15 Sep 2014 Conway to host ArtsFest

by Kelsey Williams

The University of Central Arkansas College of Fine Arts and Communication, in partnership with Hendrix College, Central Baptist College, Conway schools and the Conway Alliance for the Arts, will play host to Conway’s ArtsFest, Friday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Oct. 5. Multiple events are scheduled with a range of art, music, film, theatre, dance, and writing productions to be held.

"We want the Central Arkansas community to know that the 2014 ArtsFest events are more diverse and more inclusive than ever before,” said Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of CFAC, professor of art history and a member of the ArtsFest Planning Committee. “Art will be everywhere with something for everybody."

ArtsFest will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, with a concert by Clare College Cambridge at Greene Chapel, Hendrix College. The bonanza continues right through early October. A sampling of the free events includes:

•    Community Collaborative Sculpture by Patrick Dougherty, on view Sept. 26-Oct. 5, Baum Gallery Lawn, UCA.
•    Independent Living Services Art Exhibit, on view 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 26-Oct. 5, Bob’s Grill, 1112 Oak St., Downtown Conway.
•    “Tales From the South” Reading and Live Recording, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, McAlister Hall Lawn, UCA.
•    Art exhibits “Home” presented by the Conway League of Artists and “Art in Architecture: Historic Homes of Conway” presented by the Old Conway Preservation Society and the Faulkner County Historical Society, on view Monday, Sept. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 4, Conway City Hall, 1201 Oak St., Downtown Conway.
•    Art exhibit “Tomoya Ihaya: Drawing from Dharamsala and Collaborative Projects,” on view 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 3, Trieschmann Fine Arts Building, Hendrix College.
•    “The AIDS Memorial Quilt,” on view 9 a.m.-5p.m. Sept. 29- Oct. 3, and 1-3 p.m. Oct. 5, Harrin Hall Second Floor Lobby, UCA.
•    Author Bernard Cooper Public Reading and Book Signing, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, College of Business Auditorium 107, UCA.
•    Conway Film Festival Part One, 7-9 p.m. Oct. 2; Part Two 1-3 p.m. Oct. 4, The Lantern Theatre, 1021 Van Ronkle St., Downtown Conway.
•    Author Jericho Brown, public reading and book signing, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, College of Business Auditorium 107, UCA.
•    Public Lecture by Dr. Raymond-Jean Frontain, UCA Department of English, “Peter McGehee: Living with and Writing about AIDS,” 3 p.m. Oct. 3, Harrin Hall Second Floor Lobby, UCA.
•    CORE Performance Dance Company, in collaboration with Independent Living Services and Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled, facilitated by UCA Occupational Therapy students, Public Performance of Original Dancework, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3, Baum Gallery Lawn, McCastlain Hall, UCA.
•    CORE Performance Dance Company, Public Performance of Original Dancework, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3, Baum Gallery Lawn, McCastlain Hall, UCA.
•    Conway Schools Art Exhibit, on view 6-8 p.m. Oct. 3, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4, American Management Company Lobby, 824 Front St., Downtown Conway.
•    “Light Up the Night” (PG-13), live music performed by Akeem Kemp, The Federalis, and Wolf-e-Wolf, graphite guerrillas flash sketch contest, alleyway printmaking, wearable art contest, light projections, installations, performance art, aerial silk performances, 5-10 p.m. Oct. 3, Van Ronkle Street and Rogers Plaza, Downtown Conway.
•    “Art in the Park” (family friendly), hands-on art activities, live performances and steamroller printmaking, noon-4 p.m. Oct. 4, Simon Park, Front Street, Downtown Conway.
•    Arkansas Arts Center Artmobile, “Work/Play,” featuring art from the Arts Center’s permanent collection dealing with the themes of work and play, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4, Main Street at Simon Park, Downtown Conway.
•    “Art Marketplace” (juried art vendors) noon-4 p.m. Oct. 4, Simon Park, Front Street, Downtown Conway.
•    “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley,” Dallas Children’s Theater, 3 p.m. Oct. 5, Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA (tickets $10 adults; $5 children, available at the Reynolds Box Office, 501.450.3265; uca.edu/Reynolds)

"ArtsFest, now in its eighth year, is proud of the partnerships we have forged among UCA, Hendrix College, Central Baptist College and the Conway schools,” Seymour said. “Our schedule of events reflects the influence of the schools in our community and the rich cultural life we enjoy because of them."

CORE Performance Dance Company is funded in part by an award from Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arkansas Arts Council, and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

For more information about ArtsFest, contact Beth Wilson Norwood at [email protected] or visit artsinconway.org for a complete schedule of events.