Invitation Magazine - April 2022

APRIL 2022

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ART & MUSIC ISSUE

CHEERS TO 50 YEARS OF TUPELO'S G U M T R E E F E S T I VA L

SIX WINES TO TRY THIS SPRING

MODERN LIVING , MIDCENTURY DESIGN

MISSISSIPPI ARTISTS SHARE THEIR WORK AND STORIES

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DEPA RTMENT S

EVENTS:

NORTHEAST

96

EVENTS:

OXFORD

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Letter From the Publisher

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Winter Jam

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Ole Miss Baseball

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Digital Details

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World of Customs

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“The SpongeBob Musical”

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Calendar

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“Portraits of Soul”

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Charity Ball

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Shoutouts

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“High School Musical 2”

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Spanish Hour

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Restaurant News

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Empty Bowls

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Crosstown Classic

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Recipes: Blind Pig’s Mango Coleslaw

ON THE COVER

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Out & About: Northeast

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Out & About: Oxford

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Good Neighbor: Julia Aubrey

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Our Oxford cover features artist Hannah McCormick’s Double Decker Arts Festival poster art, and our northeast Mississippi magazine cover displays McCormick’s “Roost in Peace,” a portrait of her late rooster George. See more of McCormick’s work on page 46.

F E AT U R E S

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FE ATURES 36 Cutting Edge Art

56 Proud Owner

40 Modern Living

60 Finding the Art

46 Tunnel Vision

62 Sound Man

52 Double Decker Arts

66 Gumtree Art &

Oxford’s award-winning arts festival is back on track for its 25th year.

Tupelo’s arts festival is back to celebrate 50 years with a spirited new vision.

Oxford artist Frank Estrada talks about his artistic background and new opportunities he’s discovered this year.

An interior designer incorporates elements of her favorite design style into her family’s renovated Tupelo home.

After a two-year delay, Water Valley artist Hannah McCormick sees her winning work on this year’s Double Decker poster.

Festival Returns

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Proud Larry’s owner Scott Caradine reflects on how he’s kept the business growing and thriving for nearly 30 years.

These self-taught artists have embraced their creative gifts, pursuing careers in the field and sharing their work with others.

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A Tupelo native combines his love of art and music to create handmade wooden voice recorders and unique instruments.

Wine Festival

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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R As we usher in spring and longer days arrive, I simply cannot wait for the reemergence of annual festivals. It seems like forever since I enjoyed a large arts gathering or a food-tasting event.

That’s exactly what north Mississippi has on tap for the upcoming weeks. How sweet it will be to again gather in celebration of art, food, wine and fellowship for both the Double Decker Arts Festival and the Gumtree Art & Wine Festival.

It’s no secret that the Covid pandemic made things difficult for both the arts and the hospitality industries, but in some ways the arts are stronger and larger than life.

That’s certainly the case with Oxford’s new mural depicting Princess Hoka. Read more

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about it on page 30.

Our time away from festivals also provided time for organizers and volunteers to create new ways to share how they celebrate arts, music and food in our community.

Tupelo’s Gumtree festival will celebrate 50 years in early May, and in the spirit of honoring those who are creative, they will incorporate food and wine along with art into the celebration this year. Turn to page 66 to read all about the revitalized Gumtree Art & Wine Festival.

In Oxford, Double Decker will take place April 22-23 with a music lineup that should attract visitors from around the MidSouth and beyond. Two full days of local

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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musicians, artists and food vendors are sure to bring a crowd and good times back to town for what will be a very busy weekend.

And while you’re in Oxford, catch one of the biggest SEC baseball series of this spring as the Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the Rebels at Swayze Field. Expect sellout crowds to come watch these in-state rivals compete.

It’s time to get out and support art, music, food and the artisans who create these things. They truly make our communities stronger and more vibrant.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Liz Barrett Foster

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Reed Jones Grant McLaughlin Lisa Roberts J.R. Wilbanks

COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abigail Nichols

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Amber Lancaster Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNER Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

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

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

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

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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DIGITAL DETAIL S

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D I G I T A L details E XC LU S I V E LY O N L I N E AT I N V I TAT I O N M AG .C O M

social S N A P S

A We e ke nd fo r t he Re c o rd B o ok s

We love being tagged in your photos!

Locals, visitors and businesses can expect record crowds in Oxford the fourth weekend in April thanks to the return of the Double Decker Arts Festival. But that’s not the only thing on the agenda. There might be no bigger baseball weekend in Mississippi than when the nationally ranked Rebels meet the defending champs from Mississippi State in Oxford for games on April 21, 22 and 23. Plus, Rebel football fans will get their first peek at the 2022 team at the Grove Bowl spring scrimmage taking place April 23. What will you be doing in Oxford that weekend? Tag us @invitationoxford and @invitationmagazine in the photos you share on social media for a chance to be included in Social Snaps in an upcoming magazine!

A r t s y O x fo rd

The three great tragedies of lucky men is that children grow up, those you love will be hurt, and bird dogs die. The redemption of course being that we even had them in the first place.

L O C A T I O N : Little “q” Ranch U S E R N A M E : @aaronbartonthedad

Fr id ay Fo o d Blo g

This is where the MAGIC happens!

L O C A T I O N : Big Bad Breakfast U S E R N A M E : @bigbadbreakfast

Winter Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

It's hard to avoid spotting art —in all different mediums — in the City of Oxford. This double-decker bus made entirely of Legos is displayed at Bottletree Bakery. It was made by Bottletree owner Cynthia Gerlach. Learn more about it online at invitationmag.com.

Invitation Magazines’ weekly food blog has a brand-new look. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for creative ideas for seasonal suppers, after-school snacks, holiday feasts and more — all in a fun new format. And find archived food blog entries at invitationmag.com.

Delivered the Williams wedding gallery last night + am headed back to Paris-Yates Chapel this afternoon…

L O C A T I O N : Ole Miss U S E R N A M E : @chloecolephotography

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine!

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@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

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CALENDAR

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C O M M U N I T Y APRIL 2022

OXFORD

First Friday Free Sketch Day APRIL 1

The university museum hosts a free sketch day. Materials will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. 10 a.m.4 p.m., The University of Mississippi Museum. museum.olemiss.edu

OLE MISS BASEBALL OLE MISS VS. AL ABAMA

April 8 | 6:30 p.m.

April 9 | 2 p.m.

April 10 | 2 p.m.

O L E M I S S V S . M U R R AY S TAT E

April 12 | 11 a.m.

O L E M I S S V S . M I S S I S S I P P I S TAT E

April 21 | 6 p.m.

April 22 | 6:30 p.m.

April 23 | 3:30 p.m.

Walk for Diabetes

Tacos & Tequila A PRIL 20

Enjoy a taco and tequila tasting. Purchase tickets online, $30. 5:30-6:30 p.m., The Sipp on South Lamar. thesippms.com

Mini Masters APRIL 21

Color Your World drop-in art classes for children ages 2-5 and their parents. $5 per family. 3:45-4:30 p.m., The University of Mississippi Museum. visitoxfordms.com

APRIL 3

Walk, stroll and roll for this year’s Dr. Anne Marie Liles and Dr. Mart Chandler Memorial Walk sponsored by the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. Registration starts at 1 p.m., with the walk and ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Register online. 1-3 p.m., The Lyceum at Ole Miss.

OLE MISS SOFTBALL

mightycause.com

Power Wheels Derby APRIL 9

Oxford Park Commission turns its Activity Centers parking lot into a racetrack for children ages 1-7 to compete in a friendly race on their power wheels. Register online. Check-in at 1 p.m.; races at 2 p.m. oxfordparkcommission.com

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OLE MISS VS. ARK ANSAS

April 1 | 5 p.m.

April 2 | noon April 3 | 1 p.m.

O L E M I S S V S . F LO R I DA

April 14 | 6 p.m.

April 15 | 5 p.m.

April 16 | 1 p.m.

Double Decker Arts Festival 2022 APRIL 22 & 23

Find art vendors, tasty treats and amazing music at this one-of-a-kind weekend festival. Read more on page 52. doubledeckerfestival.com

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Grove Bowl

In-Water Easter Egg Hunt

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APRIL 8

The Rebels and coach Lane Kiffin gear up for next season at the spring scrimmage football game. Free admission. Noon5 p.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Children ages 6-12 are invited to the 11th annual In-Water Easter Egg Hunt. $10 per child. Limited to 100 participants; register in person at Tupelo Aquatic Center.

5-6:15 p.m., Tupelo Aquatic Center.

BANCORPSOUTH ARENA

grovebowl.com

“An American in Paris” A PRIL 26

Enjoy romance, adventure and Gershwin with this national touring show. Purchase tickets online. 7:30-10 p.m., Ford Center.

swimtupelo.com

fordcenter.org

NORTHEAST

3 Doors Down at BancorpSouth Arena APRIL 1

Trustmark College Series A PRIL 26

Cody Johnson Concert

Enjoy a night of rock ’n’ roll from one of Mississippi’s own, 3 Doors Down. Purchase tickets online. 7-11 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo.

Country music star Cody Johnson hits the stage. Purchase tickets online. 7:30-11:30 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo.

bcsarena.com

bcsarena.com

NEWMS Lip Sync Battle

Regional Rehab 5K

APRIL 8

The Ole Miss Rebel baseball team takes on national champion MSU Bulldogs to vie for the Governor’s Cup. Cheer on your favorite team from the Mississippi Braves Stadium.

Purchase tickets online. First pitch 6 p.m., Trustmark Park, Pearl.

APRIL 7

APRIL 9

Local celebrities lip sync their way into your hearts at this event to benefit New Expectations for Women in Mississippi.

Purchase tickets online, $25. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Steele’s Dive, Tupelo.

Frog Island Flyer Racing presents the Regional Rehab 5K and Fun Walk. Register online, starting at $35. Run and wheelchair events begin at 8 a.m.; walking at 8:15 a.m., The Mall at Barnes Crossing, Tupelo.

milb.com/mississippi

newms.info

regionalrehabcenter.com

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Dear Daughter Brunch APRIL 23

H O L I D AY S

“Dear Daughter, do you know who you are?” Girls ages 13-17 are invited to a teen brunch with host Morgan Stevens and guest speaker Alexus Gregory. Purchase tickets online, $10. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Rockwell Center, Tupelo. eventbrite.com

A P R I L FO O L' S DAY

April 1

Spring Gala APRIL 15

This spring fundraising event, benefiting the beautification of New Albany’s historic downtown district, includes hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live music, auction items and more. Purchase individual tickets online for $50; reserve a table for 8 people for $500.

6-11 p.m., Union County Heritage Museum, New Albany. For more information, call Billye Jean at 662-534-3438. newalbanymainstreet.com

Casting Crowns, Hillsong Worship & We The Kingdom

R A M A DA N B E G I N S

April 2

EASTER

April 17 TA X DAY

April 18

APRIL 22

Join Casting Crowns, Hillsong Worship and We The Kingdom for a night of live pop and rock music. Purchase tickets online.

7-11 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. bcsarena.com

E A R T H DAY

April 22

Blue Suede Cruise A P R I L 2 9 - M AY 1

Antique and classic cars gather in Tupelo for the annual Blue Suede Cruise. Come see drivers head back to the ’50s and ’60s with car shows and contests, exciting entertainment and fun for the whole family.

Register online. Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday starting at 10 a.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. bluesc.com

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CALENDAR

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S H O U T O U T S

COURTESY OF SIX SHOOTER STUDIOS

L o c a l ly M a d e Fi l m “My s t e r iou s C i rc u m s t a nc e” G a r ne r s Awa rd s

In the early days of the pandemic, when quarantining was the order of the day, Baldwyn’s Clark Richey decided to use his time for literary endeavors.

So, he penned four screenplays for

movies. One of the screenplays was about the mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis, a soldier and politician who was also known for leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Lewis died in 1809 in Tennessee off the old Natchez Trace.

It’s a part of history that has always intrigued Richey, a Baldwyn writer, filmmaker and entrepreneur, enough that he decided to continue working to turn the screenplay into an independent film.

“Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis,” is directed by Richey, and the cast includes local talent as well as some notable names, like John Schneider, best known for his role as Bo Duke on TV’s “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Presently on the path to distribution and wider exhibition, the film is being shown at various film festivals.

Richey, creator of Six Shooter Studios,

and Amye Gousset, general manager of Six Shooter and an actor in “Mysterious Circumstance,” recently received word their film had been recognized with seven Oniros Film Awards. The Oniros Film Awards is an International Monthly IMDb Qualifying competition with a public screening event held in New York City every three months to celebrate films and filmmakers from all around the world.

Awards received include: Best Picture and Best Historical Feature; Best Director and Best First Time Director (Richey); Best Actor (Evan Williams); Best Actress (Gousset); and Best Supporting Actor (Sonny Marinelli).

The film was also named an official selection to the Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa, Florida, which took place March 10-13 at the Historic Tampa Theater.

P r i nc e s s Hok a Mu ra l D e but s i n O x fo rd Chicago artist Anna Murphy is making a permanent mark in a big way in downtown Oxford. Murphy is creating a nearly 1,600-square-foot mural painted in her signature colors — blue and white (think blue-patterned china dishes) on a gold background. The mural is on the rear wall of Oxford Square North plaza.

The mural was commissioned by Oxford businesswoman Helen Overstreet, and the project has been managed since its start in 2019 by local artist Earl Dismuke.

The mural features a rendering of the Chickasaw maiden, Princess Hoka.

“There were no photographs of her,” Dismuke said. “But we worked with the Chickasaw Nation to make sure we got accurate information on the dress from that period of time.”

In the mural, the image of Princess

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Hoka is surrounded by Mississippi flora and fauna that was special to the Chickasaw.

There’s also a wild wolf, deer and bird, all indigenous to the area.

Before painting began on the mural, members of the Chickasaw Nation visited

Oxford to bless the project, the people and the wall where the mural would be painted.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Anna and Helen Overstreet and, of course, the Chickasaw Nation,” Dismuke said. “It’s been a really wonderful opportunity.”

SHOUTOUTS

continued

L a f aye t t e C ou nt y C A SA C h a p t e r E x pa nd s Re g io n a l ly

University of Mississippi graduate Erin Smith founded Lafayette County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program in 2018. The organization, which advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children, has now expanded to include all of north Mississippi.

Smith’s passion for the organization started when she was a Kappa Alpha Theta at Ole Miss; CASA is the sorority’s philanthropic focus, and Smith volunteered for the Shelby County CASA while a student.

“I knew that I wanted to continue working and advocating for CASA, and so I decided to start my own program here,” Smith said. “Every county in Mississippi has at least one child in foster care, and one child in foster care is one too many for me.”

When she started the program, Smith envisioned it being regional, but she never imagined it would expand so quickly.

“This community and surrounding areas have poured in so much support, which has allowed us to grow to where we are today,” she said. “I believe that CASA and the community around us have talked about what we are doing, and I firmly believe we have raised awareness around abuse and neglect.”

If you know a child who is a victim of abuse or neglect, or if you are 21 years of age or older and want to become a volunteer advocate, visit casaofnorthmississippi.com.

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RESTAUR ANT

NEWS

NORTHEAST

The Shakery 2 5 4 6 M S -1 4 5 , S A LT I L L O N O W O P E N | Find over-the-top artisan milkshakes, hand-dipped ice cream in homemade waffle cones and more at The Shakery.

facebook.com/theshakery

Chef Nev’s 12 6 W. M A I N S T. , T U P E L O N O W O P E N | Modern, contemporary cuisine in a fine-dining atmosphere. Open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and for Sunday brunch. Text to make a reservation.

662-397-3163, facebook.com/chefnev

Ethel Mae’s 1 0 1 4 C O M M O N W E A LT H B LV D . , T U P E L O C O M I N G S O O N | Owners Demetra and

Carlyn Sherer envision an upscale dining and entertainment venue where they’ll serve modern Southern classics and soul food by award-winning Texas chef Reginald Scott.

Jobos

OXFORD

662-269-2121, facebook.com/ethelmaestupelo

Jobos

Guthrie’s

3 1 4 E . M A I N S T. , T U P E L O

1 5 0 6 U N I V E R S I T Y AV E . , O X F O R D

N O W O P E N | Located inside the new Hotel Tupelo, Jobos features fresh Mississippi Gulf Coast seafood and other modern cuisine. Open for dinner nightly and Saturday and Sunday brunch.

C O M I N G S O O N | Guthrie’s brings its simple fried chicken finger menu to Oxford.

The business that started in Haleyville, Alabama, in 1965 now operates in seven states and counting.

662-362-6173, jobostupelo.com

Pick Thai Hut

guthrieschicken.com

Roxy

ByrdHouse Organic Cafe

Pick Thai Hut

2 0 5 E . T R OY S T. , T U P E L O

6 0 5 S . L A M A R B LV D . , O X F O R D

1 8 0 1 J A C K S O N AV E . W E S T, O X F O R D

C O M I N G S O O N | This downtown bar,

C O M I N G S O O N | Oxford’s Annie

next to The Grillehouse Steak & Seafood, has bar food, frozen daiquiris and an LED dance floor. Open Tuesday-Saturday 4 p.m.1 a.m. and Sunday noon-1 a.m.

Haymans opens a cafe offering nutrientrich, organic food, cold-pressed juice, superfood smoothies, coffee and healthful sweet treats.

N E W L O C AT I O N | From Pad Thai to curry to fried rice, Thai food lovers can order their favorite dishes for delivery or pickup, or they can dine in at Pick Thai’s new location on Jackson Ave.

roxytupelo.com

byrdhousecafe.com

662-380-5554

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K I C K YO U R OW N B A R B E C U E D I N N E R U P A N OTC H B Y PA I R I N G I T W I T H T H I S LO C A L FAVO R I T E S I D E D I S H. RECIPE FROM THE BLIND PIG PUB

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longtime local favorite, The Blind Pig Pub in Oxford has everything from barbecue sandwiches and burgers to craft beers and pork rinds. The Blind Pig’s barbecue comes from B’s Hickory, which was acquired by The Blind Pig several years ago. A staple of Oxford catering and barbecue for decades, B’s Hickory barbecue is smoked with hickory and cherry wood. At The Blind Pig, it’s served with the pub’s signature Mango Coleslaw.

“The mango slaw we serve with barbecue is a rough-cut cabbage,” said David Moore, owner of The Blind Pig. “We add mango to it for a sweet profile that goes well with the cherry flavor of the barbecue.”

Moore kindly broke the large-batch recipe used at The Blind Pig into a familysize portion for our readers. Serve it up at a springtime picnic, or add it as a side to your next family barbecue.

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Mango

COLESL AW 1 head cabbage, coarsely chopped ½ cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup mayonnaise Black pepper, to taste Kosher salt, to taste 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced Toss cabbage in apple cider vinegar, and let stand 1 minute to allow cabbage to begin to soften. Stir in mayonnaise. Toss in pepper and salt, to taste. Stir in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture reaches desired sweetness. Stir in mango. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.

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CU T TING ED GE A RT OXFORD ARTIST FRANK ESTRADA TALKS ABOUT HIS ARTISTIC BACKGROUND AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES HE’S DISCOVERED THIS YEAR. WR IT TE N BY E M I LY WEL LY

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rtwork has been part of Frank Estrada’s life since childhood.

Now, at age 32, he is the visual resources specialist and gallery curator in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Art and Art History; has a solo exhibit on display through July at The MAX in Meridian; and was recently named a South Arts’ Emerging Leader of Color for 2022.

Q: When did you realize art could translate into a career for you?

A: I have made art my whole life; I still have artwork from when I was in kindergarten.

Once I switched my major to art in college, I knew I could make it into a career. I participated in a few art festivals and did 36

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well while in college. Now, I create digital illustrations more than prints. It is easier to travel with a tablet than all the tools needed for prints.

Q:

Is printmaking your primary medium?

And how did you get into it as an art form?

A: Printmaking is my primary medium, specializing in the relief technique. I carve into wood or linoleum mostly. I had no idea what printmaking was before being introduced to it during my sophomore year of college. I enjoy the detailed handmade aspect of it; I find carving very therapeutic.

Recently, I've been experimenting with AR (Augmented Reality) and digital 3D. Continued on page 38

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Continued from page 36 What influences your artwork, and are there common themes in your pieces?

A: Most of my work is composed of imagery from my Mexican heritage and Southern upbringing. I studied the linework of traditional Mexican printmakers at the beginning of my career. Now, with social media, I am inspired by printmakers from all around the world. It’s easier to keep up with each other and stay connected.

Whenever I have a question about a certain method, I can reach out to anyone within the printmaking community for help. My solo exhibition called “Family Legacy” will be up this month; a tribute to my father.

Stop by The MAX in Meridian from March 29-July 10. It will be a combination of both my printmaking and digital skill set.

Q:

Q: You were recently named one of South

Arts’ Emerging Leaders of Color for 2022.

Can you tell us a little about this program?

What does it mean to you to be selected?

A: I have learned so much, even though this year’s program took place via Zoom; there wasn’t enough time to go over everything in one week. Speaking with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) in the arts field, I learned about the foundation of the arts in the U.S., art and policy data, leadership practice, strategic foresight, cultural equity and more. Being selected has given me the drive to further engage with the art community. Through this opportunity, I can seek guidance and support from my fellow participants, WESTAF and South Arts in the future to better help shape the arts for BIPOC in my community and Mississippi.

“The Man Who Raised Me” is a cyanotype made by Frank Estrada from a 1989 photograph of himself and his father.

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Q:

What opportunities have opened to you since your selection to the South Arts program?

A: A lot! John T. Edge (the director of Mississippi Lab, the founding director of Southern Foodways Alliance, and Writer in Residence in Writing and Rhetoric at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture) and I had a conversation about his Mississippi Lab project on campus and South Arts. I have a meeting scheduled with Sarah Story, the executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. Both serve on the board of South Arts. Wayne Andrews reached out to me to participate in YAC’s 50th-anniversary video. Nikki Estes, director at South Arts, asked me to serve on a grant panel. Gallery manager Hannah Hester reached out for gallery representation at Oxford Treehouse Gallery. And of course, this interview.

Q: As a past featured Double Decker Arts Festival artist, how important do you think community arts festivals like this are?

A: Community art festivals are great. I recommend to any artist to participate in at least one arts festival. It helps in the exposure of your artwork, you gain a chance to interact with the community and others from around the area. Don’t be afraid to showcase the talents you have. A few years have passed, but I might return to participate in Double Decker in the future.

Q: Spring is about to begin in Oxford. When

you are not creating prints or illustrations, what do you like to do this time of year?

A: It’s that time of year where I’ll be mowing the lawn every other weekend, ha! My wife and I like to spend time outside with our cats and dogs.

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Modern Living A N I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R I N C O R P O R AT E S E L E M E N T S O F H E R FAVO R I T E D E S I G N S T Y L E I N TO H E R FA M I LY ' S R E N O VAT E D T U P E LO H O M E .

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hen Mary Stewart was a youngster, she often spent time at the home of a friend in the Pinecrest area off Gloster Street in Tupelo. Today, she can look just across the street from the home she shares with husband John and their two boys — Tucker, 7, and 3-year-old Everett — and see that house.

“I don’t even remember noticing this house sitting here back then,” she said.

Stewart, an interior designer with Stagg’s for 10 years, had been living happily with her family in her grandparents’ ranch house. She’d infused into it some elements of the style she loves most: midcentury modern. She’d recently given birth to second son, Everett, and was ending her maternity leave and returning to Stagg’s.

“One of my co-workers told me about this house when I came back to work,” Stewart said. “She pulled it up online to APRIL 202 2 | INVITATION

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show me and the wheels immediately started turning. But I told her no, I didn’t need a big project and we were good where we were.”

Still, thoughts of the house did not leave Stewart’s mind — though she’d yet to mention it to her husband. When she did tell John Stewart about the house, she knew what to mention first.

“The house has a basement/garage that’s huge, and John likes to work on old cars,” Stewart said. “That’s what I shared first. He saw the house; we thought about it; and then it was like, ‘OK, we guess we’re going to do it.’”

The Stewarts met as students at Ole Miss, and though John Stewart, a nurse, might not have been as devoted a fan of midcentury modern architecture or style as his wife, he has an appreciation for it.

“He trusts me to make good decisions about this sort of thing,” she said. “He generally likes what I choose.”

When the Stewarts made the decision to buy the house on Pinecrest, the house they were living in sold quickly. For six months the family lived with Stewart’s parents, Bill and Karen Smothers, while renovations were done to their new house.

“Then we moved in and lived happily ever after and we’re never moving again,” Stewart said, laughing.

When Stewart met with contractor Tony

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Miles, she already knew what she wanted to do in the house.

“I didn’t want to mess with too much of the architecture of the house,” she said.

“Tony and I walked through, and I had a lot of photos of things I liked. Visuals always help.”

Some of the changes were small, others larger. In one of the bedrooms, there was paneling. Stewart wondered if the paneling should be left and just painted out or if drywall should just replace all.

The decision was made to use drywall. The ceilings throughout the four bedrooms were textured, and drywall was also used to cover them.

“We replaced the windows and doors,” Stewart said. “And we used minimal molding.”

Midcentury modern style enjoyed a

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peak in popularity in the middle of the 20th century, specifically in the ’50s and ’60s. The style’s characteristics include clean lines, simplicity of design with a lack of ornamentation, a color palette of earth tones, a connection to nature, large rooms with natural light, open space and lots of big windows.

“When midcentury modern had its beginnings, it was considered almost futuristic, ahead of its time,” Stewart said.

The largest part of the house renovation was dedicated to the kitchen, which was enlarged and a peninsula added.

The more than 4,000-square-foot house, built in 1960, features a huge open family room that was added to the house in the ’70s; the Stewarts added a wood-burning fireplace as part of their renovation. A spiral staircase, original to the house, descends

from the family room to the garage and finished basement. There are four bedrooms, a sunken formal living room and dining room and a cozy keeping room right by the kitchen with a wood-burning fireplace.

Stained wood beams remain a part of the keeping room ceiling.

“I didn’t paint them as I had painted the wood beams in my grandparents’ house,” Stewart said. “I wanted these to pop like the mantel over the fireplace.”

The floors are white oak, as are the kitchen cabinets which were done by Tony McCarley of McCarley Custom Cabinets in Booneville. There’s not a lot of drapery in the house, but the motorized shades offer privacy when it’s needed, and they go all the way up so they are not noticed when open.

It’s all a part of the midcentury modern architecture bringing the outside in with large windows and doors that allow for natural sunlight to fill the house.

“Midcentury design is just so easy on the eye, no fuss, and that really speaks to me,” Stewart said. “We love this home for so many reasons. It has such a great flow for our family. It is open concept just enough but also has rooms you can use separately for their own purposes. The elements of this house just give us a sense of calm and comfort that make it feel like home.”

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Tunnel Vision A F T E R A T W O -Y E A R D E L AY, WAT E R VA L L E Y A R T I S T H A N N A H M C C O R M I C K SEES HER WINNING WORK ON THIS YEAR’S DOUBLE DECKER POSTER. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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annah McCormick was elated when her artwork was chosen for the official 2020 Double Decker Arts Festival poster. Adding to the acknowledgment of her art was a festival booth for her to showcase her work as the featured artist, courtesy of Visit Oxford.

The fact the Starkville native was pregnant with her first child, with the due date precariously near the festival, only added to McCormick’s excitement.

“I was working on contingency plans in case the baby came,” she said. “When they had the first festival press conference in February 2020, I was in my third trimester.”

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of not only the 2020 Double Decker festival but also the 2021 event. Though disappointed, McCormick

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received the best consolation prize ever: Baby daughter Noa was born April 29, 2020, a day after her due date.

For the first time in two years, Double Decker is back, and McCormick’s colorful and creative winning poster will represent the 2022 festival.

Since hearing the good news of the return of Double Decker, the 33-year-old artist has been working at a feverish pitch to prepare new work to display in her booth for the April 22-23 celebration of the arts. A white tent has been pitched inside her Water Valley studio to help her get the festival feel.

Art has always been a part of McCormick’s life. She had art instruction in elementary and middle school, and under the direction of Andrew Lark, her art education at Starkville High School was exceptional.

“I think everyone is born loving art,” she said. “Some grow away from it; others don’t. I took art seriously from a really young age. It was part of my identity. And I had tunnel vision — an artist was always what I wanted to be.”

After high school, McCormick attended the Savannah College of Art & Design for a few years before transferring to Ole Miss and participating in the painting program.

During her time at Ole Miss and after, McCormick worked various part-time jobs while teaching art lessons and taking on commission work. She didn’t become a full-time freelance artist until 2014. She and her husband, Ryan Pierce, moved from Oxford to Water Valley in 2017, where she designed and he built her art studio next to their home. Pierce, also an artist, does woodworking and builds custom furniture.

McCormick did her first commission work when she was 16.

“It was so validating,” she said. “I was so honored to be asked. It’s through commission work that I get to meet people, and I really love that part of it. My first commission was a portrait, which I find the hardest thing to do. As humans we are wired to be sensitive to faces. And a portrait is a beloved person to someone.”

McCormick has done some watercolors for commissions but works primarily in acrylic and oil. She’s also started painting

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live events, a recent trend that has grown in popularity. Many of the events are done from a photograph, but McCormick has set up and painted some live events in real time.

And then there’s the teaching, which McCormick said she “sort of fell into,” perhaps in part due to her summers spent teaching arts and crafts at Camp BrattonGreen in Canton. Back in Oxford, a friend she’d met through camp was working as a nanny and reached out to McCormick.

“The family she worked for was looking for an art teacher for their kids, and my friend recommended me,” she said. “I’d go into homes with bins of art supplies, set up at a table and do art lessons. At some point, I said, ‘I think y’all should come to me.’”

And the lessons continue — for all ages.

“They come with enthusiasm,” she said of her art students. “Once a week, this studio is theirs. It is incredibly rewarding and challenging. Sometimes they may want to do something artistic of which I have little knowledge. So, we’ll go research it. The lessons take me out of my comfort zone.”

Undertaking a painting to be considered for the annual Double Decker poster was perhaps more in her comfort zone.

McCormick remembers creating it in 2019.

She had the entire design worked out, with all the elements she wished to include.

Originally, the double-decker bus was in the center with other objects floating about.

“I showed it to my husband,” she said.

“And he wondered what it might look like if I stacked the elements.”

She took his advice. The resulting artwork (pictured above, right) will forever be a part of Double Decker history. The bus serves as the base with the water tower, tents, some architectural elements from the Square and other Oxford/festival elements stacked atop it. And at the bottom looking up is Oxford icon and arts lover Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro, who died in August 2019.

After the two-year wait, McCormick is thrilled the Double Decker festival is marking its return to the Square in Oxford.

“It feels great,” she said. “I am really hopeful that this is a sign of things getting better. And I’m excited to finally feel reconnected with my community.”

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espite the chicken and the egg conundrum regarding which came first, most Oxonians will tell you the bright red double-decker bus came a few years before its namesake festival.

Oxford, Mississippi, purchased its first bus from across the pond in 1994. Two years later, Robyn Tannehill, then-executive director of the Oxford Tourism Council, led a team in coming up with the idea for an arts festival built around its bus. The first Double Decker Arts Festival was held around the Square in Oxford in 1996.

“Back then, there was not a lot going on in Oxford in April,” said Lee Ann Stubbs, Double Decker coordinator at Visit Oxford.

“Our now-mayor Robyn Tannehill said we needed a festival.”

That first festival started with a handful of arts vendors, and the stage for any live bands was the bed of a pickup.

“From there, the idea grew and things were added,” Stubbs said. “Now we have about 180 arts vendor booths, and April is now a pretty busy month for Oxford.”

This year’s Double Decker Arts Festival (which was forced to take a two-year break due to pandemic restrictions) will also be a celebration of it’s 25th year. As usual, attendees to the April 22-23 event can expect local food vendors, busy music stages and artists sharing and selling their work.

Since 2015, a local artist is selected as featured artist, and the festival poster features his or her work. Selected in 2019 for the 2020 Double Decker festival, Hannah McCormick will finally see her work on the 2022 poster as its featured artist. Read more about McCormick on page 46.

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manner of music will please diverse tastes.

In years past, Friday nights during festival weekend had no headliner, but in an effort to get a larger Friday night turnout, Stubbs tapped former Ole Miss baseball pitcher and country singer Brett Young to take the stage as the headliner Friday night.

Young has had nominations from Billboard, CMT and CMA Awards. Young will be preceded by The Wilkins Sisters, from Memphis, with their mix of gospel, blues and R&B; and 49 Winchester, a band from Virginia who sing alternative country soul.

Saturday, music will play from 11 a.m. until late into the night. Daytime acts include Happy Landing, a folk alternative band from Oxford; blues guitarist Buffalo Nichols; Nashville-based Maggie Rose; and singer-songwriter and guitarist Samantha Fish. At 5 p.m., Grammy Award-winning music icon Mavis Staples takes the stage.

She is followed by New Orleans phenom Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; rock band The Revivalists will close out the night.

Stubbs and her crew have worked around the clock to prepare for the festival.

And as soon as this year’s festival ends, they’ll have a wrap-up meeting and then start planning for the 2023 festival.

“The festival’s return will have a positive impact on everyone,” Stubbs said.

“The town is excited, and the artists are excited to get back out and show and sell their art.”

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fter graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1993, Scott Caradine and two of his friends looked around and noticed that Oxford was missing the exact thing that the three hungry college students craved.

There was nowhere to grab pizza by the slice while enjoying a beer and listening to live music. In fact, while there was live music in Oxford, no one in the South was offering pizza by the slice or an interesting beer selection at that time, according to Caradine. The concept behind Proud Larry’s was born.

Nearly three decades later, Caradine, who now owns the business with his wife Lisa, has persevered through 29 years of school breaks, along with an incredible influx of restaurants to the city (100 and counting), to be one of the longest-running establishments in Oxford. And he didn’t get there simply by loving pizza.

Q: What steps did you take in the beginning

Proud Owner PROUD LARRY’S OWNER SCOTT CARADINE REFLECTS ON HOW HE’S KEPT T H E B U S I N E S S G R OW I N G A N D T H R I V I N G F O R N E A R LY 3 0 Y E A R S .

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to make sure Proud Larry’s would survive Ole Miss school breaks?

A: I’m not real sure how we made it, to be honest. Summer in Oxford and Ole Miss was much different in the early to mid-’90s, and even early 2000s, than it is now. You just had to plan for it. In the early years, the sales used to drop 25% when college was out for the summer. You had to be really disciplined. (I was terrible at this, but we somehow made it!) You had to know that when business was flourishing in the fall and the spring, you had to store away and plan for the summer.

Oxford is such a cyclical business, as most college towns are. But Oxford really

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was quiet when there wasn’t football season going on or spring going on, where people tend to really get out and eat and drink a lot.

There were plenty of years that we stressed a lot through the summer and Christmas holidays. Oxford stays fairly busy yearround now. There’s a period in January that’s hard because college students are gone and families get back into the routine of school after the holidays, but it’s nothing like it was long ago.

Q: Do you think managing cash flow is the

main challenge for new businesses in college towns like Oxford?

A: For Oxford at least, I don’t think the problem is cash flow. I think the issue now is too many restaurants. The landscape of Oxford is much different now. Another big issue we find is keeping qualified staff and finding new eager staff that wants to work and learn. We’re willing to take people with very little experience and teach them what we need. Ask any restaurant owner and they’ll all tell you they will hire anybody that wants to work, show up on time and come to work with some energy and enthusiasm.

Q: How do you continue to attract a mix of

customers to Proud Larry’s?

You have to diversify what you do to attract all potential customers. We have a lot of retirees in Oxford. We also have a lot of young families. And that means being kid friendly and adult friendly. A big part of our business is parents with kids. We’re relaxed around here. Meaning, kids at tables that might make noise or a mess are OK; we’re here to have fun. We also do kid-friendly menu items like chicken tenders and kidportion pasta.

We do a lot of live music in a dinner setting, where at 7 o’clock, people can come in and hear some music, whether it’s jazz, blues or regional touring acts. No matter the music style, it’s a little more of a dinnerappropriate volume.

A:

Q: What are some of the big lessons you’ve

learned over the years?

A: When we opened, there wasn’t a lot of competition here. We had banging sales even

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Proud Larry's has been a fixture in Oxford for young and old alike for almost 30 years.

though we weren’t very good at managing a business. It was difficult, and we’ve grown up as the business has grown. We learned that our clientele grows up with us, and it means being accommodating to everyone.

We’ve also learned to create a mix of locals and students on our staff. College kids who work typically like to go home over Christmas and spring break, so you need a good mix of students and locals who want to stick around and work during the holidays.

Q:

What advice would you share with someone considering opening a restaurant in a college town?

A: Make sure you can accommodate a diverse customer base, whether it’s an adult, a kid or a college student. Accommodate people of all socioeconomic strides as well.

We have price points that are great for people on a budget, but you can also come in and spend 20 bucks on an entree.

If you have a bar, make it clear from the beginning that you will not cater to minors.

We’ve been very fortunate to not have a lot of problems with that. It comes from being

diligent and consistent.

There are all kinds of ways that you can build your business in a college town without just being a college hangout. We reach out to banks and other local businesses with catering and have secured regular catering customers that way.

We do more to attract locals when we know that college is out. It may mean booking a local band that has friends and family that want to hang out with them.

It may be doing something with the local high school or catering to kids. During the summer and other slow times is also a good time to ramp up advertising and social media communications.

Q:

Between baseball weekends, Double Decker and the Grove Bowl, this April is going to be really busy in Oxford. What can locals and visitors expect at Proud Larry’s?

A: Friends can expect lots of patio weather for eating, drinking and hanging out, a strong mix of shows, and our friendly staff to serve you along the way! And definitely large crowds!

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Art by Skylar Sloan

Art by Blake Gore

Finding the Art

T H E S E S E L F-TAU G H T A R T I S T S H AV E E M B R AC E D THEIR CREATIVE GIFTS, PURSUING CAREERS IN THE FIELD AND SHARING THEIR WORK WITH T H E P U B L I C AT A R T S F E S T I VA L S N E A R A N D FA R .

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Noel Jones

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Art by Barbara Eaton

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rtists of myriad mediums who take part in the arts festival circuit are in preparation mode. It’s been a while coming — two years to be precise, thanks to a COVID-19-caused festival hiatus. The time’s finally coming for them to pack and unpack their canvasses, pottery, jewelry and more, display it under an open-air tent in a town square and meet art appreciators in small towns during festival season.

Depending on the size of the festival, the number of artist booths varies. Gumtree Art & Wine Festival taking place May 6-8 in Tupelo is planning for more than 60 artists to be on hand this year; Oxford’s April 22-23 Double Decker Festival is planning for about 180.

One thing is clear, Mississippi is (and long has been) home to a vast amount of artistic creativity. Noel Jones, pictured at left, is one Mississippi artist glad to see festival season returning this year. Visit invitationmag.com to read more about how he and fellow artists Blake Gore, Skylar Sloan and Barbara Eaton have each developed their creative pursuits.

Visit invitationmag.com to learn more about and see more work from Mississippi artists Noel Jones, Skylar Sloan, Blake Gore and Barbara Eaton.

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Sound Man A TUPELO NATIVE COMBINES HIS LOVE OF ART AND MUSIC TO CREATE HANDMADE WOODEN VOICE RECORDERS AND UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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upelo native Richard Upchurch is a connoisseur of sounds. A visit to brandnewnoise.com will yield plenty of proof. But beware: It won’t be a quick trip. Hours can be spent checking out Upchurch’s handmade wooden creations.

A lover of music, Upchurch toured for a time with the Emma Gibbs Band as rhythm guitarist after attending Wake Forest University. In 2004, he moved to New York City, and in 2009 he decided to attend New York University and work on his master’s in audio technology.

“It was mostly software-related,” he said. “And I didn’t love it. I was more interested in physical musical hardware and circuitry. I loved building stuff.”

It was while living in Brooklyn in 2010 that he created his first voice recorder. It may not have been his intent for a Christmas gift he crafted for his nephew to turn into a successful, well-tuned business; but that’s precisely what happened.

“What I built that long-ago Christmas was a rudimentary voice recorder,” said Upchurch from his Dallas, Texas, workshop/ studio. “My nephew took it to school for show and tell, and his teachers wanted to know where they could buy one. So, I built five for his teachers.”

His sister encouraged Upchurch to put his voice recorders on Etsy. He did, but business only trickled for a time. He sold a few in a row, including one to singer and instrumentalist Justin Vernon. Then a connection with a contact at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City opened things wide for Upchurch.

“An email was sent to the buyer for the MoMA store about my work,” he said. “My connection told me not to get my hopes up.

But 10 minutes after the email was sent, a response came asking when we could meet.”

The next day, the MoMA store buyer asked Upchurch how many voice recorders he could make for the store. He asked how many she wanted. Her request for 1,000 recorders took Upchurch by surprise.

“At that point, I was making five or 10 at a time,” he said. “I did the woodwork on the roof of my apartment building and the electronics in my kitchen. But after the order from MoMA, the business kind of grew.”

Upchurch opened a shop in Red Hook, in upstate New York. His works could be found in the MoMA store and several highend boutiques. For a time, they were even carried by Square Books in Oxford. And more musicians were buying Upchurch’s creations.

In 2015, Upchurch married Jill Montgomery, a Dallas pianist and music teacher whom he’d first met when they were kids in Tupelo. Along with a wife, Upchurch got a 7-year-old daughter, Reagan Buvens, “a total joy.”

“Jill convinced me over Tex-Mex and margaritas that Texas was the place to be,” he said. “So, I joined the two of them.”

Since then, Dallas has been home to BrandNewNoise. There, Upchurch has two shops and a handful of employees. The main shop is a 1924 decommissioned fire station.

“It’s not a big business,” he said. “We make a couple thousand units a year. I’m kind of a one-man band: If you call our tech

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department, you get me. I’m also the chat bot on our website.”

The designs for his voice recorders are as fun and funky as the sounds they make.

Look long enough and you’ll notice most resemble a face. Upchurch likes for his work to have a sort of human quality. For example, Frankie looks like Frankenstein, a tribute to Mary Shelley, one of Upchurch’s favorite writers. Frankie comes complete with neck bolts that can be turned to manipulate the sounds.

And there’s Lil’ MIB (message in a box) that comes complete with a red flag to raise when a voice message awaits someone. The red flag addition came after a trip to Tupelo to visit his parents, Robert and Joann Upchurch.

He asked his now-17-year-old daughter when she was 7 what sort of recorder he could make her. Her response? One with a purple mustache.

“It remains one of my most popular recorders,” Upchurch said.

He’s added a small harmonica to one of his creations, and he’s working on a new percussion-oriented piece. Some of his instruments and recorders have been used in movie and TV soundtracks, including “The Lego Movie” and the “Westworld” series.

His recorders are often made with Baltic birch plywood, but it’s been more difficult recently to procure it. The pieces are built by hand, from the wooden box, the design and the screen print to the installation of the electronics.

Upchurch’s approach to his art has always been to keep it as simple as possible.

“What can I give to a 4-year-old and a

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Above: Brad Paisley and Richard Upchurch with the limited edition voice recorder Upchurch created for Paisley. Sales of it benefited The Store, Paisley’s charity organization. Top, right: A limited edition recorder created for Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.

MODEL OLIVE UPATHAM | PHOTO BY SPENCER JAY

professional musician that will be fun and useful to both?” he said.

Not long ago, Upchurch learned country singer Brad Paisley followed him on Instagram. Upchurch reached out and asked if Paisley would like to partner for a limited edition voice recorder.

“In 10 minutes he let me know he would love to,” he said.

The Paisley-signed recorder is designed in a purple paisley pattern and proceeds from the sale go to The Store, a free Nashville grocery store for those in need, opened by Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, in partnership with Belmont University. Upchurch also has done a limited edition recorder with Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac. Whenever a new design is completed, Upchurch has a surefire way to determine whether it will be successful or should be relegated to the refuse receptacle.

“I send a new work home with an employee,” Upchurch said. “Is it fun? Can he or she set it on a desk and be compelled to think, ‘Oh, man. I have got to fiddle with this thing?’ It has to be exciting and fun for it to be successful. That’s always the key.”

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Gumtree Art & Wine Festival

AFTER A TWO-YEAR ABSENCE, T U P E LO ’ S A R T S F E S T I VA L IS BACK TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS WITH A NEW NAME AND A SPIRITED NEW VISION. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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he first full weekend in May will offer myriad causes for celebration in Tupelo. Of course, it’s Mother’s Day, and in Tupelo that means Gumtree festival.

The beloved arts festival will return after a two-year, COVID-compelled hiatus; the 2022 festival will celebrate 50 years of its existence; and it will be the first year of the festival’s new iteration complete with new name: Gumtree Arts & Wine Festival.

Kit Stafford, who helped with the festival from 2010 to 2014, returned to her position as full-time director of the festival in 2019, just in time for the pandemic.

“It was during that time we began talking about breathing new life into Gumtree,” Stafford said. “Events like the festival don’t typically last as long as this one has. They have a run, then they stop.

We wanted to do something to increase a

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regional draw. We love that our community loves Gumtree, and we also want to pull people from a broader area.”

The Gumtree Art Festival began in 1971, the brainchild of three active community members and local art patrons.

Jim Ford, Gus Staub and Jim Westbrook, all now deceased, wanted the people of Tupelo to have an opportunity to see and purchase original art. The trio put together the first festival and continued it for more than a decade until Tina Lutz became the director of the Gumtree Museum of Art. The museum continues to host the festival.

When planning a reboot of the arts festival, talk turned to the possibility of including wine.

“Art patrons are typically wine patrons,” Stafford said. “And there’s nothing like a festival for both in northeast Mississippi.”

Until now. Stafford searched for someone to help with the added element

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of wine and found Melanie Hankins Booth of Starkville. Booth is a Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators, and a wine educator and certified Wine Cellar Manager and Sommelier by the International Wine and Spirits Guild. To put it simply, Booth is passionate about helping people learn to enjoy and appreciate wine.

“It is my pleasure to be involved in this,” she said of the festival. “It’s the first wine festival in the area, and it’s the 50th year of Gumtree. It’s special.”

This year’s theme is Creativity Uncorked, and the addition of wine to the longtime arts festival is a perfect fit, according to Booth.

“Wine is a combination of art and science,” she said. “As Robert Louis Stevenson said, ‘Wine is poetry in a bottle.’”

One highlight of the festival will be The Palette Tent, where during the day on May 7, there will be brief talks from wine educators and wine makers; and there will be wine tastings, some guided, hosted by trained hosts/hostesses.

“This is for all levels of wine enthusiasts,” Booth said. “From those who are new to wine to longtime wine enthusiasts.”

Also, in The Palette Tent, The South’s Best Art Party will feature food by top chefs paired with a wide variety of wines.

Mississippi’s own Wyatt Waters will be on hand with a live art presentation.

Helping with food for the weekend events is Chef Mitch McCamey of Tupelo.

Other festival events on tap include a Sunday Jazz Brunch, Creative Kids Garden, Gumball Birthday Bash with live music by American Aquarium and Neon Pig Smash Burgers, a chalk art contest for all ages and skill levels, plein air artists at work, at least 65 artist booths and more.

Clearly, since planning began in the summer of 2019 for what would eventually be the 2022 festival, much work has been done by many people. And the anticipation is palpable.

“After this long two-year span of no Gumtree, we are so excited to share our new vision,” Stafford said. “I think people will be pleasantly surprised to see the planning that has gone into it. There is truly something for everyone.”

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SPRINGTIME WINES “Don’t just drink wine. Experience it.” That is the advice of Melanie Hankins Booth, a local wine expert who will offer guidance for the Gumtree festival’s new wine events. “My approach to enjoying a nice glass of wine is never more pertinent than in the springtime when the season begs us to come outside and reawaken to the possibilities of our warm, bright futures,” she said. “Be in the moment with the wine, your friends and the sunshine.” With that, she offers Invitation readers her top six wines for springtime, all of which are easily accessible at wine shops in north Mississippi. See Booth’s guide to the right and on the following page.

#1

SPANISH C AVA

BY FREIXENET

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$15

It’s springtime, and Saturday breakfast on the patio begs for a celebratory glass of bubbles.

Open that bottle of French Champagne, Italian prosecco, American sparkling wine (yes, go ahead and try one with a bottle cap!), or treat yourself to the No. 1 imported sparkling wine in the world — the black bottle bubbly, Spanish Cava by Freixenet. Add a splash of orange juice or cranberry juice if you must, but you’ll taste plenty of apple, pear and melon on its own. Stay in your pajamas and add those cheesy, fatty and salty breakfast delights for the perfect pairing.

#2

FRENCH ROSÉ D’ ANJOU

BY REMY PANNIER

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$13

Rosé all day? How about brunch to get an early start or save this easy drinking French Rosé d’ Anjou by Remy Pannier for dinner with your favorite Asian, Indian or Mexican dishes. These light fruity wines (can you smell the spring strawberries?) pick up their color from brief contact with the skins of the many varieties of red grapes from which they are made. I can personally attest that this bottle is a crowd pleaser. My anonymous entry won a springtime blind tasting competition (voted on by a large crowd of everyday people) at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The Max) in Meridian.

#3

2020 RIESLING

BY DR. LOOSEN’S

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$15

Dr. Loosen’s 2020 Riesling is a great “ambassador” for these clean, crisp and slightly sweet German wines that are readily available and affordable. A perfect springtime sipper to awaken your senses by the pool or to pair with fruity chicken salads, grilled salmon or goat cheese.

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#4

2019 PINOT NOIR

BY ERATH

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$20

You may have trouble pronouncing charcuterie, but you won’t have any trouble enjoying a little meat and cheese on the deck with this 2019 Erath Pinot Noir. Or, impress your friends at the restaurant by ordering a bottle of this easy drinking wine for your table. This light-bodied red wine expresses great fruitiness, acidity and that dryness in your mouth that pulls it all together.

#5

2019 CÔTES DU RHONE

BY KERMIT LY NCH

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$18

We love our red blends. We like them so much because blends create balance. They combine grapes for their qualities that bring out the best in each other This 2019 Côtes Du Rhone selection

by Kermit Lynch blends southern France’s grenache, syrah and mourvèdre grapes (with a little carignan). Fire up the grill with some lamb burgers or your favorite barbecue — but go easy on the sauce so you can taste the deliciousness of this springtime pairing.

#6

MEAD

BY QUEEN’S REWARD MEADERY | $25

Queen’s Reward Meadery in Tupelo is a working winery that Mississippi’s growing wine culture can be proud of. Mead is a fermented beverage made from water, yeast and honey. Using only Mississippi honey, Queen’s Reward wine can be sweet or dry and can be fermented with wonderful complimentary ingredients ranging from cranberry and lemon to spices and habaneros. Even well-known grape varieties like pinot noir are fermented along with the Mississippi honey, as is the case with our featured Scarlet Noir. Pick up some Queen’s Reward from the tasting room (run by proprietors Jeri and Geoff Carter) or at your local wine retailer, and enjoy it with an apple stuffed pork tenderloin or a fresh baked shortbread cookie.

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more wines to try It’s always smart to have a familiar, consistent stand-by in your fridge or on your wine rack. “Like those old favorite tennis shoes that you look forward to putting on every Saturday morning,” Booth said. She recommends the following go-to wines: 2018 Jordan Chardonnay. Russian River Valley, California | $35 2018 Kate Arnold Cabernet Sauvignon. Columbia Valley, Washington | $20 2021 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand | $20 2020 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. Italy | $30 2019 The Velvet Devil Merlot. Washington State | $15

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WINTER JAM PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Winter Jam 2022 packed BancorpSouth Arena on Feb. 20 as Christian music fans were offered a lineup that included Skillet, Colton Dixon, New Song and lots more.

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1. Emmy, Courtney and Phoebe Dean 2. Deana, Brad, Cooper, Kara and Turner Jackson 3. Julianne Payne and Kinsley Tollison 4. Lyndsie Davis and Tina Ward 5. Emily Ham, Mariah Morgan, KK Page and Kylee Wildmon 6. Henley and Rowan Baxter with Kimber Raines and Koleigh Griffin 7. Maci Rae McLellen and Anna Reid Crane with Ella and Sailor Huey, Emma Klaire Nichols and Claire Anne Wise

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WORLD OF CUSTOMS PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Tupelo Furniture Market was the site of the largest indoor auto show in Mississippi Feb. 26-27. The World of Customs auto show packed the place with custom cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as restored and antique vehicles.

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8 1. Tommy McDonald with Lewis and Donna Hardy 2. Seth Michael, Caleb Ramirez, Brandon Phan and Rafael Leon 3. Tim Brasher and Charlie Swanson 4. Anita and Billy McCarver 5. JoAnn Plunkett with Barbara and Len Hodges 6. Bob Hartline 7. Paulette Lewis, Jan Gardner and Donna Buck 8. Sherri McClain 9. Doug McNatt, Tom McCarter and Jerry Mancill

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“ P O R T R A I T S O F S O U L” PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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A special Black History Month exhibit at Tupelo’s Gumtree Museum of Art included a photo exhibit of prominent Black recording artists titled “Portraits of Soul” by photographer William Carrier. The exhibit closed Feb. 25 with a barbecue at the museum.

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1. Stan White, Amario Cole, Emma James and Marcus Gary 2. Sally Elliott, Jane Riley and Sarah Young 3. Linda and Raymond Allen with Kathy Corban 4. Daniel and Martha Mann 5. Charlotte and Larry Landry with Genna McAlpine, Robin Satcher and Megan Kessler

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“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2” PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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A cast of about 50 Itawamba Agricultural High School Indian Players took to the stage in mid-February to present “High School Musical 2.” The show was scheduled for 2021, but production was paused due to COVID restrictions. Seniors who were cast a year ago were invited back to fill their roles.

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1. Aiden Bryon and Caleb Hatfield 2. Kimora Cousin and Samantha Smith 3. Shelby Miller with Valerie and Victoria Blake, Sarah Beth McCarter and Sherree King 4. Vivian Richardson, Chase Baggett, Madison Weiske, Baylee Johnson and Baylee Hood 5. Jacob Gray, Katelyn Duke, Will Turner, Sarah Stone and Nick Davis 6. Wyatt Stephenson and Madison Crawley 7. Kelsey Whitten, Abigail Christman, Marlee Graham and Karsyn York 8. Jack Holland and Dylan Quinn 9. Laura Johnson, William Blake, Candace Cowart, Wyatt Stephenson, Corbin Horton, Allie Martin and Jesse James

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EMPTY BOWLS PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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Local restaurants and organizations offered soup and bread to participants in Empty Bowls, held March 2 at the Tupelo Furniture Market. Attendees were excited for an in-person fundraiser following last year’s takeout only event. The annual event helps the Salvation Army fill community needs.

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6 1. Jennifer Brignac, Kevin Summers, Scarlett Gillentine and Paul Poland 2. Spencer Exum, Thomas Lester, Lee Williams and Amber Lancaster 3. Darren Stafford, Jeff Savarin and Wendy Grubbs 4. Denise Heard and Tracy Tallant 5. Heather Fryer, Desiree Smith and Blanca Flores 6. Morgan Braden, Leslie Nabors, Destiny Ritchie, Marysol Aguirre, Chris Parker and Miguel Mendez 7. Sam Tucker Goff, Kullen Figueroa, Ella Credille and Finley Jane Cantrell 8. Lillian White and Chris Perkins 9. Margarete Garner and Margot Ganaway 10. Rena McNeely, Paul Backstrom and Pat Campeau

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OUT & ABOUT D i s t i n g u i she d You n g Wo m a n

UC A C he e rle a d i n g C h a m p io n s h i p

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H i g h S c ho ol S i g n i n g D ay

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Tup e lo Re a d s

4 1. 2023 Lee County Distinguished Young Woman Lauren Tate 2. Tupelo Christian Prepatory School Varsity Cheer Squad 3. Jaden Warren 4. Chapter Select Winner Tupelo High School Thespian Troupe 1949 5. William Kruger and Jack Reed

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OLE MISS BASEBALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

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On March 9, the Ole Miss Rebels defeated the visiting Alcorn State Braves 16-1.

Pitcher Jack Washburn earned the win, and highlights included 14 Rebel walks, and junior Peyton Chatagnier racking up two hits and four RBIs. Follow Rebel baseball at olemisssports.com.

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1. Kirsten and Jack Toben 2. Lane Colquett and Lauren Long 3. Geri and Kathy Young 4. Allyn Flautt and Travis Taylor 5. Alan and Jake Bayles 6. Clay, Mary Marshall and Allison Phillips

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“ T H E S P O N G E B O B MU S I C A L” PHOTOGRAPHED BY REED JONES

At the end of February, the Oxford High School Theatre Arts Guild took to the stage for several productions of “The SpongeBob Musical.” The show is based on the animated cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

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4 1. Everett Heuer 2. John Moore and Aubrey Armstrong

3. Melissa, Gaines and Alex Moffett 4. David and Michelle Rock 5. James Rayner and Ally Davis

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CHARITY BALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The Junior Auxiliary of Oxford hosted its 2022 Charity Ball March 5 at the Country Club of Oxford. Entertainment for the evening was Mustache the Band. The event benefits JA programming for the children of Oxford and Lafayette County.

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1. Maty Katterjohn, Amber Gregory, A.K. Pitman and Bess Cook 2. Dana Requet, Carole Webb and Julie Addison 3. Corinne Fikes and Emily McElreath 4. Rachael and Rob Franklin 5. Seger and Kellie Morris 6. Matt Pittman and Chase Parham 7. Guy and Amy Farmer 8. Shanika Ward with Dana and Germain McConnell 9. Ronda and Marc Bryan 10. Erin Goforth, Brittany Hughes and Elise Sellers 11. Ashton Pruitt and Trey Goode 12. Anne and Steve Cross

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SPANISH HOUR PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRANT MCL AUGHLIN

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On March 2, folks met at Heartbreak Coffee to simply carry on a conversation or two — in Spanish. The casual event takes place every other Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. and is open to anyone in the Oxford community who wants to practice their Spanish-speaking skills.

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6 1. Bel Monteith and Evan Morrisey 2. Norah Bruce and Abigail Gunn 3. Hayden Walker and Enrique Cotelo 4. Laura Jaramillo-Gil, Carmen Sanchis-Sinisterra and Cole Cannon 5. Aabha Mantri and CJ Buchan 6. Catalina Llanos, Owen Pustell and Gabrielle Miller 7. Claire Anne Boudreaux and Alex Gafford

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CROSSTOWN CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHED BY REED JONES

The Oxford and Lafayette high school baseball teams played in a three-game Crosstown Classic series the first week of March. Oxford won the first game 3-2 and the second game 6-3; the Commodores bested the Chargers 5-1 in the final game of the non-conference series.

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1. Amanda and Grant Crockett 2. London Grace, Mark and Lisa Daniels 3. Anna Claire Perkins and Allie Reed 4. Meg Grantham, Lauren Roady and Nicole Kamman 5. Brett and Lindsay Beauchamp 6. Sean Mooneyham, Grace Morgan Breithaupt and Mary Hamilton Bennett

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OUT & ABOUT Bi l l L a r s o n’s Bi r t hd ay C e le b rat io n

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L a f aye t t e E le me nt a r y S c ho ol Re a d Ac ro s s A me r ic a

4 1. Teresa Griffin, Tracy Ford and Annette Braziel 2. Wanda and Bill Larson 3. James Hampton, Shona Johnson and Mark Larson 4. Members of First Presbyterian Church 5. Jamie Roy, John Michael Hill, Chad Carwile and Timmy Pruitt

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N E I G H B O R J U LI A

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

AU B R E Y |

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

J

ulia Aubrey has been a leader in music and the arts at the University of Mississippi and in the Oxford community for more than 25 years. From 1995 to 2021, she was director of opera theater and taught voice, advanced opera and song literature courses. She served as vocal area head and assistant chairman of the department of music and was president of the National Opera Association. For 12 years, she was musical director for the theater department, and she was associate artistic director, stage and musical director for the Oxford Shakespeare Festival for eight years. She is currently director of the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Q: How long have you been director of the

Ford Center, and what do you do in the role?

I was hired as the full-time director in June 2016. As the director of opera theater, and an associate professor in the department of music since 1995, I had the opportunity to perform and direct in this wonderful facility. I was delighted to take on a new leadership role and continue the great arts tradition established when the Ford Center opened in 2003. As director, I book the touring shows each season, manage an excellent staff, administer the budget and develop fundraising initiatives.

I miss teaching university students, and the 100 shows I directed in my career, but I’m only across the street if they want to visit!

A:

Q:

What does the Ford Center add to the university and northeast Mississippi?

A: The Ford Center is a jewel for the region, bringing diverse musical and theatrical events of all genres presented in a truly stellar performing arts facility. Conceived as the vision of (former) Chancellor Robert C. Khayat and supported by the Ford

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Julia Aubrey was born in St. Louis, received degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and lived in Oklahoma before moving to Mississippi in 1995 to begin her career at the University of Mississippi.

Foundation and University of Mississippi, the Ford Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. We are planning a star-studded gala to commemorate this important milestone on March 24, 2023.

Q: How do you encourage an appreciation

for the arts in young people?

My husband and I, through the Ford Center, have offered the summer Youth Music Theatre Workshop for 25 years.

Children ages 7 to 17 have the opportunity to express themselves through music and drama, developing their imaginations as well as performance skills. I believe early exposure to live performances creates a lifelong appreciation for the arts. That is one

A:

reason I created the Daytime School Series that brings children into the Ford Center to see live shows.

Q: Where did you get your love of music?

A: I was lucky to be born into a musical

family with healthy doses of theatricality.

Singing and playing instruments were part of our daily lives. My husband, Dr. Robert Aubrey, is a singer, conductor and music educator. We have collaborated on many operas and musical theater productions for over 40 years. All three sons, Jory, Miles and Michael, are musicians, singers or songwriters. Two married singers, Leslie and Erica, and their children and grandchildren have all inherited the musical gene.