The Sou'Wester: March 2023

SOU’WESTER THE

STUDENT ARTISTS HONORED AT 2023 FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBITION

MARCH 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

1934

KAIROS BRINGS NEW COFFEE EXPERIENCE TO COMMUNITY

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Peter

GEOLOGY CLUB GOES TO HOGG

MINE

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Amari Rudison Media Editor

On March 7 in the James Earl Carter Library, GSW’s Department of Visual Arts hosted its annual Scholarship Exhibition for 2023. There were 39 participants, and they got to show off their artwork during the show.

The Winners of the exhibition included freshman Leah Ross, junior Alexis Glass, junior Ivon Perez, junior EJ Braswell, junior Emily Larkey, senior Jamal Floyd, junior Cloie (Ruth-Louise) Davis, senior Jesse Griggs, junior Isabel Cliatt, freshman Savannah Whitworth, freshman Noah Miller, sophomore Emily (Calyn) Fort, sophomore Catherine Coules, sophomore Eden Morris, junior Anna Jones, Ben Dracup, and Matthew Wilson.

7 of the 39 participant’s artworks were highlighted in the Next Show Statements portion of the exhibition. These pieces held many heavy topics that the artists chose to outline. For artist Ivon Perez, he wanted to showcase Mexican Americans, and how as a child, he was comfortable with who he was until he got older, when reality shifted his thinking and he was often confused. He eventually found a comfort area where everyone has something in common: food.

Food connects everyone and engages people in conversations about

their cultures. These artists worked hard to produce their messages and did an amazing job showcasing their art.

Students in the Geology club dig for minerals at the Hogg Mine in LaGrange, Georgia.

BCM SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP

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8 students travel to Ages, Kentucky, for BCM’s Spring Break Mission Trip, where they helped with Ages Baptist Church.

ASK THE CANES

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Students discuss how they spent their Spring Break.

Jamal Floyd’s “Smiling Man with Pink Durag.” Floyd’s piece was one of many on display at the Fine Arts Scholarship Exhibition. Photo by Amari Rudison.

Locals

and Moriah Horton open Kairos PeMo’s Coffee Shop in Ellaville.

Ivon Perez’s artwork series. Photo by Amari Rudison.

KAIROS: RESURRECTING ELLAVILLE ONE COFFEE AT A TIME

Colby Hernandez Staff Writer

For the last 15 or so years, there hasn’t been much to do in Ellaville. Recently, locals Peter and Moriah Horton opened Kairos PeMo’s Coffee Shop. So, as any good journalist does, I headed for Ellaville’s town square and tried what the townsfolk were referring to as the “Best Thing to Happen to Ellaville.”

As soon as you step in, you feel as if you have just come home after a long day. Kairos has a huge open-floor layout. The room is full of restored furniture and has a generally cozy atmosphere. Locals go there to hang out and have conversations, and the service is fast and friendly. There is even a side room that can be reserved for meetings, and you will often find a group of people having a Bible study there. Peter or Moriah will be at the counter, ready to take your order. I love a good iced vanilla latte, so that was the first thing I tried there. Their Boston Vanilla Latte is one of the best coffees in the state. I have had it served both iced and hot, and you will not regret either option. Their caramel macchiato is also amazing.

For those who prefer their coffee dark, they have many blends to choose from. From a weak decaf all the way to a heavily dark coffee, Kairos has you covered. In my interview with Peter, he told me about the Undertow. “If you can at least kind of stand espresso, come in and ask for an Undertow,” Peter said. “It’s kind of like an espresso shot. It goes hot espresso, then cold, and then sweet. It’s an experience. You must take it all in one shot. Even for people who don’t like coffee, it’s something you have to try. It’s just awesome.” This convinced me, reader, to undertake this challenge.

As the couple brewed this concoction, I noticed how well they worked together. The scent of espresso filled the air. They served it with a napkin and asked me if I was prepared. I will admit, this began to scare me. Why would I need a napkin, and why would they ask me if I was prepared? I swallowed my fears and put the drink to my lips. In one swallow, I conquered the beast. I felt each individual layer. You see, to make this drink, you have to have a layer of sweet cream of some sort, usually milk or half-and-half mixed with vanilla foam. On top of that is a layer of cold brew espresso with hot espresso on top. The first layer almost burns, as it is hot and pure espresso with nothing mixed in. Then the cold brew immediately follows. Nothing can mimic the feeling of relief that comes from the sweet foam replacing the bitter taste of espresso. I urge everyone to try this rollercoaster of coffee shop bliss at least once in their lives. But enough about my experience—what makes Kairos more popular than other hangout spots in Ellaville?

“I don’t think it’s necessarily that our business does it better,” Peter explained. “We love the other businesses here. I think what makes us stand out is that we love coffee culture. My wife [Moriah] has been a barista, and we’ve taken a lot of that culture and put it in Ellaville. It’s something that just hasn’t been here, or really anywhere in South Georgia, when it comes to other coffee shops. We’re trying to bring that here and have other people be able to experience that coffee community. When you go to a

restaurant, you sit down and eat. Nobody is really thinking about staying there and hanging out there. When I go to a restaurant, I don’t know who’s serving me. I don’t get to know the people who I’m ordering from, but coffee is different. It’s community; it’s family. We know our customers. Even if you don’t order anything, you just want to be there.”

Perhaps another answer is that the coffee shop is new, having opened in February 2023. Many may argue that Kairos is just a fad that will run its course. But I disagree. Not a day goes by that the parking lot isn’t full, especially in the mornings. Most Ellavillians, especially those who remember the Ellaville of the 1990s and further back, agree that Kairos will only bring positive change and encourage growth in the long-dwindling city.

Kairos only wants to bring positive change to the small town. “On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at 7, we have what we call ‘Jesus Nights,’” Peter said. “It’s the reason we started the coffee shop in the first place. We wanted a place people could come and talk. We go

Caramel Macchiato. Photo submitted by Kairos.

Undertow. Photo submitted by Kairos.

out and we do community outreach. But it’s always after the coffee shop closes. There’s just a group of us who wanted to go after the Lord together.”

Finally, I wanted to know how Kairos benefits GSW students and why they should choose to make the small trip to Ellaville. “There’s nothing really to do in Ellaville or Americus,” Peter explained. “Every coffee shop is different in their own way. Cafe Campesino, they’re going to do things we can’t do, because they’re a bigger name. Starbucks doesn’t have the same atmosphere specialty coffee shops have. But they are doing great for what they do. But for GSW students, which I knew when I was in college, there was nothing to do anywhere. But we offer our space. We have Wi-Fi, we have a lot of room, we have a separate room where people can come and hangout or work on homework. We’re one of the only places you can do that. Our biggest draw is just community. Come here, hang out, get to know me and Moriah, and have some good coffee while you do it.”

Kairos is located at 28 E Church St, Ellaville, GA 31806, open 5:30AM-5PM Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

GEOLOGY CLUB GOES TO HOGG MINE

Dr. Samuel T. Peavy Professor of Geophysics

The GSW Geology Club made a field trip on Saturday, February 25th to the Hogg Mine near LaGrange, Georgia to dig for minerals. Students Johanna Nordwall (club president), Danni Thason, and Javier Fajardo took the trip along with faculty advisor Dr. Samuel Peavy. It was a rainy but fun day at the mine. The group collected samples of rose quartz, micas, beryl and tourmaline.

The Hogg Mine was discovered in the 1920s and was mined extensively during the Second World War as a source of beryllium used in the manufacture of artillery during the war. Today it is a fun location to hunt for minerals; it is open most Saturdays during the year.

Chicken Bacon Full House Salad. Photo submitted by Kairos.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

BCM TRAVELS TO AGES, KENTUCKY, FOR SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP

Jackson Carlstrom Editor-In-Chief

On Sunday March 12, Ages Baptist Church, a small church with just 3 members located in the town of Ages, Kentucky, opened its doors for a Sunday service for the first time since closing at the beginning of

the COVID-19 pandemic. Assisting the church with its grand return was GSW’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

From March 10-15, 8 students affiliated with BCM drove down to Ages for BCM’s first Spring Break Mission Trip outside of Americus since 2019. The church opened its doors for the students to stay during the trip. The trip plan originated when BCM Campus Minister Adam Shutters was made aware of the need for help in Ages by Bill Wallace, the associational Missionary of the Upper Cumberland Association of Baptists.

Ages is a small coal town in Harlan County, Kentucky. The town is one of many towns in the Appalachian Coal Belt. Many of the towns in this region are struggling with high rates of poverty due to the automation of the coal industry, as well as government regulations on coal. Harlan County has the 18th lowest median household income of all counties in the U.S. at $31,116, placing it in the bottom 1%.

On their first day in Ages, the BCM students participated in door-to-door mission work among the many houses near the church. The students knocked on doors, greeting the community and letting them know about the Sunday church service the next day, as well as a community cook-out that they would be hosting that evening. The cook-out did not go exactly as planned, with no turnout, but the students were still able to enjoy a time of fellowship together that evening.

On Sunday morning, the BCM students welcomed the 3 church members and their families at the Sunday morning service, as well as the new people in attendance as a result of the previous day’s door-to-door outreach. Students Joseph Park, Trent Mays, and Heidi Anderson led the worship portion of the service with a selection of old hymns, and BCM Campus Minister Adam Shutters preached during the service. After the service, the students were able to enjoy a free day, traveling to visit some of Harlan County’s coal mines, Kingdom Come State Park, and the first Kentucky Fried Chicken opened by Colonel Sanders in Corbin, Kentucky.

“I was so glad to see the people who came to the church for the first time in years that Sunday,” Park said. “Also, I enjoyed worshiping with hymns. They didn’t have a great sound system like many other

larger churches have. But we can still worship God with our voices.”

Monday morning saw the students go on a prayer walk across town, praying over the church and for the community. The students intended to continue with more doorto-door outreach in the afternoon, but they were cut short due to a shower of sleet that continued throughout the rest of the day. With their plans cut short, the students enjoyed the rest of the day inside the warm church with music, card games, and for supper, authentic South Korean ramen prepared by Joseph Park.

The BCM students woke up on Tuesday morning, their final full day in Ages, to a surprise flurry of snow. After taking some time to enjoy the snow, the students went on another prayer walk; this time inside the church’s warm van. Later in the noon, when the weather was suitable enough, the students went through the community for a final door-to-door outreach session, where they prayed over the people they visited and continued to promote the church’s reopening. They ended their final day with a pizza dinner provided for them by Ages Baptist Church.

“My favorite part of the mission trip was knocking on people’s doors and getting to meet the different people in the community, and being able to tell them about the church, and praying with them,” Eliza Hill said.

Despite the many challenges they faced, the BCM students persevered, and their efforts were rewarded with a successful Sunday service, and the opportunity to experience the unique culture and history of Harlan County, all while getting to spend time in fellowship together.

BCM students take group photo inside Ages Baptist Church. Photo submitted by Adam Shutters.

Ages Baptist Church. Photo by Jackson Carlstrom.

Coal Mine. Photo by Jackson Carlstrom.

Heidi Anderson, Trent Mays, and Joseph Park lead worship on Sunday. Photo submitted by Adam Shutters.

ASK THE CANES How did you spend your Spring Break?

Freshman Music Major

“I got to work with the Rylander Theatre doing sound over Spring Break.”

Sophomore English Major

“I spent my Spring Break back at home with loved ones, and I enjoyed the break. Even though it was very short, I had to make the most of my time.”

Sophmore Buisness Major

“I enjoyed Spring Break with my boyfriend and his family this year. The beach was nice and I enjoyed the very short break.”

MEET OUR

WRITERS

Junior Political Science Major

“I spent my Spring Break in the hospital and doing absoultey nothing. It was boring trying to get work done. It didn’t feel like a break.”

Sophomore Painting and Drawing Major

“I stayed at home, and since I don’t live far from GSW, I didn’t do anything but relax on my couch.”

Sophomore Political Science Major

“I went on vacation to Fort Walton with a couple of my best friends. We went to the beach, walked along the strip of stores and enjoyed local eateries.”

Jackson Carlstrom Editor-In-Chief

jcarlstr@radar.gsw.edu

Amari Rudison Media Editor arudison@radar.gsw.edu

Colby Hernandez Staff Writer

chernan4@radar.gsw.edu

Talik

Hill Staff Writer

thill19@radar.gsw.edu

Emma

Porter Staff Writer

eking5@radar.gsw.edu

Dr.

Ashley P. Jones

Faculty Advisor

ashley.jones@gsw.edu