ASC announces schedule for February

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, part of the ARTx3 Campus, announces its February events, including artist exhibitions, Live@5 concert, and a farewell reception for the ASC executive director.

Exhibition Reception: ‘Field Notes’ — Feb. 2

Due to inclement weather, the ARTx3 Campus has rescheduled the opening reception for the photography exhibition “Field Notes” by Gary Cawood, to 5-7 p.m. Feb. 2. This exhibition will be in the Loft Gallery at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St.

“Cawood is drawn to sites where the natural contours of the landscape have been disturbed or disrupted, such as abandoned quarries or excavations for new construction projects,” according to a news release. “As the landscape goes through a transformation via human persuasion, nature inevitably asserts its own transformations and converts the shiny and new to the tarnished and worn. His work in this series of 33 images emphasizes scale as an element of visual composition, exploring various ways the measuring scale can be integrated into the scene, sometimes titling the effect to be more ambiguous than factual.”

The exhibition will be on view through April 24. It is sponsored by Relyance Bank.

Live@5 featuring Damen Tolbert — Feb. 2

Patrons are invited to join the ARTx3 Campus for its first Live@5 of the year, featuring Damen Tolbert, from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 2 at ART WORKS on Main, 627 S. Main St.

Entry is $5 for ARTx3 members and $10 for nonmembers. Patrons must be 21 or older. Complimentary wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages will be available.

“Chicago native Damen Tolbert describes his sound as ‘a dynamic mix of old and new styles.’ He takes cues from old and new-school R&B, hip-hop, and more. Tolbert is also a poet, arranger, and audio engineer,” according to the release.

The arts center hosts live jazz, blues, and rock & roll at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of each month with its long-running Live@5 concert series, sponsored by MK Distributors.

Come Read, Sing, Dance, and Play with Me — Feb. 3

Children in grades pre-K through second are invited to a new literacy program at the ARTx3 Campus. “Come Read, Sing, Dance, and Play with Me” aims to foster a love of reading and writing. The class will be from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 3, at the Arts & Science Center, 701 S. Main St.

Melanie Madkin, of Ms. Madkin’s Literacy Program, leads the class. There is no cost to attend but registration is requested at artx3.org/all-events/read-sing-dance-play or call (870) 536-3375. Details: Bethany Gere at bgere@artx3.org.

FunDay: Faux Stained Glass — Feb. 10

Make unique artwork during Second Saturday Family FunDay: Faux Stained Glass, from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Arts & Science Center. Visitors will create a beautiful piece using plastic, aluminum, and cardboard to create a stained glass color effect.

This event is free and open to the public. For details, contact Shakeelah Rahmaan at srahmaan@artx3.org or call (870) 536-3375.

ASC’s Second Saturday FunDay program offers monthly hands-on arts and science activities. Funding from the Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation, supports this event.

Farewell reception for Director Rachel Miller — Feb. 15

The public is invited to a reception honoring Rachel Miller, executive director of the Arts & Science Center and the ARTx3 Campus. The reception is 5-7 p.m. Feb. 15 at ASC, 701 S. Main St. The evening will feature light hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Miller, who has led ASC since 2014, has accepted the position of executive director of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History in California.

The event is also an opportunity for the public to visit with Lindsey Collins, ARTx3’s interim director and theater programs manager.

Ring-Making Workshop with Mary Pat Tate — Feb. 15

The ARTx3 Campus will host a beginner-friendly ring-making workshop from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 15 at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St.

Jeweler Mary Pat Tate will teach the craftsmanship of herringbone weave. In this two-hour class, students create two rings to take home and gain the skills to make the Herringbone weave pattern and glass beads.

Tate has fashioned jewelry for the past two decades and repurposes found objects with precious metals to make one-of-a-kind pieces, according to the release.

The cost is $20 for ARTx3 members and $25 for nonmembers. Participants must be 16 years or older. To register, visit artx3.org/classes or call (870) 536-3375. For details, contact Bethany Gere at bgere@artx3.org.

Golden Hour: ‘Couples Cooking’ — Feb. 16

The ARTx3 Campus will host a free cooking workshop, Golden Hour: Couples Cooking from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 16. This culinary experience, led by Khaadimah Rahmaan, offers an opportunity for ages 50 and older. Couples are invited to spend time together to learn delicious signature treats from Rahmaan. For more information or to register for the workshop, visit artx3.org/classes or contact Bethany Gere at bgere@artx3.org.

‘Matilda’ Prep Workshop Feb. 17; Auditions Feb. 23, Feb. 25

The ARTx3 Campus will host an audition prep workshop for the production “Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17. Participants must be 18 or younger and register for this event separately from the auditions. Participation in this workshop is not a requirement to audition but it is highly encouraged.

Auditions are from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 23, and 2:30-7 p.m. Feb. 25. Auditions are open to ages 8 and older.

The workshop and auditions will take place in the Catherine M. Bellamy Theater at the Arts & Science Center.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. July 19-20 and July 26-27, and 2 p.m. July 21 and July 28, in the Bellamy Theater. Cast members must be available for all performances.

“Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl with extraordinary powers. The daughter of abusive parents, Matilda finds refuge in library books, which she reads quickly and in creating her own stories. Things are no better at school, where Matilda also must face the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Brave little Matilda knows she has to stand up against the adults in her world, and in doing so, discovers her remarkable powers,” according to a synopsis.

This production was adapted for the stage by Dennis Kelly from Roald Dahl’s book of the same name. Veteran community performer and ARTx3 Public Programs Coordinator Bethany Gere directs. Musical direction is by John Alec Briggs and choreography is by Grace McKissic. The production is sponsored by Simmons Bank.

Register for an audition slot or the workshop at artx3.org/auditions. For questions, contact Lindsey Collins at lcollins@artx3.org or (870)-536-3375.

Yoga in the Loft: Couples Yoga, with FloEssence — Feb. 17

Exercise and relax with certified yoga instructor FloEssence from 1:30-3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Yoga in the Loft. FloEssence will lead participants through an hour of yoga, followed by a guided meditation. New and experienced practitioners are welcome. Participants must be 13 years old or older.

The theme for this month’s class is “Couples Yoga.” Participants are encouraged to bring their partners or close friends to learn collaborative yoga poses.

Yoga in the Loft takes place in the Loft Gallery at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St., every third Saturday of the month. Advanced registration and payment are required. Sign up at artx3.org/classes or call (870) 536-3375. This class is part of ASC’s Flex Pay program, with $15 the recommended price. For more information, contact Bethany Gere at bgere@artx3.org. Yoga in the Loft is sponsored by Angela White Smith, Realtor — eXp Realty.

Exhibition Reception: ‘Dialogues with Mother Earth’ — Feb. 22

The ARTx3 Campus will host an opening reception for “Dialogues with Mother Earth: Drawing to Save the Planet,” an exhibition by artist Erica Daborn, from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 22. This exhibition will be in the William H. Kennedy Jr. and International Paper galleries at the Arts & Science Center.

Daborn uses her art as a socially transformative tool to generate positive change by capturing the attention of the public via 13 large-scale charcoal-on-canvas murals. Each artwork opens a discussion about a series of critical issues facing the planet and our respective roles as participants in creating change. Issues like the culture of consumerism and waste, the food crisis, endangered species, and climate change are presented via scenes of ambiguous characters that blur race, culture, and borders.

The exhibition will be on view through Aug 16. It is sponsored by the Arkansas Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Humanities, Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission and the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas Endowment Fund. For more information, visit artx3.org/exhibitions.

Delta Upcycle Challenge Registration Deadline — Feb. 23

The Delta Upcycle Challenge is a new regional initiative by the ARTx3 Campus to bring awareness to the impact that humans have on the environment, tactics to minimize that impact, and share through artistic expression how communities can collaborate to create a beautiful tomorrow.

The D.U.C. Project has two competitions: The upcycled mini-sculpture contest for high school students and the upcycled fashion show for students enrolled in a college, university, or trade school. The project is open to students in Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Monroe, Phillips and Prairie counties.

The top 20 entries in both competitions will be showcased, judged, and awarded in person at the ARTx3 Campus on April 13. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Feb. 23. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. March 29.

Learn more and register at artx3.org/delta-upcycle-challenge. For details, contact J. Tyler Lewis at jtlewis@artx3.org or (870) 536-3375.

In Stitches: Beginners Sewing — Feb. 24, March 2, 9, 16, 23

The ARTx3 Campus will host “In Stitches,” a five-week beginners sewing class with Lorraine Hatcher from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 24, March 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Participants will learn a new project each week. Along the way, they will understand how to sew different fabrics and patterns, how to use sewing equipment and clothing construction. The class fee includes a new sewing machine and supplies.

The cost is $300 for ARTx3 members and $350 for nonmembers. Participants must be 12 years or older. To register, visit artx3.org/classes or call (870) 536-3375. For details, contact Bethany Gere at bgere@artx3.org.