Category Archives: Literature

Wilbur Mills Focus of Legacies & Lunch Today

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native arkansas exhibitionKay C. Goss, will discuss the complicated life and times of Congressman Wilbur D. Mills.   Goss is an educator and long-time aide to President Clinton in the Governor’s Office and at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, will discuss her biography of Arkansas’s longest-serving congressman, Mr. Chairman: The Life and Legacy of Wilbur D. Mills.

The book covers the entirety of Mills’s life (1909-1992), including his work on fiscal issues and his relationships with the eight presidents under whom he worked. Goss’s work also delves into Mills’s personal battle with alcoholism, his successful recovery, and his legacy of supporting substance abuse treatment.

Legacies & Lunch is free, open to the public, and supported in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. The program is held from noon-1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the Main Library’s Darragh Center. 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 (CALS). 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.

For more information, call 918-3086.

Tales from the South Tomorrow: Kat Robinson

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The first Tuesday of each month, Tales from the South features one person sharing their life story. They call it Tin Roof Project.  November features Kat Robinson. The program will be Tuesday, November 5.

Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

Kat Robinson is a food and travel writer based in Little Rock.  She travels Arkansas and the South searching for good stories, tall tales and the next great little restaurant.

In addition to Tie Dye Travels, Kat writes and blogs all about pie in the state of Arkansas — at ArkansasPie.com.  Her first book, Arkansas Pie, was released in November 2012 via History Press.

Kat previously wrote  Eat Arkansas, the blog for food loversfor the Arkansas Times.   She has written for Arkansas Wild, Serious Eats,  Sync Weekly, 2njoy Magazine, Deep South Magazine, GreenZine, Savvy Kids, Lonely Planet, Little Rock Family Magazine, Living in Arkansas, the Arkansas Times, Forbes Travel Guide, USA Today and Cat Fancy and appeared on KARN Newsradio’s The Dave Elswick’s Show.

Before starting her writing career in 2007, Kat produced and wrote for several Arkansas-based television and radio outlets, including an eight year stint producing Today’s THV This Morning.
Kat lives with her daughter Hunter in her hometown of Little Rock, AR.

“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 $7.50, 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.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre 2014 Lineup

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AST_logoLittle Rock native Rebekah Scallet, the artistic director of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, has announced the lineup for the 2014 season.  In announcing the season, she has described the shows as being about people in search of their identity.

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Enjoy a romantic evening under the stars with Shakespeare’s comedy of best friends divided by love, featuring wise-cracking servants and a playful pup.  This will be performed outdoors at the Hendrix Village in Conway and in North Little Rock.  One of Shakespeare’s early plays, it features romantic mixups, disguises, deception and a happy ending, all of which would become hallmarks of Shakespeare’s comedies.

Pippin featuring libretto by Robert O. Hirson and score by Stephen Schwarz
Based loosely on the lives of Charlemagne and Pepin, it tells the story of a young prince named Pippin who undertakes a musical journey of self-discovery that celebrates the magic of theatre. The current Broadway production was the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Revival.  This will be presented in the Reynolds Center on the UCA campus.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Perhaps Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, Prince Hamlet seeks to revenge his father’s death.  Directed by Robert Quinlan, who helmed the acclaimed 2012 production of Richard III, it will be presented in an intimate on-stage setting.

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
This will be the touring production in a pared down special adaptation of Shakespeare’s rip-roaring farce, perfect for kids of all ages.

Specific dates and further details will be announced soon.

UALR Rhetoric & Writing featured Tuesday at Tales from the South

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talesfromsouthTomorrow night’s edition of  ”Tales from the South” is UALR Rhetoric and Writing Show I – featuring Holland Colclasure, Jasmine Williams, Roger Doyne. Music is by Amy Garland 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 $7.50, 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.  Tonight’s episode will air on October 3.

Rock Town Slam! Tonight

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rocktown micThe monthly Rock Town Slam takes place tonight at the Arkansas Arts Center.

Get your poetry on at the Rock Town Slam! Slam artists will perform during this friendly competition. You can too!
Sign up at the door to perform or come and hear the most exciting poets around. Poets are judged on the delivery of written poetry.
The event takes place in the Arts Center Lecture Hall from 7pm to 9pm.
The cost is free for Arts Center members and $5 for non-members.  Participating poets pay $10.
Can’t make it this month?  This takes place the second Wednesday of the month twelve times a year.

ArtLinks 2013 continues today

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The Arkansas Arts Council’s ArtLinks 2013 continues today in Central Arkansas.

Storytelling is all the buzz these days. People in businesses, nonprofits, sales, marketing, education
and advocacy are recognizing the value of story in their work.
ArtLinks 2013: What’s Your Story? focuses on the importance of finding and communicating your story to influence policy and increase support. The annualstatewide conference for artists, arts administrators,educators and community leaders is hosted by the Arkansas Arts Council.
Stephanie Garibaldi, Education Director at SpeakeasyDC, Washington’s leader in live story performances and training, will demonstrate the power of a good story told well and explain how storytelling can be used by artists and organizations to strengthen connections, raise funds, improve communications, generate audience engagement and build community.

Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114

Conference Registration
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

The Why, What and How of Storytelling
9:00 a.m. – Noon
SpeakeasyDC’s Instructor Kevin Boggs leads a three-hour program that includes demonstrations, discussion and small group activities to explore ways to build and sustain the use of storytelling within an organization. Participants will identify and develop stories that reflect the impact and value of their arts programs as tools they can use for fundraising and advocacy.

Box Lunch and Walking Tour
Noon – 2:00 p.m., Argenta Arts District

What’s Their Story?
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Community leaders from around Arkansas share stories of innovative arts programs. Speakers include Sonia Davis Gutierrez with Fayetteville Forward Creative Economy Action Group; Austin Barrow with El Dorado Festivals and Events, Inc.; Jon Chadwell with the Newport Economic Development Commission; and Henry Golatt with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the planned Arts Factory Project on Main Street.

Arkansas Arts Council celebrates 2013 Fellowship Recipients today

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Arkansas_Arts_Council_logo_2Nine Arkansas artists will be celebrated today when the Arkansas Arts Council honors the recipients of its Individual Artist Fellowship awards. The artists will be recognized at a reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock.

The Arkansas Arts Council awarded nine artist fellowships in the amount of $4,000 each. Fellowships are awarded annually to artists in Arkansas in recognition of their individual artistic abilities. These fellowships enable artists to set aside time for creating their art and improving their skills. Three artistic disciplines are selected each year as categories for the awards.

The three categories for this year are Literary Arts: Playwriting; Performing Arts: Directing of Narrative and Documentary Films; and Visual Arts: Creating Contemporary and Traditional Crafts.

The fellowship recipients were selected by a jury of out-of-state professional artists, writers, performers and art administrators.

Literary Arts: Playwriting

Kelley Smith Pruitt, Little Rock – In a Year’s Time

Clinnesha D. Sibley, Fayetteville – Tell Martha Not to Moan

Werner Trieschmann, Little Rock – Disfarmer

 

Performing Arts: Directing of Narrative and Documentary Films

Joshua H. Miller, Little Rock – Pillow

Mark Thiedeman, Little Rock – Last Summer

Nathan Willis, Little Rock – “The Van”

 

Visual Arts: Creating Contemporary and Traditional Crafts

Ed Pennebaker, Osage – blown glass, stone and metal work

Timothy LaTourette, Fayetteville – wood, lighting and printmaking

Adam Posnak, West Fork – functional ceramic with stark black, white and red imagery

 

The Arkansas Arts Council is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.