New exhibit pairs collections of Arkansas artists

Janea Snyder — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:36:02 +0000

A new exhibit opening Aug. 16 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock showcases more than 30 works that offer a snapshot of the 1980s and reflect on an active and expanding art community in Arkansas. “Pairing Collections: Contemporary Art in 1980s Arkansas” will be on display through Sept. 29 in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Brad Cushman Gallery, located on the second level of the Windgate Center of Art + Design, 2801 S. University Ave. The exhibit includes 22 works from the corporate art collection at , P.L.L.C. and 11 works from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Permanent Collection. Many Arkansas artists are represented in both collections, and their works are placed side by side in the exhibition – thus the title “Pairing Collections.” Artists represented include former ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Art professors Al Allen, , and ; ��Vlog��ý Little Rock art students , , Kitty Mashburn, Gertrude Tara-Casciano, and Anne Fordyce; Evan Lindquist, former Arkansas State University art professor and Arkansas’s first artist laureate; Tarrance Corbin, former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff art professor; and artists David Bailin, Patrick McFarlin, , Sally Williams, Cheryl Wall, Lou Boswell, Reita Miller, Margaret Speer, and Warren Sims. “As we celebrate our firm’s 65th anniversary, we are delighted to collaborate with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to showcase the work of the vibrant Arkansas artists in both collections,” said Mitchell Williams Managing Partner Rick Beard. “We are happy to share our art collection with visitors to the Windgate Center of Art + Design.” The firm’s art collection started in 1967 when the firm’s managing partner, Maurice Mitchell, and attorney Chris Barrier began collecting art by Arkansas artists, including work created by faculty and students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The university established an art collection in 1972 that would supplement the teaching mission of the Department of Art. “Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard has been a tremendous community partner of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for many years and has supported many initiatives that directly benefit our students,” said Brad Cushman, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s gallery curator. “We are thrilled to be able to host this joint exhibition that showcases the incredible talent of so many Arkansas artists.” Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard has been a long-time university community partner, having sponsored ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojan athletic events as well as Taste of Little Rock, the university’s signature alumni fundraising event. Maurice Mitchell, one of our firm’s founders and long-time managing partner, served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation Fund Board from 1988-1993. Attorney Sherry Bartley currently serves on the board. The law firm also supports the William H. Bowen School of Law, where a courtroom is named in honor of Maurice Mitchell. The firm awards the H. Maurice Mitchell Leaders in Law Scholarship annually to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law Moot Court board chair and sponsors student association events at the law school. The photos above right depict artwork by Sally A. Williams (1945 – 2010). On the left is “Then the Sun Rise,” a mixed media piece that is part of the Mitchell Williams Corporate Collection. On the right is “Distance and Layering Series: Show Card” a graphite on paper work in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Permanent Collection. The painting above left is “Blue Rock” by Alice Andrews, oil on canvas, in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Permanent Collection.

‘Nasty Woman’ exhibit coming to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 13:56:40 +0000

An art exhibit celebrating the female voice in art will be shown June 14 to Aug. 25 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “The show explores topics dealing with the woman’s perspective, from reflection on historic female figures to contemporary issues surrounding the female body, the political climate, and varied iterations of the experience of being a 21st century woman,” said Margo Duvall, assistant professor of art at Henderson State University and the show’s curator. The “Nasty Woman” exhibit will be on display in Gallery 1 of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Fine Arts Building. A closing reception featuring talks with Duvall and participating artists will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. The work of three ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members will be featured in the “Nasty Woman” exhibit. Several of the artists included in the exhibition have studied art at and graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Mia Hall, interim chair of the Department of Art and Design, Joli Livaudais, assistant professor of photography, and Heidi Hogden, visiting professor of painting, are among the 36 female artists from across the nation whose work was selected for the show. Livaudais’ work, “The Mother, Exhumed,” is a life-size casting of a woman’s upper body made from epoxy resin and photographs of bees and beehives. “It ought to be a really great show, and I am proud to be in the company of so many fierce women artists,” Livaudais said. The title of the show, “Nasty Woman,” which was first displayed at Henderson State in March to celebrate Women’s History Month, stems from comments made during the 2016 presidential election.

Joli Livaudais’ work, “The Mother, Exhumed,” will be on display at the “Nasty Woman” exhibit at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

During the third debate in October 2016, President Donald Trump responded to a comment made about him by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who was answering a question about social security, by remarking,.” On Twitter, #NastyWoman was trending within minutes. “While it was first mentioned in a derogatory context, it has become a uniting force among women across the globe,” Duvall said. “For many, it represents strength, unity, and the ability to use one’s voice to be heard. The participating artists interpret their reactions through a dynamic use of photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, and video pieces.” Participating artists include: Zina Al-Shukri, Heather Beckwith, Darcie Beeman-Black, Megan Berner, Cynthia Buob, Beverly Buys, Susan Chambers, Melissa Cowper-Smith, Norwood Creech, Nancy Dunaway, Margo Duvall, Melissa Gill, Mia Hall, Louise Halsey, Diane Harper, Tammy Harrington, Heidi Hogden, Robyn Horn, Erin House, Jeanie Hursley, Catherine Kim, Kimberly Kwee, Joli Livaudais, Angie Macri, Hannah May, Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, Catherine Siri Nugent Laura Raborn, Emily Rogers, Dina Ropele Santos, Dominique Simmons, Kasten Searles, Katherine Strause, Brittany Wilder, Kat Wilson, and Miranda Young-Rice. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free. For more information, contact Brad Cushman at becushman@ualr.edu or 501.569.8977 or Margo Duvall at duvallm@hsu.edu or 870.230.5207. In the upper right photo, Zina Al-Shukri’s charcoal drawing, “Gushing with Confidence and Jealousy,” is one of the works on display in the “Nasty Woman” exhibit at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

New exhibit pairs collections of Arkansas artists

‘Nasty Woman’ exhibit coming to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

‘Nasty Woman’ exhibit coming to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock