The South Arkansas Gallery Collective initially started as a conversation about changing exhibits that had been housed by the El Dorado Conference Center for several years. Down one hallway of the conference center hung eight lovely Japanese prints from the South Arkansas Arts Center's permanent collection; down the other hallway were several black and white photo prints donated to South Arkansas Community College which have since been moved to be displayed in the Mahoney Family Library on the SouthArk campus.

 

What began as a desire for a fresh look, turned into an opportunity to showcase some of what El Dorado has to offer. The South Arkansas Arts Center was more than willing to take back their Japanese prints and curate a new exhibit from their permanent collection, but that left us with another entire hallway to fill. The South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society jumped on board and was excited to take on gallery space as well as a display case in the conference center.

​

From there, we developed a name and logo. Thus, the South Arkansas Gallery Collective: A partnership between the SouthArk Foundation, South Arkansas Arts Center, and the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society, was born. Our team has worked hard to present an exhibit that tells some of El Dorado’s story, and celebrates its people and its history.

 

 

The Current Exhibits

 

SAAC Tuesday Studio from the South Arkansas Arts Center

 

The pieces in this exhibition were created by the eclectic group of artists in the South Arkansas Arts Center's Tuesday Studio, led by Gay Bechtelheimer. Comprised of people from every walk of life, the group is an ongoing study of watercolor, coming together weekly to work both independently and as a group. Their work represents a diverse range of artistic styles, including abstraction, realism, and non-objectivism. ​

​

Featured artists: 

Kathy Bowles Adcock

John Ginger

Sylvia Henley

Nancy Rae Kinard

Allyson Menefee 

Lee Scroggins

Bobbie Shepherd

Richard Wharton

​

Many of the pieces are available for sale. For more information, call SAAC at 870-862-5474.

​

​

We Can Do It from the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society

 

The most recent exhibit from the Historical Preservation Society celebrates Black History Month as well as Women's History Month, with a special focus on "the daring women of Arkansas and Union County who, against seemingly insurmountable odds, carved out their own history in this so called man's world."

 

Come by the El Dorado Conference Center to see the exhibit for yourself; you just might learn a thing or two!

​

 

What's Next?

 

These exhibits will be rotated out every few months. The SAHPS is expected to rotate their exhibit in September 2023, and SAAC will follow a few months after that, rotating theirs closer to the beginning of 2024. Visitors can keep an eye out for South Arkansas Gallery Collective news on the conference center's social media channels.

 

In the meantime, the El Dorado Conference Center invites and encourages community members and visitors to come view the exhibits. 

 

Visit our partners' websites for more information: The SouthArk Foundation, South Arkansas Arts Center, South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society