Category Archives: Museum

4th Annual Tinkerfest today at Museum of Discovery

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tinkerfestThe Museum of Discovery presents its fourth annual Tinkerfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, offering the public a chance to discover how everyday objects such as cars and computers work, and opportunities to explore the engineering and science behind building objects.

More than 40 stations will be set up both inside and outside the museum. Among the activities Tinkerfest visitors can engage in:  

  • Toy take-apart
  • Car take-apart
  • Water exploration activities
  • Marshmallow shooters
  • Tiny drawings
  • Light painting
  • “How to make” workshops
  • Squishy circuits
  • Cardboard maze
  • Construction for kids

There also will be food trucks at Tinkerfest selling a variety of food.

“Tinkerfest is one of the great days of the year at the Museum of Discovery,” said Kelley Bass, museum CEO. “It’s invigorating to see hundreds of families engaged in hands-on activities that are as instructional as they are enjoyable. Tinkerfest is directly aligned with the museum’s mission, and we’re happy the public has embraced it so enthusiastically.”

Cross Gunter Witherspoon and Galchus is Tinkerfest’s presenting sponsor. The event is also made possible through financial support from Welspun Tubular; Arkansas Discovery Network; East-Harding Construction; AT&T; Entergy Arkansas; Central Arkansas Water; Nabholz Construction; Arkansas School for Math, Science and Arts; Acxiom; Ace Glass; Caterpillar; VCC; and Spectra Entergy.

Tinkerfest activities are included in the museum’s regular daily admission: $10 for adults, $8 for children 1-12 and free for infants younger than 1. Seniors, teachers, Little Rock city employees and active and retired military are admitted for $8.

To learn more about Tinkerfest, visit https://www.museumofdiscovery.org/events/tinkerfest.  

Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Final week for 57th Delta Exhibition at Arkansas Arts Center

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arkartsThe 57th Annual Delta Exhibition provides a unique snapshot of the Delta region by showcasing innovative and provocative contemporary works in all media.

– Guest juror George Dombek, an internationally acclaimed watercolorist and previous Delta award winner, selected the artworks to be exhibited among 882 pieces submitted by 380 artists. He won the 1975 Delta Purchase Award with his work White Whites.

– The exhibition is open to all artists who live in or were born in one of the following states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

– 72 works were selected for the exhibition from 68 individual artists, with 48 of those artists from Arkansas. In all, eight states were represented in this year’s Delta.

– Artists awarded in the 57th Annual Delta Exhibition include:

Grand Award

Mark Lewis of Tulsa, Okla., for his work titled, Under the Oak (Woodward Park)

Delta Awards

Lisa Krannichfeld of Little Rock, Ark., for her work titled, Shirt (in gold), dressed series

Neal Harrington of Russellville, Ark., for his work titled, Feather Signal

Honorable Mentions:

Michael Preble of Hot Springs, Ark., for his work titled, Unintended Consequences

Robyn Horn of Little Rock, Ark., for her work titled, Sideways

Aaron Calvert of Arkadelphia, Ark., for his work titled, Giving Figure

John Salvest of Jonesboro, Ark., for his work titled, Cage A

Laura Terry of West Fork, Ark., for her work titled, Ozarks Landscape, Late Summer

David Underwood of Jefferson City, Tenn., for his work titled, Abandonded Schoolhouse

Contemporaries Delta Award:

Mark Lewis of Tulsa, Okla., for his work titled, Under the Oak (Woodward Park)

Contemporaries Honorable Mentions:

Neal Harrington of Russellville, Ark., for his work titled, Feather Signal

The exhibition, which runs through September 20, is sponsored by Mrs. Lisenne Rockefeller, Bourbon & Boots, The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, Dianne and Bobby Tucker, Janet and Sam Alley and the Capital Hotel. The Grand Award is supported by The John William Linn Endowment Fund. The exhibition is supported by the Andre Simon Memorial Trust in memory of everyone who has died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Zoo Brew tonight at the Little Rock Zoo

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6_zoobrew2011-logoJoin the Little Rock Zoo for a frothy celebration like no other on Thursday, September 17! T

his fun craft beer festival takes place in and around Zoo grounds at Cafe Africa and the Civitan Pavilion and features dozens of beers to sample, live music to jam to featuring The Delta Donnie Band, and some of the best food trucks in central Arkansas who will have food available for purchase.

Food trucks include: Agrilla the Bun, Hot Rod Wieners, Katmandumomo, Loblolly Creamry, Pie Hole, Southern Gourmasian, Waffle Wagon, and Bratwurst and Sausage served-up fresh in Cafe Africa! Your ticket includes admission to the event, beer pours, and a free souvenir Zoo Brew cup! Food sold separately.

Brewers include:


 

Golden Eagle of Arkansas

Cost:  $25 per person in advance/$30 at the door

Must be at least 21 years of age to attend.

All proceeds benefit the Arkansas Zoological Foundation for updates and improvements to the Little Rock Zoo.

 

13 pieces of art will be unveiled at Mosaic Templars as part of 2015 Creativity Arkansas event

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Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Arkansas’s museum of African American history and culture, will unveil thirteen unique pieces in the 2015 Creativity Arkansas art collection during an Opening Reception at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

First introduced in 2009, Creativity Arkansas showcases works from prominent African American artists who have a connection to Arkansas which depict, represent, or illustrate historical places, events, or people that have been significant to the state’s black culture. Consistent with the mission of MTCC, the collection preserves and documents Arkansas’s African American history through vivid works in a variety of media.

The name Creativity Arkansas is inspired by the Kwanzaa holiday principle of “Kuumba” (or “Creativity”) which translates to mean to do as much as we can to leave our communities more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited. The 2015 Creativity Arkansas theme is Ancestral Landscapes: From Africa to Arkansas and contains artwork by ten renowned artists: AJ Smith, Jonathan Wright, Rex DeLoney, LaToya Hobbs, Higgins Bond, Danny Campbell, Ariston Jacks, Angela Davis Johnson, Bryan Massey, Sr., and George Frederick Nash.

Artwork acquired for Creativity Arkansas are used for MTCC’s educational programming and periodically serve as inspiration for new public programs. The entire collection is funded through a grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council.

The museum opened its doors in September 2008, and the opening of the art exhibit is part of activities marking its 7th anniversary celebration. Free and open to the public, the reception will feature refreshments and live music by Off the Cuff.

The 2015 Creativity Arkansas exhibit will be on display at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center from September 2015 through March 2016.

For more information about MTCC’s anniversary events, please visit mosaictemplarscenter.com or call 501.683.3593.

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, is dedicated to telling the history of African Americans in Arkansas from 1870 to the present, especially in the areas of politics, business and the arts. Other agencies of the Department of Arkansas Heritage include Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum.

Museum of Discovery’s Kevin Delaney to Make 4th appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’–POSTPONED

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UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this will be rescheduled for a future date. 

Kevin Delaney, director of visitor experience at the Museum of Discovery, will make his fourth appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at 10:35 p.m. Friday, September 18, on NBC.  In Little Rock, it will air on KARK.  Delaney serves as the show’s “science expert” and performs multiple science demonstrations with Fallon serving as his lab assistant.

“I cannot wait to return to ‘The Tonight Show’,” Delaney said.  “We’ve got some great demos planned that will show how amazing science is while highlighting some of the exciting things our visitors experience at the museum.”

According to Museum of Discovery CEO Kelley Bass, Delaney’s fourth appearance is perfect timing.  “Kevin’s appearance will occur on the eve of our largest public event, Tinkerfest, which is a day devoted to tinkering and engineering for all ages.  Kevin’s role on ‘The Tonight Show’ has definitely raised awareness about the Museum of Discovery and its mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math.”

Delaney made his successful “Tonight Show” debut on May 5, 2014 and returned again on November 7, 2014 and most recently, May 22.  To watch his first three appearances, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OELiqiIHZEI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWtZd8jM3g  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMplxEE4xdo

For more information, call 501-396-7050 or visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.

Today is last day to purchase tickets for First Ladies event at Old State House

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Help save the dresses by participating in the Luncheon on Tuesday, October 6!

The First Ladies’ Gowns exhibit at the Old State House Museum is the largest exhibit of its kind outside the Smithsonian and by far the most popular at the museum. The exhibit features gowns worn by the first ladies alongside items of everyday life in Arkansas from the 1840s to the present.

While the gowns have always been preserved according to the highest professional standards, some deterioration with age is inevitable. The current version of the First Ladies’ Gowns exhibit is housed on the second floor of the museum, in the west wing, in cases specially designed to minimize the deterioration caused by light, dust and humidity.

During a routine survey of artifacts in 2014, the museum’s curator noticed signs of stress on certain gowns. Upon closer inspection it was decided that a textile conservator should evaluate the collection. The museum staff worked closely with conservator Harold Mailand to create a prioritized list of conservation needs for gowns in the exhibit.

“One challenge is to secure funding both to conserve the gowns and to update the exhibit area so that a substantial part of the collection can be kept on view while preserving the gowns for generations of future Arkansans,” said Bill Gatewood, director of the Old State House Museum, a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

First lady Susan Hutchinson, along with the Old State House Museum Associates board of directors, a nonprofit group established to support the Museum, will host a lunch on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion on Tuesday, October 6, to raise funds to preserve the gowns.

A seated lunch on the lawn will be followed by a special presentation in the Great Hall. Five of Arkansas’s former first ladies (Ginger Beebe, Janet Huckabee, Betty Tucker, Gay White and Barbara Pryor) have committed to be present for the event and will attend a special reception for table sponsors before the luncheon.

 

Preview this week’s ACANSA Arts Festival tonight from 6pm to 7pm

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This evening, Join in the Discussion of the 2015 ACANSA Arts Festival from 6pm to 7pm tonight.

It will take place at Fosters at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 2nd Floor

(Not in the Rep’s Black Box as listed in the ACANSA brochure; Parking is available in the parking deck behind and adjacent to the Rep)
Join Arkansas Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Conductor Philip Mann as they offer exclusive insight into the various festival performances. Bob and Philip are two amazing guys who provide leadership in Arkansas arts as well as ACANSA Arts Festival.
This is a one-hour discussion from 6:00 to 7:00 pm to enable you to enjoy dinner afterwards in one of the great restaurants in the area!