Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – The Cox Creative Center in the Rivermarket, part of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) and within walking distance of the Clinton School, is hosting an art exhibit, Looking Back-Looking Ahead, commemorating 50 years of integration and featuring over 150 Little Rock Central High School students. I toured the exhibit Saturday afternoon, and it is spectacular.
Under the leadership of Lynn Smith, chair of Central’s fine arts department, and with the support of Reita Walker Miller, CALS art administrator, this exhibit features art of over 150 students. Hats off to Principal Nancy Rousseau for her vision, to Mr. Smith for his leadership, to Ms. Miller for her enthusiasm and to the Central students for their talent.
It will be on display through October, and I highly recommend it. Most of the art is for sale too.
Some of my favorites: Flower Power, an acrylic about the attack on African American journalist Alex Wilson by Will Barker; an untitled mixed media piece by Greta James featuring soldiers and a white boy; The Irony of the American Flag, digital media by Jessica Boyd; an untitled oil by Sophie Yan showing Elizabeth Eckford being taunted; Don’t Let Them See You Cry, a prismacolor portrait of Elizabeth Eckford by Kate Trotter; and Soldiers at Work, a graphite by Randy Rankin. Artist Rankin is also the quarterback of the highly-ranked Central football team.