Art that illuminates the 2019 ACANSA Arts Festival of the South was created by Arkansas artist, Barry Thomas, an impressionist artist based in the North Little Rock area. Best noted for his canvases filled with light, energy, and rich color, he
often seeks to illustrate the beauty found in nature as well as everyday life. “The paintings I create come from my family, my love of nature, and my deeply spiritual heart and bones,” Barry has said. With its emphasis on vibrant colors and
scenery, his work is created using only colors from Monet’s palette. His unique skills capture the beauty of everyday life in a vivid and energizing style. Barry is a Fine Arts graduate from The Art Center College of Design in California and the University of Arkansas, becoming an acclaimed illustrator and commercial artist who was later chosen for the Society of Illustration Hallmark Award. His artwork has appeared in galleries across the United States from New Mexico to Indiana and Florida.

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Lisa diStefano is a contemporary artist living and working in South Louisiana. diStefano’s work reflects the beauty of subtlety and the harmony of color. Although she is most well known for her hazy Louisiana landscapes with a palette of soft blues and greens, her abstract work often takes on a wider range of hues and diversity of brushstroke. This free-form style of abstraction
allows diStefano to tap into a more personal perspective and allows the viewer to experience a more in-depth look into her process and creative voice. diStefano grew up in Baton Rouge, LA, where she attended Louisiana State University earning a BFA in painting and drawing. Upon completion of her BFA, diStefano worked in visual merchandising, which helped hone her skills in spatial composition and her unique use of color and design. diStefano’s paintings are included in a number of corporate and private collections nationally and internationally including the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV; Ritz Carlton Hotel, Miami, FL; and Iberia Bank, Baton Rouge & New Orleans, LA. diStefano has exhibited throughout Louisiana, Dallas, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and the Brittany region of France, and her work can be seen in a number of national publications.

George Marks is an award-winning contemporary artist living and working in the Arnaudville-Deux Bayous Cultural District in Louisiana. Marks is currently working in the media of acrylic paint, oil, and en-caustic wax focusing on the landscape, people and cultural identities. He is a past member of the Louisiana State Arts Council and Louisiana Partnership for the Arts and founder of the NUNU Arts and Culture Collective, an award-winning organization providing a place for visual artists, writers, musicians and cultural ambassadors from Louisiana and the world over. Each year, Marks directs a five-day Creative Placemaking Summit (Semaine de la Francophonie) developed with the assistance of the French Consulate in New Orleans to build connections between Louisiana French culture and the Francophone world.  Marks attended Louisiana State University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art with a focus on painting and drawing. A frequent international artist-in-residence, Marks has exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, including Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Redon, France. His work has been featured in a number of art and design publications and is included in corporate and private collections nationally and internationally including: Oceania Cruise Line; Iberia Bank; and Piedmont Hospital, Georgia.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, gain exclusive access to dozens of artist studios and cultural institutions that will open their doors and give you a firsthand look at their creative process. The lineup of studios visits includes artists working in the visual and performing arts, plus cultural institutions that will open their respective studios for guided tours and demonstrations. Open Studios gives you unparalleled access to artists living and working in Little Rock. Studio visits are free and open to the public.

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On September 13th at 6pm, the Opening Reception for the Festival will feature an exhibit by artists with the Open Studios. This will be held at Ron Robinson Theater at 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock AR.

Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints

Prior to ACANSA Arts Festival performances of BODYTRAFFIC and Dallas String Quartet, visit the Windgate gallery to view the exhibit, Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints. The exhibit is a tribute to the century-old handmade designs and patterns on textiles that originated in Indonesia and were copied and industrialized by Europeans and exported to Africa. Wandering Spirit traces the developmental pathway of the African wax print and tells how these fabrics reflect the stories, dreams, and personalities of the people who wear them. This Windgate Gallery exhibit continues through October 5, 2019.

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Downtown Little Rock is home to an incredible breadth of art, culture, and history. An after-hours art night every second Friday of the month includes such hosts as Historic Arkansas Museum, Old State House Museum, Central Arkansas Library System’s Butler Center and Cox Creative Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Bella Vita Jewelry, Nexus Coffee and Creative, Revival Coffee, Gallery 221, and Yella Dog Press.

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The Argenta Arts District, filled with art galleries and studios – including Argenta Gallery, Greg Thompson Fine Arts, Laman Library, and the Thea Foundation, is an easily navigated destination aligned with chef-driven restaurants and bars, performance venues, and relaxed night life along North Little Rock’s historic Main Street.

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Art and music make the day perfect for the entire family with live entertainment, child-friendly arts and crafts, refreshments and friendly competition that chalks it all up for fun!

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