If the Main Street block between 2nd and 3rd streets is a part of your normal route, your commute just got a whole lot brighter. For those of you who don’t normally make it down there, you’re going to want to make a trip to check out the brand new local artwork revealed as part of the Creative Corridor renewal project.
On Thursday morning, Aug. 27, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership revealed three giant banners installed on the west side of the parking garage at 2nd and Main. As part of a contest in which more than 30 artists submitted work for consideration, and the winning artists were Virmarie DePoyster and Stephano (Steve Sutherlin).
Stephano, a Michigan native who laid roots in Little Rock after living in California for two decades, is a lover of color. His painting, “City of Bridges,” was chosen as the banner to hang in the middle of the building. According to a press release, Stephano described the bright cityscape as “inspired by the natural beauty of Arkansas, the structures and the color personalities.”
Artist in residency with the Arkansas Arts Council and teacher at the Arkansas Arts Center, Virmarie DePoyster created the two banners that hang on the ends of the structure. The pieces are digital photography—transformed by (coincidentally) the same color palette as Stephano’s work—and feature Ballet Arkansas dancer Hannah Bradshaw as the model for “Her Song,” and eStem student and saxophone player Jordan Young in “Lost in the Moment.”
“The art of Virmarie DePoyster makes people’s hearts sing,” said Todd Herman, executive director of the Arkansas Arts Center. Next month, DePoyster will travel to Italy where her work will be on display at the Tri-Mission Art Gallery at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. To read more about her fascinating story, check out our Person of Interest profile on DePoyster.
The Creative Corridor is host to several tenants, including the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, CJRW and Bruno’s Little Italy, with more like the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Arkansas on the way. A grand opening for the Creative Corridor is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. at The Rep. To follow along on all the updates, visit the Creative Corridor’s website, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
