Issue Magazine - October 2015

EVOLVING A WORLD VIEW PAGE 8 INSIDE: MONTAGE, ENCHANTMENT, SUPERNATURAL, AND MORE

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Weekday lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wedding Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners • Meals to go

10% discount for artists 500 Main Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas

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ISSUE Vol. 22, No. 2 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Art Studio, Inc.

A View From The Top Greg Busceme, TASI Director

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Coughlan Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracy Danna Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Duerler, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Ivanova Contributing Photographers . . . . . Ramona Young Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Van Gerven

Well, it’s one of those directors’ statements that are not as fun as others. the studio is a great building and it is serving it’s purpose well but for a few things.

Our Fire Alarm service box(the brain) has gone kaput and after months of service calls and technicians being stumped it turns out the panel is blown and repairs are out of the question because the box is outdated. This isn’t an optional thing, every single commercial building in Beaumont has one of these control boxes somewhere in their building. It senses smoke or heat and alerts the fire department.

The cost to us: $604.00. Not bad for a for profit corporation who can handle such an expense but for orgs like us, it is quite a bite out of our budget.

Roof repair is an on going problem. The big leak in the main roof was sealed up thanks to Alex Murphy and a bucket of tar, but we have a myriad of leaks all through the ceramic area.

The Art Studio, Inc. Board of Directors President Ex-Officio . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Busceme Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Busceme Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Roberts Members at Large: . . . . . . . . . . . Sheila Busceme, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth French, Andy Ledesma, Stephan Malick, Heather Butler The Art Studio, Inc. 720 Franklin Beaumont, TX 77701 409-838-5393 www.artstudio.org info@artstudio.org The ISSUE is a monthly publication of The Art Studio, Inc. Its mission is to publicize The Art Studio and its tenants, and to promote the growth of the arts in Southeast Texas. ISSUE is also charged with informing TASI members of projects, progress, achievements and setbacks in TASI’s wellbeing. Further, ISSUE strives to promote and distribute the writings of local authors in its “Thoughtcrime” feature.

ISSUE is provided free of charge to members of TASI and is also available, free of charge, at more than 30 locations in Southeast Texas.

Regular features include local artists of note and reputation who are not currently exhibiting at TASI; artists currently or soon to be exhibiting at TASI; Instructional articles for artists; news stories regarding the state of TASI’s organization; and arts news features dealing with general philosophical issues of interest to artists.

Contents Montage 2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 The Enchanted Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Maurice Abelman’s “Evolve into Many”. . . . . . . . . Page 7 3C Comics at High Street Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 Eliot Dudik at the Dishman Art Museum . . . . . . . Page 12 “Supernatural” Fandom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Around & About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15

Cover illustration of Maurice Abelman

by Andy Coughlan

Its metal roof is more difficult to detect the leaks from outside, we need some pros to come in and volunteer their expertise to find and assess the leaks.

The cost estimate is too hard to tell based on what repair has to be done until the work begins. that’s too much of a risk for us. The last repair was a week before Hurricane Ike and it was $10,000 for a roof that subsequently got a 2x4 stuck through it via a tornado—another $1500 for repairs. Last month the water heater went out and needed to be replaced— $800 and the toilet in the women's room needed repair right before the opening aproximately $150. We spent over $700 to get our phones in basic repair since the digital age has descended upon us and our phones are analog, to complete the job would cost about $1300.

See VIEW on page 14

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ART STUDIO OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Maurice Abelman Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 3

Alice Powell Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 7

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ART STUDIO Membership in The Art Studio, Inc., provides invitations to all exhibitions and one year of ISSUE, the monthly arts magazine of The Art Studio. It also gives free eligibility for members to enter the annual membership art exhibition (TASIMJAE) and participate in various exhibitions throughout the year.

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4 • ISSUE October 2015

Volume 22, No. 2

‘Montage’ of the Arts SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARTS COUNCIL FESTIVAL SET FOR OCT. 9-10 “WHAT DO YOU LIKE about Beaumont?” a friend from a different part of the country asked me. I thought for a moment and said, “I like the arts scene.”

I came to southeast Texas six years ago and almost immediately I found myself immersed in the busy life of the Golden Triangle arts organizations. As an art museum professional, I started by acquainting myself with the visual arts in the area. But it was not long before I discovered local theatres, music and dance. The place was a hotbed for all kinds of talent.

I am not the only one who thinks that way. Southeast Texas Arts Council has been promoting local arts for years. Last year, it teamed up with the Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts and launched “Montage,” an annual festival that showcases performing and visual arts in their infinite variety. The decision to have the festival in October

Story by Elena Ivanova

Costumes were the order of the day at the 2014 Montage festival.

Photos courtesy of SETAC

Volume 22, No. 2

October 2015 ISSUE • 5

MONTAGE SCHEDULE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 Gary Garrison Master Class Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts Admission: Free Hors-d’oeuvres at 7 pm Master Class at 8 pm.

Saturday, October 10 Montage Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts Gates open at noon.

Admission: $10 adults Children ages 12 and under free

Children’s costume contest “Festillusion” Costume Contest 5 pm.

Gary Garrison Showcase Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts Begins at noon.

Admission: $5 per play or $25 for the day (six plays) For information, visit www.setac.org was not arbitrary: it is the national arts and humanities month.

Now in its second year, “Montage” promises to be bigger and better. The festival will kick off on Friday night, Oct. 9, with the Gary Garrison Master Class at the Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts (more about it later).

But the prime time for celebration will be Saturday, Oct. 10.

“There will be dancing, singing, street performances, flash mobs, musicians playing at street corners, kids trying out musical instruments,” says Sue Bard, SETAC executive director, says. “The most important thing about Montage is promoting knowledge and appreciation of the arts and humanities, which is our mission.”

On Saturday, the parking lot in front of the Betty Greenberg Center will be transformed into a fairy land. As the clock strikes noon, the gates will open and vendors dressed in fancy costumes will welcome the public to the “arts village.”

“We encourage all visitors to wear costumes, “ Bard says. “Think about it as a sort of a Venice Carnival, only with no particular theme. Characters from fairy tales, classic novels, comic books, video games, movies — any-

thing goes.”

The list of the festival participants is long and impressive. It includes Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur Little Theatre, the Art Studio, the Beaumont Art League, Ice House Museum and Cultural Center, Hardin County Museum, Beaumont Ballet Theatre, Orange Community Players, Mexican Heritage Society, and the Society for Creative Anachronism, to name a few.

“Nonprofits are not charged for their participation, “ Bard says. “This is an opportunity for them to increase visibility, promote their upcoming season, and recruit new members.

“Beaumont is an ideal setting for this kind of festival. We have all these arts organizations, many of them modest in size but unique, which need a forum. In a larger city, like Houston, everything happens on a grander scale and such an event would be lost.”

Like other festivals, “Montage” will offer “arts, eats and beats.” However, the format of the event will be unusual.

“There will be few scheduled performances,” Bard says. “Things will appear to be

See MONTAGE on page 6

Bagpipes and belly dancers were just a few of the eclectic performers on display at the 2014 Montage festival.

Photos courtesy of SETAC

6 • ISSUE October 2015

Volume 22, No. 2

MONTAGE from page 6 happening spontaneously, without warning.

For example, a musician starts playing as he is moving through the crowd. When he gets to the end of the row, another musician joins him, and then another one, and soon there will be a marching band. We want people to be surprised, to expect something to happen any moment and to stay for the whole day.”

To spice things up, there will be contests and prizes. Children will have a chance to parade in their costumes on the stage; participation in this contest is free. Adults also will be offered an opportunity to show off in “Festillusion,” a theatre costume contest.

Both professionals and amateurs will be competing in several categories.

A cash prize of $1,000, the Paula “Torchy” Salter Award, will be given for the best costume. A new feature this year is a special effects makeup category, with a Dinair Airbrush Studio Pro Kit as the prize.

While the merry carnival is going on on the grounds, a different kind of entertainment will be unfolding inside the theater.

For all true aficionados of the art of drama, Studio 33 Theatre will be presenting one-act plays as a part of the Gary Garrison Master Class and Showcase.

“We initiated the Gary Garrison Festival in 2013,” Ashley Riley, Founder and Artistic Director of Studio 33, says. “We pride ourselves in producing original works by beginning and seasoned playwrights. At first, it was a stand-alone event, but now, for the second year in a row, we are happy to present it in conjunction with Montage.”

This year, 139 plays, from the United

States and abroad, were submitted. After a blind review and rating, six plays have been selected, among them “Raghead” by Tom Coash of New Haven, Conn.; “Stage Moms #7” by Chambers Stevens of Los Angeles; and “Your Terrible Beautiful Heart” by Shannon Murdoch from Australia.

“We approached Gary Garrison, a graduate of Lamar University and today an internationally-renowned actor, playwright, director and teacher, and he gladly agreed to have this festival named after him,” Riley says.

Garrison agreed to more than giving his name to the event — he is flying to Beaumont to teach the Master Class on Friday night, Oct. 9. This is an event not to be missed — Garrison, a recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Teacher of Playwriting Award by the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, is in high demand at the most prestigious drama schools and performing centers.

“We are so excited and honored to have him in person to come and impart his wisdom upon us,” Riley says.

Garrison says he is looking forward to being part of the festival.

“I’ve been teaching playwriting (at NYU) for 30 years, and have been fortunate to be the executive director of our national organization of playwrights, the Dramatists Guild

A diverse group dressed in costume to participate in the costume contest at Montage 2014. of America, for the last nine years,” he says.

“Through my association with both of these institutions, one thing proves itself time and again: writers need community and the support of one another to stay healthy in their careers. I cherish any time I have the chance to sit and talk about the challenges of being a writer in this day and age because what’s good for one of us, is good for all of us.

“I’m thrilled to be part of ‘Montage’ because it brings me not only close to the family I grew up with, but the family of artists I’ve grown with over time.”

Let’s join the “Montage” organizers in their wishes that the annual arts festival of Beaumont grows and expands and becomes one of the “must see” events in Texas, which has no shortage of fun festivals.

Volume 22, No. 2

October 2015 ISSUE • 7

Metaphysical merrymakers L OCAL

AR TIST

N ATHAN M C C RAY

BEAUMONT ARTIST NATHAN MCCRAY will host “The Enchanted Village” art festival that will feature local artists and an evening of performances by local musicians.

The festival is set for Oct. 24 at noon at 2555 Jirou St. behind McCray Furniture, near the Beaumont Art League. This is the fourth year McCray has hosted an arts festival on his grounds.

“This year, I wanted to combine the metaphysical arts, such as Tai Chi demonstrations, acro- yoga, Tarot card and Angel card readings with the visual artists, to draw in two communities and bring them together,” McCray said.

McCray said he is still seeking artists and performers to participate in the event.

Vendor booths are $15. Street-style performers, including interpretive dance and fire breathing, may showcase their skills for free.

Volunteers are also needed to help prepare the property for the approaching festival. In return for lending a hand, participants can expect great company and a behind-the-scene’s view of McCray’s wonderland of repurposed materials and artworks.

In keeping with the name, “The Enchanted Village” encourages visitors to wear costumes.

“During the day, it is going to be more family-oriented, there will be all kinds of demonstrations and things going on,” McCray said. “This year’s theme is a fairy-tale village. We would like people to participate by arriving in costume or making their own costumes of their favorite fairy-tale figure or even make up their own fairy-tale figure.”

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., a line-up of regional bands will perform, opening with Snorlaxx and concluding with Octopoodle.

The daytime portion of the festival is free, with a $10 cover to see the music festival.

For more details, callMcCray at 409-8805522, or like the Facebook page at “The Enchanted Village Metaphysical and Arts Celebration.”

TO HOST FESTIVAL ON OTHER WORLDLY AR TS

Story by Caitlin Duerler

Illustration courtesy of Nathan McCtay

8 • ISSUE October 2015

E Volume 22, No. 2

Printmaker Abelman discovers inspiration in Estonia

MAURICE ABELMAN IS QUIET. The softspoken artist is not the kind of person who one expects to stand on a street corner and rant at the world. Through his detailed woodblock collages, Abelman comments on the world around him, but it was from an increasingly narrow point of view.

Then came Estonia.

The 35-year-old printmaker spent the summer in the Baltic country conducting workshops and says that his world view expanded and infused his art with a new vitality. In October, Abelman will reveal his transition in the exhibition “Evolve into Many,” at The Art Studio. The show opens with a reception, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Oct. 3.

“Evolve into Many” is a concept that Abelman says he mulled over for a long time.

“It has a number of different meanings,” he says.

Story and photos by Andy Coughlan

“kitties” by Maurice Abelman.

astern ‘Block’ Volume 22, No. 2

“What I do in printmaking is create multiples of the same print over and over and over again, and I use those multiples in different compositions, transforming what was originally one idea into many ideas. The name of the show, quite literally, represents the process I use.

“But also, I was really inspired by what happened in Estonia, and a lot of the concept of this show I had been working on before Estonia, so a lot of the stuff is me fumbling around in the world trying to figure things out — trying to understand my process, trying to understand what’s going on — just the confusion of what’s going on locally and nationally. So a lot of the stuff was my old style of thinking transitioning with this new approach.”

Abelman says his work now has evolved from mere commentary into being more proactive.

“Sure, I can comment on critical issues in society, which was my big thing,” he says. “I can say this is wrong and I can make this fantastic picture. But then I am getting to a point where I can complain and complain, but what am I ac-

October 2015 ISSUE • 9

tually achieving? It wasn’t until I was actually working with students that I could actually say that this process could be more than just that — it could be more than just a way for me to vent.

“It can be a way to actually inspire change — that can actually show, as close as humanly possible, a true reflection of society. Because it’s not totally biased from my point of view, it’s from a number of people’s points of view. Even though it’s still limited within that group, it’s still a broader approach than just me myself.”

Many know him as Jake, which is his middle name, and that’s what many of his friends still call him.

“I felt that whenever I graduated I needed a transition, and switching to my first name seemed more professional,” he says. “‘Jake’ — you’re a friendly guy. ‘Maurice’ has a more professional approach — but I’m still a friendly guy.”

The California native moved to Beaumont when he was 16 and earned a degree in graphic design from Lamar University. It was not until he was finishing his undergraduate

Maurice Abelman is surrounded by woodblocks and equipment in his tenant space at The Art Studio.

work that he became exposed to printmaking. “(LU printmaking professor) Xenia Fedorchenko convinced me, in a round about way, that printmaking would be the correct approach for the illustrations I was already producing,” he says. “I had my show up, senior thesis day, and Xenia comes over and says, ‘Jake, your artwork, you should transfer this over to printmaking — woodblocks would be the greatest thing.’ I looked over and thought, ‘Printmaking?’ I remember all the horror stories, it’s so process oriented.”

Abelman said he couldn’t see how that would work as he was used to creating his images digitally.

“I don’t have to pay for material, I don’t have to pay printing costs — I am looking at it from a more pragmatic approach,” he said. “I told her, ‘Why would I want to spend all that time doing something?’

See ABELMAN on page 10

10 • ISSUE October 2015

ABELMAN from page 9 A couple of months later, while searching for jobs in the graphic design field, Abelman visited Fedorchenko in her printmaking class at Lamar.

“She said, ‘Pull up a chair,” and showed me how to translate one of the images from (Adobe) Illustrator on to the woodblock and carve it out — I instantly fell in love,” he said. “Ever since then, I kept on to it and kept on to it, and I was able to produce work that wasn’t necessarily from a graphic design point of view, but utilized a lot of the methods of graphic design.”

Abelman says he now works directly on to the woodblocks as creating in Illustrator first is an extra step — although designing on the computer does allow him more opportunities to play with the composition. His technique is to create multiples of small images, which he collages to form large-scale compositions.

“I have a stockpile of imagery, so instead of creating new images — which I still do, I still add to the inventory — I have a bank of imagery that you see throughout my work,”

Volume 22, No. 2

he says.

There are a number of different approaches to making woodblocks, Abelman says.

“You can go super huge, like, ‘Look at this big thing I created.’ But then you run into problems such as, ‘Where am I going to get this thing printed?’ The presses that can print something that large are few and far between,” he says. “You’ve got to go a big city, or you’ve got to get it professionally printed, or you’ve got know someone — or you’ve got to rent a steamroller. It’s trying to overcome that whole problem of creating something large by using smaller pieces to create something large.”

Abelman says he trying to do is a controlled collage, where the pieces play a vital role in relation to each other.

“Whenever I collage them all together they actually create new ideas from different ideas within it,” he says.

With this technique, the smaller images themselves repeat, but the relationship with the other images gives the larger image its meaning and shifts the meaning of the individual images.

After earning his master’s in printmak-

Maurice Abelman is surrounded by woodblocks and equipment in his tenant space at The Art Studio, above. He collages woodblock images to creat elarge pieces such as “Creation and Destruction,” below. ing, Abelman found himself at a bit of a loss.

He had a show at the Beaumont Art League in November 2014, but was searching for a new direction. Then fate lent a hand.

The Estonian performance art group Non Grata, a global touring group who have visited Beaumont several times, whose

events also feature printmaking. The last time they were in town, Fedorchenko introduced Abelman to artist Al Paldrok.

“I showed him my work and he was like, ‘You gotta come down to Estonia — everyone’s going to love you down there,’” Abelman says. “I’m not really an outgoing type of guy, I just like to concentrate on my work, but I felt this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, even though I tried to come up with every excuse mentally not to go. I forced my self to go.

“It shifted the focus of my work. It was the key that reinvigorated me and got me producing work again.”

Estonia was a creative fork in the road, Abelman says.

“If it was successful and people liked the work I was producing, if I was accepted, then I’d pursue my art career,” he says. “But if I wasn’t successful, then I’d pursue my graphic design career and just shift the artwork into more of a hobby.

“But since it was so successful, since I was so inspired by the students there, I feel the work I am doing has more purpose.”

Abelman said that his internal drive before going to Estonia was to solve the confusion he has about society.

“Visually I would try to interpret situations or issues, whether critical or mundane issues, in imagery,” he says. “But whenever I would show the process to the students, the imagery they created — I mean, some of them created things I couldn’t even imagine.

See ABELMAN on page 12

Volume 22, No. 2

October 2015 ISSUE • 11

High Street Galler y to host 3C Comics, Oct 24 BEAUMONT — The High Street Gallery will host an exhibition of original comic book art by the collective 3C Comics, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Oct. 24. The gallery is located in Victoria House, 2110 Victoria St. in Beaumont.

“3C Comics will show something new in a series of stories you can read along the walls of the gallery,” Olivia Busceme, gallery director, said. “The artists of 3C Comics are impressive in many mediums, and it will be interesting to see their painstaking comic work produced and displayed as fine art.”

Entry is free and the work will be for sale. Refreshments will be available at the event.

“3C comics is a comic creative team based in the Golden Triangle area working towards celebrating comics as an art form,” Honour Harry, a member of the collective, said. “We come from all over Southeast Texas from Beaumont, Orange, Port Arthur, Nederland and so on. Most of us have some art education from Lamar University.”

Harry said all the artists in the collective have different styles and aesthetics in their work, but most of the themes their comics share are “creepy, weird, macabre, and maybe gross.”

“There is something I admire about giving an animate or inanimate object some creepiness in either the form of

The various styles of the 3C Comics artists will be on display at High Street Gallery, Oct. 24 irony or exaggeration,” Gonzalo Alvarez, 3C Comics member, said. “Taking a personality or physical trait and illustrating it to its extreme form, sort of like caricature, but emphasizing the more ugly traits, is my way of putting the idea or message I am trying to convey right in the face of the viewer.”

Alvarez said his comic strip “The Legend of Pollo Man” features a chicken warrior that defeats the monsters of classic Mexican myth.

“I have yet to see a Mexican-influenced fantasy world to successfully be created and so I would like to try to make that happen.” he said. “I'm looking to combine the perfect amount of fantasy, videogame tropes, and Mexican culture to create a world that I hope others who grew up with either will definitely enjoy.”

For more information, email victoriahousetx @gmail.com, or visit the High Street Gallery Facebook page.

12 • ISSUE October 2015

Volume 22, No. 2

THE BATTLE OF AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA by Eliot Dudik

Dishman to host ‘Eliot Dudik: Broken Land/Still Lives’ THE DISHMAN ART MUSEUM will host the exhibition “Eliot Dudik: Broken Land | Still Lives,” through Nov. 6.

A reception will be held 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 16.

This exhibition of large-scale photographs by Eliot Dudik includes prints from two recent series, “Broken Land” and “Still Lives.”

In “Broken Land,” Dudik photographs American Civil War battlefields, depicting them as contemporary

landscapes in order to explore the similarities in cultural and political conflict between now and the time period that led up to the war. Smithsonian Magazine dubbed the highly detailed large color images a “photographic requiem for America's Civil War battlefields.”

He will also share work from his “Still Lives” series, portraits of Civil War re-enactors at the culmination of their performance.

Dudik is a visiting assistant professor of photography at the College of William & Mary. His work was re-

VIEW from page 3

ABELMAN from page 10

Maintenance is an on going situation but, we have been hit with such a plague of repairs you would think Moses was on our case. The Studio is capable of keeping up with basic needs but, some work is not so easy to dispatch.

I find this difficult to ask, but if any of you could be so kind as to help us with this unusual onslaught of mishaps and defray some of the costs for these needed repairs.

The studio would be infinitely grateful for any level of assistance on these projects!

We are currently reestablishing life drawing class at the studio as our leader, Abby McLaurin has moved back home to North Carolina and is no longer able to participate. We will miss Abby and wish her the best in her creative endeavors. Look for the new life drawing schedule on our website

“I was thinking that the work I produce myself is so limited because it’s only one perspective. But if I share this work, with a number of people and I have more than one person come together with this collage, that’s more of a reflection of society than anything I can create just by myself.”

Abelman’s enthusiasm shines through when starts to talk about a 10-year-old student at the Estonian workshop.

“He had no artistic training, it was just pure thought that he carved into the woodblock,” Abelman says. “We used that (image) quite a bit in one of the large-scale frames we collaged.”

Abelman said the original purpose of the workshop was to set up a site-specific work, but it developed into three large-scale panels. He hopes to develop the workshop theory to be able to produce site-specific installa-

cently featured on CNN and has been exhibited around the country. He was the recipient of the 2014 PhotoNOLA Prize and was selected for the Magenta Foundation's Flash Forward 2015 Festival.

The Dishman Art Museumis located at 1030 E. Lavaca on ther Lamar University campus in Beaumont.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

For more information, call 409-880-8959 or visit lamar.edu/dishman.

tions in several cities, both in the U.S. and in Europe. He will be in Oklahoma in February, Estonia again next summer and hopes to visit Japan next year.

The collaborative aspect of the work, and the chance to include a variety of perspectives and experiences is the driving force of Abelman’s creative resurgence. “‘Evolve into Many’ is that,” he says. “What I’m going to try to do in my future shows is more of a combination of bringing other people into the fold, into my work. So not only am I creating all the work myself, but I am also actually combining other people’s work with my mine.

“So this show is the last step from what I was into this new approach.”

“Evolve into Many” offers visitors a chance to say goodbye to the old, insular Jake, and welcome the worldly Maurice. From any perspective, the quiet man has a lot to say.

The Art Studio is located at 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont.

Volume 22, No. 2

October 2015 ISSUE • 13

Convention draws ‘Supernatural’ family of fans By the time Sam and Dean Winchester hit the stage, the auditorium in the Plano Center was packed with 2,500 “Supernatural” fans, the majority of whom were women. The roar that accompanied ‘the Photo by boys” entrance was loud and high pitched.

Ramona But it was nothing that hadn’t been heard Young before during the three-day “Salute to Supernatural” convention, which drew fans of the popular CW sci-fi/fantasy series to Texas.

Sam and Dean — or Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, if one insists on using the actors’ real names — were the main draw, but every cast member was greeted with applause and an outpouring of love. And yes, that’s not just hyperbole. There was a genuine bond between the actors and the fans.

That is the thing about a good convention. The people who attend — many of whom had paid a goodly sum for the pleasure — are more than just there to see a celebrity.

They are there to find a place among “family.”

And the cast of “Supernatural,” which was celebrating the show’s 10th anniversary as well as the 50th convention, played their parts well. There was no condescension among the actors. They talked often about the close-knit set — almost always citing the stars for creating a welcoming atmosphere — and all seemed genuinely grateful for the fan support.

With a couple of 13-year olds in tow, it was fascinating to see the show through their eyes (Disclaimer: I have watched and enjoyed a good few of the episodes, but my geekdom goes more to Doctor Who, so I was able to be more the objective witness to the event).

Ruth Connell stole the first day. The diminutive Scottish actress plays Rowena, a centuries-old witch and mother to the King of Hell (more of him later). She was self effacing and funny, and more importantly, she really knew how to hold the room during an hour-long question and answer. In fact, she was so good that we made time to see her the next morning as well and she did not disappoint.

The next highlight was Mark Sheppard who plays Crowley, the aforementioned King of Hell. He was rude and curt, treating all the questioners with disdain, often berating them for the quality of their questions. The audience absolutely ate it up. Only the King of Hell could get away with it, and Sheppard played the whole session with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

Misha Collins plays the angel Castiel, probably the biggest star outside of the two leads. He treated the audience to anecdotes from the set, career advice and was exactly as nice as the audience expected him to be. At one point a fan’s phone rang and Collins leaped from the stage to talk to the girl’s father, whom he had on speaker phone.

Unlike Comicpalooza or ComicCon or other nerdfests, the “Supernatural” convention is short on vendors — the ones who are there mainly cater to the show. Don’t expect

Story by Andy Coughlan

Jared Padalecki, left, and Jensen Ackles, who play Sam and Dean Winchester in the CW show “Supernatural,” talk to fans during “Salute to Supernatural” in Plano, Sept.

13.

to see a bunch of side panels. When the cast members are on stage, they know — and the audience knows — exactly why they are there. It’s “Supernatural” all the way.

As someone who has been to several different fan conventions, there is something special about the single mindedeness of the fans. It is like Deadheads following the Grateful Dead around the country. Indeed, one woman had been to several SPN cons, including Vancouver, this summer alone.

Sunday was the time for the main event. No more sneaking into a seat near the front. The place was packed and it was loud.

Sam and Dean, brothers in “Supernatural” arms, held the room in the palms of their hands. Questioners often were struggling to keep back tears of excitement. And they were generous, funny, self-effacing, complimentary to their fans. They were the celebrities that we wish all celebrities could be like.

So what is the appeal of the show. Well, it really is about family. It is simply two brothers fighting off demons that consistently try to break them apart — and destroy the world, but that is, surprisingly, the least compelling point of the show.

As 13-year-old Daisy said, we all have our demons to fight, and no matter who might try to deny them, they are real to whomever is fighting them. Sam and Dean, with a little help from their friends, overcome through their love for each other, through the bond of family.

That’s the point of fandom, whether it be TV shows, music or gaming. It’s a chance to connect to a “family” who understands. It is easy to look from the outside and laugh at the people geeking out to a show. But they share a community, a family, and that’s not to be laughed at.

For fans of the show, the boys and the rest of the group will be in Houston in the spring.

For information, visit www.creationent .com.

14 • ISSUE October 2015

Volume 22, No. 2

Around & About If you come across any interesting exhibitions, museums or other places on your travels, share them with us. Call 409-838-5393, or contact us through our web site at www.artstudio.org. Be sure to include the location and dates of the subject, as well as any costs.

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas will host THE MONSTER MASH...AN AMSET BASH, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ticket are $35 for pre-sale and $40 at the door.

There will be a costume contest held that evening. Piano Punch, a dueling piano duo from Spring will provide entertainment.

A variety of ctivities are planned for the will host a photo booth.

Fall craft beers will be available, as well as a “spooky” signature drink.

“We're bringing out several pieces of creepy artwork from AMSET's permanent collection to use as decoration for the evening,” spokesman John Rollins said.

Food will be provided by Two Magnolias, and every food item will resemble something scary, including chocolate eyeballs and finger foods that look like actual fingers, Rollins said.

Food and drinks are included in the ticket price.

AMSET is located at 500 Main in downtown Beaumont.

For more information, visit www.amset.org.

The Cardinal Jazz Orchestra Concert will be held at Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. in the Rothwell Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Directed by Rick Condit, associate professor of saxophone and jazz studies, the Cardinal Jazz Orchestra will perform the music of Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Victor Young, as well as works from jazz legends Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Dave Samuels.

On Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m., the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music at Lamar University will present a HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR, a fun and energetic concert featuring the LU Faculty Brass Quintet and Houston-based Omni Brass.

Each ensemble will perform traditional works and some "spooky" Halloweenthemed pieces separately, and the concert will conclude with a large brass ensemble piece.

The Rothwell Recital Hall is located at 4400 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway on the Lamar University campus. for information, visit www.lamar.edu/ music.

––––––––––

Lamar University’s theatre and dance department will present the George Bernard Shaw play “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, in the Studio Theatre.

Showtimes: Oct. 29 -31 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for general admission; $10 for senior citizens, students and LU faculty/staff, and $7 for LU students.

In the Joel Grothe-directed play, Vivie Warren is a promising young woman; a recent college graduate with a career waiting for her in London who has always had everything she’s ever wanted because of the generosity of her mother. However, this mother — Mrs. Warren — is a mysterious woman whom Vivie barely knows. When her mother surprises Vivie on a visit with several of her friends, Vivie confronts her mother about her career and her past, and what follows is a free-wheeling argument about the relationships between family, gender, economy and morality.

“Mrs. Warren's Profession,” first written in 1894 and not staged for another 10 years because of its controversial subject matter,

still resonates more than 100 years later as one of the greatest plays written in the English language.

The Studio Theatre is located at 4400 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

For information, call 409-880-2250, or visit www.lamar.edu/theatre .

–––––––––– Call for artists. The BEAUMONT ART LEAGUE is gearing up for its ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SHOW, its biggest show of the year.

This year's judge is Mike Kennaugh, administrator of shows with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The exhibition is Oct. 10, to Oct. 31.

Entries will be accepted beginning Sept.

28. Cost is $10 per entry; three entries maximum.

Artists must be a current BAL member to participate and memberships are available at the time of entry.

For more information, visit info@beau montartleague.org.

BAL is located at 2675 Gulf St. in Beaumont.

Mission Statement Founded in 1983, The Art Studio, Inc. is devoted to: providing opportunities for interaction between the public and the Southeast Texas community of artists; furnishing affordable studio space to originating artists of every medium; promoting cultural growth and diversity of all art forms in Southeast Texas; and providing art educational opportunities to everyone, of every age, regardless of income level, race, national origin, sex or religion.

PURPOSE The purpose of The Art Studio, Inc. is to (1) provide educational opportunities between the general public and the community of artists and (2) to offer sustained support for the artist by operating a non-profit cooperative to provide studio space and exhibition space to working artists and crafts people, and to provide an area for group work sessions for those artists and crafts people to jointly offer their labor, ideas, and enthusiasm to each other.

GOALS 1. To present public exhibitions 2. To provide educational opportunities 3. To provide accessible equipment for artists 4. To provide peer feedback through association with other artists and crafts people OBJECTIVES 1. To present nine art exhibitions per year 2. To maintain equipment for artists in a safe working environment 3. To provide better access to artists for the public 4. To offer regularly scheduled adult and children’s classes 5. To develop and maintain public activities with all sectors of the community 6. To develop and maintain equipment to aid artists in their work 7. To provide a display retail outlet for artists 8. To expand programming and activities with increased facility space

Volume 22, No. 2

October 2015 ISSUE • 15

Thoughtcrime Doubt The crime he made was of such shade – deep red and wrapped in black.

He tried to lie, but guilt was good for him and us, and Submission Guidelines and Disclaimer

everyone knew well what then to do,

ISSUE solicits and publishes the work of local authors. Poetry, short fiction, scholarly works and opinion pieces may be submitted for review. All works must be typed and may be sent to TASI by email or by messaging the ISSUE Facebook page.

The opinions expressed in “Thoughtcrime” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TASI, its Board of Directors, ISSUE’s editorial staff, or donors to TASI. Send typed works to: ISSUE, 720 Franklin, Beaumont, TX 77701 or e-mail issue@artstudio.org

once all lined up to see

Authors must submit a daytime telephone number and email along with all submissions. Pen names are acceptable, but authors must supply real names for verification. All printed works are protected by copyright. The author retains rights to any published work. ISSUE does not notify of rejection by mail or telephone.

the truth strung out – the red part his; the black was ours.

A rope tied up the day with talk.

And town folk on his side cried some but felt it best be done right here, with friends. So they, too, wrapped the black round what had been the red and led the man to what no one of us could know for sure – the rest of truth that lies quietly in the shade.

Jesse Doiron

WE WANT YOU FOR BAND NITE Listen to original music by local musicians at For upcoming gigs, visit The Studio’s facebook page

$5

admission

Stick Up It was hot, a few days before the 4th of July. I came on at 1PM and checked my convenience store till. $200, everything smaller than $20 because they would soon pour in. The boss was adamant, “Every time you get ten 20s, put a rubber band on them with the time & put them in the “Barrel.” It was/looked like a beer keg with slot at the top and safe dial where the pump should go. It was off to the side & lower than the till next to the double barrel shotgun.

It was slow and was actually installing only the first bundle in the “Barrel” when they walked in.

Three. You know the feeling. Something is not right. I moved the shotgun and had it standing by.

Never shot it before and it was a short double barrel with two triggers and the boss told me shoot the front one first with the first trigger and then get the guy trying to getting away with the second trigger.

“If things go faster than you can control, just shoot thru the counter wood. It’s double ought shot and will go right through the plywood. Take somebody out. If you disturb their plan they will leave. You have one more round and get another one.”

It took a few minutes for them case the joint and find only me on duty. It started with two, a 12pack on the counter and pistol. Just reached down and shot through the counter as instructed one handed. The unexpected recoil just ripped it from my hand. As I reached down for it the third guy opened fire above me. Then I heard screaming from the other side. I’d hit the two in the legs, maybe one in the testicles. “Get me out of here,” screamed one.

Number 3 grabbed the other two by the back of their shirts and started dragging them toward the door. Following the boss’s orders was going to shoot the other barrel. I grabbed the shotgun, stood up and was going to shoot them again but my hand hurt so bad from the one-handed shot recoil I couldn’t pull the trigger. That didn’t stop one being dragged off from forehead shooting me right between the eyes with his .38 as he hit the door.

I never died before. The bullet ripped through my pre-frontal cortex destroying my person and lodged some place in back of my skull causing more neurological mischief and spasmic witching.

The lower conscience still had an inter voice. It stated to itself “we are going to die. What are the odds there is a god or we just loose Entergy?”

“100% of one or the other but.. we’re.. finished… here…..” Darkness descended but the hearing still worked. Sirens, then last human thing heard was someone close saying, “Poor Bastard.” Then I was gone.

All ages welcome • 21 and up BYOB and have your ID. D.J. Kava

720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701

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INSIDE • ABELMAN’S EVOLUTION • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • MONTAGE 2015 • SUPERNATURAL FANDOM

When you support The Art Studio with your membership, you receive ISSUE, Southeast Texas’ and Southwest Louisiana’s alternative press, as well as class schedules, invitations to opening receptions and various Studio functions.

Volunteers These people are the life blood of our organization. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! To volunteer, drop by The Art Studio, Inc., or call 409-838-5393.

Elizabeth Fontenot Bryan Castino Heather & Adam Butler Rhonda Rodman Sue Wright Cyndi Grimes Rhonda McNally Andy Coughlan John Roberts Beau Dumesnil Karen Dumesnil Sheila Busceme Kailee Viator Gabe Sellers Scott & John Alexander Heather Adams Terri Fox Avril Falgout B.J. Bourg Michelle Falgout Stacey Haynes Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson Nathaniel Welch Tracy Danna Jaime Barclay Gina Garcia Hayley Hardin Spencer Holland Tack Somers Jack Hays Tyler Hargraves Aslinn Garcia Chase Kiker Paisley Polk

THIS MONTH:

JOIN US FOR ART OPENINGS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH ):30 :) 283 1% 2=

OCTOBER 3-25 GALLERY RECEPTION IS OCTOBER 3, 7-10 P.M.

This project was funded in part by the B.A. & E.W. Steinhagen Benevolent Trust through the Southeast Texas Arts Council.

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