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“Historic Photos Set for Ritz Gallery” “ Main Street in Black and White” is a traveling photographic exhibition featuring lively street scenes and vibrant architecture from three Arkansas downtowns during their heyday. The complete exhibit, which opened at The Arkansas Studies Institute in October, features downtown Blytheville , Texarkana , and Batesville, with photos dating from the late 1880’s to the 1940’s. Blytheville area contribut ions to the project include photographs from Ms Anna Bollard’s collection, and interviews with Marion Haynes and Jonathan Abbott. Caroline Millar, Main Street Arkansas created the exhibit.
On November 19th fifteen historic photos depicting Blytheville will be featured in a Grand Opening Reception in The Ritz Gallery, 306 W. Main in Blytheville . The free reception, complete with themed refreshments, will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, and is open to the public. The exhibit will remain in The Ritz Gallery until the end of December, at which time it will be moved to other venues in the area during the next year. Admission to The Ritz Gallery is free, and the exhibit may be viewed weekdays during normal business hours.
This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Locally, the exhibit is co-sponsored by The Arts Council of Mississippi County and Main Street Blytheville .
In conjunction
with this exhibit, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies,
Little Rock , and That
Bookstore In Blytheville will present the book Main Street Arkansas : The
Hearts of Arkansas Cities and Towns—As Portrayed in Postcards and Photographs
by brothers Ray and Steven Hanley.
Main Street lives on in the 21st Century. Although the businesses and people depicted in the photographs are long-gone, many of the historic buildings remain intact. The Main Street Blytheville program works to bring new life into historic cores, repositioning them as the centers of community life. A historic photograph of solders in front of the Ritz Theater and “Cotton to Town” are featured in the exhibit. We invite you to begin your holiday season with this event. Christmas lights decorate the street and buildings and The Ritz marquee will be lighted for this special event.
For any questions, please call 870-762-1744 |
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