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See demonstrations and hear lectures from a number of the Influential Arkansans profiled in the Sept. 5 issue of the Arkansas Times. The first Arkansas Times Festival of Ideas will take place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at a number of downtown venues including the Old State House, Historic Arkansas Museum, The Clinton School and The Central Arkansas Library. Here’s a sample of those participating. Go to arktimes.com/festivalofideas to register. It’s free and open to the public.
MAIN LIBRARY
DONALD BOBBITT
“IF YOU THINK THE LIBRARY IS JUST ABOUT BOOKS, YOU DON’T KNOW THE LIBRARY” NOON
Donald Bobbitt, the president of the University of Arkansas System, talks about how online education could hold the key to expanding the number of Arkansans in college.
Central Arkansas Library director Bobby Roberts’ vision and deft political touch have made the Central Arkansas Library system a model for the country. He’ll talk about the evolving nature of the library, the innovative children’s library under construction in midtown and how CALS plans to continue serving Central Arkansas in the future.
KORTO MOMOLU “OFF THE RUNWAY” NOON (THEATER)
“Project Runway’s” Korto Momolu talks about the inspirations and design process behind her new fall line, which she recently debuted at Fashion Week in New York.
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MICHAEL MARION
“IF YOU BOOK JIMMY BUFFETT, THEY WILL COME” NOON Michael Marion, general manager of Verizon Arena, will take you backstage for a look at what it takes to bring bigname concerts and productions to Central Arkansas.
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BOBBY ROBERTS
“DISTANCE LEARNING AND THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN ARKANSAS” 11 A.M.
SUE AND RUSTY NUFFER
“ORGANIC FARMING BEFORE IT WAS COOL” NOON Want to protect your garden without pesticides? Sue and Rusty Nuffer were some of the first organic farmers in the state, and they’re still at it. Let them tell you how and why.
SCOTT MCGEHEE
“SIMPLE, FRESH, DELICIOUS” NOON (UPSTAIRS) Restaurateur and chef Scott McGehee learned to cook under the guidance of Alice Waters, perhaps the country’s most influential chef. His restaurants today all subscribe to her philosophy that good food should be “based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally.” See McGehee follow that principle in a cooking demonstration that’ll conclude with a tasting.
JOHN WALKER
“LITTLE ROCK’S CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION” 1 P.M. For current Little Rock influence, it’s hard to top John Walker, lawyer, state representative, school advocate and constant thorn in the side of corporate Arkansas. Walker will talk about his greatest legal battles and his plan to mount a legal challenge to end Little Rock’s at-large representation on the City Board.
BRENT AND CRAIG RENAUD “FINDING TRUTH IN HORROR” 1 P.M.
Arkansas’s most decorated filmmakers show scenes from their latest documentary works and talk about the future of film in Arkansas.
DEE ANN NEWELL
“WHEN MOM GOES TO PRISON” 1 P.M. Newell, a 2006 Soros fellow, has devoted years to better the lives of children whose parents are in jail. She’ll talk about her work in prison reform and with mothers in prison, their children and the grandparents who’ve become caregivers.
IRMA GAIL HATCHER
“THE BEST QUILT IN AMERICA” 2 P.M. That’s what experts have called Irma Gail Hatcher’s “Conway Album.” Come see it and hear the story behind the stitching.
REESE ROWLAND
“WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT?” 2 P.M. Architect Reese Rowland has designed some of Little Rock’s most iconic and energy-efficient buildings and has won some of his profession’s most prestigious awards. He’ll offer a peek inside the process of telling stories through cutting edge design.
WARWICK SABIN
“TURNING A MAGAZINE INTO A CULTURAL INSTITUTION” 3 P.M. Warwick Sabin, publisher of the Oxford American, talks about the future of “The Southern Magazine of Good Writing.” That future builds on partnerships with NPR and PBS, an award-winning web documentary series and South on Main, a Southern-themed restaurant and venue on South Main in Little Rock due to open early next year.
JAMIE HESTEKIN
“IT’S NOT ALCHEMY, BUT IT’S CLOSE” 3 P.M. U of A chemical engineer Hestekin and his students are getting algae shipped in from New York and turning it into fuel. Yes, they are. Hestekin will talk about biofuels and our energy future.
SCOTT STEWART
“LIVING LARGE IN A TINY HOUSE” 3 P.M. Stewart, the leader of the small house movement in Arkansas, talks about designing fully equipped houses as small as 160 square feet. They’re in high-demand. Hear about his design process, his clientele and his thoughts on why tiny houses have become so popular. Throughout the day at the Historic Arkansas Museum, take a tour through one of his tiny houses.
CHRIS BOULDIN
“ARKANSAS: 49TH IN EDUCATION; NO. 1 IN SMARTALECKY T-SHIRTS” 3 P.M. Rock City Outfitters owner Chris Bouldin will tell you why he’s so serious about funny T-shirts.
JEANNETTE BALLEZA
“HOW TO START A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY IN THREE MONTHS” 4 P.M. Jeannette Balleza director of Fayetteville’s The ARK Challenge, a business incubator that provides fledgling entrepreneurs with access to business leaders, will talk about how The ARK works and Northwest Arkansas’s thriving start-up culture, and several ARK participants will talk about how they’re building companies at hyper-speed.