Special to the Banner-News
The South Arkansas Arts Center is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibit, “From Almeda To Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song”, featuring the captivating work of Little Rock artist Katherine Strause. The exhibit showcases oil paintings of 30 remarkable Arkansas women who have had a significant impact on the world of music. The collection of portraits, which are also featured in a new book published by Et Alia Press, will be on exhibit from Sept 10-Oct 16, 2024 in the Lobby Gallery.
An artist reception will take place Thur, Sept 12, 5:30-7:00pm. This event offers a unique opportunity to meet Katherine Strause and delve into her vibrant portrayals of these extraordinary women.
Katherine Strause’s portraits are the product of extensive research that delves into the lives and artistic expressions of women with Arkansas roots who have shaped the landscape of American music. The exhibition features figures from diverse genres including gospel (Rosetta Tharpe), opera (Marjorie Lawrence), blues (Sippie Wallace), folk ballads (Almeda Riddle), dance-pop (Beth Ditto), classical (Florence Price), and country (K.T. Oslin).
Inspired by the quote, “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion,” by Albert Camus, Strause demonstrates, through her art, the courage and strength of these women who confidently assert their place in the music industry. “I look for liberty in the attitude of the subject,” she states, “I want to show them shaking off constraints. These women are in charge, and through their music, they are taking control in subversive and playful ways.”
Katherine Strause, a prominent artist and educator, has a rich background in the arts. She currently serves as the Artist in Residence at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and is a 2023-2024 Catalyze Fellow with the Mid-America Art Alliance. Additionally, she is on the Juried Artist Registry of the Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Over her career, she has held various teaching positions and has been instrumental in promoting art across the region.
The portraits in this exhibit are also featured in a new book titled “From Almeda To Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song”, authored by Arkansan Stephen Koch and published by Et Alia Press. The book documents the impactful stories of the women portrayed in Strause’s art. A special celebration of the book “An A-Z Evening” will be held on Thur, Oct 3, at 7pm, featuring stories and songs from the book, as well as a book signing and refreshments. Seating for this event will be limited, and tickets are priced at $15 for the general public, $10 for members, and free for students.
Join us in honoring the legacy and contributions of Arkansas women in music through Katherine Strause’s powerful exhibit of resilience, creativity, and inspiration.
For more information, about Strause’s exhibition or “An A-Z Evening” event on Oct 3, please call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visit the website at www.saac-arts.org. This exhibit is free and open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. SAAC is located at 110 East Fifth Street, El Dorado, Arkansas.
