On loan from her estate, Catherine Thornton’s “Pappas Brothers” is included in the “Como” exhibit opening September 7th at the Landmark Building.
A new exhibit – Como Square – Then & Now – opens Friday, September 7, at the Landmark Building at 201 Market Street, Hot Springs, and runs through November 30.
Como Square encompasses the 100 – 200 blocks of Central Avenue, Ouachita Avenue, Market Street, and Olive Street and is the home of the Landmark Building, Confederate Monument, and other historic buildings such as Hotel Como, Hotel Goddard and the Massey Building. It has served as a public watering hole, and a gathering place for parade and numerous historic events.
Como Square – Then & Now is a photographic journey through the early 1900s to the present. More than 40 photographs obtained from the Garland County Historical Society (GCHS) will be on display. The exhibit also showcases artwork of historic structures and venues visited by tourists staying at the Hotel Como or other hotels around Como Square.
The artwork was curated from local artists, Hot Springs National Park’s (HSNP) Artist in Residence permanent collection, and the estate of Catherine Thornton. Paintings from local artists include Hugh Dunnahoe’s plein air oils of historic downtown, Jeri Hillis’s oil painting of Maxine’s window, and, Hildegard Honold, Gary Simmons, and Chuck Smith’s paintings of the bathhouses.
Catherine Thornton was a local artist who painted many scenes of Hot Springs that resulted in a coffee-table book – The Art of History: Catherine Thornton’s Hot Springs published by GCHS. Her estate has loaned eight of her Como Square paintings to be included in the exhibit.
The HSNP has an extensive collection of artworks created by its Artist in Residence programs. Twelve of these artworks are included in the exhibit. Artists that are represented are: Susan Crum-Cox, Julie Denesha, Ann Ehringhaus, Catherine Hillis, Carla Johannesmeyer, Karen Michno, Alison W. Parsons, Jennifer Perren, Diane Rubacha, Helen Stannard, Richard Stephens, and Steve Whitfield.
The opening reception for the exhibit will be Friday, September 7., 5-8pm during Gallery Walk. The Hot Springs Village String Quartet will perform 5:30-7:00 pm and a guided tour of the exhibit will be given at 7:15 pm.
COMO Square – Then & Now is sponsored by Henderson State University–Hot Springs Academic Initiatives, Garland County Historical Society, Hot Springs National Park, the Morris Foundation, the Munro Foundation, and Hot Springs Village Lifelong Learning Institute.
The Landmark is open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm. For more information, please call 501-625-3837 or visit Facebook: HSU-Hot Springs Academic Initiatives.
