FREE • NEWS, VIEWS, MUSIC, FILM, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • APRIL 14, 2011 • VOLUME 8, ISSUE 15 • WWW.CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
2
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
BEYOND THE HEADLINES 9 SHADES OF GREEN 10 ON THE BEAT 17 LIFE IN THE NOOG 31 ASK A MEXICAN 38
APRIL
14
2011
ontents C
Cover art: Tim Hooper, "Lincoln's Record Player"
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 15 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
“People who visit Chattanooga are not prepared for the majesty of the Gorge, whether their view is from the river, the road, or the air.”
9
— Excerpt from Tennessee RiverGorge Trust promotional material.
“His frozen explosions of bubbly squidgy-ness have such jaw-dropping detail that you won’t believe these aren’t living organisms.”
12
—Steve Terlizzese on 4Bridges exhibiting artist Shawn Bungo.
“Sedaris has the habit of punching you in the stomach with the human tragedy just as you were going for a good yuck.”
22
— Janis Hashe on novelist and storyteller David Sedaris.
“I try to approach music as if I’m Adam and Eve discovering the pure sensation of it all for the first time on Earth.”
25
— Jazz musician Matthew Shipp on his mystical sound.
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
3
NEWS Chattanooga’s Weekly Alternative President Jim Brewer, II Publisher Zachary Cooper Contributing Editor Janis Hashe News Editor Gary Poole Director of Sales Rhonda Rollins Advertising Sales Jaye Brewer, Rick Leavell Michelle Pih Calendar Editors Bryanna Burns, Leanne Strickland Graphic Design Jennifer Grelier Pulse Contributors Gustavo Arellano, Rob Brezsny Chuck Crowder, Michael Crumb John DeVore, Janis Hashe Joshua Hurley, Matt Jones Sandra Kurtz, Josh Lang, D.E. Langley Ernie Paik Alex Teach, Steve Terlizzese Editorial Cartoonist Rick Baldwin Contact Info: Phone (423) 265-9494 Fax (423) 266-2335 Email Inquiries info@chattanoogapulse.com Calendar Submissions calendar@chattanoogapulse.com The Pulse is published weekly and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publishers may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.
The Pulse is published by
Brewer Media 1305 Carter Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 Letters to the editor must include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. The Pulse reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Please keep letters within 300 words in length. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on culture, the arts, entertainment and local news.
4
Pulse Beats
"Q"
“Thank you for everybody I saw, many of Tim and my friends on the street…I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Memorial Receives $50,000 Grant from Avon
— Kelle Chapin, widow of Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin, speaking at Abba’s House about the outpouring of love and support she and her family have received.
The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $50,000 one-year grant to Memorial Health Care System to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. It’s the sixth year that Memorial and the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center have received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women to support its work on this important health issue and in recognition of the excellence of the program. The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial will continue providing women in Chattanooga and the surrounding region with mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S. and the single leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every 14 minutes. While advances have been made in prevention,
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
diagnosis and treatment, early detection remains the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs at the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial help ensure that all women have access to early detection information and options—even poor and medically underserved. “We are proud that the Avon Foundation for Women shares our mission and has chosen to support our program,” said Kathy Dittmar, director of women’s and support services. “With these funds, we will be able to continue ensuring that women in our region have access to mammograms.” Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,425 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial. These programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.
News Briefs • The Third Annual Eco Expo was held at the Chattanooga Convention Center last week, and among the many companies and organizations who participated, several were singled out for special recognition. Hamilton County Water Quality & Master Gardeners of Hamilton County won the award for Most Resourceful, Global Green Lighting was honored for being Most Sustainable, the Most Creative award went to WAP Sustainability, and the award for People’s Choice, as voted upon by the attendees of the Expo, went to Rhoades Car. The awards themselves were created by found-object artist Michael Wimmer. • Chattanooga City Attorney Mike McMahan has been asked to look into reports of recent thefts at Outdoor Chattanooga. A recent audit by the city found funds missing from the organization. The report cites violations regarding cash collections, and noted that the department lacked internal controls, leaving it highly susceptible to thefts. At the heart of the audit were allegations that money collected by the organization was never deposited with the city, and that checks made out to Outdoor Chattanooga were instead deposited in the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga bank account.
NEWS
Commentary
Living With Loss So wonderfully said [“Living With Loss”, On The Beat]! You all put your uniforms on everyday and go out to protect and serve, not sure of the events to unfold while on duty. Tim loved his job, all his fellow officers and gave his all every day. Never asked for any recognition, just did his job well. He was a very devoted father and husband, and was a true solid Christian man. He lived his life to the fullest and loved with every fiber of his body. I have not seen a stronger marriage than his and Kelle’s. Christ centered. Awesome kids that know love and respect all. He will be sorely missed by so many. Jam Ramsey As you know we recently lost a good friend to the whole of Chattanooga. As I spoke with many of you and with his fellow officers and friends, we all agreed that any remembrance of him should be a celebration of life and all the good that he represented. His children are his gift to the future, and it is in that vein that I [want to share about] an education fund that has been set up for them to honor him. I
Send all letters to the editor and questions to
info@chattanoogapulse.com We reserve the right to edit letters for content and space. Please include your full name, city and contact information.
know that all amounts will be appreciated. Please have all donors make the checks out to: Educational Fund for Tim Chapin Family-Wells Fargo and mail the donations to: RDP Partners 6111 Shallowford Road, Suite 103, Chattanooga, TN 37421. Carol Berz Chattanooga City Council District 6
Bring On The Fireworks Yes, legalize fireworks in East Ridge. The more good stuff that’s legal here that isn’t legal nearby, the more people will come do business here. Right, Governor Haslam? (When I was in Pakistan, drugstores would sell anything they had to anyone who came in with money.) Andrew Lohr Solar Alternatives After reading about the solar power farm coming to the Chattanooga Airport, I wanted to share about our experience. My spouse and I had been looking into solar energy for about a year and finally made the investment based upon the blend of government incentive programs and practical capital. We now can see exactly how much electrical energy we are reducing each week and it is really remarkable. I always thought that solar power appeared to be supported through a whole lot of media hype, however we can tell you that it is the real deal. We wish we had done this ages ago. Justine Norsworthy www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
5
NEWS
Politics & Crime A weekly roundup of the newsworthy, notable and often head-scratching stories gleaned from police reports from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department and the Dalton Police Department.
Here is one of the agenda items to be discussed at the Tuesday, April 19 meeting of the Chattanooga City Council.
5. Ordinances - Final Reading: a) An ordinance to amend Part II, Chattanooga City Code, Chapter 17, Article I, Section 17-1, relative to the adoption of the International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, including all referenced standards and publications specified therein, and the 2006 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code in its entirety for certain specified occupancies, including existing buildings, as defined by the 2006 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, as the official fire code of the City of Chattanooga; and to amend Sections 17-2, as to appendices, and 17-3 as amendments to the Code.
If the first reading of this controversial ordinance passed, and at press time we are unsure if it will or not, this would be the final reading on the ordinance that was deferred from February 22 that would force nightclubs and similar establishments in the city to install fire protection sprinkler systems. The ordinance had been deferred to allow time for the Fire Department to review the changes and present back a report on the financial and safety feasibility of the proposal. The Chattanooga City Council meets each Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Council Building at 1000 Lindsay St. For more information on the current agenda, and past minutes, visit www.Chattanooga.gov/City_Council
6
• One of the older sayings among police officers is, “You can’t outrun a radio.” Yet far too often, criminals attempt to do just that, fleeing from police officers. And, as nearly always happens, it just doesn’t work. Walker County officers spotted a stolen Honda Civic and gave chase. The driver crossed over the state line into Tennessee but then crashed on McCallie Avenue. He tried to escape on foot, but was quickly subdued with a taser by Chattanooga police. During a search of the stolen vehicle, officers found a full working meth lab in the trunk of the car as well as a supply of nearly finished product. The luckless man was arrested and charged with a laundry list of charges, ranging from manufacturing of meth to driving on a suspended license. • People who work for jewelry stores are trained to watch customers for subtle signs of impending theft. However, some potential robbers aren’t very subtle, as the employees of a Gunbarrel Road jewelry store realized when a man walked into their business wearing a beekeeper’s mask, and carrying a bucket wrapped in aluminum foil and an ax. Employees quickly confronted the man and demanded that he leave, at which point he raised his ax in warning, walked around the store, then ran
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
out without taking anything. A passerby saw the man get into a pickup truck and leave “in a reckless manner” and snapped a photo of the truck on her phone. Working off the photo, police located the truck after responding to a crash on I-24 and were able to locate the man, who had fled the accident on foot, on Rossville Boulevard. He was arrested on criminal attempted aggravated robbery, leaving the scene of an accident, and to add insult to injury, driving on a revoked license. • While a bar fight with flying chairs and broken tables may look great in movie or television show, it really should be left to Hollywood, not recreated in real life. Which is a lesson that unfortunately did not get through to one rather large man who decided to forcefully redecorate a downtown bar. Police were called after an “extremely intoxicated” customer got angry and began picking up tables and chairs and tossing them around the bar, endangering the other patrons. When officers arrived, they found the one-man barroomwrecking crew in a side parking lot where they had a great deal of difficulty in subduing the man. At one point he slammed his own head into the roof of a patrol car so hard it left a large dent, and he eventually
had to be pepper-sprayed to convince him to stop trying to kick out the car windows. For his efforts, he is now facing charges of assault, vandalism, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. • When the economy gets tough, it is a statistical note that bank robberies increase. But even so, it was still surprising to Athens police officers when they were finally able to solve a March robbery of a bank on Decatur Pike…and it turned out that the robbers weren’t wearing masks to make themselves look older. They were indeed senior citizens. A 72-year-old man and his 67-year-old sister had walked up to the counter, handed the teller a note and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. The elderly Bonnie and Clyde were finally caught as the result of an undercover operation at a bank in Sweetwater and taken into custody.
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
7
8
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
OPINION
Beyond The Headlines
Just Another Gorgeous Evening on the RiverGorge By Janis Hashe, Pulse Contributing Editor
S
topping off at the Eco Expo to chat with the folks at the Tennessee RiverGorge Trust, I was reminded once again of my recent pledge to “get out there.” (See last week’s “Veering Out of Orbit.” The Trust is celebrating its 30th anniversary protecting some of the most beautiful places in the nation—and if you’d like to help, there’s a great chance coming up on April 30. The Trust will host “Another Gorgeous Evening” at the Tennessee RiverPlace on Saturday, April 30. The property is located on the banks of the Tennessee River at the entrance to the Tennessee RiverGorge, just across from Williams Island. Guests will enjoy river and mountain views, dinner catered by Lee Towery, music by the Ben Friberg Trio and Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble, dancing and a live auction.
are not prepared for the majesty of the Gorge, whether their view is from the river, the road, or the air. Even the leaders from Volkswagen were awed by the breathtaking vistas of Tennessee’s Grand Canyon as seen from a helicopter.” “The Tennessee RiverGorge has been a key asset in attracting major businesses to the Chattanooga region,” said Charlie Arant, CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium. “Based on a statement from Volkswagen when they announced they were going to build a one billion dollar plant here, the natural assets and the intangibles of the area were the difference makers.” The Tennessee RiverGorge begins at Williams Island, just west of the downtown area, and continues 27 river miles to Nickajack Lake in Marion County. More than 3,000 people have supported the continuing efforts of the Tennessee RiverGorge Trust. The Trust has cooperated with TVA, the State of Tennessee, and many private landowners to protect more than 17,000 acres of the 27,000-acre Gorge. Preservation takes the form of land maintenance, ecological restoration, sustainable land use,
“People who visit Chattanooga are not prepared for the majesty of the Gorge, whether their view is from the river, the road, or the air.” As people at the Trust put it in their materials, “For three decades a skeleton crew and an amazing family of generous supporters has quietly been working together to protect the only large river canyon bordering a mid-sized city in the United States. People who visit Chattanooga
biological inventory activities, and ongoing public and private partnerships to ensure the land remains undeveloped while endangered species are protected and the awesome vistas are available for generations to come. All of the money raised during “Another Gorgeous Evening’” will help the Trust continue its efforts of land protection, education and stewardship. You’ll celebrate Earth Day for more than just one day by helping to preserve that which, once lost, can never be recreated. “Another Gorgeous Evening”, presented by the Tennessee RiverGorge Trust $150 5:30 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner Saturday, April 30 Tennessee RiverPlace, 3104 Scenic Waters Lane (423) 266-0314. www.trgt.org
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
9
OPINION
Shades Of Green
The Fukushima Warning T
here’s nothing more spectacular than an Appalachian spring with redbuds and dogwoods blooming amid the new green of our hardwood trees. Birds are courting and life of all kinds abounds! So, this month, I planned to extol spring and Earth’s wonders. Then Fukushima happened: An earthquake in Japan led to a tsunami that led to a power outage that led to coolant loss in four nuclear reactors causing hydrogen explosions that blew the tops off reactor buildings exposing the leaking radioactive spent fuel pools, and the radioactive containment buildings. Without adequate backup systems, this chain of events caused core meltdowns, saltwater corrosion inside containment buildings plus radiation releases, evacuation of millions, and heightened amounts of radiation in spinach, milk, soil and seawater. Suffice it to say, those nuclear plants will never operate again, cleanup will take decades, and the evacuated are never going home again. Japan, no nuclear novice, has been electrically disabled. It’s not over. This disaster tragically continues because you don’t just “turn off” a nuclear reactor. You may stop making electricity, but rods of fuel still emit radioactivity and heat. Without coolant water carrying heat away, they stay hot. Even used rods (spent fuel) take five years to cool after removal from the core containment. All remains radioactive whether hot or cold. Yet, we hear from the nuclear industry that nuclear power is safe and that no one ever died from nuclear energy. Baloney! Plenty of people have died from radiation exposure along the nuclear fuel chain. High percentages of uranium
10
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
Sandra Kurtz
“In 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy found that low doses of radiation, spread over a number of years, are just as dangerous as acute exposure.” miners have died from cancer. It just doesn’t happen right away. Radiation accumulates. In 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy found that low doses of radiation, spread over a number of years, are just as dangerous as acute exposure. A recent report says up to 985,000 people have died due to Chernobyl radiation. Natalia Manzarova recently visited Chattanooga. She was a Chernobyl nuclear engineer during meltdown. She showed her “Belarus necklace”, the scar created due to thyroid removal after radiation sickness. Besides cancer, radiation brings genetic defects, miscarriages, and abnormalities seen in children, animals and plants. To those who live in the Tennessee Valley, I ask, “Why aren’t you worried?”
With six reactors operating in this region and another under construction at Watts Bar, a nuclear disaster could happen here. Recent ratings showed that of 104 U.S. nuclear reactors, Watts Bar is the seventh most vulnerable for disaster with Sequoyah tenth, and Browns Ferry forty-fourth. The ratings are partially based on amount of population that would be impacted—that would be us. There have already been near misses and tritium leaks. In fact, like the frog in slowly warming water, our bodies are accumulating additional radiation from nuclear operations daily—even without a disaster. Don’t be fooled by statements saying “this dose of radiation is less than one gets from a year of background radiation” or telling you how much is allowed for a year. It’s cumulative. Further, radiation in the air is not a measurement of internal radiation dose. These measurements depend on set standards. Right now EPA is considering raising the standard. Voila! You can then feel safe at a much higher dose than previously stated (think guinea pigs). What to do? Ask TVA to go another direction. Germany is abolishing their nuclear plants. We can too. Build no new ones. Abandon Watts Bar and Bellefonte plans. Transition to a nuclear-free future. Choose sustainable solutions without radiation risk, the dangerous waste legacy for our children, or exorbitant taxpayer expense. And, just in case, prepare for possible evacuation. Sandra Kurtz is an environmental education consultant, a former classroom teacher and a founder of Tennessee Environmental Education Association. Presently she is executive co-director with the Urban Century Institute, a local nonprofit organization promoting sustainability and sustainable thinking.
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
11
COVER STORY
Four Bridges For Art
An Insider’s Guide to a Chattanooga Treasure
4Bridges On the River Art By Steve Terlizzese, Pulse Contributing Writer
"One of the top 100 art fairs in the country for 2011.” Art Fair SourceBook. Our own 4Bridges Art Festival, celebrating year 11 this time, has now been recognized nationally—so if you’ve never been, this is the year, on April 16 and 17. We asked “the mosaic guy”, artist Steve Terlizzese, who is not exhibiting this year, to give us an insider’s look at 4Bridges, as well as at some of the artists who represent what 4Bridges is all about.
12
T
he traveling artists have come to us again, carried by the winds of inspiration and from distant lands. They’ve come to soothe our souls from the dry burn of soul-less corporate commercialism. A true Festival is declared—for the inspiration and merriment of all, from the most stonehearted codger to the tenderest of children; and that Exhibition, dear friends, IS the annual 4Bridges Art Festival! More than 150 artists from all over the United States converge on the First Tennessee Pavilion each year, forming a temporary village of creative wonder. The show is run by AVA’s Jerry Dale McFadden, a big fish who’s nationally recognized for his expertise as a curator and art juror. Under his leadership, 4Bridges has successfully blended art that ranges from functional to funky to fashionable to fine—along with an impressive “Taste of Chattanooga” assortment of good restaurant food, in the atmosphere of live music. Yes, there is an admission fee, but all the proceeds go to promoting the arts locally, and the fee is less than the cover charge at the stinky bar where you came out smelling like an ashtray, with your ears ringing.
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
COVER STORY
Four Bridges For Art
Art festivals themselves are a uniquely American invention, the earliest of which appeared in the 1960s. There are now more than 20,000 festivals held each year, but most locals don’t realize that the 4Bridges Art Festival (only 11 years young) has been repeatedly ranked as one of the top shows in the USA. Those rankings are awarded by the artists themselves, giving high marks to shows that are artist-friendly, with good sales figures and excellent show locations. The Pavilion is beloved as an elegant “rain or shine” venue with tons of parking. And it doesn’t suck that Big River Brewery treats the artists to free beer. These festival artists are a rare breed of free-spirited dreamers, but with the work ethic and discipline of dedicated entrepreneurs. Most festival artists create and travel solo, so they build and dismantle their exhibits alone, a process that takes hours. One thing you can be certain of at the 4Bridges Art Festival: The exhibitor IS the artist, who made all the work, and set up the booth, and loaded the truck. And these 150 exhibiting artists are the best, chosen from nearly 700 applicants. Who are some of these artists? Why do they create and work so damn hard to get their work seen in public? Here are some of their stories:
“These festival artists are a rare breed of freespirited dreamers, but with the work ethic and discipline of dedicated entrepreneurs.”
Thomas Spake is a giant of a man, but with the rosy-cheeked face of an angel. His meaty fists can coax hard steel into delicate willowy sculptures that cradle luminous orbs and discs of glass. His work is tasty candy for the eye, which ranges from the towering (like his monumental sculptures found on Main Street and throughout Chattanooga), to the tiny (he crafted the 4Bridges Patron Pins in 2009). “Tommy” has exhibited at the finest of fineart shows, from Miami to Minneapolis, from Denver to D.C., averaging a robust 20 festivals a year, art-working hard to support his wife Kimerlyn and their toddler. “I present a fresh take on traditional glass work, with patterns and textures to invite the eye as well as the touch.” So—don’t be afraid to touch: “Gently!” he adds.
dining room table, and one paper-and-paint-layered canvas can take a month to complete, for although she considers herself a full-time artist, she works another full-time job as the office manager for her brothers’ busy construction company. The Collier clan has always supported her creative en-
deavors, freeing her up to exhibit regionally in eight to 10 shows a year. Cat feels that the art serves two dynamic roles: personal discovery, and having something intensely personal to share with others. “For a long time I thought that my insides were Cat Collier is looking up at five feet tall; a small- pretty dark, but all I have ever created was bright yet-mighty local girl who has stars in her eyes for and colorful. My art has taught me things that I two reasons. One, she’ll be marrying her soulmate didn’t know were inside, or possible. It’s a joyful and Nando very soon, and two, she finally got accepted magical experience that I think of as ‘supernatural’. into the 4Bridges (after three attempts). She’s a I want people to touch my work. Ask me questions; self-taught painter. “No one could teach me how I love explaining my process.” to make art, because it was something that had Shawn Bungo is a beatnik glass magician who to come from within me,” she says. In the worlds within her paintings, landscapes are a fantasy of plucks miniature swirling galaxies out of thin air, mod organic shapes with geometric sensibilities, then captures them inside molten pendants and with strength of line and color. Cat’s studio is her handmade beads. His frozen explosions of bubbly
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
13
COVER STORY
Four Bridges For Art
squidgy-ness have such jaw-dropping detail that you won’t believe these aren’t living organisms. Yet his jewelry is delightfully affordable. Shawn’s mature craftsmanship belies his short festival career (only three years), and he’s also self-taught. “My wife gave me a torch and a book on how to make glass beads for Christmas about six years ago, and I haven’t looked back since!” he says. The Bungos are a combined creative force; Shawn forges the glass, and his bohemian wife Meghan “helps a lot” with the business aspect of things—like applying for shows, budgeting, supply management, and buffing out the fresh-torched beads. Both of these young lovebirds are seen at shows, constantly tweaking their attractive display, freely sharing about what goes into the work. Last year was Shawn’s first 4Bridges Festival:“I won ‘Best in Glass’, which was an awesome honor for me, especially since I felt I was so out of my league with the quality of work that’s presented at the 4Bridges.”
14
Sara Bean’s collages give you a lot of brain for your buck. Based on architectural forms, there are photos and found objects and oh-so-many frames The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
clustered into visual sagas, each collage with its accompanying poem. Sara studied Philosophy and Literature at the University of Chicago and Columbia, but shunned the idyllic ivory towers of academia in favor of the gritty gypsy scholars of Harlem. Sara led the formation of a community of artists there, who have since moved en masse to Lexington, VA, where they share an old fire station. The philosophers’ fire still burns bright in her work, and putting polite manners aside, demands more of the viewer. Opines Sara: “The artists have come to Chattanooga with the best work they are capable of. Now it is your turn to work. You are collaborating with these artists in an attempt to find meaning. May you also be attentive, creative, sensitive and engaged. Merely looking at artwork is a passive activity and is a waste of your time. Engage in the work. Bring your ideas and experiences and passions and dreams to it and see if you don’t find something that moves you. See if you don’t fall in love.” Steve Terlizzese is the artist formerly known as “The Mosaic Guy”. He is currently on creative sabbatical, and plans to emerge as some other kind of artist. steve@mosaicguy.com
COVER STORY
Four Bridges For Art
4 Bridges Arts Festival
April 16 and 17, First Tennessee Pavilion Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $7 one day/$10 two days; (under 18 free) www.4BridgesArtsFestival.org Participants in Art of Cuisine: Flatiron Deli; Food Works; Good Dog; Nikoís Southside Grill; On the List Catering; Urban Spoon; Velo Coffee Roasters; and Yellow Deli. Booth Number, Artist, Category 1 – Matt Campbell – Furniture 2 – John McLeod – 3-D Mixed Media 3 – Jason Ryner – Glass 4 – Steven Summerville – Ceramics 5 – Cathy Horner – 2-D Mixed Media 6 – David Boone – 3-D Mixed Media 7 – Peggy Whitson – Fiber 8 – Janine DeCresenzo – Jewelry 9 – Holly Foss – Printmaking 10 – Adam Egenolf – Ceramics 11 – Joe Nielander – Glass 12 – David Bryce – Sculpture 13 – Pui-Lan Cockman – Watercolor 14 – Jan Morrison – 3-D Mixed Media 15 – Valerie Fleming – Photography 16 – Shawn Bungo – Glass 17 – Doug McCoy – 2-D Mixed Media 18 – Cat Tesla – Acrylic 19 – Pat Bolgar – Jewelry 20 – Paul Zerjay – Wood 21 – Bob Copeland – Photography 22 – Larry Spears – Ceramics 23 – Michele Smith – 3-D Mixed Media 24 – Victoria Pearmain – Oil 25 – Hunter Stamps – Ceramics 26 – John Quick – Furniture 27 – Rick Wittrig – Metal 28 – Margaret Taylor – 3-D Mixed Media 29 – James Klinger – Ceramics 30 – 31 – Bayley Wharton – Furniture 32 – Marc Fink – 2-D Mixed Media 33 – 34 – Tim Hintz – Furniture 35 – Janet Campbell – Jewelry 36 – Frank Saggus – 3-D Mixed Media 37 – John Ransmeier – Ceramics 38 – Bryce McCloud – Printmaking 39 – 40 – David Nagel – Wood
41 – Karis Barry – Ceramics 42 – Ella Richards – Paper 43 – Sompit Xia – Sculpture 44 – Phil Wallis – Furniture 45 – Andy Smith – Ceramics 46 – Gary Bachers – Drawing 47 – Roger Bulkley – Wood 48 – Katie Sasser – Jewelry 49 – Bobby Michelson – Furniture 50 – Randi Solin – Glass 51 – James Norton – Jewelry 52 – Michael Terra – Ceramics 53 – Annie Turbin – Fiber 54 – Rick Abrams – 2-D Mixed Media 55 – Greg Neal – Ceramics 56 – Paul Palnik – Printmaking 57 – John Leben – Digital Art 58 – Susan Clayton – Sculpture 59 – Liane Okamitsu – Jewelry 60 – Christopher Baumann & Stacey Stanhope – Ceramics 61 – Clifford Lounsbury – Wood 62 – Ronald Linton – Jewelry 63 – Jeff & Jenny Tseng – Glass 64 – Matthew Hatala – Wood 65 – Thor Bueno – Glass 66 – James Carter – Acrylic 67 – Philip Thompson – Printmaking 68 – William Kolok – Sculpture 69 – Jimmy Lee – Emerging Artist 70 – Andrea Moon – Emerging Artist 71 – Jennifer Wells – Emerging Artist 72 – Shawn O’Connor – Emerging Artist 73 – Libba Miller – Emerging Artist (No Booth 74) 75 – Wendy Seaward – Jewelry 76 – Mark Knott – Ceramics 77 – Gregory Strachov – Watercolor 78 – 79 – Thomas Spake – Glass 80 – Cathra-Anne Barker – Ceramics 81 – Lisa Cutler – Fiber
82 – Roger Clayton – Oil and Gouache 83 – Daina Dickens – Jewelry 84 – Bea Hatala – Photography 85 – Brent Sanders – Acrylic 86 – Sadie Wang – Jewelry 87 – 88 – Tim Hooper – Acrylic 89 – Michael Wimmer – 3-D Mixed Media 90 – Julie Sola – Printmaking 91 – Kristen Stingle – 3-D Mixed Media 92 – David Russell – Glass 93 – Valerie Hector – Jewelry 94 – Chad Poovey – Sculpture 95 – Shadow May – Ceramics 96 – Susan Thornton – Jewelry 97 – Kathy Wolfe – Photography 98 – Amber Mahler – Jewelry 99 – Lisa Norris – 2-D Mixed Media 100 – Lynn Shore – Fiber 101 – 102 – Daryl Thetford – Digital Art 103 – Kevin Bradley & Julie Belcher – Printmaking 104 – Dana Shavin – Acrylic 105 – Joachim Knill – Oil 106 – Bryan Cunningham – 2-D Mixed Media 107 – Vicki Wyrick – Jewelry 108 – Emily Reason – Ceramics
109 – Jenny Rytel – Jewelry 110 – Roger Disney – Oil 111 – Cindy Wunsch – 2-D Mixed Media 112 – Daniel Cater – Ceramics 113 – Theresa Gallup – Fiber 114 – Celena Cavala & Martin Obakke – 3-D Mixed Media 115 – Tracey Lewis – 2-D Mixed Media 116 – 117 – Jim & Lynn Lemyre – Oil 118 – Debra Farley – Jewelry 119 – 120 – Lorri Honeycutt – Digital Art 121 – 122 – Terry Cannon – 2-D Mixed Media 123 – Don Nibert – Ceramics 124 – 125 – Mark McKinnon – Photography 126 – Justin Robinson – 2-D Mixed Media 127 – Donna King – Jewelry 128 – Cat Collier – 2-D Mixed Media 129 – Rone Prinz – Jewelry 130 – John Baumann – Ceramics 131 – Mark Nelson – Jewelry 132 – Amanda Brazier – Oil 133 – Greg Turco – Photography 134 – Shaun LaRose – Oil 135 – Jim & Shirl Parmentier –
Ceramics 136 – Amy Flynn – 3-D Mixed Media 137 – Teresa Petersen – 2-D Mixed Media 138 – Patty Lindbloom – Jewelry 139 – Michael Schwegmann – Ceramics 140 – Lisa Aronzon – Glass 141 – 142 – Gabe Leonard – Oil 143 – Sarah Bean – 2-D Mixed Media 144 – Grace Stokes – Jewelry 145 – Thomas Chapman – Glass 146 – Faith Wilson – Fiber 147 – John Selberg – Ceramics 148 – Yvonne Miller – 2-D Mixed Media 149 – 150 – Jennifer Ivory – Sculpture 151 – Kyle Spears 152 – Marianne Shepardson – Glass 153 - Juan Barreneche & Daniel Schemel – Wood 154 – Avery Groves – Jewelry 155 – Jack Kenner – Photography 156 – Teri Pelio – Jewelry 157 – Cathy Rose – 3-D Mixed Media 158 – Leon Niehues – Basketry 159 – Anderson Bailey – Ceramics 160 – Paul Willsea – Glass
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
15
16
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
OPINION
On The Beat
Losing the Race Race I
n a recent column, I made a factual reference to the racial makeup of a crowd that formed in a local city park, which was dispersed after a shooting took place in my presence. I’m a cop; I document facts several hundred (if not thousand) times a year. Why the hate mail? Three things have prompted me to have a conversation with you about this: One, the vitriol of local comments regarding the events of March 19 and other unrelated local shootings in the days before and after it have struck me as the most bold and vile in the last few decades of my career on the topic of race. Two, separate-yet-related news regarding race in the policing profession in Dayton, Ohio has, like the comments referenced above, set race relations back a few years in my opinion. As a cop, I’m actually at an advantage: We have no race. I’ve never mentioned this before in my columns, but I’m Caucasian (or “white”) though I prefer “European American” when filling out paperwork to make a silly point (specifically, that it’s as stupid as it sounds). Despite this curse of genetics, as a kid, an adult, and on The Job I’ve been discriminated against in ways that rarely cease to amaze me, but no matter the vile crap I’ve heard used against me, the same has been used against every co-worker I’ve shared The Job with regardless of their race. Any vile thing you’ve heard the most stereotypical white redneck say to a black man has also been said by a black man against an AfricanAmerican officer. White? Black? Red? Yellow? No. We’re all “Blue”, as has been specifically stated by every detractor and bigot when their hypocrisy was brought to light, year after year, and in all different parts of town. And this lends objectivity to our
perspective that few “race professionals” can conceive of…not that it does us a bit of good. The responses to a local newspaper article discussing the riot and shooting were allowed to be posted anonymously on the Internet, and for the first time in recent memory I was ashamed of someone other than our local elected officials. I refuse to give a single example of such on this page, but it made me think not of the 1963 Mississippi we all know from black-and-white photos of German shepherds and fire hoses, but of the overlooked lynchings by the 1920s KKK when it was at its all-time peak in membership and violence. I’ve been a target of racism by black men and women in the past and written it off as petty emotional reactions to a stressful situation, but to see people spewing such irrational hatred while hiding behind anonymous masks, modern digital equivalents to the hooded robes Nathan Bedford Forrest engineered in 1867, truly disturbed me. Yet I’ve also learned that the city of Dayton, Ohio has lowered its testing standards to allow minority applicants to make what were once-below-failing scores on its written test for police positions. They are lowering competency requirements to make racial quotas based on Department of Justice rulings that not enough black candidates were passing tests, therefore making the tests “discriminatory” in their eyes. Even the NAACP is pissed off.
Alex Teach
Dayton NAACP President Derrick Forward said, “The NAACP does not support individuals failing a test and then having the opportunity to be gainfully employed,” and God bless him for saying that since at least they don’t wish to insult every minority race in the nation. Never mind that it turns basic standards and actual qualifications into little more than a dangerous “attendance” requirement; just imagine the humiliating position the black and Hispanic officers that DO deserve the job are placed in. No matter how well they tested or were qualified to do The Job, there will forever be a pall cast over their careers as having been “given” their jobs rather than “earned” them. I don’t have all the answers; hell, I may not have any… but let me leave you with something, for each of the two sides of the coin above that I have come to find true again and again:
“To see people spewing such irrational hatred while hiding behind anonymous masks, modern digital equivalents to the hooded robes Nathan Bedford Forrest engineered in 1867, truly disturbed me.” Racism, whether you are forcing folks to acknowledge it or are using it as a punch line, is a deadend hallway. And why encourage achievement when you can just “Celebrate Diversity”? When Officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he is an occasional student, carpenter, boating enthusiast, and spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alex.teach
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
17
18
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
ARTS
Feature
Fierce Faux and Southern Light By Michael Crumb, Pulse Contributing Writer
D
avid Smotherman is happy to announce an expanded program of events at Winder Binder Folk Art Gallery and Bookstore on Frazier Avenue, including not only the Faux Bridges Art Show, but also a series of literary readings as well. The annual Faux Bridges show will begin at noon on April 16. A mix of local and regional artists will present work in a range of media. Artists to watch for include painters John Fesken from Nashville and Dan MacCosbe from Myrtle Beach. Alyce and Athlon Clark from Atlanta will bring their work: Alyce is a jeweler and Athlon is a painter. Faux Bridges art director Tina Torrance promises free live music along with an in-store painting demonstration by Kimberly Dawn Clayton of Myrtle Beach, one of Winder Binder’s most popular artists. Folks who are interested in recycled art will find that medium represented by Mike Brown from Carterville and by local artists Nicole Thurman and Jim Shores, a sculptor who works with recycled objects. Incidentally, this kind of art remains a strong component of Winder Binder offerings all year long. These charming and ingenious pieces add much to the character of Winder Binder.
“David Smotherman assures us that literary events will continue to connect with art events at Winder Binder.” Winder Binder Gallery has emerged as the preeminent regional gallery for folk art, but the emphasis here features quality work, and the line between “folk art” and “fine art” is easily blurred. On a recent visit, I found pieces that would look great in any gallery, and these at accessible prices. Other local artists at Faux Bridges will display unusual art. Patrick Ironwood will bring his kaleidoscopes as well as his blown glass. Sally Bloom will offer beadwork, which, considering that this art form has significant history, is not something that I see regularly around Chattanooga.
A few local artists will bring jewelry as well, gan has been teaching at Cornell University including Christina Glidden and Blueberry for four decades and his work has drawn wide Porcupine. Debbie Pancake will present jewel- recognition. SLC attendees will find Morgan ry along with her metal sculpture. Dave Allison participating in a panel called “The Ultimate rounds out the list of Chattanooga artists. Conflict: Writing About War” at 10:15 a.m. on Winder Binder will also present a series of Saturday. literary events this weekend, beginning on FriSunday afternoon, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., day evening at 7 p.m. Erin E. Tucknell will read the Southern Light Book Launch Reading will from her memoir Confederate Streets. Tucknell feature at least eight of the contributors readis from Chattanooga, and her book focuses on ing from their work, including Bruce Majors, growing up in Nashville and coming to a one of the volume’s editors. Major’s poetry is realization of Southern culture. both perceptive and unpretentious, a delight to Folks attending the Southern Literary hear. Conference ought to be glad for the exOther readers on Sunday afternoon include tension of literary activities through the executive editor Ray Zimmerman, as well as entire weekend. Book lovers and art lovers Penny Dyer, Bill Brown, Jenny Sadre-Orfai, are often kindred souls, and they can ex- Rebecca Cook, E. Smith Gilbert and Finn Bille. pect quality experiences on both fronts. It is possible that other contributors may show Readings on Saturday and Sunday will up, and attendees ought to enjoy this literary be connected with the poetry anthology celebration. Southern Light, very appropriate for NaSmotherman assures us that literary events tional Poetry Month. This anthology con- will continue to connect with art events at tains work by a dozen poets, most of whom are Winder Binder, and he wishes to announce the connected to Chattanooga or the surround- initial meeting of the Banned Book Club will ing region. Many of these poets also have in take place on the third Tuesday in May. common a connection to the Chattanooga Events at Winder Binder: Robert Morgan Reading Writers Guild. Erin E. Tucknell reading from 6 p.m. A leading contribuConfederate Streets April 16 tor to Southern Light, 7 p.m. Southern Light Book Launch Robert Morgan, who April 15 2 p.m. is also attending the Faux Bridges Art Festival April 17 Southern Literary Noon All events at 40 Frazier Ave. Conference, will read April 16 (423) 413-8999. from his work on Saturday at 6 p.m. Morwww.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
19
ARTS
Arts & Events Calendar FRIDAY
THURSDAY
Reading of Cicada
Winner of the Bryan Family Foundation Playwriting Award. $5 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com
Thursday
AEC Conference on Southern Literature 8 a.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. Author Talk: Sonia Young 4 p.m. Northgate Library Auditorium, 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 757-5310. A Conversation with Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. (423) 266-0944. Graduate Recital 6 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8343. www.leeuniversity.edu Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com A Midsummer Night’s Dream 7:30 p.m. Bryan College, 721 Bryan Dr., Dayton. (423) 775-2041. Flute Ensemble 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. Symphony Orchestra Concert 7:30 p.m. Southern Adventist University Ackerman Auditorium, 4881 Taylor Cr. Collegedale. (423) 236-2000.
20
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
The Tennessee Tramp 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com
Friday
AEC Conference on Southern Literature 8 a.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. Earth Dayz 11 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. www.seerockcity.com Bug-A-Palooza Noon. Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Rd. www.bugapaluza.com Opening Reception: “A Plunge Beneath the Surface of the Visible” 4:30 p.m. Sewanee University Art Gallery, 68 Georgia Ave., Sewanee. www.sewanee.edu/gallery North River Civic Center Open House 5 p.m. North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Dr., Ste. 102. (423) 870-8924. 4 Bridges Arts Festival Patron Preview Party 6:30 p.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041. www.4bridgesartsfestival.org Erin E. Tucknell reads from Confederate Streets 7 p.m. Winder Binder Gallery, 40 Frazier Ave. (423) 413-8999. A Midsummer Night’s Dream 7:30 p.m. Bryan College, 721 Bryan Dr., Dayton TN. (423) 775-2041. UTC Jazz Band 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269.
Masterworks Wind Ensemble/Choral Union Concert 7:30 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8343. Stoning Mary 7:30 p.m. St. Andrews Center Theatre, 1918 Union Ave. ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com The Tennessee Tramp 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com Manifest Arts Showcase 8 p.m. The Camphouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Blues for Mr. Charlie 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210.
Saturday
Bug-A-Palooza 8 a.m. Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Rd. www.bugapaluza.com AEC Conference on Southern Literature 8 a.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 9 a.m. Coolidge Park, 150 River St. (423) 697-3828. www.partnershipfca.com Party for the Planet 10 a.m. Chattanooga Zoo, 301 North Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322. www.chattzoo.org
Blues for Mr. Charlie
James Baldwin’s powerful play, never before seen in Chattanooga. $18 7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. show Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 458-6281. Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496. www.chattanoogamarket.com 4 Bridges Arts Festival 10 a.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041. www.4bridgesartsfestival.org Earth Dayz 11 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. www.seerockcity.com 2nd Annual Blood Assurance “Stomp Out Sickle Cell” Event Noon. Brainerd Recreation Center, 1010 N. Moore Rd. (423) 756-0966. www.bloodassurance.org Faux Bridges Arts and Literature Festival Noon. 40 Frazier Ave. www.fauxbridges.com Unity in the Community Block Party Noon. East Ridge United Methodist Church, 1601 Prater Rd. (423) 892-8451. www.eastridgeumc.org
ARTS
Arts & Events Calendar
SATURDAY
David Sedaris
Author/raconteur reads from his latest book. $42.50 - $47.50 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. chattanoogaonstage.com Art till Dark Noon. 40 Frazier Ave. (423) 413-8999. www.arttildark.com BBBS Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2 p.m. Holiday Bowl, 5518 Brainerd Rd. (423) 698-8016. www.bbbschatt.org Stoning Mary 2 p.m. St. Andrews Center Theatre, 1918 Union Ave. ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com Peter and the Wolf 2 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. (423) 648-6043. www.cdmfun.org Graduate Recital 4:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/Music Robert Morgan Reading 6 p.m. Winder Binder Gallery, 40 Frazier Ave. (423) 413-8999. Senior Recital 6 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8343. www.leeuniversity.edu A Midsummer Night’s Dream 7:30 p.m. Bryan College, 721 Bryan Dr., Dayton TN. (423) 775-2041. The Tennessee Tramp 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233.
SUNDAY
“When Sirens Awake” dance concert 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre, 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org An Evening with David Sedaris 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5050. www.chattanooga.gov Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. www.theatrecentre.com Blues for Mr. Charlie 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. Saturday Night Movie with Ms. Kitty 8 p.m. Baylor School Student Center, 171 Baylor School Rd. (423) 267-8505. Female Impersonation Show Midnight. Images, 6065 Lee Hwy. (423) 855-8210. www.imagesbar.com
Sunday
Bug-A-Palooza 8 a.m. Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Rd. www.bugapaluza.com Earth Dayz 11 a.m. Rock City, 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA. (800) 854-0675. www.seerockcity.com 4 Bridges Arts Festival 11 a.m. First Tennesee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041. www.4bridgesartsfestival.org Faux Bridges Arts and Literature Festival Noon. 40 Frazier Ave. www.fauxbridges.com Southern Lights Book Launch 2 p.m. Winder Binder Gallery, 40 Frazier Ave. (423) 413-8999.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534. When They Were Young: Classical Prodigies 3 p.m. The Sheraton Read House Hotel, 827 Broad St. (423) 267-8583. www.chattanoogasymphony.org Stoning Mary 6:30 p.m. St. Andrews Center Theatre, 1918 Union Ave. ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com Percussion Ensemble Performance 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/Music The Tennessee Tramp 8 p.m. The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233. www.thecomedycatch.com
Monday
Junior and Senior Recital 6 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8000. www.leeuniversity.edu Percussion Ensemble Performance 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/Music Senior Recital 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. Symphony Orchestra Concert 7:30 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8000.
Tuesday
Vocal Pedagogy Recital 6 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8000. www.leeuniversity.edu/theatre
4Bridges Arts Festival
Now one of the top arts festivals in the nation. $7 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. www.4bridgesartsfestival.org Songwriter’s Line-up 7 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. Music Recital 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3207. www.chattanoogastate.edu Mens Chorus/Womens Chorale Performance 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center, 725 Vine St. (423) 425-4269. www.utc.edu/Music Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “Beethoven’s Last Night” 7:30 p.m. Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 757-5156. www.chattanooga.gov Southern Choirs Spring Concert 7:30 p.m. Southern Adventist University Ackerman Auditorium, 4881 Taylor Cr. Collegedale. (423) 236-2000. Joint Senior Recital 8 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8000.
Wednesday
Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. Main St. at Williams St. www.mainstfarmersmarket.com Percussion Ensemble 8 p.m. Lee University, 1120 N Ocoee St., Cleveland. (423) 614-8000. www.leeuniversity.edu/theatre www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
21
ARTS
Feature
Him Talk Pretty That Day By Janis Hashe, Pulse Contributing Editor
“Chatt” and “oooh” of “noog” must have been irresistible. (Let us allow f you are a David Sedaris fan, much the citizens of Omaha to speak for of what I am about to talk about will be themselves on this issue.) common knowledge. If you have no idea However, anyone with the sense God who David Sedaris is, possibly you may gave a goose, as my sainted grandmothbecome so engaged with the tidbits put er was wont to say, would legitimateforward that you will be compelled to ly be outraged over the price of hot fling yourself at the roasted chestnuts in Tivoli on April 16 to New York City, just see what these other as anyone with that people are on about. amount of sense is In any case, first: outraged over the We in Chattanooga price of everything have a bone to pick in New York City. with Mr. Sedaris. So, Mr. Sedaris, In one of his best tant pis on that one. -known books, Me Now to more Talk Pretty One Day, background for there is an essay enthose completely titled “City of Anlost at this moment. gels”, in which Mr. In 1992, NPR Sedaris pretty much broadcast David Sedisses anyone withdaris reading his esout the intestinal say “The SantaLand fortitude or possiDiaries” in which he bly lunacy to actudescribes his advenally live in New York tures as a Macy’s City. Commenting elf. The National on parts of New York Public Radio audience went mad, and where tourists flock, an icon was born. he says, “Here are According to that out-of-town visimost reliable of all tors from Omaha or Chattanooga, outraged over the price sources, Wikipedia, “Much of Sedaris’s humor is autobiographical and selfof their hot roasted chestnuts.” Now, I understand the addiction to deprecating, and often concerns his vowels that clearly caused Mr. Sedaris family life, his middle class upbringing in the suburbs of Rato couple “Omaha” leigh, North Carowith “Chattanooga.” David Sedaris lina, Greek heritage, $42.50 - $47.50 Given the addic8 p.m. various jobs, educative personality Mr. Saturday, April 16 tion, drug use, hoSedaris attributes Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. mosexuality, and his to himself in much (423) 757-5050. life in France with of his work, the sewww.chattanoogaonstage.com his boyfriend, Hugh ductive “aaahh” of
I
“There’s something about that reedy little voice (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) recounting the improbable occurrences that seem to be every day life for him, all told in the vocal equivalent of the driest martini on Earth that is… well, addictive.”
22
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
ARTS
Feature
Hamrick.” Amazingly enough, this is actually true. My personal favorite of his books is 2004’s Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, in which all of these subjects come up to a greater or lesser degree. I made the mistake of taking the book on a plane, thinking that a good chuckle would not be amiss as I waited patiently for what then still constituted airplane food, only to find myself pretending to stare at clouds out the window while dabbing at tears streaming down my face. Mr. Sedaris has the habit of punching you in the stomach with the human tragedy just as you were going for a good yuck. But most Sedaris fans will agree that, enjoyable as the books are, it’s in listening to him read from the books that the most enjoyment is to be had. There’s something about that
reedy little voice (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) recounting the improbable occurrences that seem to be every day life for him, all told in the vocal equivalent of the driest martini on Earth that is…well, addictive. You want to know what is going on with the family, France, and longsuffering Hugh. You hope against hope that Mr. Sedaris has now mastered the mysteries of the French language, thus enabling him to get into even more trouble in his adopted homeland. I am told he will read from his latest book, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. And in any case, we need to find out how he’ll manage to work around the aforementioned slam to the residents of the Scenic City. So see you at the Tivoli. Too bad we still can’t order martinis.
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
23
24
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
MUSIC
Feature
Matthew Shipp: Jazz Mystic By Ernie Paik, Pulse Music Critic
M
atthew Shipp is one of the most fascinating and celebrated jazz pianists to emerge in the last quarter-century, with a bold, unique and instantly identifiable sound that can quickly go from classic jazz forms into boundary-pushing, free-jazz styles. Among his dozens of releases—including his latest, the acclaimed double-album Art of the Improviser—are genre-crossing collaborations with artists such as DJ Spooky, J. Spaceman of Spiritualized, Antipop Consortium and Spring Heel Jack, earning fans both inside and outside the jazz realm. Shipp answered some questions for The Pulse over the phone, in advance of his Chattanooga debut concert on April 15 at Barking Legs.
can do things as different as a lullaby, a blues-type of thing, or something that might have more a classical type of sound to it, but I’m always searching for the connecting link between them all that makes them all part of my language. A gesture could be something as simple as a certain melody or a certain color or a certain rhythmic approach or a certain kind of tonality, like a blues tonality or a blues feeling. Or it could be a religious reverence like you have in Coltrane’s music. A gesture could be a very simple idea, but the whole challenge is to make it all work together as one organism that feels natural. TP: Do you use any improvisational methods? MS: I try to exist without any philosophies whatsoever. I try to approach music as if I’m Adam and Eve discovering the pure sensation of it all for the first time on Earth. I know that’s ridiculous and I’m not [Adam and Eve], but that’s the way I try to approach it. To me, it’s a transcendental thing to play music. I find the more prepared you are, the more relaxed you can get, and within relaxation comes surprises—because if you have that certain openness of mind and really have an exploratory spirit, and if you’re very relaxed, then things can really flow and happen. TP: What’s your take on the role of jazz standards and the avant-garde? MS: I think in my case, I actually just love jazz. And I wrestle with my identity in a way that “Am I a jazz player?” or “Am I some kind of improvisational musician that is outside of jazz or somehow I’m just playing pure consciousness on an instrument?” and I think I go back and forth. Most of my avant-garde instincts are related to a jazz pulse, so to sometimes fall back into the world of jazz standards is comfortable for
“I try to approach music as if I’m Adam and Eve discovering the pure sensation of it all for the first time on Earth.” The Pulse: You began playing classical music, then straight-ahead jazz. How long did it take to develop your own style? Matthew Shipp: My style fell together one day in 1983. For years and years I was consciously trying to put the bricks together to a new style, but it just happened one day. I was playing with this tenor player in a duo; we taped it, and we were like, “What was that we just played?” We listened back to it, and it really happened like just, bam, like lightning hit me one day. I always wanted to have my own way of doing things, and I just applied myself until it happened, where I was able to actually dump my own subconscious process on an instrument and make the instrument an extension of my own mind. TP: You’ve spoken about certain gestures inspiring your improvisational work. Can you describe some? MS: I always search for connectives—what makes the different parts work together. I
me, because that’s the world I come from. To be honest, I sometimes get bored out there in the stratosphere, and coming back, even for a slight period of time revivifies my imagination and consciousness for another flight out into free space. TP: You’ve stated that you play “jazz-influenced new music with spiritual overtones” and cited John Coltrane’s work, attempting to develop a type of cosmic music. Can you elaborate on this? MS: I’m heavily into mysticism, and I’ve always considered myself a mystical musician. I’ve always tried to use sound as a quest to understand language; that’s what spirituality is to me—the quest to understand why the universe generates space and time or what is this state of eternity outside of space and time. Music to me is a quest into the mystery of existence, which is what mysticism is. Mysticism is actually accepting the mystery of existence—not trying to explain it, but going into the wonderful, delicious, mystery of it. And letting it be. Flying Fingers Productions and the Shaking Ray Levi Society present: Matthew Shipp: A Solo Piano Concert $15 advance / $17 door / $10 students (door only) 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
25
MUSIC
Concert Calendar FRIDAY
THURSDAY
Montana Skies with Jordan Hallquist
Classical orchestra crossed with rock band. $10 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com
Thursday
Vinyl Night 6 p.m. Pasha Coffee & Tea, 3914 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 475-5482. www.pashacoffeehouse.com Open Mic Night 7:30 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. www.thecamphouse.com Blues Jam with Rick Rushing 7:30 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Rough Rope, Gannon, Ken Mode 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Jimmy Harris 8 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. www.thepalmsathamilton.com Soul Survivor 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055.
26
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
Montana Skies 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Danimal Pinson 9 p.m. The Office, 901 Carter St. (inside Days Inn). Facebook.com/theofficechatt DJ “O” Mixing Up The Beats 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com
Friday
Johnny Cash Tribute Band 5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000. Everyone’s Audience 6 p.m. Good Dog, 34 Frazier Ave. (423) 475-6175. www.eatatgooddog.com Jimmy Harris 6:30 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. Ben Friberg Trio 6:30 p.m. Table 2, 232 E. 11th St. (423) 756-8253. www.table2restaurant.com Dependency, Suspicious Minds, Will to Die, Coping Methods, Cartographer 7 p.m. The Warehouse, 412 Market St. www.warehousevenue.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. The Foundary at The Chattanoogan, 1201 South Broad St. (423) 756-3400.
AJ Valcarcel and The Bitter Lesson 8 p.m. Southside Saloon & Bistro, 1301 Chestnut St. (423) 757-4730. southsidesaloonandbistro.com Manifest VI: Distant Relatives 8 p.m. The CampHouse, 1427 Williams St. (423) 702-8081. www.thecamphouse.com Matthew Shipp: A Solo Piano Concert 8:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 6245347. www.barkinglegs.org Boneyard Moses 9 p.m. The Acoustic Cafe, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold, GA. (706) 965-2065. www.ringgoldacousticcafe.com Critty Upchurch 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. www.myspace.com/jimstriker Two Days in May 9 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. Crunk Bones 9 p.m. The Office, 901 Carter St. (inside Days Inn). DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. Spectators, 7804 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 648- 6679. DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5005. Coathanger Abortion 10 p.m. Ziggy’s Underground, 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 756-4786.
Matthew Shipp
Do not miss one of the foremost jazz pianists of his time. $15 advance, $17 door 8:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave, (423) 624-5347. www.barkinglegs.org The Brock Blues Band 10 p.m. T-Bone’s, 1419 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4240. www.tboneschattanooga.com The Greenhornes, Hacienda, The Clutters, Racing Death 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Lucero with the Bohannons 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Soul Survivor 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com
Saturday
Julie Gribble 10 a.m. Chattanooga River Market, Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0698. www.tnaqua.com Johnny Cash Tribute Band 5 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo Victorian Lounge, 1400 Market St. (423) 266-5000.
MUSIC
Concert Calendar
FRIDAY
The Greenhornes, Hacienda, The Clutters, Racing Death Garage-rock trio from Cincinnati will shake the walls at JJ’s. $10 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. myspace.com/jjsbohemia
Jimmy Harris 6:30 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. “A Benefit for Tokyo” with Jettison Never, Natural Habitz, Raenbow Station, Tyrezz 7 p.m. The Warehouse. 412 Market St. www.warehousevenue.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. The Foundary at The Chattanoogan, 1201 South Broad St. (423) 756-3400. Kort McCumber with James Moors 8 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse. 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960. www.christunity.org Monkey Shine 8 p.m. Southside Saloon & Bistro, 1301 Chestnut St. (423) 757-4730. southsidesaloonandbistro.com
SATURDAY
Foundation Band 8 p.m. Fireside Grill, 3018 Cummings Hwy. (423) 821-9898. Behold the Brave and Dead Baby Robots 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia Timberwolf 9 p.m. The Acoustic Cafe, 61 RBC Dr., Ringgold, GA. (706) 965-2065. www.ringgoldacousticcafe.com Ben Deigman 9 p.m. Raw, 409 Market St. (423) 756-1919. www.myspace.com.jimstriker Dark Horse Den 9 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Endelous 9 p.m. The Office, 901 Carter St. (inside Days Inn). facebook.com/theofficechatt DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. Bart’s Lakeshore, 5600 Lakeshore Dr. (423) 870-0777. www.bartslakeshore.com DJ and Dancing 9 p.m. The Lounge at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5005. Channing Wilson 10 p.m. T-Bone’s, 1419 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4240. www.tboneschattanooga.com Soul Survivor 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878.
Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute 10 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644.
Sunday
Traditional Irish Music 3 p.m. The Honest Pint, 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192. My Epic, Sons of God, Rigoletto, Oaklynn, Canines 7 p.m. The Warehouse. 412 Market St. www.warehousevenue.com Todd Snider with The Trishas 8 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.rhythm-brews.com Karaoke with DJ Salt 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. www.budssportsbar.com
Monday
Old Tyme Players 7 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423) 634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com Big Band Night 8 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. Live DJ – Karaoke 8 p.m. Bart’s Lakeshore, 5600 Lakeshore Dr. (423) 870-0777. www.bartslakeshore.com Karaoke with DJ Salt 9:30 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878.
Native Tongues: Behold the Brave, Dead Baby Robots
Showcase for some great local talent. $5 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400. myspace.com/jjsbohemia
Tuesday
Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern, 1203 Hixson Pk. (423) 266-1996. www.tremonttavern.com.
Wednesday
Jimmy Harris 6:30 p.m. The Coconut Room at The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. Ben Friberg 7 p.m. Market Street Tavern, 850 Market St. (423)634-0260. www.marketstreettavern.com The Brock Blues Band 8 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton, 6925 Shallowford Rd., #202. (423) 499-5055. Chad Yates 9 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar, 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878. Swift Earl 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St. (423) 267-4644. www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
27
MUSIC
Ernie Paik's New Music
Family Fodder
Moon Duo
(The State51 Conspiracy)
(Sacred Bones)
Classical Music
The post-punk era collective Family Fodder, formed by Alig Fodder, is one of those largely overlooked bands that stood apart from many of its contemporaries with a batty, eclectic, startlingly inventive and refreshingly twisted take on pop music. Although its early releases are out-of-print, the group’s highlights have been anthologized (the 2-CD, cheekily titled compilation More Great Hits! is abounding with treasures—start there), and the outfit even reunited for the charming 2000 album Water Shed. A decade later, Family Fodder offers a new album, Classical Music, with the group slimmed down to a two-piece, featuring Alig Fodder with singer Darlini Singh-Kaul, who is the daughter of original Family Fodder vocalist Dominique Levillain. Earlier material was a cheerful maelstrom of styles, drawing from anything from dub to classical, and one shouldn’t take the new album’s title literally. Its nods to classical forms are primarily limited to some motifs played on cello and double bass, and it actually goes into Afro-pop territory on two numbers with bright guitar lines and a rhythmic focus: “Ancestor’s Feet” and the West African rumba-influenced “Whatever Happened to David Zé?” One of the primary instruments on Classical Music is actually the stringed instrument the oud, taking the album even further to the east, particularly on the roving instrumental “Crumbly Biscuit,” with some unobtrusive hand-struck percussion. Roughly half of the songs on Classical Music have been heard on previous releases with slightly different mixes, like the sound-effectladen, granola-girl ode “Greed and Fear” (originally titled “Hippy Chick”), balancing somewhat goofy lyrics with a sinister tone—an ultimately endearing track, against the odds. Four tracks were on the little-heard mini-album Bäby Talk, released under the moniker Idol Fodder, including Singh-Kaul’s “Be More Wise” (formerly called “Analyse My Life?”) with a prominent, bouncy mouth harp part and layered vocals. Superficially, as a whole, Classical Music doesn’t sound as arrestingly fresh as Family Fodder’s best material, and this writer misses the more rhythmically oriented numbers; however, each listen uncovers more intriguing details and a subtle complexity.
28
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
Mazes
Listening to the new full-length album Mazes from the San Francisco outfit Moon Duo, featuring Ripley Johnson from Wooden Shjips and Sanae Yamada, brings to mind this thought: “OK, we get it, you have an awesome record collection.” Various moments evoke assorted classic bands; some moments suggest the more rock-oriented moments from the German band NEU!, and the fuzzy, basic guitar chords and vocal cadences are reminiscent of the Scottish noise-pop group The Jesus and Mary Chain. Most of all, though, Moon Duo seems to take several cues from the band Suicide, with hypnotically repetitive keyboard riffs and cheap drum machine sounds. The opener, “Seer,” pounds with a fouron-the-floor beat and a simple three-note keyboard vamp over a single, penetrating chord; the song hits the ground running, with the main section lasting the song’s first third, followed by a four-minute epilogue featuring an echoing guitar solo. The album’s title track and most crisp, satisfying number is sort of like a garage-rock version of British insiders Stereolab, channeling the Velvet Underground via the Modern Lovers’ track “Roadrunner.” Mazes could have benefited from being a little more diverse, with at least a few more ideas; as it stands, it could have been whittled down to a more concise EP-length release. A typical track on Mazes plays its theme for two minutes then noodles until it concludes; it doesn’t feel like the song is building or taking a journey, like a band like NEU! does with its material. On one hand, Moon Duo has a clearly derivative sonic style, pulling from different sources—there’s not much to get here, with variations on a theme. However, it’s a largely consistent album (if you like one song, you’ll like them all), with a sustained, driving pace and a cool demeanor. One question the listener needs to ask herself is, “How much of this stuff do you really need?”
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
29
30
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
OPINION
Life In The ‘Noog
Let’s Get Physical L
ast weekend I did something that may seem like a common activity to most of you, but to me had never been achieved…ever. I went to the gym to “workout.” It’s not that I’m trying to lose weight or fulfill some other sort of common New Year’s resolution—or even give up comfort for Lent. It’s just that as a consummate couch potato, I’m grossly out of shape, and recent attempts of simple activity have proven that fact without fail. A few weeks ago I went bike riding on the RiverWalk with some friends. Now, my idea of a bike ride is simply riding a bike—stretching the old legs and trying to get some sort of physical thing happening. However, I soon found out my friends view this seemingly leisurely activity as a qualifying round for the Tour de France. It wasn’t that my 25-year-old bicycle was inadequate for the ride. It was that I was inadequate for the “RIDE!” Although I ended up having a good time on the excursion, watching my friend’s asses as they effortlessly peddled at top speeds several hundred yards ahead of me made talking to myself half of that fun. The worst part (or best part depending how you look at it) was that my girlfriend was one of those asses. And afterward, she (and I, by proxy) made a commitment for me to get in shape. So this brings us back to the Sunday morning we decided to start the long-term, meaningful commitment of going to the gym. When we awoke, she asked if I had any workout clothes, which for me was a very valid question. I scoured the closet searching for something appropriate. First I emerged with the only sort of “tennis shoes” I own. After her sidesplitting laughter subsided, she explained that fashionable Pumas were not equipped for working out. Then she asked about shorts. I showed her the khaki Columbias that I find extremely loose and comfortable for
Chuck Crowder
“My idea of a bike ride is simply riding a bike—stretching the old legs and trying to get some sort of physical thing happening.”
any of the activities that I enjoy. Not so much either. So it was off to Academy Sports for provisions. Upon arrival in the men’s athletic shoe division, she explained to me that different brands fit different types of feet and that instead of heading straight for the Puma rack again, I might be better off trying on a few different brands to see which fits best. She went on to say that she had an Adidas foot, while one of her friends had a Nike foot and yet another had a Saucony foot. At this point, I was intrigued to know what kind of foot I owned. All I knew was that it was a size 10-ish. After determining I actually needed a size 11, I found my foot was best supported in sporting comfort in an Adidas—just like her. Apparently we’re meant for each other in more ways than one. Then it was off to the shorts where I secured a pair of Nikes that had “wicking” fabric meant
to keep my boys from chaffing within a potentially sweaty environment. After the cashier helped reconfirm my workout commitment with a $100 charge, it was off to the YMCA. Now, the last time I entered the Y to do anything except watch my daughter play indoor soccer was when I was her age spending my summers at the pool. Back then the gym was the place you went to shoot basketball if it started raining. I even think they still used the term “gymnasium” too. Regardless, things have changed. We entered a room with lots of equipment, which I found very intimidating since it wasn’t readily apparent which machine worked out which part of the body. Sometimes the position of the seat gave me a clue, but we weren’t going to be sitting down—yet. No, first we had to do 20 minutes on what they call an “elliptical” which is a cross between a Stairmaster and treadmill, but with ski poles. Now, 20 minutes doesn’t seem like a long time until you’re moving your arms and legs at blood-pumping speeds. I kept looking at the clock as it counted my progress. After four minutes my heart was pounding. After 10 minutes my legs were starting to feel like jelly. And after 17 minutes, I seriously thought about dialing 9-1-1. But I made it…finally…20 minutes. Then we hit those weird sitting machines. After working out my arms and legs in every position possible in series of “reps,” the ordeal—I mean, the workout— was over. And now that tremendous soreness has healed, I’m looking forward to my next trip to the gym—and adding more meat to my couch potato bones. Chuck Crowder is a local writer and general man about town. His opinions are just that. Everything expressed is loosely based on fact, and crap he hears people talking about. Take what you just read with a grain of salt, but pepper it in your thoughts. www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
31
SCREEN
Film Feature
The Lowness of Your Highness By John DeVore, Pulse Film Critic
C
omedy is hard. There is no other movie going experience that can be so utterly unwatchable, so terrifyingly misguided, so unabashedly awful as a pitiful comic film. At the same time, when they are done well, the experience is something more than enjoyable; a good comedy can make a summer. But, on the whole, I dread new comedies. As shown by last year’s painful Grown Ups, a bad comedy can make an hour seem like eons. I would rather spend four days standing in line at the DMV than sit though another Adam Sandler “comedy.” He’s given up on quality and I’ve given up on him. Even if the script is poor, comedians of Sandler’s caliber can put forth minimal effort in order to ensure that the film will be at least average. But there needs to be a script. Your Highness, this week’s new fantasy comedy featuring Eastbound and Down’s Danny McBride is full of effort—and missing a writer. There are small moments of humor, large sections of boredom, and copious amounts of profanity. There isn’t much else. McBride plays Thaddeous, wayward prince of a faraway land who has a predilection for getting high and behaving poorly. His brother Fabious (James Franco) is the opposite; he is dashing, skilled, and noble. Fabious has recently returned from his latest quest, this time with a fair maiden he rescued from a Cyclops. Unfortunately, she is stolen by an evil wizard for a nefarious plot.
All of this was covered by Mel Brooks in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, which is one of the weaker Brooks films. In fact, there are jokes here that are ripped off from “Men in Tights” nearly word for word. If the master of the spoof couldn’t make this type of film effective, Danny McBride has no chance. Even excellent actors like Franco, Natalie Portman, and Zooey Deschanel can’t improve this movie. Your Highness isn’t quite sure what it wants to be. Clearly, the filmmakers love fantasy; so much so that the focus on humor is lost. This might be because, according to director David Gordon Green, all of the dialogue was improvised. Again, I believe that good comedy is hard. The best stand-up is carefully crafted, well thought out, and well rehearsed. The fantasy elements in Your Highness work better than the jokes because they were written down beforehand. I’m not saying that improvisation doesn’t have its place in comedy; Judd Apatow films indicate otherwise. However, out-of-context foul language and scatological humor are only funny when you’re 12 or when you’re high. There are some good moments. There are occasional glimpses of wit and charm. If I had to guess, these moments were scripted and inserted after the fact. But I will say that the filmmakers made a genuine effort to entertain and be true to their vision. The movie was filmed on location in Northern Ireland, making the scenery and cinematography absolutely stunning. The sets and costum-
“There are small moments of humor, large sections of boredom, and copious amounts of profanity. There isn’t much else.” The king orders Thaddeous and Fabious to retrieve the maiden and kill the wizard. If this sounds boring, I assure you it is. The characters are stereotypes and the plot derivative. If you tossed in a few drug and dick jokes, some nudity, and a couple of pratfalls, you can probably imagine the entire film.
32
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
ing were all very well done and the effects and fight scenes were adequate. But I can’t think of a specific moment where I laughed out loud; mostly it was just a slight chuckle here and there. This is the hardest type of film to critique. Your Highness belongs to a long line of comedy films that are entirely forgettable. I thought a lot about Mel Brooks movies while I watched the actors muddle though the scenery. I wondered where the good comedy has gone. More than that, where are all the good comedic actors? Will Ferrell and Steve Carell have oversaturated the market with their own particular brand of awkward, sometimes hard to watch, silliness. Russell Brand is bearable in small doses, but completely obnoxious in a full-length feature. Who else is there? Kevin James? Adam Sandler? I’m not interested in boring family comedies. Zack Galafinakis has promise but will eventually go the same way as Ferrell and Carell. I’m only 29, and maybe I’m just too old for this stuff, but I really miss Gene Wilder. Your Highness Directed by David Gordon Green Starring Natalie Portman, James Franco, Danny McBride Rated R Running time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
33
WINE & SPIRITS
Riley's Spirits Within
How Sweet It Is: Jack Daniels and Honey By Joshua Hurley, Riley's Wine & Spirits
F
ollowing close behind in flavored vodka’s wake is flavored bourbon and sour mash whiskies. Who could have foreseen bourbon or mash mixing well with cherry and honey flavors? Yet they do, surprisingly well—when done right. And that’s just what the makers of this week’s ‘Great Buy’ have done. Hopefully by now you know Great Buys are included in this weekly column brought to you by the folks at Riley’s Wine and Spirits on Hixson Pike in Hixson, in which we pick something special from the area’s favorite selection of adult beverages from around the world, then share it with the readership of The Pulse. This week’s pick is Jack Daniels and Honey—and believe me when I tell you the people up in Lynchburg have hit a home run with this one. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is made right here in our very own state in the small town of Lynchburg. Its popularity is unmatched by any other alcohol product, as it’s easily the most recognized and best-selling whiskey in the world. It was created by Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel in 1866. Daniel was born sometime during the first week of September in 1846, making him, at 20, the youngest distillery owner in the South at the time. Daniel never married or had any children, but found a surrogate son and heir in a nephew named Len Motlow. After making one of the most-loved whiskeys in the world, Jack Daniel died on October 11, 1911 from blood poisoning that had festered in his big toe, which he broke when, in a fit of anger, he kicked his safe one morning when unable to recall his combination. Sadly, all he would have had to do was soak his toe in his own product and the infection probably would have never worsened. Some claim state Prohibition, which was initiated that same year and banned the sale of Jack Daniels and all other alcoholic beverages in Tennessee, kept Daniel in a constant state of anger. After his death, Motlow moved the distillery to St. Louis and later Alabama, but federal Prohibition halted alcohol production in every state from 1920 to 1933. It was believed at the time that Prohibi-
34
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
tion would be an everlasting law of the land. It is unknown whether or not Jack Daniels was produced and sold illegally during this strange era of U.S. history. Len Motlow became a U.S. senator for Tennessee and voted “yes” to repeal the Volstead Act, allowing states to decide for themselves. After four long years of arguing and lobbying, Motlow succeeded in helping the state to ban Prohibition, reopening Jack Daniel’s Distillery in 1935. Since then, Jack Daniel’s has become the world’s favorite sour mash whiskey. Jack Daniel’s sour mash whiskey differs from other bourbon-type mashes in that its mash is first filtered through sugar-maple charcoal, then placed into maple barrels for aging. It is this process that gives Jack Daniel’s its unique flavor, which lends itself so well to cola—and now honey. JD and Honey is a seductive yellow-amber color, honeyflavored sour mash whiskey. On the nose, you’ll catch aromas of spice, cinnamon and fresh honey. Once on the palate, you’ll taste pecans, pears and honey, which then turn to cinnamon. Just when you think the mash is going to give you some burn, the sweet spices kick in, keeping this treat smooth. The finish contains a surprising aftertaste of milk chocolate that lingers just long enough for you to say ‘Wow!” Drink this straight up, chilled—or try it in a mint julep. How about try it over homemade vanilla ice cream or in tea? The possibilities are endless. For a limited time only at Riley’s, try JD and Honey at a special price: 50mL (mini size), $1 each), 375mL (pint size), $11.03 plus tax) or 750mL, $19.95 tax.
FOOD
Dining Out
Moss’ Place II Makes Food You’ll Come Back For By D.E.Langley, Pulse Food Reviewer
I
f you’ve spent much time in any social scene in Chattanooga, the odds are pretty good you’ve had a taste of Moss’ Place II’s food. For 11 years now, they’ve been catering gatherings large and small all around the city. Options for catering include everything from full breakfasts, featuring the likes of sausage and egg casserole and biscuits and gravy, to truly elegant options for lunches such as smoked chicken fettuccine and Cajunstyle steamed shrimp. Hearty dinners can include carved roast beef and chicken cordon bleu, and they also offer compelling hors d’oeuvres like crab soufflés and stuffed mushrooms. The items I’ve listed are just a minute sampling of the catering menu – it is a marvelously extensive list, and sure to have something for any taste. That said, many of Moss’ Place II’s customers return time and time again for their barbecue. Their pulled pork and beef, ribs, and smoked chicken are the real deal, leading them to proudly proclaim themselves home to the “Best BBQ in the South.” As proprietor Darnell Moss himself told me with a smile, “I’ve never lost a customer.” At this point, if you don’t have an event to cater in the near future, you may be cursing me under your breath for getting your salivary glands all worked up like this. Chill out! Lucky for you, Mr. Moss and his crew opened up their location at Shallowford and Tunnel for dine-in and take-out this past August! “My motto is ‘Always make customers happy,’” Mr. Moss shared on my visit. In keeping with that philosophy, the menu for dine-in is made up of some of their greatest hits from their catering list. Their entire barbecue selection is available, along with catfish and whiting filets and chicken tenders (seasoned, breaded, and fried in house).
Choices for side dishes include mac and cheese, turnip greens, and green beans. When I stopped in (for the first time of what will be many more to come), I had the ribs, smoked wings, and cole slaw and baked beans. The first bite came from the ribs. Seasoned up with a rub and as tender as it gets, they didn’t necessarily need the warm, zesty sauce that was served alongside them, but I was glad to have it there. I don’t know that I’ve ever cleaned rib bones so thoroughly. The slaw was crisp and tangy, a refreshing counterpoint to the savory notes coming from the rest of my meal, and the baked beans were spectacular—you can taste the vegetables and meat in the sauce, giving them so much more depth than other attempts I’ve had in the past. The corn muffin was delicious on its own, but was definitely handy in getting at what remained in the bottom of my baked beans. The smoked wings were my favorite item. With just a hint of heat, the spice mix on the outside really excelled in combination with the smokiness that pervaded each bite. I was truly full two-thirds of the way through my dinner, but I couldn’t stop eating. This is soul-shaking food. When people come to our area from, well, anywhere, this is the food they should taste. This is our cuisine. Everyone has had the feeling, at one time or another, of being transported by a meal— to a different time and another place in their life, one that floods the heart with joy and just makes you feel happy to be alive. That’s where Moss’ Place II took me, and I’d wager you’ll feel the same way. Moss’ Place II, 709 Tunnel Boulevard. Open Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For dine-in or take-out, call (423) 629-6234. For catering, call (423) 493-9006. Menus available at www.mossplace.com www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
35
ENTERTAINMENT
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In her blog, Jane at janebook. tumblr.com answers questions from readers. A recent query went like this: “Who would win in a steel cage match, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?” Jane said, “Easter Bunny, no question; he has those big-ass teeth.” But I’m not so sure. My sources say that Santa has more raw wizardry at his disposal than the Bunny. His magical prowess would most likely neutralize the Bunny’s superior physical assets. Likewise, Aries, I’m guessing you will have a similar edge in upcoming steel cage matches—or any other competitions in which you’re involved. These days you’ve simply got too much mojo to be defeated. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Dear Rob: Last January you predicted that 2011 might be the best year ever for us Bulls to commune with the invisible realms and get closer to the Source of All Life. And I have been enjoying the most amazing dreams ever. I’ve had several strong telepathic experiences and have even had conversations with the spirit of my dead grandmother. But that God character remains achingly elusive. Can’t I just have a face-to-face chat with his/her Royal Highness? — Impatient Taurus.” Dear Taurus: The coming weeks will be one of the potentially best times in your life to get up close and personal with the Divine Wow. For best results, empty your mind of what that would be like. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I was reading about how fantasy writer Terry Pratchett made his own sword using “thunderbolt iron” from a meteorite. It made me think how that would be an excellent thing for you to do. Not that you will need it to fight off dragons or literal bad guys. Rather, I suspect that creating your own sword from a meteorite would strengthen and tone your mental toughness. It would inspire you to cut away trivial wishes and soulsucking influences that may seem interesting but aren’t really. It might even lead you to rouse in yourself the zeal of a knight on a noble quest—just in time for the arrival of an invitation to go on a noble quest. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Over the years I have on several occasions stood at a highway exit ramp with a handmade cardboard sign that reads, “I love to help; I need to give; please take some money.” I flash a wad of bills, and offer a few dollars to drivers whose curiosity impels them to stop and engage me. I’ve always been surprised at how many people hesitate to accept my gift. Some assume I have a hidden agenda; others think I’m crazy. Some are even angry, and shout things like “Go home, you freak!” If a comparable experience comes your way anytime soon, Cancerian, I urge you to lower your suspicions. Consider the possibility that a blessing is being offered to you with no strings attached. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Nearly all men can stand adversity,” said Abraham Lincoln, “but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, that thought will have extra meaning for you in the coming weeks. So far in 2011, you have gotten passing grades on the tests that adversity has brought you. But now come the trickier trials and tribulations. Will your integrity and impeccability stand up strong in the face of your waxing clout and influence? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It would be a good week for you to assemble a big pile of old TVs you bought for $5 apiece at a thrift store and run over them with a bulldozer. It would also be a favorable time to start a blazing fire in a fireplace and throw in the photos of all the supposedly attractive people you used to be infatuated with even though you now realize that they were unworthy of your smart love. In other words, Virgo, it is a perfect moment to destroy symbols of things that have drained your energy and held you back. There’s an excellent chance this will provide
36
The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
a jolt of deliverance that will prime further liberations in the coming weeks. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The style of dance known as the samba seems to have its origins in the semba, an old Angolan dance in which partners rub their navels together. In the African Kimbundu language, semba also means “pleasing, enchanting,” and in the Kikongo tongue it denotes “honoring, revering.” In accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you Libras to bring the spirit of semba to your life. Use your imagination as you dream up ways to infuse your intimate exchanges with belly-to-belly reverence and enchantment. Be serpentine and worshipful. Be wild and sublime. Bestow your respectful care with all your slinky wiles unfurled. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Philippines, there is a geographic anomaly I want to call your attention to: a volcanic island in a lake that’s on a volcanic island in a lake that’s on an island. Can you picture that? Vulcan Point is an island in Crater Lake, and Crater Lake is on Volcano Island, and Volcano Island is in Lake Taal, and Lake Taal is on the island of Luzon. It’s confusing—just as your currently convoluted state is perplexing, both to you and those around you. You could be aptly described as fiery earth within cool water within fiery earth within cool water within fiery earth. Whether that’ll be a problem, I don’t know yet. Are you OK with containing so much paradox? SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For the Navajo, the quality of your life isn’t measured by your wealth or status, but by whether you “walk in beauty.” It’s an excellent time, astrologically speaking, for you to evaluate yourself from that perspective. Do you stop to admire a flock of sparrows swirling toward a tangerine cloud at dusk? Are you skilled at giving gifts that surprise and delight others? When your heart isn’t sure what it feels, do you sing songs that help you transcend the need for certainty? Have you learned what your body needs to feel healthy? Do you know any jokes you could tell to ease the passing of a dying elder? Have you ever kissed a holy animal or crazy wise person or magic stone? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “He who wants to do good knocks at the gate,” says Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore in one of his “Stray Bird” poems, while “he who loves finds the gate open.” I agree completely. That’s why I advise you, as you get ready to head off to your next assignment, not to be burning with a no-nonsense intention to fix things. Rather, be flowing with the desire to offer whatever gifts and blessings are most needed. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Once bread becomes toast, it can never become bread again.” Today I saw that piece of wisdom scrawled on the wall of a cafe’s restroom. I immediately thought of you. Metaphorically speaking, you’re thinking about dropping some slices in the toaster, even though you’re not actually ready to eat yet. If it were up to me, you would wait a while before transforming the bread into toast—until your hunger got ratcheted up to a higher level. The problem is, if you make the toast now, it’ll be unappetizing by the time your appetite reaches its optimum levels. That’s why I suggest: Put the bread back in the bag. For the moment, refrain from toasting. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t try so hard, Pisces. Give up the struggle. As soon as you really relax, your subconscious mind will provide you with simple, graceful suggestions about how to outwit the riddle. Notice I just said you will be able to “outwit the riddle.” I didn’t say you will “solve the riddle.” Big difference. Outwitting the riddle means you won’t have to solve it, because you will no longer allow it to define the questions you’re asking or the answers you’re seeking.
ENTERTAINMENT
Jonesin' Crossword — "Generally Speaking" Across 1 Part of a dashboard display 5 Hill of country 10 E. ___ 14 Dull pain 15 Aquarium cleaner’s problem 16 Saudi Arabia neighbor 17 Hairstyles seen in “Pulp Fiction” and “Coming to America” 19 Bell Labs creation 20 Slender 21 Healers in role-playing games, often 23 When doubled, a 1965 Dixie Cups song 26 Bowler’s assignment 28 “How ___ supposed to know that?” 29 They may reference Nantucket 34 Substance used as an antioxidant, in some alternative medicines 35 Phineas ___ (lead role on the 1980s sci-fi series
“Voyagers!”) 36 Nitpicky word for grammarians 38 Peoria resident, it’s said 43 ___ Sauer 44 Took a header 45 Pod vegetable 46 Dirk Nowitzki, for one 51 Regatta equipment 52 Mineral water spots 53 Commonest English word 54 Post-apocalyptic CBS series 58 Concerning 60 Heaps 61 Attorney General, or what each of six Across answers in this grid literally is 66 Treasure ___ (Zynga game) 67 Dried poblano chile 68 Prima donna 69 Creepy glance 70 Group’s senior member 71 Ensure kittenlessness
Down 1 Trump ___ Mahal 2 “___ du lieber!” 3 Guevara on hipster T-shirts 4 Word on a hand towel 5 Mud treatment, maybe 6 Reunion attendees 7 Airport serving Iguacu Falls, for short (in VINAIGRETTE) 8 Soapy mineral 9 Song in “Popeye” 10 Katie of the news 11 Defunct science magazine 12 Outside of the religious realm 13 “Suicide Blonde” band 18 In a not-so-healthy way 22 Relocated to the U.S., on many family trees: abbr. 23 They may be bounced around 24 Movies for tots 25 Sandinista leader Daniel
27 Prepares a mummy 30 Paving stuff 31 E-mail abbr. 32 Get the music started 33 Dry cleaning substance 37 Serpent 39 Insurance company with a duck mascot 40 Car lover, slangily 41 Pro golfer Ernie 42 Ending for super 47 Stick around 48 Military helicopter 49 ___ Island (Puget Sound locale) 50 ___ perpetua (Idaho’s motto) 54 Monopoly board corner 55 “If all ___ fails...” 56 Thespian’s task 57 Yes-___ question 59 Alero maker 62 F-f-freezing 63 Quick swim 64 Actress Longoria 65 Sunbeam
Jonesin' Crossword created By Matt Jones. © 2011 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #0515.
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
37
OPINION
Ask A Mexican
Manifest Destiny and Museums do you think? — Loca for Lichtenstein
Dear Mexican, I grant you a magic wand; now, tell me how do we right the wrongs of Sam Houston and Manifest Destiny? Is it to correct his legacy and call out the crimes and recognize the victims? Or should the land be given back? What is it, my fellow American? — U.S Citizen
38
Dear Gabacho, A chicken in every olla and a gabacha in every bedroom—KIDDING. The United States stealing Aztlán remains a grievous wound with Mexicans, but it’s not as huge an issue for run-of-the-mill Mexis as Know Nothings or Aztlanistas want you to believe. Sure, we take pleasure in seeing the American Southwest revert back to Mexico demographically—but we acknowledge it as God’s karmic humor (kind of like seeing Brits eating curry, or a black man in the White House) instead of studied revanchism. The theft of our territory remains more a kick to the huevos than outright castration—it stunted Mexico’s growth and still aches, but didn’t condemn us to Guatemala levels. All this said, I think a full accounting of Mexican-American relations during the era of Manifest Destiny in the history books would placate most Aztlanistas. The Mexican would also love it if the American government offered restitution to the many Tejanos, Californios, and New Mexican Hispanos that had their family properties stolen outright by rapacious settlers and the courts (just talk to the Berreyesas of Northern California, who had many of the males in their clan murdered with no prosecution of their gabacho killers). As for returning the conquered territories back to Mexico? There’s a reason us Mexicans left Mexico, you know… The Pulse | Volume 8, Issue 15 | April 14, 2011 | www.chattanoogapulse.com
Gustavo Arellano
“Sure, we take pleasure in seeing the American Southwest revert back to Mexico demographically—but we acknowledge it as God’s karmic humor.” Dear Mexican, I was born in Ciudad Juarez and moved to the Northern Virginia-Washington, D.C. area when I was really young. I grew up going to museums and I love it. Came back to the Juarez-El Paso area. I have two kids and I love taking them to museums, plays, art galleries—anything art-related. My question is: How come some, if not most, Mexicans are not into going to museums, galleries, plays, opera—you know, stuff like that? I’ve met educated, uneducated, rich and poor Mexicans, and they all seem to not like those kinds of things. I’ve gotten reactions from fellow Mexis who see my kids getting excited about going to an art gallery or a museum as a treat for something. If you have an answer, for my mental sanity please let me know. Yes, we’re nerds— whatever—but I feel it’s necessary for kids, my Mexican kids, to know about galleries and museums, among other things. What
Dear Nerdy Wabette, The American Associations of Museums cited in its 2010 study, “Demographic Transformation and the Future of Museums” a National Endowment for the Arts’ Survey of Public Participation in the Arts that figured only 8.6 percent of visitors to galleries were “Hispanic,” and only 14.5 percent of “Hispanics” were regular patrons of the arts. It doesn’t really offer an explanation for the low numbers, other than mumbling about “historic discrimination” and also noting that higher education and income levels accounts for higher museum participation across all races and ethnicities. I’d lean toward the latter explicación, but it’s not a full answer: I know more than a few working-class Mexis who know their Riveras and Duchamps, just like I know “Hispanics” who couldn’t tell you the difference between a Picaso and a Pica Limón wrapper. GOOD MEXICAN OF THE WEEK! Speaking of museums and Mexicans, an obvious pick: the National Museum of Mexican Art, located in Chicago’s Pilsen barrio and telltale proof Mexis won’t ignore the arts if they have ready access to them. It’s not all about high-falutin’ arte, either: they help sponsor Radio Arte, the nation’s finest experiment in youth-produced, NPR-quality radio reports on Latino USA. Find out more atnationalmuseumofmexicanart.org Have a question? Ask the Mexican at themexican@ askamexican.net, be his fan on Facebook, follow him on Twitter or ask him a video question at www.youtube.com/askamexicano!
www.chattanoogapulse.com | April 14, 2011 | Volume 8, Issue 15 | The Pulse
39