TCB Sept. 16, 2021 — Art for Art's Sake?

SEPT. 16-23, 2021

TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM WINSTON-SALEM EDITION

ART FOR ART’S SAKE? Mural targeting WFU prompts conversations about censorship

BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA | PAGE 9

hugh holston joins gso city council PAGE 10

What does texas law mean for nc abortions?

PAGE 6

wherehouse is now west salem art hotel PAGE 15

SEPT. 16-23, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

That’s what they said!

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’m not saying “table” is a construct as much as the actual “man” and table is. And the language itself is a living, “dude” as breathing thing, metaphorically speaking. much. I have It changes when we need it to. stopped using And so “they” became a singular prothe terms “bravo” noun. I fought it at first, because it did not or “brava” with satisfy the mathematical balance a senmy writers. And tence must have. But then, I understood,

by Brian Clarey I believe I have our gendered singular pronouns no longer uttered the word “businesswoman” for the did the job of describing things accurately. very last time in my life.

After that, I began to notice how I’m de-gendering my language — trying soaked my own writing and speech was to, anyway — and you should in gender-specific refertoo! ences and words, and how When it comes to gramthey subtly, almost invisibly I believe I have mar, I am decidedly old informed my worldview. It uttered the word school. We do not split came into focus for me one ‘businesswoman’ infinitives at Triad City Beat, night at an event I was workfor the very last nor do we allow participles ing. I referred to a guest as to dangle. And as far as I’m “one of the Triad’s most suctime in my life. concerned, the only one cessful businesswomen….” allowed to start a sentence And even as I said it, the with “And” is me. word caught in my throat.

It must be so. As purveyors of the writThis woman had been in business for ten word, editors and journalists — along more than 20 years, had been a pioneer with everyone else who actively makes in an industry and grown through smart sentences in proper English — are official moves and savvy. When I called her a custodians of the language. businesswoman, in my own head I heard, The language is important because it’s Pretty good, for a lady. how we take the abstract thoughts in our And that didn’t sound right at all. heads and make them concrete. The word

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Just because bans exist, doesn’t mean that the need for abortions disappears.

—Amber Gavin, A Woman’s Choice pg 6

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.256.9320 BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

KEY ACCOUNTS

SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

OF COUNSEL

Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

ART ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

SALES SALES EXECUTIVE

Jonathan Jones

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com Nicole Zelniker nicole@triad-city-beat.com

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CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR

Robert Paquette robert@triad-city-beat.com

Drew Dix drew@triad-city-beat.com

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1. ©2021 Beat Media Inc.

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com Carolyn de Berry, James Douglas, Matt Jones, Jordan Howse, Jen Sorensen, Clay Jones

COVER GSO illustration by Robert Paquette WS cover shots by Nicholas Schmidt

SEPT. 16-23, 2021

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UP FRONT | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

PARTICIPATE IN OUR RESEARCH with Dr. Blair Wisco at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

WE’RE EXAMINING: emotional and physical reactions to memories of stressful or traumatic experiences.

YOU MUST BE: •Age 18 or older •Able to read and write in English THE BASICS: •5 visits to our lab within 2 weeks •$150 total compensation

WHAT YOU’LL DO: •Interviews and questionnaires (3 hour visit) •Monitor your bodily reactions while you think of past experiences (2 hour visit)

CITY LIFE SEPT. 16-21

by Michaela Ratliff

THURSDAY Sept. 16

Creatio @ Paddled South Brewing Co. (HP) 6:30 p.m.

Thrift-A-Nista Tour @ Goodwill (HP) 10 a.m.

•Wear a cardiac monitor and answer questions on a tablet computer on 3 days (30 min set-up per day)

WANT TO SEE IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE?

CONTACT US TO GET STARTED! You will be asked to complete screening questions online and over the phone.

Email or call us to get more information and be directed to the online survey.

Or, scan the QR code to take you straight there.

Triad Goodwill is excited to announce its 2021-22 Thrift-A-Nista tour, offering name-brand, vintage and designer items at affordable prices! For more information, visit triadgoodwill.org/thriftanista-tour.

Black Panther @ Bailey Park (W-S) 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Blair Wisco - UNCG

copelab@uncg.edu

Indie artist Creatio is performing live at Paddled South Brewing Co., playing songs from various genres as well as a few originals. Food will be provided

by Jamaica Coast Catering. Learn more from the event page on Facebook.

SATURDAY Sept. 18

Batman Day 2021 @ Eastgate Comics (HP) 10 a.m.

Innovation Quarter and a/perture cinema collaborate to bring you a screening of Black Panther, the tale of Prince T’Challa who fights to protect his kingdom of Wakanda from his vengeful cousin Killmonger. Grab something to eat from Que Viva! Latin Street Grill food truck, followed by a drink provided by Incendiary Brewing Company. Check out the event page on Facebook for more information.

FRIDAY Sept. 17 Annual Pow Wow @ Country Park (GSO) 5 p.m.

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Until Sept. 19, the Guilford Native American Association invites you to join its 44th annual Pow Wow including a dance and drum competition, traditional Native American food and arts and crafts. Find more information and purchase tickets at guilfordnative.com.

Eastgate Comics is throwing a Batman bonanza with half off Batman and Batman related comi1 comics. Don’t miss the chance to add to your Batman collection!

Nature Journaling Workshop with Carolina Corona @ Gateway Nature Preserve (W-S) 10 a.m.

SUNDAY Sept. 19

Hiring Event @ Clutch Coffee Bar (W-S) 12 p.m.

(As of Wednesday, Sept. 15)

Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC 1,315,427 (+48,094)

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | UP FRONT

Coronavirus in the Triad:

Forsyth 46,197 (+1,454) Guilford County Clutch Coffee Bar is looking for new team members!

Stop by and learn about open roles and position duties.

You could even land a same-day interview. Don’t worry if you can’t make it! Apply online at clutchcoffeebar. com/apply.

TUESDAY Sept. 21

Dahlia’s for the Garden @ Reynolda Gardens (W-S) 12:30 p.m.

58,664 (1,767)

COVID-19 deaths NC

15,405 (+511)

Forsyth

483 (+12)

Guilford

742 (+0)

Documented recoveries NC

1,202,974 (+48,752)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

54,544 (+1,869)

Current cases

Artist Carolina Corona invites you to learn more about how nature journaling is beneficial to your observation skills and curiosity. Participants may bring their own materials, but a sketchbook and drawing pencils will be provided. Find more information and register on the event page on Facebook.

As part of Reynolda’s Tuesday gardening series, Jimmy Speas from the Carolina Dahlia Society wants to share his best tips and tricks for preparing, planting and caring for different varieties of dahlias. Get registered at reynolda.org/tuesdaytalks.

The Way Down Wanderers @ The Ramkat (W-S) 7 p.m.

National Dance Day GSO @ LeBauer Park (GSO) 2 p.m.

NC

97,048 (-1.169)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

3,377 (-192)

Hospitalizations (right now) NC

3,630 (-160)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

155 (-11)

Vaccinations NC First Dose

Get moving during this year’s National Dance Day GSO, with performances by Royal Expressions School of Dance, theBBoyBallet and more professional dancers.

Food trucks and a vendor market will also be available for you to enjoy. Learn more at greensborodowntownparks.org.

The Way Down Wanderers are stopping by the Ramkat and celebrating the recent release of their album More Like Tomorrow. The band is recognized for its unique blends of rock, folk, classical and more sounds. Buy tickets at theramkat.com/events.

5,468,498 (+71,712)

Fully vaccinated

5,394,409 (51%, +80,169)

Forsyth First Dose

216,346 (+2,292

Fully vaccinated

199,449 (52%, +3,054)

Guilford First dose

308,888 (+2,413)

Fully vaccinated

287,967 (54%, +3,484)

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NEWS | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

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NEWS

Texas has ‘pretty much’ banned abortions. What about North Carolina?

by Sayaka Matsuoka

W

hen Tara Romano heard that the Supreme Court had upheld the Texas law that bans abortions after just six weeks, she said it felt like a punch to the gut.

“It felt really heavy,” she said. “Abortions have pretty much been banned in Texas.”

Romano, who works as the executive director for NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, a nonprofit that advocates for abortion access, said that she and her colleagues had been watching the Texas bill — known as SB8 — since it was passed back in May. When the law finally went into effect on Sept. 1, and then was subsequently upheld by the majority-conservative United States Supreme Court, Romano couldn’t help but wonder if a similar thing could happen in North Carolina.

“It feels like we’re approaching a time when we could be beyond Roe,” Romano said. “As in, a post-Roe world where people won’t have the protection that came from the Roe v. Wade precedent and anti-abortion legislation in states will have more free will and it will be harder to stop them.”

Despite the stunning passage of SB8, other abortion bills moving through state legislatures aren’t nearly as broad in scope. For example, one of the key parts of the Texas law is that private citizens, not the government, are tasked with enforcing the law through civil lawsuits.

It works a bit like a bounty system. Ordinary people can bring lawsuits against abortion providers and anyone who aids someone in the act of getting an abortion which includes things like giving patients a ride to the clinic. The law does not target the people seeking abortions.

If the plaintiffs are successful in their cases, the law allows them to collect cash judgements of $10,000 plus their legal fees from those they sue. If they lose, they don’t have to pay the defendants’ legal costs. Since the law went into effect, the roughly 24 abortion clinics across Texas have stopped offering virtually all abortions or have closed altogether, according to CNN. On Sept. 9, a little over a week after the Supreme Court refused to block the law, the US Justice Department, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, sued the state of Texas over the ban, noting that it was “unconstitutional.” On Sept.

COURTESY PHOTO

A Woman’s Choice in Greensboro is the only abortion provider in the city. There are three total abortion clinics in the Triad, including Hallmark Women’s Clinic and Planned Parenthood in Winston-Salem.

Faircloth of Guilford County and Lee Zachary of Forsyth and Yadkin County were among those who sponsored the bill. Unlike the Texas law, HB453 targeted patients directly by preventing them from getting abortions based on their supposed reasons for doing so. The bill would prevent abortions based on presumed race or a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

What does anti-abortion The bill was vetoed by Gov. Cooper in June and would require a 3/5 majority legislation look like in NC? vote to override Cooper’s veto. The bill urrently, there are four antihas been stalled in committee since July abortion bills that have been 19. introduced this Bans such as this one, session in North Caroaiming to limit abortions lina. At least one made based on the patients’ ‘It feels like we’re it to Gov. Roy Cooper’s reasoning, have been indesk where it was vetoed. approaching a troduced across the counThe other three remain try and “set a dangerous time when we stuck in committees. precedent of politicians The one bill that could be beyond defining ‘good’ and ‘bad’ gained the most tracRoe.’ reasons to obtain an tion is HB453, otherwise abortion,” according to – Tara Romano, executive direcknown as the “Human tor for NARAL NC Planned Parenthood.

Life Nondiscrimination “People access aborAct/No Eugenics.” Prition care for all different mary sponsors of the bill reasons,” Romano said.

“They’re shaminclude Rep. Pat McElraft, Rep. John R. ing patients for the decision that they are Bradford, Rep. Kristin Baker and Rep. making.”

Dean Arp. Local representatives John

13, a Texas state judge issued an injunction on the anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, blocking it from trying to enforce the new law against the Planned Parenthood in Texas. And as the rest of the country watches the fight over abortion access unfold in Texas, abortion providers in other states like North Carolina, wonder if they’re next.

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Nearly one in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime. That’s according to data analyzed by the Guttmacher Institute from 2014. And while abortion rates have been declining in the last couple of years due to an overall decrease in births and pregnancies, Amber Gavin of A Woman’s Choice wants people to know that abortions are a common experience.

“It’s incredibly common,” she said.

“You probably know someone who has had an abortion,” she said.

Currently Gavin works as the vice president of advocacy and operations for A Woman’s Choice, a network of abortion clinics with locations in Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh and Jacksonville, FL. Gavin said that even though an antiabortion bill hasn’t been signed into law in several years in our state, the bills add stigma to what should be a private, individual-oriented health procedure.

“These bills are medically unnecessary and they aren’t about healthcare,” she said. “They’re created to add barriers and to shame people.”

The other bills that have been introduced this session but have since stalled in committees include SB405 or HB510, otherwise known as the “Born-

What does the Texas ban mean for North Carolina?

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hile none of the anti-abortion bills in NC have been signed into law, providers like Romano and Gavin say that when a state passes such a restrictive law as in Texas, other state legislators often follow suit.

For example, in June, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told the Supreme Court that Roe v. Wade was “egregiously wrong” and that it should be overturned. Fitch and state lawmakers advocated for the justices to allow HB1510 from 2018, otherwise known as the “Gestational Age Act” to go into effect. The law, which would bar most abortions after 15 weeks, was struck down by a federal district judge whose ruling was then affirmed by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, the state is appealing the lower courts’ decisions to the Supreme Court, which has stated that it will hear arguments for the case in

its upcoming term, which begins in October, according to CBS News.

Laws like the ones in Texas and Mississippi are worrying for Gavin, who says that lawmakers are increasingly trying to erase the precedent set by Roe v. Wade.

“They’re hoping to test Roe at the Supreme Court,” she said. “And with the new justices, they’re hoping to overturn 50 years of precedent.”

When bills and laws like these make national news, Gavin said that it can embolden protesters who have been showing up outside of abortion clinics and harassing patients for years. Even during the height COURTESY PHOTO of the pandemic, when there were Amber Gavin is the vice president of advocacy and operations for A Woman’s Choice, a network of abortion mask mandates clinics with locations in Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh and Jacksonville, Fla. and stay-at-home responsibility is to shield patients from received more than double its typical orders, Gavin said protester activity and walk them from number of inquiries, with two-thirds of that staff at the abortion clinics across the parking lot to the clinic. And that’s them from Texas. That’s why, Romano the state saw a steady number of antiimportant, Gavin said, because the numsays, it’s important to advocate for aborabortion protesters. Romano, who also ber of people seeking abortions locally tion access at the state level so that no monitors protester activity across the hasn’t changed. matter what happens at the federal level, state, said that at a Charlotte clinic re“We haven’t seen a decrease in folks no matter what happens to Roe, patients cently, approximately 400 anti-abortion accessing abortion care,” she said. can access the care they need. States protesters showed up to a clinic.

“That’s the problem such as California, New York and Maine “There’s this idea of with these near total have all passed laws that would protect emboldening private bans. Folks always abortion rights even if Roe v. Wade were citizens to punish people ‘They’re hoping to need access to aboroverturned. who are trying to access tion care…. Just “This shows that we’ve got to have abortion,” Romano said. test Roe at the because bans exist, that focus,” Romano said. “It’s imporIn 2019, Triad City Beat Supreme Court. And doesn’t mean that the tant what’s happening at the state level. released an exhaustive with the new justices, need for abortions We’ve been lucky that we’ve had Gov. look at abortion access disappears.”

Cooper to veto some of these antiin the Triad. At the time, they’re hoping to This is evidenced abortion bills and there haven’t been close to a hundred prooverturn 50 years of by the ban in Texas. any passed since 2015. It feels like we’re testers would congregate precedent.’

Because clinics have holding the line, and that’s not ideal but outside of the clinic – Amber Gavin, vice president of all but stopped proit’s incredibly helpful for people who are in Greensboro every advocacy and operations for A viding abortions in seeking abortion access.”

Saturday. Since then, Woman’s Choice the state, according to According to NARAL NC’s numbers, not much has changed multiple news outlets, there are currently 15 standalone clinics in terms of anti-abortion patients are crossing in the state that provide some form of activity, Gavin said. There has been, state lines to access abortions. According abortion care. In the Triad, there is A however, an increase in the number of to an AP report, one clinic in Oklahoma Woman’s Choice in Greensboro and clinic escorts, or volunteers, whose sole

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | NEWS

Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act;” SB404 or the “Second Change for LIFE;” and HB31, or the “Detected Heartbeat/Prohibit Abortion” bill.

Rep. Joyce Krawiec of Forsyth County and Rep. Amy Galey of Alamance and Guilford Counties, both Republicans, are listed as primary sponsors for SB404 and SB405. The latter has been pushed for by Republican legislators since 2019, when it was first introduced. Similar bills with the same name have also been circulating across the nation for the last 20 years. SB405 targets doctors and providers with the threat of criminal penalty and requires healthcare providers present at the time a child is born alive following an abortion to exercise the same degree of professional care and skill to preserve the child’s life.

Gov. Cooper vetoed the bill in 2019 and this year’s version has been stalled in committee since mid May. The goal with many of these bills, according to Romano, is the decrease communication between the patients and their providers and to shame patients.

“What these bills have in common is they are really trying to keep people from having honest conversations about the care that they need,” she said. “It’s a way of trying to isolate people who are seeking abortion care.”

What she wants to reiterate, is that abortion care is just another form of healthcare.

“Abortion is a common experience for a lot of people in this country, and it has been since people have been getting pregnant,” Romano said.

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NEWS | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

Anti-abortion bills introduced in the NC 2021-2022 session so far: HB453: “Human Life Nondiscrimination Act/No Eugenics” What: Prevents patients from getting abortions based on their supposed reasons for doing so Local primary sponsors: None Status: Voted by Gov. Cooper on June 25. Referred to committee on July 19

HB510/SB405: “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protect Act” What: Penalizes abortion providers if they don’t care for a child who is “born alive” after an abortion.

Local primary sponsors: Rep. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), Rep. Amy Galey (R-Guilford) Status: Referred to committees in April and May

SB404: “A Second Chance for LIFE” What: Would require doctors to tell their patients that abortions can be “reversed” if they don’t take misoprosol, the pill that would complete the abortion. It would also fine providers that violate the law.

Local primary sponsors: Rep. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), Rep. Amy Galey (R-Guilford) Status: Referred to committee in March

SAM BENNETT

Tara Romano is executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice NC.

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Hallmark Women’s Clinic and Planned themselves, other organizations conParenthood in Winston-Salem. Hallmark nect patients with clinics and also help only offers medication abortion. And pay for their procedures, such as the even though 15 clinics is considered to Carolina Abortion Fund. These kinds be a lot compared to neighboring states of grassroots movements are what will like South Carolina, which only has be key in the coming months and years four clinics, and Tennessee which has for protecting abortion access in North seven, there are many Carolina, Gavin said. more facilities known as “Right now, abortion ‘It’s incredibly crisis pregnancy centers is legal in all 50 states,” that often masquerade as common. You Gavin said. “I want to abortion providers with encourage folks to stay acprobably know the goal of dissuading tive and stay aware and to someone who has connect with local organipatients from seeking abortions. had an abortion.’ zations on the ground.”

As of 2019, there were This way, as providers, – Tara Romano 115 crisis pregnancy Gavin said they can focus centers in North Carolina, on just doing their jobs. five of them in the Triad.

“Abortion providers are resilient,” she “They’re part of that overall campaign said. “You see attacks like this over and of trying to shame people for accessing over again and we’re determined to do the care that they need,” Romano said. what it takes so people can access the In addition to the abortion clinics abortion care that they need.”

HB31: “Detected Heartbeat/Prohibit Abortion” What: This bill is the most similar to the Texas law as it would ban abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks.

Local primary sponsors: None Status: Referred to committee in February

SB105: “2021 Appropriations Act” What: While this bill is not a stand-alone anti-abortion bill, it does contain funding for anti-abortion causes. In Section 9G.6.(a), the bill states that a total of $6.4 million would be allocated to the Human Coalition. The purpose of the funding would be to increase the organization’s operation of the Human Coalition Pregnancy Support Program which aims to provide support for women experiencing under-support pregnancies. However, one of the main aspects of the program is to “support childbirth as an alternative to abortion.”

Local primary sponsors: None Status: The bill passed its third reading on Aug. 12

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t’s art for art’s sake, until it isn’t.

At least that’s how artist Nicholas Schmidt is feeling after one of his murals, which was created for this year’s Mural Fest, was painted over this week.

Schmidt had been chosen as one of 10 artists to paint a mural in WinstonSalem’s downtown Artivity on the Green park, hosted by a local arts organization, Art for Art’s Sake or AFAS. The organization, which has been around for the last 14 years, has hosted Mural Fest for the last seven, generally featuring about 10-11 pieces each year. This year was Schmidt’s first time participating.

“I asked to be in this mural event about a year ago when last year’s event was going on,” Schmidt told Triad City Beat in an interview on Wednesday. “As the time grew closer, I came up with this concept.”

Schmidt’s mural, which has since been painted over, originally depicted Wake Forest University’s Demon Deacon mascot walking over houses as he holds a bag and his cane. In the background, which was painted Wake Forest gold, is the stenciled word,” DEACTOWN.” The imagery was meant to be a critique of the university and the hospital system’s overarching influence over the city, the artist said.

“I was getting really excited about calling out Wake Forest for the gentrification of our city and spreading Deactown all over our downtown,” Schmidt said. “They’re rebranding downtown Winston-Salem.”

The Mural Fest has always had rules about the content that artists can paint — no nudity, no violence, no politics, said AFAS CEO, Harry Knabb.

The last rule, which Knabb said Schmidt violated, is the one that ultimately resulted in the mural being taken down.

Before his mural was painted over, Schmidt took to social media like TikTok and Facebook to bring attention to what he calls “corporate censorship of art.”

Schmidt also told TCB that he had cleared the mural’s content with Kendall Doub, the curator for this year’s Mural Fest.

“I reached out to Kendall through Facebook messenger on Sept. 7 to ask about the rules,” Schmidt said. “And he responded and said, ‘No nudity, no violence, no politics.’ And I said, well that’s pretty vague so here’s what I’m working on.”

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | NEWS

Mural targeting WFU sparks conversations around censorship

by Sayaka Matsuoka

COURTESY PHOTO

Nicholas Schmidt’s original mural depicted Wake Forest’s demon deacon as a robber baron, stepping over houses in Winston-Salem.

COURTESY PHOTO

Now, the mural has been painted over and is just a grey block. AFAS CEO Harry Knabb says that they’ve already contracted with another artist to fill the space.

In texts provided by Schmidt to TCB, the artist explains that he is “working on a piece in which the demon deacon is a giant robber baron stepping on houses.”

To that, Doub replied, “That’s a pretty cool concept. Should be fine, just keep things symbolic as possible, no direct attacks and u should be fine.”

However, on Tuesday, after Schmidt had worked on painting the mural for two days, he got a text from Doub saying that a sponsor for the event had issues with Schmidt’s piece and that it would have to take it down. In the interview and in texts sent to TCB, Schmidt clarified that the sponsor in question was Verger Capital Management, who, according to texts from Doub, has a business relationship with Wake Forest University. However, in a subsequent phone call, Schmidt said that Doub walked back those statements and noted that the decision to take the mural down was made solely by AFAS. Doub, who directed questions to AFAS CEO Harry Knabb, has been a longtime contributor to the Triad’s street art scene. He has collaborated notably with Greensboro real estate developer

Marty Kotis over the years to put up several murals around Greensboro and has been a well-known entity in local art circles.

And that’s why Schmidt said he doesn’t blame Doub for what happened.

“Kendall was very gracious, and I think he was put in an impossible position,” Schmidt said. “Over and over again, he told me how sorry he was and he told me that I could do something else.”

In a call on Wednesday, Harry Knabb said that the decision to paint over Schmidt’s mural was made solely by him and that neither Verger nor Wake Forest University had been involved.

“They don’t even know as far as I’m concerned,” Knabb said.

When asked why the mural was taken down, Knabb said it was because the piece violated their rule about being political. He noted that portraying the Demon Deacon as a robber baron was “pretty political,” as was the claim that Wake Forest University was responsible for gentrification. Subsequently, when TCB noted that Schmidt had gotten express permission about painting the

piece, Knabb initially said, “that conversation never took place.” But when he was notified that there were text messages to the contrary, Knabb reiterated that it doesn’t matter if Schmidt got permission because he still broke the rules.

“The bottom line is when we saw the depiction, it was not what our understanding of what it was going to be,” Knabb said.

Still, Knabb made it clear that if Schmidt wanted to paint his mural elsewhere, that he was welcome to.

“Just not on private property,” he said.

“Artivity is a private park. And for seven years, with 70 artists, we’ve never had a situation where the rules were broken.”

Knabb also noted that his decision wasn’t influenced by the fact that Verger is a sponsor of Mural Fest. Schmidt doesn’t believe that.

“This is corporate censorship,” said Schmidt. “The issue is corporate censorship and not my piece being put up on a wall.”

A spokesperson for Wake Forest University responded to TCB by stating that, Cont. on pg 10

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NEWS | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

Hugh Holston chosen to fill at-large GSO city council seat

by Sayaka Matsuoka

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COURTESY PHOTO

Nicholas Schmidt has been living in Winston-Salem for the last 12 years and previously worked at Wake Forest University as a contractor in food service.

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Cont. from pg 9 ‘Mural’ “Wake Forest did not request removal of the mural and supports the arts and free expression of artists.”

Schmidt said that if Verger didn’t have anything to do with the decision to take the mural down, that’s almost worse.

“I feel like it’s even more nefarious because it’s the people who should be displaying art in our community who are censoring art,” he said.

Schmidt, who has been living in Winston-Salem for the last 12 years, said that targeting Wake Forest was somewhat personal for him. He revealed that prior to the pandemic, he worked on campus in foodservice through a contract company and saw the way that many of the workers were treated there.

“I just feel like Wake Forest is turning Winston-Salem into this kind of company town where you receive your education from them and then you go to work for them and if you can’t afford to get an education from Wake Forest, you can do so-called lower skilled work like foodservice where you’re really underpaid and your hours get cut,” he said.

And as the “City of Arts and Innovation,” Schmidt said he expects more from Winston-Salem’s decision makers whether it be the head of AFAS or city officials.

“We are the City of Arts and Innovation as long as that serves capital interests,” Schmidt said. “Like only when there is an influx of wealth into our community but not when those same arts present a controversial opinion….

I think we’ve had a huge influx of businesses in that last 12 years and they’re taking advantage of artists who have been working to make Winston-Salem the City of Arts and Innovation.”

As it stands, the spot where Schmidt’s mural was is now just a grey rectangle.

And he has no plans to paint something else, he said.

“I’m fine with that space going to another artist,” he said.

And that’s just as well; Knabb confirmed that they have already found another artist to fill the space, likely within the next week.

Schmidt said he’ll likely paint his original concept on a large canvas. All in all, he thinks the controversy has been a good thing for Winston-Salem because it’s prompted a lot of conversation.

“It’s brought up questions like, ‘What is our city?’ and ‘What is our identity as a city?’” Schmidt said. “Like how much is Wake Forest’s investment influencing our culture as a city? I’m thrilled that my art is able to inspire that conversation.

As an artist is there anything better than sparking a conversation in your community?”

TCB did not hear back from Verger in time for publication.

Learn more about Schmidt and his art via his Instagram or his TikTok @kudzu_gardens.

The Mural Fest opened on Saturday and runs for the next year.

ugh Holston will be the newest Greensboro city councilmember starting next Tuesday. Holston, who was unanimously chosen by the current eight remaining city councilmembers on Tuesday evening, will be filling the at-large seat left vacant by Michelle Kennedy.

Kennedy served since 2018 and resigned from city council in August to take a job with the city as the director of the neighborhood development department.

During Tuesday evening’s special meeting, city council heard comments from 25 individuals who sought the seat. Originally, 45 people had applied to run but since the application window closed on Sept. 9, four applicants withdrew, one was disqualified because they SCREEN SHOT weren’t a registered voter and Hugh Holston was chosen unanimously by city three did not live in the city, a council on Sept. 14. prerequisite for service. Among the applicants were former city son Goldie Wells nominated Holston, councilmember Mike Barber as well as which councilperson Justin Outling, who current school board member T. Dianne is running for mayor, seconded. The Bellamy-Small. While Barber spoke subsequent vote to elect Holston passed on his past experience on city council, unanimously.

Bellamy-Small did not attend the meetAccording to Holston’s LinkeIn proing on Tuesday. file, he is the former director of the LinHolston, who is registered as unaffilicoln Financial Group. He also worked as ated, currently serves as the chair of the an assistant vice president for AT&T for city’s planning and zoning commission 17 years and as an assistant vice presiand has also served as the chair of the dent of Wells Fargo in Greensboro for board of adjustment. During Tuesday’s 12 years prior to that. meeting, he noted that he has been a He received in bachelor’s degree in Greensboro resident for 32 years and business administration from UNC-Chawould be focused on three areas: civic, pel Hill. In 2019, Gov. Roy Cooper apcity engagement and business. During pointed Holston to the North Carolina his comments, Holston noted that he has College Foundation Board of Trustees. worked with the Community Theater While many of the applicants noted of Greensboro and the NCCJ of the that they were only hoping to fill the seat Piedmont. He is also the co-chair of temporarily until next spring’s primary Build Greensboro Together, a commuelections, Holston made no such distincnity-based campaign to raise funds to tion during his comments. improve two Greensboro parks.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor After all of the candidates had spoken, Nancy Vaughan noted that Holston will Councilperson Sharon Hightower be sworn in as a city councilmember nominated Gerry McCants, a Democrat during next Tuesday’s city council meetwith 31 years of business experience ing. and the economic development chair for “Wow, I am so thankful,” Holston the state and local NAACP. Hightower’s noted after being picked by city council. nomination was seconded by Mayor “I am honored, and I am humbled. I Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson but ultimately am ready to serve and it’s time to get to failed in a vote, 2-6. Then, councilperwork; let’s go.”

EDITORIAL

Marcus Smith a non-issue in GSO mayor race?

Claytoonz

by Clay Jones

I

t’s a shame that Greensboro’s city Vaughan, faces off against an actual Black council election will be postponed guy, Justin Outling. until next year, because it is generWhat’s politically bizarre is that neither ally the only odd-year election in candidate has accepted Marcus Smith, our coverage area. So we have a lot of who some have called our own version of institutional knowledge about it, have George Floyd, as a campaign issue, which close access to many of the players and, in turn means that neither is courting prosometimes, can sense when things don’t gressive groups who adhere to the ethos smell right. of Black Lives Matter. In fact, neither Consider the case of Marcus Smith, has voted to settle with the Smith family, who died on the ground at the 2018 Folk which is a stated goal of local activists.

Festival while EMTs and And because a candidate the cops who hogtied cannot win a citywide elecThe candidates him looked on. Perhaps it tion in Greensboro without goes without saying that what the old-timers call “the are betting that Smith is Black, but we’re Black vote,” one wonders at Black voters don’t the calculus. saying it here anyway.

No criminal charges Surely, in 2021, the Black sympathize with have been filed against vote is not necessarily a Marcus Smith and monolithic thing — and Greensboro police, but a civil lawsuit filed in 2019 perhaps it never was, existhis family. has so far cost the city ing only in white pollsters’ more than $1 million in oversimplifications. lawyer’s fees — they are So these candidates are represented by Alan Duncan, the former betting that most Black voters don’t symchair of the Guilford County School pathize with Marcus Smith and his family, Board. The case has generated an enorwriting off the Black Lives Matter protests mous amount of paperwork and billable in his name as politically irrelevant. hours. The city has indicated a reluctance But most Black folks seem to agree that to settle with Smith’s family, which has police should not be able to kill them with dragged the thing very close to the next impunity, ever, with one possible excepcouncil election — one in which a popular tion being the guy running for mayor. incumbent mayor who makes an effort to stay in touch with Black folks, Nancy

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | OPINION

OPINION

claytoonz.com

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CULTURE | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

Culture

by Sayaka Matsuoka

C

‘Rap is folk’ aims to be heard at this year’s NC Folk Festival

hris Meadows was frustrated about the sound.

As the late-summer sun waned above him, light streaming in through the mesh of Janet Echelman’s “Where We Met” sculpture overhead, Meadows urged the sound team to crank up the volume on his mic. His voice, which filtered through autotune as he rapped, was getting lost in the cacophony of instrumentals and backing tracks.

On Saturday, the rapper performed as part of the “Rap is Folk” set during this year’s NC Folk Festival in downtown Greensboro. The performance, which was made up of six different artists, attracted a large crowd in LeBauer Park, which was newly outfitted with a Little Brother Brewing satellite location and plenty of green for people to sit and enjoy the music. But for whatever reason, on the busiest day of one of the biggest outdoor events that the city was hosting this year, Meadows’ voice was being washed away.

As he rapped into the mic, echoes of his autotuned vocals could be heard in occasional wisps. The technical difficulties had delayed his set and when he was finally able to perform, he asked the audience if they wanted to wait for them to fix all of the kinks, or if they just wanted the show to go on.

“Just play!” someone shouted. And so, SAYAKA MATSUOKA Meadows did.

The problems the LeBauer Park stage Justin “Demeanor” Harrington raps during this year’s Folk Festival as part of the “Rap is Folk” set he curated. was facing could be chalked up to some random issue that didn’t have anything see rap and hip hop as a folk art. gladly recognize as such. Lots of banjos, swing and a myriad of to do with the “Rap is Folk” set. It could “Rap is like the illest folk music of all time,” Harrington global traditions. This year was the first time that hip hop was have been an inexperienced technician says. “I’ve been telling Folk Fest for a while: We need to have a added as part of the festival, according to Harrington. who didn’t know how to balance the rap stage. If we’re acknowledging all of these other art forms “Folk music has encoded political meaning,” he says. “It’s sound properly or the result of a faulty as folk, rap has to be there. Like we have gospel, rock, house protest music. It’s the same as hip hop. There are all of these wire. But when time and time again, music. It’s all folk music once we look at it throughlines that run between the two art forms. So yeah, rap situations go awry for through that lens.” is folk.” those who have always Harrington is no stranger to music makAnd it’s not just about hip hop. It’s about the preconceived been sidelined and Rap is the illest folk ing and folk artistry. Being the nephew notions and expectations society has about certain genres of looked over, the quesmusic of all time... if of renowned artist Rhiannon Giddens, he music, Harrington explains. As someone who recently played tions arise — “Why me?” with Giddens at the Tanger Center and who is proficient in “What now?” we’re acknowledging all grew up in a family for which music was a way of life. banjo, Harrington says he experienced microaggressions as Just getting hip hop to of these other art forms “I grew up in old-time traditions,” he soon as he went to perform with his aunt. be recognized as part of as folk, rap has to be says. “I grew up going to bluegrass festi“They were like, ‘Oh, how did you start playing the banjo?,’” this year’s Folk Festival vals and playing banjo with my aunt. My he says. “Like they would ask racially insensitive questions. So was a challenge. there. grandpa would play the Isley Brothers. I it’s always been a fight.”

Justin “Demeanor” -justin “Demeanor” harrington come from a very musical family. EveryJust over a year ago, on the same stage that rapper Chris Harrington, a local orgathing was like roots music.”

Meadows was performing on, hundreds of Black Lives Matnizer and musician, was Historically, the Folk Festival in Greenster activists, rallied during the aftermath of the murders of chosen as one of three boro — both in its current iteration as a statewide celebration, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. They, like Meadows, were guest curators who had the opportunity and during its 2015-17 run in the city as a national festival — fighting for their voices to be heard. to create a unique set for the event. As a has focused on the kind of folk music that most people would But that’s always been the case, Harrington says. local rapper, Harrington wants people to

‘

‘

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SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | CULTURE SAYAKA MATSUOKA

Despite the fact that he was having audio issues, rapper Chris Meadows gave an energetic performance last Saturday.

CAROLYN DE BERRY

After having the event be virtual last year, attendees were happy to return to live shows and performances for this year’s event.

“Like we’re always having to convince them that people are worth of attention and love; that’s crazy,” he says. Sometimes I feel like they’re only letting you in at the grassroots level, at the ground level. But we are the change. Like the folks at the top, they’re saying diversity and inclusion, but words are just words.”

Harrington says the curated opportunity was a good start in getting the wider Greensboro community to see, hear and acknowledge hip hop in ways they might not have before. But what he really wants, and what marginalized communities have always asked for, is the ability to amplify their voices on their own terms.

“I think it’s changing because we’re inside,” he says. “I think it’s up to them to provide us with the infrastructure they’ve built over the last 20 years and get out of the

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Attendees dance during a set in LeBauer Park at this year’s Folk Festival.

way.”

As Harrington prowled through the crowd on Saturday in a bright red Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey to see how well Meadows could be heard, he looked stressed.

But what he didn’t notice was Meadows’ mom, just a few yards away, swaying and singing along to every lyric that her son offered. Because to her, the message was getting across. Because for those who wanted to hear, like those who danced and swung their arms back and forth right in front of the stage, Meadows’ words reached them.

“I know we don’t sound right but imagine what it would sound like if you could really hear it,” Meadows said.

But for many, they didn’t have to imagine. They never had.

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CULTURE | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

by Nicole Zelniker

T

Artful lodging: Wherehouse is now the West Salem art hotel

he West Salem Art Hotel has a long history for something so new.

Located in a two-story brick building on the corner of Albert and Green streets, the hotel boasts exhibitions by local and national artists, with art on every wall. Muralist Gina Franco painted the Rose Room, covered in overwhelming dark pink, blood red, an almost violet blue and vibrant yellow roses interconnected with thin green vines. The pristine white couch has a matching red rose. The adjoining bathroom’s sink is covered in the same pattern as the rose room walls and the mirror is surrounded by a rose-covered wreath.

Artist Laura Lashley worked on the mural in the foyer, made up of gold, black and white swirls around black doors leading into different rooms. Zac Trainor’s mural is featured outside of the solarium. Next, Haydee Thompson hopes to collaborate with a local artist on what will be the laundry room.

At its previous incarnation, the Wherehouse Art Hotel, Thompson had created a similar artist haven. As the space was originally an artist collective, Thompson wanted to keep the DNA of the building she had come to associate with creativity and collaboration when she transitioned the space into a hotel.

Starting in early 2016, she had housed everyone from photographers to painters in addition to their work.

“I come from a long line of bed-andbreakfast people, so when I went and asked to start my hotel, it didn’t pop into my head right away that it would be Wherehouse Art Hotel,” Thompson said.

“That took three days maybe. But once that word came into play, it provided so much energy and opened the floodgates to collaboration.

“Each room was very different from the next, filled with murals and artwork and handmade items,” Thompson continued. “Everything had a tag on it with a description. I also built a website to sell the art there. The purpose was to help promote artists and sell art and kind of be a living art gallery. Artful lodging and lodging for art.”

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | CULTURE

Culture

COURTESY PHOTO

TheWest Salem Art Hotel’s Rose Room, designed by muralist Gina Franco, continues a tradition of immersion in a theme carried from a former incarnation across town.

The pandemic complicated matters. Thompson’s hotel had previously been booked up for months, and she had just hosted her largest art show to date with Greg Vore, a photographer who had been in National Geographic. The show was on March 11, 2020.

“Pretty much the next day, I started getting phone calls from people all over the country canceling their reservations,” said Thompson. “Ironically, the last guest I had was a nurse.”

That gave her the idea to research how to best convert the space into a place where nurses could stay. Her new plan kept Thompson afloat just enough to pay the rent, but come December, building owner John Bryan, a friend of Thompson’s, spoke with her about needing to change the space. She had until March of this year to move nearly two decades worth of

The West Salem Art Hotel will host An open house on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 910 Albert St. Masks are required.

art into a new building.

Just before her deadline, Thompson got a phone call from someone in West Salem. Brice Shearburn thought Thompson’s art would fit perfectly in the space, just a seven-minute drive from her old location.

“It was very kismet and perfect timing,” Thompson said. “I feel like I have a lot of autonomy here to create spaces with other artists. A lot of them were immediately on board and excited. Once we get her all finished, I’m hoping a year from now we’ll be running on all gears and the world will look like something where we can have more gatherings and workshop.”

Thompson is a visual artist herself, with a drama degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

“I’ve always made art,” she said. “A lot of photography. But I find myself creating things that the art hotel needs. Like lighting, I make chandeliers and lamps. I find myself creating something out of nothing a lot of times.” Thompson says she

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CULTURE | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

COURTESY PHOTO

Room by room, artists put their mark on Haydee Thompson’s newest project. Next comes the laundry room.

16

has been doing this since she started the first hotel.

Thompson will host her first open house at the West Salem Art Hotel for the community on Saturday. Thompson will host tours all day. Camino Bakery will bring pastries and coffee in the morning, Native Root will supply lunch and the evening will involve live music at West Salem Public.

After that, she’s looking to the future. She wants to host a drawing workshop soon, and possibly an event for the culinary arts.

The new space will have a found-art room, which the Wherehouse Art Hotel didn’t have. That, and Thompson wants to host more workshops, benefit events and even artist residencies. Collaborations will continue to be key.

“That will be the scene where artists put their stamp on the building and collaborate,” said Thompson. “It’s pretty similar [to the old hotel]. It’s sort of a ‘to be continued’ feel. We’re picking up where we left off with a completely different canvas.”

SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | CULTURE

17

SHOT IN THE TRIAD | SEPT. 16-23, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

East Market Street, Greensboro

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Scene from the Festival Community Jam with the UNCG Old-Time Ensemble on the first night of the NC Folk Festival.

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CROSSWORD ‘Home Repairs’— visiting some unusual places.

SUDOKU SEPT. 16-23, 2021 | PUZZLES

by Matt Jones

Across 1 Submarine acronym 6 Batting game for little kids 11 Cousin in 2021’s

“The Addams Family 2” 14 “Fingers crossed” 15 Vietnamese capital 16 Pasture grazer 17 Replaces, as with a charged battery 19 Local response to “Want some Irn-Bru?”, perhaps 20 Android alternative for smartphones 21 Doctor who’s a playable character in “Overwatch” 22 Choir member 24 “Let’s get together sometime” 29 “That’s the one” 30 Was on the radio 31 Actress Menzel of “Wicked” © 2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 34 Not well 36 Singer Rita 39 More than enough at the buffet 43 Come-___ (enticements) 44 Princess in L. Frank Baum books 45 Bug persistently 46 Like TV’s “Batman” 49 Buffoon 50 They may involve blue material Answers from last issue 56 Not fully upright 25 “Auld Lang ___” 57 Org. for Pelicans and Hawks 26 Pick up aurally 58 Losing tic-tac-toe line 27 Country cottage, in Russia 60 Seafood restaurant freebie 28 M as in NATO? 61 Major book publishing company 31 “Where did ___ wrong?” (or what the circled squares contain) 32 Home refuge 66 Easy “Card Sharks” card to play from 33 Put a message on, as jewelry 67 “The Beverly Hillbillies” star Buddy 34 Hostess snack cake 68 Poe’s middle name 35 Philosophy suffix 69 “Totally tubular” 37 “Messenger” material 70 Causing jumpiness, maybe 38 Competition hosted by Terry Crews, for short 71 Ibsen heroine Gabler 40 Faux pas comment Down 41 Grateful Dead bass guitarist Phil 42 El ___, TX 1 Emphatic exclamation, in Ecuador 47 Word before hours or fours 2 “Incredible!”

48 Units to measure London’s Shard, e.g.

3 Static, e.g.

49 “___ I!” (“Same here!”)

4 Fitting 50 Title elephant of children’s lit 5 “Parks and ___” 51 City on the Mohawk River 6 What’s exited in Brexit, for short 52 Preposition with mistletoe?

7 Herb used in Thai cuisine 53 John H. Johnson’s magazine 8 “Can I take that as ___?”

54 “What ___ it take?”

9 Grant played by the late Ed Asner 55 “A pity” 10 Roadside rubbish 59 TV’s “Warrior Princess” 11 Plaint that may prompt words of encouragement 62 “Supermarket Sweep” network 12 “Happy Birthday ___” 63 Codebreaking org.

13 Annoying sibling, maybe 64 “Likely story!”

18 Some insurance groups, for short 65 Stadium chant for Marta, e.g.

23 Letters on a wide wedge, maybe

©2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

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