Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock staff and faculty members have art in the Arkansas Arts Center’s 60th Annual Delta Exhibition on display through Aug. 26, 2018.

The exhibit showcases 52 contemporary works by 46 artists living or working in Arkansas and border states.

AJ Smith of Little Rock, an art professor at  UA Little Rock, created a graphite on paper drawing titled “Faces of the Delta: Geraldine.” It is one in series of Smith’s large-scale graphite pencil drawings that portray people living in remote Arkansas and Mississippi Delta communities.

Benjamin Krain of Maumelle, a photographer at UA Little Rock, has a metallic photographic print on Kodak Endura paper titled “Trains,” which was taken in North Little Rock. Krain was a long-time photojournalist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette before joining UA Little Rock earlier this year.

Marjorie Williams-Smith of Little Rock, professor emeritus in UA Little Rock’s Department of Art and Design, created “The Messengers,” using copper point, aluminum point, silverpoint, Conte crayon, and graphite pencil on black acrylic gessoed paper.

Their art is among the 52 works selected from more than 1,400 submissions.

“Every year, the Delta Exhibition gives Arkansas Arts Center patrons the opportunity to experience some of the Delta region’s most talented contemporary artists,” said Todd Herman, Arkansas Arts Center executive director.

Founded in 1958, the exhibition provides a unique snapshot of the Delta region and reflects the region’s strong traditions of craftsmanship and observation, combined with an innovative use of materials and an experimental approach to subject matter.

This year’s exhibition was juried by a panel of three distinguished art professionals: Bradbury Art Museum director Les Christensen, conceptual artist Shea Hembrey, and Baum Gallery director Brian K. Young.

“We selected work with faux fur, coffee, cold wax, ziatype, video, yucca, fluorescent tubing, resin, found objects, copper point, and of course the traditional materials,” Young said. “Despite this seemingly endless list of media, there is a thoughtfulness and subtlety in nearly all of the works. These traits come in the manner in which these Delta artists have captured the essence of the region. People, place and nature remain strong unifiers.”

The exhibit is located at the Arkansas Arts Center at 9th and Commerce streets in Little Rock. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact 501-372-4000 or visit the Arkansas Arts Center website.

Top photo: “Trains” by Benjamin Krain