The KUAR Arts and Letters Fundraiser Showcase

Posted on August 1, 2014 by lksukany

The Damsels in Distress were asked to open as a part of a showcase for the KUAR Arts and Letters Fundraiser at Dugan’s Pub in downtown Little Rock last Sunday.

We played with bands Heather Smith, Odyssey, and The Cons of Formant.

Heather Smith band

The Cons of Formant

We wanted to especially thank the Cons of Formant because they brought their own PA, which they let everyone use, they helped us set up our gear, and ran the sound for us. They also used to be our neighbors. Seeing them again brought back the nostalgic “summer nights” memory of sitting on our back deck listening to them play music in their own backyard with their friends singing along.

There was a great turn out and everyone supported the fundraising part as well as the bands. We even had a special guest star appearance by writer Sam Brown, author of “The Last Baby Angel.” Below is a video of Sam Brown reading an excerpt of “The Last Baby Angel” while The Cons of Formant play accompanying music.

The Set List:
Underwater
Picnic
I Don’t Drive
Arkansas
Neutron Rising
French Song
Rare Red Rainbow
D & D
Gailey’s
Mr. and Mrs.
Namesake
Twinkle Twinkle Emo

We often change instruments for each of our songs. Changing instruments can take a minute or two, which ends up being a long time when multiplied by 10 songs – especially in a 35 minute time slot. We ordered our set list so that one person was able to go directly into the next song while the other changed instruments. When we timed the set during practice, it was 34 minutes. At the beginning of the show, we were having some sound issues, so it was cut short, and “Mr. and Mrs.” ended up being our closing song.

Writing, Recording, and Performance
In terms of writing, recording, and performing, the performance is the most difficult for us. Imagine being in front of a room full of people (and if the room is full of people then wow – that is good). They are all talking, eating, and drinking. Maybe only 10 of the people in the room are actually there to see you perform – these are your wonderful, supportive “fans.” As a performer, your goal is to entertain in a way that is non-threatening, confident, and creates a seamless transition from the crowd having a good time with their friends to having a great time listening to the band with their friends. The best possible scenario is that this would happen while making more “fans” with the actual music.

Honestly, the art of performance is a very big part of a band, and it is just not one of our strengths at this point. However, I do think we collected 3 or 4 new fans!

Thank you everyone who came to the show and for your support for the KUAR Arts and Letters radio program. We also wanted to give a special thank you to Dr. J. Bradley Minnick and his wonderful wife Mary Ellen for including us in all of their “taking over the world through the arts” schemes!

Thank you John and Janet with JJ Paquette Photography for coming out and taking pictures of our band!

Artist Studio Series: Katherine

Posted on July 29, 2014 by lksukany

I went to the Katherine Strause art exhibition Arkansas Homemakers: Home Demonstration and Extension Clubs at the Arkansas Studies Institute Butler Center Galleries. There is a piece about this Katherine Strause art exhibition in The Arkansas Times.

I haven’t actually met Katherine Strause in person, but I did feel like I met her here through her art. I was immediately wowed by her paintings – the color, composition, brush strokes, and paint application.

There were so many details I like about Arkansas Homemakers: Home Demonstration and Extension Clubs .

I liked the paint application on the butterfly woman’s face in “4H” as well as the flowers at the bottom right corner of the painting.

I liked the paint application of the foliage on “Home Demonstration Agent.”

I loved the dress pattern on “Feeding Scratch.”

Speaking of loving dress pattern, there were so many great dress patterns in “Does Anyone Still Wear a Hat.” I also really liked the stylistic portraits.

In “Bow and Arrow” the paint application is excellent. The color scheme in this painting and the pinks are delightful. Also the color and patterns on the dress are great.

Specifically, the compositional element of how the yard tools cross on “Smoke” caught my attention.

Because I am a fan of ladies aprons, I liked “Subversives.”

I really enjoyed myself!

Katherine Strause Artist Studio

I contacted Katherine Strause shortly after experiencing the delights of her work. She accepted my Facebook friend request! I asked her if I could post about her show and if she was interested in showing her artist studio. She said yes!!!

Katherin Strause Studio – Katherine writes about her studio below.

“My favorite part of the studio is the isolation. It’s in the attic so only occasionally is there an interruption.”

“I usually have old movies on a little TV. The studio is only used as the studio.”

“My routine would be: have a looming deadline, search for images to use, stretch canvas, prime etc., draw and trace to get images onto the canvas, paint but try not to overpaint which is the hardest part.”

You can see more of Katherine Strause art on her website at www.katherinestrause.com or strause.wordpress.com.

Art for an Anniversary

Posted on July 25, 2014 by lksukany

M and I have been going to the Mary’s Homegroup with Grace Church since 2011. Doug and Sue Mary work with Family Life and so their specialty is marriage studies. They have been great to M and I and have invested their time and prayers in the lives of the couples under their leadership. The Mary’s have been supportive of my art, even coming to my University of Arkansas at Little Rock Master of Arts exhibition in December 2012.

They have been supportive of my mission trip to Romania in June 2014.

I fact, they have us in their home every two weeks providing dinner and a space to spiritually grow.

Their 40th anniversary was this year on July 18th and I wanted to do something that would be special for them. I asked them to send me a picture of their wedding day.

I started working on a painting for them.

Once finished, M and I went to their house to deliver their anniversary painting.

Happy Anniversary Doug and Sue Mary! Thanks for all you do for your community.

Paper Opera Business Cards

Posted on July 22, 2014 by lksukany

Once the Paper Opera website and logo was created, business cards seemed like the next step to make in this new business-like venture.

I had to change the design a bit for the image to work visually as a tiny stamp.

I used RubberStamps.net and paid $15.45 to get my image made into a 1.5″ x 1.5″ rubber stamp.

I created the business cards using hand torn paper, typing, and stamping. I first drafted the layout, stamped, and typed. I wanted to include the business name (Paper Opera), the website (paperopera.com), and the tag line (art, music, stories).

I tore the cards using the edge of my ruler and flattened using the weight of the metal typewriter.

I hand stamped the backs of the cards using a small rubber heart stamp.

Now I had the front and back with the layout I wanted.

I still needed something “Paper Opera” about it – like a small detail that would be a little dramatic. I used the poppy red prismacolor pencil and on the front of the card, I colored in the man’s shoes. On the back, I colored in all of the heart stamps alternating each row using the crimson red and poppy red. I really enjoy creating small details like this.

And the finished product!

Artist Studio Series: Stephen

Posted on July 18, 2014 by lksukany

Stephen Cefalo is a well-known artist in Little Rock. Last year he was voted best artist by readers of the Arkansas Times. He is often seen at the Arkansas Arts Center, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Department of Art, and in the North Little Rock Argenta art community. I have also seen him and his family a few times at Whole Foods.

Stephen is starting a school in Argenta. He teaches private classes at his studio in North Little Rock on Wednesdays. You can contact Stephen at stephencefalo@gmail.com for details or call at 501-231-9959.

I met Stephen in an open figure drawing class he hosted at UALR.

Stephen Cefalo Studio – Stephen writes about his studio below.

“My studio is nestled behind the library in the back of our new home in Indian Hills, North Little Rock.”

“It overlooks a flower garden. I come here not only to work, but to think and to relax.”

“We are blessed to have this beautiful north-lit space. The light is better, the view is gorgeous, and even the air feels nicer out here. It is an incredibly peaceful and inspiring place to work in.”

“Yes we are terribly pleased with our new place.”

You can visit Stephen’s website at www.stephencefalo.com

Paper Opera

Art, music, and stories.

Author Archives: lksukany