Madrigal Feaste reservations now available

Reservations are now being accepted for Henderson State University’s Madrigal Feaste on Dec. 4, 5 and 6. Presented by the Department of Music and the Chamber Chorale, the Madrigal Feaste features an elegant evening of music and a marvelous feast reminiscent of medieval banquets of the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Garrison Center’s banquet room will be transformed into Henderson Castle. Pre-feaste fellowship around the Wassail Bowl will be at 6:30 p.m., with the feaste beginning at 7 p.m.

The Henderson Madrigal Feaste represents the oldest madrigal singing tradition in Arkansas, dating back to 1952. The earliest performances were more traditional Christmas concerts. Refreshments were added as the years progressed. Ultimately, the head table was decorated and costuming was added.

Today, guests enjoy the wassail bowl, the lighting of the Christmas candle, the parade of the boar’s head, the succulent roast meat with fresh vegetables, and the flaming plum pudding.

The feaste is interspersed with fanfares, songs from roaming minstrels, the singers singing joyous Christmas songs, antics by the jester, and other surprises.

Reservations are $30 per person and are due by Nov. 25. Requests should be sent to: Madrigal Feaste, c/o Teresa Jester, HSU Box 7733, Arkadelphia, AR, 71999-0001. Please include your name, address and phone number. Checks should be made payable to Henderson Madrigal Feaste.

Henderson to host exhibit of Landers’ drawings

Henderson State University’s art department will host an exhibit of drawings by intuitive artist Sammy Landers. The exhibition, entitled “Sammy Landers: Intuitive Drawings,” is open to the public and will be located in the art gallery on the first floor of the Russell Fine Arts Building. The show will run through Dec. 2.

Landers is a familiar artist locally. He has been a client of Group Living Inc. since 1981 and has been creating drawings for much of his life. Landers has never had any art lessons; he works intuitively. His work is unique for many reasons and provides a way for him to express himself even though he suffers from disabilities such as autism.

Landers’ art begins solely in his head and does not conform to any artistic standards except those of his own.

His subject matter is derived from a combination of imagery he might notice throughout the day, which he often chooses to unite in unusual ways. The show represents different subjects including people, buildings, humanoids or aliens, insects, and plants among others.
 

“Sammy’s work is amazing,” said Betsy Fulmer, art historian at Henderson. “The images are often startling and mysterious. People are intrigued by it, and love it for its strong sense of design, color and symmetry.”
The gallery is open on weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.