Arts

On Top

Recent Stories

Little Fish in a Big Pond: Erwin Harder’s 1917 Reminiscences of Hot Springs Revisited 

By Lana Pierce The Stage  Imagine 1917 Hot Springs in stereoscope. Visitors view it in picturesque, idyllic frames, while locals experience it differently. It’s a place where gravel roads blend into newly-paved avenues, and the clop of horses pulling wagons recedes behind the roar of motorized vehicles, where the prism of foreign languages and lifestyles magnifies the city’s successful campaign to “Bathe the World.”  To citizens, the changing scenery spawned by

Read More »

The Artist Within You 

David Rose  By David Malcolm Rose“Do you teach art?” It’s a common question I’ve been asked.  “Teach art? Can’t be done,” is my standard reply. “But if there’s an artist within you, I might be able to help you look.”  Here are a few things – things that I have learned over the years that may possibly help aspiring artists. Anything worth doing is worth doing badly. To produce good

Read More »

Wolf in Bard’s Clothing: Retired Firefighter Pens Poetry 

By Lana Pierce The first time I witnessed HSFD’s Geoff Wolf at work was at a small housefire. He was barking orders and pointing at firemen under his command. As a firefighter on a different department, I studied something we call “command presence”—a quality that seemed intangible to young fire service members like me.  In theory, a housefire is a bit like a stage play: there is a director, players, rehearsed

Read More »

Apparently, You Can’t Take it with You 

You Can’t Take it with You, the classic comedy written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and directed by Claudia Beach, opens February 6 at the Pocket Community Theatre.  This classic play centers on the romantic relationship between Alice Sycamore and Tony Kirby. Their impending marriage is threatened when Tony brings his wealthy, snobbish parents to meet Alice’s eccentric, free-spirited family—the Sycamores—on the wrong night, leading to a humorous

Read More »

Artist David Malcolm Rose at Blue Donut Art Gallery 

David Rose’s painting, “Incoming,” is part of his exhibit at Blue Donut Gallery.  The Blue Donut Art Gallery, one of the latest additions to the Hot Springs art scene, located at 430 Valley Street, presents “Artist David Malcolm Rose: A Retrospective.” Rose’s lifetime achievements in visual art are many, including exhibitions at the prestigious Louis Meisel Gallery in the Soho District of NYC.  Rose said the size and character of

Read More »

Fly to Neverland! Open Auditions for Peter Pan Ballet 

Dancers aged 5 and up are invited to audition for a role in “Peter Pan.”  Get ready to soar! The Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company (HSCDTC) is thrilled to announce open auditions for its upcoming production of the beloved storybook ballet, Peter Pan. Auditions will be held Saturday, February 7, offering local dancers the magical opportunity to bring this timeless classic to life.  Under the visionary artistic direction of

Read More »

Arkansas Books 

A monthly series including news about an Arkansas book, author, event, or item of literary interest to Arkansans.   By Erin Wood Conway resident and Arkansas native Katy S. Duffield is, incredibly, the award-winning author of more than forty children’s books.   On February 3, Start Your Engines will be released from Sourcebooks/Jaberwocky, with words by Duffield and illustrations by Chiara Galletti.  In Start Your Engines, Frankie the ATV loves to zoom up

Read More »

Artists’ Commitment to Artists’ Workshop Gallery 

Artists’ Workshop Gallery has been home to Sheliah Halderman for 30 years and Jean Pennucci for 28 – true pillars of our arts community.   There is something to be said for the value of commitment. The Artists’ Workshop Gallery (AWG) is fortunate to have several examples of what it means to “stick with it.” Among its 36 members, 11 have been with the gallery for over a decade. Two of

Read More »

Folding Paper, Shaping Words: Origami and Haiku at the AR Cherry Blossom Festival 

Origami? Absolutely! Enter your Origami in the Cherry Blossom Festival Competition.  The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival continues to celebrate Japanese culture through hands-on creativity, pairing a festival favorite—the Annual Haiku Competition—with an exciting new addition: the Origami Competition.  New this year, the Origami Competition is sponsored by Aitoh Specialty Paper. Open to Arkansas residents of all ages, the competition invites artists to explore the art of paper folding through original

Read More »

Art Moves 2026 Call for Artists 

Art Moves: We the Arts, the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail art exhibit, is accepting entries from artists through January 25.  The City of Hot Springs Arts Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance (HSACA), is calling for artists to submit to the upcoming 2026 installation of Art Moves, titled “We the Arts.” The exhibition adorning the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail between Hollywood Ave and

Read More »

Applications Due January 5 for Arts Across Arkansas Program 

With the Arts Across Arkansas program, teachers can nominate their students to enter a preliminary work for submission.   Educators statewide are invited to submit nominations for the 2026 Arts Across Arkansas youth mentorship and recognition program. Selected high school students will be honored at the spring state finals ceremony, with cash prizes awarded in each medium.   Eligible categories include music composition, dance choreography, literary arts, visual arts, photography, and film.

Read More »

Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival Returns 

Performers from Dallas Kiyari Diako, a taiko group from Dallas, will be returning to the Cherry Blossom Festival in April.   The Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Hot Springs on Saturday, April 4, 2026, and will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center, bringing a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture, arts, and international friendship to the heart of the city.  Inspired by the long-standing sister city relationship between

Read More »
On Trend

Most Popular Stories

About the Cover . . .  

“Moku Playland”   Photo of Kate Zunick Courtesy of Hot Springs Sister City  Kate Zunick relaxes in one of the most beloved features of the Moku Playland exhibit — a giant wooden “hot springs” tub filled with hundreds of smooth wooden balls inspired by the bubbling thermal waters of Hot Springs.  Hidden somewhere among the

A One-of-a-Kind Wooden Play Experience Arrives in Downtown Hot Springs 

Moku Playland Pop-Up Opens June 1 with Interactive, Screen-Free Fun for Families  Families and visitors to downtown Hot Springs will have the opportunity to experience a unique style of hands-on play this summer as Moku Playland opens June 1 for a special month-long pop-up at 831 Central Avenue.  Open Thursday-Tuesday

World Championship Bathtub Races Set for June 6 

The Hot Springs Fire Department entry nears the finish line in the 2025 Running of the Tubs. — Courtesy Visit Hot Springs  The lineup is complete for the 2026 Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs bathtub races through historic downtown Hot Springs. The race starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday,

Yoga: Two Months at The Yoga Place 

Where are we?” Missy Conry and Melissa Stevens  By Missy Conry & Melissa StevensCan you spot where we took this picture? Take a selfie in front of the same mural and text to 501-651-0545 for a free drop-in class! You can also text us for hints if you need a clue.  As we reflect