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art, Bill Asti, Bob Rhoads, Brian Converse, Eagle Ager, Ed Haddock, Eric Freeman, Friday night art party, Jeff Waddle, Jeri Warlick, John Gaudin, John Rogers, Katherine Strause, Kevin Kresse, Leeann Smoot, Little Rock Free Press, Main Street Argenta, Mark Webre, Mary Cockrill, Michael Drake, music, New Argenta Fund, North Little Rock Police Chief Danny Bradley, sculpture, T.J. Deeter, Tanya Hollifield, The Art Scene, The Scene, wine
Venture Vows to Nurture Art in Argenta
Pssssst. People are comparing downtown North Little Rock to the underground atmosphere found in San Francisco and New York’s Greenwich Village.
Granted, “underground” and North Little Rock seldom fit in the same sentence. But The Scene and its Friday night art parties provided that feeling in its six-month stay on Main Street in the Argenta Historical District.
“(The Scene) attracts all kinds of people,” Argenta Coffee Co. owner Jeri Warlick said. “The art is all fresh, all raw. It’s a place where people can come and experiment without shelling out a lot of money or the pretense of walking into a gallery. It’s a venue for up and coming artists, established artists like Kevin Kresse and people off the street. You have everybody mixed in there.”
Warlick described The Scene as a social phenomenon comparable to the River Market. North Little Rock’s Brian Converse said The Scene provides an outlet previously lacking on the north shore of the Arkansas River.
“A lot of people my age, in their late 30s, they’re sick of clubs and sick of the bars. There’s no place to go that’s different. There’s nothing new out there,” he said. “This is new and you can participate. Within five minutes of walking in the door, you can be painting and sculpting. You can bring a guitar and play with the band, or just be a voyeur and watch everybody. It’s just a funky mix of artists and a place for them to hang out Friday nights.” Continue reading