Artober – On My Bookshelf – Cultural Policy, Fiction about the South, Family Heirlooms

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October is Arts and Humanities Month nationally and in Little Rock. Americans for the Arts has identified a different arts topic to be posted for each day in the month. Today’s topic is “On My Bookshelf.”

I love books.  I have thousands. I have not read them all, but I’ve read most of them.

These are from my grandfather Alvin Moses Carter’s set of encyclopedias. They were in his house for decades. Now they are in my office at work, where they sit near his steamer trunk. He died three years before I was born, but I feel connected to him when I see these items every day.

Also in my office are some books on cultural policy and history.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet Frohnmayer, Alexander,and Florida and discuss their books with them.

At home, I have books everywhere. I once tried to group them by subject and put in alphabetical order, but there were just too many, and they have to fit in a variety of spaces. These paper backs are on shelves that were built in my apartment when a doorway was filled in. Two of these books served as inspiration for Broadway musicals in 1949, each with heroines from Little Rock.

These two books face forward on one of my bookshelves (hiding some reference books).  Little Rock native Ben Piazza’s book is a fictionalized account of his childhood. He wrote it while appearing in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway. The other book is an oral history of Angels in America and is one of the best books I have read about theatre and history in a long time.

Tonight, the Clinton School presents Dr. Ibram X. Kendi discussing his book HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST, in partnership with Philander Smith College and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

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Image result for how to be an antiracistIn partnership with Philander Smith College and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Clinton Schoool of Public Service presents Ibram X. Kendi discussing his book How to be an Antiracist tonight (October 7) at 6pm.

The event will take place at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. A booksigning will follow.

Ibram X. Kendi is one of America’s foremost historians and leading antiracist voices. He is a New York Times-bestselling author and the Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University in Washington, D.C. A professor of history and international relations, Kendi is an ideas columnist at The Atlantic. He is the author of “The Black Campus Movement,” which won the W.E.B. Du Bois Book Prize, and “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

His recently released book, “How to be an Antiracist,” weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.

Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.

This event is in partnership with JusticeCon 2019 and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. JusticeCon is organized by the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College, which brings together students, activists, thought-leaders, knowledge-seekers and renowned speakers to share ideas and inspire one another in the pursuit of social justice. Limited seating is available.

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Artober – Music. The sounds of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

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Little Rock has a thriving music scene from jazz to blues to r&b to rock to soul to gospel to, well, you name it.

For over 50 years, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has been playing a pivotal role in that scene.  While they play programs that are largely classical music, they also incorporate many different styles of music into their offerings.  Last night, they played a concert with Tony and Grammy winner Heather Headley which spanned numerous musical genres.  The ASO is led by Interim Music Director Geoffrey Robson and Executive Director Christina Littlejohn.

Incorporated in 1966, the ASO now performs more than 60 concerts per season, which includes the Masterworks and Pops Concerts. In addition, the orchestra has a Chamber Series, River Rhapsodies, at the Clinton Presidential Center, ASO, I.N.C.: Intimate Neighborhood Concerts, and a busy schedule of statewide touring and educational performances in numerous venues, along with collaborations with Ballet Arkansas and the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Integral to the ASO’s activities are its resident string quartets, the Rockefeller and Quapaw Quartet; The ASO Brass Quintet, ASO Big Band, and the Arkansas Symphony Youth Ensembles, which comprises two string-only ensembles and two full orchestras. Through ASO education programs over 40,000 children each year experience the magic of music.

Distinguished guest artists including Bill Clinton, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Mignon Dunn, Marilyn Horn, Andre Watts, Maureen McGovern, Bernadette Peters, Maya Angelou, and Doc Severinsen, among others, have appeared in concert with the orchestra in Arkansas.

Comprised of the state’s most sought after professional musicians, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is heard by more than 165,000 Arkansans each year, and consistently plays to high critical praise.

CALS Announces Organizational Changes at Roberts Library

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This spring, the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) unveiled a new strategic plan effective through 2022. The CALS strategic plan describes the library system’s mission, core values, and vision while also identifying goal areas where CALS will direct its energy and resources over the next several years.

The Roberts Library is CALS special collections branch composed of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Genealogy Department, and the Galleries at Library Square.

Beginning October 1, two key changes took place at Roberts Library in alignment with the strategic plan: Director of the Roberts Library David Stricklin will become Director of Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement for the CALS system as a whole, where he will help guide the implementation of the Strategic Plan and strengthen relationships with governments, elected officials, community leaders and centers of influence; and Glenn Whaley will serve as Manager of the Roberts Library, expanding her role as operational leader for the past five years.

“The staffing changes will allow the library to benefit more from the unique gifts of two talented leaders,” said CALS Executive Director Nate Coulter. “David will be invaluable in driving the strategic evolution of our organization, and Glenn has already demonstrated her organizational and management skills as second-in-command of the Roberts Library. She’ll be an excellent leader to continue the vital and important work being done by the Roberts Library team.”

The CALS strategic plan is the result of broad-based community input, executive team engagement, consultation from national library planning experts, and board review and approval. The plan outlines seven organizational goals in the areas of (1) Extending Community Connections, (2) Services and Collections, (3) Facilities and Spaces, (4) Resource Allocation and Integration, (5) Public Awareness and Marketing, (6) Resource Development, and (7) Organizational Culture.

Butterfly lands on South on Main stage for concert tonight

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ButterflyJoin South on Main for an evening of reggae, soul and gospel with Katrice “Butterfly” Newbill. Show begins at 9 pm. Tickets are $12 cover day of show. Tickets do not guarantee you a seat. Please call (501) 244-9660 to reserve a table.

Butterfly has been singing professionally for over 35 years both local and abroad.She is known for her vocal range, diversity and energy. Currently residing in Little Rock after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, she regrouped and started over and losing most of her immediate family right before and shortly after Katrina. Needless to say it has been some of the hardest times imaginable but music is her therapy and way to express and so she does it with a passion!

Butterfly started singing about the age of 7 when her Father (a producer for CBS Records) and Mother realized her singing ability and vocal range to hit Minnie Rippleton notes and encouraged her to do talent shows to develop her craft and lose the shyness of performing in front of people.By the age of 12, she was in her first band Fantasia and The Fantasy Connection.They were known for there harmony and original material. By the age of 19 she was introduced to a local Reggae DJ who not only exposed her to Reggae but thru her first Reggae Concert at a local popular club in which her name Butterfly was born.

She joined her first Reggae Band, The Brothers Crucial and went from background vocalist to a feature vocalist.Shortly thereafter a spin off from that band and she became one of the lead vocalist for The Revealors Band.It was time for something new and different so she began the group all-female group the Irie Dawta’s who toured and became a hit. As a result she has opened for several artists inclusive of Pato Banton, Shaggy, Burning Spear, Ziggy Marley, SteelPulse, Eeka Mouse,The Wailers, Chante Moore, and many more while touring and being one of the headliners forTheBob Marley Fest that traveled to different states.

Some of her other credentials include singing professional background for Chairmaine Neville, Irma Thomas, Ndea Davenport (Brand New Heavies), Pato Banton besides singing on various rappers albums, movie soundtracks such as featured originals on the Fox Series Dark Angel, a recording with Iris May Tango featuring George Clinton , Charmaine Neville’s Mardi GrasAlbum, Live on Frenchmen Compilation CD ,Judah Clan Productions , and several other recordings. She also has done features with New Orleans Opera Association along with various stage plays.She is a songwriter, producer and event organizer and great in production behind the scenes.

So when you come to a Butterfly show expect a little bit of everything from belting out a Prince tune, Reggae joint,RB, Gospel, NOLA 2nd line, Old School or some Original. Butterfly is also currently working on her project that will feature a wide variety of music. Her mission is to give her testimony and spread love, healing and unity thru her performances.