SPEAK MAGAZINE
TIME TO UPDATE YOUR
WINTER WARDROBE THE AGORA BOREALIS CHECK OUT THIS HAVEN FOR NORTH LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND ART LOVERS ALIKE
DATES UNDER $50 WANT TO SHOW YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER A GOOD TIME AND AVOID BREAKING THE BANK? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
TIRED OF THE STATUS QUO WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL DINING? OUR ALTERNATIVE FOOD GUIDE MAY HELP BREAK UP THE MONOTONY WINTER 2016 | LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
upcoming events DIXIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
JANUARY JANUARY 1: Jaki Wilkinson Art Exhibit. Exhibition of “old master” style oil paintings by Jaki Wilkinson. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. Free to view. JANUARY 9: Call for Entries for 50 under $50 art exhibition. Accepted works will hang at Parish Press in February. Contact www.nclac.org to apply.
FEBRUARY 18: Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball and NCLAC Silent Auction, 7 p.m.-midnight. Formal Ball to benefit the sustaining building fund for the Dixie Center for the Arts. Featuring music by Windstorm. Tickets on sale January 1. Ruston Civic Center.
MARCH
FEBRUARY
MARCH 17: Lawrence Gibbs and “The Little Big Band” Featuring the cool jazz of Dave Pell. 7 p.m. Student tickets available.
FEBRUARY 2: Shake ‘em on Down, 7 p.m. Indie film with filmmaker Q&A. Part of the Southern Circuit Film Tour - $3 student tickets.
MARCH 23: Some Beasts, 7 p.m. Indie film with filmmaker Q&A. Part of the Southern Circuit Film Tour - $3 student tickets.
FEBRUARY 13: Mount Olive Student Show, exhibition of artwork by students from Mount Olive School. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. weekdays. Free to view.
MARCH 25: Ruston Makers Fair Featuring handmade items, music, food and fun from throughout the region. Downtown Ruston.
APRIL APRIL 6-9: Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap 7 p.m., Thurs-Sat. 2 p.m., Sun. Directed by Satish Bharadvja. $6 student tickets. APRIL 21: Monty Russell and Friends with Keith “the General” Patterson, Bruce Gay and David Posey. 7 p.m. Student tickets available. APRIL 27: Hunky Dory, 7 p.m. Indie film with filmmaker Q&A. Part of the Southern Circuit Film Tour - $3 student tickets. All events at 212 North Vienna in down-town Ruston unless otherwise noted. For more information call (318) 255-1450.
CONTENTS 36
22 6
28
12
16
ARTS+CULTURE
FOOD+DRINK
FEATURES
6 | NeonNoah
16 | Ruston Alt-Food Guide
28 | Millennial Attitude
Read about this up-and-coming, Dallas-based rock band and their efforts to make a mark on the music scene.
Tired of the same old, same old food options in the Ruston area? Here are a few alternative options to the status quo.
Read how the millennials are a generation seeking experiences over possessions.
10 | SPEAK’s Favorite Things
FASHION
32 | Bayou Bows
Check out what our staff is into right now. You might find your next obsession.
12 | Dates Under $50 College is expensive; dating shouldn’t be.
22 | Winterize Your Wardrobe The winter is here. It’s time to make sure you’re ready.
Find out how an M.D. in training is living out his dream: bringing his unique alligator- skinned fashions to the masses.
36 | The Agora Borealis Katy Larsen has created a haven for artists and art lovers alike.
WINTER 2016 | 3
From the Editor
4 | SPEAK magazine
E
veryone in North Louisiana loves to talk about getting out of North Louisiana. We complain about there being nothing cool here, nowhere to have fun, nothing new to try or see. I used to think I would never like living here. I grew up in a small town not far from Ruston, and when I started college I
thought I was coming to exactly the same type of place I was leaving behind. Working on Tech’s publications the past two years have made me realize how special Ruston is, along with helping me develop some pride in my hometown and my state as a whole. Working on SPEAK, I have seen how many brilliant people and ideas there are in our region. From magicians to musicians, larpers to drug dealers and dozens in between, the people I’ve encountered through my time in Tech’s journalism department have changed the way I see our community. Ruston and the surrounding areas are home to so many talented artists, and if SPEAK hadn’t forced me to look outside of what I thought North Louisiana was, I may have never known that. There are a lot of great people that work to make this area’s uniqueness known. Meanwhile, so many of the rest of us are too busy wanting to get away from here to notice how interesting a place this is. In this issue, we see a few of many North Louisiana treasures. We go inside the Agora Borealis, an artist marketplace in downtown Shreveport. We outline different local date nights for under $50. My hope is that this magazine gives readers the same thing it gave me: a different view of the city around me. I want SPEAK to be a reflection of this community. I hope it can help show people, like it showed me, that we have a lot of beautiful ideas and culture in North Louisiana.
SPEAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rachel Maxwell MANAGING EDITOR Payton Potter FASHION COORDINATOR Dakota Dupont WRITERS Rachel Maxwell Alexis Trisler Jenna Price Alexis Trisler DESIGNER Michael McKnight PHOTO EDITOR Brian Blakely PHOTOGRAPHERS Ashley Kober Colin Fontenot ADVISERS Michael LeBlanc Dr. Judith Roberts T. Scott Boatright PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael LeBlanc
@LATechSpeak speakmagazinemedia RACHEL MAXWELL Editor-in-Chief
©SPEAK Magazine is published quarterly by students in the journalism concentration in the department of communication and media studies at Louisiana Tech University. Views expressed in the magazine do not necessarily express the views of Louisiana Tech University. SPEAK Magazine welcomes letters to the editor. However, we reserve the right not to print anonymous letters. We also ask that each letter be accompanied by a telephone number, address, and classification or title. We will not print the telephone number or address. Direct all letters and inquires to speakmagazinemedia@gmail.com.
speakmagazinemedia
Louisiana Tech University is committed to the principle of providing the opportunity for learning and development of all qualified citizens without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status for admission to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities which the University sponsors or operates. For Title IX information, see University Policy #1445 at http:// www.latech.edu/administration/ policies-and-procedures/1445.shtm.
WINTER 2016 | 5
Arts+Culture
NeonNoah WORDS PAYTON POTTER
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B
reaking into the music scene is rarely an easy feat to accomplish. Between the high cost of studio time, hours spent writing and almost endless competition, many bands burn out and give up. Dallas-based NeonNoah is no stranger to the complications that come with shooting for the musical moon, but after more than two years of performing, writing and recording, the guys of NeonNoah have found success. The band has developed a fanbase, performed on a number of tours and released two albums, “Reaching for Constellations” and “Bella Vita.” The band, comprised of synth player Jacob Norris and co-lead singers and guitarists Esteban Flores and Conner McKinzie, was originally imagined when Flores and McKinzie met during a songwriting internship while attending Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas.
WINTER 2016 | 7
Both McKinzie and Flores attended SAGU, where they were involved in music ministry and a songwriting internship at a local church. The internship, which focused on writing worship music, did not give the musicians the experience they wanted, so they began practicing writing on their own, Flores said. “The internship we met in was based around songwriting,” he said. “We had to write a couple of songs a week for this. It was like you would write it and show it to people and they would say, ‘That’s cool.’ They wouldn’t build you up or anything.” Flores said many other participants in the internship program went on to start careers in ministry, but he and McKinzie had other plans that led to the formation of NeonNoah. “I think it’s funny to see that happen and then to move forward and see all the people who became pastors,” he said. “And me and Conner were like, ‘No. We want to do rock and roll.’” Flores and McKinzie, then roommates, began writing songs in their apartment and later brought Norris in to play synth. “We started the band kind of just through friendship,” Norris said. “We were friends, then Conner and Esteban started writing in college before we started the band. I just happened to be in the room at the right time, and I kind of played keys.” More than two years, one album and several performances later, NeonNoah released “Bella Vita.” The band’s most recent album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with the help of singer-songwriter Josh Varnadore. Flores said the music on “Bella Vita” illustrates the art, style and sound of the band more than “Reaching for Constellations.” “I feel, personally, that this one kind of defines NeonNoah more,” he said. “Not only do I think it sounds better, but I think it captures our sound and who we are.” Being more intentional in the creation of “Bella Vita” helped the band create songs that set the tone for the future of NeonNoah, Flores said.
- Esteban Flores 8 | SPEAK magazine
“
“
THE ALBUM FOCUSES ON TOPICS LIKE SEEING THE BEAUTY IN EVERYDAY LIFE, CHASING DREAMS AND BEING AMBITIOUS.
“We were just trying to figure it out before,” he said. “We had a collection of songs and were like, ‘Let’s be a band.’ Whereas this new record was like, ‘Let’s make really good songs.’ It was a very big shift.” The album focuses on topics like seeing the beauty in everyday life, chasing dreams and being ambitious, Flores said. “It’s an interesting thing – putting out a record called ‘Beautiful Life’ and listening to the presidential debates,” he said. “Or every time you turn on the news, someone else got shot. So to make a statement that says, ‘Hey, life is beautiful,’ but not so out there that it’s like we actually wrote ‘life is beautiful;’ we kind of hid it slightly. It’s kind of cool because you have to work towards finding that, especially in today’s culture. For me, in my adult life, this is the first time that I’ve been like, ‘Everything is not okay, but I have to work on making it okay – today.’” For Norris, the title “Bella Vita” has an additional, personal meaning. “On a lighter note, ‘Bella Vita’ is the name of the apartments we all lived in,” he said. “We lived in an apartment for a year when we wrote this EP. It kind of started as a joke. We were like, ‘Hey, lets name it “Bella Vita,”’ but we were like, ‘What does that mean?’ And it grew from there.” Each member of NeonNoah has a different description for the style of the band’s music. Norris: “It’s like indie rock made out with electronic music. That’s us.” McKinzie: “Pop. A little bit of pop.” Flores: “I’d say more than a little bit.” Norris: “It’s like the mindset of indie rock, but fleshed out with synth stuff also.” Norris said the band recorded the album with real instruments instead of electronics. He credits this approach to the genuineness of the album. “It’s a weird thing that you may not know anything about music or any other art form, but I think authenticity translates through art,” he said. “People can sense when you’re doing it because it’s popular or because it’s easy versus what is true to you.”
MORE ABOUT THE BAND CONNER: I work at Emporium Pies in Deep Ellum, and I play at a church part time, Hope Fellowship in McKinney. JACOB: I work part time at Hope Fellowship as a video producer, and I do freelance photo/video stuff. ESTEBAN: I teach music on the side. I’m a guitar, bass, piano and drum instructor. It’s based on the student. Drums are, by far, the most fun to teach. Piano is the hardest, I’ll say that.
WINTER 2016 | 9
JUST A FEW OF SPEAK’S
FAVORITE THINGS
GLASS ANIMALS ALBUM: “How to be a Human Being”
NETFLIX’S “BLACK MIRROR” A modern day “Twilight Zone,” Netflix’s science-fiction original series stretches the boundaries of reality and the limits of imagination, creating a dark, twisted reality augmented by a futuristic environment and the wiles of human nature.
BONSAI TREE Bonsai trees are easy to take care and are so cute!
10 | SPEAK magazine
THE SHIRE A perfect mixture of caramel, hazelnut, Irish cream and English Toffee. Plus it’s a reference to Lord of the Rings, no other commentary needed.
THE GIDDY GOAT SOAPERY’S BREAKFAST BLEND The Giddy Goat Soapery is based in Tallulah and has a variety of bath products, from bath bombs to body butter. Our favorite, their “breakfast blend” bar soap, contains goat milk, shea and coffee grounds, leaving skin exfoliated and smelling like your favorite morning pick-me-up.
FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 8 A great way to take fun pictures on the go. This camera produces mini poloroids instantly and is reminisent of cameras that exsisted before digital cameras ruled the day.
CONNECTION
SPIGEN WALLET CASE Such a convenient way to carry the essentials with you and still not carry too much on your person.
Shampoo • Perms • Childeren’s cuts Extensions • Colors • Women’s and Men’s cuts Near Tech Campus • Walk-ins Welcome 307 Dan Reneau Drive • (318) 255-3262 • Like us on FACEBOOK! WINTER 2016 | 11
12 | SPEAK magazine
COLLEGE CAN BE EXPENSIVE; DATING SHOULDN’T BE WORDS JENNA PRICE PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN FONTENOT
WINTER 2016 | 13
hristmastime brings the right amount of nostalgia to give the perfect atmosphere for a date. The twinkling lights and greenery offer the perfect backdrop. But with Christmastime comes the stress and worry of stretching your wallet. Take advantage of the magic of Christmas without ever spending more than $50.
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MAGLIEAUX’S ON THE CANE - NATCHITOCHES Enjoy the spinach and artichoke dip appetizer while sitting on the back patio overlooking the Christmas lights on the bank of Cane River Lake. At 7 p.m. every Saturday throughout the Light Festival, a firework show will take place which can be seen from your table. Date Details Natchitoches Light Festival Nov. through Jan. 6
OPERA & DESSERT Try Roma’s cheesecake while sitting in the tables on the sidewalk as the sun sets over downtown Ruston. Afterwards, catch a show at Opera Workshop hosted by the Tech music department featuring numbers from musicals such as “West Side Story” and “Chicago.” Date Details Jan. 11-14 / 7:30 p.m. / Admission $5 / Stone Theatre
MINDEN OLD WORLD LIGHTS SPECTACULAR Historic downtown Minden hosts its annual Old World Christmas Lights Spectacular with thousands of Christmas lights and fireworks at dusk. A SPEAK favorite for the Light Spectacular is the life-sized nutcrackers. There are around 100 nutcrackers lining the streets in front of the locally owned antique stores and boutiques. Date Details Nov. 19 through Jan. 7 / 5 - 10 p.m.
LOUISIANA BOARDWALK NIGHTLY BLIZZARD
FALL 2016 | 15
Located near the largest outdoor Christmas tree in north Louisiana at the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets. After walking through a winter wonderland, warm up (or cool off because it is Louisiana) with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Live jazz, open mic nights stand-up comedy and other guest events occur every Wednesday through Saturday. Date Details Nov. 25 - Dec. 31 / Nightly snowfall 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
WINTER FALL 2016 | 15
Food+Drink
Food+Drink
RUSTON FOOD GUIDE WORDS PAYTON POTTER
PHOTOS LEXI WYATT
A small town with big flavor, Ruston offers residents and passers-through a unique mix of restaurants that make this north Louisiana town special. From cajun food to homestyle cooking to barbecue to fresh juices, Ruston provides something for everyone. Health-conscious eaters and those with dietary restrictions alike will find that Ruston has delicious dishes to meet his or her needs.
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Vegan Mandarin Spring Salad Where to get it: Portico Restaurant & Bar INGREDIENTS • • • • • •
spring mix mandarin oranges avocado tomato cucumber shaved almonds
tossed in ginger mandarin vinaigrette Portico’s Mandarin Spring salad is not just boring bowl of greens. This filling dish offers a fresh, fruity boost of health that is sure to satisfy anyone’s cravings. The sliced almonds provide a unique texture that makes this salad a Speak favorite. Available for only $8, this salad, ordered without asiago cheese, is a vegan must-have. MORE VEGAN FRIENDLY LOCAL FOOD Veggie Burger (no cheese) Where to get it: Sundown Tavern Tofu Avocado salad Where to get it: Teriyaki Grill Nutty Avocado Where to get it: Roly Poly Go Green Roll FALL 2016 | 17 Where to get it: Raw Juice Bar Where to get it: Rosemary’s Kitchen
WINTER 2016 | 17
Vegetarian California Hummer Where to get it: Roly Poly INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •
hummus provolone cheese leaf lettuce plum tomatoes avocado cucumber carrots green pepper alfalfa sprouts
sesame dressing on a whole wheat tortilla Roly Poly’s California Hummer offers up the delicious flavors of the West Coast with an impressive 16 grams of protein and a Mediterranean twist. The California Hummer comes complete with a large and delicious serving of hummus, a great source of healthy fats. This filling, cold-rolled sandwich is available in a six- or 12inch serving, priced at $4.25 or $7.25, respectively. MORE VEGETARIAN DELIGHTS Loaded Smoked Sweet Potato Where to get it: Brister’s Smokehouse Vegetarian Delight Where to get it: Teriyaki Grill Margherita Pizza Where to get it: Newks’ Yogurt Parfait Where to get it: Railway Coffee
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Gluten Free Log Cabin Sizzling Fajitas Where to get it: Log Cabin Grill & Market INGREDIENTS • • •
marinated chicken, skirt steak or shrimp grilled onions bell peppers
Log Cabin’s Sizzling Fajitas are the real Tex-Mex deal. Available in shrimp, chicken or beef, these fajitas, when ordered without tortillas, make for a hearty, gluten-free dish costing $16.99. For a healthier, but just as delicious option, order Log Cabin’s veggie fajitas for $13.99. MORE GLUTEN FREE GOODNESS Grilled Chicken Nachos Where to get it: Sundown Tavern Triple Take Where to get it: Newks’ Parillada Mexicana Where to get it: La Bamba The Beau Vine Where to get it: Beau Vines Steakhouse
Pescatarian Seafood Gumbo Where to get it: Ponchatoulas INGREDIENTS • • •
gulf shrimp blue crab dark roux sauce
Ponchatoula’s seafood gumbo reflects all the things lovers of cajun food adore. Thick and hearty, this seafood-based meal is filling, tasty and pescatarian. Hearty pieces of blue crab and shrimp plus a side of garlic bread make this dish unique and satisfying. Ponchatoulas’s seafood gumbo is available in a cup for $6.99 or a bowl for $9.49. MORE LOCAL PESCATARIAN CHOICES Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp Where to get it: Log Cabin Grill & Market Tuna Salad Where to get it: Rosemary’s Kitchen Nigiri selection Where to get it: Raw Shrimp and Grits Where to get it: Portico Asian Ahi Tuna Where to get it: Portico
see more on:
www.thefashionofruston.com SPRING 2016 | 37
From the Editor Fashion
DRESS | BCBG maxazria CARDIGAN | Blank London BRACELET | Jenny Bird NECKLACE | Jenny Bird CHOKER NECKLACE | Vanessa Mooney SHOES | Sam Edelman
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PHOTOGRAPHY COLIN FONTENOT STYLING DAKOTA DUPONT MODEL LAUREN GIDDENS
FALL 2016 | 23 WINTER
JACKET + TOP | Dylan JEANS | Hudson SHOES | Bernardo 24 | SPEAK magazine
JACKET + TOP | Katherine Barclay LEATHER PANTS | KUT SHOES | Sam Edelman NECKLACE | B. Stellar
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LEATHER PANTS | KUT SHOES | Sam Edelman
WINTER SPRING2016 2016 | | 27 5
Features
MILLENNIAL
ATTITUDE A Generation Seeking Experiences Over Possessions WORDS JENNA PRICE
28 | SPEAK magazine
PHOTOS BRIAN BLAKLEY
FALL 2016 | 29
Lauren Jennings working on the Jennings Farm
B
ailey Anderson stood soaking wet at the top one of
than physical things in the next year, pointing to a move away from
the peaks of the South Cheyenne canyon without
material and a growing demand for real-life experiences.”
phone signal, without knowing anyone in the entire park and without a single regret. Straight out of her freshman year at Louisiana Tech,
Bailey traveled to Seven Falls, Colorado, to conquer one of the mountains in the canyon. She had never been on an extended trip so far from her tight knit family, and she was traveling alone. Bailey said she seeks out adventures like the hike up the South Cheyenne canyon for the experience of standing at the top, even if it means braving a storm. “The world is so big and engulfing and utterly breath-taking,”
Russell Lemken, a marketing professor at Louisiana Tech University, has observed this economic shift. Because of this shift, Lemken generally associates the millennial generation with experiences and the baby boomer generation with materialism. “Millennials and Generation X have a tendency to center their lives and their focus around experiences rather than baby boomers which are more focus on possessions, status, and career,” Lemken said. Lemken considers himself a part of the baby boomer generation and is the father of two sons in college who are within the millennial
Bailey said. “I want to feel the earth beneath my feet, simply exist
generation. Lemken said watching his two sons has allowed him to
in that moment, and breathe in the scenery around me. It’s always
notice that millennials make decisions not based on status like baby
humbling.”
boomers once did.
As Bailey stepped off the bus with a Hispanic family, the park
“The younger generation is far more focused on experiencing
began to empty. A storm was quickly approaching and would soon
life actively,” Lemken said. “This is how millennials have discovered
drench the canyon. Relentlessly, Bailey began the trek to the top of
themselves, discovered the world, and how they relate to the world.”
the mountain with the strangers. “We made it to the top and the view of misty mountains and rolling clouds was beyond worth it,” Bailey said. “All of it was refreshening and exciting — the Hispanic family, the rain, the cool Colorado breeze, and the stellar view.” Bailey’s desire to participate in experiences is a part of a shift happening in the economy. Having evolved from a service economy and materialism, an experience economy is focused on a consumer’s desire for real-life experiences, fueled by the millennials entering the workforce within the last 10 years. According to a study by Event Brite, “72 percent of millennials say they would like to increase their spending on experiences rather
30 | SPEAK magazine
Bailey uses her experiences to relate to a world much larger than herself. Patrick McCorkle uses his experiences to relate to the world as a musician. Patrick gave up everyday luxuries and adopted a life style of minimalism, so that he could experience life while playing guitar. “Once you pay for stuff, as soon as you buy it, it turns into junk,” Patrick said. “Given my choice, I would play guitar.” Patrick became a minimalist when he became dissatisfied with working but found satisfaction in making music. Patrick was able to be unemployed and be a musician when he kept his spending and expenses down to a minimum. He does not own a car. His electricity bill is about $20 a month. He transformed a majority of his yard into a garden.
Aaron Jennings Maintaining His Bee Colony Patrick said that a minimalistic life is simple but not uneventful. “I didn’t have a job for 10 years, and I was not bored,” Patrick
Aaron Jennings’s lifestyle supports the idea that the choice is not life experiences over domestic life.
said. “You have to have hobbies or it will drive you crazy. There’s a
Aaron has a minimalistic domestic life. He is married, has a job,
coffee shop opening up near my house, it’s looking like I can play
owns a house, and maintains a small farm. His house, however, is 160
guitar there and be happy.”
sq. ft. His kitchen consists of a dorm refrigerator and a hot plate. He
Playing guitar at a coffee shop contributes to the experience economy because consumers will be more eager to pay for a cup
does not have wifi or cable. “This lifestyle allows us to do what we love doing, make money
of coffee in exchange for the experience of a coffee shop with live
at it, and turn that money around to what we are passionate about,
music.
which is traveling around,” Aaron said.
The experience economy, according to Business Insider, maintains happiness levels in comparison to money spent on material goods because of the consumer’s emotional connection to the experience. “Experiences are lodged in memory, can be shared with others,
Experiences, for Aaron, offer an insight to different way of living. Aaron said while he has been minimizing his possessions, he has been able to learn to appreciate life outside of himself. “I learned this whole other approach to life,” Aaron said. “You can actually live and embrace life. Really get out there and do it.”
and become part of the individual’s identity,” Business Insider said.
Aaron’s approach to life has been non-traditional. He turned
Consumers will become regular customers at the coffee shop
down a scholarship to Washington University to join the Air Force
where Patrick will play because of a positive experience which, in
after 9/11. He has worked odd jobs such as a taxi driver after serving
turn, will become a happy memory.
in the Air Force for four years. He is covered in tattoos and has
According to Slate Magazine the choice is not between whether consumers want experiences or material goods. Instead, Elissa Strauss of Slate Magazine, said the experimental economy is a rebellious cry against the domestic life precedented by the parents of millennials. “I fell victim to the experiences over stuff paradigm,” Strauss said.
several piercings. “I feel a push to stick out,” Aaron said. “I couldn’t do a job that would have a pay off in 30 years just for sticking it out.” Aaron said he wants to experience life the way he desires because time is important. “Where do you want to put your energy and where do you want
“I’m now, at 36, about eight years into the ‘stuff’ phase of my life,
to put your focus? For me, it’s never been for acquiring things,”
and I have learned far more about myself during this period than I
Aaron said. “It’s been, ‘Let’s go do this.’”
ever did while sojourning around the globe.” Strauss said experiences are not the opposite of a domestic life, but millennials are overcorrecting in order to avoid the inevitable responsibility of adulthood. “Experiences aren’t the antithesis of stuff,” Strauss said. “Domestic stuff—our couch, our dining table, the bathtub, the
Lemken argues that millennials are not making a conscious decision to revolt against domestic life. “Every generation has a reaction and sets itself apart to become different than everything that came before,” Lemken said. “This is a necessary step.” The experience economy, like the moment Bailey looked over the
dishwasher—don’t just serve as the backdrop to my life; they are the
South Cheyenne canyon, is a part of a self-discovery process and the
tools we use while engaging with one another, and ourselves.”
discovery of the world millennials are an active part of.
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PUTTING A NEW
ON THE BOW TIE WORDS ALEXIS TRISLER
S
PHOTOGRAPHY ASHLEY KOBER
outhern fashion has become the poster product for Southern style. The South has long been considered a cultural heartland with historical prominence in food and demeanor, yet fashion has taken over the limelight in recent years. The South’s well-known reputation of decorum and hospitality has preceded Southerners for decades, giving way to a regionalist sense of unwavering class. This sentiment has manifested itself most visibly in the world of fashion. When presented with the idea of the Southern lady or the Southern gentleman, the mental images invoked are reminiscent of the antebellum period, with the ladies in long, flowing dresses and the men in button-up shirts with suit jackets and ties. In recent years, this traditional idea of what could be described as “Southern couture” has been clung to, with several companies marketing their brand as such.
student at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, studying medicine. However, his passion for Southern style dates back to his adolescence, making bracelets out of vintage neckties and selling them to his middle school peers. A veritable businessman, Andrew McGehee’s entrepreneurial spirit thrived amid the supply and demand of the marketplace. Consequently, this passion for creativity and his love of the hunt came together in the form of Bayou Bowties. “Knowing that I was wanting to be in medical school soon,” Andrew McGehee began, “this was an opportunity for me to have some income in a time when I would not be able to have an hourly-type job. It’s a creative outlet that allows me to mix my drive for adventure with an appreciation for a well-dressed gentleman. A good southern man should not be afraid to get his hands dirty and work hard, nor should be reluctant to clean up and present himself well in what he wears.”
One of these businesses can be found here in Ruston, and it goes by the name of Bayou Bowties. While not yet a physical store, Bayou Bowties is a line of neckties with a distinct character – they are made with real alligator skins hunted by the owner himself, Andrew McGehee. Andrew McGehee, a Ruston native, is currently a
Yet what makes his product dangerously unique is his usage of alligator skins, the majority of which are hunted by him or his family. McGehee was first introduced to alligator hunting by his cousin, Jeff McGehee, when he was 11 years old. Over the past 15 years, that hobby has turned into an art and a science, enabling Andrew McGehee
WINTER 2016 | 33
to utilize it as a creative conduit. They typically hunt on a stretch of land in Tallulah which has been held by the family for 57 years. The land itself, purchased by Andrew McGehee’s late grandfather, Lucius D. McGehee Sr., is the habitat from which the majority of alligator skins are obtained. “The season is quite short on our land,” explained Andrew McGehee, “lasting only one month. We usually plan one big hunt around Labor Day weekend. We receive a limited number of tags each year from the state and as a result, we can’t get all of the leather from our family’s property. We do, however, use as many as we can from these hunts.” The hunt itself is methodical, as described by Andrew McGehee. “Areas are scouted for signs of alligators,” Andrew McGehee began. “Jeff and couple of others often gather some chickens from local coups, then attach them with a three-inch hook to a line of rope. We prop the bait above the water and leave it overnight, getting up early the next morning to check them. If the bait has been taken, the lead hunter will call out, ‘Line down!’ and then we’ll slowly pull the gator to the top the water and shoot it. After we have harvested the gators, we drop them off at a place where the meat can be processed and the skins can be prepared for tanning.” The novelty of using alligator skins is not lost 36 | | SPEAK SPEAKmagazine magazine 14
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on Andrew McGehee or his family. Andrew McGehee offered a unique perspective on the practice, speaking fondly of the hunt itself. “The alligators themselves are dangerous, strong and powerful, and that’s a big appeal in the hunt,” Andrew McGehee described. “It’s exhilarating to hunt something that could, in turn, hunt you. Because of that, the hunts are always a group effort amongst my cousins and me. The team aspect and camaraderie makes it one of my very favorite types of hunting.” Perhaps most intriguing of all, however, is the exact process that is used to make these products - beginning with the skins being tanned. “The tanning process requires the larger portion of the year, “ explained Andrew McGehee, “and takes place at a world class exotic tannery in Georgia - AmTan, the American Tanning Company. From there, these skins and any additional ones that we get from the tannery are sent to South Carolina. The leather is carefully cut by hand to match the contours of the final product. It is then sewn to the cloth of what will soon become a Bayou Bowtie. These are also handmade by the same team of workers.” Andrew McGehee’s products have been met with varying success across cities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Andrew McGehee’s own mother, Michele McGehee, carries his product line within her store in downtown Ruston called Vintage and Vogue. Andrew McGehee plans to have his products sold in eight more stores before Christmas, effectively broadening his marketplace. A stand-alone store is not in the works at this time; rather, Andrew McGehee will continue to partner with other stores as a vendor. Andrew McGehee offered some words of encouragement
to other aspiring entrepreneurs trying to make their name and presence known. “I encourage you to pursue your passions wisely, not flippantly,” he stated. “Starting a business is a ton of hard work and requires not only desire, but discipline and determination as well. If you have an idea that you are super excited about, think through some logistics and decide if you are willing to put in the time to make it a reality. Recognize that even if it is probably doable, it will likely require more involvement than you originally think. If you’ve already crossed that bridge and have decided to do something, seek out others who are successful in the areas you want to be. If you know people who are talented in design, seek them out. If you want help with production, talk to someone who is already doing that well. If you don’t know these sorts of people, place yourself in circles where these people exist. People are often willing to pass on some expertise to novices looking to begin a similar trade. Lastly, do your part in helping other new businesses, because it’s good to grow together.”
BOUTIQUE & TANNING
offering the latest on-trend fashion styles and tanning ! 1913 E Kentucky Ave, Ruston, LA • (318) 255-7888
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The
Agora Borealis: Katy Larsen creates a haven for artists and art lovers alike WORDS RACHEL MAXWELL PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN BLAKELY
L
ocal artists are an integral part of a community’s culture, but maintaining that culture and sense of community can be a challenge for the artists to handle. One Shreveport artist has stepped back from her own work to focus on strengthening that community. Katy Larsen, owner and founder of the Agora Borealis in downtown Shreveport, started the artist’s marketplace in an effort to contribute to the city and educate the public on the importance of local commerce. The store, founded by Larsen in 2013, serves over 200 artists and carries everything from soap to furniture. The products featured in the market are made locally by hand, and a majority of them from re-used or recycled materials. “This is kind of like Shreveport’s local gift shop,” she said. “Anything and everything that you could take away from this region to speak about the area would be these goods. Every product has a story.” The market is only part of the Agora Borealis. The other half of the building serves as a class and event space where demos and workshops led by artists and classes on local economics are held. “It’s important for people to understand that when you buy something locally, you’re supporting your local economy,” she said. Larsen said the one of her biggest inspirations behind opening the Agora was the need for Shreveport residents to understand how and why to keep their money in the community. “Artists are very much about community because they know they have to lean on each other,” she said. “I’m glad that’s what this marketplace is focused on, and that’s what it is going to support. Hopefully, other people will learn how important it is to buy locally, and create an effect here where we’re all supporting one another.” While Larsen now operates as a middleman for artists, she does not have a business background. A Louisiana Tech alumna, Larsen holds a degree in interior design with minors in architecture, 2D studio art and cultural resources and preservation. “My professors at Tech, specifically Stephanie Carwile and WINTER 2016 | 37
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“My daughter gets to grow up in an environment where she sees a business being run and that there is structure, but there can also be this creative and loving and supportive environment.” – Katy Larsen Nicholas Bustamante, helped me a lot with the practical side of art and interior design,” she said. “A lot of artists come here because they don’t have to do the business side of it. They get to create, drop it off and see a paycheck when it sells.” While most of the Agora’s sales are of usable items such as soaps, food and clothing, Larsen said she tries to educate customers on the importance of buying art pieces. “If people are educated in art they feel more comfortable in their purchase,” she said. “If they don’t feel like they understand the background of a piece, they are less likely to purchase. It’s a slow process because right now only 7 percent of our sales go to art. That isn’t a lot for an artist marketplace. But, we’re hoping that those numbers change over the years as we continue to try and educate the public.” The Agora Borealis also hosts events throughout the year to help introduce locals to the art community. Larsen has hosted “Cirque du Lake,” an annual block party, for the past three years, which features vendors, artists and a broad range of entertainment. “We have musical entertainment along with hooping, juggling, stilt-walking,” she said. “I wanted to really stretch across all the genres of entertainment and artistry that we were giving the public because that’s the whole point, to show it all. There was every flavor under the sun to enjoy.” The Agora also participates in Small Business Saturday and Shreveport Art Walks to offer local goods to residents during the holidays, when most consumers opt for large commercial stores.
“Any time you buy something local you’ve made a personal difference in someone’s life,” she said. “They are excited to make a sale and have their work be appreciated and shared. Every purchase is personal. You can’t do that anywhere else.” In another effort to merge the arts and the community in Shreveport, Larsen also organizes a local fashion show featuring local designers. The show is themed each year and celebrates Shreveport while highlighting local talent. The show’s theme for this year is “Shrevepunk,” which Larsen said will focus on putting a Shreveport twist on steam punk style. “All the inspiration is coming from Shreveport architecture,” she said. “So, steamboats, trains, the airplanes, and then we execute our interpretation as artists.” Aside from the events, Larsen said the day-to-day activities of running the Agora are rewarding for her as an artist and business owner. “I have gotten so much out of this, so I try and encourage people that want to open their own business,” she said. “You open your own business because you want to do things your own way. I knew I had to be one of the people to change the way that we do things in Shreveport. I opened my own space because that was easier than asking permission.” As a mother of a three year old, Larsen said her mission to influence her community is something she said she is proud to pass on. “My daughter gets to grow up in an environment where she sees a business being run and that there is structure, but there can also be this creative and loving and supportive environment,” she said. “Those things have to play hand in hand. We don’t do this for the money; we do this because we are passionate about the people.” For Larsen, the Agora Borealis is a way of putting her money where her mouth is to shape the city she loves. “This community is about doing what we can for each other to help make an impact on each other’s lives. If you want to make a difference, you have to do it, not just say it. I feel like any time a store like ours is successful, we are all successful, the artists are successful, the city is successful.”
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