The Arts & Science Center Announces June 2021 Events

“34th Annual Small Works on Paper” — Thursday, June 3–Saturday, June 26

The Arkansas Arts Council’s touring “34th Annual Small Works on Paper” exhibition opens Thursday, June 3, at The ARTSpace on Main in downtown Pine Bluff. The ARTSpace, 623 S. Main St., is The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’s new community art and event space.

The “Small Works on Paper” exhibition travels to venues throughout the state each year, offering Arkansas artists an opportunity to showcase their artwork to patrons all over the state. It also allows Arkansans to see artwork they may not have had the opportunity to see anywhere else.

Each year, a juror selects a maximum of 40 two-dimensional pieces no larger than 18” x 24” for the exhibition. Featured artists belong to the Arkansas Artist Registry; registration is free to all Arkansans.

The ARTSpace on Main is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The exhibition runs through Saturday, June 26, 2021.

Live@5 Concert with Damen Tolbert and “Soul” Film Screening — Starts at 5 p.m. Friday, June 4

Arkansas Cinema Society is teaming up with The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas and Explore Pine Bluff to host a free public screening of the feature film “Soul.” The screening will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 4, in the ART Yard of The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St.

In “Soul,” a New York jazz pianist suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife. A Disney and Pixar film, “Soul” won Best Animated Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards.

The screening will follow ASC’s monthly concert, Live@5, from 5–7 p.m. This month’s performer is jazz musician Damen Tolbert.

A question-and-answer session with Tolbert, Jimmy Cunningham of Explore Pine Bluff, and Kody Ford of the Arkansas Cinema Society will take place before the screening.

Entry to Live@5 is $5 for ASC members and $10 for nonmembers, and visitors must be age 21 or older. The “Soul” screening is free and open to all ages. The film is rated PG. Popcorn will be provided during the film screening.

ASC will continue to enforce its mask policy of requiring all visitors age 2 and older to wear face masks except when seated. Tables and chairs will be socially distanced.

The screening is a collaborative event by The Arts & Science Center, the Arkansas Cinema Society, and the Explore Pine Bluff. Live@5 is sponsored by M.K. Distributors and the Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission.

Second Saturday Family FunDay: Clay Relief Tiles — 1–3 p.m. Saturday, June 12

Visitors are welcome to mold a unique clay relief tile during The Arts & Science Center’s free Second Saturday Family FunDay at 13 p.m. Saturday, June 12. Afterward, visitors can paint the design to make it pop.

“Take & make” kits will be available at ASC’s main entrance for those wanting to participate at home. Pick up a few from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 11, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 12. An instructional video will be posted at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12, on ASC’s Facebook page, facebook.com/asc701/.

Family FunDay is sponsored by The Pine Bluff Area Community Foundation, an affiliate office of the Arkansas Community Foundation Inc.

“Arkansas Women to Watch 2021: Paper Routes” — Thursday, June 24–Saturday, Aug. 14

“Paper Routes,” an exhibition curated by Allison Glenn, formerly of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, will be on view from Thursday, June 24, through Saturday, Aug. 14, at The Arts & Science Center. The exhibition is the fifth edition of the Arkansas Women to Watch series, and sponsored by Simmons Bank.

This show features work by Arkansas women and is themed around inventive uses of paper. The theme was chosen by the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. Joli Livaudais of Little Rock will represent Arkansas in the highly regarded biennial exhibition “Women to Watch.” Other artists include Kim Brewer, Linda Nguyen Lopez and Suzannah Schreckhise.

Adult Ceramics Workshop, with Yelena Petroukhina—6-8:30 p.m. June 28-June 2, July 5

The Arts & Science Center will welcome guest artist Yelena Petroukhina as she leads a ceramics workshop for adults. The workshop is from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, June 28, through Friday, July 2, and Monday, July 5.

Students ages 18 and older will learn fundamental clay hand-building techniques, surface and monoprinted image transfer techniques on clay, use of commercial glazes, and an introduction to kiln use. They will work in the ceramics studio of ASC’s new ARTSpace on Main facility, 623 S. Main St. To register, visit asc701.org/adult-classes or call 870-536-3375.

The workshop coincides with “Defining Home: Mixed Media and Ceramics of Yelena Petroukhina,” on view at ASC through July 10, 2021. Petroukhina teaches art at Horace Mann Middle School in Little Rock. She is an alumna of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Visit her website at yelenapetroukhina.net.

June 2021 Summer Camps

• Theater Camp — 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 7–18; ages 12–17. Theater Education Coordinator Lindsey Collins will focus on musical theater preparation, collaboration and exploration in campers. Students will develop the necessary skills needed in musical theater while being empowered to grow and advance their creativity in a fun, supportive environment. They will work with props and costumes, and perform numbers from various musicals. They will also learn to work in teams, solve problems, build self-confidence and explore creativity while making new friends. The camp concludes with a showcase performance open to the public. Cost is $300 for ASC members and $340 for nonmembers.
• Art I Camp — 9 a.m.–noon Monday–Friday, June 21–25; ages 7–11. Public Programs Coordinator Shakeelah Rahmaan will give step-by-step instructions to campers as they focus on beginner lessons. Students will work in different media and explore ASC’s art exhibitions as they develop an understanding of drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques to create beautiful artwork. Cost is $100 for ASC members and $120 for nonmembers.
• Theatre Jr. Camp — 1–4 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 21–25; ages 7–11. Theater Education Coordinator Lindsey Collins will focus on musical theater preparation, collaboration and exploration in campers. Campers will work with props and costumes, and perform musical numbers. They will learn to work in teams, solve problems, build self-confidence and explore creativity while making new friends. The camp concludes with a showcase performance open to the public. Cost is $100 for ASC members and $120 for nonmembers.
• Youth Ceramics Camp — 1–4 p.m. Monday–Friday, June 28–July 2, Monday, July 5; ages 12-17. Guest artist Yelena Petroukhina will lead this special summer camp. Students will learn fundamental clay hand-building techniques, surface and monoprinted image transfer techniques on clay, use commercial glazes and fire clay with ASC’s onsite kilns. Cost is $120 for ASC members and $150 for nonmembers.

Scholarships based on financial need are available. Visit asc701.org/summer-camps or call 870-536-3375 to register.

About ASC

The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff, is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery admission is free. Support for ASC is provided in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission, & the City of Pine Bluff. ASC is a member of the Discovery Network, a statewide program of the Museum of Discovery. For more information and to sign up for upcoming event announcements, visit asc701.org.