The South Arkansas Arts Center continues its six-part lecture series, “The New York School”, presented by local artist Gay Bechtelheimer, on Thursday, December 3, at 6:00pm. There will be a brief reception, followed by an entertaining dive into the context, characters, and culture of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Gay invites you to throw on a festive outfit and join us for a champagne toast to celebrate the final lecture of the year.

Reservations are required for socially distant and safe reserved seating.

This lecture series, sponsored by Linda and Louis Hall, is being held on Thursday evenings throughout the fall. “Ninth Street Woman” is the sixth topic to be addressed by Bechtelheimer in this series. “Amid the backdrop of the illustrious 9th Street exhibition in May, 1951, five women emerge not as muses but as painters in the male dominated post war art scene in New York. They made personal sacrifices while achieving international distinction. Their story is one of continuing success and influence.”

Lynn Dwight, SAAC board member, has been attending the series and bringing her mom along. They have both thoroughly enjoyed their experience at the lectures. “From the minute we walked into SAAC, we felt a sense of calm…the screening was effortless,” said Dwight. “And with all the artwork around us which we were encouraged to wander about and see, we felt a sense of ‘normalcy’. Safely seated with only family or friends, we were given an insight into the art world that we might otherwise have never known about!”

In order to keep SAAC employees and members as safe as possible, SAAC will follow all directives from the Arkansas Department of Health. Reservations are required to determine assigned seating in the theatre where guests will be seated with plenty of required distancing. Patrons will be temperature checked at the door, and masks are required. Beer and wine will be served in the gallery, where guests can pick up an individually packaged “SAAC Snack in a Sack” to enjoy during the presentation.

Seating is limited at this time. Call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 to reserve a seat.