Thu
Apr
16
By the By
Stuff that won't fit anywhere else.
A blog loosely associated with
The Arkansas Times
by Gerard Matthews
A blog loosely associated with
The Arkansas Times
by Gerard Matthews
Wed
Apr
15
What's new at the galleries
ON THE HORIZON:
Third Friday Artwalk in Argenta — 5-8 p.m. April 17, at Argenta Art Co. (7th and Main), Argenta Studios (401 Main St.), Thea Foundation (4th and Main) and other venues on and off Main Street in downtown Little Rock. Highlights: new work by Dan Thornhill at Argenta Art Co., work by V.L. Cox, Sherrie Sheppard, Doug Gorrell, Delita Martin at Argenta Studios, UCA Shakespeare Theater group readings at Thea Foundation.
Bruce Jackson’s “Portraits from a Prison: A Collection of Photographs from Cummins Prison” opens April 16 at the Arkansas Studies Institute in time for the Arkansas Literary Festival.
V.L. Cox is the featured artist in “Origins,” to be held 6-9 p.m. April 17 at M2
Gallery in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center off Hwy. 10; Charles Henry James (that’s his work at the top of this post), Jacey Dalton and Sean Fitzgibbon will have work there as well. A portion of sales goes to Altrusa International.
Michael Swade is showing new jewelry at River Market ArtSpace, 301 Clinton.
Stephano’s Fine Art Gallery is hosting a reception 6-9 April 18 for an exhibit of new work by Ernest Nipper and Diana Baker Ashley.
Mostly they want you to buy plants, but White Wagon Farm and Sage House Gallery is (are?) having its (their?) “Art in the Garden Weekend” April 18 and 19.
If you’re in Bentonville, check out the “Art Experience 2009” Montessori benefit auction of work by Lisa Bauer, Hank Kaminsky, Mark Rademacher and Zeek Taylor 6-9 p.m. April 18 at the Bentonville Plaza Building, 609 SW Eighth.
In Conway, check out the contemporary American Indian art from the collection of retired UALR professor J.W. Wiggins in the AETN atrium, 350 S. Donaghey.
Yes, there’s a chainsaw carving contest (and sale) that organizers claim features great art, April 17 and 18 at the Old Hitchin’ Post Campground outside Eureka Springs.
MFA graduate Kyle McKenzie is showing his thesis work, “Empty Walls,” at UA’s Fine Art Gallery; reception is 2-4 p.m. April 25.
Rogers is having its gallery walk 6-8 p.m. April 17: At Julie Wait Designs, paintings by Charles Pearce; at Poor Richard’s Art, Sally Bowen’s pottery and John Murdoch’s pottery; at Zephyr Blevins, work by Joann Lacey.
Tue
Apr
14
Jacek Utko: Can design save the newspaper? (via TEDtalksDirector)Very interesting video, especially for my friends in the newspaper business. A lot of good points.
The key is to not simply make eye-candy for the lowest common denominator. I think the point is to repackage the same content, and if it takes some splashy production to get people to read then why not?
(via salon.com)
A full rundown of last night’s Rock Candy 500. It was a blast.
Here’s a few more pictures
Three racers line up.
A view from the track.
Lindsey and I try to figure out the bracket. Thanks to Kyle for all his help.
Thu
Apr
9
David Koon’s pinewood derby car is pretty sweet. Rock Candy 500 is tonight! Click the pic for more info. That’s David’s car on the left. In the photo, the car is facing away from you. It has a cockpit and covered wheels. Let’s just say mine is looking pretty rough (I haven’t really started on it yet). The weiner car was finely crafted by the Times’ own Patrick Jones.
“Millions of Americans are suffering from PCLD” (via mattbors.com)
Tue
Apr
7
Residents of Colorado, and their lawmakers, are making strides toward a better future as gas exploration there continues. It seems CO politicians have the political will our leaders lack. Why can’t Arkansas get tough with these companies and make them be responsible corporate citizens? Go to Shale Watch for the answer.
(via youknowhowifeel)
“Jeremy Estill: Changing Lanes” is coming up April 10, 2nd Friday Art Night, at the Historic Arkansas Museum. He does charcoal and pastel portraits, and here’s what the folks at HAM say (or may Estill sent it on for HAM to publish) about the work:
Jeremy Estill is talented artist that focuses on portrait drawing. His mark-making is exciting and uninhibited; it both isolates and empowers the figure on the paper. The viewing experience becomes something that is as emotional, confrontational, and psychologically voyeuristic.
Mon
Apr
6
Dylan on Obama’s Life: An Odyssey in Reverse
By now we’ve heard the summary of President Obama’s biography so many times it’s rarely notable any more, but when you process stories through the brain of Bob Dylan, things always get more interesting.
“He’s like a fictional character, but he’s real,” Dylan told Times Online on his reaction to reading Obama’s autobiography Dreams of My Father. “First off, his mother was a Kansas girl. Never lived in Kansas though, but with deep roots. You know, like Kansas bloody Kansas. John Brown the insurrectionist. Jesse James and Quantrill. Bushwhackers, Guerillas. Wizard of Oz Kansas. I think Barack has Jefferson Davis back there in his ancestry someplace. And then his father. An African intellectual. Bantu, Masai, Griot type heritage - cattle raiders, lion killers. I mean it’s just so incongruous that these two people would meet and fall in love. You kind of get past that though. And then you’re into his story. Like an odyssey except in reverse.” Dylan views the rise to the presidency as a kind of tragic downfall: “Barack is born in Hawaii,” he continued. “Most of us think of Hawaii as paradise – so I guess you could say that he was born in paradise.”
Dylan then talks about how significant the sacrifices of Obama’s mother were to his success and that he seems to be the type of person who would have been successful in any career. But will Obama “make a good president?” the interviewer asked.
“I have no idea,” said Dylan. “He’ll be the best president he can be. Most of those guys come into office with the best of intentions and leave as beaten men. Johnson would be a good example of that … Nixon, Clinton in a way, Truman, all the rest of them going back. You know, it’s like they all fly too close to the sun and get burned.”
Opening Day is here! Let’s hope there’s no violent scenes like this one today. I was at home watching the Rangers when this fight between Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura broke out, and I’ll never forget it. The Express gave Ventura and old-school thumpin’.
