TCB Nov. 11, 2021 — Unlearning Antiracism by Triad City Beat

NOV. 11 - NOV. 17, 2021 TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM

UNLEARNING ANTIRACISM

Unsanctioned Turning Point USA event roils High Point University BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA | PAGE 10

BEING MARTY KOTIS

HAWS IN EAST WINSTON

FEMFEST RETURNS

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

PAGE 12

UP FRONT | NOV. 11-17 2021

CITY LIFE Nov. 11-17 by Jasmine Gaines

THURSDAY Nov. 11 Heathers: The Musical @ Freedman Theatre (W-S)

Mature audiences are welcomed to the opening of the 1988 film based musical. Come see why this film became a cult hit. Tickets for students are $20 while regular tickets are $25. Purchase tickets and learn more on the website. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot @ Sprinkle Theatre (GSO) 7:30 p.m. UNCG presents this historical piece based on the fate of Judas Iscariot’s. This modern take on Stephen Guirgis play will highlight the message of unconditional love. Due to COVID restrictions the venue is at half capacity, so be sure to purchase tickets on their website early.

FRIDAY Nov. 12 Toothsome/ LIMN/ Sugar Meat @ Oden Brewing Company (GSO) 7 p.m.

Join Greensboro’s finest punk and indie bands this evening for good music and delicious beers. For more information visit the Facebook page. Dreamgirls @ Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance (W-S) 8 p.m. “Dreamgirls will never leave you.” The popular Broadway show is coming to a city near you, presented by the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance. Come experience the reenactment of the Motown inspire girl group for $25. Doors open 30 minutes before show time, masks are required. To purchase tickets, visit their website.

SATURDAY Nov. 13

Go Far 5K and Fun Run @ Courtyard by Marriott (HP) 8:15 a.m. Celebrate health and wellness with your family at this event. Come cheer on children from more than 60 Triad schools as they achieve their 5K goals. Fore more information visit the Go Far webpage.

Operation Christmas Child Craft Show @ South Elm Street Baptist Church (GSO) 9 a.m. Bring your child to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the 13th annual Christmas craft show. Enjoy an early Christmas experience with pictures and arts and craft. Visit the Facebook page for more information. Make-and-Take Workshop @ the Gazebo at new Garden Landscaping (GSO) 10 a.m. It’s ornament hanging time. Join this hands-on workshop to learn how to make decorative bows for the holiday season. Workstations will abide by the 6 feet social distancing rule and workshop materials will have a $20 fee. Visit the webpage for more information. Adaptive Sports Expo @ Greensboro Sportsplex (GSO) 1 p.m. The city of Greensboro is collaborating with UNCG’s department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation for this event. This informative expo will allow you learn and play adaptive sports such as wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and more. Vendors will be on site with goodies and opportunities for the community. Visit the website for more information. Elsewhere Extravaganza @ 600 Block S. Elm St (GSO) 6 p.m. Where else could you experience this amount of fun other than the Elsewhere Extravaganza? Open to the public, the Terminal E Street party will have live music from the Quilla, Blind Dog Gatewood and more. A non-stop dance party will be incorporated with an electrified instrument music session. Also, experience the live projected paintings/ animations with surprises and other performers. For more information visit the website. Booze N’ Brush @ 316 Meadowview Road (GSO) 4 p.m. This isn’t your typical Sip N’ Paint. Attend this Booze N’ Brush for a girl’s night out to enjoy the painting of male models. This one-drink minimum event will be directed by a professional paint instructor. Must be 18 years of age to attend the venue. For more information visit the event page.

SUNDAY Nov. 14 Made 4 the Holidays Marketplace @ Greensboro Farmers Market (GSO) 11 a.m. The largest festive shopping tradition in town is back. More then 50 Piedmont artisans and makers are included with this Holiday arts, crafts, and pottery event. Handcrafted jewelry, fiber art and delicious shelf-stable artisan food products will be available. General admission tickets are free from 11 a.m-4 p.m. and early bird tickets can be purchased for $7 online. Visit the Facebook page for more information. Wild Dreams @ Stevens Center (W-S) 3p.m.

The Winston-Salem Symphony welcomes you to a classic series concert cycle. Join guest conductor Carolyn Kuan and internationally acclaimed pianist Michael Lewin for a musical evening. All visitors must present a proof of vaccination or a negative test to this mask required event. For ticket purchase visit the website.

Coronavirus in the Triad (as of Wednesday, Nov. 10) Documented COVID-19 diagnoses

NC 1,497,677 (+12,222) Forsyth 52,456 (+385) Guilford 68,026 (+627)

COVID-19 deaths

NC 18,371 (+180) Forsyth 572 (+5) Guilford 879 (+10)

Documented recoveries

NC 1,454,082 (+12,782) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 65,940 (+745)

Current cases

NC 25,224 (-740) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 1,206 (-128)

Hospitalizations (right now)

NC 1,095 (-99) Forsyth *no data* Guilford 55 (+20)

Vaccinations

NC Partially vaccinated 5,820,510 (+49,234) Fully vaccinated 5,872,003 (57%, +32,533) Forsyth Partially vaccinated 230,733 (+1,567) Fully vaccinated 216,072 (56%, +819) Guilford Partially vaccinated 319,844 (+2,055) Fully vaccinated 301,529 (56%, +1,191)

BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.681.0704 CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR KEY ACCOUNTS Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com

SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

OF COUNSEL

Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

ART ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

SALES SALES EXECUTIVE

Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com Jonathan Jones

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com Nicole Zelniker nicole@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

The unbearable lightness of being Marty Kotis

he Kotis been a major donor to many Republican Street candidates in state and national politics, Art and sometimes uses his Battleground OutAvenue billboard to promote Republican door candidates, Libertarian talking points and Gallery grows weird, self-aware propaganda. This often amid a twisting puts him at odds with people of color, the gravel path, on LGBTQ+ community, city dwellers and by Brian Clarey the cleared-off everyone else the state GOP marginhalf of a lot by the roller rink, a couple alizes through policy, gerrymander and affordable-housing complexes and a Kotis budget. strip mall that looks like it was made from His time on the UNC System Board bathroom tile in 1987. of Governors put him at odds with the This gallery has got everything: streetacademic community even before the style graffiti, photorealism, surrealism, racist treatment of Nikole Hannah-Jones abstraction, impressionat UNC Chapel Hill, As they say on the street, his alma mater, when he ism, cubism, manga, comic-book art, tattoo suggested they should Marty Kotis cannot keep flash, design and a deep be building computer from stepping on his well of street cred due to servers instead of new own dick. its location, yes, but also dorms. to its benefactor, Marty He became a trustee Kotis, who has been spending hundreds at UNC Chapel Hill just in time to apof thousands of dollars on outdoor murals prove tenure for Hannah-Jones, and just in Greensboro and elsewhere. This little before she turned the offer down. project represents just a fraction of the And last week he made the news by street art he’s sponsored. And because officially proposing, in all seriousness, Kotis is not one of those patrons who likes that UNC-Chapel Hill stop using “race, to keep his name in the background, each sex, color or ethnicity” when evaluating one bears the imprimatur of Kotis Street perspective students. Art. If it weren’t for that, this place would Kotis and I are no longer taking each be one of the most celebrated in town. other’s calls, so I’m speculating when I Because as they say on the street, say he likely still doesn’t understand the Marty Kotis cannot keep from stepping subtext of his suggestion: that too much on his own dick. diversity reduces the overall quality of Like the concrete panels he’s erected in the school, that a couple of centuries of this once-abandoned lot — abandoned by inequality have had no effect on opporhim, because he’s the one who owns it — tunity, that he “doesn’t see color” even Kotis is multifaceted. though it’s provable that most everybody Though he does not live in Greenselse in this country does. boro, he owns a lot of property here, But because he’s Marty Kotis, he never including most of the Midtown district has to understand these things, just like which he named and then festooned with he doesn’t have to understand street art dozens of murals, completely transto throw up the best murals in town. And forming the corridor. This gives him an that’s not his problem; it’s ours. outsized influence in city politics. He has

UP FRONT | NOV. 11-17, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Carolyn de Berry, James Douglas, Matt Jones, Jordan Howse, Jen Sorensen, Clay Jones

COVER

Defaced HPU panther statue illustrated by Charlie Marion

Charlie Marion charlie@triad-city-beat.com

Drew Dix drew@triad-city-beat.com

NEWS | NOV. 11-17, 2021

NEWS

Housing Authority to build 81 new units in W-S as part of major housing initiative by Nicole Zelniker

he Housing Authority of Winston-Salem’s ultimate goal is 400 new units across the city. The first phase, though, is to build 81 new units on the east side of Highland Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets. Winston-Salem is one of several cities to receive grants from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhood Initiative. Among those cities are Fort Worth, Texas, where the city is redeveloping a 174 unit mixed-income housing community, and Seattle, where the city is increasing the number of units in one location from 561 to 5,000. The initiative is meant to allow widescale revitalizing in these communities. Winston-Salem received $30 million, which the city plans to use to construct and renovate housing units around the Cleveland Avenue area. Fewer than 40 communities across the countries have been awarded these grants, with Winston-Salem being one of the smallest cities. “HUD recognizes the capacity the housing authority and city have to successfully implement the ambitious reThe units are large, white houses with white interiors. development project, and has assembled a strong set of partners with which to do so,” said HUD in a statement to Triad The apartments open up into the living rooms, which City Beat. “The overall project will create a new-mixed are separated from kitchens by a bar. The kitchens each income housing community as part of a larger neighcome with appliances, like a refrigerator, microwave and borhood transformation for Northeast Winston-Salem.” stove. An estimated 44 of the 81 units will be either market HAWS hopes to eventually create 244 new units of rate or workforce/affordable housing. public housing on this site, which The remaining 37 will be for people will take until 2026 or 2027. They with housing choice vouchers. Conanticipate 406 total units across Win‘We’re excited to struction should begin in March of ston-Salem by the end. help create some this coming year and the units should In addition to the existing grants, the be ready for people to move in by high-quality city, local schools, private partners June 2023. and nonprofits have all committed to affordable options “We’re excited to help create some contribute to the project, about $35 to people.’ high-quality affordable options to million total. people,” said Grant Duffield, the “Some of that will be market rate – Grant Duffield, CNI project Choice Neighborhood Initiative projhousing, about 30 percent, and 21 director at HAWS ect director at HAWS, of the CNI percent will be workforce available grant. housing,” said Duffield. “After that, a “It really speaks to an understanding of a need that little less than 50 percent will be for housing vouchers.” exists and the success potential. HUD is extremely selecThe motion to start on these units passed unanimoustive in their grants. The housing authority and the city ly during a city council meeting on Nov. 1. Council had applied for this grant four years running before we were previously met about this same development project, finally rewarded.” asking HAWS to come back with more details. PetitionThe units are large, white houses with white interiors. ers from HAWS were present to make a statement, but

COURTESY IMAGE

because no one was in opposition to the motion they did not speak. Members of Winston-Salem city council have been excited about this project for a while, approving the grant application offering support for the project. The building will be completed in the east ward, which is the jurisdiction of council member Annette Scippio. Scippio was present at a small community meeting on Oct. 11 with HAWS to hear more about the project. “Many of the community homeowners and representatives came to that meeting and I think we got the clarity that they needed for what is going to happen at this site,” she said in the council meeting. The chosen property is the former site of Brown Elementary School, which operated until 1984. The site later became a local church. For now, the building is empty. HAWS acquired the property in 2014 and had initially planned to turn it into apartment living for senior citizens. The current project in total will cost about $24 million, much of it covered by the HUD grant, but some of which will come from state tax credits and some from bank debt. The remaining HUD funds will go to redeveloping the existing Cleveland Avenue Homes site.

NEWS | NOV. 11-17, 2021

NEWS

‘Unlearning Anti-racism’ event gets canceled at HPU prompting racist messages on social media by Sayaka Matsuoka

red flyer made its rounds on social media, causing a stir wherever it was shared on the afternoon of Nov. 3. The flyer, which was initially shared by the Turning Point USA organization at High Point University, promoted an event that evening at 7 p.m. in the Cottrell Building on campus. The event, titled “Unlearning Antiracism: Breaking Down Critical Race Theory,” was set to invite conservative activist Gabriel Nadales to give a talk. Nadales describes himself as a former Antifa member who now frequently collaborates with conservative groups like Turning Point USA and works for the Leadership Institute. The flyer was shared on the Turning Point USA High Point’s Instagram account over the weekend, garnering 41 likes, with a caption that read,” Looking forward to seeing y’all this Wednesday at 7PM in Cottrell (Bauer)!!! It’s going to be a great event.” However, when students found out about the alleged event the day before, they took to social media to raise awareness and call for the university to cancel it. On Nov. 3, Allison Lightner, the media-relations manager for the university, responded to Triad City Beat’s questions about the event by stating that the “event was never approved by the university and will not happen.” Lightner’s email went on to state that “the university has a required approval process in place FILE PHOTO for anyone who wants to use space on campus” and that because the Turning Point USA univerAn event hosted by Turning Point USA’s HPU branch had planned an unsanctioned ‘Unlearning Anti-racism’ event last week. sity group is “not chartered,” their request was not approved. “HPU cares deeply about the entire campus from their Instagram and posted a statement on their on school campuses across the country. In the past the community,” the email read. “As soon as a concern was page. The statement explains that the event has been organization has opposed critical race theory, the 1619 brought to the attention of the university, multiple officcanceled and noted that the event was “misconstrued Project, mask mandates and COVID-19 vaccines. es worked quickly to dispel rumors.” and incorrectly interpreted.” Many students, particularly those “We stand behind everyone and who are Black and Brown have promote equality amongst all,” ‘The event was never ikayla Smith, the president of the univertaken to social media to condemn the post read. “Our organization the event, stating that it is racist and sity’s Black Student Union and a senior at focuses on fiscal responsibility, free approved by the have organized a opposition protest HPU told TCB that she learned about the markets, limited government and university and will for this evening. event late on Tuesday last week. freedom of speech…. The poor not happen.’ In an Instagram Story, a member After she and others posted about the event on their verbiage of the graphic which of the university’s Black Student social media channels, including on the anonymous included ‘Unlearning Antiracism’ – Allison Lightner, HPU media relations Union stated that they were told by messaging app Yik Yak, she said they woke up to was meant to describe that we manager university administration that the racist messages on the platform. The app uses location would be breaking down critical event was not taking place, but that services to share messages to people within a five-mile race theory and how that ideology they were still planning on showing up to the building radius. is fostering an environment around racism. Our speaker at 7 p.m. because they “do not have full faith that [the] One post stated, “Cottrell 7pm for monkey lynchings” was here to explain how to defeat racism without utilizorganization will abide by campus rules.” while another one wrote “I’m sorry if you are not part ing critical race theory in our education system…” After receiving pushback from students on campus, of the aryan race or adapt to it you don’t deserve to step Turning Point USA is a national organization led the university student group took down the event flyer foot on this campus.” by Charlie Kirk that advocates for conservative values

‘Sick, racist culture’

That sort of overt racism will not be tolerated on racist messages go, Lightner noted that the “university campus, Smith said. reached out to the social media app” and that the posts “I am not letting anyone feel unwelcome on a campus were removed. However, a spokesperson form Yik Yak where they pay $70,000 a year,” she said. told the university that “unfortunately [they] cannot And while the racism is unnerving, Smith said that it’s share user’s information due to [their] privacy policy.” been a problem since she’s been on campus. Last year, Initially launched in 2013, the social media app rose she said students organized a Black Lives Matter protest to popularity amongst teens and young adults but soon after graffiti was found in the campus theater that read, faced backlash for its anonymous location-based plat“I hate [n-words].” form which was used heavily for “This has been here since cyberbullying and racist posts. 1924 when the campus opened,” In 2017, the app shut down. Smith said. Then, this past summer, the app ‘This man promoted the And even though the adminmade a comeback. istration said that the event was And in the past week since new arena and basketball not taking place because the the controversy around the game during an email organization was not chartered, TPU event, students have been about racist threats from Smith said she wants the unisubjected to increasingly racist versity to do more to keep their anonymous posts on the app. students on campus. I’m students safe. On Nov. 5, one user posted, pretty sure that speaks “They should be not con“Slave auction @7?” while for itself.’ demning these things because another one stated, “fuck black they are not chartered but bepeople in particular.” cause they are wrong,” she said. In the months prior to the – Mikayla Smith, president of the “I’m hoping that the university app’s shutdown, several school Black Student Union finally deals with the sick, racist districts and college campuses culture that they have provided banned the use of the app, on this campus. The first step however Lightner noted that to change is acknowledgement. They like to talk about HPU would not be banning the app because doing so is diversity and inclusion here but, we don’t have any of “complex and complicated.” Lightner referenced an arthat.” ticle from 2017 that noted that banning the app would On Nov. 4, HPU President Nido Qubein sent out an require cooperation from the app’s developers and that email the student body expressing his “sadness” about they would not be required to the situation. do so for users over the age “After a challenging day yesterday, I woke up with of 17 years old. our campus community on my mind and sadness in my Mia Clemons, the Black heart,” the email reads. “I feel so sad that our students Student Union’s treasurer of color had concerns yesterday that caused them said that she and others are pain.” working with some university In the email, Qubein states that “racism and discrimdepartments to possibly trace ination in every form will not be tolerated at HPU,” but the comments “so the univerhe did not state what, if any, consequences the Turning sity has no option but to hold Point group faced. He also promoted the new arena that these people accountable.” opened this week in the But thus far same message. Clemons said Smith, who received the she’s been un‘Many of us have lowemail like everyone else, impressed with expressed disappointment the university’s ered our expectations with Qubein’s response. response. and respect for the “This man promoted “Many of us university and the the new arena and baskethave lowered our ball game during an email expectations and administration as a about racist threats from respect for the whole.’ students on campus,” she university and said. “I’m pretty sure that the administra– Mia Clemons, Black Student Union speaks for itself.” tion as a whole,” treasurer When asked if she knew she said. “I if the student group was cannot continue facing any consequences to advocate for for their actions, she said, “As of now, we haven’t heard a university that does not anything about consequences and probably won’t.” advocate for me.” According to email responses from Lightner, the stuAccording to data from dent will group will not face disciplinary action because DataUSAio.com, High the event never took place. As far as the anonymous Point University has a total

NEWS | NOV. 11-17, 2021

NEWS

The poster for the event was initially shared to the Turning Point USA club’s Instagram.

enrollment of 5,330 students, 75 percent of which are white. Almost seven percent are Black while less than six percent are Latinx.

Jen Sorensen jensorensen.com/subscribe

EDITORIAL

Dispatch from the right-wing echo chamber

t was almost 20 years ago, that Republican operative Karl Rove invented the term “reality-based community” — pretty sure it was Rove, though he never owned up to it. He was using it to describe people like reporters, Congressional committee members and others who were not fully on board with then-President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq as a retaliation for the 9/11 attacks, which were carried out almost entirely by Saudi Arabians. “We’re an empire now,” the anonymous White House staffer told journalist David Suskind for New York Times Magazine in 2004. “We create our own reality.” The GOP’s alternate reality is a gangly teenager now, nourished by Birthers who insisted that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States; mentored by the tea party, which pretended to get mad about taxes; turned out by head Birther Donald Trump, a man who might actually prefer to tell a lie, even when the truth would do. It’s fully populated now, this alternate reality, its adherents completely spun into thinking that ivermectin is superior to a vaccination, that a Confederate statue belongs outside a courthouse or on a college

campus, that Donald Trump won the 2020 Election and it was stolen from him, that the Jan. 6 insurrection was just tourists and antifa, among other atrocious lies. The biggest drawback to this other reality is that actual reality keeps rearing its head. Parents in Guilford County protesting critical race theory in our schools lost a lot of support when people learned that CRT is not part of any K-12 syllabus, anywhere. Pundits who kept referring to “Joe Biden’s failing economy” now must contend with yet another positive jobs report — more than half a million in October — and a surging stock market: the S&P is more than 1,000 points higher than it was when Trump left office. And then there’s this pandemic, which in the right-wing echo chamber is just a hoax designed to make us give up our freedoms. COVID doesn’t exist outside the reality-based community — unless you look at a map: Marketwatch reported last week that since June COVID has killed 47 out of every 100,000 people in counties that went 70 percent or more for Trump; in counties where Trump got less than a third of the vote, it’s about 10 out of every 100,000. That’s the thing about reality — the real reality: It doesn’t care whether you believe in it or not. It’s happening anyway.

OPINION | NOV. 11-17, 2021

OPINION

The biggest drawback to this other reality is that actual reality keeps rearing its head.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I cannot continue to advocate for a university that does not advocate for me. — Mia Clemons, pg. 6

NOV. 11-17, 2021 | CULTURE

Q&A: Owens Daniels, community engagement fellow for

Culture Reynolda House talks diversity, Black history and photography by Sayaka Matsuoka Winston-Salem artist Owens Daniels has been serving as Reynolda House Museum’s art and community engagement fellow since late August. His fellowship runs until Feb. 23, 2022. On Nov. 13 and 20 he will lead a two-part creative portraiture workshop inspired by the museum’s future exhibition, Black is Beautiful. Visit Reynolda’s website for more info. Daniels has worked with TCB in the past.

What are your primary responsibilities as the art and community engagement fellow and had you worked with Reynolda House prior to this?

Well, I’ve been tasked with community engagement and Reynolda wants to reach past Reynolda Road into areas such as [Highway] 52, such as downtown Winston-Salem. The museum wants to get past this vision that Reynolda is some kind of area that very few people go to. They want more people to get engaged. So, I’ve been working with the Big Brother and Big Sister program and other social services. I’m also working with Winston-Salem State University to coordinate internships with students. I’m trying to add more variety to the standard variety that they had. And I had been nothing but an admirer and a patron before this.

Q A

As a Black artist working at a historically white institution, what has that been like? It has been an interesting turn of events. When I took on this fellowship, two things happened. I had to find out what expectations Reynolda had of me, and I had to figure out what expectations I had for myself. You’re right in that Reynolda is a predominantly white institution in a white neighborhood in a white community down to even a white house. But they’re also very committed to the engagement of inviting and having offerings for other cultures as well and they want to get outside of this idea that it’s just a place that white people walk or live and they have their own life and you have yours. Part of what I’m trying to do is look at some of the history of the museum. They used to have servants here at Reynolda at Five Row; that’s where they lived. It was not a big community like Happy Hills. It was only limited to the servants and their children that worked in Reynolda. They were all Black and it was where your cooks, where your people who worked in the stables would live. I’m the first Black fellowship they’ve had there, so I’m very aware of the legacy of the servants that worked here and some of the perception of the Black community being here. So when I came in, I had to define what kind of relationship I’m going to have. Like instead of walking the houses as servants, I would in there as an

equal. And I’m doing that by going back to getting in community engagement. I’m reaching out to predominantly minority organizations that help the Black families. It may not be a big step. but it’s something different to offer.

You’re well known in the community for your photography. You’re also giving two talks on portraiture later this month. What’s something you want people to know about photography, particularly work by Black artists?

Because of the Black is Beautiful exhibit, they approached me and asked if I would be interested in putting on two portraiture workshops. These will include how to light the Black figure — which is a little different than lighting other people — the lighting, the background, all those things. If you’ve looked at older Ebony magazines or Essence, they’re different than Vogue. That’s because the Black figure being black, we absorb light and the tendency that I’ve seen with not understanding the different tones is to overlight, to expose our skin and overexpose it. Then COURTESY PHOTO the subtle differences that you would see in our skin Owens Daniels has been working with Reynolda since late tones is totally erased. August as their community engagement fellow. I’ve seen people be overprocessed so we look almost plastic, like we’re models. That’s what I want to get away from. It’s about How do you make black people look beautiful? Well, you light them correctly and What are some future plans for your then you post-process them correctly and pose them work? differently too.

Ever since the events of last year when Breonna Taylor and George Floyd were killed, institutions have been working to be more inclusive. Have you seen that in the Winston-Salem art scene?

The art scene including at Reynolda hasn’t changed that much to that degree. There just has not been a lot from the Black community coming forward to present themselves in a measurable way. The artists are there, but they’re not coming forward in a way to form a movement like cubism is a movement. However, I’ve seen organizations like SECCA and Reynolda taking that first step forward to say, ‘Hey, if you’re willing to take that step towards me, we’re willing to take that step towards you.’ But we need more people taking that first step, and that’s where people like me come forward so I can make those connections.

Q A

I’m envisioning myself doing more installation work. I’m interested in the COVID vaccine and the Black community’s reaction to that and why we have the lowest vaccine rate and what does that look like visually. I want to do a large exhibition of Black people with a mask getting their shot and having them tell that story. Asking them, ‘Why do you feel this way?’ or, ‘Why don’t you want your kid to get vaccinated?’ or, ‘Why do you?’ It’s about this thing about the fear and why we have this fear and I want to do something visual, to create something from an artist perspective. All of these stories from Tuskegee have been passed along to us for generations and that fear is dominant, particularly in Black men. So I want that conversation a little more out in the open so you can air out your laundry; I think that would be really helpful for us.

NOV. 11-17, 2021 | CULTURE

FemFest 2021 goes on with the show, honoring late founder

Culture Bryn Hermansen in the process by Nicole Zelniker

“W

hat would Bryn do?” That’s the question Sarah Burns asked herself as she planned FemFest this year. A lot has changed since Burns first helped organize FemFest about three years ago. This year, like the last, will be prerecorded and virtual instead of live and in-person. This will also be the first FemFest since Bryn Hermansen, Burns’ mentor, passed away earlier this year from a stroke. “Bryn did it mostly by herself the first five or so years, which must have been so much work,” Burns says. “We’ve been asking ourselves, What would Bryn do? just throughout this whole process. At least, I do. I think back to conversations or reread messages about what we were going to do this year. We’re just trying to channel her energy or her vision, just trying to keep her legacy alive.” FemFest is designed to highlight women and femme artists who have traditionally been left out of the music industry. Hermansen started FemFest in Winston-Salem in 2013, inspired by similar events happening all over the world. This year’s event will feature 10 artists and bands, all women or led by women. Some of the artists will have recorded their set at the Ramkat downtown. Like last year, FemFest will be online, though the recordings at the Ramkat will be open to organizers, sponsors and Hermansen’s friends and family. All of the performances will go live on the site on Nov. 13. “We compiled a list of songs that Bryn loved from her family, her fiancé, her closest friends,” Burns explains. “We asked each band to cover one of those songs, so I’m excited to hear how they interpret it. It was our low-key way of honoring her. She never wanted FemFest to be about anything but Family Services and its message, but I think she’d be okay with this.” The festival raises money for Family Services of Forsyth County, which has child-development and counseling programs as well as resources for survivors of family violence and sexual assault. In addition to the artists, FemFest also hosts a virtual raffle and art auction on their website. Local businesses or artists donated goods for the action, which will be live through Nov. 27. The items include a pale green disc golf disc with a custom design or the Grim Reaper in pink, a navy-blue, cowl-neck sweatshirt with gold designs embroidered on the sleeves and numerous posters. “There’s tons of amazing things and it’s always one of the most heartwarming parts of FemFest,” Burns says. “Last year I was so nervous to ask because I feel like everyone was in such a bad place with COVID, but they always say yes.” Burns’ co-organizer, Billie Feather, had hoped some aspects of the live event might survive. After vaccines became widely available, she had hoped at least part of the event this year could be outside and socially distanced. But Burns and Feather decided to keep it all virtual when COVID numbers picked up again. She is glad, however, that the bands will be able to perform for the organizers and sponsors at the Ramkat. Feather herself performed in several shows with her punk rock band, The P-90’s. They are performing again this year along with Americana artist Casey Noel and Alt-Country singer Cashavelly Morrison. “It’s been so great for me as a performer, just having a large cheering crowd,” said Feather. “It really impacted me as I was coming out about being a survivor.” Feather, like Burns, draws inspiration from Hermansen’s memory. “Even though she’s not with us physically, we’re able to think back on her spirit and her energy,” said Feather. “It’s been hard. There have been so many moments I wanted to text Bryn. There’s been a couple of tearful moments. But everybody’s come back together to rally and help us out, and it feels like she’s still with us.” The FemFest performances will go live on Nov. 13 while the auction will run through Nov. 27. Visit femfestnc.betterworld.org for updates.

Many of the performances were pre-recorded at the Ramkat.

SHOT IN THE TRIAD | NOV. 11-17, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD Lake Brandt Road, Greensboro

CAROLYN DE BERRY

Neil Thompson, Lake Brandt Activity Specialist, assists with the slingshot at a Greensboro Parks and Recreation Pumpkin Smash event. All pumpkin pieces were collected and will be used as compost in local community gardens.

PUZZLES | NOV. 11-17, 2021

a One-Name Basis”--five for five. CROSSWORD “On by Matt Jones Across

1 Light snack 5 Hoppy beverage, briefly 8 Library nook 14 “If ___ be so bold” 15 Snare 16 App where you’d better know your left from your right? 17 Comic-strip magician 19 Lunar module 20 Kool-Aid Man’s catchphrase 21 Mini golf goal 22 Former Shanghai Sharks athlete Ming 23 Non-dairy dessert 26 More than a peck 30 Moral source of authority, in a way 32 “(Everything ___) ___ It For You” (Bryan Adams power ballad) 34 The end of school? 35 Chain that merged with AMC Theatres 36 Got progressively more confusing 40 When National Deaf History Month ends (it’s actually a 34-day period) 41 Post ___ (afterward, in Latin) 42 Flight board fig. 43 Office drudge 47 Something ___ entirely 48 Exit the tub (but not literally, cause that’s dangerous) 49 Wrestlemania location 52 Birthday candle material 53 “The Daily Show” or “Late Night Mash”, e.g. 55 Some Netflix offerings 59 Battle site of 1066 61 Japanese crime syndicate 62 December 24 or 31 63 Yokel 64 Dodges 65 William Gaines’s magazine 66 “The Book of Mormon” co-writer Parker

Down

SUDOKU

1 “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” director 2 Nebraska city associated with steaks 3 Japanese electronics giant 4 Jekyll’s bad half 5 Where travelers often stay 6 Three-time Women’s PGA Championship winner 7 Teddy’s Mount Rushmore neighbor 8 Repetitive-sounding spear-throwing tool 9 One whose spinning might be out of control? 10 Jake Tapper’s employer 11 Perplexing 12 Two-finger gesture 13 Go off course 18 Tabula ___ (blank slate) 21 Casserole veggie 24 Boorish 25 Renew a skill 26 Danish cheese? 27 “That is,” in Latin

Answers from previous publication.

Answers from last issue

28 Repaired rips 29 They’re almost out of H.S. 30 “Forget it” 31 World Cup cheer 32 Drive forward 33 Fixes a sock 37 Roth of “Inglourious Basterds” 38 2.5 out of 5, say 39 Skied downhill 40 “The Great Grape ___ Show” 44 Some long-haired dogs, for short 45 “A ___ on thee!” 46 State, overseas 49 Like some matters 50 Present, as a case 51 Irascible 52 Navigation app that offers celebrity voices 54 Pinball no-no 55 OmbrÈ need 56 Toyota ___4 (SUV model) 57 “Wanted” initials 58 Dirty rain (or rainy dirt)? 59 Dress line 60 “Colin in Black and White” co-creator DuVernay

If you read

then you know...

• What a Freedom Fridge is • Where to get that bread • How many anti-abortion bills have been introduced this session Triad City Beat — If you know, you know

To get in front of the best readers in the Triad, contact Chris or Drew

chris@triad-city-beat.com drew@triad-city-beat.com