Lunch & Learns
Lunch & Learns
Lunch and Learn Days are back! Join us at various locations during the noon hour, bring your lunch and learn about various art forms.
TICKETS: FREE
MUSIC: STILL ON THE HILL
Wednesday, September 20
Where: Simmons Bank, 425 W Capital Ave (map)
Join us for Still on the Hill, a folk band founded in Fayetteville, as they talk about and show their handcrafted instruments.
PHOTOGRAPHY: NANCY NOLAN
Thursday, September 21
Where: Simmons Bank, 425 W Capital Ave (map)
Nancy Nolan will talk about the art of photography and give comers tip
and insights into improving their own photographs. Learn from an artist!
PRINTMAKING: KATE ASKEW
Friday, September 22
Where: Yellow Dog Studio, 3721 Cantrell Rd (map)
Come for an hour of inspiration by Kate Askew, owner of Yellow Dog
Studio, as she demonstrates and talks about the art of printmaking
and provides a tour of her studio. Featured in Arkansas Made, each
of Kate’s designs are set and printed by hand, creating classic pieces of art with messages that communicate contemporary flair.
Galleries at UA Little Rock
Galleries at UA Little Rock
DATE: Saturday, September 23TIME: 10am - 6pm
LOCATION: Fine Arts Building, UA Little Rock (map)
Join ACANSA for a full day of visual art expression at the galleries at UA Little Rock, featuring work by Peri Schwartz, Heidi Hogden, and Layet Johnson, culminating in a reception at 5 pm prior to the evening's performances by Nine Horses and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Peri Schwartz uses her studio as her subject matter. In the studio, she creates stage sets using books, bottles, and the architecture of the space. She is constantly arranging, re- arranging, adding, and subtracting until the configuration is right. These set ups are simply a jumping off point for Schwartz. While her finished paintings resemble these complicated arrangements, they teeter on the edge of near abstraction. Learn more: www.perischwartz.com
Heidi Hogden’s graphite drawings and sculptures explore the relationship between place and identity on a symbolic level by looking at the natural world. Her installation Uncertain Terrain will be on display from August 14 – October 1, 2017 in The Maners/Pappas Gallery located in the Fine Arts Building at UA Little Rock. This exhibition consists of graphite drawings and paper sculptures created by Heidi Hogden while she was the Artist-in- Resident at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Through these works, Hogden explores the physical frailty of the natural world and the relationship between place and identity on a symbolic level. This work represents moments of transformation; from setting old drawings ablaze and collecting discarded tree trunks to creating objects of contemplation. Hogden seeks to discover the psychological and emotional terrain in understanding the self and the manner in which place becomes a defining characteristic of identity. Learn more: heidihogden.com
Layet Johnson received a MFA from The Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, Athens in 2011 and a BA from Hendrix College in 2008. He has participated in artist residencies at UA Little Rock, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Johnson’s recent solo exhibitions include Is This My Tongue? at Institute 193 (Lexington) and Trip at Good Weather (North Little Rock). Johnson's work has been included in group exhibitions at Arturo Bandini (Los Angeles), Ortega y Gasset Projects (Brooklyn), White Box (New York), and Soil Gallery (Seattle), among others. He currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, and in the Fall will join Central Connecticut State University faculty as Assistant Professor of Drawing and Design. Learn more: layetjohnson.com
Tickets: Free Admission
Warriors Don't Cry
Warriors Don't Cry
DATE: September 21 & 23
FRIDAY 9/21: 7 pm
DOORS OPEN: 6 pm
SATURDAY 9/23: 2 pm
DOORS OPEN: 1 pm
LOCATION: Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (map)
This one woman play is based off of the award winning book that tells the story of a member of the Little Rock Nine, Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals. This powerful play captures the struggle, strife, and journey of the “student-warrior” during the Civil Rights movement in Little Rock, Arkansas. Along with eight other students, Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals fought for equal education and paved the way for our students today. This piece of local history has impacted the city of Little Rock as well as our national culture.
This play allows the audience to have a deeper understanding of what it meant to fight for equality for all American students. The violence and hatred they endured paved the way for the peace and equality our students get to experience today. This play will not only spur a gratefulness for how our country has improved, and also respect and awe for a woman who was brave enough to face a violence and hatred that would be unbearable to most. ACANSA is excited to introduce a piece of art that will inspire the audience and educate them on the hosting of Little Rock and the country as a whole.
Tickets: $20
Core Performance Company
Civil Twilight: Reflections on Fear, Courage & Resilience
Core Performance Company in collaboration with Ron McAdoo, Marcus Montgomery, and Central High Students
DATE: Sunday, September 24thTIME: 6 - 7:15pm
LOCATION: Central High School Commemorative Garden (map)
“Civil Twilight” is a site-specific dance and spoken word performance that commemorates, in part, the Little Rock Nine, the nine African-American students who courageously entered Little Rock’s Central High School on September 25, 1957, ushering in a continued endeavor for equal education under the law. The presentation will take place in the Commemorative Garden adjacent to the school. Audience members will experience the performance as it winds along the garden’s path, past nine benches and nine trees, through the centerpiece of the garden: two arches, mirroring those on the school’s façade, which feature reflective photographic images from Central High yearbooks. To close the performance event, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Tania León, creators of the Little Rock Nine opera (scheduled for completion in July 2018), will make brief remarks about the ability of the arts to create social change. Core Performance Company’s Civil Twilight, in collaboration with spoken word artists, Ron McAdoo, Marcus Montgomery and Central High’s Writeous Poetry Club, will give voice to the stories fear, courage and resilience that continue to resonate today as an extension of the Little Rock Nine story - conveyed through movement, theatre, and spoken word. The performance will conclude with an audience candle light walk to Central High School where the 3D video mapping screening will begin at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: Free Admission
ABOUT CORE PERFORMANCE COMPANY
Core Performance Company is a dance organization dual-based in Atlanta and Houston, led by co-founder and artistic director Sue Schroeder. This year marks 37 years of CORE’s dance-making through risk taking, innovation, community building, collaboration, mentoring, and investigation. Since 1980, CORE has performed more than 125 pieces of original choreography across the globe, collaborating with the renowned and the obscured. Core’s work also leads them to share what they know about bodies and movement with isolated populations including those dealing with abuse, homelessness, language barriers, eating disorders, refugee status, substance abuse, aging, and HIV/AIDS. Commissioned by UCA’s College of Fine Arts and Communication in 2015, Core Performance Company debuted a new work in Arkansas, titled “Gaman” (a.k.a. “Life Interrupted”), a richly layered performance of contemporary dance, theatre, art and music recognizing the internment of American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II, which completed its international tour in March 2017.
VoicePlay
VoicePlay
DATE: September 20TIME: 8 pm
DOORS OPEN: 7 pm
LOCATION: CHARTS at UA Pulaski Tech (map)
With a song selection from any era and genre, VoicePlay is a perfect performance for the whole family. This acapela group creates its own mashups of current pop songs, Disney songs, and even the legendary rock band Queen. VoicePlay can do it all, even without instruments.
The band made their start in high school as three band members. The six member acapela group has come far from their early days as high school students with a love for acapella. They have performed in the theme park circuit in Orlando, and were able to participate in the fourth season of hit T.V. show competition, The Sing-Off. After The Sing-Off, they were invited to the national live tour of The Sing-Off. They were the only group of season 4 to be invited to tour with the show. Since this time, VoicePlay has continued to grow their fan base and build upon their talent. Their upbeat and family friendly performance is what the Wittenberg Torch describes as “ a musical melody of vocal perfection.” Join ACANSA this September as we welcome to the stage VoicePlay!
Tickets: $25
Family Art Day
Family Art Day
DATE: September 23TIME: 11am - 1pm
LOCATION: Hillary Clinton Children’s Library (map)
ACANSA is proud to present another Family Art Day in conjunction with CALS and Pulaski County Community Services. On Saturday, September 23rd, come join us for a day of art, music, and fun for the whole family. Children will enjoy a fun musical performance by the acclaimed trio Nine Horses, an appearance by the Arkansas Art Mobile, and snacks and drinks provided by ACANSA. Additionally, Pulaski County Community Services will present "Chalk4Peace", a sidewalk chalk drawing contest that is part of their Peace Week activities. Sidewalk chalk art will be available for children of all ages! Prizes will be made available to all participants, and Pulaski County Judge and Honorary ACANSA Festival Chair Barry Hyde will be on hand to recognize the winners! Family Art Day is open to all, we hope you and your family will plan on joining us!
Free Admission
MOMIX
MOMIX
DATE: September 22TIME: 8 pm
DOORS OPEN: 7 pm
LOCATION: CHARTS at UA Pulaski Tech (map)
A performance that combines the art of dance with the magic of illusions, internationally known dance company, “MOMIX” provides a family friendly show that will transport its audience to a fantastical world “that will not fail to surprise, enchant, and astonish.” This unique and captivating art is directed by Moses Pendleton who has taken the show to the stage and to television as well.
“MOMIX” is based out of New York, and has performed on PBS’ “Dance in America” and several international shows. The company has performed in 55 countries total. As a result, the company has received an International Emmy for Best Performing Arts Special. This highly esteemed company uses lights, props, puppetry and of course intricate choreography to portray the beauty of the world through dance. ACANSA is a excited to welcome the amazing “MOMIX” to the stage this September!
Tickets: $40
Jimmy Abegg
Jimmy Abegg - Gallery reception & performance
RESCHEDULED
DATE: September 26RECEPTION: 5:30 pm
PERFORMANCE: 7:00 pm
LOCATION: UA Little Rock's Stella Boyle Smith Theater (map)
When one hears the word "art," a myriad of images can come to mind including painting, music, theater, film, writing and a dozen other forms of art. Jimmy Abegg does not just invest his time and talents into one of these categories, but into many. Originally from Nebraska, the guitarist, singer/songwriter, photographer and painter made his way to Nashville to practice and showcase his art.
According to Jimmy Abegg’s official website, he has had the opportunity to design record packaging, display his art in major galleries, and produce his own music albums. In his spare time he invests in the next generation of artists, by mentoring them in their field of art. ACANSA is excited to welcome this multi-talented artist to the stage, whose art “has a tendency towards curiosity, whimsy and simple beauty … ”
Free admission
Steve Azar and the Kingsmen
Steve Azar and the Kings Men
DATE: September 19TIME: 7 pm
DOORS OPEN: 6 pm
LOCATION: Ron Robinson Theater (map)
Steve Azar, a Mississippian musician, is a perfect addition to the ACANSA Arts Festival. His career has modeled a spirit of living local. His music, lyrics, and concerts are routed in soul and Mississippi spirit. Even his concerts and award winning music festival “Mighty Mississippi Music” benefit those in the state. What better musician to bring to ACANSA than one who understands the importance of making art a priority and bringing it to life for the local community?
To match his musical stylings of soul and folk, Azar has joined forces with those who have worked with world renowned artists. In 2016, Steve Azar and “The King’s Men,” a group who played for B.B. King, Elvis and other renowned artists on the musical stage for the time, came together to play original music at the B.B. King’s Homecoming Festival. This was the start of a great partnership! With “The King’s Mens'" musical talent and experience, mixed with Steve Azar’s vocals and original songs; the art becomes captivating.
In their short time performing together, this team of musicians has been able to record a studio album at the legendary Mississippi landmark, Club Ebony. This lead to a documentary being made about the group and their record. The band has also had the opportunity to headline at Mississippi Night at the GRAMMY’S in Los Angeles. In addition, the group headlined the 2017 Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration in Jackson, Mississippi. Come watch this dynamic partnership bring “delta soul to Arkansas!”
Tickets: $25
LRCH 60th Anniversary
ACANSA at the LRCH 60th Anniversary
DATES: September 23 - 24
TIME: 6pm
LOCATION: Little Rock Central High School (map)
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine. As part of the Central High’s 60th commemoration project titled "Imagine If Buildings Could Talk”, there will be a 3D, projection mapping video on the façade of the school and Dr. Henry Louis Gates will speak.
On September 23 the Oxford American will present No Tears Suite at Central High School. This is a special addition to their 2017-18 Jazz Series. The event begins at 6:00 PM, and it is free and open to the public.
The No Tears Suite is a new 30-minute, large ensemble jazz composition inspired by Melba Patillo Beals’s memoir Warriors Don’t Cry, and written in honor of unity for the sixtieth anniversary of the 1957 Central High School desegregation crisis by Little Rock composer and jazz pianist Chris Parker. Joining Parker for the premiere is an ensemble of exceptional regional and national talent, including GRAMMY-winning drummer Brian Blade (Shreveport, LA), New Orleans native bassist Bill Huntington, tenor saxophonist Bobby LaVell (New York City), Memphis-based trumpeter Marc Franklin, alto saxophonist Chad Fowler, vocalist Kelley Hurt, and special guest vocalist/arranger I.J. Routen (Little Rock, AR). In addition to the No Tears Suite, over the course of a 90-minute set, the ensemble will play a variety of Arkansas- and civil rights-inspired tunes, including works by Pharoah Sanders, Sam Rivers, John Stubblefield, and Charles Mingus. From 12:00 PM–6:00 PM, student music ensembles from area high schools and colleges will play on the stage.
On September 24, ACANSA will also incorporate a dance component by CORE Performance Company whose mission is to create, perform, and present compelling, original dance that ignites the creative spirit and actively engages in international cultural conversations.
Free admission
