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UCA professor to receive Governor's Award |
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Arkansas Art News
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Friday, 24 October 2008 00:00 |
John M. Erwin, director of choral music at UCA, tomorrow will receive the 2008 Arkansas Arts Council Governor's Individual Artist Award. The 2008 Governor's Arts Awards are sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council and will take place tomorrow at noon in Ballroom A at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The Individual Artist Award category is for artists active in the field of architecture, contemporary crafts, design, film, literature, performing arts or visual arts.
Erwin's recognition marks the second time in three years that a UCA faculty member has won the award. In 2006, sculptor Brian Massey Sr. received the honor. "There are so many deserving artists," Erwin said. "I'm very honored that I was singled out. It would have been very easy to pick any of my music colleagues here at UCA and around the state. I think of myself as a collaborative artist. I cannot do what I do without other people. "I have to inspire, lead, and nurture that kind of willingness to create beauty in sound. And that's my livelihood, my passion. And I cannot do it alone."
Erwin is the conductor for the UCA Concert Choir and the UCA Chamber Singers. He is in his 35th year at UCA and has had a number of successes during his tenure. Under Erwin's direction, UCA's choir was the Grand Prize Winner of the Great American Choral Festival in 1982 and also winner of two gold certificates at the Riva del Garda International Choral Competition in Italy in 2004.
Dr. Rollin Potter, dean of the UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication, said Erwin was most deserving of the award.
"John Erwin continues to make outstanding contributions to the artistic and musical lives of thousands of Arkansans," he said. "UCA's Concert Choir and the Arkansas Chamber Singers, both under John's direction, are truly musical treasures that we all cherish." One of the most popular of Erwin’s performances is UCA’s Madrigal Feaste, which has become a holiday tradition and will celebrate 33 years in 2008.
"It's a beautiful evening and always something special for the season that's unlike any other thing you have around Christmastime," Erwin said.
He has also been the artistic director and conductor for the Arkansas Chamber Singers in Little Rock since 1999. Under his direction, the Singers have produced 10 highly acclaimed concert recordings. Another high point of Erwin’s work has been his once-a-year collaboration between the Arkansas Symphony and his Arkansas Chamber Singers.
Erwin earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Arkansas State University in 1967. He received his Master of Music Education from Arkansas State University in 1968 and is ABD for a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois. He has studied conducting in Europe and the United States with Robert Shaw, Frieder Bernius, Harold Decker, Al Skoog and Don Minx.
Recipients of the Governor’s Arts Award will receive an original work of art created by Arkansas glass artist Gary Carter of Fayetteville. |
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Argenta Art Company Coming Soon |
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Arkansas Art News
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Written by rhonda reeves converse
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Thursday, 23 October 2008 00:00 |
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I talked to Ellie Roy and she is in the process of opening Argenta Art Company, inside of Argenta Bead Company, located at 703 Main Street, NLR. So now in addition to the beautiful beads, stones, gems, findings, and art jewelry the south half of the building will house original works of local artists.
Ellie hopes to stock art on the whimsical side, which will fit her bubbly, fun personality. Her goal is to have established locals as well as some emerging artists and a special section for high school artist.
Named in honor of the original Soul Art, the first gallery in Argenta. Ellie is looking for artist and has set a target opening by the third Friday in November. Artist can apply by going to Argentasoulart.com
Argenta Bead Company/Argenta Art Company
703 N Main Street
North Little Rock, AR 72114
501.537.0928
Hours:
Monday thru Saturday
11am to 6pm
Open late every Third Friday for Argenta ArtWalk |
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2008 Paves the Way A Success |
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Arkansas Art News
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Written by rhonda reeves converse
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 18:00 |
2008 Paves the Way A Success
Paul Leopoulos emailed me today to say that THEA Foundations' Paves the
Way was a great success.
Rain didn't dampen the spirit and enthusiasm. With a record number of
participants the day was full of excitement, besides chalk in very
creative hands there was activity all around from facce painting to
music there was some thing for everyone.
To view photos click HERE
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Arkansas Art News
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Written by rhonda reeves converse
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 18:00 |
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I called Korto at home on Sunday and even though she was feeling under the weather she spoke with me about being a part of Project Runway. canvasjunkie.com: Who did you feel was your toughest competition? Korto: Leanne.........Out of the majority she was the one to beat. canvasjunkie.com: Out of all of the people you met at or during Project Runway who impressed or inspired you the most? Korto: Jerell...........because of all of the designers competing he was the only designer who was totally self taught. Everyone else had some formal training in fashion and design. He is the one that I became really good friends with even after the show. canvasjunkie.com: Have your plans, dreams or ideas changed since Project Runway? Korto: Not really. Being on the show presented a different side of the industry and you realize that designers and others you may idolize are just people. My goals are the same, but higher.....being on the show just pushes you to do better. canvasjunkie.com: Loved the designs at Box Turtle fashion show at Hillcrest Harvest Fest. We all wish Korto the best and look forward to her continued success! |
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Publisher of The Brooklyn Rail Phong Bui Interviews National Artist Rackstraw Downes at the Arkansas Arts Center |
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Arkansas Art News
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Written by rhonda reeves converse
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 18:00 |
(LITTLE ROCK, AR) – In celebration of the Arkansas Arts Center recent acquisition of a drawing by Rackstraw Downes, Phong Bui, publisher of The Brooklyn Rail, will interview the artist at the Arkansas Arts Center on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at 6 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.
Phong Bui is nationally recognized for his artist interviews that are published in The Brooklyn Rail, an independent monthly arts newsletter that offers critical perspectives on arts, politics and culture in New York City and beyond. Bui is also a successful artist. In 2006 he received both the Isenbeurger Annual Prize for Installation work from the National Academy Museum as well as an award in Art from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In addition to his artistic and journalistic pursuits, Bui is a curatorial consultant for P. S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Museum of Modern Art affiliate.
The Brooklyn Rail was created in 1998 as a Xeroxed pamphlet for commuters that rode on the L-Train from Brooklyn to Manhattan and back. This new publication was started by four editors (Ted Hamm, Joe Maggio, Christian Viveros-Fauné and Patrick Walsh) all of whom met at a local hangout, The Brooklyn Ale House. Phong Bui was eventually asked to write art criticism for the weekly publication. As The Brooklyn Rail became more successful, Bui decided to finance the publication as a real printed journal.
The Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection recently acquired the drawing Riverside Drive with the Gates of Columbia by Rackstraw Downes, on view through December 7, 2008, as part of the Building the Collection exhibition series. The drawing is a study for the painting of the same name, which is also on view. In his work, Downes depicts down-to-earth, often gritty features of the American environment in an unflinching and naturalistic style. He graduated from Yale in the mid-1960s, a legendarily prolific period that produced artists such as Richard Serra, Jennifer Bartlett, Eva Hesse, Robert Mangold, Brice Marden and Chuck Close. In addition to his work as a painter, Downes is an art historian with an impressive publishing history. His work is charged with an intellectual rigor on par with his dazzling technical skill.
For more info call 501-372-4000 or visit www.arkarts.com. This event is free and open to the public.
Location: Arkansas Arts Center – 9th and Commerce, Little Rock, AR 72202
Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Closed Monday & Major Holidays
Building the Collection exhibition series sponsored by: Harriet and Warren Stephens, Stephens Inc.
Arkansas Arts Center programs are supported in part by: the City of Little Rock; Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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I am your host at Canvas Junkie and work in several media. I design and make one of a kind sculpture you can wear or jewelry.