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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Unveils New Mural to Inspire Art Students

John Hill — Tue, 17 May 2022 15:00:24 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has unveiled a beautiful new art mural designed to bring inspiration to the students living in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s newest living and learning community for art students. The new mural, “Hive Mosaic,” was unveiled May 2. It is located at the entrance of the artWING living and learning community in West Hall and is meant to serve as inspiration for the art students who live there. The mural was created by Painting Professor Ricky Sikes and six artWING residents: Madison Heiderscheidt, Cecilia Ilg, Sunny Jenkins, Antonio Keyes, Gabriel Watson, and Hollee Wadley. “We’ve been working on the mural since the beginning of the semester,” Sikes said. “I met with the students, and they brainstormed the idea for the mural. It was a collaborative artistic moment. It was a true learning experience and exciting experience overall. I got to oversee the students’ progress as they painted the mural. Every day was just as much a surprise to me as it was to the students.” Sunny Jenkins, a freshman studio arts major from Little Rock, said the students decided that creating a mural in the shape of a honeycomb was the “most elegant way” to present the mural.

Sunny Jenkins, center, shows off a mural her and other art students painted in the West Hall. Photo by Ben Krain.

“The mural is in the shape of a honeycomb that is filled with smaller honeycombs,” Jenkins said. “Each honeycomb has a separate room and a separate idea that leads to a bigger picture. Each honeycomb is filled with a different world that leads to a large mosaic of the hive.” Some of the individual honeycombs contain pictures representative of campus life, such as the Windgate Center of Art and Design, books on art history, the Trojan head, and a woman painting a picture. Others are reminiscent of the mediums and tools students use to create art in their daily lives and studies, such as an old-fashioned camera, puzzle pieces, comic book scenes, and even Adobe programs. “The mural was a lot of fun to work on collaboratively,” said Gabriel Watson, a sophomore graphic design major. “I feel all the time we spent really paid off in the end from the design phase to the final touches. I had a blast working on the mural. The idea behind our hive concept is linked to the honeybee, our state insect, and it made the idea for the mural so much stronger in the end.” The artWING living and learning community, which started at the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year, is a collaboration between the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Campus Living and the Department of Art and Design. It houses art majors located in the same area of West Hall. “We (Andrea Tompkins and I) started talking about having a living and learning art community three years ago, and then COVID hit, delaying the opening of the residential community,” said Dr. Patti Light, director of campus living. “We talked about what we wanted to come from the community. We wanted the students to create something that would be long lasting, and the idea of a mural formed from that wish. With the creation of the first mural, it is now our hope that students will choose a space in artWING every year and create a new mural that will continue to inspire artists for years to come.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Unveil artWING Mural May 2

John Hill — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:01:09 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will unveil the university’s newest art mural Monday, May 2. The new mural will be revealed at 4 p.m. May 2 in the first-floor lobby of West Hall at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The mural was created by artWING residents to celebrate a new living and learning community for art majors at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The artWING living and learning community is a collaboration between the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Campus Living and the Department of Art and Design. This on-campus living and learning community for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock art majors is located on the first floor of West Hall. “This year’s charter artWING residents worked together under the tutelage of Painting Professor Ricky Sikes to create an inaugural mural in the artWING entryway,” said Andrea Tompkins, art education specialist at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Help us celebrate this new tradition by attending the mural’s unveiling on May 2 in West Hall.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Dedicates New Student Mural “Koi” in Ottenheimer Library

John Hill — Wed, 26 May 2021 14:08:42 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock dedicated a new student mural in the lobby of Ottenheimer Library during a ceremony on May 11.�� The new mural, entitled “Koi,” is eight feet wide and 16 feet long. Emma Chambers, the student artist who created the mural, hopes the peaceful painting of fish swimming in a koi pond will bring a sense of calm and tranquility to all who see it. “Previously, I was struggling with grounding myself, especially during the pandemic,” Chambers said. “I lost my sense of place as I believe many of you also did. Meditating, looking at koi fish, and finding my inner peace were some things that helped me. I wanted to give that to other students by sharing my love of koi fish and giving everybody else a sense of place.” The mural is the result of the first campus-wide competition designed to honor and highlight the wonderful work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student artists. Chancellor Christina Drale praised the mural as “the people’s choice.” “This project is also special because it represents a unique collaboration that represents the best of who we are at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” Drale said. “This effort was so successful, and the results so marvelous, that I am encouraging the Building and Grounds Committee to continue the collaboration and make this an annual event.” The campus partners involved in the student mural competition and installation include the Student Government Association (SGA), the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Facilities Management, the Department of Art and Design, and Ottenheimer Library staff. “Most of you probably know that koi are a type of carp fish bred for their vibrant colors,” Drale said. “You see them frequently in garden ponds. What you might not know, and what Nancy Hamilton has graciously shared with me, is that in Japan, the koi is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, but also of perseverance in the face of adversity. I have to say, I can’t think of a better symbol for the year we’ve been through than that. And what a wonderful testimony to the resilience of our students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock!” SGA President Landon DeKay said the idea for a student mural competition originated with former SGA President Katie Zakrzewski in 2019. When DeKay began his presidency last fall, the SGA was determined to bring the student mural to fruition.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student artist Emma Chambers, left, is congratulated by her friend during a dedication ceremony for the mural at the Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Ben Krain.

“It’s been a very hectic school year, and we need something bright to lift our spirits. The mural is very beautiful,” DeKay said. “SGA wants to get students involved on campus. We are very excited to showcase student artwork around campus, and we hope to continue this tradition for years to come.” Chambers, a junior Bachelor of Fine Arts major with a concentration in painting, said it took two weeks to complete the mural. She received help from several of her professors in the Department of Art and Design, including Ricky Sikes, Peter Scheidt, and Kensuke Yamada. A patron from the library helped prime the mural, and her brother helped her paint. “The mural turned out very well,” Chambers said. “I have a whole new appreciation for teamwork. Painting is solitary, but I had no idea how many people were involved in the creation of a mural.” In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student artist Emma Chambers, center right, poses in front of her winning mural with Student Government Association President Landon DeKay, left, Chancellor Christina Drale, center left, and Nancy Hamilton, Faculty Senate Building and Grounds Committee member, far right, during a dedication ceremony for the mural at Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Ben Krain.

Chambers wins ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student mural competition

John Hill — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:33:22 +0000

Emma Chambers, a junior Bachelor of Fine Arts major with a concentration in painting, has won the first student mural competition at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� “I was really excited that I won the mural contest,” Chambers said. “I hoped that I would get it because I believed in myself and my painting.” The Student Government Association, in conjunction with the Faculty Senate Building and Grounds committee, created the mural contest open to all ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. Chambers received more than 750 votes for her design of swimming koi fish. Chambers will paint the mural that will be placed on the west side of the Ottenheimer Library Lobby entrance. It will be eight feet wide and 16 feet long. She will receive $1,000 to complete the mural, including $150 for support materials, $650 for preparation, construction materials, and cleanup, as well as a $200 artist stipend. “I am really into painting fish, especially koi fish,” Chambers said. “I grew up with a koi pond, and I’ve always been interested in the form of the fish. It’s very graceful. I wanted to provide a sense of tranquility and relaxation. I wanted something that would be calming and pleasant for students.” Chambers said she also drew inspiration for her design from the koi fish mural in downtown Little Rock that was painted by Matt McLeod and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. Chambers is working with Ricky Sikes, artist-in-residence of painting, Peter Scheidt, assistant professor of furniture and woodworking, and Thomas Clifton, chair of the Department of Art and Design.

Emma Chambers’ winning design for the student mural competition

She is a Little Rock native and member of the Donaghey Scholars Honor Program. In addition to the BFA, she is earning minors in applied design-ceramics and Spanish. After she graduates in spring 2022, Chambers plans to attend graduate school to further her study of ceramics or open an art studio. Chambers will complete the mural by April 30, and Chancellor Christina Drale will preside over the unveiling in May. A specific date for the unveiling ceremony will be forthcoming.��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to host exhibit featuring Artist-in-Residence Ricky Sikes

John Hill — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 13:15:00 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host an exhibit featuring the work of Ricky Sikes, the representational painter and artist-in-residence at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The exhibit, “Internal Landscapes,” will be on display from Oct. 12 to Nov. 15 in the Small Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The virtual exhibit will also be available on the . The exhibit explores the eerie, peaceful, chaotic, and sometimes intimidating nature of the dense forests of Sikes’ home in Louisiana and other regions of the Deep South. “The complex reality of forests inspires him,” said Brad Cushman, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Art Gallery. “His paintings echo his internal state of mind when he is immersed in a tangle of vines and a dense canopy of trees.” As a child, Sikes spent much time in the woods experiencing the “wonder of adventure and exploration for the first time.” His fondness for the forest has grown with adulthood, and he expresses that emotional attachment in “Internal Landscapes.” “Using oil paint and mixed media, my goal is to capture the special and highly complex reality of the forest in a personal style, which reflects my innate experiences,” Sikes said. “All of the complexity, mood, contrasts, and mark making catalyze to echo the unique internal state I experience when immersed in the tangled vines and dense canopy of the forest.” Sikes is a practicing artist and educator based in Little Rock. As a mixed media artist and painter, he works in many genres, including portraiture, figure painting, and science-fiction illustration. He earned a Master of Fine Art degree in studio art from Louisiana Tech University, and he received his Bachelor of Fine Art degree specializing in illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Anyone who would like to visit the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Art Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design in person may contact Cushman at 501-916-3182 or becushman@ualr.edu. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Two professors featured in new exhibit at Boswell-Mourot Gallery

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:27:46 +0000

The artwork of two art educators at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will be on display at a new exhibit at.�� The exhibit will feature fine art created by Kensuke Yamada, assistant professor of ceramics, and Ricky Sikes, instructor of drawing and painting. The exhibit will be on display from Saturday, July 20, to Saturday, Aug. 10. An opening reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. July 20, at the gallery at 5818 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock. Boswell Mourot Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call Boswell Mourot Gallery at 501-664-0030.

University’s south entrance gets colorful touch-up

Janea Snyder — Thu, 09 May 2019 13:00:03 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s entrance from Asher Avenue has gotten a mural makeover – with a little paint and some elbow grease. Ricky Sikes, instructor of drawing and painting in the Department of Art and Design, and a handful of student and faculty volunteers have spruced up the 9-foot wall that runs 180 feet along the south side of University Plaza. The weather-worn wall got a fresh coat of gray paint, and Sikes and his crew added maroon lettering that says “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Home of the Trojans.” An adjacent 54-foot wall facing Campus Drive reads “since 1927.” Klansee Tozer, senior graphic designer in the Office of Communications and Marketing, designed the mural. The four-foot letters and the Trojan head can easily be seen by passing motorists on Asher Avenue. The group began painting on April 28 but got delayed because of rain. Rebecca Farhat, a junior nursing student; Carly Berbarian, a senior art student, Julian Francour, and professor Michael Warrick all helped with painting. Art instructor Ricky Sikes and student Rebecca Farhat paint maroon lettering on the concerete wall facing Asher Avenue near the university’s south entrance. Photo by Benjamin Krain

Sculpture by late artist Mac Hornecker installed at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 13:49:15 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is now home to a sculpture by late artist.�� Marie Hornecker of Arkadelphia donated the sculpture to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock last year to honor her husband’s creative efforts. Mac Hornecker, who passed away in 2011, created “El ��ñ��” in 1998. It is a non-objective sculpture that was an early piece in his waved linear steel and concrete stone work. “El ��ñ�� was built in 1998 at a time when our oldest daughter was in college at OU in Oklahoma majoring in meteorology and also had a position at NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Severe Storm Center and as a storm chaser,” Marie Hornecker said. “It gave Mac a new awareness of the weather and patterns. The land and natural elements were always the inspirations of Mac’s work.” Marie Hornecker and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock installation crew members Michael Warrick, Kerrick Hartman, John Bruhl, Ricky Sikes, and Ruijie Zheng dismantled, packed, and reinstalled the sculpture at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus on Oct. 19. Marie Hornecker and Warrick gave the sculpture a fresh coat of paint on Oct. 20 to give it a “final finish,” according to Warrick, a longtime friend of the Horneckers. The sculpture now stands east of the Donaghey Student Center near Coleman Creek. “Thanks for everyone at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for placing ‘El ��ñ��’ on your campus,” Marie Hornecker said. “It is a wonderful setting, and I know Mac would have been very pleased. I also want to thank Michael Warrick and those in the art faculty that helped with the instillation and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for accepting this piece and putting it in a beautiful location.”

Mac Hornecker, who passed away in 2011, created “El ��ñ��” in 1998. It is a non-objective sculpture that was an early piece in his waved linear steel and concrete stone work.

Mac Hornecker was best known for sculptures of environmental scale built from a variety of materials. He designed for a particular site, which determines scale and material. Images within his work deal with land and manmade forms. He was interested in the topography, rocks, trees, architecture, and anything interesting about the environment of the site. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1968 and a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the University of Oklahoma in 1970. He received his first commission from the Oklahoma City Arts Council in 1971 for a 12-ton cast concrete sculpture. His work was represented in more than 30 public collections, 25 solo shows, 50 group shows, 25 invitationals, and 30 competitive shows. He was a professor of sculpture for 40 years and served as a guest artist and conducted workshops at many colleges, universities, and art centers. In the upper right photo, members of the installation crew install Mac Hornecker’s sculpture on campus. Pictured (L to R) include John Bruhl, Kerrick Hartman, Marie Hornecker, and Michael Warrick.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Unveils New Mural to Inspire Art Students

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to Unveil artWING Mural May 2

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Dedicates New Student Mural “Koi” in Ottenheimer Library

Chambers wins ����Vlog��ý Little Rock student mural competition

����Vlog��ý Little Rock to host exhibit featuring Artist-in-Residence Ricky Sikes