OPINION | POP NOTES: New artists, veterans offer recordings worth remembering
Nothing ventured, nothing new heard.
Stories by Ellis Widner
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OPINION | ARTBEAT: Arkansas quiltmaker's artistry shines in catalog
One of the real pleasures in art this year has been learning about Arkansas-born quilter/artist Rosie Lee Tompkins.
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OPINION | LISTEN UP: Earth music pioneer Paul Winter releases 'Light'
Beauty calls in the form of a return of longtime vets Paul Winter and Keith Jarrett and singer Melody Gardot, a relative newcomer, and a cool guitarist from Wa…
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A joyful noise: We need a little Christmas (music), right this very minute
"Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy"
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OPINION | POP NOTES: Kronos celebrates Seeger on 'Long Time'
Some known, some not so known musicians have at least one thing in common: They have released albums this year that deserve to be heard.
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Holiday unguarded — Archivist holds Billie Holiday in high esteem
The voice coming over the radio circa 1980 mesmerized a then barely teen-aged Grayson Dantzic, who grew up an only child in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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OPINION | POP NOTES: Finding a calm in perilous times possible with music
A sense of serenity and calm is highly valued in these stressful days and, at times, it seems so elusive as to almost be nonexistent.
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Natural transition
HOT SPRINGS -- Elizabeth Weber's first solo show since starting a new direction with sculptural works made from materials found in nature opened with a recepti…
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Pop Notes: Cinder Well's 'No Summer' reflects on isolation, unease
Voices like Amelia Baker's, who records as Cinder Well, don't come along very often.
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ARTBEAT/OPINION: Art interrupted: Covid disrupts exhibitions
Two of Arkansas' biggest art shows were exhibitions interrupted, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Sculptor wins award at Delta Exhibition
Aaron Calvert’s colorful, whimsical stoneware, underglaze and gold ceramic enamel sculpture took top honors and a $2,500 prize at the “62nd Annual Delta Exhib…
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Sculptor claims Delta Exhibition Grand Award
LITTLE ROCK -- Aaron Calvert's colorful, whimsical stoneware, underglaze and gold ceramic enamel sculpture took top honors and a $2,500 prize at the "62nd Annu…
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Russellville-based artist takes top honors at 62nd annual Delta Exhibition
"Rocket Rabbit," Aaron Calvert's colorful, whimsical stoneware, underglaze and gold ceramic enamel sculpture, took top honors and a $2,500 prize Thursday at th…
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Digital Delta
“The 62nd Annual Delta Exhibition” When: Friday-Aug. 23
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POP NOTES/Opinion: Album of covers breathes new life into classic songs
It has been seven years since Marshall Chapman's last album, and the Nashville-based singer-songwriter makes up for lost time with Songs I Can't Live Without (…
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Isolation inspiration
During times of social upheaval and great change, the arts often reflect the turmoil, the fear, the hope and even the joy that arises.
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Mask-erful
Little Rock photographer Ashley Murphy's latest project started with a question:
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State's artists majority of annual Delta Exhibition
More than half of the 63 works accepted into the Arkansas Arts Center's "62nd Annual Delta Exhibition" were made by the state's resident artists. The exhibitio…
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POP NOTES: Stoll Vaughan releases compelling Desires Shape
Stoll Vaughan's warm, inviting voice wraps around a listener like the presence of a much-loved, cherished friend and confidant. Its tone is imbued and worn by …
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Rewarded perseverance: Little Rock author struggled for years before he got first novel published
It may not be the Pulitzer Prize for fiction or a National Book Award, but for Little Rock novelist Mark Barr, the David J. Langum Sr. Prize in American Histor…
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Virtual book clubs fulfill a need to keep its members discussing
Jim Harper attended his first virtual book club meeting in mid-March.
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Little Rock couple creates vision of 'Xanadu'-inspired roller rink in garage
Mac and Ashley Murphy decided to put some of their free time to good use — clean out the garage.
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Allmans' discography starts way back in '69
The Allman Brothers Band released a number of singles, but just 10 made it to Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart. Of those, one of their best-known and most-lo…
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Syrian refugees everyday people in Windgate photos
The ongoing tragedy of Syria, torn apart by nearly a decade of warfare, keeps growing.
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'The Hospice Doctor's Widow: A Journal' is a raw memoir of love, death
Few words strike more fear and apprehension in the hearts of many of us than one five-letter word: death.
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ARTBEAT: Art blazes at Cantrell Gallery; Self-portraits shine at M2 show
Something's burning. Lots of somethings.
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Spiritual awakening: Arkansas native and Paris resident Marcus McAllister’s journey through life, stories and art
Marcus McAllister, a Little Rock-born artist who has lived in Paris for more than two decades, is a man of seemingly unbounded energy and enthusiasm.
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ART BEAT: Textile an element of artist's ingenuity
Melissa Emily Gill's skill and talent continue to grow and evolve, as her current show hanging at South Main Creative's monthly pop-up art gallery reveals.
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PHOTOS + VIDEO: El Dorado exhibit feast for the senses; artist teams with Crystal Bridges
Shape-shifting, undulating clouds that glow, or spaceships heading our way? Is that a relative of Jabba the Hutt or The Blob looming over us, leaning forward w…
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PHOTOS: Interactive 'AstroZone' exhibit debuts in El Dorado's Murphy Arts District
El Dorado's Murphy Art District has embarked on a bold new adventure.
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A state of arts: Exhibitions in 2020 will cover Arkansas with myriad examples in galleries and museums
2020 looks to be an intriguing year for art exhibitions in Arkansas.
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POP NOTES: Brandi Carlile, Rhiannon Giddens challenged music's status quo in 2019
The songs of Brandi Carlile and Rhiannon Giddens stand among the best of the decade. Both are artists of substance and depth. In 2019, they created more vital …
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New Christmas albums!
Many love the classic Christmas recordings of Nat "King" Cole, Bing Crosby, Brenda Lee and the Philadelphia Orchestra; others look forward to a new set by the …
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ARTBEAT: Dasse's 'Children in Cage' shows political, social sides of art in Boswell Mourot exhibition
Artists have an advantage over the rest of us. We get riled about something -- often political, these days -- and we talk. And talk. Maybe even argue. Artists …
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Advocacy and art: “Prison Portrait Art Project” planting seeds of hope, faith, support for incarcerated people
Meikel Church was more than a little surprised when he was invited to participate in Compassion Works for All's "Prison Portrait Art Project." "I told them,…
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ARTBEAT: Hearne Fine Art exhibition honors examples of 'ubuntu' in life
The intriguing title of the five-person show at Hearne Fine Art -- "Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are" -- needs a little explanation.
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ARTBEAT: V.L. Cox's 'Break Glass' exhibit back in Arkansas from U.S. tour
Arkansas artist V.L. Cox's powerful exhibition "Break Glass: A Conversation to End Hate," returns to Arkansas after stops at museums in Virginia, Alabama, Wash…
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ARTBEAT: Biennial 'SHE' exhibit returns to M2 Gallery
She's back. She is "SHE," the biennial exhibition of works by female artists hosted by M2 Gallery and curated by owners Mac and Ashley Murphy.
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ARTBEAT: Emergent talent thrills at Gallery 26
Few experiences in art are more thrilling than the emergence of new talent.
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ARTBEAT: Kae Barron's shows 'Thin Line' in new works at Cantrell Gallery exhibit
Kae Barron, artist and lace/embroidery designer, has a new art exhibit that shows off her love of different media. "I like variety," she says. "I don't like…
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ARTBEAT: UALR art teachers show new works at Boswell Mourot
Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock art teachers tap mystery and whimsy for an engaging exhibition of painting and sculpture at Boswell Mourot Fine Art.
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Scraps of life: 'Eviction Quilts by James Matthews' shows what is left behind, lost when families are evicted
James Matthews has been walking and biking around Little Rock for about a decade, getting to know the city as he documents and photographs houses of worship an…
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Matthews, students dig their own clay for Arts Center pottery class
James Matthews loves wild clay and urban walks.
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ARTBEAT: Cowper-Smith and Petroukhina create in multiple forms
The past and the present, processes organic and digital, manifest in the artworks of Melissa Cowper-Smith.
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Newport's Delta Arts Festival is on a three-fold mission
Eleven years ago, Newport made the arts part of the Jackson County city's economic development plan. "We started an arts festival in the old train station,"…
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ART BEAT: Joli Livaudais' photographs reveal layers of life, emotions at NLR library
It can be a challenge to describe or even understand the experience of art. We might get caught up in the various scenarios depicted, swept away by the emot…
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North Little Rock art gallery closes; owner says Argenta space was 'depleting money from the business'
Greg Thompson is closing his namesake art gallery Greg Thompson Fine Art, which opened 10 years ago at 429 Main St. in North Little Rock's Argenta district.
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A different perspective: ’61st Annual Delta Exhibition’ juror Kevin Cole selects diverse voices of artistic expression
Kevin Cole was 8 years old when he made his first visit to the Arkansas Arts Center. It would not be Cole's last visit; the Pine Bluff native returned many …
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ARTBEAT: Patrick McFarlin brings 'Oil' home to LR; M2, Boswell Mourot open new exhibits
It's about time. Some 34 years after his last solo exhibition in the state, Little Rock-born artist and sculptor Patrick McFarlin returns for "50 Years of M…
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Little Rock artist Turner takes Grand Award at Delta Exhibition; 2 other Arkansans win
Mabry Turner of Little Rock has won the Grand Award in the 61st annual Delta Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center.
