Tag Archives: Little Rock Central High School

Sculpture Vulture: TESTAMENT

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Today’s highlighted sculpture sits on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol.  Testament honors the Little Rock Nine who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

The statues face the Arkansas State Capitol including the Governor’s Office. The irony is that, in 1957, then-Governor Orval Faubus led the efforts to keep Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls from entering the school.

Dedicated in August 2005, Testament was created by John Deering working with Kathy Deering and Steve Scallion.  The project was over seven years in the making from the original concept to the  unveiling.

The bronze sculptures are life-size and depict the students moving forward.  They are dressed in school clothes and carry their books.  Around the perimeter of the sculpture is a series of quotes, one from each of the nine.

(It is appropriate to discuss this sculpture today, since the Oscars are presented tonight (2/26/12). The 1964 Oscar for Best Documentary — Short Subject was awarded for the film Nine from Little Rock.)

 

Sculpture Vulture: The Spirit of Central High

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Located at the northwest corner of Park and Daisy L. Gatson Bates is the Central High School Commemorative Garden. The showcase of the garden is a sculpture created by Michael Warrick and Aaron P. Hussey.

The focal point of this piece is a pair of archways. The outward facing sides of each archway evokes the architecture of the historic high school through the buff bricks, cornice work and even statues.

On the reverse are a series of black and white photographs depicting the rich history and legacy of the school from its construction in 1927 through 2000.

By depicting a variety of decades and events, this sculpture does not shy away from 1957 there are images from that school year included. These several dozen photographs represent the hundreds of thousands of students who have gone to high school in this building since the doors first opened.

Nor does the sculpture try to explain away or justify actions. Instead it embraces the roots of excellence which gave birth to the school and shows the manifestation of that excellence in modern times which has been made possible by the crucible that was the flashpoint of 1957.

QQA Preservation Conversations: Historic LR Schools

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The Quapaw Quarter Association continues its monthly education series this year entitled “Preservation Conversations.” They take place the third Monday of each month at historic Curran Hall, which serves as the QQA headquarters in addition to being the Mayor’s Official Reception Hall.

The 2012 series kicks off tonight with “Historic Schools of Little Rock.”  The featured speaker is Rachel Silva, who is the Preservation Outreach Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.

This city has a rich history of architecturally significant schools.  Though quite a few have been lost due to lack of care or disinterest in preservation, many are still standing today – even if they do not function as school buildings. The Kramer School, East Side Junior High and West Side Junior High now all serve as residential properties in part or toto. Lee Elementary is now the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center. But Little Rock Central High School, Pulaski Heights Elementary and Middle School and Dunbar Middle School are all historic structures which still serve as schools.

Beginning at 5:00, Curran Hall will be open for patrons to enjoy a glass of wine, programs start at 5:30 p.m. and last for one hour.  After the official program concludes, all are invited to keep the conversation going and enjoy a discounted dinner at nearby Copper Grill, 300 East Third Street.

The Quapaw Quarter Association is a non-profit historic preservation advocacy organization whose mission is to promote the preservation of the historic buildings and neighborhoods of Greater Little Rock. Rhea Roberts is the Executive Director.

Classical Piano by Gio at Afterthought

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Giovanni Antipolo will be performing classical solo piano pieces at the Afterthought tonight.

As the Afterthought says, “There are piano players and then there are PIANO players…Giovanni fits this last description as he treats the crowd to everything from classic to very modern tunes. Come enjoy with us!”

A Little Rock Central graduate, Gio himself describes the evening as “an an effort to deliver classical music to the masses in informal venues.” An expert on the keyboard, he is as comfortable playing Rachmaninoff and the Razorback fight song.

Among the composers who will be featured are Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Prokofiev.

The evening starts at 8pm, but for guaranteed seating an earlier arrival is recommended.  There is no cover charge.

Arts & Humanities Month: Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center

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The eyes of the world may have been on Little Rock in September 1957, but understanding what happened then and since is no easy task. The National Park Service opened the expanded Visitor Center in 2007 in conjunction with the commemoration events of the 50th anniversary.  The original site of the Visitor Center, the refurbished Mobil Gas Station remains a component of the Park Service. It now serves as an education center.

The exhibits inside the Visitor Center explore the events of September 1957. They also explore the roots of segregated education in Arkansas. Other exhibits look at the larger Civil Rights struggle as well as the school and Little Rock since 1957. In addition, a Commemorative Garden sits across the street from the Visitor Center and Central High School. There are Park Service Ranger-led tours of the Central High School offered at 9am and 1:15pm on Monday through Friday. Since the school remains an operating high school, tour times may be altered due to school events.  The Visitor Center is open from 9am to 4:30pm daily.