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ARTS BOARD GETS UPDATE ON CENTER ACTIVITIES

By Judy Normand/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, February 13, 2009 11:21 PM CST

During a regular meeting at the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas on Thursday, the center’s board of trustees was updated on both continuing and upcoming activities.

Elise Askew, the A&S Center’s education director, said Arts in Education, a program promoting the inclusion of the arts across various school curricula, is anticipating a busy 2009 spring semester.

This year, the center will be working with April Gentry-Sutterfield, resident artist, and Pine Bluff High School. The “Pine Bluff Out Loud” project, she said, will excite students about Pine Bluff history through the use of drama and performance poetry. The students will interview some of Pine Bluff’s oldest members about events during their lifetimes and then use the information gained as inspiration for their various artistic interpretations of the events.

Also on tap is the Science Circus, featuring Rhys Thomas, an expert juggler, a scientist and an all-around funny guy. His act is meant to entertain and educate its participants about Newtonian physics using practical applications. His six school shows scheduled are already sold out, Askew said, but a public performance will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Arts & Science Center, ending with an afternoon of activities (from 2 to 4 p.m.) for kids and their families, including face painting, walk-around illusionist Gene Berry, arts and crafts, actors dressed as circus performers, popcorn, balloon animals and more.

Nano Days, March 30 through April 3, is a nationally recognized week of nanotechnology awareness and the Arts & Science Center’s education department will be offering science classes the opportunity to schedule a 45-minute session of hands-on learning through the use of nanotechnology kits provided by the National Association of Nanotechnology.

Tell-A-Tale, a group of traveling actors who perform children’s theater shows, will return with “The Ransom of Red Chief” in March and “This Little Piggy” in April.

In the absence of Matt Soto, chairman of the performing arts committee, Janelle Powell, executive director at the Arts & Science Center, said the community-wide variety show, “Razzle-Dazzle” — a huge fundraiser for the Arts & Science Center — will return in the fall. “Barefoot in the Park” will be presented in March; “Annie” in May; and, “Gypsy” is scheduled to open in July.

Powell also presented an update on other projects, saying the roof of the A&S Center had been replaced in December and, within the last year, inspections, replacement and repair of the facility’s sprinkler system had been completed, along with work on a hallway floor.

Annual grants submitted to the Arkansas Arts Council, she said, have also been completed.

Everyone is reminded of the reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday to celebrate the opening of three new exhibits now on display at the center: Art from nationally known African American artists, part of the A&S Center’s permanent collection; the works of Amy Hill-Imler; and, a photography exhibit by Eric Maynard and Rusty Scarborough. The exhibits and admission to the reception are free, Powell said.

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