Texarkana Entertainment Blog

Thursday evening’s “Doorways Home” art auction looks like it netted nearly $8,000 devoted to the Texarkana Homeless Coalition’s efforts at transitional housing assistance for local homeless citizens.

What a fantastic idea executed with wonderful creativity by both TXKHC and the many local artists who participated!

More than the money raised, the art auction was simply a good time—a thought-provoking good time. From the auctioneer’s witty banter to bidding wars to personal reflections about homelessness, it was fun and even insightful on many levels. Things started slowly in the first round as people seemed to have a hard time focusing on the art and, more importantly, buying it; it would help if people viewed local charity art auctions as not simply occasions to be a social butterfly. (Sometimes chatter made it difficult to hear the auction proceed.)

But things soon settled down for the second and third rounds of the art auction up in Cabe Hall at the Regional Arts Center. It was inspiring to see the creativity that comes around when people confront an issue larger than themselves and view the world through others’ eyes. This project seemed to do that, in my estimation. I caught some snapshots and will put them down below. See our Sunday Accent page in the Gazette for interviews with four of the artists.

Hopefully local organizations and artists keep this great tradition going in Texarkana. Congratulations to all involved with this project.

- Aaron Brand

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Ever come across outdoor sculpture that brings a smile to your face or makes you think? Well, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program recently updated its Website with an inventory of Arkansas outdoor sculpture so you can find some. Discover all sorts of sculptural subjects out there in the Natural State, including Popeye and a more abstract piece called “Picnic in the Grass.” Other sculptures pay tribute to pioneers and Pocahontas, Easter Island (that’s in De Queen) and the dragonfly. Check it out here at Arkansas’s Outdoor Sculpture page online.

- Aaron Brand

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After traveling through various points in Texas, the African Children’s Choir comes to Texarkana for a Sunday night (6 p.m.) concert at Liberty-Eylau Baptist Church. The 15 kids participating in this tour hail from Uganda, and I interviewed both a tour leader and a chaperon about the group, which is composed of children ages 8 to 11, for our advance story. They are smiling, chipper kids with great spirit and beautiful voices (which you can see in the submitted promo photo below or videos online), but many of the kids do come from troubled homes. Many lost parents to three problems that persistently make everyday life in Africa difficult, to say the least: AIDS, famine and war. Through the African Children’s Choir, the kids get a chance to see the wider world, develop musical skills and further their education. They’ll be singing a mix of Western and traditional African tunes when they perform; performances include gospels and spirituals. The concert is free and open to the public. It should be an inspiring experience. See tomorrow’s Gazette for a full advance story. More info: 903-832-7526.

- Aaron Brand

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Sometimes going home is not all it’s cracked up to be. Home may be a cardboard box with only a thin protection from the elements or home may be the hard city streets. Home may be a shelter where you’re greeted by unfamiliar people. Home may be a doorway you can’t enter, an entrance to an abandoned building, perhaps. “Home,” in that sense, is something of a misnomer. For the homeless, each day is a struggle to find something we often take for granted.

The Texarkana Homeless Coalition’s new project “Doorways Home” speaks to that sense of daily discomfort and seeks to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness in our society. Using doors from the demolished public housing project Stevens Courts, different area artists have transformed those doors into works of art, taking a cue from last year’s “CHAIRS” project organized by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.

On Thursday, April 28, the doors will be auctioned to raise funds for TXKHC transitional support work with the homeless. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. that night at the Regional Arts Center and the auction starts at 6 p.m. Check it out to support a great cause and see what inspired local artists are up to creating.

- Aaron Brand

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Looks like it’s gonna be another gorgeous weekend for Texarkana, but that doesn’t mean all the fun is outdoors. Here are a few options for local live music lovers.

The Fallow, hailing from New Castle, Ind., are a band that touts their eclectic rock sound. They’ll actually be playing Hopkins Icehouse both tonight and tomorrow night, Friday, with no cover for tonight’s show. Catch some of their video blogs here at their YouTube channel: The Fallow Band. Saturday night it’s Synergistic going unplugged at Hopkins.

1 Nite Stand plays at the venue they consider “home” on Friday night. That’s Fat Jack’s Oyster and Sports Bar. Tonight at Fat Jack’s it’s Donnie Dodson with Dim Lit Daylight coming back to town for a Saturday night show. Check out some of the endearing Dim Lit music here at their Website: Dim Lit Daylight.

Saturday night brings all-ages metal madness momentum to the Blues Iguana Coffeehouse downtown on East Broad Street. Vaste Burai, Sheeple, Flatline and Obscured Perception will rock the night on the Arkansas side. Attend early for a catfish dinner.

Speaking of live, there’s live poetry Thursday nights at The Big Easy just a few doors down from the Iguana. Open mic music can be enjoyed on Sundays at the club.

As well, here in town Friday night it’s regional act Jason Helms with his band opening for Micky & the Motorcars at Shooters Sports Bar. Lee’s Catfish has Colt Baker Friday night and Timothy’s Grill has Trey Johnson and the Droppers on Saturday night.

Down in Atlanta, Texas, at the Wooden Indian it’s Tildon Gillum for Saturday night. And at Bar C Club in Domino, Texas, the same night it’s Texas Smoke Band.

- Aaron Brand

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Congratulations where congratulations are due! This past Saturday’s Texarkana Symphony Orchestra concert at the Perot Theatre was a superb end to a season that celebrated five successful years for the orchestra here in town.

It was a rousing show, starting with a powerful and evocative performance of Respighi’s “The Pines of Rome.” Then Clint Needham’s “Southern Air” premiere introduced Texarkanians to a wonderful piece by Needham, a young composer and native son. It’s a nostalgic, beautiful composition that truly captured the weather’s spirit on this warm spring day—thick, sultry Southern air. Needham is a promising composer who’s already created some wonderful work. After a brief intermission, then the featured performer came to the stage to offer a passionate, gorgeous performance of the Sibelius “Violin Concerto in D Minor.” It’s quite a coup that the TSO was able to bring Elena Urioste to town. As part of her stay here, she also visited local schools to talk with young musicians (as did Needham). It’s great to see young, talented people involved in the symphony and classical music.

Kudos to the TSO.

Anyone who attended also got a sneak preview of the upcoming 2011-2012 season. The TSO kicks off the season in September with Beethoven. In November the TSO will “Go for Baroque” with some Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. In February it’s Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” and then in April it’s a “Spotlight on Broadway.” TSO will also stage its annual Black History Month concert, students shows, and both Christmas and Halloween family concerts.

- Aaron Brand

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Inspired by Elle Woods of “Legally Blonde” and her little pooch pal Bruiser, TRAHC is hosting a Best Dressed Bruiser Contest downtown at the ArtsPark on Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. to noon.

It’s a free “best dressed” competition for any dolled-up canine who wishes to participate.  To sign up, just bring your dog’s name and your name, their tricks and your tricks (if you have some) to registration that morning. TRAHC asks that you keep the dogs on a leash. It’s recommended you bring your own lawn chair too.

What’s the big prize? Beyond the glory it’s two tickets to see “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Perot Theatre and a doggie grab bag.

In conjunction with the contest are animal adoptions taking place courtesy of the ARTEX Animal League, Texarkana Animal League and Texarkana Humane Society. In addition, wildlife rehabilitator and animal expert Lori Anderson will bring Toby the Tortoise, a nine-year-old African Desert Tortoise who has his own Facebook page called Toby’s Tales to educate people about different animals and wildlife in our world.

More info: 903-792-8681. The ArtsPark is located at the corner of 4th and Main streets.

- Aaron Brand

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Any local poets have some slam magic to share on the stage in Little Rock? I know we have some local poets who are good enough.

The Arkansas Arts Center invites poets to participate in its Ekphrastic Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 30. The poems performed must be inspired by artwork in the Arkansas Arts Center Collection. In conjunction with the slam is a formal poetry contest. To register for either/or/both, check out the Arkansas Arts Center’s Website (click on the microphone).

What is ekphrasis, you ask? According to the word gods at Merriam-Webster, it’s “a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art.” The first example that popped into my mind is John Keats’ incomparable classic “Ode on a Grecian Urn.”

Here’s a nifty description from the folks at Poets.org (that’s The Academy of American Poets): Poetry Confronting Art.

So get at it, poets! It is spring, after all.

- Aaron Brand

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It’s refreshing to meet someone young, vivacious and passionate about her art who is also a good teacher and wise. That’s how it was this morning when Elena Urioste, a New York-based violinist who has played at Carnegie Hall and with symphonies worldwide, came to Texas Middle School to work with 10 strings students.

The class period at the school’s band hall left teacher Steve Bennett’s students a little awestruck. They even asked Urioste, who performs a Sibelius violin concerto Saturday night with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, for autographs. She encouraged them to have fun, let loose, pay attention to each other, and come together to make one sound. A good lesson. They responded.

Even during her brief warm-up and an impromptu performance of a selection from “Carmen,” she seemed to become one with the instrument, the bow acting as an extension of her fingers, the soul of the piece finding a sensitive, smart translator in Urioste. See Friday’s Texarkana Gazette for my interview with her.

- Aaron Brand

Violinist Elena Urioste discusses her upcoming Saturday performance with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra on the morning of Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Texas Middle School. Urioste, who is 24, says she tries to inspire at least one student when she meets with groups of them. She will perform Jean Sibelius' "Violin Concerto in D Minor" with the TSO. Staff photo by Evan Lewis.

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