Category Archives: Visual Art

LR Cultural Touchstone: Jane Rogers

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Jane RogersJane Rogers is a Little Rock native who has had a hand in developing two different cultural entities in her hometown.  She helped organize the first Riverfest to be held in Riverfront Park in 1983.  Continuing her involvement, she later served as the first full-time executive director of Riverfest.  Under her leadership the festival experienced significant growth.  This, in turn, brought more people down to the banks of the Arkansas River and the new Riverfront Park.  Because of this, more people were familiar with the area which helped the fledgling River Market take hold in the mid-1990s.

Shortly after he became Governor, Mike Huckabee tapped her to lead the Department of Arkansas Heritage.  In that capacity, she oversaw the Arkansas Arts Council, Old State House Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum, Delta Cultural Center, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.  She served as Director for two years.

In 2003, she was appointed to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.  In that capacity, she has been involved in efforts to strengthen cultural offerings and facilities at the various campuses in the University of Arkansas system.

Her most recent cultural endeavor has been as a founder of Sculpture at the River Market.  In 2007, she helped recruit volunteers to create Little Rock’s first nation-wide sculpture invitational show and sale.  Since that time, Sculpture at the River Market has built a $2,000,000+ collection of public sculpture placed in beautiful surroundings along the banks of the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock.  As a result of pieces of these efforts, the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden was created in Riverfront Park.

LR Cultural Touchstone: Jeannette Edris Rockefeller

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J RockefellerJeannette Edris Rockefeller only lived in Arkansas for about fifteen years. But her impact on the cultural life of Little Rock and all of Arkansas continues to be felt today.

Born and raised in Seattle, as a young mother she met Winthrop Rockefeller while both were in New York.  He moved to Arkansas in 1953; after their 1956 marriage, she joined him. They split their time between Little Rock and Petit Jean.

In 1959, she was asked to become involved in plans for a new art museum in Little Rock.  She became a tireless advocate and fundraiser for the new Arkansas Arts Center.   In 1960, she assumed the role of president of the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees, a position she held until 1968.  During that time period she oversaw the planning, construction and opening of the building.  She also invited Townsend Wolfe, who she had met when he taught some classes at the Arts Center, to apply to become the museum’s first executive director.

From 1967 to 1971, she was First Lady of Arkansas.  In that capacity, she supervised renovation of the Governor’s Mansion and started the tradition of displaying art on the walls.

Shortly after her 1971 divorce from Rockefeller, she relocated to California.  She continued to be a supporter of the Arts Center.  One of the galleries in the Arts Center is named in her honor.  In addition, one of the sculptures on the lawn of the Arts Center, Standing Red, was dedicated in 1970 in recognition of her service on the Arts Center Board.

Portraits and Sculptures focus of new exhibits at Arkansas Arts Center

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arkartsThursday, October 23, 6 p.m., Lower Lobby Lecture Hall

Member Lecture and Reception
“Making Beckman” by Tom Butler, Director of the Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia

Learn more about William Beckman’s gripping drawings in the first major retrospective of this great realists artist’s work on paper. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Alice Pratt Brown Atrium. Tickets are required to attend the lecture and are $15 for non-members and free for members. For more information or to reserve your ticket, call (501) 372-4000.

 

Friday, October 24, 2014 through February 1, 2015, Jeannette Edris Rockefeller and Townsend Wolfe Galleries

William Beckman: Drawings, 1967-2013

This exhibition includes intimate portraits of friends and family members, alongside arresting nudes of the artist and his wife. Some of the most attention-demanding works are massive portrayals of bulls. Accompanying the exhibition is a 112-page, full-color catalogue of Beckman’s work, which includes a revealing interview with the artist by exhibition curator Tom Butler and also illustrates archival photos from his childhood and college days. The catalogue is published by D Giles, Ltd., London. The exhibition was originated by the Columbus Museum in response to the ideas of Townsend Wolfe, the long-time director of the Arkansas Arts Center.

 

Friday, October 24, 2014 through January 18, 2015, Winthrop Rockefeller Gallery

The Sculpture of Stoney Lamar

This exhibition presents work from 1987 to the present. Uninspired by traditional turned wood vessel forms, Stoney Lamar embarked on a personal exploration of the lathe and other tools of turners and woodworkers. This spirit of experimentation has firmly placed his work in the avant-garde of the wood turning world. Not only was he one of the first to use multi-axial turning, but eventually he added steel, color and distressed surface treatments.

 

Friday, October 24, 12 – 1 p.m., Jeannette Edris Rockefeller and Townsend Wolfe Galleries
Feed Your Mind Friday with Artist William Beckman

Take an hour to feed your mind and learn more about William Beckman’s work in William Beckman: Drawings, 1967-2013. While Beckman’s paintings depict landscapes, figures, and still lifes, his most celebrated drawings are those of the human figure. Sign up at the Stephens Inc. Visitors Center to attend this free event. For more information, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org or call (501) 372-4000.

“Really Cool Digs” is topic of tonight’s Architecture and Design Network lecture

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ADN Cool DigsIn his talk, Carl Matthews will examine the ways in which the media – television, film, advertising among them – use architecture and design to develop and project a particular image or mood. Examples abound and Matthew will share a generous sampling of them with his audience.

As head of the Fay Jones School of Architecture’s Interior Design Department, Matthews currently oversees the education of a hundred and ten students. Of that number, a majority, following graduation, will likely pursue careers in commercial design. As an educator, Matthews strives to create a link between academia and practice. Prior to his coming to the School, Matthews taught at the Universities of Texas and Kansas. He earned his Master’s degree from Pratt Institute.

The lecture starts at 6pm at the Arkansas Arts Center.  A reception will start at 5:30.

ADN lectures are free and open to the public. Supporters of ADN include the Arkansas Arts Center, the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and the Central Arkansas section of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. For further information contactardenetwork@mac.com.

Quilts, Women in Ads focus of exhibits at Historic Arkansas Museum

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In addition to the exhibit on 40 years of the Arkansas Times, Historic Arkansas Museum features several other exhibits.

The Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3 is a juried quilt show that celebrates contemporary Arkansas quilters and features more than 30 quilts from across the state. You’ll be surprised by the variety in size, technique and composition. These quilts are works of art.

Prizes were awarded for Best of Show, Best Hand Quilting and Best Machine Quilting, as well as awards in the following categories: Pieced, Appliqué, Mixedand Group.

The Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3 continues in the Horace C. Cabe Gallery through  May 3, 2015.

Group Category
1st Place Group, Buttons and Beads on a Winding Road, Bonnie Kastler, Hot Springs Village
2nd Place Group, My Carolina Lily, Phyllis Holder, Mabelvale
3rd Place Group, Reminiscence, Gail Zukowski, Hot Springs
Mixed Category
1st Place Mixed, Irish Knots and Golden Coins, Jaynette Huff, Conway
2nd Place Mixed, Feathered Friends, Darlene Garstecki, Hot Springs Village
3rd Place Mixed, Rose Cottage, Terrie Newman, Hot Springs
Pieced Category
1st Place Pieced, Forest Primeval, Karen Harmony, Eureka Springs
2nd Place Pieced, Starry Starry Bright, Donna Toombs, North Little Rock
3rd Place Pieced, Old Military Road, Victoria Kauth, Mountain Home
Appliqué Category
1st Place Appliqué, Victorian Elegance—Newel Posts and Wrought Iron, Jaynette Huff, Conway
2nd Place Appliqué, Just a Little Snack, Linda Tiano, Hot Springs Village
3rd Place Appliqué, If Only it was that Easy, Karen Harmony, Eureka Springs
Best Machine Quilting, Winter Sky, Wilma Richter, Little Rock
Best in Show, Irish Knots and Golden Coins, Jaynette Huff, Conway
Viewer’s Choice Award, Chinoiserie, Pamela Davis, Edgemont

The Thirteenth Annual Eclectic Collector Series

A Beauty on It Sells: Advertising Art from the collection of Marsha Stone

Women have been used in modern advertising since its inception.  Marsha Stone’s vintage collection of advertising materials from the late 19th and early 20th century showcases a rare glimpse into the world of advertising in days gone by.

The exhibit continues in the Study Gallery through  January 1, 2015.

 

LR Cultural Touchstone: Kaki Hockersmith

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KakiKaki Hockersmith creates art as a designer. In addition, she promotes arts and heritage through her tireless efforts on behalf of numerous cultural institutions.

In 2010, she was appointed to the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for The Kennedy Center.  In that capacity, she serves as a national ambassador for The Kennedy Center. She has also brought programs from The Kennedy Center to Arkansas to help established and emerging arts organizations. She also serves as a commissioner on the cultural committee of UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

In 1993, she redesigned the interior of The White House during the Clinton Administration. She was also appointed a member of the Committee for the Preservation of The White House.  Her work on this American landmark was featured in Hillary Clinton’s book An Invitation to the White House: In Celebration of American Culture.

Locally, she serves on the Board of Trustees for the Arkansas Arts Center and the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association. She is an active supporter of many cultural organizations in Little Rock.  She and her husband Max Mehlburger open their home to host receptions and fundraisers for numerous cultural institutions and organizations.  Earlier this year she was recognized for this support at Ballet Arkansas’ Turning Pointe gala.

Professionally, she has been honored by the national ASID organization as well as the Washington D.C. chapter. Her projects have won 16 regional ASID awards, including seven gold awards.

LR Cultural Touchstone: Garbo Hearne

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garboGarbo Watson Hearne has moved from nurturing patients as a nurse to nurturing artists and art collectors.  As the Director of Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing and Hearne Fine Art, she has been cultivating artists and collectors for over 25 years.

In 1988, Garbo left her nursing career to establish Pyramid Gallery.  Over the years, the business has expanded its focus and changed locations.  Since 2010, she has been located in the historic Dunbar neighborhood.   Over the years, she has championed local, regional and national African American artists and authors. She has introduced many emerging artists to established collectors.  Having her as a champion has allowed some artists to be able to take risks and to move into different mediums or styles.

The 2010 move to Dunbar positioned Garbo’s businesses (as well as the medical practice of her physician husband) to be anchors in the newly designated Dunbar Historic Neighborhood.  That neighborhood seeks to maintain its historic structures and return to its roots as a mix of residential and office space.  In 2008, she and her husband, Dr. Archie Hearne, published Collaborations, Two Decades of African American Art: Hearne Fine Art 1988 – 2008.

Hearne has served on the board of directors of the Mid-America Arts Alliance, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the Arkansas Arts Council (including a term as Chair) and the board of the Arkansas Humanities Council.