Happy Thanksgiving. Today’s entry comes from the Culture Turkey, not the Culture Vulture.
One of the newer sculptures in Riverfront Park is “Lord Featherwick” by Herb Mignery. It is sited near the Belvedere in the park.
“Lord Featherwick” is part of Mignery’s anthropomorphic series. It whimsically depicts a turkey with a top hat, jacket, spats, umbrella and monacle.
He is probably very relieved to have made it through another Thanksgiving.
Dean Kumpuris will receive the Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Community Development in early 2016. The Arkansas Arts Council announced today the recipients for next year’s awards.
Kumpuris is being honored for his three decades of work to improve the cultural and civic life of Little Rock. In particular, he has focused much of his work on the revitalization of downtown, the development of the River Market, and expansion of Riverfront Park.
Through his vision and efforts to place public art downtown, in less than 10 years, nearly 100 sculptures have been installed in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, as well as in parks along the Arkansas River and throughout Little Rock. He created the annual fundraiser, Sculpture at the River Market Show and Sale, which attracts thousands of visitors to Little Rock each year and features hundreds of sculptures from internationally recognized artists.
He is a gastroenterologist and has served on the Little Rock City Board of Directors since 1995. He is also the Chairman of the UALR Board of Visitors and a past member of the Advertising and Promotion Commission.
This Thursday, Janell Mason will be recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. While she will be recognized primarily for her work with the Ronald McDonald House, she devotes her time to many worthy causes. One of her focuses each spring is the Sculpture at the River Market show and sale.
Here, in her own words, are some thoughts about her volunteering and her responses to the Nine Monday Musings questions.
I serve on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. The Ronald McDonald House, located directly across the street from Arkansas Children’s Hospital, is a 28-bedroom home away from home for families whose child is receiving treatment in area hospitals. Families staying there need to be close to the hospital, and are provided with comfortable beds, a hot shower, play space, nightly dinners prepared by community volunteers, and the support of other families in similar situations. Every day families staying at the House say, “We don’t know what we would do without the Ronald McDonald House.” Families stay in the House for an average of 21 days, but some stay overnight while other stay for months while their child receives cancer treatment or a transplant.
I also serve as chair of the Where Hope Has a Home capital campaign, which is raising funds for construction of a new House at the corner of MLK and 10th. Of the $8.6 million required to build this 5-story, 35,000 sq. foot home, we need just $600,000 to complete the campaign! While construction of a new, larger Ronald McDonald House is our ultimate goal, our House and programs are more than just a building. We pride ourselves on providing a home away from home that allows families to be at their child’s side through every step of their healing while allowing them to have a safe, private and, at times, fun place to rest, reflect and comfort one another. The success for us is being able to provide families with what matters most—time with their child.
-My earliest memory was (age and incident)
Very vivid – Go Texan Day. We went downtown to watch the Salt Grass Trail riders parade through town. I was wearing my black cowgirl outfit with white fringe and red cowboy boots. I loved those boots! Age 3, Houston, TX
-When I was in high school and imagined my adulthood, I thought I would be…
a commercial photographer or journalist. My, how life has different plans for us.
-Star Wars, Star Trek, Battle of the Network Stars, or Dancing with the Stars?
Star Trek (Live Long and Prosper). Watched it every day after school. I always wanted a tribble.
-I most identify with the Winnie the Pooh character of…
Christopher Robin
-The performer I’d drop everything to see is…
Two – Andrea Bocelli and Steve Perry
-My first paying job was…
University of Houston Bookstore when I was home summer after my freshman year. I stocked shelves and organized. I especially enjoyed the smell of the books in the stock basement; the scent of knowledge.
-A book I think everyone should read is….
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
-My favorite season is…
Fall; it is so colorful in Arkansas!
-We are all geeks (or experts) about something.
My field is Volunteerism.
Little Rock’s newest sculpture was unveiled on Saturday. Located at the entrance to the Little Rock Animal Village, Lorri Acott’s Who Rescued Who depicts a person and dog looking at each other. They are sharing a bond of respect, admiration and love.
The human figure has Acott’s trademark extended length legs. These represent the ability to overcome obstacles and rise above adversity. This is even more apt when considering the role that pets can play in our lives, as well as the role humans play in “adopting” rescued pets.
The sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Jack Adcock. It is given by his family, which includes longtime City Director Joan Adcock, their two children, eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren (with two more on the way).
Sculptor Lorri Acott & City Director Joan Adcock with “Who Rescued Who”
The unveiling took place at the annual Animal Village “Paw”ty which is a combination birthday party celebration and opportunity for more interaction with animals.
The landscaping for the sculpture was designed and implemented by the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department. The project was also made possible by the support of Little Rock Animal Services staff, City of Little Rock leadership and Sculpture at the River Market.
Acott is also the creator of “Conversation with Myself” which is located in Riverfront Park’s Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and “Peace” at the corner of Second and Main in downtown.
Another of the new sculptures recently installed in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is Denny Haskew’s Renewal Ritual.
It depicts ten adults sitting in pairings facing each other. They are made of bronze and are situated atop a stone slab base.
Haskew notes that in creating the piece he wanted “to show the ritual used by a couple to renew their commitment to one another, then using many colors or people and different conversations between different genders it shows society ability to sit down and converse with one another.”
Though the individual men and women appear similar, due to coloration of the bronze, each person is unique. This reinforces Haskew’s tenet of the differences and similarities of people.
The sculpture was purchased by Sculpture at the River Market.
On September 1, Sculpture at the River Market began accepting applications from artists for the 2016 Fine Art Sculpture Show & Sale.
The organizers have notified a comprehensive list of sculptors via email, posts on Facebook page, and their website. However, they are want to cast as wide a net as possible. If you know of any sculptors who would be interested in applying please forward this application link to them – https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=4338
Show Dates – April 22-24, 2016
Application Dates – September 1, 2015 – January 14, 2016
All show details are available for artists through the application portal, and the fee is just $50 – there are no other fees involved for artists so it is a great deal.
One of the newest sculptures in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is Casey G. Horn’s Tranquility.
Made of bronze and stainless steel, the inspiration for the piece was the Chinese word (character) 安 Ān: peaceful, content, safe.
As Horn says: You can derive a story from the composition of the character. It breaks down into two parts: ornamental roof and woman. Read in this way, “a woman is at peace in a beautiful home.”
The curved shapes in Tranquility mimic the lines in some other nearby sculptures as well as the foliage in the park. However, it is unlike any of the other sculptures. It both stands out and blends in with its surroundings.
Tranquility was purchased by the Sculpture at the River Market committee.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 