Tag Archives: Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism

Marking 150th anniversary of 13th Amendment – CALS will “Let Freedom Ring”

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2014-06-21-13thAmendmentIn honor of the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) will join the Arkansas Civil War Commission in “Let Freedom Ring,” a ringing of bells 13 times at 13:00 (1 p.m.) on Tuesday, April 14. Staff and volunteers will ring bells and read the 13th Amendment.

Locations

  • Main Library, 100 Rock Street
  • Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, 401 President Clinton Avenue
  • McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Road
  • Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Drive

“Let Freedom Ring” honors the 150th anniversary of the amendment, and is a statewide initiative sponsored by the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

The 13th Amendment reads as follows:

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is part of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state’s cultural resources.

The 2nd decade of 2nd Friday Art Night begins tonight!

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2nd Friday Art Night2nd Friday Art Night starts its 2nd decade tonight.

Among the highlights are:

Historic Arkansas Museum (5-8 pm)

Two Exhibit Openings:

  • Suggin Territory:  The Marvelous World of Folklorist Josephine Graham opens in the Arkansas Made Gallery.
  • Suyao Tian: Entangled Beauty opens in the 2nd Floor Gallery

The Year of Arkansas Beer, sponsored by Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation and presented by Arkansas Brewers Guild, continues in April with Lost Forty Brewing’s Belgian Blonde.

 

Old State House Museum (5 – 8pm)

Join violinists Geoff Robson and Ryan Mooney and cellist Felice Farrell for a performance of works for string trios by Boccherini, Schubert, Mozart, Dohnanyi, and Beethoven. The event is free and music will be performed on an informal schedule starting at 5 p.m. The museum will remain open until 8:00. This is a casual event and guests are welcome to drop in and seat themselves after the music has started.

 

Butler Center Galleries  (5 – 8pm)

Opening exhibition – White River Memoirs: An Exhibition by Chris Engholm

The White River and its tributaries represent the most ecologically intact watershed in the continental United States. Over a million people inhabit it, living in 234 communities in 60 counties. For the past two years, Chris Engholm has traveled the White River in a cedar strip canoe, listening to people connected to it and collecting the artwork of 25 fine artists who maintain a special relationship with it. This artwork, photographs, and information about the river are presented in White River Memoirs. 

Featured artist: Sheliah Halderman 

Sheliah Halderman is a retired teacher who now paints pastels full time. Her paintings have won local and national awards, and she is very active in the Arkansas Pastel Society.

Featured musician: The Arkansas Weather

This band comprises graduates of the UALR music program who play an unpredictable combination of jazz, soul, R&B, funk, and pop.

Celebrate National Quilting Day at Historic Arkansas Museum 

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Join the Arkansas Quilters Guild at Historic Arkansas Museum to celebrate National Quilting Day!

Arkansas Quilters guild will celebrate National Quilting Day by presenting demonstrations of several quilting techniques. Learn about English paper piecing, how to create a 2-color binding and modern cutting techniques. There will be a demo of the official National Quilting Day Quilt Pattern with instructions for its construction. See also how to create a “Disappearing Hourglass”. Learn more about the art of quilting and the rich heritage it offers us as you visit with guild members.

While you’re at HAM, check out the award-winning quilts on display in the Great Arkansas Quilt Show III exhibit.  Historic Arkansas Museum is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

Women Entrepreneurs celebrated at Mosaic Templars today

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Women Phenomenal: A Celebration of Women Entrepreneurs – Join Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in celebration of some of central Arkansas’s phenomenal women in honor of National Women’s History Month. The program runs from 11:30am until 1:00pm. 

Enjoy lunch and a candid conversation with a group of business savvy leaders and entrepreneurs who will share their stories of success and struggles as they found their path in the business world. 

Special guests include: Leanna Godley, founder and president of Goddess Products, Inc.; Yolanda Hughes, owner, RSVP Catering; Ashley Jones, owner, Ashley Ann’s Event Planning Service and Patricia Nunn Brown, director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Small and Minority Business Division. 

The event will be moderated by MTCC Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief of “PowerPlay” magazine, Sericia Cole.

Lunch is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Contact Tameka Lee at 501.683.3620 or tameka@arkansasheritage.org to reserve your seat.

Governor’s Arts Awards presented today

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Today at noon at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, Governor Asa Hutchinson will join with the Arkansas Arts Council to present the annual Governor’s Arts Awards.

Lifetime Achievement Award-Jana L. Beard, Little Rock

Arts Community Development Award-Remica Gray, Texarkana

Arts in Education Award-DeltaARTS, West Memphis

Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award-Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Folklife Award-Margaret Jones Bolsterli, Fayetteville

Individual Artist Award-Kevin Kresse, Little Rock

Patron Award-Curt & Chucki Bradbury, Little Rock

Judges Recognition Award-Kaki Hockersmith, Little Rock

 

The annual Governor’s Arts Awards were established in 1991 to recognize Arkansas artists, arts patrons and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts community. The recipients are nominated by the public and selected by distinguished panel of arts professionals from around the state.

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

Civil War Archeology is Brown Bag topic today at Old State House

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The Old State House Museum will host a Brown Bag lecture today at 12 noon. 

Dr. Carl Drexler will discuss recent Civil War archaeology in Arkansas, including the battlefield at Wallace’s Ferry, near Helena-West Helena, fortifications at Camden, and civilians along the Red River. 

Dr. Drexler is a historical archaeologist with the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, specializing in the archaeology of the Civil War.

Black History Month Spotlight: Lenny Williams

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Lenny Williams possesses one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. 

Leonard Charles “Lenny” Williams was born February 16, 1945 in Little Rock, Arkansas. At a young age he moved to Oakland, California.

His interest in music was initially fueled when he learned to play the trumpet in elementary school, and his skills as a vocalist were nurtured by singing in gospel choirs and groups around the Bay Area. Lenny participated in numerous talent contests and after winning several, he signed his first recording contract with Fantasy Records. He cut two singles for the label including “Lisa’s Gone” and “Feelin’ Blue.”

In 1972, Lenny joined the emerging funk band Tower of Power. A string of hits followed. During his time with Tower of Power the group also recorded three albums: Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal and the gold LP Tower Of Power. Lenny and Tower of Power toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

At the end of 1975, Lenny returned to his solo projects. Initially signing with Motown Records, he later moved to ABC Records in 1977 (later purchased by MCA Records). Over the next four years he scored ten chart hits, including “Shoo Doo FuFu Ooh,” “Choosing You,” “You Got Me Running,” “Love Hurt Me Love Healed Me,” and “Midnight Girl”. Lenny recorded four more albums from 1977 to 1980: Choosing You, his first gold LP; Spark Of Love; Love Current; and Let’s Do It Today.

Over the past few years, Lenny has continued his solo career, touring the US, Europe and South Africa. Lenny Williams’ style has transcended into the new millennium, influencing many of today’s newest R & B and Pop vocalists. He has recently shared stages with such notables as Aretha Franklin, The Whispers, Rick James, Boney James, Bobby Womack, Ohio Players, Al Green, Usher, K-Ci & JoJo, Alicia Keys, Anthony Hamilton and Frankie Beverly and Maze. Lenny has also expanded his multidimensional career to include acting, starring in several stages plays including “Love On Lay Away,” “What Men Don’t Tell” and “When A Woman’s Fed Up.”

He continues making music today. In 2012 he was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.  To learn more about Lenny Willams and other inductees, visit the exhibit at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. That museum is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.