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CONTENTS
June 2015
56 FEATURES 56
BALLET ON THE BLUFF Form meets fashion in airy apparel, flowing scarves and bold prints
64
THE SHOW MUST GO ON DeSoto Family Theater rolls out its 2015 schedule
67
CREATIVE CLASS Six Southern artists leaving their marks across the MidSouth
OUT & ABOUT 27 | 11TH ANNUAL MUDBUG
BASH 30 | BLOOMIN’ ART SHOW 31 | MUDBUG BASH
SPONSORSHIP PARTY
33 | TASTE OF DESOTO 34 | 10TH ANNUAL FISHES FOR WISHES AT SNOWDEN HOUSE
42 | THE ARC OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI CHARITY RECEPTION 43 | HOPE CENTER GRAND OPENING 44 | ROTARY CLUB OF
SOUTHAVEN CRAWFISH COUNTDOWN
46 | MEMPHIS IN MAY
35 | WHISPERING WOODS &
OLIVE TWIGS HALF MARATHON & 5K
38 | SOUTHERN HOTWING
FESTIVAL
39 | GRAHAMWOOD GALA 40 | VINE TO WINE AT THE
GARDEN: A TASTE OF GERMANY
41 | EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Photo by Louis Tucker
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 5
CONTENTS June 2015
•
Volume 9
No. 6
13
DEPARTMENTS 13 | INTERVIEW Crafty Couture Katie Kalsi’s wearable art brings creativity to everyday accessories
16 | MUSIC Spreading Roots North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne team up for their new collaboration, North Mississippi Osborne
18 | BOOKS All Roads Lead to Home Sophie Hudon shares her story in a novel focused on the idea of home and the value of religion
22 | DRINKS A Cool Summer Breeze
16
TaraChez Britton discusses one of Babalu’s popular cocktails, the Cat-5, the perfect drink for a summer afternoon
24 | CAUSES Coding + Community Memphis Technology Foundation unites tech enthusiasts across the MidSouth
IN EVERY ISSUE Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Calendar 50 See & Do 80
64
6 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 7
CASEY HILDER
editor’s letter
Love an Artist Art is special. And I don’t mean that in a “oh, it’s so beautiful to look at” sort of way. No, what I mean is that being an artist changes people. Through the magic of art, personal history, motivations and beliefs bleed through to create something bigger than the individual. This month, Click celebrates the arts scene in the MidSouth with six masters of their fields (page 67). In addition, veteran dance photographer Louis Tucker’s perpetual energy, upbeat attitude combined with local ballet dancer Sarah Borum’s graceful moves made this month’s cover and fashion spread (page 56) one to remember. We also have an exclusive interview couture craftswoman Katie Kalsi (page 13), whose über-trendy, handpainted handbags continue to pop up in unexpected places across the MidSouth. Speaking of unexpected, this month brings a musical treat in the form of a collaboration between local rockers The North Mississippi Allstars and the globetrotting, multifaceted musician Anders Osborne (page 16). So for the month of June and beyond, I encourage you to find art and beauty in everyday life. You don’t have to be a beret-wearing Frenchman to create or appreciate something worthwhile. The paintbrush doesn’t judge, after all. Happy reading,
Casey Hilder Editor
Write To Us:
Email editor@myclickmag.com or send us a letter at Click Magazine P.O. Box 100, Hernando, MS 38632. 8 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
CLICK
People | Parties | Places Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman & Angie Pittman Publisher Dick Mathauer Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com
COPY + FEATURES Events Maggie Vinzant events@myclickmag.com Contributing Writers Tess Catlett, Casey Hilder, Mary Eckersley, Michelle Hope, Robert Lee Long, Shana Lusk, L.Taylor Smith, Tonya Thompson
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Art Director Jennifer Leonard Corbin Graphic Design Jennifer Rorie Contributing Photographers Brian Anderson, Frank Chin, Matt Floyd, Casey Hilder, Kandi Tippit, Angelfish Creative
ADVERTISING Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lylamc@phpublishingllc.com Elizabeth DeHart Elizabeth@phpublishingllc.com Melanie Dupree mdupree@desototimestribune.com Sheri Ehlers sheri@phpublishingllc.com
HOW TO REACH US
2445 Hwy 51 South | Hernando, MS 38632 website: myclickmag.com Customer Service/Subscriptions: P: 662.429.6397 | F: 662.429.5229
SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 662.429.6397 or subscribe online at myclickmag.com. Annual subscription rate: $32.95. Click Magazine is published 12 times a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632. We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder; Click Magazine, 2445 Hwy. 51 South, Hernando, MS 38632 or by email to editor@myclickmag.com.
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT Interested in having your next party featured in Click Magazine? Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com
© 2015 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 9
contributors
June 2015
Mary Eckersley Mary Eckersley is a Memphis-based writer and photographer and recent journalism graduate from The University of Memphis. She has been a member of the Memphis music community since 2010, and has interned with companies such as The Recording Academy and Ardent Studios. One of Click’s up-and-coming music writers, Eckersley explores the unconventional duo of Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson in North Mississippi Osborne (page 16).
Shana Raley Lusk
Tess Catlett
A lifelong reader and writer, Shana RaleyLusk is a freelance writer and book reviewer with a focus on Southern literature. A native of East Tennessee, Lusk holds an English degree with a concentration in literature from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and her work has appeared in a number of publications including At Home Tennessee magazine, The Knoxville News Sentinel and various others. This month, Lusk reviews Sophie Hudson’s All Roads Lead to Home (page 18).
Click’s event and calendar compilation for this month was produced by Tess Catlett. A Southaven native who attends school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett is a former intern for Click Magazine. An avid and tenacious writer, Catlett has been featured in various publications including Vox Magazine, The Columbia Missourian and The DeSoto Times-Tribune. When not writing, Catlett enjoys binge watching underrated TV dramas.
Tonya Thompson A Southern-born writer and editor, Thompson has spent most of her lifebetween Nashville and the Mississippi Delta. Now, a contributing editor for Click magazine, Thompson writes frequently on life in the South through her blog, The Tenth Muse (tenthmusememphis. com). Originally from Clarksville, Tennessee, Thompson enjoys vintage motorcycling and traveling with her husband and children. This month, Thompson looks into the technological side of local nonprofits (page 24).
Louis Tucker M.B. Sellers A recent graduate of the Ole Miss Honors College, M.B. Sellers currently works for the Oxford-based label, Fat Possum Records. Her interests include a love for Sonic breakfast toasters, Wes Anderson, reading, writing, and listening to sappy audio books on long car drives. Sellers heads to the Bluff City to taste Babalu’s Cat-5 cocktail (page 22).
10 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
This month’s cover and fashion feature was shot by Louis Tucker, a visual scribe who documents human movement as it relates to American social circles and subcultures. In 2013, Louis was recognized in the Memphis Flyer’s “20<30” article as one of 20 young people shaping the city’s future. He was commissioned in 2014 to create a photography mural at Graceland. In addition, his work has been shown at the Brooks Museum of Art and Crosstown Arts. In his free time, Louis also dabbles in underwater portrait photography, practices yoga and breakdances.
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 11
12 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
UP FRONT ARTS, CULTURE AND PERSONALITIES
Crafty Couture Katie Kalsiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wearable art brings creativity to everyday accessories Interview by CASEY HILDER
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 13
up front
people
E
NTREPRENEUR AND FASHION DESIGNER Katie Kalsi fuses the paintbrush and the sewing needle in her unique line of purses, straps and handbags. With an eye for function and beauty, Kalsi’s initial line of 23 hand-painted hobo-style bags eventually grew into a small enterprise featuring dozens of designs done in her own signature style. Now 12 years in business, Kalsi’s designs have been seen on the arms of Hollywood starlets like Naomi Judd, Taylor Swift, Debbie Gibson and Pat Benetar.
Click Magazine: Tell us a little bit about your artistic endeavors prior to starting your company. Katie Kalsi: I started painting in the 4th grade in art class in school. My parents bought me art supplies and some canvas, and I loved it. I would rush home from school to paint. I found my passion in life at the tender age of 9! CM: What are some of the inspirations behind your work?
in the pharmacy of a local hospital for 8 years and on the
KK: I have been inspired more by places and the things around
weekends I would do festivals and trunk shows to sell my art.
me than by people. As a woman raised in the South, I have
My pharmacy job helped pay for my supplies. I painted every
always appreciated what makes the South so special. The
free moment I had.
vibrant, beautiful colors in spring. The blooming Dogwoods are just so gorgeous. While my art has a contemporary flare —
CM: Can you share a little bit about your first office?
and it is that art that inspired my first straps I find inspiration
KK: My parents’ house — the house where I grew up — used
wherever I go. I couldn’t even think about living any place but
to sit on 18 acres before my parents sold part of it. It was there
the South!
in their old barn that we converted it into a studio that sat near the lake. I would often sit on a bench near the lake or on
CM: Would you say there’s a personal connection behind
the porch of my studio and sketch. The beauty and the quiet
each design?
totally inspired me.
KK: All of my bags are named after family members. The straps are named after what that strap represents, but
CM: Your products are based around the theme of “wearable
with some flare to the title. If I painted the pattern
art.” What does this phrase mean to you and where do you
on canvas, I would use the same name for the
think this style belongs in the fashion world?
canvas piece as I would use for the strap.
KK: I always wanted my brand in the fashion world to belong
This is how I tie my art and fashion
to the everyday woman. The woman who could invest in
together.
one good bag, but now can change her strap to change the look of her bag depending on the occasion or simply
CM: Did you study art, fashion
or
design
in
college?
can use my wearable artwork to express themselves on an individual level.
KK:
I
The
University
went
to of
CM: Each handbag is produced entirely in the USA, correct?
Memphis my first year,
Can you share a little bit about some of the challenges and
then I transferred to Ole
14 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
because she wanted a different look for the day. Women
importance associated with this decision?
Miss and studied Art with
KK: I am very hands-on with everything that takes place in the
a minor in Pharmacy. I worked
studio every day. We use high quality materials and nothing
is used in the production process until I inspect it. It is a balancing act to be sure — being a full-time mom to two girls and being a designer, but my girls and I, we make it work. CM: Can you tell us about some designs you’re particularly proud of or spent a little extra time putting together? KK: Designing is an ongoing process. You have to stay current or customers will move on. I am always one season ahead in my designs. I carry a small notebook in my purse to sketch an idea as soon as I get it! People can expect to see new straps as well as a few new bag designs each season. CM: Where are some places we can find your stuff around the MidSouth? KK: We have several locations in the MidSouth as well as Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Kentucky. Our brand is growing, and we hope to have our line in every state soon. Throughout the MidSouth you can find my line at Dazzle, Two Girls and a Trunk, Past and Present, Paisley Pineapple, Peridot, Lansky’s Downtown, Southern Whimsy, Heather Boutique and Spa, Lipchic Boutique, Lake House Gallery, Giggleswick, Reed’s. A current list of store locations can be found on our website: katiekalsi.com
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 15
up front
music
took on a life of its own. While it is not necessarily an album to party to, it is an album of good, honest music that speaks to the soul. Both artists take Southern music traditions and bring them into the 21st century. There’s a funky aesthetic to these guys that makes traditional roots and blues appealing to younger generations and that edge is definitely present in this collaboration. “I would say the cast you choose is of the utmost importance,” says Osborne. The first words to come to mind when describing the record are real, raw and just a bit gritty. It blends seamlessly the many different styles one might find traveling up and down the Mississippi from soul and blues to rock and even a little bit of country. Songs like “Lonely Love” blend the emotions of Southern folk and blues with the power and immensity of rock while songs like “Brush Up Against You” and “Junco Pardna” offer something for folks to get up and move to. The crown jewel track is “Away, Way Too Long,” which
Spreading Roots
on Beale Street or a dilapidated dive somewhere in the
North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne
voices were made for one another, adding another layer
team up for their new collaboration,
of warmth and energy. The harmonies on “Dyin’ Days”
North Mississippi Osborne Story by MARY ECKERSLEY
transports listeners to a Saturday night in some hazy bar French Quarter. Their styles meld together flawlessly, as though their
paired with the lyrics “We all love one another, especially on our dyin’ days” is hauntingly beautiful, and their effortless chemistry plays as much a part of the music as their guitars and drums. “Our musical and personal history seems to be intertwined. We seem to fit well
T
together. There’s not too much thinking involved, just HERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER IN THE
listening,” says Osborne.
South. Continuing a trend of collaboration below the
“Freedom and Dreams” is currently available online for
Mason-Dixon line, Grammy Award-winning Anders
purchase.
Osborne and contemporary rock band North Mississippi
Allstars have combined to create a new melodic force in North Mississippi Osborne, along with their first album “Freedom and Dreams.” Allstars is led by guitarist Luther and his brother, drummer Cody Dickinson, both sons of the legendary producer Jim Dickinson. Osborne is a New Orleans based guitarist, singer and songwriter who penned hits like Tim McGraw’s “Watch the Wind Blow” and was named the Crescent City’s best guitarist by Offbeat Magazine for the third year in a row. They just wrapped up a tour together as “North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne Present: N.M.O.” Their album, “Freedom and Dreams,” celebrates the artists’ shared passion for music as well as their personal friendship. It was produced by Mark Howard and released in February via the band’s own N.M.O label. Despite careful planning, according to Osborne, once they got in the studio, the album 16 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
15 0 2 E N JU
Sunset on the
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up front
books
All Roads Lead to Home Sophie Hudon shares her story in a novel focused on the idea of home and the value of religion Story by SHANA RALEY-LUSK
I
N HER LATEST BOOK “HOME IS WHERE MY PEOPLE ARE,”
places that have had significance in her life. Chronicling
Sophie Hudson explores the true meaning of home
everything from her treasured childhood in Myrtlewood,
through the lens of her journey and understanding
Mississippi, to her “forever home” in Birmingham, Hudson
of God’s presence in our lives. “It’s easy to go through life
touches on all sorts of topics that have impacted her life.
believing
we
can
Her downhome stories lend
satisfy
our longing for home with a three-bedroom, two-bath slice of the American dream that we mortgage at four percent and pay for over the course of thirty years,” she writes. “Well, you know what? I think what we’re really looking for is to belong and
“Well, you know what? I think what we’re
really looking for is to belong and to be known. And rest assured, wherever we are on the long and winding road of life, God is at work in the journey.”
themselves
effortlessly
to
the overall theme that God is in control and that He puts us with the people and places where we truly belong. While the language and feel of the book are upbeat and colorfully country at times, Hudson
still
manages
to
to be known. And rest assured, wherever we are on the long
render some relatively deep life lessons. For instance, she
and winding road of life, God is at work in the journey.” This
recounts a tale from her teenage years when a close friend’s
concept is the very essence of “Home Is Where My People Are.”
father is faced with an addiction and the need for rehab. Of
One part memoir, one part devotional and (at least) one part
this trial, Hudson writes, “There are a lot of details about
comedy, “Home Is Where My People Are” is a page-turning,
his recovery that I’ve never known. . . . I don’t know what
easy read. Hudson evokes memories about the people and
ultimately convinced him that he needed to stop. But I know
18 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
“But I know enough about
my own brokenness to understand that sometimes you just get to the end of your dadgum self.” enough about my own brokenness to understand that sometimes you just get to the end of your dadgum self. Those parts of our hearts and lives that try to live in perpetual exile-well, eventually it’s like they long to be reconciled. They want to be whole.” She also addresses struggles in her own life from which she has learned perhaps the most profound lessons of
all.
Recollecting
a
particularly
challenging time during her early twenties, Hudson writes, “the reality of
my
rebellion
was
straight-up
selfishness with a whole lot of lying and sneakiness to try to get exactly what I thought I wanted.” As she relates the particulars of this period of her life, she relies on Scripture to make her point. “…since Scripture tells us that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (see Luke 6:45), it was pretty evident that a good portion of my overflow was dark, stagnant, and foul.” Her truthfulness and fearlessness in exposing her own shortcomings are among the books proudest moments. Witty,
engaging
and
decidedly
Southern, “Home Is Where My People Are” has the rare ability to pull readers in
with
its
honesty
and
humor.
Hudson’s style is humble and relatable and her Mississippi roots shine right through. The clever juxtaposition of lighthearted fun with real life lessons is the perfect mix for the summer, and readers can expect to walk away with a renewed sense of God’s purposeful presence in even the tiniest decisions they make. Hudson’s writing can also be found on her blog BooMama.net and in her previous book “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet.”
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up front
drinks
A Cool Summer Breeze TaraChez Britton discusses one of Babalu’s popular cocktails, the Cat-5, the perfect drink for a summer afternoon Story by MARY B. SELLERS | Photos by CASEY HILDER
B
ABALU TACOS & TAPAS IS A breath of fresh air amid the barbecue joints and smoky bars of Memphis.
The expansive bartop is usually packed with people either enjoying a cocktail or waiting to enjoy one. It makes a person feel just a little bit cooler, a touch more in step with a rhythm of hipness that is tangible and attractive. TaraChez Britton has been with Babalu as a server, bartender and manager, and now she maintains the training program for the upscale eatery. The
original
Babalu
was
opened
in
December 2010 in the historic Fondren district of Jackson, Mississippi. Their newest location in Overton Square in Memphis has become known for its cocktails, and one in particular stands out as a modern take on a Southern staple. With a fresh, crisp flavor, the Cat-5 is the sort of drink that’s well suited for a warm evening spent on Babalu’s patio. “The creation of the Cat-5 was certainly a team effort, as many things are at Babalu,” Britton says. “It came about as we realized that we wanted our own local twist on a mojitostyle beverage.” The similarities to the mojito are certainly there, but this is in no way a carbon copy. Babalu uses local products in their food and drink, and the main ingredient in the Cat-5 is Mississippi-based Cathead vodka. “Its name came about because it is Cathead Vodka, plus five other ingredients: fresh lime, agave nectar, mint, club soda and bitters,” Britton explains. Fantastic food, an innovative cocktail menu and the trendy-without-pretension
“It came about as we realized that we wanted our own local twist on a mojito-style beverage ” 22 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
vibe sets this turquoise gem apart from the rest of Overton Square, but Britton says her favorite thing about Babalu are the people. “To me, the best thing about Babalu is that it
seems to create an environment where people are incredibly friendly, easily approachable and willing to share their time with us, just as we encourage them to share their food with their family and friends.” So to parched patrons looking for a respite from summer heat, the Cat-5 is the natural choice for those who happen to breeze through. “If you were going to make this drink at home, I suggest making it in a pitcher; this way you do not have to work so hard to get your second round,” Britton says. “Or, better yet, you can share with your friends, as we so love to do.”
Cat-5 Cocktail
Ingredients: 1.5 cups Cathead Vodka 3 oz. Madhava light agave nectar 20-25 Fresh mint leaves 3-5 Limes (cut into small wedges) 24 drops Angostura aromatic bitters 2 cups club soda Instructions: 1. Add agave nectar, mint leaves, lime wedges and 1/2 cup club soda to a serving pitcher. 2. Muddle all ingredients well. (The goal is to get the juice out of the limes and flavor out of the mint without destroying the mint leaves.) 3. Fill pitcher with ice. 4. Add Cathead Vodka, the remaining soda water, and the bitters to the pitcher and stir well. 5. Pour into glass of your choice. 6. Enjoy and repeat as often as necessary!
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 23
causes
up front
Attendees of TechCamp Memphis listen to the closing keynote of the 2012 conference.
Coding + Community Memphis Technology Foundation unites tech enthusiasts across the MidSouth Story by TONYA THOMPSON
W
One HACKmemphis 2014 attendee working on constructing a computer keyboard from scratch.
ALK INTO ANY ROOM AND ODDS ARE, A LARGE
Bryan Robinson, MTF board member and mentor. “In reality,
percentage of people within it know about Face-
design and development are collaborative enterprises where
book. Yet ask that same group about PHP, the
we’re strengthened by our ties. Not all technologists get this
programming language that powers Facebook, and there’s a
sort of interaction in their day-to-day jobs. It’s important to
guarantee of more than one or two blank stares and shrugged
have a place to go to feed off that collaborative energy.”
shoulders. We all live in a digital world but few of us know the science of the software that runs it.
According to Robinson, MTF was the brainchild of various leaders of tech-related community organized groups recog-
No one understands the unique — and sometimes lonely —
nizing the need of an information hub for #MemTech,
tech expertise better than Memphis Technology Foundation
otherwise known as the greater MidSouth tech community.
(MTF), a Bartlett-based nonprofit. The core philosophy of the
“We wanted to help the [individual] communities with sponsor-
group is to bring like minds together while mentoring and growing a MidSouth tech community that is interconnected online, but all-too-often disconnected offline.
ship, mentoring, content and venue support,” says Robinson. As a collaborative that does everything from planning weekly meet-ups to hosting workshops that are free and open to the
There’s a perception among the general public of the
public, MTF is working hard to bring like-minded tech brains
lone genius, the lone hacker, the lone entrepreneur typing
together for networking and collaboration. In April of this year,
furiously at their keyboard in the middle of the night,” says
MTF partnered with Start Co. — a startup ecosystem located
24 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
“Not all technologists get this sort of interaction in their day-to-day jobs. It’s important to have a place to go to feed off that collaborative energy.”
in downtown Memphis — to host their first Technology Office Hours event. With
young
professionals,
college
students, and young entrepreneurs in attendance, the event provided free workshops on various computer languages and technology skills. “It was
an
awesome
success,”
says
Robinson, “we hope to continue this, as well as expand the idea of mentorship in the community.” In November, MTF hosts its annual TechCamp, a technology conference that allows attendees to participate in workshops and symposiums about design, development, marketing, and tech-related
entrepreneurship.
How-
ever, technologiest don’t have to wait until then to become a part of the thriving network MTF is building. “The tech community hosts monthly meetups dealing with various technologies,” says Robinson. “Topics include specific development languages like Python, Ruby, PHP and .Net, as well as more generalized groups dealing with Web design and development as a whole, game development and WordPress.” MTF also helps facilitate HACKmemphis, a local weekend for developers, designers, makers and tinkerers to get together and collaborate on projects. The nonprofit also coordinates GiveCamp Memphis, a weekend devoted toward area technologists giving back to non-profits. As
assisting
and
networking
the
greater tech community in the MidSouth is MTF’s primary goal, you can help Memphis Technology Foundation by spreading the word. Their website is
memphistechnology.org, or
visit
their Facebook page (no PHP knowledge needed!) at facebook.com/MemphisTechnology. Click magazine | JUNE 2015 25
Southaven/Desoto
7900 Airways Blvd., Ste. 2 Bldg C Southaven, MS 38671
26 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
OUT&ABOUT A RO U ND T OWN ONE PARTY AT A TIME
all things social
Halley Williams, Sheley Taras & Ginger Farris
11th Annual Mudbug Bash
O
ver a decade has passed since Hernandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural Mudbug Bash. The annual festival draws close to 1,000 people to the historic Hernando Square for a night of good food and live entertainment benefitting the Palmer Home for Children. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 27
out & about
parties
Kayla Hall & Michael Gray
Phoebe Malone, Chetan Koch & Olivia Martin
Jay Baker & Laura Hunt
Amber Demastus & Lindsey Piper Justin & April Thomas
Sheri Ehlers & Teddy Floyd
28 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Susan Blanton & Rick Mordachini
Richard & Emily Meena
Danny & DorI Payne
Don & Jamie Rutherford
Chelsea & Jake Bagwell
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 29
out & about
parties
Nancy Loftin, Heather Lawson & Mary Carver
Beverly Coradini & Janice Kennedy
Bloominâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Art Show
D
eSoto Arts Council kicked off its Bloominâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Art Show on May 1
with a membership reception at
the historic Banks House. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Donna Shankman & Rose Sitton
Pat Young & Margaret Yates
30 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Alliann Hoover & Brenda McDill
Gwen Luttrell & Valerie Donnelly
Valerie Donnelly, Gail Kreunen & Barbara Kendrick
Barbara Kendrick, Gail Kreuen, & Valerie Donnelly.
parties
Kaitlyn Vassar, Josh Whelan, Al Fishburn & Katharine Hewlett
out & about
Kate Douglas, Jesse Hunt, Larry Hunt & Laura Hunt
Mudbug Bash Sponsorship Party
P
almer Home for Children honored sponsors of its 11th annual Mudbug Bash with a party at the historic Banks House in Hernando on April 2. Funds from the annual festival go toward the Palmer Homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission
to care for children in need. The organization currently serves close to 100
children who live year-round on two campuses in Hernando and Columbus. Steve Allen, Emily Hill, Shelly & Brian Richardson
Photos by MATT FLOYD
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 31
32 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
parties
Cherie Robertson, Timothy Vanderhook, Alex Hoss & Grant Whipple
out & about
Caleb Ashworth & Kaleigh Kubis
Taste of DeSoto
T
he 11th annual Taste of DeSoto featured food from over two dozen of DeSoto Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular restaurants,
as well as live music and an auction. Ron Childers, Chef
Michael Patrick and Sheriff Bill Rasco were among those on this
yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panel of celebrity judges. Proceeds from the tasting event benefitted three local charities: the ARC of Northwest Mississippi, Healing Hearts Advocacy Center and Through the Roof Pediatric Alex Stepek, Kaleigh Kubis, Caleb Ashworth & Jacob Heirtzler
Therapy. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Cheryl Rose & Mike Theil
Mel Mayatt & Jennifer Bond
Josh Hamlett, Jennifer Shettles, Shannon Carroll, Belinda Campbell & Carlos Webster
Isaac Remak & Jessica Boone
Melanie Dupree & Britney Worley
Owen Reed & Kayleen Lockett
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 33
out & about
parties
Christy & Blair Hazelgrove
Derrick & Tammy Wilkes
Justin & Jessica Smith, Jason & Ashley Youngblood & Deanna & Jake Duffer
Bonnie & Kip Wilkerson
Haley Man & Laura Bonds
10th Annual
Fishes for Wishes at Snowden House
G
uests enjoyed all-you-can-eat crawfish at Snowden House in Southaven during the annual Fishes for Wishes event. Presented
by Cops for Kids, the crawfish boil benefitted Make-
A-Wish Mid-South. Singer-songwriter Ben Bradford provided live music, and Memphis BBQ Co. was on hand with alternative food choices. Photos by MARY ECKERSLEY
Lacey Braswell & Ashley Siman
34 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Carrie Hardin, Courtney Hodge & Jamie Worsham
Leslie Bierman & Gray Byrd
Tiffany Mooneyham, Chrissy Chandler & Melanie Brown
parties
Alma McNeasy & Phyllic McBride
out & about
Angi Owens
Whispering Woods & Olive Twigs Half Marathon & 5K
M
adison Phillips led this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participants in the National
Anthem. The half marathon and 5K raised funds for DeSoto
Sherilyn & Matt Huey
County student scholarships and Le Bonheur Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Hospital. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Kami & Chloe Ratcliff
Monica Green & Kitty Whitlow
Anna Nall
Conner Smitherman, Caleb Meacheam, Stephanie Meacham & Aaron Meacham
Nick Grosiean & Kristi Williamson
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 35
CONTACT THE UM-DESOTO CAMPUS AT (662) 342-4765 or email desoto@olemiss.edu to find out more about: • Applying for admission to UM • Meeting with an academic advisor • Securing financial aid
36 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 37
out & about
parties
Dana & Seth Agranov
Tonya Gulledge & Amanda Devlugt
Chris Billings & Tracy Campers
Jason Doubrava & Curt Rakestraw
Ashley Sansom & Caitlynn Colpoys
Southern Hotwing Festival
E
stablished in 2003, the Southern Hotwing Fesival has become a staple in the Memphis community. Over 50 teams competed in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fest, which benefitted Ronald
McDonald House Charities of Memphis. Photos by FRANK CHIN
Kayla Woods & Kaitlyn Webber
Madeline Golson & Kate Douglas
Racheal Little & Monecia Caston
2015 Winners: First place: N.W.O. (New Wing Order) Second place: Wilkes Wings Third place: Fire Trouble
Mary Hess, Lindsey Butler & Amanda Grobmyer
38 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Rebecca Grove & Jerry Sinclair
parties
Andy & Mary Allison Cates
out & about
Hongbo Wang & Changzhi Yu
Chuck & Maryellen Eaves & Pete Johnson
Grahamwood Gala
T
he third annual auction benefitting Grahamwood Elementary School in Memphis took place on March 28. Over 100 items were up for grabs, including horseback riding lessons, passes to the
FedEx St. Jude Classic and a weeklong Florida getaway. Photos by MARY ECKERSLEY
Ashley Bayne & Lisa Lawhead
Swati Salian & Jennifer Balink
John Wilbanks & Jackson McMinn
Lauren Estes & Brian Marcum
Scott & Melissa Elsholz
John Gemmill & Peggy Turley
Merrill Skipworth & Piper Martin
Lewis & Barbara Baches with Lucas & Natasha Neal
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 39
parties
out & about
Anne & Linda Saunders
Brandon Johnson & Olivia Hall
Rhonnetta Robinson & Sarah Lacey
Johanna & Matt Garner
Les & Rita Callan
Vine to Wine at the Garden
A Taste of Germany
M
emphis Botanic Garden opened this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vine to Wine series with a spotlight on German wines. Presented by IBERIABANK, the tasting featured music by local folk-rock group Short in the Sleeve. Photos by
FRANK CHIN
Shelby Larkin & Becca Hand
40 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
DeAndre & Vinessa Brown
Tandra Rudd, Heidi Lirette, Alisha Gaboriault & Haley Manuel
parties
out & about
Dorothy & Lynn Herron
Brian, Ethan & Stephen Burnett Martha Roberts, Libby Carter, Toby Hagerty, John Jenkins & Melanie Moore
Earth Day Celebration Tara, Leah & Karen
R
epresentatives from across the MidSouth gathered on the historic Hernando Square to show off ways to conserve recycle and reuse. The fifth annual Earth Day Celebration also marked the opening of
the Hernando Farmers Market. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 41
out & about
parties
Ellen Jernigan, Diane Coleman, Vicki Argall & Jane Coln
Gil Earhart, Stacy Phillips & Geza Remak
Cynthia Johnson & Genevia Smith
Matt Nalker, Sissy Earhart, Lee Caldwell & Gil Earhart
Rebecca Treadway & Sunny Stuckey
The Arc of Northwest Mississippi Charity Reception
T
he Arc of Northwest Mississippi held a reception for Bill Cannata, a firefighter from Boston, ahead of the following dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training event. Cannata travels across the country training first responders on what
to do when dealing with someone with autism in an emergency situation.
Photos by MARY ECKERSLEY
Gid Stuckey & Craig Treadway
42 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Jessie Medlin & Vanessa Lynchard
Bill Cannata (Guest of Honor), Matt Nalker, Kimberly Remak & Rebecca Treadway
Scott & Stacy Phillips
parties
Reggie Davis, Wesley Fullilove & Joe Helly
out & about
Bobby & Stacy Scott
HOPE Center Grand Opening
T
he newly-built Hope Community Center in Horn Lake opened its doors on May 2. The center aims to mentor children from elementary through
high school and provide an outlet for after-school
Lainey Phillips, Taylor Powell, Parker Craig, Stephen McBride, Steve Phillips & Stacy Phillips
activities. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 43
out & about
parties
Tom Hesse, Fran Hesse, Jay Poff, Dennis Roeber & Cathy Marcum
Shirley & Walter Banks
Rotary Club of Southaven
Crawfish Countdown
T
odd Demers of WREG News Channel 3 served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Rotary Club of Southaven’s annual Crawfish Countdown. Brad’s DJ provided live
entertainment and proceeds from the event benefitted a local
charity. Photos by MATT FLOYD
Robert Young & Lauren Brunson
Marvin & Shelia Riley
Lisa Buyer & Ronna Gore
44 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Donna Bouchillon & Mike Smith
Senator David & Ashleigh Parker
Allie Crick & Stan Baker
Lez & Tammy Hooper
Sherry & Doug Burris
Sarah & Ronnie Hodges
Elizabeth & James McIngvale
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 45
out & about
parties
AWOLNATION
Beale Street Music Fest
M
emphis in May brought with it surprisingly clear skies, and the ambient
Scott Weiland
downtown noise of The Beale Street Music Festival filled the air from May 1 through May 3. The three-day riverside event hosted dozens of
acts headlined by Lenny Kravitz, Ed Sheeran, The Avett Brothers, Soul Asylum, Bleachers, The Flaming Lips, John Fogerty and more. Photos by BRIAN ANDERSON
Lawrence Hsia
Kaylen Shelby
Star & Micey
Faith Ruch
46 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Lenny Kravitz
parties
George Clinton & Parliament
John Fogerty
Bleachers
Kenny Wayne Shepard
out & about
The Memphis Flyer
Ana Popovic
Soul Asylum
WALE
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 47
out & about
parties
Wilco
Cage The Elephant
Lindsay Sterling
Shovels & Rope
48 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Hozier
Kaiser Chiefs
VB.DeltaDetoursAd2015.2.291x9.875.qxp:Layout 1
VISIT
VICKSBURG
The Key to the South
“The Mississippi Delta begins in the lobby of The Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends on Catfish Row in Vicksburg…” David Cohn, “God Shakes Creation”
LANDMARKS.
LEGENDS.
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Explore Vicksburg’s historical attractions, live entertainment venues and delicious restaurants for a true Southern experience! Relive where American history was made and immerse yourself in the arts, antiques and architecture of Vicksburg. Vicksburg’s downtown area is the proud home of Catfish Row which is full of museums, restaurants, the Levee Street Marketplace and an art park with riverfront murals and a splash fountain.
Scan this QR to visit our mobile site and get your keys to Vicksburg.
VisitVicksburg.com /VisitVicksburg
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 49
out & about
calendar
SOCIAL AGENDA Your monthly resource for what’s happening around town
5
8-14
Show Place Arena 7-11 p.m. Fri. Taste a wide range of culinary delights in Memphis prepared by some of the city’s top chefs, including Jeff Dunham and Kelly English. Proceeds will benefit agricultural education and research at Agricenter International. Admission $100-150. agricenter.org
TPC Southwind 7 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. Sat.-Sun. A regular event on the PGA tour, this golf tournament has been a Memphis tradition since 1958. Watch as some of top golfers compete at the annual St. Jude Children’s Hospital fundraiser. Admission $15-$150. stjudeclassic.com
Feast on the Farm Memphis
5-6
Delta Jubilee Coahoma County Expo at the Fairgrounds 5 p.m.-Midnight Fri., 8:30 a.m.Midnight Sat. Get ready for an exhilarating weekend of family-friendly fun at the 32nd annual Delta Jubilee in Clarksdale. Hear live music by The Geriatrics and Randy Moore & the Fabulous Suedes, take part in the annual BBQ competition, go to the pet show and more. Admission $3. clarksdale-ms.com
FedEx St. Jude Classic
11
13
Book signing with Marja Mills Hernando Public Library 6 p.m. The Hernando Public Library is hosting a signing with Marja Mills, the author of The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee. Don’t have a copy of your own? BooksA-Million will be on-site with copies for sale. Admission free. firstregional.org
Junetenth Family Fun Fest Latimer Lakes Park 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Join the DeSoto County African-American History Symposium in celebrating the third annual festival in Horn Lake. Hear live gospel, blues and country music by artists such as Erica Roone Band and Karma. The Beale Street Corvette Association will also host a classic car show. Admission free. dcaahs.com
19-20 BBQ Cook-Off
Sixth Taste of Caribe
ANF Architects 6:30-10:30 p.m. Experience the sights and sounds of the Caribbean without ever leaving Memphis. From authentic Caribbean cuisine to sultry salsa dancing, the 11th annual gala will whisk guests away while raising funds for the International Children’s Heart Foundation. Admission $50-$150. anfa.com
50 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
12
List Your Event events@myclickma g.com
Literatini The Booksellers at Laurelwood 7-10 p.m. Sample cocktails from a number of local bars and restaurants in this Martini Death Match in Memphis benefitting Literacy Mid-South. Admission $50-$75. literacymidsouth.org
2888 Gwynn Road Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and declared a state championship by the governor, the DeSoto Shrine Club’s cook-off in Hernando offers an $8,000 prize purse. Admission $75-$275. desotobbq.com
20
Big Wig Ball Annesdale Mansion 7-11 p.m. Have a hair-raising good time at this annual ball in Memphis benefitting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Admission $75-$400. lebonheur.org
26-27
North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic 4 p.m.-Midnight Fri., 10 a.m.-Midnight Sat. Catch the North Mississippi Allstars, Jimbo Mathus Garry Burnside Band, Kenny Brown Band and more at this year’s festival in Waterford. Admission $25-$150 nmshillcountrypicnic.com
28
Ecco Restaurant Wine Tasting Ecco on Overton Park Enjoy an afternoon wine tasting in Memphis in support of the Church Health Center’s mission to provide healthcare to the working uninsured in Shelby County. Admission $40. churchhealthcenter.org
Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous Hosted by 2003 PGA Tour winner Shaun Micheel, this exclusive Pairings Party takes place in Memphis at the world-famous Rendezvous restaurant. Admission $500-$3,500. midsouth.wish.org Click magazine | JUNE 2015 51
out & about
calendar
ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC
6
19
Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller
Trace Adkins
Orpheum Theatre, Memphis 8 p.m., Admission $77.50-502.50 orpheum-memphis.com
Horseshoe Casino, Tunica 8 p.m., Admission $36.50-$102 ticketmaster.com
6
23
Memphis Punk Rock Fest
John Mellencamp
Hi-Tone Café, Memphis 7 p.m., Admission $30-$40 hitonememphis.com
Orpheum Theatre, Memphis 7:30 p.m., Admission $39.50-$252 orpheum-memphis.com
6
25
Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Induction
Yelawolf
Civic Auditorium, Clarksdale 6 p.m., Admission $25 rhythmandblueshof.com
4-25
6
“Sunset on the Square” Summer Concert Series
Travis Tritt
Courthouse Square, Hernando 7 p.m. Thurs., Admission free hernandoms.org June 4 Seeing Red
GoldStrike Casino, Tunica 8 p.m., Admission $49.95-$69.95 ticketmaster.com
June 11 Say It Ain’t So
12
June 18 Derek Joseph June 25 Erek Stone & The Fabulous Steeler Band
Reverend Horton Heat
5 Ronnie Milsap
Hi-Tone Café, Memphis 9 p.m., Admission $20 hitonememphis.com
12 Gabriel Iglesias
Horseshoe Casino, Tunica 8 p.m., Admission $27-$102 ticketmaster.com
Horseshoe Casino, Tunica 8 p.m., Admission $36.50-102 ticketmaster.com
5-6
13
Bobby Marquez
Chris Brown
Roxy’s Live at Sam’s Town Casino, Tunica 9 p.m., Admission free samstowntunica.com
5-26 “Rockin’ on the Roost” Summer Concert Series Old Towne, Olive Branch 7 p.m. Fri., Admission free olivebrancholdtowne.org
52 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Minglewood Hall, Memphis 8 p.m., Admission $22-$99
minglewoodhall.com
VISUAL ARTS 6 through September 13 The Art of Video Games Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Weds., 10 a.m-8 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Admission $3-$7 brooksmuseum.org
through June 7 Tributaries: Vivian Beer National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., Noon-5 p.m. Sun., Admission $4-$6 metalmuseum.org
through June 12 J. Fred Woell: Art is an Accident
Landers Center, Southaven 8 p.m., Admission $69.50-89.50 ticketmaster.com
National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., Noon-5 p.m. Sun., Admission $4-$6 metalmuseum.org
13
through June 30
Lady Antebellum BankPlus Amphiteater, Southaven 7 p.m., Admission $22.50-52.25 ticketmaster.com
River Exhibition National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., Noon-5 p.m. Sun., Admission $4-$6 metalmuseum.org
through August 8 Our Faith Affirmed The University of Mississippi Museum, Oxford 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat., Admission $3-5 museum.olemiss.edu
through September 8 20th Century Color Woodcuts: Japonisme and Beyond Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Weds., 10 a.m-8 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Admission $3-$7
brooksmuseum.org
PERFORMANCE ARTS 19, 26 The Aristocats Kids Presented by Kudzu Playhouse Summer Camp Hernando Performing Arts Center, Hernando 7 p.m., Admission $5 kudzuplayers.com
19-21 Mamma Mia! Orpheum Theatre, Memphis 8 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Sat., 1:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Sun., Admission $25-$85 orpheum-memphis.com
19-28 The Secret Garden Presented by DeSoto Family Theatre Landers Center, Southaven 7 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Sat., Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Admission $19-$30 dftonline.org
through June 21 Seminar Circuit Playhouse, Memphis 8 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Admission $10-$35 playhouseonthesquare.org
27 Shrek: The Musical, Jr. Presented by Kudzu Playhouse Summer Camp Hernando Performing Arts Center, Hernando 7 p.m., Admission $5 kudzuplayers.com Click magazine | JUNE 2015 53
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54 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 55
Top $60, Dress $32, Necklace $24, Janie Rose Boutique; Headband $17, Bethany Michael
Photography by LOUIS TUCKER MARCIE KAY SECCOMBE Fashion Coordinator MAGGIE VINZANT & JENNIFER RORIE Styling and Makeup by ALEXANDRA NICOLE Hair by MARCIE SECCOMBE Models SARAH OLIVER BORUM
56 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Ballet Bluff ON THE
Form meets fashion in airy apparel, flowing scarves, bold prints and striking solids
F
orm and fashion play big roles in the life of Radford Univer-
sity ballet graduate and MidSouth native Sarah Borum. “Growing up, I always had a role in the school plays — the Snow Queen, the Sugarplum Fairy, things like that,” she says. The 23-year-old Kingston, Tennessee, native has performed across the east coast in locales like New York’s Manhattan Performance Arts Center and recently wrapped a local performance in Project: Motion’s Bloodlines & Bylines. When it comes to ballet, Sarah’s style is dictated by the performance. “What I wear usually depends on whether I’m in class or not,” she says. “The standard uniform of black tights and pink uniforms is what’s expected, but modern dance performances outside of ballet allow us to be a little more creative with our looks, more contemporary.”
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 57
Romper $38, Coral Necklace $30, Ivory Closet; Necklace $90, Bracelet $22, Earrings $28, The Attic Apparel; Hat $29, Pink Coconut Boutique 58 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Top $60, Leggings $15, Earrings $30, Bracelet $20, Bracelet $20, Necklace $20, SoCo Apparel; Lace Slip $34, Scarf $20, Pink Coconut Boutique
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 59
Dress $38, Earrings $38, Bracelet $20, Bethany Michaels; Scarf $20, Pink Coconut Boutique
60 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
Bandeau $12, Top $34, Lace Slip $39, Necklace $16, Earrings $18, Bracelet $23, Pink Coconut Boutique; Headband $18, Bethany Michael
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 61
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Donna Wieronski, Executive Producer of DeSoto Family Theater
The Show Must Go On DeSoto Family Theater rolls out 2015 schedule Story by CASEY HILDER | Photos courtesy of DESOTO FAMILY THEATER
A
s one of the original founders of DeSoto Family
for months before putting down something that might not
Theater, Executive Producer Donna Wieronski
work for a particular show. But, at the end of the day, we’re
usually has her hands full. Since its inception in 2000,
able to capitalize on these things a little bit. It builds an
DFT has produced several expansive and locally acclaimed
audience for us and gives inspiration to draw from, among
shows, including last summer’s Les Mis performance, the
other things.
biggest in the organization’s history. This month, Wieronski and company gear up for the DFT rendition of the Frances
CM: What can potential cast members expect when they
Hodgson Burnett novel, “The Secret Garden.”
apply for a role? DW: It’s usually a process of two or three days that begins with an all-call casting session where we bring a lot of
Click Magazine: What’s it like adapting something that’s
applicants in. We jot down the names of those who might
been adapted countless times through film and theater
fit for certain roles to narrow it down. Then the callback
and reworking it for a Southern audience?
process begins where we touch back for a more in-depth
Donna Wieronski: Part of adapting something to community
performance. Applicants will then come back down for a
theater means making concessions — we aren’t Broadway.
combination of vocal, acting and dance. We then make a
We strive to do everything in a high-quality fashion to the
choice depending on what’s required for the character and
best of our ability and the casting is usually the deepest
the role. It’s a very thorough process that involves teamwork
and lengthiest process. We’ll have a “TBA” on the schedule
from the choreographer, director, producer and others.
64 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
CM: How do the sets and costumes come together for a play? DW: Two years ago, we did a production of “Beauty and the Beast,” which brought us a company called Broadway South. This group represents a producer in New York, Carolyn Miller and Daniel Mueller. Carolyn had previously worked on “Memphis: The Musical” in New York and Daniel has a bunch of experience on the technical side of things. The goal of this organization is to partner with community theaters here in the South and help them learn about production values, how to conduct auditions and basically how to produce an effective show from A to Z. We’ve been working with them for a few years to help ensure that everything runs well. It’s a great company and goes a long way in showing some of the younger performers that we’re not so far away from the big acts. CM: How big is a typical cast? DW: “Le Mis” was our biggest performance yet with a cast of around 50. However, for small dramas, we may need no more than 13. A full-out musical usually requires around 25. The most recent show we completed, “Camp Rock,” was a first for us in that it was an all-youth cast under 16 years old. This was a great opportunity because some of our younger kids and summer camp attendees don’t get to perform on the main stage too often. CM: What advice do you have for someone who doesn’t sing, act or dance, yet still wants to get involved? DW: I always suggest getting involved in our summer camps program if they’re interested in the performance aspect. These two-week camps offer a lot of different opportunities to get involved for kids under 16. We also have an intern program for youth or adults on the technical side of things. Set design, lighting design, running sound for a show — these are the kind of things we need, too. And the third way is simply finding one of
2015
DeSoto Family Theater Schedule
us and saying “I’d like to volunteer!” The Secret Garden: The Musical CM: What can we expect from DFT
June 19-June 28
for the remainder of 2015? DW: Of course we’ve got “The Secret
Summer Theater Camps
Garden” coming up, but we also
All July
have And Then There Were None, a drama-thriller type piece from Agatha
DeSoto County Talent Contest
Christie. For the Christmas season,
August 8
we’ll be doing “Miracle on 34th Street. ” I definitely recommend taking a look
And Then There Were None
at this classic right after Thanksgiving.
September 4-13 Click magazine | JUNE 2015 65
66 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
creative
class Story & Photos by CASEY HILDER
SIX SOUTHERN ARTISTS LEAVING THEIR MARKS ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH
Click magazine | MAY 2015 67
“THERE IS AN EASE OF SOCIALIZING IN MEMPHIS THAT IS UNIQUE AND APPEALING.”
BranTley ellZeY Text by Severin Allgood
68 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
BRANTLEY ELLZEY WAS BORN and raised in the small river town of Osceola, Arkansas. He left home after high school and earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre and a master's in architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans. His artwork is able to highlight his background in both theater and architecture as he takes paper from books, magazines and newspapers, and then meticulously rolls the pages and layers them into intricate forms to make the subject of his piece apparent in the symmetry and colors of the edifice. Examples of his rolled paper pieces currently hang in the dining room of Bounty on Broad, as well as in the Methodist Olive Branch Hospital. “I moved back to Memphis to be closer to my family,” Ellzey says of his brief stint after college in New York City. “My first place in Memphis was in the Colonial Apartments on Madison, followed by an apartment on Stonewall and then the house I’ve been sharing with my partner for twenty years. Essentially I have spent my adult life within a three-block area of Midtown!”
He practiced architecture with firms in Memphis for more than fifteen years, finding time to also create art and design stage sets,store windows,and furniture. “I started my own architecture practice twelve years ago, but now the majority of my time is spent making art,” he says. “I moved into my studio in Crosstown four years ago when the only thing there was a beauty shop. How things have changed!” Ellzey was influenced by artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Jackson Pollack and Agnes Martin. “Regardless of the medium,” he says, “I look for meaningful, carefully considered, beautifully crafted work.” The inspiration for his work and medium came from his childhood in Osceola. “Being in Memphis, however, allowed me to transition from being a full-time architect to being a full-time artist,” he says. “Memphis has provided a great studio space and a good market for my work but more importantly has allowed me to focus on my art and sell my art throughout the country. I know many other artists who may not have been able to concentrate on their art as much in any other
“REGARDLESS OF THE MEDIUM...I LOOK FOR MEANINGFUL, CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED WORK.” city.” When he describes the city to non-natives, he talks about the affordable living and the friendliness of the people. “There is an ease of socializing in Memphis that is unique and appealing.” Ellzey is working primarily on commissions for private and corporate clients at the moment but has a gallery show coming up in San Antonio, Texas and will launch a newly designed Web site soon.
Click magazine | JUNE 2015 69
JulIA BaKer Bell
70 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
ALTHOUGH OLIVE BRANCH resident Julia Baker Bell didn’t start painting until 2002, she incorporates a lifetime of experiences into her work with each textured brush stroke. The 67-year-old former corporate secretary took up painting as a postretirement hobby alongside animal rescue helping with her local church. Her first painting was done with leftover house paint. “I just wanted to see what I could make of it,” she says. “It’s a different texture and it really changed my outlook switching to artists’ acrylic.” Bell used her subsequent works to develop her own style based around artists of the late 1800s like GeorgesPierre Seurat. “The best way I can describe it is ‘loose painting,’” she says. “It doesn’t look like a perfect photograph. I like to make my art spontaneous. If it’s not, I end up hating it down the line.” For a piece to meet Bell’s standards, she says, it needs to flow out and allow the viewer to get lost in it. “If it’s not, I just throw it out or paint over it.” This drive for perfection has claimed many of Bells’ early pieces, which she simply tossed in a tub to be whitewashed and scraped from the canvas, never to be seen. “An artist just knows when something makes him or her happy,” she says. “If it doesn’t make me happy, I’m done
with it. Sometimes there are two or three other paintings underneath what is shown.” Her satisfactory paintings, however, hold deep personal meaning for Bell. One such painting, “The Funeral Party,” depicts her five siblings standing underneath two balloons representing her parents who died five days apart in May of 2011. “I worked through grief with my paintings, she says. “But I don’t do dark. Everything is still bright, even when it’s got a sad tone. Another, “Red Dog and Daisies,” show a faceless family standing next to an expressive pooch, drawn from a photo of a local rescue dog. “It’s not that I can’t or don’t like painting faces, it’s just how they go,” she says. “I try to capture the body language more than anything else. When I was painting it, I didn’t even realize I only put a face on the dog.” Bell is currently a featured artist at the Playhouse on the Square in-house gallery in Memphis, as well as Methodist Hospital in Olive Branch.
“IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A PERFECT PHOTOGRAPH. I LIKE TO MAKE MY ART SPONTANEOUS. IF IT’S NOT, I END UP HATING IT DOWN THE LINE.”
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RaCHel fORd
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RACHEL FORD’S UNIQUE FOLK art pieces are all about the woods of the MidSouth in more ways than one. The 26-year-old painter has been crafting her East Tennesseeinfluenced vision of native animals on reclaimed wood for nearly a year now. “I’ve always done painting as a hobby and for friends — birthdays, Christmas, baby showers,” Ford says. “About eight months ago, I started posting stuff on Facebook, and, eventually, it blew up. I ended up spending more time painting than I did at my other job, so I made the switch. “ Rachel’s work is inspired by a lifelong love of the land, sparked by a series of visits to her grandmother’s East Tennessee home. Her acrylic-onreclaimed wood painting reflect the traditional Appalachian quilt patterns popular in the area, as well as her own take on the reclaimed wood she uses as a canvas. “I try to pick pieces with a little bit of character, maybe a big knot, some
exposed bark, a hole, and see what I can make it into,” she says. “I see what lends itself to the wood, like, for example, a Western theme versus something more geometric and modern.” While the colorful, geometric animal shapes are the stars of her work, Rachel spends about half her time preparing the wood. “I try to be as precise as possible,” she says. “Everything is found locally, disinfected, cleaned, stained and sanded down. You don’t have to worry about any splinters.” Rachel attempts to base each piece around on silhouettes she sees in the wood, with many manifesting in the form of black bears, coyotes, wild mustangs and other local fauna. “Most of the animals you see in my paintings are native to Tennessee,” she says, noting that 20 percent of the proceeds from her sales are donated to the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. A selection of Ford’s work is currently available for viewing and purchase at Phillip Ashley Chocolates in Midtown Memphis and SideStreet Burgers in Olive Branch.
“I TRY TO PICK PIECES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CHARACTER – MAYBE A BIG KNOT, SOME EXPOSED BARK, A HOLE – AND SEE WHAT I CAN MAKE IT INTO,”
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laMar SOrrenTO 74 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
ART IS AN HONEST DAY’S WORK for Lamar Sorrento. The 65-year-old folk artist hasn’t worked a “normal” job since 1991, but he says that painting for a living isn’t much different. “For most of my life I worked a lot of day jobs, made a lot of albums and stuff working part time as a musician,” he says. “When I came back to Memphis 25 years ago, I decided to be an artist. So I started at the point where every good artist does: broke.” Sorrento’s work — which can be seen across the South in the form of murals and commission pieces — showcases a penchant for bright, acrylic caricatures of blues legends, rock musicians and barbecue joints from the past and present. “I can’t even draw with a pencil,” he jokes. “I just kind of shape it with a brush. It took me a long time at first because I didn’t know what I was doing.” With no formal training, Sorrento picked up a brush 25 years ago and decided to paint a few of his favorite musicians on a whim. At the beginning, painting was a challenge. “You ever try to paint? It’s hard, he says. “I originally got started because I just wanted a few things to hang up
in my house.” Sorrento learned to paint in private and didn’t think much of his own work at first. However, his bright, colorful acrylic portraits of forgotten musicians like Django, Memphis Minnie, Son House and more soon drew attention. “It took me a lot of time at first because I didn’t know what I was doing,” he says. “The paintings just started to pile up in the back of my house.” A New Orleans-based friend and gallery owner noticed Sorrento’s large stack of unseen paintings. He shipped a set to New Orleans and, to his surprise, they all sold. Soon after, commission work began to pile on. “It just sort of started off small and spread out eventually,” he says. “That’s just how things happen, you know?” A laid-back Southern soul, Sorrento embodies the stereotype of the slow-talking drifter with his everpresent sunglasses and cowboy hat. He still records and performs his own self-designated genre of music, “hardcore Delta space jam blues.” “I’m just a part-time musician,” he says. “Full-time around here would be on Beale Street every night at the casinos.”
“...SO I STARTED AT THE POINT WHERE EVERY GOOD ARTIST DOES: BROKE.”
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MICHael ROY “YOU CAN CALL IT VANDALISM, BUT EXPERIMENTATION IS WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A DECENT MURALIST.”
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FOR MICHAEL ROY, ART IS FOR the birds. The 28-year-old muralist, who goes by the moniker “Birdcap,” traveled from the unpronounceable town of Escatawpa, Mississippi, to spread his porthole-eyed caricatures across the world in places like Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Poland. Roy started painting street art seriously about four years ago while living in Seoul, South Korea, while working as an English teacher, art instructor and freelance illustrator. “South Korea has one of the strangest economies in the world
“...HAVING STREET ART IN A PLACE LIKE THIS PROVIDES A CHEAP WAY TO ACTIVATE AN INACTIVE SPACE.”
right now,” he says. “There’s been extreme expansion and that led to a lot of blocks to be torn down and demolished slowly.” These decaying and forgotten buildings provided Michael with his first canvas and led him to meet the locals and assimilate into the Seoul street art culture. “It’s a necessary component for any city with a creative scene,” he says. “You can call it vandalism, but experimentation is what it takes to make a decent muralist. If you go to Berlin, for example, there aren’t a lot of walls down there that aren’t covered in graffiti.” After returning to the U.S., Roy had developed his own style that fuses a contemporary narrative with the mythology of the city, citing the Mayan and Aztec works as some of his major influences. “Even down South, you look at a place like Clarksdale where a lot of the buildings are owned by independent investors from out of state — they aren’t maintained, they aren’t decent. Having street art in a place like this provides a cheap way to activate an inactive space.” And though street art is usually among the first installations to be covered up when an area is
renovated, the ephemeral nature of this medium led to Roy’s artist’s handle: Birdcap. “It was something to do with that phrase and deciding to make art. How opaque it is as a language, and how pointless it was compared to being a more concrete facet in helping society, he says. “Everything is really complicated, more than what we could really see from our vantage point. Every effort we do is for the birds, so I used to write it to remind me that just because I’m working really hard on it, it doesn’t necessarily give that work importance outside of how it helps me.” Roy’s work can be viewed through September at “The Art of Video Games” exhibit at the Brooks Museum, as well as a pair of recently finished murals in Memphis’ Broad Avenue Arts district. Click magazine | JUNE 2015 77
“BUT THE APPEAL OF THIS OLD ANALOG CAMERA — THERE’S DEFINITELY A ROMANCE TO IT,“”
JOey Miller Photos courtesy of Joey Miller 78 JUNE 2015 | Click magazine
THE ART OF JOEY MILLER IS BORN from a mixture of light, shadow and a charming eccentricity unique to the 36-year-old photographer and camera lens technician. This New Orleans native uses highspeed instant film to produce striking, high contrast photos that highlight the darker side of Memphis and the MidSouth. He’s had an interest in photography since a choir trip to the picturesque St. Petersberg, Joey’s latest project was born from scarcity. “Back in November of 2013, I got really into shooting this film — FUJIFILM FP-3000B — it’s an instant film that’s perfect for low-light and nighttime shooting,” he says. “Of course, a week or so after falling in love with the film, I find out it’s being discontinued.” As cases of FP-3000B film began to climb in value, he decided to send his new favorite film format out in style with a 365 day journey composed of haunting black and white prints. He began documenting his journey on New Year’s Day 2014 with a photo of friend shot at Beale Street Landing, a favorite spot for local photographers.
Crafting a nightly shot required a setting and a subject for Joey, the latter of which didn’t always come easy. “People can be unreliable,” he says. “That kind of led to me being my own subject in a lot of these.” Because every day presents a different subject, the depth of the project shines. No two captures are alike, but most focus on everyday urban life: traffic, local landmarks, pedestrians, friends and the unexpected. “I love shooting abandoned buildings, as well as places and heights I probably shouldn’t be at,” he says. Nearly every photo in the series was taken at night, a decision that set the tone for a series espouses the unfamiliar, overwhelming night and not being afraid of the dark. And the unfamiliar is just what Joey found himself confronting several weeks into the project. “Once you get into shooting a picture a day, you eventually run out of familiar places,” he says. Long drives after
work eventually became midnight strolls in some of the seedier areas in Memphis, with Miller seeking the elusive exposure well into the wee hours of the night. “A friend of mine put it best when he told me ‘No matter where you go in the city, that’s someone’s home.’ They’re not afraid to be there, so why should I be?” While he works with high-tech camera equipment daily at his job, the equipment Joey uses for his 365 project is dated, to say the least, including a timer he describes as a “German-clockwork thing that’s probably 60 years old.” “In the digital world, gear doesn’t really matter these days — you can do whatever you want with pretty much anything — but the appeal of this old analog camera, there’s definitely a romance to it,“ he says. “There’s something about the sound of the peel, the smell of the chemicals. And the lenses have a specific look, too, something I can’t duplicate. It’s just the right tool for the job.” Click magazine | JUNE 2015 79
SEE&DO ONE T H ING NOT TO MISS THIS MONTH
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Literatini June 12 Literatini returns to The Booksellers at Laurelwood this month for an evening of live music, martini sampling and a meet-and-greet with Marja Mills, best-selling author of the Harper Lee memoir The Mockingbird Next Door. Proceeds from this event will benefit Literacy MidSouth a nonprofit organization geared toward creating a community actively engaged in the learning experience.
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