ART NOTES
Pure gold Williams-Smith, Smith in silverpoint. BY LESLIE NEWELL PEACOCK
M
arjorie Williams-Smith and Aj Smith are two of Arkansas’s finest artists. WilliamsSmith is known for her silverpoint flowers, small meticulous and beautiful renderings of petal, stem, the pin holding the flower in place. Aj Smith — known more for his portraits in pencil — is also drawn to silverpoint, thanks to the character of the mark. The marvelous draftsmen gave an extraordinary talk Saturday at Hearne Fine Art, which is hosting an exhibition of their work in the medium, on the technique and the artists of past and present that use it. Silverpoint is not for the faint of heart. Preparing the paper to receive the tiny bits of silver shed by the wire tool requires multiple layers of primer — either clay-based or a calcium-carbonate gesso — which can take days. (It is easier now than in the past, Williams-Smith explained, when artists used spit and ground bone to prepare their surfaces. Prepared paper can also be purchased, for a steep price.) It is an absolutely unforgiving medium, too, because once a line is made it cannot be unmade. No mistakes allowed. Williams-Smith’s interest in silverpoint was spurred by an exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center many years back. She made her first tool out of a
ring her mother gave her (“she always supported my art,” Williams-Smith said) and has continued to make her own instruments out of silver and copper wire of various gauges and point shapes. The Hearne exhibit, “Reflections in Silver,” which has been extended into the second week of August, features the dried roses and other flowers whose folded miniature landscapes WilliamsSmith renders in the finest of lines and cross-hatching. Several of the pieces are quite dark, as if portraits of flowers at night, and quite beautiful. Aj Smith has mastered light and dark to give volume to his portraits of African American men, women and children; he has filled whole areas of the paper with lines so subtle they create a soft and solid area of shadow. A unique attribute of silverpoint is that the lines — like silver — slowly tarnish and change. Copperpoint lines undergo similar changes. The atmosphere literally contributes to the work, something Williams would have no other way. Hearne, which often includes special educational events tied to its exhibitions, will host a workshop with Aj Smith in upcoming weeks. The gallery is located at 1001 Wright Ave.
ROSE AND SHADOW: Silverpoint by Marjorie Williams-Smith at Hearne Fine Art.
AFTER DARK, CONT. President Clinton Blvd. 501-244-9550. Lucious Spiller Band. Copeland’s Restaurant of Little Rock, 6-9 p.m. 2602 S. Shackleford Road. 501-312-1616. www.copelandsrestaurantlittlerock.com. Mark Kroos. Concert and clinic from the awardwinning guitarist. Little Rock Frets, 7 p.m., $25 (includes barbecue dinner). 10020 N. Rodney Parham. 501-223-3738. littlerockfrets.net/. Ricky David Tripp. Rocket Twenty One, 5:30 p.m. 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-603-9208. www.ferneaurestaurant.com. Tuesday Jam Session with Carl Mouton. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www.afterthoughtbar.com. What Cheer? Marching Brigade. CALS Children’s Library, 4:30 p.m., free. 4800 W. 10th St.
DANCE
“Latin Night.” Revolution, 7 p.m., $5 regular, $7 under 21. 300 President Clinton Ave. 501-8230090. www.littlerocksalsa.com.
EVENTS
Finch’s Beer Tasting. The Joint, 6-8 p.m., $10.
301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Little Rock Farmers Market. River Market Pavilions, through Oct. 26: 7 a.m. 400 President Clinton Ave. 375-2552. www.rivermarket.info. Skeptics in the Pub. The Joint, 8 p.m. 301 Main St. No. 102, NLR. 501-372-0205. thejointinlittlerock.com. Tales from the South. Authors tell true stories; schedule available on website. Dinner served 5-6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Call for reservations. Starving Artist Cafe, 5 p.m. 411 N. Main St., NLR. 501-372-7976. www.starvingartistcafe.net. Trivia Bowl. Flying Saucer, 8:30 p.m. 323 President Clinton Ave. 501-372-8032. www.beerknurd. com/stores/littlerock.
FILM
Vino’s Picture Show: “Rear Window.” Vino’s, 7:30 p.m., free. 923 W. 7th St. 501-375-8466. www.vinosbrewpub.com.
BOOKS
Meet the Author: Phil S. Dixon. Laman Library, 7 p.m. 2801 Orange St., NLR. 501-758-1720. www.
lamanlibrary.org.
CAMPS
Movement, Masks, and Mayhem!. See July 22.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
MUSIC
Acoustic Open Mic. The Afterthought, 8 p.m., free. 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-663-1196. www. afterthoughtbar.com. Chris DeClerk. The Tavern Sports Grill, 7 p.m., free. 17815 Chenal Parkway. 501-830-2100. www. thetavernsportsgrill.com. Dean Agus. Cajun’s Wharf, 5:30 and 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m. 2400 Cantrell Road. 501-375-5351. www.cajunswharf.com. Jazz in the Park: Happy Tymes Jazz Band. No coolers allowed, beer and wine for sale onsite. Bring chairs or blankets. Riverfront Park, 5:30 p.m., free. 400 President Clinton Avenue. Jim Dickerson. Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, through Aug. 1: 7 p.m. 500 President Clinton Ave. 501-324-2999. www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com.
Karaoke at Khalil’s. Khalil’s Pub, 7 p.m. 110 S. Shackleford Road. 501-224-0224. www.khalilspub.com. Karaoke Extravaganza. Includes drink and food specials and cash prizes. Montego Cafe, 9 p.m., $5. 315 Main St. 501-372-1555. www.montegocafe.com. Live Karaoke and Dueling Pianos. Featuring Dell Smith and William Staggers. Montego Cafe, 9 p.m. 315 Main St. 501-372-1555. www. montegocafe.com. Louis Johnson. The Loony Bin, July 24-25, 7:30 p.m.; July 26-27, 7:30 and 10 p.m., $7-$10. 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road. 501-228-5555. www. loonybincomedy.com. Ricky David Tripp. Rocket Twenty One, 5:30 p.m. 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd. 501-603-9208. www.ferneaurestaurant.com. Summerland Tour 2013 with Everclear, Live, Filter, and Sponge. Arkansas Music Pavilion, 6 p.m., $22-$37. 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville. 479-443-5600. www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com. The Supporting Cast, Amore, Fight the Quiet, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 www.arktimes.com
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