Panel discussion with artists + Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts to follow

The Arkansas Cinema Society (ACS) is proud to screen Delta Voices: Artists of the Mid-South, produced by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA), on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, at the Central Arkansas Library System Ron Robinson Theater. 

Doors open at 6 p.m. for a happy hour with a cash bar and concessions. The show starts at 7 p.m. immediately followed by a panel discussion with artists Renata Cassiano Alvarez, Vaughn Davis, Jr., and John Isiah Walton along with filmmaker Chris DellaPace, moderated by AMFA Director of Community Engagement Chris Revelle. The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets can be reserved here.

“The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is a cornerstone of the culture in our state,” said ACS Executive Director Kathryn Tucker. “They do so many amazing things for artists of all fields. ACS is proud to partner with them on any event, but especially the Delta Voices premiere, given the strong legacy of the Delta Exhibition in our region.”

AMFA Executive Director Dr. Victoria Ramirez said, “For over sixty years, the Delta exhibition has had a profound impact on the artistic community in Arkansas and the surrounding states. Through the video series Delta Voices: Artists of the Mid-South, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts has been able to broaden the reach of this region’s cultural richness.” Ramirez continued, “AMFA will continue in its dedication to amplify voices of this region through the Delta triennial and annual programming–such as this year’s event in partnership with ACS–that will invite artists and audiences to expand the conversation on the years between the triennial exhibitions.”

In the 2022 edition of Delta Voices: Artists of the Mid-South, AMFA highlights the work of Renata Cassiano Alvarez, Vaughn Davis, Jr. in partnership with the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and John Isiah Walton in partnership with the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. The films are a three-part exploration of the artists’ perspectives on Place–how their region’s history and culture inform their artistic practice, Content–the stories and ideas expressed in their art, and Form–how those ideas take shape through the artists’ materials. Through intimate vignettes of each artist’s process and connection to their cities, assumptions about often underrecognized sites on the national art map are thwarted and a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural richness.

“We are excited to be able to bring these voices together for a conversation on how place, form, and content intersect in the work of these artists; through their art and dialogue, we can gain a deeper understanding of our region,” said Brian J. Lang, Chief Curator and Windgate Foundation Curator of Contemporary Craft at AMFA.

About the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Founded in 1937, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the largest cultural institution of its kind in the state, offering a unique blend of visual and performing arts experiences. AMFA is committed to featuring diverse media and artistic perspectives within its 14,000-object permanent collection as well as through rotating temporary exhibitions. AMFA’s international collection spans seven centuries, with strengths in works on paper and contemporary craft, and includes notable holdings by artists from Arkansas, the wider Mississippi River Delta region, and across the United States. With a vibrant mix of ideas, cultures, people, and places, AMFA extends this commitment to diversity through its dynamic children’s theatre and performing arts program, innovative studio art school, and community-focused educational programs for all ages. Located in Little Rock’s oldest urban green space, MacArthur Park, AMFA’s landmark building and grounds are designed by Studio Gang Architects and SCAPE, in collaboration with Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects. 

About the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Building and Grounds
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is undergoing a major transformation of its building and grounds in Little Rock. Studio Gang Architects has designed a 133,000-square-foot building establishing a new architectural identity for AMFA, incorporating both existing structures and new elements. The museum’s original 1937 Art Deco façade returns as a centerpiece to its north entrance, while a new two-story atrium and signature roofline intuitively connect guests to AMFA’s galleries, art school, performing arts spaces, museum store, restaurant, and public gathering areas both inside and outside. SCAPE complements this design with an 11-acre landscape plan highlighting Arkansas’ renowned biodiversity. New walking paths and a mixture of outdoor sculptures and a diverse array of perennials, shrubs, grasses, and existing mature oaks and native trees blend outward into the park. AMFA’s state-of-the-art building, along with its thoughtfully integrated landscaping, celebrates and honors the institution’s storied history, culture, and mission of serving the people of Arkansas. 

About Arkansas Cinema Society
Arkansas Cinema Society (ACS) is a non-profit committed to building a film community in Arkansas where film lovers can watch films, share ideas, connect with each other, and nurture the new and existing film talent within our state through increased exposure to filmmakers and their art. Memberships are available to the public at large who may wish to dive into educational videos, member-only tickets, movie swag, and more. Those interested in supporting ACS can visit their website at www.arkansascinemasociety.org. 

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