Local Canvas: Mosaic Templars Host New Collection, Whitewater Tavern brings Must See Performance, Gallery 26 Shows Photography, Arkansas Sounds Play, and more

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is next in line to host the Kinsey Collection, an enormous display of art made by black Americans during key points in this country’s history, which has been on tour since 2007 and was curated by Bernard and Shirley Kinsey. The opening reception will be held on Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. It will feature a presentation by the couple, live music by The Rodney Block Collective, and of course, refreshments. The exhibit is the MTCC’s largest to date, so be sure you’re don’t miss it.

Gallery 360 continues its ongoing call for artist submissions and the only restriction is the size of the canvas. Go here for specifics, but two dimensional and three dimensional works are accepted. Hurry though, the deadline is April 9 with the show opening April 12 and continuing through May 14.

On Tuesday, April 12, at 9:30 p.m., Adia Victoria (and Little Rock’s own Joshua Asante) will play the Whitewater Tavern. I could sit here and try to tell you what a big deal this is, re-stating the words of a million different articles by various magazines, blogs, etc., but honestly, it wouldn’t change a thing. This is a performance that must be seen in-person if you ever hope to come close to understanding it. And it’s only $8.

Don’t miss Second Friday Art Night at the Butler Center tomorrow, from 5 to 8pm. It will feature the opening of an exhibition by a collective of Arkansas artists called “Culture Shock: Shine Your Rubies, Hide Your Diamonds.” The works look to explore significant contemporary issues through a variety of artistic mediums. The collective includes Melissa Cowper-Smith, Tammy Harrington, Jessie Hornbrook, Sandra Luckett, and Rachel Trusty, among others. Featured music will be provided by the Arkansas Guitar and Mandolin Association.

Arkansas Sounds presents the Bob Boyd Sounds, who will play the Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater on Friday, April 22, at 7 p.m. They will present a retrospective spanning the entirety of Boyd’s career, using the piano and accordion, and featuring vocal performances. Boyd, who owned and operated the Boyd Music Center for forty years, is an Arkansas native who launched his music career in 1952 at the age of 16. Tickets are $5 (children 15 and younger can attend for free, perhaps a testament to Boyd’s enterprising nature) and can be purchased online or on the day of the show, so long as it’s not sold out. Click here for the full Arkansas Sounds calendar and ticket purchase links.

The Arkansas Artmobile was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award by the Arkansas Museums Association. The Artmobile, owned by the Arkansas Arts Center, is a mobile art gallery that has been traveling across the state since the early Sixties and features themed exhibition of works from the Arts Center’s permanent collection.

The Arts Center will host Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, on Tuesday, April 19, from 5:30 to 7pm, as part of the Arts Center’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is free for members and $10 for non-members to attend. Sir Leighton, who is on a bit of a tour to promote his recently published “100 Masterpieces of the National Galleries of Scotland,” will sign copies of his book at the conclusion of the talk.

Ongoing at Gallery 26 is a photography exhibition by Rita Henry. As well, the gallery is showcasing the print works of David Warren, and various drawings, paintings, and prints by Dominique Simmons. The exhibit runs through May 14.

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