Tag Archives: Metropolitan National Bank

Artists’ Self Portraits the Focus of Exhibit at Arkansas Arts Center

Posted on by

Ian Ingram, (American, Atlanta, Georgia, 1974 – ), Easter Island, 2011, charcoal, pastel, silver leaf on paper, 82 1/2 in. x 51 in., Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection: Purchased with a gift from Jackye and Curtis Finch, Jr., in honor of Helen Porter and James T. Dyke

This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Arts Center and sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Dyke and Metropolitan National Bank. The surface quirks and deeper truths of the self emerge in the self-portrait, these are the subjects of the exhibition Face to Face. The artist invites the viewer to share what he or she has discovered in the mirror, and far more.

Long-time Arkansas Arts Center supporters Jackye and Curtis Finch, Jr., are fascinated by these visual exposes. They are engaged in assembling one of America’s great collections of graphic self-portraiture, which they are gradually transferring to the Arkansas Arts Center. Their keen portrait collecting eyes search for works from across America and Europe, and throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From the walls of New York galleries to the back alleys of Budapest, the Finches find amazing revelations of individuals.

Guest Curator Brad Cushman of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has assembled these striking self-images into pairs, encouraging contemplation of what unites and divides each pairing. In bringing the works together, he allows us to explore both what is universally human and what is utterly individual.

This exhibition is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Dyke and Metropolitan National Bank.

It runs through February 9, 2014 at the Arkansas Arts Center.

Arts & Humanities Month: AAC Children’s Theatre presents CINDERELLA

Posted on by

The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre continues its 2011-2012 season with the new original musical Cinderella: A Rockin’ New Musical in 3D.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Bradley Anderson, the Children’s Theatre (founded in 1979) continues its mission of entertaining children and adults with new takes on old tales.  Written by the Children’s Theatre resident playwright Keith Smith, the show opens today and runs through November 6.  It was inspired by the classic tale of Cinderella as told by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.  This production is sponsored by Metropolitan National Bank.

Cinderella is the second of six shows in the Children’s Theatre 2011-2012 season.  In addition, the Children’s Theatre presents the Summer Theatre Academy, Summer Arts Academy, Children’s Theatre on Tour and a variety of workshops throughout the state throughout the year.  This is one of the many artistic and educational programs of the Arkansas Arts Center under the leadership of Todd Herman.