock Accord,” Aled Jones, director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University
Friday, December 14 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– As part of the meeting of General Assembly of the Club de Madrid, a non-profit organization composed of more than 90 democratic former heads of state from over 60 countries, Jones will give a presentation about the “Little Rock Accord,” an action plan to mobilize political will to increase the role of private sector finance, particularly that of pension and sovereign wealth funds in driving low carbon, climate resilient, sustainable growth, especially in developing countries.

“Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change Around the World,” Alyse Nelson, president and CEO of Vital Voices
Monday, December 17 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall) *Book signing to follow
– Nelson will discuss the work of Vital Voices, a nonprofit that has worked for more than a decade to bring together women who want to enable others to become change agents in their governments, advocates for social justice and supporters of democracy.

Muna AbuSulayman, director of Directions Consultancy
Wednesday, December 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– AbuSulayman is director of Directions Consultancy, a boutique firm for innovative impactful philanthropy. She has successfully launched, managed and scaled multiple businesses and foundations throughout her career and is continuously placed in lists naming her one of the most influential Arabs in the world.


Renowned Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dowayan

Wednesday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m. (Sturgis Hall)
– Manal is one of Saudi Arabia’s foremost artists – her photography has been exhibited across the world and her artworks are part of the permanent collections of the British Museum and the Jordan National Museum of Fine Art. Her series, “I Am” (2007-09) is a series of black and white photographic portraits of women and addresses issues which pertain to the position of the Arab woman in Islamic Society.
*Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu, or calling 501-683-5239.

Legacies & Lunch: Annie Abrams

Posted on by

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies will host Annie Abrams as the speaker for Legacies & Lunch on Wednesday, December 5, at noon in the Main Library’s Darragh Center, 100 Rock Street.  Abrams has been involved in Arkansas politics for over 60 years and will discuss experiences gained with her many civic and political duties.

Abrams has served as a consultant to many Arkansas governors, including Winthrop Rockefeller, Dale Bumpers, Bill Clinton, Jim Guy Tucker, and Mike Beebe. She currently serves on the board of directors for Our House and as commissioner for the Fair Housing Commission.

The Butler Center’s Legacies & Lunch program is free and open to the public, and supported in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided.

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies is a department of the Central Arkansas Library System. It was founded in 1997 to promote the study and appreciation of Arkansas history and culture. The Butler Center’s research collections, art galleries, and offices are located in the Arkansas Studies Institute building at 401 President Clinton Ave. on the campus of the CALS Main Library.

Art of Architecture – Artists, Architects and Community: The Public Art Equation

Posted on by

Jack Becker,  who has a long and distinguished career in the field of  public art, is scheduled to speak tonight at the Arkansas Arts Center. His talk, “Artists, Architects and Community: The Public Art Equation”, is the third in the Architecture and Design Network’s Art of Architecture lecture series, now in its ninth season.

Founder and executive  director of Forecast Public Art,  a non-profit headquartered in St. Paul Minnesota, that provides consulting services to artists, communities  and government agencies, Becker is the publisher of Public Art Review, an award-winning journal that covers developments in the field worldwide.
In his talk, Becker will draw on his 35 years of experience as  artist and administrator to convey public art’s role  in meaningful place-making and  economic development. According to Becker,  “Art that engages the public can catalyze and sustain the revitalization of our shared environments, helping to create culturally vibrant and livable communities.”
While public art can be as simple as an object selected for placement in a public space, it can also come about through the collaborative efforts  of artists, design professionals and engineers. Many bridges,  bikeways and  trails, all  important elements of  infrastructure, have been produced by such joint efforts. Increasingly interdisciplinary, the field, according to Becker,  is also growing digital and ephemeral in its accommodation  to developments  in technology.
According to another professional, public art…”is about a city investing in itself. When done well it helps engender pride in place, adding meaning and a sense of history to the public realm.” The role of the community is key to a successful public art program.
Free and open to the public, Becker’s lecture  is sponsored by the Architecture and Design Network with the support of the University of Arkansas’s Fay Jones School of Architecture, the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Arkansas Arts Center. The 6:00 p.m. lecture is preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m.
For additional information contact June Freeman at  projects4pi@mac.com

Give Thanks for Tax Credits – Preservation Conversations

Posted on by

The Quapaw Quarter Association’s monthly Preservation Conversation continues tonight.

This month attendees will hear from property owners who have successfully used Arkansas and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.  Tom Marr, Rehabilitation Tax Credit Coordinator with the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, will also provide information on the program and answer questions.

The program takes place this evening at Curran Hall, 615 East Capitol Avenue. From 5 to 5:30 a reception will take place. The program will run from 5:30 to 6:30.

The Quapaw Quarter Association’s mission is to promote the preservation of Little Rock’s architectural heritage through advocacy, marketing and education. Incorporated in 1968, the QQA grew out of an effort to identify and protect significant historic structures in Little Rock during the urban renewal projects of the early 1960s. Throughout its existence, the QQA has been a driving force behind historic preservation in Greater Little Rock.

Legacies and Lunch: Deering Discusses Fisher and Political Cartoons

Posted on by

John Deering, Chief Editorial Cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, will discuss the history and importance of cartoons created by George Fisher.  The talk takes place today as part of the monthly “Legacies & Lunch” program.

Fisher was a political cartoonist for more than 50 years whose work influenced and helped define Arkansas politics and politicians for a generation.

Among his legacies were Orval Faubus and the Farkleberry Tree (pictured at right), Bill Clinton graduating from buggy to tricycle to bike to pickup, David Pryor and his coon dog, Frank White and his banana and the Old Guard Rest Home.

Legacies & Lunch is sponsored in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert are provided.

It will take place in the Darragh Center inside the main library building.  The program starts at 12noon and ends at 1pm.  The program is free.

Tales from the South tomorrow night: Tin Roof Project featuring Ann Talman

Posted on by

The first week of each month, Tales from the South features one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project.  November features actress Ann Talman.  Born in West Virginia, she has had a film and stage career since the 1980s.

Talman has costarred with Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller, Maureen Stapleton, Nathan Lane, Kate Burton, Elisabeth Shue, Frances Conroy, John Mahoney, Stockard Channing, Swoosie Kurtz, Henderson Forsythe, Rue McClanahan, Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Tilley, Jennifer Coolidge, Kristen Johnston and Amy Ryan — just to name a few.

Music is by the Salty Dogs 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.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $5, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.