Residency invites consideration of integration of arts, health sciences
The University of Central Arkansas will host visual artist, educator and advocate for artists Sharon Louden for a residency Nov. 11-13 with a schedule that includes conversations with students and book signing events for the essay collection “Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Over 50.”
“We are so excited to welcome Sharon Louden to UCA as part of her national book tour,” Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of UCA’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said. “In addition to community conversations in Conway and Little Rock, Louden’s engagement with UCA nursing students offers them an opportunity to explore the intersection of art, empathy and care.”
Louden’s residency will invite students and the public to consider the integration of the disciplines of arts and health sciences. The artist will meet with students in UCA’s nursing program to discuss care for older adults and those with cognitive decline. The university will also facilitate two book signing events – the first at the Esse Purse Museum in Little Rock Tuesday, Nov. 11, and the second at The Studio Downtown in Conway Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The full schedule for Louden’s residency is as follows:
Tuesday, Nov. 11
- Noon-1:30 p.m., Conversation and Lunch With Sharon Louden and UCA Students, Collaborative Reading Room, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St., Conway.
- 6-7:30 p.m., Intimate Gathering and Book Signing With Sharon Louden, Esse Purse Museum, 1510 Main St., Little Rock.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
- 2:45-3:30 p.m., Class meeting with Nursing 3408: Nursing Care of the Older Adult students, Integrated Health Sciences Building 245.
- 6:30-8 p.m., Panel Discussion and Book Signing With Sharon Louden and Members of Central Arkansas Collective, The Studio Downtown, 1100 Oak St., Conway.
Thursday, Nov. 13
- 9 a.m.-noon, Meeting With Nursing Students in the S-TAP program who provide therapeutic activities for community members with cognitive decline, Integrated Health Sciences Building.
Known for her dynamic installations and drawings, Louden’s work has been exhibited in major institutions including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, N.Y., and Kemper Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. Her practice explores movement, line and transformation, often using industrial materials in innovative ways. In addition to her studio work, Louden is the editor of “Living and Sustaining a Creative Life,” a bestselling series that highlights real-world experiences of contemporary artists. She has been a visiting lecturer at numerous universities and served as the Artistic Director of the Visual Arts at Chautauqua Institution. Through her creative practice, writing and leadership, Louden champions the value of artists as essential contributors to cultural and civic life, making her a vital voice in contemporary art and education.
Additional information about Sharon Louden is available at sharonlouden.com. More information about the residency is available by contacting Seymour at gayles@uca.edu.