Invitation Magazine - March 2018

MARCH 2018

•EASTER EGGS •ABERDEEN PILGRIMAGE •CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

MARCH 2018

28

ON THE COVER Ashley Buse’s artistic wooden Easter eggs bring joy to all ages. Read more, and learn how to try her technique yourself on page 10. photographed by Joe Worthem

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Letter From the Publisher

6

Calendar

8

Community Corner

10

In Season

52

Out and About

56

Recipe

FEATURES

EVENTS

14 Hometown Artists

32

Northeast Mississippi Rodeo

Mississippi artwork curated by Tupelo’s Caron Gallery plays a starring role in HGTV’s “Home Town.”

34

“The Wiz”

36

Delta Waterfowl Banquet

38

ICC Most Beautiful

39

Winter Jam

40

Snowflake Ball

42

Ignite Leadership Conference

25 Finding a Voice

43

Mother & Son Carnival

A radio-show host finds her own rhythm while bringing attention to songwriters in northeast Mississippi and beyond.

44

Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball

46

Kiwanis Father-Daughter Ball

48

“I Am … 2018 with Sadie Robertson”

50

Mardi Parti

20 Planting Roots The North Mississippi Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese traditions and a blending of cultures.

28 Spring Pilgrimage Aberdeen’s annual tour of historic homes is a springtime tradition for visitors and homeowners alike.

2 INVITATION | March 2018

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THE PUBLISHER

publishers

Phil and Rachel West

editorial

EDITOR IN CHIEF Emily Welly CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Allison Estes EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson

Dot Courson’s “Living Southern” was featured on the second season of the HGTV show “Home Town.”

T

his month we’re celebrating some of our favorite things — local art, springtime and people who help others. I always find this time of year uplifting. It’s a time of renewal, as trees begin to bud, the grass turns green again and happy colors come back into my clothing choices.

Mississippi artists who exhibit their work at Caron Gallery are now part of a renewal in Laurel, with their artwork displayed each week in homes featured on HGTV’s hit show “Home Town.” Read more about some of the artists who have been featured and about the show on page 14.

While these accomplished artists are getting some nationwide attention, there are many special people in our community who deserve recognition for the good things they do for others. These are truly the people who make this area such a great place to live, work and call home.

Meet Harvis Hurley on page 8. His story of kindness and generous giving brought tears to my eyes. He has a heart for young people with special needs and their families, and he helps them travel to Disney World for the vacation of a lifetime.

Ballard Park is always a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, but March 25 will be

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an extra special day. This year, more than 100 cherry trees will bloom in the park, hopefully right in time for the North Mississippi Cherry Blossom Festival. Event chair Alex Farned says the festival helps bring the community together by celebrating ties between northeast Mississippi and Japanese culture. And this year, 50 more trees will be planted to symbolize that growing connection. Read more on page 20.

In this time of renewal, we are reminded that it’s our job here at Invitation Magazines to find great stories of local people and places and to share them with you each month. The communities of northeast Mississippi are interconnected with each other and continually growing. Therefore, Invitation is also growing.

This month you may notice a few exciting changes on our pages. Be sure to look for your town’s name on the top of our event pages. If you have a community event you want us to attend, or a story idea you’d like to share, please give us a call.

Our mission is to reflect the community we all love, and we couldn’t do it without our readers and advertisers. Thanks for spending time with us this month.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

art

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Amanda Cody Elizabeth Roberts Anthony Teague Megan Wolfe Whitney Worsham

INTERN Olivia Barrow

production

advertising

office

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Zach Fields Becca Pepper

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION invitationmag.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

March 2018 | INVITATION

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calendar

MARCH/APRIL 2018

3/17

“Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic” Watch your favorite Disney characters perform live. Tickets, $18-$53. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. bcsarena.com

4/2-5/11

4/7

The North Mississippi Gem and Mineralogical Society hosts an exhibit. Tickets, $4 adults; $3 seniors; $2 children 4-12; veterans free with military ID. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Oren Dunn City Museum, Tupelo. nmgms.org

Tupelo Ballet performs “Giselle” with live music by the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Guests are also invited to meet the cast during a tea party before the ballet.

Tea party, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; performance, 2 p.m. Both take place at Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. tupeloballet.com

Stones and Bones

4/7

3/24

SeeSmart Scenic 5K Color Run

For the Love of Art Gala

Fundraiser run benefits Monroe County Children’s Vision Center. Registration, $25 before March 24; $30 later; $15 for students and military. 8 a.m., Aberdeen Lake West Side, Lock and Dam Road, Aberdeen. gomonroe.org

The annual Gumtree Museum of Art event features heavy hors d’oeuvres, the Mary Frances Massey Band and a silent art auction.

For tickets, $50, call 662-841-1746. 7 p.m., Tupelo Country Club. gumtreemuseum.com

4/12-4/15

3/24

Amory Railroad Festival

NMSO Concert The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs the extraordinary “Revolutionary: Beethoven and Ginastera,” featuring pianist Andreas Klein. Tickets, $10-$30, 7:30 p.m., Link Centre, Tupelo. nmsymphony.com

“Giselle” Ballet and Fairy Tea Party

4/5

Art Demonstration: Barbara Eaton The first Thursday of each month artists share their processes at Caron Gallery. This month’s featured artist is Barbara Eaton, known for the whimsical, functional whistles she creates from clay. Wine and cheese will be served. 3-7 p.m., Caron Gallery, Tupelo. thecarongallery.com

The 40th annual Amory Railroad Festival includes live entertainment, a car show, a 5K race, a fishing rodeo, a pageant and more. Main Street, Amory. amoryrailroadfestival.com

4/14

West of Shake Rag Show Tupelo’s hilarious improv comedy troupe performs. Tickets, $5. 7:30-9:30 p.m., Link Centre, Tupelo. facebook.com/westofshakerag

4/6

Bud and Burgers Competition Presented by Mitchell Distributing and the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, local restaurants and amateur chefs compete for the best burger around. 6-9 p.m., on Broadway Street between Main Street and Troy Street, Tupelo. tupelomainstreet.com

3/25

4/7

4/14

Come celebrate Japanese culture at the third annual Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring food samples, music, origami and more. 2-4 p.m., Ballard Park, Tupelo. Read more on page 20. facebook.com/tupeloparkrec

Monthly market opens for its 10th season.

Vendors include local farmers, gardeners, artisans and craftspeople. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 221 N. Fillmore St., Corinth. corinthgreenmarket.net

Tupelo’s Department of Parks and Recreation invites children ages 3-12 to participate in this free event. Bring lawn chairs, bait and tackle.

9 a.m.-1 p.m., Veterans Park, Tupelo. facebook.com/tupeloparkrec

Cherry Blossom Festival

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Corinth Green Market

Children’s Fishing Rodeo

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HAVIS’ KIDS

written by Melanie Crownover

P

utting smiles on the faces of children with special needs has been a mission for Havis Hurley of Corinth since he took a busload of kids to the Memphis Zoo as a school bus driver in 2011.

“On the way back, one of the kids said that was the best trip he’d ever been on,” Hurley said. “I decided that day that we could do better for kids that face so much.”

As a former boys club director in Florida, Hurley had seen how Walt Disney World Resort could be the ultimate family vacation destination. He began fundraising to go to Orlando with 25 local children and their families in August of that year. The first fiveday trip, with Hurley serving as an official guide, took place in May 2012.

Havis’ Kids soon became a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of arranging biennial trips to Disney World at no cost for northeast Mississippi children with special needs. Participants are given a $300 spending stipend and free provisions for one accompanying adult. Additional family members receive discounted rates for park tickets and lodging.

Micaela Sanders’ 11-year-old son, Trey, went on a Havis’ Kids vacation in 2016 with his family and will take the trip again this October. Trey has scoliosis, has endured several surgeries and has rods implanted in his back.

“It was an amazing thing to be able to do as a family,” Micaela said. “Trey’s had seven surgeries and will have one more before we make it back down in the fall, so it means a lot. It’s been a good thing for us all because as a family of four, there’s no way we could have done this on our own.”

Hurley has taken more than 100 children and young adults up to age 20 to Disney World in the past six years, including many repeat guests like Trey. His fellow travelers face an array of challenges, from autism to physical issues requiring the use of a wheelchair. Most recipients’ families find out about the program through word of mouth and contact Hurley to be placed on the wait list for the upcoming trip. The guest list is always limited.

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Top: Havis and Cheryl Hurley with Lane Bryant, who went on the Havis’ Kids Disney World trip in 2016. Above: The 2016 trip was one of the organization’s biggest ever. Every other year, area children with special needs and their families raise more than $100,000 to visit the theme park together with Havis’ Kids.

Once in the program, families volunteer at fundraisers for a whole year to help raise the more than $100,000 it takes to make the group trip possible. Each family must complete 45 hours of service to keep its spot.

The group holds several fundraisers each year. Opportunities for volunteering include a police and fire department charitable softball game, a mother-and-son ball and a Jolly Jog, where runners dress as Santa Claus.

They also regularly sell T-shirts and baked goods to raise money, and many attend the biweekly benefit at McAlister’s Deli in Corinth.

Currently, Havis’ Kids is offering $25 raffle tickets for an upcoming drawing for a free trip to Disney World for a family of four.

For more information on becoming a Havis’ Kids family or to donate, follow the organization on Facebook @haviskids or call 662-643-3561.

March 2018 | INVITATION

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A PARTNERSHIP WITH TUPELO BLOGGERS

EASTER EGGS interviewed by Emily Welly photographed by Joe Worthem

A

shley Buse’s whimsical wooden Easter eggs are popular this time of year. Here, she shares a little about what inspires her colorful creations, along with some tips and tricks so you can try making your own.

Q: When did you start painting eggs?

A: My son received a painted wooden egg of a Ashley Buse has lived in Tupelo for the past 10 years but says she is a Delta girl at heart, originally from Belzoni. She graduated from Mississippi State University with degrees in biology and chemistry and works for Medtronic as medical device sales representative. She’s also the mother of three children, Tripp, Foley and Jones, who love to give her new design ideas for her eggs. Her artwork is sold at Farmhouse and Joyful Creations in Tupelo and at Sugar Magnolia in Oxford.

football player for his first Easter, and I thought, I can do that. So I put my own creative twist to them and started painting them for my kids, my nieces and nephews, and my friends’ kids. Now I take orders and paint several hundred a year.

Q: What do you do with the eggs?

A: They become collector’s items to

be displayed. The good thing is they don’t break, so my kids love to play with them, and I don’t worry about them getting broken. They love to arrange and rearrange how they are displayed.

Q: How do you come up with the designs?

A: The eggs are very specific to each person that orders them. Most people choose whatever it is their child is interested in that year.

One person has me paint what her son and

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daughter were for Halloween — last year I painted Raggedy Ann and Andy for them. My kids look forward to getting their eggs each year, and I allow them to choose what they want me to paint for them. I usually get about 10 requests from my two older children and make them narrow it down to just one.

Q: This isn’t your only artistic endeavor. What else do you make?

A: I joke I’m a “Jane of All Trades, Master of Nothing.” I create custom artwork and framed art for customers. I sew and monogram a little.

Redo furniture. Make frames. A little bit of everything, but my love is painting.

Q: What do you love about creating artwork?

A: I love to get lost in my creativity and to see a painting come to life. It’s an avenue for me to relax and explore my creative, free-spirit side.

DO IT YOURSELF Over the years, Ashley Buse has perfected her egg-painting technique, and she’s willing to share a few tricks of the trade, starting with the process itself.

“Because I paint so many eggs, it doesn’t make sense to paint one egg start to finish,” Buse said. “You lose time in swapping colors and cleaning brushes and waiting for the previous colors to dry. I had to learn to be efficient. Much like a factory, I take an assembly line approach.”

Here’s how you can give Buse’s egg-painting technique a try yourself:

1of your eggs green, which will

Start by painting the bottoms

eventually be the grass.

Paint the heads of the rabbits and their ears.

Begin personalizing the designs by adding clothes and accessories to the rabbits. If some will be the same, do those at the same time.

After the painting is done, use a paint pen or fine-tip permanent marker to outline the images on the egg, give the rabbit a face and add details to the grass.

Finally, personalize the egg by adding a name and the year.

2 3 4

5

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hometown artists

written by Melanie Crownover

Mississippi artwork curated by Tupelo’s Caron Gallery plays a starring role in HGTV’s “Home Town.”

HGTV’s hit series “Home Town” is known for two things: jaw-dropping home renovations in Laurel, Mississippi, and a push to recognize artisans around the state who help fill those homes with quality wares. Season two of the show features even more Mississippi artists due to a partnership between the show’s stars, Erin and Ben Napier, and the Caron Gallery in Tupelo.

“It was a perfect match,” owner Kim Caron said. “As the only gallery in the state that solely displays Mississippi artists, we’ve dedicated our space as a platform for the talent here. They’re just as committed to showing a national TV audience what’s great about this state. It’s an amazing outlet for us to work together and share Mississippi art on a larger scale.”

The “Home Town” team finished filming in November, selecting pieces from the collection to adorn the homes. Caron loaned out works for the reveals, and the homeowners were given the first chance to buy the artwork featured in their homes. Many pieces are still available at carongallery.com.

The gallery staff and artists signed confidentiality clauses, and they find out shortly before each episode premieres what works are included.

“We get together and watch the show at the same time so we can spot pieces and instantly post to our social media accounts about the artists featured,” Caron said. “The ‘Home Town’ crew and many of our artists do the same on their sites, and the response has been amazing. It gets those artists’ names and an idea of what they do out there to a bigger piece of the public.”

Tune in to the show on Monday nights at 8 p.m. to see the latest artist featured. In the meantime, here is a sample of the artists presented so far.

lauren dunn Painter Lauren Dunn was tuned in to “Home Town” long before the program featured two of her works this season.

“I’ve watched that show since it started because they’re Mississippi people, so I was already a fan,” she said. “To get to be a part of

a show that represents your home state so well to the whole nation just makes you more proud of what you do and the culture that made you who you are.”

Dunn graduated from Delta State University with a degree in graphic design, but the canvas was her first love. She taught art at her former high school in Leland before retiring to be a full-time mom in Tennessee. After displaying some of her amateur paintings in art shows in Nashville, Dunn’s dream officially became her vocation in 2007.

The abstract floral painting and hydrangea panorama presented on television are highly representative of her work. Southern-tinged florals, landscapes and animal portraits resonate as subjects in her loose impressionistic style.

“It’s funny because the ones I like the most are the ones I finish the fastest,” she said. “It’s like I get into a rhythm and mindset that makes the paintings have more of a life and energy to them.”

Dunn takes part in approximately six art shows a year. Her works are also on view at galleries around the Southeast.

In Lauren Dunn’s paintings, such as “Common Thread,” pictured above, bright colors saturate the bottom layers of each piece, layered with more muted tones on top, filling the calming neutral paintings with unexpected specks of vibrancy. The scenes come into focus with the help of acrylics and a palette knife.

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To transform a simple gourd into a piece of artwork like “Boundaries,” pictured above, Eileen Sharp first applies a base coat of stain and acrylic paint, typically in earth tones along with splashes of dynamic colors. Most of the darker shading is the result of a woodburning tool. A protective coat of acrylic spray or polyurethane finishes each piece.

Eileen Sharp Decorative gourds have been the mainstay of Eileen Sharp’s repertoire for more than two decades. The Ohio native, who moved to Tupelo in 2002, first put brush to vegetable as a special favor for her aunt.

“She challenged me to it because she’d seen some artists making Easter eggs out of small gourds,” Sharp said. “I started with the eggs, then birdhouses for a while, and branched out

into making bowls, vases and lamps from them.”

Although she used to grow her own, Sharp now uses cured gourds of varying sizes and shapes from a farm in West Point to make her wares. She draws inspiration from nature, along with Native American and Celtic traditions, for many of her ornamental designs.

“We laughed because at first I didn’t realize that one of my pieces had been chosen for the show. I thought the email was just a general

announcement of something coming up at the gallery,” she said. “It was exciting to be part of a reveal, but to see how they fit my work in with the rest of that room when they were done was just amazing.”

Sharp is a member of both the Mississippi Gourd Society and the American Gourd Society. She exhibits her work at Caron Gallery and plans to expand her reach into the Gulf Coast area and parts of Tennessee in the near future.

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Ochres, yellows, greens and burnt sienna are John Armistead’s prime palette in oil or pastel. Portraits and landscapes, like “Bounds Road, Lauderdale County,” pictured above, have become his theme. Crisp buildings with lightly formed foregrounds and dramatic skies are his specialty, as seen in this one, which was displayed on “Home Town.”

John Armistead Tupelo painter John Armistead began preparing for his creative profession at an early age.

“I remember my father would always give me a pad and pen from his pocket when I was little and we went to church,” he said. “My grandmother was a painter, and she went a step farther when she enrolled me in pastel and oil classes for teens when I was 8.”

He later continued his studies in figure painting at the Art Students League of New

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York. As his interest in plein air painting developed over his career, his long-term teacher became the outdoors. Frequent trips to Italy to commit village scenes to canvas and excursions outside his studio to document country beauty honed his skills.

“I’ve always had an eye for lonely houses, but that particular style on a hill has been a template in my mind since I was a child,” he said. “I remember seeing one [while] driving down the road with my aunt when I was about 5 and thinking what a wonderful place that

would be to live. That must be why I paint them so much.”

Even with more than 50 years of experience as an artist, Armistead appreciated the airtime on HGTV as a “rare opportunity for a level of exposure that most artists don’t get.”

In addition to exhibiting at Caron Gallery, Armistead has three solo exhibits a year, and he participates in several festivals, including the Gumtree Festival in Tupelo, the Pink Palace Show in Tennessee and the Fair Hope Craft Show in Alabama.

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Susan Wellington’s “Fall Warmth,” pictured above, was featured on “Home Town.” Wellington’s vivid depictions come from real life, primarily in the plein air style, although she sometimes captures the images in photos or smaller pastels to paint back in her home studio.

Susan Wellington Flowood artist Susan Wellington put her creative pursuits on hold to raise a family after graduating from Mississippi College with an arts education degree in 1978.

She re-embraced her passion for art in midlife, after her mother died of Alzheimer’s disease at an early age.

“My kids were already grown and gone, but that was my wake-up,” she said. “Her passing made me realize that you have to get out there and do what you love while you can.”

Wellington packed her bags to pursue her dream, traveling down the road and around

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the globe to study under oil and watercolor masters. Her mentors include Wyatt Waters, Roger Dale Brown and Stephanie Birdsall.

Wellington has won awards for a painting of three mules at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, had one of her works placed in the governor’s mansion, gone on safari to transfer African elephants to canvas and rendered an Italian vineyard on location.

She describes her work as representational Impressionism, with subject matter that covers “whatever blows [her] dress up.” The most defining element in Wellington’s paintings is a push for color that brings out the nuances in

a subject and creates an emotional connection with the viewer.

“My whole purpose in painting something is to tell a story with the color that brings back a memory or feeling. That’s why you should want a piece in your house, not because it matches the sofa,” she said. “I think the people on ‘Home Town’ get that. They find things that speak to the homeowners and then put those individual works together in a way that creates a new story for them.”

Wellington exhibits her work at Caron Gallery and participates in multiple shows around Jackson every year.

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PLANTING ROOTS

An annual festival celebrates Japanese traditions and a blending of cultures. written by Melanie Crownover

M

ore than 100 cherry trees await spring in Tupelo’s Ballard Park. In Japan, the trees are a sign of life and renewal when their fragrant blooms open. Here, they also symbolize solidarity and support for the Japanese community in the region.

Fifty new trees are planted each year during the city’s Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration of Japanese culture in North Mississippi. The event, hosted by Tupelo’s Department of Parks and Recreation, was inspired by the international workers who have moved to the area since automotive manufacturers and suppliers such as Toyota, Yokohama and Nissan have opened facilities in the state.

“Our hope is to bring the community together in a spirit of openness to share the

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photographed by Mieko Kikuchi and Joe Worthem

beauty of Japanese culture and get a better understanding of each other,” event chairman Alex Farned said. “Those [cherry] trees represent how our cultures are growing stronger together here.”

The one-day festival offers glimpses into a range of age-old Japanese traditions: sushi and sake tastings; sumo wrestling and martial arts demonstrations; and hands-on lessons in skills such as origami, calligraphy and rice pounding. Nearly 500 people attended the 2017 festival.

The day is also a way of supporting Japanese families and executives who move to the area to work at the nearby manufacturing facilities, often on three- to five-year contracts.

Event board members Mieko Kikuchi and

Kumi Richardson came to the United States as exchange students and taught Japanese at the college level after deciding to remain. Both now work as liaisons for area banks, helping Japanese clients adjust to American business.

Both also volunteer time outside of work helping families adapt to the local culture.

“It takes guts to walk into this situation,” Richardson said. “If this is their first time abroad, it can be a challenge. I try to have women’s gatherings as often as possible, even if just to eat together and share recipes, to initiate talk and build community.”

The women help families by translating at school and medical appointments. They also connect newcomers with tutors or information on English as a Second Language classes,

At left, Mieko Kikuchi (left) and Kumi Richardson help plan the Cherry Blossom Festival and help Japanese families adjust to life in the area. Also pictured, festival festivities, including tree planting and a martial arts demonstration.

and answer questions pertaining to American customs, Southern culture and local resources.

“Before they come, they are of course concerned [about whether] they and their families can adjust well enough,” Kikuchi said. “This festival is another way to show [that] community here treats you like part of the family and celebrates who you are. People are so nice, willing to accommodate and give a hand, that many do not want to leave when it is time, because of the friendships and experiences they have here.”

The third annual Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Ballard Park in Tupelo. For more information, visit tupeloparksandrec.org or facebook.com/ tupeloparkrec.

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ART APPRECIATION R

etired radiologist Dan Brasfield began collecting Japanese artwork when he and his wife, Frances, were stationed at an Army hospital near Tokyo during the Vietnam War. “The detailing of the country was what brought us into it,” Brasfield said. “We knew those traditional scenes of the scenery and Shinto shrines would remind us of the time we spent there when we came back home.”

The Brasfields first collected Japanese ceramics from the late 19th and early 20th centuries: primarily red, white and blue Imari plates and a Satsuma vase. In their last months in Japan they were introduced to shin-hanga prints, an art form popular in the early 1900s

that married Western-style painting with conventional Japanese wood-block methods.

Brasfield became particularly enthralled with Hiroshi Yoshida and Hasui Kawase, both significant contributors to the movement.

“I think the reason it speaks to me is the way they blend those two traditions,” he said.

“They’re so meticulous in the way they unite the cultures in that work that sometimes they use up to 80 separate blocks, each a different color, to make one print. It’s inherently beautiful.”

After they came home to Mississippi, the couple’s collection continued to grow, thanks to frequent business trips that kept them traveling and the development of the internet. Around

half of Brasfield’s wood-block collection came from the online gallery of a Chicago museum.

The Brasfields went back to Japan several years ago to reminisce, making a special trip to the antiques market street they frequented in Kyoto to bring home a couple of new pieces.

They don’t keep their collection entirely to themselves either; the pair has loaned some of their artwork to local museums to exhibit and share with the community.

“Japan made quite an impression on us while we were there,” Brasfield said. “These pieces are a continuous connection for us, and a way for us to show why we have such respect for its people and culture.”

Above: Two Japanese shin-hanga prints from the early 1900s from the collection of Dan and Frances Brasfield. Right: The Brasfields also have a collection of Japanese ceramics dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They began collecting when they were living near Tokyo. Today, they enjoy sharing the pieces with others.

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finding a

Voice A radio-show host finds her own rhythm while bringing attention to songwriters in northeast Mississippi and beyond. written by Melanie Crownover

The music room in Michaela Compton’s Saltillo home was the last gift her husband gave her. Less than 24 hours after the final touches were put on the instrument-filled space in 2007, the Las Vegas transplants were in a car accident on their way to perform with their Christian music outreach ministry.

Michaela and her three children recovered from their injuries. David Compton did not.

“I’d been in entertainment my entire life, and I gave it up when [David] passed away,” she said. “I sold every instrument except his guitar and Rickenbacker amp, got rid of the furniture and shut this room off from the rest of the house. It was like there was a dark cloud in there.”

photographed by Joe Worthem

For seven years, the room stayed sealed.

Michaela went into survival mode, going out only to handle daily necessities for the family and to sing at church. Eventually, she began to believe she might find healing through music.

An urge to create her own songs brought her out of seclusion.

“It became an ongoing conversation between me and God about getting back out there,” she said.

She sought out songwriters from local praise bands to learn the intricacies of the craft.

Then she began sharing her discoveries in 2014 on “Devotion Song Café,” a live weekly show on Booneville’s Unity TV. But because the Christian network allowed her to include only

Christian artists, Michaela felt limited and decided to find another outlet for the songwriters.

“I remember going to Mississippi Radio Group asking for 15 minutes of time — any time — even if it was the worst time of day for listeners,” she said. “I walked out with one hour a week of airtime in exchange for the show I’d been wanting to do.”

That’s how her radio show, “Local Licks,” got its start. The idea was simple: one hour of songwriters sharing their songs acoustically on the air, with laid-back conversations about the artists and their work. Each guest would get at least a 30-minute spot. The show would be audio-only to keep the session intimate, and all music genres would be accepted. The one rule March 2018 | INVITATION

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was that guests could not perform cover tunes; all the songs had to be original.

The deal allowed for the show to be recorded from Michaela’s home. It was time to reclaim the music room as her studio.

She purchased new instruments and equipment. Acoustic guitars now line the walls.

A drum set, a keyboard and several amplifiers offset the stone fireplace. A desk is cluttered with monitors and computer equipment, and funky red velvet couches tie the space together.

Michaela began contacting local musicians to appear on her new show. She found most of her guests performing at songwriters’ nights and in live music venues. In October 2017, record labels and artist management groups began sending songwriters to her. By January 2018, the wait list for an exclusive interview on “Local Licks” was around 20 artists long.

Performers came from farther away each session, including repeat guests such as Will Stults, co-coordinator of the north Alabama chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International.

“Most songwriter shows want to hear from people with hits, and then they just want you to play it,” Stults said. “‘Local Licks’ changes that by giving respect to every level of writer and proper time to talk about the whys and hows of the song. [NSAI] members who have been on have upped their game because of how it makes you think about your own process, and listeners hear the different ways to find their own magic.”

Since her show first aired, Michaela has recorded 130 radio sessions, featuring more than 250 songwriters from two continents, three countries and seven states. The Blue Canoe bar

Michaela Compton, pictured, records “Local Licks” in her home studio, also pictured. The weekly radio show features musicians who share original songs and talk about their experiences. Developing the show, which is recorded in the music room Michaela originally designed with her husband just before he died, has been a personal journey for her, too.

in Tupelo has hosted the monthly “Local Licks Live” every second Thursday since December, a night when four chosen songwriters from Michaela’s radio show share their work.

Michaela also does her best to help artists gain attention outside northeast Mississippi.

She brought four musicians to Memphis’ South Main Sounds songwriters’ night in the fall and landed the winner of her 2017 songwriting contest a spot at a World Down Syndrome Day event in Memphis this month. She recently took the show on the road to tape at Malaco Records in Jackson, recording sessions in the

historic studio with eight artists on their new Mississippi-centric Old Trace Records label.

“The show was fit for our artists because so many musicians she talks to are from this region, and it’s great exposure,” studio president Tommy Couch Jr. said. “We would welcome her to come back anytime.”

Michaela herself has found an outlet in songwriting since she started “Local Licks.” She still brings the praise band sound on Sundays, but she also rocks out with the band Of Warriors and Poets and often takes the stage on songwriters’ nights. And she ranked in the top

10 of 77 entrants for the Small Hall Songwriters Contest in Oxford this year.

Now Michaela claims “Local Licks” as her personal music ministry.

“Music is a shared language for everyone,” she said. “Hearing [other musicians] talk about their journeys has helped give me the confidence to get my voice back.”

Listen to “Local Licks” on Z98.5 at 2 p.m.

Sundays. Learn more about the show on Facebook @locallicksz985, on YouTube at Local Licks Songwriter Sessions and at locallicks.net.

For more, visit michaelacomptonmusic.com.

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Spring Pilgrimage Aberdeen’s annual tour of historic homes is a springtime tradition for visitors and homeowners alike.

written by Melanie Crownover photographs courtesy of Aberdeen Visitors Bureau

28 INVITATION | March 2018

Jim Lamping of New Orleans had one thing on his mind when he and his wife, Debby, bought the Lauri Mundi house in Aberdeen three years ago: remaking history.

The antiques-store owner had spent his fair share of time at Southern auctions where historic homes were sometimes up for sale, but the Lampings had never felt the impulse to buy until they toured the circa-1847 Mundi home, which had been uninhabited for five years. They spent the next year bringing the four-bedroom, three-bath space up to code and clearing the 20 acres of wooded land it sits on in the middle of town.

When the two-stall barn, carriage house and original two-story smokehouse on-site were in order, the pair took their ownership one step further by joining the Aberdeen Pilgrimage Association’s annual tour of homes.

“We’d heard about pilgrimages but never thought we’d get involved when we bought this place,” Lamping said. “Then here we were last year, with family members coming in from New Orleans in period dress to open the place up to the public.”

The pilgrimage has been an Aberdeen tradition since it started as a garden tour around 1937. The expanded tour, which includes the

March 2018 | INVITATION

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Top left: Built in 1879, Bella Vida is a unique home with a three-and-a-half-story corner tower. Top right: Lauri Mundi is an 1847 Greek Revival-style home with new owners. Above middle: Holliday Haven, circa 1850, features original furnishings and Holliday family memorabilia. Above right and left: Hosts dressed in period costumes greet visitors on the tour.

interiors and grounds of as many as 10 historic homes, became a yearly event in the 1980s.

The 2018 program offers several events in addition to the tours, including a proper tea at the Cottage Tea Room, the “Lies and Legends of the Old Aberdeen Cemetery” nighttime tour, the performance of a comedy at the Elkin Theatre written by a local, and free storytelling and carriage rides for ticketed patrons.

Visitors can also meet Confederate soldiers at a reenacted Civil War campsite while experiencing demonstrations for era-appropriate crafts such as quilting and weaving. A food court provides hungry tourists with a spot to relax outdoors while they eat.

The weekend-long event brings more than

30 INVITATION | March 2018

1,000 people to the area each year from as far away as Alaska, California and New York.

“If we get lucky the azaleas are all in bloom, and Mother Nature helps us show people the best of our town, then and now,” Aberdeen Pilgrimage Association president Faith West said. “It’s a lot of work and expense for our homeowners to get their homes and gardens in pristine order, but most of them enjoy it so much that we’re able to rotate different homes each year. They come back again just like many of our visitors.”

Most homeowners take a two-year hiatus after participating in the pilgrimage, but the Lampings plan to open the doors to their second home again this year.

Because the previous owners, who had the property for nearly a century, were exceedingly private, 2017 was the first time the Lauri Mundi house had ever been on the tour. Many locals purchased single-home tour tickets just for a glimpse of the property.

“Ends up, I think we found out as much about our home from the locals that came in as we had from our research,” Lamping said.

“Owning a place like this is a rare privilege. It’s part of the fabric of the town and will be there long after my family is gone. I feel like it’s our responsibility to share it while we’re here.”

To view the full schedule and buy tickets to attend Aberdeen’s pilgrimage April 6-8, visit aberdeenpilgrimage.com or call 662-369-9440.

March 2018 | INVITATION

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tupelo

NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO

The Northeast Mississippi Championship Rodeo was held Feb. 17-18 at BancorpSouth Arena. The event was hosted

by Hi Lo ProRodeo. photographed by Anthony Teague Carron, Lance and John Wooten

Mark and Shale Rulewicz

Emma and Ashley Williams

Chris Grisham, Meredith Brown and Bo Adams

Chad and Patricia Malone

32 INVITATION | March 2018

Jeff and Carolyn Finley with Steve and Brenda Tankersley

Rick Baggett and Lynn Rogers

Lynn and Darlene Montgomery with Sheff White

Jimmy and Cade Maxey

David Matamoros, Edwin Vargas, Lindsey Gutierrez and Nery Matamoros

Mary and Melvin Wages

Karl and Juanitta Easley

March 2018 | INVITATION

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new albany “THE WIZ”

New Albany High School presented the Tony Award-winning musical “The Wiz” Feb. 9-11. The play was directed by Mary Beth Muncie. photographed by Megan Wolfe

Aaron Estes and Jordan Lipsey

Hannah Hoh, Jaylee Ragsdale and Emma Reid

Brady Dean and Casey Garrett

34 INVITATION | March 2018

Lizzie Phillips and Christyana Hines

Ishmon Foster, Ross Rutherford, Chris Hatch and Jonathan Tucker II

Josi Hall, Adalyn Aldridge, Becca Childers, Emma Blakemore, Sanders Goode, Caroline Truemper and Layla Stewart

John Ferrell and Parker Reid

Hakeem Williams, Elizabeth Whitten and Charles Payne

Amelia Vincent and Bailey Robertson

March 2018 | INVITATION

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corinth

ALCORN COUNTY DELTA WATERFOWL BANQUET

The Alcorn County Delta Waterfowl Banquet was held Feb. 1 at Crossroads Arena. The event was presented by Caterpillar and featured dinner, door prizes, and live and silent auctions. photographed by Whitney Worsham

Paden Tomlin and Tyler Switcher

Joe Coleman, Tommy Nails, Kristen Swindle and Will Phillips

Kristie, Mark and Tilden Studdard

6 Medical Park Drive Fulton P: 662-862-7434 marquisdentalcenter.com

John Todd Duncan, A.J. Carter and Parker Campbell

Calvin and Devon Jones

Abby Lancaster and Anna Grace Schnabl

Cullen Arnold, Shaye Anderson, Payton Tucker and Luke Wooley

Brittanie Brown and Hannah Parks Mitchell

Hunter McCalla and John James

1013 W. Jackson Street Tupelo P: 662-823-7900 renewdentaltupelo.com

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fulton

ICC MOST BEAUTIFUL

Itawamba Community College’s annual Most Beautiful pageant was held Feb. 6 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Jada Standifer was crowned Most Beautiful. photographed by Elizabeth Roberts

Pam Holcombe and Willadean Miles

Taylor and Dellyn Kennedy

Kiajah Evans and Desmone Mathews

38 INVITATION | March 2018

Emily Jenkins and Corley Hogue

Dr. Jay Allen, Jada Standifer and Anne Elizabeth Buys

Karmon Starks, Carol Beth Bray and Olivia Moore

Cheyenne Cox and Kylie Leach

Hannah Grace Harwood and Katie Ann Henry

Lakyn Donaldson, J’mya Wells and Jazzmine Bogan

Savannah Hollis and Sarah Hutchinson

tupelo

WINTER JAM

Winter Jam, the largest Christian music tour in the nation, was held on Feb. 22 at BancorpSouth Arena. The event included several musical acts and featured comedian John Crist. photographed by Elizabeth Roberts

Paige Beasley, Anna Paid and Nathan Hitt

Mya Bridges and Zach Roberts

Madison Linley and Taylor Thorn

Daine Ramey and Kayliana Newman

Audrey Aguilar and Micah Simmons

Riley Floyd, Mackenzie McRay, Brianna Essaray and Cody Baker

Sophie Hoard, Bailey Fulton and Gaige Roellgen

Chasity Floyd and Kinsey Herring

Killianna Jones and David Fisher

March 2018 | INVITATION

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new albany FATHER-DAUGHTER SNOWFLAKE BALL

The Pilot Club of New Albany hosted its ninth annual Father-Daughter Snowflake Ball on Feb. 24 at First Baptist Church in New Albany. photographed by Amanda Cody

Kerrigan, Madeline and Kirk Nunnelee

Tim and Josie Mae Bell

Anthony Reddick and Kaylee Ellington

Natalie, Jonathan, Kara and Ben Morrison

Julia, Parks and Doro Smith

40 INVITATION | March 2018

Sara Jane, Lucy and Geoffrey King

Christina and Chris Rice

Kai, Kwadis and Kamille Beard

Kalia and Bryan Nugent

Larry Pannell and Annsley Coleman

FEATURING ARTISTS FROM ACROSS AMERICA with live music and children’s art activities

WEEKEND ALSO INCLUDES Run Now Wine Later 5K Santé South Wine Festival & OBO Tandem Cycling Rally RENAISSANCE AT COLONY PARK

R I D G E L A N D A R T S F E S T. C O M March 2018 | INVITATION

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tupelo

IGNITE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Community Development Foundation held Ignite, a leadership summit, on Jan. 18 at The Orchard. Seven nationally known inspirational speakers discussed effective leadership practices. photographed by Anthony Teague

Riley Newton and Tarver Reeder

Calub Merritt, Windy Faulkner and Kurt Shettles

42 INVITATION | March 2018

Michael Patterson and A.J. Dillar

Sallie Belle and Wynn Howell

Mary Crisp, Kelly Hutcheson and Kory Hunter

Gearl and Trey Loden

Kyle Finley, Ashley McLellan, Michael Dubose and Ray Tackett

corinth

MOTHER & SON CARNIVAL

Junior Auxiliary of Corinth hosted its Mother & Son Carnival on Feb. 3 at the Franklin Courtyard. The event included games and refreshments. photographed by Whitney Worsham

Laura Kate and Griffin Carmichiel

Brooks, Baker and Lesley BainÂ

Shannon and Connor Miller

Tara and Reid Williams

Jackson and Candace Marlar

Anderson, Kasey and John Marrow Atkins

Erin and Michael Guare

Radric, Shannon and Raylan Davis

March 2018 | INVITATION

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tupelo

JUNIOR AUXILIARY CHARITY BALL

The 55th annual Tupelo Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball was held on Feb. 2 at BancorpSouth Arena.

Josefina Rayburn was honored as Tupelo’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year. photographed by Elizabeth Roberts

Madison Shumpert, Katie Robbins and Joy Tomes

Harry, Josefina and Harry Rayburn

Sara Talton, Gwendolyn Cook, Leigh Ann Wise and Mori Sykes

Wyatt Barrow, Sam Newell, Tripp Howell and Gatlin Farrar

44 INVITATION | March 2018

Sawyer Tucker, Megan Riley and Maggie Cayson

Callie Philips and Morgan Hester

Ashley McCarthy, Deanna Dabbs, Angela Ewing and Donna Roberts

March 2018 | INVITATION

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corinth

KIWANIS FATHERDAUGHTER BALL

The seventh annual Kiwanis Father-Daughter Ball was held Feb. 10 at Crossroads Arena. Themed “A Night With Your Stars,” the event included refreshments, music and dancing. photographed by Whitney Worsham

Lindsey Potts, Addy Johnson and Braddock Brawner

Tiara Selmon and Tada Stricklen

James and Harley Harville

Michael and Imogene Stanley with G.T. and Grace McCullough

Bella and Bruce Boyd

46 INVITATION | March 2018

Ben and Annie Butler

Ann Carrington and Alan Trapp

Meade, Drew and Mary Mac Dickerson with Ellie Kate Tucker

Jamal and Alyssa Pope

John Michael and Addy Tucker

March 2018 | INVITATION

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tupelo

“I AM ... 2018 WITH SADIE ROBERTSON”

Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted best-selling author, speaker and role model Sadie Robertson on Jan. 21 at Hope Church. More than 1,300 people attended the event. photographed by Elizabeth Roberts

Ally Carnathan and Ashley Hopson

Cindy Black and Kendyl Hensley

48 INVITATION | March 2018

Ella McGillivray with Gillian and Allison Floyd

Kim and Madison Raper

Sarah Hutchinson, Khaki Wilbanks and Rayven Stegall

Haley Jones with Jada and August McElwain and Kristy Jones

Leslie and Zoe Valsamakis with Katie Sherwood, Zalla McCaffrey and Nicole Sherwood

Aubrey and Terri Eaton

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saltillo

MARDI PARTI

Saltillo Main Street hosted a Mardi Gras-themed party on Feb. 10. The family-friendly event included a 5K run, live music and food. photographed by Amanda Cody

Joel Young, Chris Ransom and Curt Hines

Marc and Anna Pugh

John and Tammy McDougal

50 INVITATION | March 2018

Brandy and Jason WIlson

Chuck Hopkins, Louise Jones, Corrine Calvasina and April Hopkins

Willow Armstrong, Lydia Witt and Erin Armstrong

Ron and Lisa Robinson with Michael and Tammy Chapman and Carol and John Nance

Shirley and Perry Butler

Lindsay and Scottie Thompson

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

NEW EXPECTATIONS FOR WOMEN IN MISSISSIPPI CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

Bart and Tara Cayson

Cheryl Hennings, Rhonda Horton and Rhonda Weaver

AJ’S SALON SWEETHEART SHOPPING EVENT

Shannon and Paige Wood

BRANTLEY GILBERT CONCERT

Chuck Hopkins and Pam Wigginton

DIVERSICARE VALENTINE’S PARTY

MAKE-A-WISH CELEBRITY WAIT NIGHT

52 INVITATION | March 2018

Josh Hamrick and Reagan Randolph

Ashley Phillips and Brayleigh Hodge

GUNTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL CHEER SHOWCASE

Minnie Shelley, Eddie Golliday, David Laman, Corey Crippen, Carrie Crump, Tara Underwood, Nikki Brown, Mary McCoy and Michelle Carter

McCallister Braden and Stephanie Harrington

Brenda and Taylor Grace Sheffield

Guntown Middle School cheerleaders

WEEBLO GROUP ART SESSION

Braxton and Kristen Meeks

Sam Laney and Belle Naugher

Tucker Burk and Tripp Riles

March 2018 | INVITATION

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH DESSERT FIRST

Adrien Murphy and Stephanie Oliver

Amanda Angle and Shelley Russell

LINK CENTRE JOURNEY ART EXPO

Perry and Claude Clayton

SILENCE HIDES VIOLENCE 5K

Valerie Long and Juanita G. Floyd

TUPELO COMMUNITY THEATRE “LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC”

Brent Martin and Mitch McCamey

54 INVITATION | March 2018

Ashley Minch and Brandon Hood

Michelle and Mae Barnes

Johnny Holland and Tabitha Smith

Kim and Tim Mitchell

UNCONVENTIONAL TEACHER CONFERENCE

Joyce Moore and JuiLondia Mosley

Carrie Churchill and Chevelle Champ Vasser

ANNOUNCE YOUR WEDDING IN OUR 2018

BRIDAL ISSUE invitationmag.com

March 2018 | INVITATION

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recipe SUSHI

contributed by Tomomi Watanabe and Lauren McElwain photographed by Tomomi Iwanaka and Elizabeth Roberts

T

upelo’s Cooking as a First Language classes seek to build community by bringing people of different cultures together to learn about each other’s traditional foods. Founder Lauren McElwain says this sushi recipe has been a hit in more than one class. Learn more about the organization on Facebook @CFLcookingasafirstlanguage.

1½ cups cooked white rice 4 teaspoons rice vinegar 1 teaspoon salt 5 teaspoons sugar 2 sheets seaweed Soy sauce for dipping

Suggested ingredients to roll inside: Avocado Cucumber Smoked salmon Raw tuna

Cooking as a First Language has hosted two sushi-making classes, pictured above. Top row: Making sushi rice and thinly sliced vegetables and fish for rolls. Middle row: Proper rolling technique. Bottom: The beautiful final product.

56 INVITATION | March 2018

Lettuce Bell pepper Cream cheese Crabmeat

Prepare rice, and set aside. While still hot, make sushi vinegar by whisking together the rice vinegar, salt and sugar.

In a large bowl, mix hot rice and sushi vinegar together, slicing through the rice with a rice paddle or wet spoon to separate the grains.

Spread the rice to cool, and cover with a wet cloth so it doesn’t dry out.

With a sharp knife, cut your chosen ingredients into long, thin slices.

Cover a bamboo sushi mat with plastic wrap. Place a sheet of seaweed on the mat, shiny side down. Spread half of the sushi rice evenly over the seaweed, using wet fingers.

Leave a ½-inch space at the top.

Place sliced ingredients in a line across the rice, toward the bottom. Roll mat forward, holding the line of ingredients firmly with your fingers to keep the roll tight. Press mat around sushi roll to seal and shape it. Cut into 8 pieces, and serve with soy sauce on a decorative plate.

Sushi-making kits that include rolling mats and rice paddles are readily available online.

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