Tag Archives: Arkansas Studies Institute

Mixing Music, Drinks and Art at 2nd Friday Art Night

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2FAN logo Font sm2April showers us with another opportunity to enjoy 2nd Friday Art Night downtown in Little Rock from 5pm to 8pm.  Included in the various participating venues are Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum.  (For those who want to attend City Year’s Red Jacket Ball tonight honoring Rep. Darrin Williams, this works out perfectly because 2nd Friday Art Night starts at 5pm, so you can still enjoy it before RJB starts.)

At Historic Arkansas Museum, Capital Hotel Bar and Grill mixologist—and two-time Nog-off winner—David Burnette will mix and muddle, and show you how to make the perfect mint julep just in time for derby season. Ozark-inspired, funky-folk band Mockingbird will set the whole splendid night to music.

At the Old State House Museum, Tim Anthony will play jazz music.

The Arkansas Studies Institute has several exhibits including: Clinton for Arkansas, Arkansas Society of Printmakers, From the Vault: Works from the CALS Permanent Collection and No I’m Not, He Is: “A Flying Snake and Oyyo” Comic Retropsective.

2012 Arts & Humanities Month 2nd Friday Art Night

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October is Arts and Humanities Month.  What better time to try out 2nd Friday Art Night for the first time? Or to make a repeated visit?

Tonight from 5pm to 8pm at various downtown museums and galleries, guests can view art and enjoy live entertainment.  Admission is free.

Here are just a few of the highlights.

Christ Episcopal Church.  Watercolors by Kuhl Brown.  A resident of Hillcrest, Kuhl’s paintings are realistic landscapes and other subjects also in the realistic style. The show will run through Dec. 14.

Historic Arkansas Museum will feature live music by the Smittle Band as visitors view the current exhibits. Included at HAM are:

  • Recent Acquisitions: A Collection Vision, 2008 – 2012
  • The Civil War in Arkansas
  • Barbie: The 11 1/2 –inch American Icon
  • The Knife Gallery
  • Arkansas Contemporary: Selected Fellows from the Arkansas Arts Council
  • We Walk in Two Worlds: The Caddo, Osage and Quapaw in Arkansas

The Butler Center Galleries are located within the Arkansas Studies Institute building.  The galleries this month feature: Arkansas League of Artists and Solastalgia.  The Arkansas League of Artists is a group of artists and art enthusiasts who gather to learn from one another by exploring new techniques, working in various media, and sharing their collective knowledge.  Solastalgia will feature artwork by Susan Chambers and Louise Halsey.

The Arkansas League of Artists is an organization formed to promote fine arts in Arkansas. This group of artists and art enthusiasts gathers to learn from one another by exploring new techniques, working in new media, and sharing their collective knowledge.

Also, stop by the third floor of the Cox Creative Center for “Equinox 2011-2012: A Retrospective curated by Alex Leme and Rachel Golden.”  This exhibit, which will run through Decmber 1, features works by Carolyn Ascher, Ashley Barker, Kae Barron, Beth Beam, Rebecca Benson, Chris Cotton, Carolyn Crocker, Starr Crow, Megan Douglas, Chris Friemel, Chelsye Garrett, Heather Harmon, Cody Henslee, Lilia Hernandez, Kelly Hicks, Steve Hollis, Linda Holloway, Zechariah McGhee, Cyrene Quiamco, Becky Robinson, Jerry Rushing, Myriam Saavedra and Lauren Sukany.

The artwork by Susan Chambers and Louise Halsey interprets the idea of solastalgia, a term coined by Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht meaning “the pain experienced when there is recognition that the place where one resides and that one loves is under immediate assault.”

Moon Fest

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Join us September 22 for Moon Fest!

Hosted by the Central Arkansas Astronimcal Society, UALR Physics and Astronomy Dept.,
Museum of Discovery, Central Arkansas Library System Main Branch and Arkansas Studies Institute.

Special guests include Mr. Steve Arnold of the Science Channel’s TV show “Meteorite Men”. He will be appearing at MOD between 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, he will also be joining us on the observing field that evening for telescope views of the Moon

Moon Fest Schedule of Events

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Museum of Discovery) Construct a Lunar Base Activity for kids, Tinker Shop, Museum of Discovery

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM “Meteorite Man” Steve Arnold lecture in the Museum of Discovery Great Hall (Sponsored by the UALR Physics and Astronomy Department)

2:30 PM to 5:00 PM Meteorite Sales with Steve Arnold in the Museum of Discovery Great Hall

2:30 PM to 4:00 PM “For All Mankind” a documentary film of the Apollo Moon Missions at Arkansas Studies Institute Room 124

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Making Moon Craters with Dr. Tony Hall at the CALS Main Library Branch Children’s Room

3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Walking the Solar System. Starts outside the front of the Museum of Discovery

7:00 PM to 10:30 PM Lunar Telescope Viewings with members of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society and the UALR Physics and Astronomy Department.
Guest appearance by Mr. Steve Arnold
Parking will be available in the Clinton Library parking lot after 6 PM.

For more information call 537-3074.

September 2nd Friday Art Night

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It is time once again for 2nd Friday Art Night.  Tonight from 5pm to 8pm at various downtown museums and galleries, guests can view art and enjoy live entertainment.  Admission is free.

Here are just a few of the highlights.

Historic Arkansas Museum will feature live music by Arkopolis as visitors view the current exhibits. Included at HAM are:

  • Recent Acquisitions: A Collection Vision, 2008 – 2012
  • The Civil War in Arkansas
  • Barbie: The 11 1/2 –inch American Icon
  • The Knife Gallery
  • Arkansas Contemporary: Selected Fellows from the Arkansas Arts Council
  • We Walk in Two Worlds: The Caddo, Osage and Quapaw in Arkansas

The Butler Center Galleries are located within the Arkansas Studies Institute building.  The galleries this month feature:

  • Pattern in Perspective: Recent Work by Carly Dahl and Dustyn Bork
  • Invasion or Liberation? The Civil War in Arkansas
  • Hope and Despair: FSA Photography in Arkansas during the Great Depression
  • Art of Living: More Artwork from the Rosalie Santine Gould Rohwer Collection

At the Old State House Museum, the galleries will be open.  In addition, music by The Morange Trio with Dave Williams II will be featured.

Sid McMath Centenary

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Community organizations and the McMath family are working together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Governor Sidney Sanders McMath with activities on June 14-15 at Central Arkansas Library System venues.  Gov. McMath was born on June 14, 1912.

These organizations were important to Governor McMath at different times in his life, and the activities reflect those connections. The celebration will begin with a Historical Perspectives conference on McMath’s history and accomplishments on Thursday, June 14, from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Arkansas Studies Institute building, 401 President Clinton Ave. Individuals who knew or worked with McMath in various projects and offices will offer presentations with subjects including The Making of a Governor, Confronting Jim Crow, and Man of Faith.

A Centennial Salute and Reception will be held on Friday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Rd. Presentation of the colors will begin the program, which will include a speaker from the McMath family. Governor Mike Beebe will speak about the significance of McMath’s time as governor. A reception in the McMath Library meeting room will be followed by family activities of health and vision screenings, mobility demonstrations, Marine Corps and college information, and a children’s book giveaway. Parking is limited, but additional parking is available at Parkview Arts/Sciences High School, 2501 John Barrow Road.

All activities are free and open to the public. The celebration is presented by the McMath family, the Central Arkansas Library System, Henderson State University, Lion’s World Services for the Blind, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, U.S. Marine Corps, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, University of Arkansas, and Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

Art and Dance HAM It Up at 2nd Friday Art Night

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Dance and Art intersect at Historic Arkansas Museum during the monthly 2nd Friday Art Night. 

At Historic Arkansas Museum, there will be a reception for Tesseract Dancing: Brett Anderson and Emily Galusha, a new exhibit opening in the Trinity Gallery for Arkansas Artists. Outside the north entrance, at 6 pm, the pARTy for Peg sculpture will be lit; and a blacksmith will demonstrate his trade in the new Shop on the Log House grounds. Throughout the evening, in various locations, Arkansas Festival Ballet will preview upcoming performances.

Started in 2005, this downtown art gallery walk in the River Market District vicinity showcases a variety of museums and galleries.  In addition to viewing art, there are refreshments and usually live music at the various stops along the way.  There is also a free art shuttle to take visitors from location to location. The event runs from 5pm to 8pm.

Among the various participating sites are Arkansas Studies Institute, Christ Episcopal Church, Hearne Fine Art, Mediums Art Lounge, Copper Grill, Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro, Lulav and Third Street merchants of the River Market District.

Arts & Humanities Month: Rowher Art Exhibit at Arkansas Studies Institute

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The Arkansas Studies Institute (ASI) is a collaboration between the Central Arkansas Library System’s Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Rohwer Camp #23 artist unknown

In addition to being a repository for historical collections, the ASI houses four art galleries, , featuring the work of Arkansas artists and art related to the state. The exhibit galleries feature rotating exhibits including works from the CALS permanent collection.

Currently on display is the multi-media exhibit entitled “The Art of Living: Japanese American Creative Experience at Rowher.”  Curated by Butler Center staff from the Mabel Rose Jamison Vogel/Rosalie Santine Gould Collection, it showcases art created by internees at the Rohwer Relocation Center in Desha County and tells the story of creativity in the face of dire circumstances. It is on display through November 26.

 

Also on display at the ASI are the following exhibits:

  • Thomas Harding, Pinhole Photography – October 14 – December 31
  • Arkansas Pastel Society’s National Exhibition – October 14 – January 14
  • Leon Niehues: 21st Century Basketmaker – October 14 – January 28

Designed by the architectural firm of Polk Stanley Wilcox, the ASI campus is comprised of three buildings from three different centuries which were combined seamlessly.  In recognition of this effort, the Arkansas Studies Institute (ASI) received the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award—one of only five awards given worldwide. The award, presented every two years by the national American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association, honors excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries.

“We worked diligently to design a facility that would both connect the public with Arkansas’s rich history and enliven the streetscape, drawing people in,” said Reese Rowland, project design principal with Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects. “This national recognition is a testament to the public’s trust and continued investment in one of our community’s most critical assets, the public library. Our firm takes great pride in contributing to that trust. It’s always an honor to work with the visionary leadership at CALS.”