Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center 913 South I St.
5:30 p.m. Cocktails, Silent Auction and Charcuterie
6:30 p.m. Program and Live Auction
7 p.m. Fashion Show
Fashions provided by Bluetique, Dillard’s, Gulf Coast cabi Stylists and The Market & Mainly Shoes
For sponsorship information, visit baptisthealthcarefoundation.org or call 448.227.8150.
Morgan Cole, Editor
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso
Picasso couldn’t have said it any better. This has always been one of my favorite quotes. Whether you’re a painter, writer, designer, stylist, dancer or a craftsman of any sort, you can surely relate to what Picasso is saying. However you choose to express your individual creativity, establishing a connection with other artists can help inspire you and push your art in new directions.
This type of creative energy and artistic courage is exactly what inspired us to feature local artists Gabe Smith and Jarrod Goldman in this month’s issue. Both masters of their craft, Smith and Goldman are making their mark in the local arts community.
Gabe Smith, more commonly known by locals and friends as “Famous Gabe,” is at it again with his latest and greatest venture, Electric Robot Tattoo! We had the chance to catch up with Gabe to take you on a tour and learn more about his new shop in Brownsville. Be sure to check out the story on page 9.
Speaking of tattoos, National Tattoo Story Day is September 16. To commemorate the holiday, we asked our readers and friends to share the meaning behind their ink—and they delivered! As good luck charms, for protection or as status symbols, the meanings behind tattoos are as diverse as the people who get them. On page 12, five people show and tell their stories.
In this issue, you’ll also learn about local artist Jarrod Goldman— who also happens to be one of my long-time friends—and his social drawing club, Draw Together. Goldman established the club to provide a platform for local artists to connect, create and collaborate. The group is open to anyone and everyone and is completely free! The meet-ups are fun, engaging and provide local creatives with a comfortable space to unleash their creativity. Read all about it on page 15.
All this, plus an exclusive interview with Dead Kennedys’ Klaus Flouride and more!
As always, we hope you enjoy the read and until next time, Cheers!
of the
by Nicole Willis
Out of the many brash, provocative and politically charged bands that emerged from the mid-70s punk scene, Dead Kennedys were of the most well-known for their sarcastically cheeky lyrics and intense instrumentals. The band were among the first to define the style of 1980s hardcore punk.
Formed in San Francisco in 1978, Dead Kennedys made a significant impact in the punk scene with their 1980 debut album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, featuring one of their most iconic tracks, Holiday in Cambodia. This release cemented the group’s reputation for sharp social commentary and an energetic punk sound. Originally founded by singer
Jello Biafra (Eric Reed Boucher), guitarist East Bay Ray (Raymond Pepperell), bassist Klaus Flouride (Geoffrey Lyall) and drummer P.H. Peligro, the Dead Kennedys did not shy away from making bold and sometimes controversial statements. After several years in the spotlight, the band faced notable controversy over their political lyrics and legal battles and eventually disbanded in 1986.
After more than a decade-long hiatus, the band officially reformed in 2001. Today, the band is comprised of East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, vocalist Ronald “Skip” Greer and drummer Steve Wilson. The band continues to tour and will be stopping in Pensacola this month to perform at Vinyl Music Hall. Ahead of the show, we had the chance to ask
Flouride some questions about the band’s beginnings and their work.
Dead Kennedys will take the stage on September 12 for a live performance at Vinyl Music Hall located at 2 S. Palafox St. in downtown Pensacola. The doors will open at 7 pm, and the show starts at 8 pm. Tickets start at $29.50 and can be purchased online at vinylmusichall.com.
For show announcements and to keep up with the band, follow @dead__kennedys on Instagram or @deadkennedys on Facebook.
DTC: What artists inspired you when you were getting your start as a musician?
KF: Ray [Dead Kennedys guitarist] and I both grew up with music always in the
house and our folks taking us out to shows when we were way young. So, jazz, rock and blues artists, then later on The Screamers, The Weirdos, The Zeros, Devo and The Residents. They were all over the place with an accent on edgy.
DTC: Dead Kennedys’ lyrics have always been inspired by social and political events. Over the years, how has the changing political climate influenced your writing and performances? Did you always know that you wanted to use music to express yourself and share your views?
KF: I think that by the time we were around 16 to 18, we had figured it out. Politics are always grim no matter which climate and era they play out in. That in and of itself influences performances.
DTC: You are known for using humorous and satirical lyrics to tackle serious or complex topics. Can you explain why the band chose to adopt this style of writing?
KF: Why not? If it’s humorless it feels like lecturing and complaining. That sucks. Why not just have mischievous fun with it and annoy those who would be annoyed, and have a laugh with those who wouldn’t?
DTC: What led to you deciding to reform the band after more than a decade-long hiatus? Did you face any challenges when you reformed the band in 2001?
KF: We had gone through an ordeal that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. After it was over, D.H. [Peligro, since deceased Dead Kennedys drummer] said ‘let’s just get together and play to remember who we are and why we do what we do.’ So we did. Sure, there were challenges, comparisons, etc.—we were 15 years
older—but we stuck to the logic that we wouldn’t do shows that we wouldn’t want to go attend ourselves. That still holds true and we can still play.
DTC: What are your thoughts on the current punk scene? Are there any artists that you think are doing a good job of carrying on the sound and the messages that Dead Kennedys promote?
KF: There is a lot going on in both the hardcore realm and in the experimental pop realm. Sarchasm [punk band] just finished a long run for the time being. We always have support bands that range in age from late teens to 60s. I don’t know about carrying on ‘our’ message, there is plenty going on for all of them to have their own.
DTC: Does the band have any new projects on the horizon?
KF: We’re always toying with ideas. We’ll see what happens.
by Nicole Willis
If you’ve lived in Pensacola within the past twenty years, you’ve more than likely heard of Hula Moon or the nickname “Famous Gabe.” Hula Moon was once one of the most popular tattoo studios in the city. Established in 2000 by local tattoo artist Gabe Smith, known to friends and locals as “Famous Gabe,” Hula Moon served the Pensacola community until 2020.
Despite having to close Pensacola’s iconic Hula Moon, he’s far from completing his tattooing journey. After several years in the making, Smith recently opened another tattoo studio with a whole new look and feel called Electric Robot Tattoo.
Large, colorful murals designed and painted by Smith himself wrap the exterior of the remodeled building at 2505 W. Cervantes St., making it nearly impossible to miss. Serving as a fresh start for Smith, Electric Robot symbolizes an amalgamation of all of his influences, paying tribute to those who’ve supported and helped him along the way.
From a young age, Smith was fascinated with the tattoos that he saw on important people throughout his life. “I had always loved tattoos since I was a little kid. My grandfather, who fought on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day had old sailor tats on his forearms. As a kid, I would just sit and stare at them like ‘Whoa. What is this mystical stuff on this man’s skin?’” Smith said. “I got my first tattoo when I was 12 years old, unbeknownst to my mother. This might be the first time she’ll ever hear this!”
Despite his early fascination with the art form, it took Smith quite some time before he even considered pursuing a career as an artist. At the time, having a career in art was not viewed as an option.
“In the 80s, if you weren’t going to go to school for engineering, then you were going to end up in the unemployment line,” Smith said. His first exposure to an art career was his grandmother’s neighbor who was a professional sign painter. Smith watched and learned from him, and eventually began painting on his own, quickly realizing the demand for painters.
“I’ve always drawn and painted stuff. When I was in high school, it was an excuse to get out of class. I painted my high school’s center court on the basketball court with the logo and the name of the school. Other schools would want to borrow me, so they would come pick me up and take me out of class,” Smith explained.
Smith’s talent for art and appreciation for tattoos inevitably combined, as he began tattooing at a young age. “Since I could draw, my friends were like ‘Look, we can mow yards and get money. You can buy one of those tattoo kits out of the back of the motorcycle magazine. You can learn on me,’” Smith said.
Smith’s professional tattooing journey began in the early 90s, and early on in his career, he met a handful of other tattooers who he studied. He attributes his success in tattooing to two particular tattoo artists who have played a large role in helping him launch his career.
“I got my foot in the door at a shop in Meridian, Mississippi, with a guy named Spacey. His real name is Billy Lyons, and he’s still tattooing today. He helped me get started,” Smith explained. “I then met Jim Pearlman, he owns Full Hearts out in Fort Walton. He’s a really amazing guy and a great tattooer. I think he saw I had potential, so he helped me along the way, and that I’m forever thankful for because I don’t know if I would have made it tattooing with the limited availability of mediocre supplies.”
The tattoo industry has drastically changed over the past thirty years. As tattoos have become more popular and widely accepted, the industry practices and accessibility to proper tattooing equipment has improved. Smith describes the tattoo industry of the 90s as “the Wild West.”
“You’d have to go to JOANN Fabric and buy needles, snip the heads off and silver solder them to needle bars that you made out of welding rods. Now, you can just go online and order whatever you want,” Smith explained.
Prior to opening Hula Moon, Smith spent much of his time tattooing in Brownsville at the former Excalibur, which is now closed. Smith described this shop as a “launch board” for Hula Moon, as he figured out the look and concept for his new shop.
In 2000, Smith finally opened Hula Moon and ran it until he quite literally couldn’t anymore. The shop became a staple for tattoo-obsessed Pensacolians. This twenty-year journey sadly came to an end in 2020 due to unforeseen property ownership issues preventing him from purchasing the building.
“My best friend owned the building we were in. We had it all lined up and we were going to buy the building. But unfortunately, before we got the paperwork signed, he passed away, and the rest is history,” Smith explained. “It was really tough. After 20 years there, I thought I was going to die in that building. I thought one day the guys would come in and there I would be, slumped over my chair. It was heartbreaking.”
While saddened by the shop’s closure, Smith is optimistic about having the opportunity to start fresh. Smith, a shop like Electric Robot was years in the making, and one that he was not sure he’d ever get to see come to fruition.
“I always wanted to have a shop that felt like it was all me, and that’s what I’ve created. The building itself is a piece of art. We’re going to paint the entire outside and inside of the building. We’ve been working on this project for over 18 months, it’s a dream. I didn’t think I was actually going to be able to facilitate the idea before my death, but now it’s here and it’s happening. It’s pretty awesome,” Smith said.
When deciding on a name for the new shop, Smith wanted to pay tribute to one of his favorite local hangouts—the Elbow Room. Sharing the same initials as the iconic Pensacola dive bar, Electric Robot also serves as a tribute to Smith’s deep-rooted love for the Elbow Room and the bar’s original founder.
I like being surrounded by artwork of those who not only inspire me, but are also my friends.”
“I don’t know if I would have opened my own shop had it not been for Jim Flynn of the Elbow Room back in the 90s. I would go down there to have a beer and complain about working for a man who did not care about tattooing. And Jim was like, ‘Well, what’s stopping you from doing it yourself?’ He was right, so I did my own thing,” Smith explained.
Smith said that the shop’s name and branding concept had been sitting on the back burner for more than ten years, as he came up with the idea for the name when he was preparing to open a second tattoo shop shop that never came to fruition..
“In 2006, we were going to open up a shop up north, and I didn’t want to go with a hula-themed name, so I created a name that shared initials with the Elbow Room. I came up with Electric Robot, which literally makes no sense, but I love it, and I feel like it’s me,” he explained.
Joining Smith in the shop is friend and fellow tattoo artist Travis Leggett, who is also a long-time client of Smith’s that started getting tattooed at Hula Moon back when he was 18. He has now been tattooing for more than seven years, learning many of his skills from Smith along the way. Smith and Leggett plan to bring in a few more artists to the shop in the future.
When it came to finding the perfect location for the new shop, Smith says the decision was a no-brainer. He had already had his eye on the old, run-down building on Cervantes Street years before the new shop was even conceived.
“After the closure of Hula Moon, I remembered there was this building down the street from Excalibur in Brownsville that used to be an old dentist’s office.
Anybody who was in Pensacola before the 90s will remember the old shotgun building with the teeth on the side of it. He had these big dentures painted on the side of the building. It was pretty ridiculous, but I loved the building. It was meant to be a tattoo shop,” Smith explained.
After years of eyeing the location, Smith was able to eventually purchase the building and began the long and daunting task of completely gutting and renovating the space to match his vision for the new studio. Smith and his team have decorated almost every inch of the shop with coveted memorabilia and personal mementos. Original artwork and flash sheets cover the walls from head to toe.
“I like being surrounded by artwork of those who not only inspire me, but are also my friends,” Smith said. “It’s cool to look up and see Greg Christian, Chad Koeplinger or Don Ed Hardy on the wall. It makes you feel like you’re getting this big art hug. I never get tired of coming to the shop and looking at the walls,” Smith said.
Combining not only his passion for art, but also his love for the art of tattooing, Electric Robot Tattoo marks the start of a new era for Smith and his team. The shop embodies a bold new vision for tattoo artistry in Pensacola, giving both artists and clients a place to connect through the art they create together.
Electric Robot Tattoo officially opened its doors at 2505 W. Cervantes St. in late July. The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 2 to 8 pm and accepts both appointments and walk-ins (based on availability). To book an appointment or check out some of Leggett and Smith’s work, visit @electricrobottattoo on Instagram.
by Morgan Cole, Darien Hardy & Nicole Willis
For thousands of years, tattoos have adorned the bodies of people across cultures, serving as expressions of identity, artistry, beliefs and individuality. From ancient rituals to modern-day fashion statements, the art of tattooing has evolved and adapted to various cultural influences throughout history.
Native American, Polynesian, Egyptian, Japanese and other cultures embraced the art form long before the Declaration of Independence was ever signed. The practice of tattooing has been around for thousands of years, with evidence of tattooing dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. However, it wasn’t until the early 1800s that tattoos began to gain popularity in America.
The first tattoos in America were brought over by sailors and seamen, who often had tattoos representing their travels and experiences at sea. Their tattoos depicted anchors, ships and nautical stars, which became popular symbols of their profession. It was also the origin of what we know today as American traditional tattoos.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and tattoo culture has reached new heights. With more than one-third of Americans reportedly having tattoos, the art form has become a ubiquitous form of self-expression and artistic creativity.
From the ancient rituals of the past to the thriving tattoo subculture of today, tattoos have made their mark on human civilization. As they continue to grow in popularity, tattoos will keep telling stories and showcasing the unique personalities of those who wear them.
Whether they are symbols or messages being told through ink, all of these pieces of art mean something to the people who bear them.
In honor of National Tattoo Story Day on September 16, we asked our readers and friends if they’d be open to sharing the meaning behind their ink—and they delivered!
As good luck charms, for protection or as status symbols, the reasons behind tattoos are as diverse as the people who get them. Here, five locals show and tell.
Source: Pew Research Center, August 2024
Katie Hicks (32)
“Having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, with early onset around age 5, I’ve spent most of my life battling intrusive thoughts. I can’t describe the exhaustion and isolation you experience when your brain is always on fire with seemingly no resolve while simultaneously tricking you into thinking compulsions will get rid of your intrusive thoughts, all the while just exacerbating them. In 2022, I began Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) treatment with NOCD (an online therapy service) and discovered the profound impact of the non-engagement response technique; it aims to emphasize the irrelevance of intrusive thoughts and helps you lean into uncertainty. The response, ‘maybe; maybe not’ became a lifeline, helping me break free from OCD’s grip. ERP truly transformed my life, and I’m deeply grateful for the visibility and hope NOCD has given to OCD survivors like me. Today, my tattoo reminds me to lean into uncertainty as it is ironically one of the most certain things in life.”
Tattoo by: Shauncey Fury, Dragoncat Tattoo (Pensacola, FL)
Kelly & Shea Hardy (49 & 51)
“The story of our tattoo is based on our time serving in the Navy. We met in Pensacola, Florida and one of our favorite places is the Pensacola Lighthouse. The twenty-year career in the Navy kept us apart for months on end, and my return was always something Shea and the children looked forward to. The tattoo on my arm of the ship returning home to the lighthouse on Shea’s arm represents a final reunion of the pair.”
Tattoos by: Brian Cabrera, Black Eye Tattoo Shop (Cinco Bayou, FL)
Dave “Domo” Domoslay (40)
“The idea for this tattoo after picking up a prisoner. I worked in EMS for about 10 years. The guy’s arms were covered in tattoos. I asked if I could do an IV, to which he initially said ‘no,’ because the nurse couldn’t get one to save her life. After I said I’d try once and wouldn’t poke him again if I was unsuccessful the first go, he finally agreed. I even showed him on my arm where the ink had kind of faded from previous IVs, and said that’s where they get me. I got the IV without an issue. I told him to remember where on his tattoos he got the IV, just in case he needed one in the future. Fast forward to a few years later, I get the words ‘IV GOES HERE’ with an X on my right AC. So yeah, X marks the spot!”
Tattoo by: Shauncey Fury, Dragoncat Tattoo (Pensacola, FL)
Kodie Croll (33)
“Lately in life, I have felt extremely lost and without any real direction. My tattoo means the world to me and serves as a friendly reminder to always keep going and know that I have the strength to do so, even if I don’t know what to do. It’s important to keep going, no matter what you’re going through in life. My tattoo reminds me of this each and every day—you will always make it if you just keep on going.”
Tattoo by: Johnny Mumbles, Sacred Grounds Tattoo Studio (Pensacola, FL)
Katie Turman (21)
“The inspiration for my book-ish tattoo comes from my longtime love of books and stories. When I was in middle school, the peak era of the fantasy and dystopian genres first fostered my interest in reading, with book series such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. The desire to escape into an alternate world of action, magic, romance and excitement only grew throughout high school, leading to college years spent reading and writing as an English Literature major. My tattoo reminds me of the joy these different worlds, found between the pages of books, have brought me over the last ten years.”
Tattoo by: All About Ink (Pensacola, FL)
by Morgan Cole
Imagine being in a room, surrounded by all types of artists, each absorbed in their creative bubble, yet connected by a shared energy and passion. It’s an experience that is as inspiring as it is uplifting.
Collaboration in art isn’t just about working side by side; it’s also about sharing experiences, challenging each other and pushing creative boundaries.
No matter how you express your creativity, relationships with other artists—painters, writers, designers, jewelry makers, hair stylists, dancers—can inspire you and push your art in new directions.
Throughout history, artists have congregated to share ideas and learn from each other not only to help inspire their work but also to harness their creativity.
This type of shared energy can serve as a powerful tool for inspiring growth and help open your mind to create beyond your individual self, which is exactly what local artist Jarrod Goldman was looking to harness when he established a social drawing club.
Inspired by art from an early age, Goldman naturally went on to study art in college, earning his BFA in Studio Art from the University of West Florida (UWF). His work has since been showcased in both solo and group exhibitions at The Art Gallery (TAG) at UWF, End of The Line Cafe, the Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) and more.
Today, Goldman continues to pursue art as his full-time career and serves as an active member of the local arts community. His passion for not only art, but also the local arts community is what ultimately inspired Goldman’s decision to launch Pensacola’s first and only drawing club.
Aptly named Draw Together, the club aims to provide a platform for members of the community to connect, collaborate and create.
The club hosts regular meet-ups at different venues throughout Pensacola, offering individuals of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to come together for a few hours each week to engage their creativity through a series of collaborative games and artistic exercises.
The concept for the club is primarily based around the collaborative art game Exquisite Corpse, in which participants create a collaborative drawing on a folded sheet of paper, each contributing a portion without seeing what the others have done. The sketch is then unfolded at the end, generally revealing some fun and very unexpected combinations.
Draw Together meet-ups typically kick off with a round of the Exquisite Corpse game, followed by plenty of networking and doodling time. Throughout the evening, attendees can also opt to participate in other fun artistic exercises and games with some unique creative prompts to help get their creativity flowing.
Everyone is welcome to attend Draw Together on Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 pm, which are typically held at Alga or The Handlebar in Pensacola. All ages and skill levels are welcome. There is no cost to participate, and all supplies are provided.
DTC staffers had the pleasure of attending some of the recent club meet-ups, where we sat down with Goldman to learn more about him and Pensacola’s social drawing drawing club, Draw Together.
For more on Draw Together, including updates on upcoming club meet-ups and more, follow @drawtogetherpensacola on Instagram. You can check out some of Goldman’s personal work online at jarrodreiss.com or @jarrodreiss on Instagram.
DTC: Have you always been interested in art?
JG: When I was very little, my dad would paint murals in our bedrooms and he would change them out from time to time. I had a Sesame Street one that was bonkers. Before that, it was pastel spring colors of like this cute animal parade, complete with a hot air balloon. I remember just staring at those in awe. My brother was always drawing Nikes because he wanted to be a shoe designer. He would also do Looney Tunes and fighting game mashups, put Bugs Bunny’s head on Blanka’s body, or something crazy like that. Everybody was just doodling when I was a kid, so it sort of became a natural inclination. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger, but the whole art thing stuck pretty good.
DTC: What types of mediums do you work with? Is there a particular one that is your favorite or that you tend to work with more than the others?
JG: I’m a huge fan of charcoal and graphite drawing. It’s cheap, simple, versatile and not as messy as some other mediums. A lot of times I will draw like that then digitally color a drawing. Lately, I’ve been painting again and trying to sell some smaller works at an approachable price point for folks.
DTC: What inspired you to establish the drawing club?
JG: I was tired of working as an artist from home with nobody to talk about it with. I wanted to make a social club to share the joys of making art and doodling without a lot of restrictions or guidance. One day, I just started showing up at different places to draw and announcing it on Instagram, and eventually, a few people started hanging so, we decided to make it official. It’s done wonders for my creative output and mental health—just being around other like-minded peeps. I originally set out to create a social club for artists, but also for anyone even remotely curious. We try to keep it low stakes and fun for people.
I want everyone to be less afraid to draw and make marks, it’s something people sort of let die as they
get older and I want people to find that again, and not be afraid to just do it. I always tell people if you can navigate yourself around a room without knocking everything over or hurting yourself, you are probably better at drawing than you think you are. I believe it is something that comes naturally to people and that it only takes a little coaxing to take it to the next level.
DTC: Do you have individuals from art and nonart backgrounds that attend the meetups?
JG: All kinds of people show up! There are a lot of artists for sure but also just whoever and their kids. It’s kind of amazing to see the diversity of the group sometimes at the meetups. The focus for me personally is to get everyone into it from the most casual observer to the full time artist and everyone in between. I try to make sure it’s casual and inviting. I hope I’m doing that part right. Lol.
DTC: Where are club meetups held, and how often are they held?
JG: We get together weekly on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 pm, unless it’s really popping. Sometimes a few of us will hang pretty late so if you work late just holler at us on Instagram or Discord and we may still be drawing. We try to rotate the meetups around Pensacola at different bars. I would like to get an even larger roster of locations in the future. This fall we have some outdoor stuff planned in parks around town. Right now, our main situationship is at Alga on 12th Avenue. Great spot, great beers and great people. They just celebrated their third anniversary and have put us up and
on since the very beginning, so big ups to Alga. We’ve also had great success with The Handlebar on Tarragona Street, which is where the last few meet-ups were held. We are about to try out Odd Colony for the first time this month. It’s very interesting to see the diversity in the crowd at each location, it’s always different every place we go. The schedule is kept up to date on our Instagram, @drawtogetherpensacola and on our Discord.
DTC: Walk me through a typical club meetup and tell me about some of the different activities and art games attendees engage in?
JG: We arrive, we draw. No, but being for real we usually play this game called Exquisite Corpse. It’s a game made popular back in the surrealist days, where you fold a sheet of paper and draw a part of a body and pass it around without showing each other what your section was. It can be pretty interesting when you reveal the full drawing.
Our long time attendee and an incredible asset to the club, Noah, has developed a game called the Gallery Game we often play. For Gallery Game, there is a miniature art gallery ready to be filled with small pieces of individual art. Each player receives a small paper ‘canvas’ and a series of timed prompts. They then present their piece to the other players, explaining their selection for the given prompt. The works are then voted on by others in attendance, and the winners get to be hung up in the miniature gallery for all to see.
Beyond the games, we also have a small library of resource materials including albums of found photos, various art resources and how to drawtype books. We even have coloring books for the more timid or tiny attendees.
DTC: Do you feel that all types of creatives could find value or benefit from attending?
JG: I think it’s been a valuable resource for people. The meetups have become the type of social club where creatives can discuss projects and get each other work from clients, teach their skills and share their resources with other peers. It’s inspiring!
DTC: Are the club meetups also informative or educational in any way?
JG: For some of the club meet-ups, we go on field trips to a local business, complete with workshops and more of a guided plan that’s informative. Our last field trip was to a local film studio called Studio 2215 on W. Desoto St. in Pensacola. We had a live model for drawing, and local photo lab Pellucid Image Center took analog photo portraits of the attendees and did an entire workshop on light painting and developing the photos. It was a blast. The field trip before that was at Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) for an art show by a local performance and video art group called House Pencil Green. There was a focus on art made by children where they made these small food trucks and we would race down a track and
hand out prizes. The show was called Hotsy Totsy Vroom-O-Rama. I highly recommend checking it out on the PMA website at pensacolamuseum.org/art/ hotsy-totsy-vrooom-o-rama.
DTC: Do you host field trips regularly?
JG: We try to do them once a quarter basically. The next big thing we have planned is a full exhibition at The Art Gallery (TAG) at UWF. We will host the regular meetups there through the show and have extra activities for some elementary students as well as everyone else. Our club has been working closely with the TAG team of interns to build a crazy good collaborative show for everyone so it should be great fun. The show has a huge focus on the Exquisite Corpse game we play. The dates for the show are October 17 through November 21, with the closing reception happening on the last day.
DTC: On average, how many people would you say attend each week, and do you have many regular attendees?
JG: We have so many regular attendees! What’s interesting to me is that some people are loyal to a certain location. We have hit record attendance in the past few months multiple times, with the largest group in the 30s. On average, anywhere from 12 to 20 people typically attend.
DTC: Is your work on display anywhere right now, or has any of your work been a part of any recent exhibitions?
JG: Nothing recently, but I would like to change that! Myself, along with some UWF art alumni and a bunch of the draw club regulars, are working hard on some long form, much larger Exquisite Corpses for the gallery show that’s coming up. It’s a fully take-home, take-your-time version of the game we play each meet-up, and I’m excited to see what everyone has come up with.
DTC: How can people learn more about the group and find out about scheduled club meet-ups?
JG: We are working on a website! Currently, we have the Instagram @drawtogetherpensacola and a Discord group chat account. The Discord is basically the adults only group as it’s hard to moderate both the Instagram and Discord, so we ask that Discord members be at least 18 years of age. Nothing incredibly racy happens or anything, it’s just easier that way. Both Discord and Insta have the calendar of events posted to them regularly, and both are easy ways to reach out to me if you have questions about anything.
DTC: Is there anything else that you’d like readers to know?
JG: Right now, we are solely subsisting on physical donations of materials, so bring us some old art supplies. It’s particularly sketchbooks and paper that we are in need of right now. If you would like to help out with supplies in another way, we do have a dedicated Venmo and an Amazon wishlist that is linked through our QR codes that we have plastered on the crates at the meetups. Really though, we just hope to see your faces so we can share and spread the joy of mark-making to you! Bring the whole family.
Don’t miss the full Draw Together exhibition October 17 through November 21 at The Art Gallery (TAG) at UWF. Scan the QR code to the right for details.
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Jukebox Gala is Pensacola Opera’s signature fundraising event. Now in it’s 20th Anniversary, join us as we kick off our season with an evening of fine dining, fine singing, and fine giving. Over a gourmet four-course dinner, world-class opera Artists serenade you and your guests table side. A preview of our upcoming season starts off the night – but the rest of the entertainment is up to you! The evening’s entertainment is determined by guests as they bid on popular selections from opera and musical theater to be performed for them course by course. All proceeds directly support professional opera performancesthat provide over 200 artists with work and opportunity and touches over 5,000 patrons each season.
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Pensacola Blue Wahoos Schedule
September home games at Blue Wahoos Stadium in downtown Pensacola. For tickets and information, visit milb.com/pensacola.
September 1 at 4:05 pm - Mississippi
Braves vs Blue Wahoos
September 10 at 6:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos
September 11 at 6:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos
September 12 at 6:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos
September 13 at 6:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos
September 14 at 6:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos
September 15 at 4:05 pm - Montgomery
Biscuits vs Blue Wahoos September
September 4 & 5
Your favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the successful DreamWorks animated film. Tony Awardwinning duo, composer Jeanine Tesori and playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, revisit their first collaboration to deliver a more intimate and engaging experience—a joyful, colorful Shrek that celebrates our differences. With new direction and choreography by Danny Mefford, this reimagined production brings the show back to its roots. This production is suitable for ages 6 and up. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with showtime at 7:30 pm. The Pensacola Saenger Theatre is located at 118 S. Palafox St. For showtimes, tickets and show details, visit pensacolasaenger.com.
. . . . September 6
The annual Emerald Coast Beer Festival is back! Organized by the Escambia Bay Homebrewers, this event provides an excellent opportunity for beer lovers and novices alike to sample various styles of beer. Beers from microbreweries, specialty bottled beers and homebrewed beers will be available for tasting. The event will also include food vendors and free entertainment. The Emerald Coast Beer Festival will be hosted from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. in downtown Pensacola. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit emeraldcoastbeerfest.com.
. September 7
Get ready for a day of plant-powered perfection at the Vegan BrewFest! Join Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for a family-friendly celebration of all things vegan
including an array of amazing vegan cuisine, great vibes and delicious brews. This family-friendly event is open to all ages. In addition to the food and drinks available, there will also be games and activities that everyone can enjoy. Vegan BrewFest runs from 12 to 6 pm. Perfect Plain Brewing Co. is located at 50 E. Garden St. in downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit perfectplain.com.
. September 7
The Wingman Foundation will hold its annual Pensacola Memorial 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run on September 7. This annual memorial run/walk will be held in honor and remembrance of our brave fallen Naval and Marine Corps air warriors. The event will be held at Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. in downtown Pensacola. Runners and walkers also have a virtual registration option, so you can participate from anywhere. Runners will take off from Seville Quarter at 7:30 am. To register or learn more, visit wingmanfoundation.org.
. September 13-22
A Man For All Seasons is a historical drama originally set in 16th-century England during the reign of King Henry VIII. This production will transport the audience to the Cold War era, offering a unique perspective on the timeless themes of morality and political struggle. The play delves into the moral and political challenges faced by Sir Thomas More, a devout Catholic and loyal subject of the King. As Henry VIII, driven by his desire to divorce his wife, clashes with the Catholic Church, he demands unwavering loyalty from his subjects. Amidst the political turmoil of the mid-20th century, More refuses to endorse Henry’s divorce and breaks with the Pope. Despite pressure from friends, family and the King, More remains steadfast in his beliefs, ultimately leading to his downfall. Performances will be held at Pensacola Little Theatre located at 400 S. Jefferson St. in downtown Pensacola. For showtimes and tickets, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.
. September 14
The Randy Travis: More Life Tour features the legendary country singer and his co-star in The Price, James Dupré. The Country Music Hall of Famer’s long-time touring band have rejoined “Hoss,” as they affectionately call Travis, on the road after his life-changing stroke in 2013. The show will consist of Dupré and the band performing all 16 of his iconic hits, including On The Other Hand, Forever and Ever, Amen and Three Wooden Crosses. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:30 pm. The Pensacola Saenger Theatre is located at 118 S. Palafox St. For showtimes, tickets and complete show details, visit pensacolasaenger.com.
. September 14
The Rock4Vets 5K is an annual event that combines fitness, music and fun to raise funds and awareness for local homeless veterans. Participants can run or walk a 5K course, then enjoy live music, food, drinks and games in a vibrant festival atmosphere. The Rock4Vets 5K and post-race festivities will be held from 7 am to 12 pm at the Community Maritime Park, located at 301 W. Main St. in downtown Pensacola. To donate, register or learn more, visit choosepeoples.com/rock4vets.
September 14
Join Daniel Tiger and Clifford the Big Red Dog for some PBS KIDS fun at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park! We’re bringing two of the most beloved characters from the PBS KIDS lineup to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park! Daniel Tiger and Clifford the Big Red Dog will greet young fans from 10 am to 2 pm. Along with character meet-and-greets, children can engage in hands-on activities, including arts and crafts and a scavenger hunt. Kiddos will also enjoy the park’s dolphin and sea lion shows, animal exhibits and aquariums. Located at 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, the park will be open during regular business hours, donating a portion of the day’s admission fees to the WSRETV Foundation. Visit wsre.org/events/kids-day/ for more information.
September 20
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) will be hosting “Cinemas in the Sand,” free family-friendly movie nights. Held at the Gulfside Pavilion on Casino Beach, Cinemas in the Sand allows families to come together and enjoy the beautiful beach and a wholesome movie. Get out your beach chairs, pack the cooler and head out to the beach for some family fun. On September 20, the SRIA will be showing Inside Out. The movie will begin playing at sunset on a giant inflatable outdoor movie screen. For more information visit visitpensacolabeach.com.
. September 21
Join Odd Colony Brewing Company for its annual ode to the traditional German fall festival of lager slugging, pretzel eating and stein hoisting from 11 am to 8 pm. This year’s Oddtoberfest celebration will feature an oddly fun mix of festivities, including authentic German foods, a stein hoisting competition, the finest lederhosen and dirndl apparel, the release of Odd Colony’s signature Oddtoberfest Marzen-style lager and more. Registration for the stein hoisting competition
will kick off at 3 pm, and the competition will be held at 4 pm. Sport your finest lederhosen or dirndl apparel and head to Odd Colony for a fun-filled day of Oktoberfest fun. Odd Colony is located at 260 N. Palafox St. in downtown Pensacola. For event updates and details, visit facebook.com/ oddcolony or oddcolony.com.
. September 21
Get ready to party for Oktoberfest at Emerald Republic Brewing. This annual Oktoberfest shindig is sure to put you in the fall spirit with an evening of specially-brewed German beers, competitive games, prizes and more. A series of games and contests will be held throughout the event, including men and women’s stein hoisting competitions, stein racing and pretzeleating contests. Individuals must be 21 years of age or older to participate in the competitions. The brewery will also be selling specialty beers, authentic German food and custom Germanstyle glass mugs with Emerald Republic graphics. The purchase of a mug also scores you a discount when you fill it up with delicious German beer. ERBC is located at 1414 West Government St. in downtown Pensacola. For complete details, visit emeraldrepublicbrewing.com.
. September 27 to 29
Savor delicious seafood, enjoy live music by the bay and immerse yourself in historic downtown Pensacola during the Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival. Produced by Fiesta Pensacola, this festival is one of the largest festivals in northwest Florida with more than 150 vendors who travel from around the country to participate. This free event is hosted in Historic Seville Square, located at 311 E. Government St. The Pensacola Seafood Festival runs from 11 am to 11 pm on Friday, 10 am to 11 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. For more information, visit pensacolaseafoodfestival.com.
. September 28
Join Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for their version of Oktoberfest. Celebrate all day with a special German menu, stein hoisting competition, Lederhosen and Dirndl fashion show and more. Events will be staggered throughout the day, including the opening of Simply Brats German Food Truck at noon, followed by a stein hoisting competition at 6 pm and the lederhosen and dirndl contest at 8 pm. A live DJ will provide entertainment from 9 pm to midnight. Whether you’re participating or spectating, there’s something fun for everyone. Perfect Plain is located at 50 E. Garden St. in downtown Pensacola. For complete details, visit perfectplain.com.
The U.S. Navy’s new warship, Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29), set sail from HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Thursday, heading toward its commissioning location in Pensacola, Fla.
The U.S. Navy’s new warship, Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29), set sail from HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on August 22, heading toward its commissioning location in Pensacola, Fla.
Delivered in April, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship is scheduled to be commissioned on September 7 at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola.
Richard M. McCool, Jr. marks the 13th San Antonio-class vessel built by Ingalls and is the final Flight I transition ship before the shift to the LPD Flight II series. It is also the first of the LPD 17-class to be equipped with the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, SPY-6(V)2, a rotating S-Band radar. This advanced radar system enhances the Navy’s capabilities by providing a unified hardware standard for aircraft carriers and amphibious ships, improving target engagement and overall self-defense. Ingalls Shipbuilding is currently constructing two Flight II LPDs, Harrisburg (LPD 30) and Pittsburgh (LPD 31), and in March 2023, secured a contract modification for the detailed design and construction of Philadelphia (LPD 32), the 16th San Antonio-class ship and the third Flight II LPD.
Amphibious transport docks like the Richard M. McCool, Jr. are used for deploying Marines, their equipment, and supplies. They facilitate landings via Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft, and amphibious assault vehicles, as well as helicopters and vertical take-off aircraft. These ships are crucial for amphibious assaults, special operations, and expeditionary warfare, serving also as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious missions.
LPD 29 is named in honor of U.S. Navy Capt. Richard M. McCool, Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for the heroism he displayed after his ship was attacked by kamikaze aircraft in the Battle of Okinawa. He led efforts to battle a blazing fire on his ship and rescue injured sailors despite suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns.
The Richard M. McCool, Jr. officially arrived at NAS Pensaola on August 30. Public ship tours will be held September 2-4 from 1 to 4 pm daily.
For more information on commissioning week events and public ship tours, visit pensacolachamber.com/shipcommissioning.
