Invitation Oxford - April 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

EVENTS:

EVENTS:

Tupelo Charity Ball Mardi Gras Parade Championship Rodeo Empty Bowls Luncheon 86 88 90 92

OXFORD: The official art of this year’s Double Decker festival started as a miniature pen-and-ink drawing by Blake Gore, which he recreated into this full-sized poster art. Read more on page 48.

NORTHEAST: Tool and die maker

BY JOE WORTHEM

FEATURES

FEATURES

36 Talitha Kumi

An Oxford woman pours her artistic talents into hand-beaded, hand-sewn work and lands a spot on the runway during Paris Fashion Week.

38 Powerhouse

Oxford’s Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, celebrating its 50th year, plans to provide more space for the arts with an expansion to the Powerhouse.

44 Anderson Goes West

Music agent and Tupelo native Jordan Anderson makes headlines as a music booking agent at Hollywood’s legendary Troubadour music venue.

48 Double Decker

Now in its 26th year, Oxford’s awardwinning arts festival is ready to roll with art, music, food and fun.

54 Stickman

A firefighter finds a creative outlet in graphite and charcoal drawings.

58 Picnic Time

Two creative, entrepreneurial women who love entertaining and celebrations start businesses to plan and prepare picnics.

64 Made by Hand

Meet a trio of north Mississippi craftsmen who each discovered their artistic gifts by chance.

I’m often amazed by the way art and music make me feel. Music can calm me like nothing else, or it can instantly put me in a happy frame of mind. It’s a fact that art is both healing and nurturing for the mind and body. Funny how what our eyes and ears take in can actually have major impacts on our mind, heart rate and overall well-being.

This month, we celebrate the good that comes from art and music as well as those who create it for the rest of us to enjoy, appreciate and experience.

The pages beyond this letter are packed full of stories about some of the most creative and talented people in our community you’ll ever meet. We are excited for you to read about their journeys and

how they got where they are today. There is a common thread in their stories: They love what they do and take pride in what they create. For many of them, the road hasn’t been easy, but they persevered, and, wow, do they have something beautiful to show for their hard work.

We are pleased to present this most creative and wonderful issue for you to enjoy this month.

We will see you right back here in May.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER

Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Emily Welly

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Leslie Criss

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Mary Moreton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sarah McCullen

Eugene Stockstill

COPY EDITOR

Ashley Arthur

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Mary Kelley Zeleskey

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER

Hollie Hilliard

DISTRIBUTION

Brian Hilliard

MAIN OFFICE

662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Holly Vollor

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Joe Worthem

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lauretta Piesko

Lisa Roberts

J.R. Wilbanks

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Alise M. Emerson

Amber Lancaster

Leigh Lowery

Lynn McElreath

Moni Simpson

Whitney Worsham

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Paul Gandy

Markka Prichard

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

DIGITAL details

Double Decker Weekend

Oxford will shine April 28-29 when artists and art lovers descend on the Square for the annual Double Decker Arts Festival. Read all about it on page 48. With Ole Miss Baseball also playing at home against Georgia all weekend, there will be something for everyone. What will you be doing Double Decker 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!

social SNAPS

We love being tagged in your photos!

Power Play Cheers!

Let’s talk wallpaper ...

LOCATION: Oxford

USERNAME: @oxfordcreative

Turn to page 38 to read about the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s latest endeavor: a massive upgrade to the Powerhouse, the Humanities Hub. YAC, now in its 50th year, offers more to the community than could fit in these pages. Learn much more about YAC, find tickets to upcoming events, register for classes online and more at oxfordarts.com.

Mocktails have become a popular party treat. Try our recipe for a Citrus Fizz on page 32, and visit invitationmag.com for recipes for a Green Apple Cooler and a Blackberry Mock-jito. Make them even more your own by whipping up a batch of simple syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water, boil, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Store in the fridge in a Mason jar.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. Photos from your event might be featured in an upcoming magazine!

See you in April, Oxford! We are so excited to be back @doubledeckerart!

LOCATION: Oxford

USERNAME: @hooperleathercompany

DUNKIN’ WITH DADS!

LOCATION: Regents School of Oxford

USERNAME: @regentsofoxford

Hazardous Waste Day

APRIL 15

Residents of Lee, Pontotoc, Itawamba, Monroe, Calhoun, Lafayette and Union counties may bring household hazardous waste for free collection and disposal.

8 a.m.-3 p.m., Lafayette County Multipurpose Arena, 70 FD “Buddy” East Parkway, Oxford. For more information, call 662-489-2415.

HOLIDAYS

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

April 1

EASTER

April 9

TAX DAY

April 18

EARTH DAY

April 22

“Absurd Person Singular”

APRIL 14-15

Theatre Oxford performs a three-act comedy by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. 7:30 p.m., the Powerhouse. theatreoxford.org

Little Shop of Horrors

APRIL 18-21

COMING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY OXFORD

The University of Mississippi’s theater and film department presents “Little Shop of Horrors,” a favorite sci-fi musical. Tickets $20 adults; $15 faculty, staff and students; $10 seniors and children. 7:30 p.m., Fulton Chapel, Ole Miss.

theatreandfilm.olemiss.edu

UM Medal for the Arts

APRIL 20

The University of Mississippi Institute for the Arts will present the Medal for the Arts to Glen Ballard, multiple Grammy awardwinning songwriter who graduated from Ole Miss in 1975. In its second year, the award is the highest honor the university gives to recognize excellence in the arts. Tickets $20; $5 students, faculty and staff. 7:30 p.m., Ford Center.

fordcenter.org

Golf SEC Championships

APRIL 12-14 AND 19-23

Ole Miss golfers head to the SEC Championship tournaments. The women’s tournament takes place April 12-14 at Greystone Golf Club, Birmingham, Alabama, and the men’s tournament is April 19-23 at Sea Island Golf Club, St. Simons Island, Georgia. olemisssports.com

Grove Bowl

APRIL 15

Ole Miss football’s annual spring scrimmage. Free admission. 2 p.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. olemisssports.com

Morgan Wallen Concert

APRIL 22-23

In the first-ever concert at VaughtHemingway Stadium, Ole Miss Athletics hosts country music superstar Morgan Wallen as part of the singer’s “One Night at a Time” world tour. 5:30 p.m., VaughtHemingway Stadium.

olemisssports.evenue.net

Conference on the Science of Botanicals

APRIL 24-27

The National Center for Natural Products Research within the School of Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi hosts an international conference on important botanical quality and safety issues. Topics include cultivation, collection and authentication for raw botanical materials and international regulatory approaches for botanical products. oxfordicsb.org

Double Decker Arts Festival 2023

APRIL 28-29

Oxford’s one-of-a-kind weekend festival is back. There will be live music on the North Lamar stage starting at 6:15 p.m. Friday; the Double Decker 5K, 10K and kids fun run start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday; and the art festival officially opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, with art and food vendors and live music from 11 a.m. until closing at 10 p.m. Read more on page 48. doubledeckerfestival.com

REO Speedwagon

APRIL 14

Everyone will be singing along to the 1970s-80s favorite when they take the stage in Tupelo. Tickets from $50, 7:30 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena.

cb-arena.com

Student Art Exhibit

APRIL 17

Gumtree hosts a reception for an exhibit of artwork (on display Apr. 17-30) by Tupelo Public School District elementary students.

4-6 p.m., Gumtree Museum of Art.

gumtreemuseum.com

MercyMe

APRIL 21

Contemporary Christian band MercyMe brings its “Always Only Jesus” tour to Tupelo. Tickets from $39, 7 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena.

cb-arena.com

NORTHEAST

New Albany Spring Gala

APRIL 7

New Albany’s spring fundraising benefit supports New Albany Main Street. Food, cocktails, live music, auction items and more. Tickets $50. 6 p.m., Union County Heritage Museum, New Albany. newalbanymainstreet.com

Blippi

APRIL 13

Kids will be thrilled to join Blippi on “The Wonderful World Tour.” Tickets from $25. 6 p.m., Cadence Bank Arena.

cb-arena.com

Amory Railroad Festival

APRIL 13-16

Celebrate Amory’s railroad heritage with live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, a car and truck show, food vendors, a 5K run and a carnival. Main Street, Amory. amoryrailroadfestival.net

Regional Rehab 5K

APRIL 15

The Frog Island Flyer Racing Team and The Mall at Barnes Crossing present a 5K run, walk and wheelchair race to support Regional Rehab. Register for $35 online. 8 a.m., The Mall at Barnes Crossing. runsignup.com

Wine Downtown

APRIL 21

Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association hosts a progressive wine and food tasting in multiple retail locations. Tickets include a wine glass, map and an after-party with live music. 5:30-9 p.m., downtown Tupelo. tupelomainstreet.com

Tupelo Sprint Triathlon

APRIL 22

Starting and ending in Veterans Park, this sprint triathlon includes a 300-meter pool swim (at Tupelo Aquatic Center), an 11-mile bike and a 5K run. Register online to participate, or come to cheer on the racers. 8-11 a.m. facebook.com/TupeloSuperSprint

“Big Fish”

APRIL 27-29

Tupelo Community Theatre presents a larger-than-life musical about the epic tales of traveling salesman Edward Bloom. Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the Tim Burton film. Tickets $30. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the Lyric, Tupelo.

tct.ms

“Guys and Dolls”

APRIL 29

The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra closes its season with a semistaged version of Frank Loesser’s score “Guys and Dolls,” featuring the University of Memphis Department of Musical Theatre. Tickets $10-$30. 7:30 p.m., Civic Auditorium, Tupelo. nmsymphony.com

Lifeway SimulcastWomen

APRIL 29

Harrisburg Baptist Church hosts the Lifeway Women Simulcast. Participate in the digital event, and enjoy lunch and refreshments. $20 before April 13; $25 after. Register online. 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. harrisburgonline.org

SHOUTOUTS

Derby Day Party and Cookbook Raise Funds for Regional Rehab

It’s nearly time for the much-anticipated Tom Evans Regional Rehab Derby Day Party, taking place Saturday, May 6, from 3 until 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Country Club.

Individual $50 tickets may be purchased online at regionalrehabcenter.com.

Since almost the start of the 24 years of Derby Day parties, longtime board member Tom Evans served as host at his Robins Street home. After his death in 2020, the event was moved to the country club.

“It’s the same fun event, just a different location,” said Robbie Parman, director of Regional Rehab. “The past few years we’ve had the largest crowds ever, with more than 300 attending.”

As always, there will be a cash bar, good food, the annual Derby Day hat contest, a live auction, silent auction and more. Emcee will be Craig Horton, and multiple TVs will be set up by Vance Perkins on which to watch the race.

“Sadie Buchanan, longtime board

member, will have volunteers make homemade desserts and there’ll be Derby Dollars, with which to bet on the race, with Tom’s face on them,” Parman said. “We might have gone overboard, but Tom would have loved it.”

An entryway table will display special things that belonged to Evans. In fact, a

Oxford Community Market Turns 10

This year, Oxford Community Market is celebrating its 10th anniversary with various fun events. The market’s spring kickoff is set for April 18 and has on tap vendors, music and more.

“This is a big milestone for us,” Betsy Chapman, OXCM director since November 2014, said. “A decade is a long time for a farmers market to survive, and we have.”

The nonprofit market has as its mission not only to help local farmers but to help with food access. The Mississippi Certified Farmers Market is open every Tuesday all year, from 3 until 6:30 p.m., at the Old Armory Pavilion at 1801 University Ave.

The Oxford market has successfully shown it’s possible to keep a market open year-round. Not only does OXCM have

photograph of that table is the cover shot for the new Tom Evans cookbook, the sale of which is also a fundraiser for Regional Rehab.

Evans’ dear friend Marty Brown reached out to Regional Rehab to say another friend had organized all of Evans’ recipes into chapters with a table of contents.

“Marty came to me back in October and said, ‘Tom would want you all to have these,’” Parman said. “We’d never done a cookbook fundraiser, but Bre Ashe, the developmental director at Regional Rehab took the pages and ran with them.”

The cookbook contains more than 150 pages, an introduction written by Brown and literally hundreds of recipes, including one in Evans’ handwriting.

Only 100 copies of “The Tom Evans Cookbook” were ordered initially, and they sold quickly. More were ordered and are on sale for $25 at Regional Rehab and several other locations in northeast Mississippi.

its spring/summer season, but it also has a winter season.

“The market reflects the long growing season we have in Mississippi,” Chapman said.

Also planned to commemorate the anniversary year are 10 events throughout the year that will be announced at a later date. The year will culminate with a big communitywide event.

In addition to the weekly market where local farmers are able to sell what they’ve grown, OXCM offers programs that help make healthy, local food accessible to all members of the community and address food insecurity in Oxford.

Circle and Square Brewing

100 DEPOT ST., OXFORD

COMING SOON | Named for its location halfway between the Circle and the Square, Oxford’s first microbrewery will offer craft beer, food and a place to gather. circleandsquare.beer

Quacks

122 COURTHOUSE SQUARE, OXFORD

COMING SOON | This gourmet hot dog restaurant and bar serves up creations like the Little Italy Dog, the Buffy the Chick Slayer Dog, the Deli Dog and more. linktr.ee/quacksdogs

Just Cake It!

2580 JACKSON AVE. W., OXFORD NOW OPEN | Custom cakes, cupcakes and more sweet treats for any occasion. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

662-237-2253, justcakeit.net

Oxford Golf House

705 SISK AVE., OXFORD NOW OPEN | A full-service restaurant and indoor golf center open seven days a week. Book tee time reservations online. Memberships also available.

662-234-6007, oxfordgolfhouse.com

Crumbl Cookies

837 KINGS CROSSING DR., TUPELO

NOW OPEN | Known for its specialty cookies, the popular chain plans to open its first north Mississippi location in Tupelo’s Kings Crossing shopping center.

662-205-5766, crumblcookies.com

Loco Taco

1645 COLEY RD., TUPELO

NOW OPEN | Serving up “crazy good food,” including a traditional Oaxacan tlayuda (an oversized corn tostada), along with creative cocktails and a kids’ menu.

662-269-2424

Loco Taco Oxford Golf House

craft MOCKTAILS

MARK ANY SPECIAL SPRINGTIME OCCASION WITH A REFRESHING AND CHEERFUL DRINK.

RECIPES BY SARAH M c CULLEN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Freshly squeezed citrus and colorful fruit brings out bright flavors in this Citrus Fizz handcrafted mocktail, pictured at left. Visit invitationmag.com for two additional fun and refreshing mocktail recipes, including a Green Apple Cooler and a Blackberry Mock-jito, pictured below.

CITRUS fizz

½ cup sparkling water

1 small egg white (preferably pasteurized)

¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon grenadine

Orange wedge, for garnish

Fresh raspberries, for garnish

Fill a Collins glass with ice, and add sparkling water. In a small bowl, whisk egg white. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add orange juice, lemon juice and grenadine. Add egg white, and cover and shake 15-20 times. Strain into prepared Collins glass, and garnish.

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Talitha Kumi Talitha Kumi

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

TThe stitches that have bound together the moments of Timber Heard’s life have not always been straight or without some fraying. The Texas-born Heard moved with her adoptive parents to Mississippi when she was 2, but she became part of the foster care system at the age of 12. She has, at one time or another, called many Mississippi towns home, but only temporarily.

She ended up in Oxford more than a decade ago. She has one class left to take before she will have completed coursework for a degree in anthropology. But that degree has not come quickly or easily. Heard was homeless for about four of her Oxford years.

“I’d sometimes sleep on a bench on campus,” she said. “And there was a kind lady who worked as a janitor who would let me sleep inside the Union when it was really cold.”

In addition to feeling that she was pretty much on her own since age 12, Heard had received a variety of mental health diagnoses at a young age.

“As I’ve heard it said, depression runs in the family until it ran into me,” said the 32-year-old. Heard is not one to shy away from the mention of mental illness or her own several unsuccessful attempts to end her life. And Heard made a decision that part of the mission of her life would be to welcome conversation on this important topic in order to help others who suffer.

“After trying and failing at suicide, I kept wondering why,” Heard said. “I finally realized God must have something he wants me to do in this life.”

When she was 8, Heard received a lesson from her adoptive mother that would positively affect her life for years to come.

“She taught me to sew,” Heard said. “By hand. And I started making teddy bears and dolls.”

AN OXFORD WOMAN POURS HER ARTISTIC TALENTS INTO HAND-BEADED, HAND-SEWN WORK AND LANDS A SPOT ON THE RUNWAY DURING PARIS FASHION WEEK.

As a teenager, she traded the handcrafted bears and dolls for jewelry and handbags. Later, in a Jackson group home when she was 17, Heard picked up the art of beading — again by hand. She knew creating the one-of-a-kind bags and jewelry pieces was what she wanted to do, but needed one thing first.

“I couldn’t start a business without a name,” she said.

Finally, on a Sunday morning, Aug. 16, 2020, Heard woke up with a name in mind — Talitha Kumi Jewelry & Handbags. The young woman, who professes a big faith and possesses glorious green eyes, takes no credit for the name. She fervently believes it was a gift from God.

Talitha Kumi is the transcription of an Aramaic phrase found in the New Testament, Mark 5:41. “Talitha Kumi” were the words Jesus said when he raised from the dead the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, a synagogue ruler. The words mean, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.”

Heard took Jesus’ words to heart that Sunday morning, moving forward by building a website for her handmade bags and jewelry. Through the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s Big Bad Business series, Heard received a grant that helped with her business.

She has shown and sold her work through a few pop-ups, but most of her business is done through her website, talithakumijewels.com.

In September 2022, Heard saw an ad on Facebook looking for makers to come show their work during Paris Fashion Week. The opportunity would be a dream come true for Heard, who has been long fascinated by models on catwalks and the idea of creating things for them.

“I applied,” Heard said. “When I found out I made it to the second round, I think I screamed.”

Of 4,000 applicants, 70 were chosen, including Heard. It was her first trip outside the United States. In Paris, Miss Sri Lanka was one of the models to walk the catwalk showcasing jewelry and handbags made by Heard in Oxford. However, she wants people to know Paris was not her first runway show.

“That was a fundraising event at University of Life Church in Oxford,” she said. “I modeled my own work.”

It’s no surprise her favorite things about her week in Paris were the runways, the catwalks. She was not fond of the food, but she did think the city was beautiful. And she was invited back. She’s not sure what’s next except she’ll continue making her artistic

creations completely by hand. Someone gave her a brand-new Singer sewing machine. She tried it, but now it’s back in the box. “I just love working with needle and thread,” she said.

And Heard is determined to make ministering to others who suffer from mental illness and depression part of her business and her life.

“I was a foster kid from 12 to 18; I went to seven high schools and still graduated on time; I’ve had poetry published; I’ve seen my work modeled on the runways in Paris,” Heard said. “I have been blessed. I have truly been blessed.”

Power House

OXFORD'S ARTS COUNCIL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AND PLANS AN IMPRESSIVE EXPANSION TO THE POWERHOUSE.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY YOKNAPATAWPHA ARTS COUNCIL

Proposed conceptual images show YAC’s planned Humanities Center at the Powerhouse.

Astone’s throw off Oxford’s University Avenue, on the corner of South 14th Street, sits a building that served the community with much-needed power in years past. In its current iteration, it continues to offer lifeaffirming power in a more creative sense.

If you’ve ever driven by the building and thought of it only as a place that puts on plays or serves as a nice venue for a special occasion, well, you’re selling the Powerhouse way too short. Even a cursory look into its past and present yields a powerful story.

Under the management of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Powerhouse became the nerve center for YAC when in 2001 the council received $300,000 from the Mississippi Arts Commission, which was matched with a grant from the City of Oxford. The funding was to remodel the building once known as the Oxford Electric Department, which had originally been a generating plant. The Powerhouse, as it would be known, became home to YAC and a center for the arts.

The original building was completed in 1928 and provided power to Oxford until the Tennessee Valley Authority became the city’s sole provider of electricity in 1952. The building was then used as a storage warehouse until it became the Powerhouse Community Arts Center in 2008.

The mission of the arts council then was to have a place for community theater, dance, visual arts, music and more. The mission remains the same today, though the vision of YAC has become even more allencompassing.

Not only does the Powerhouse offer a place where emerging local artists can find

Wayne Andrews, YAC director

DANNY KLIMETZ

BRUCE NEWMAN

immeasurable support, but it also offers a building equipped for showcasing the work of Theatre Oxford and others, including musicians, writers, storytellers and artists. It is also a space for classes and workshops for artists and art lovers of every age.

“I like to let artists and others know this place, this organization, is an umbrella and a toolbox to help them get their own programs and projects going and be sustainable,” said Wayne Andrews, director of YAC for nearly 12 years. “We are also like an incubator for business startups by creatives.

“The creative people bring their ideas about which they are passionate, and we provide support. That can mean helping to find champions for their projects, providing the use of our sound system, teaching about creating a business plan or applying for grants — the list is long. Their focus is on their creative program; we work to help make it sustainable and stable, so they are able to go off on their own.”

A native of Connecticut, Andrews is connected to Oxford and Mississippi by marriage — his wife Mary Margaret is a product of the state and a graduate of Ole Miss. He’s also connected by heart. A single conversation with Andrews about his love of his community is a dead giveaway. What he does, along with a small staff, is a labor of love. He’s a business major who had a great appreciation for the arts instilled in him at a young age by his parents, making him a perfect fit for his position.

He speaks with great pride about the things that have grown out of the Powerhouse and YAC through the years, events like the Oxford Film Festival, the Fiber Arts Festival (the oldest, longestrunning festival in Mississippi), modern dance shows and so many more.

The Powerhouse is busy. One group ends an event, and an hour or so later, another group comes in to start one. The downside to that? There’s simply not enough space anymore. But the news is good: A solution is in the works. Some renovations and additions will create the Yoknapatawpha Humanities Center at the Powerhouse.

The construction work won’t begin immediately. A match must be found for a

National Endowment for the Humanities grant. There’s fundraising taking place; the initial conversation with the city and the state were supportive; and there are historical guidelines that must be followed by those involved in doing the work.

When the expansion is completed, there will be a makers’ space, a culinary center, a resident artist space, meeting areas and more. Andrews said the space is for north Mississippi, not just Oxford.

Many creative, artistic pursuits happen at the Powerhouse under YAC’s purview. It is a space for the performing arts. It hosts classes and camps. Artwork is exhibited there. Special events, from private parties and weddings to community festivals open to everyone, are held there. YAC hopes the expanded space will accommodate room for a makers’ space, a culinary center, a resident artist space, meeting areas and more. To help fund the expansion, visit oxfordarts.com/hub.

“Anything happening in north Mississippi will help the region,” he said. “We envision this space as a Humanities Hub. A space that connects the culture bearers of the Hills Region to the tools to share this story with the wider community.

“It’s how you make a town — a community — thrive. You have a place where people feel welcome and feel a part of. Quality of life and economics will follow if we put place first.”

ANDERSON GOES WEST

WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOGRAPHED

If you don’t happen to know how big a deal it is for Tupelo native Jordan Anderson to be booking music acts for the Troubadour in West Hollywood, just check out the club’s website.

Comic Lenny Bruce was arrested on obscenity charges at the Troubadour in 1957.

Joni Mitchell, Richard Pryor, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor and Elton John all made debuts there.

Glen Frey and Don Henley first met each other at the club’s front bar. The song “The Sad Cafe” is about the Troubadour.

James Taylor and Carly Simon first met there, too.

Led Zeppelin played a landmark three-hour jam session at the Troubadour with Fairpoint Convention.

And on and on goes the list of moments that made history at the place Anderson now calls her second home.

“A lot of people work to live. I live to work,” Anderson said.

“It’s an on-all-the-time job. You know what you sign up for, for sure. We’re such a small team that my boss is my backup. The job never stops. My job is my fun and my work.”

Anderson was originally a law student at the University of Georgia, until “I quickly realized I didn’t like to read or study,” she said. One class about the music-management business and some key contacts in Athens shifted her whole life. She worked on the management team for the band Widespread Panic her senior year.

After graduation, Anderson moved to Nashville, where she worked at popular clubs like Exit/In and Marathon Music Works. Then when the COVID-19 pandemic swamped everything and hit her with an unexpected layoff, Anderson got a call from the Troubadour, which she turned down. But they called her again, and before she knew it, she was in Southern California setting up a show with the duo Twenty One Pilots.

“I had never set foot in the room before I started working there,” she said. “The first time I walked in there was August of 2021. They

MUSIC AGENT AND TUPELO NATIVE JORDAN ANDERSON MAKES HEADLINES AS A MUSIC BOOKING AGENT AT HOLLYWOOD'S LEGENDARY TROUBADOUR MUSIC VENUE.

BY P. FREY/UGA PHOTO

brought me out here to onboard. They turned the lights on, and it was like a ‘whoa’ moment. The original wood is in the room. It pretty much hasn’t changed since 1957.”

When you think of talent agents, you may imagine Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker or the movie “Jerry Maguire” and all the famous quotes it gave the moviegoing public. But outside the music industry, Anderson said, a list of famous booking agents wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention.

“My role is to curate that calendar,” she said. “I book who’s playing the room, when and how much they’re getting paid.”

One of the biggest shows Anderson helped arrange was the first Troubadour concert of Amanda Shires, whose fiddle-laced menagerie of sounds helped Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit win a Grammy Award. Shires’ Troubadour concert last October made Variety’s list of top 50

best concerts performed in 2022.

“The cool thing about it was that she had been booked in 2020, and (because of COVID) that show never happened,” Anderson said.

But the moment that really makes Anderson gush? Athens Goes West, a suicide-prevention benefit held Jan. 8 this year at the Troubadour for University of Georgia fans before the national championship football game. Members of R.E.M. showed up.

“We sold out in 24 hours,” she said.

If you’re wondering about Anderson’s day-to-day living and her work-life balance, here’s a snapshot: She lives in Echo Park on the east side of Los Angeles with a Great Dane named Theo. Everything in her world has to be planned to the minute in order to manage LA’s out-of-control traffic. She spends the greater part of her working days talking with music agents and other support staff.

If you think that sort of daily grind would make for a dull life, you’d be quite wrong, of course. Anderson’s been in the same small after-concert room with Sir Elton John, and she met Diplo at the Spotify party for the Grammy Awards.

“You never know what we’re going to announce. You never know what email I’m going to get in my inbox in the next 10 minutes. It’s always changing,” she said. Helping an artist succeed, “that’s really fulfilling for me. Quite frankly, it’s amazing. There’s not much to compare it with in my world.”

So, what could possibly be next for someone living this kind of life?

“I just got my first electric guitar,” she said. “And I’m going to try to learn it.”

NOW IN ITS 26TH YEAR, OXFORD’S AWARD-WINNING ARTS FESTIVAL IS READY TO ROLL WITH ART, MUSIC, FOOD AND FUN.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

Lee Ann Stubbs holds Blake Gore’s original Double Decker artwork.

The spring season in Mississippi means many things, and the start of festival season is certainly near the top of the list. In Oxford, thoughts turn to the big event inspired by the bright-red, two-tiered British bus that’s been a part of the city since 1994. That’s right. It’s time once again for the Double Decker Arts Festival. The 26th annual award-winning event is slated for April 28 and 29 on the historic Square.

The festival was named the 2022 Best Large Festival by the Mississippi Tourism Association and a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society, to name only two of its more than 25 awards. The weekendlong gathering celebrates music, the arts and food.

Since its inaugural event in 1996, the festival has grown tremendously in participation and in attendance, now attracting more than 75,000 festivalgoers.

Music will kick off Double Decker weekend on Friday and continue through Saturday. Friday night music starts at 6:15 p.m. with The Stews, followed by Chapel Hart (7:45 p.m.) and Ashley McBryde

(9 p.m.). Saturday’s live music starts at 11 a.m. with The Mississippians Jazz Ensemble and continues throughout the day and into the night with Vieux Farka Touré, Sensational Barnes Brothers, Southern Avenue, Lissie, Blackberry Smoke and Marcus King.

Local food vendors have offerings unique to the festival throughout the day Saturday, in addition to beloved eats like pizza, fried catfish, Oxsicles and more. Saturday morning also includes 5K and 10K races and children’s fun run.

The juried art vendor showcase, on Saturday only from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., covers the creative spectrum, including drawings, glass, painting, jewelry, sculpture, photography, mixed media and printmaking. A preview takes place Friday in the Boles Wiley Alley on the Square, hosted by the Oxford Artist Guild.

Continued on page 50

Opposite page, Double Decker coordinator Lee Ann Stubbs holds Blake Gore’s original version of this year’s Double Decker Arts Festival poster. Turn to page 50 for more on Gore and his miniatures.

VISIT OXFORD

Continued from page 49

2023 FEATURED ARTIST | BLAKE GORE

In 2005, the Double Decker Arts Festival began choosing, from many submissions, a piece of artwork to be printed on T-shirts, posters and signs. It would be considered the official art for that year. It’s now a tradition that’s been continued annually since that initial year.

The 2023 featured artist is no stranger to Mississippi or to Double Decker. Though he now lives in Virginia, Blake Gore grew up in Houston, Mississippi; attended Tupelo High School; and met his wife, Lori, while he was studying English and political science at Ole Miss.

The 42-year-old did not become a creator of art until 2017, when he accepted a Twitter challenge to produce and share a 1-inch-by-1-inch drawing daily for a month. He figured he could do anything for a month, and he did. People noticed and wanted to purchase his tiny drawings, which was a big surprise to Gore.

When he created his submission for the Double Decker poster, Gore stepped outside his typical style.

“Miniatures don’t make for effective posters,” he said. “So, I stepped outside my typical style. It’s actually one of the very few times I’ve drawn anything other than miniatures, but being a part of Double Decker is too much of an honor to miss.”

Gore originally drew the poster art in miniature before converting it to poster size. He chose a mosaic style for the poster because he said he imagines Double Decker as a wonderful collection of culture coming together on the Oxford Square.

“Like the pieces in a mosaic, each artist and musician is unique and brings something special to the festival,” he said.

The father of four has been producing art ever since his monthlong challenge, still

small and usually done with a .15mm pen nib. His first time to show and sell his art at Double Decker was in 2019. Though he now does about 20 to 30 art shows a year across the United States, his favorite is Double Decker.

“When I heard my art had been selected, it was hard for me to really believe,” Gore said. “Throughout the years, I’ve collected various T-shirts and posters from the festival, so it was pretty surreal imagining my own work on those. This art journey has been a wild and unexpected ride, and it’s fun to see things come full circle back to Double Decker where I first showed my work.”

Stick man

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

Being competitive is what led Vondrel Warren into firefighting, but it was love alone that made him an artist.

“I’m very competitive,” said the 29-yearold Delta-born Warren. “My friend was a firefighter, and I thought, ‘I can do that,’ so I became a firefighter and ended up loving it.”

He’s been with the Clarksdale Fire Department nearly five years, where he’s now a lieutenant. He’s had a close call or two that involved electricity and a near tumble from a ladder. He’s also saved several tree-bound cats.

“The thing about a cat is, they don’t care if you are their hero,” Warren said, laughing. “They relax when you reach out for them in the tree, but when you get them down, they just walk away. They don’t even thank you.”

Oxford is home base for Warren and his wife China, a respiratory therapist, whose job takes her to Grenada and beyond. He works in Clarksdale, near Lyon, the community where he was born.

As a youngster, Warren took a shine to creating stick figures with a No. 2 pencil.

“My stick figures were different,” he

A FIREFIGHTER FINDS A CREATIVE OUTLET IN GRAPHITE AND CHARCOAL DRAWINGS.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

said. “I always gave them eyes.”

In junior high school and in the gifted program, Warren went through a rebellious phase — instead of focusing on what was being taught in the classroom, he perfected his doodles. And when the teacher caught him not paying attention, he’d get sent out of class. But a teacher who recognized Warren’s potential encouraged him to be attentive in class and find a better time for his drawing.

Warren remembers the first drawing he “sold.” He was working three jobs — teaching art to pre-kindergartners through third graders at Clarksville Collegiate Charter School, fighting fires and working at Roses Express. He did a portrait of a woman and her child.

“She fed me at her restaurant for a week,” Warren said. “With every commission, my drawing got better.”

Warren draws wherever he is — the firehouse, in coffee shops, in the living room of his Oxford condo. His No. 2 pencils have been replaced by graphite pencils and charcoal.

“I’ve tried painting with oils, but it takes so long to dry,” he said. “I’ve tried acrylics, too, but working in color is just different. Pencils have never let me down.”

Still, one lone colored drawing pops sitting among the rest of his work. It’s Warren’s first foray into colored pencils.

“A co-worker in the fire department is a fanatic for shoes, not in a negative way, he just loves Nike Jordans and has a lot,” Warren said. “I did that with him in mind.”

A portrait of his brother-in-law sits nearby, a blend of graphite pencils and charcoal. It takes much more than a passing glance to determine the portrait is, in fact, a Warren original and not a photograph. An unfinished piece rests on an easel. The largest work Warren has done, it’s a selfportrait of the firefighter in his turnout gear, his ax over his shoulder.

He’s pleased with his progress so far, but Warren is also hard on himself.

“I have a habit of short-changing myself,” he said. “I’m never really satisfied. An artist’s work is never done. Even in my stickman days, I kept trying to do something more to them.”

TWO CREATIVE, ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN WHO LOVE ENTERTAINING AND CELEBRATIONS START BUSINESSES TO PLAN AND PREPARE PICNICS.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

IIt may come as a surprise to most, but the picnic has an interesting and often complicated international history. In literature and in life, early picnics were planned only by the aristocracy (particularly in France) and only indoors. In the 19th century, the middle classes took a shine to the idea of picnics, but they moved their shared meals outside.

The countryside of England became a most popular place for picnicking, complete with baskets filled with favorite foods for lunch, in the early 20th century. These days, the picnic continues to evolve, and a spread can run the gamut from a romantic, wineaccompanied lunch for two to a fun family gathering with 30 or more picnickers. There’s even a U.S.-designated National Picnic Day, which is April 23.

Thanks to picnic pros, Danielle Mullins, 28, and Autumn Swinkowski, 27, those who want the perfect picnic in and around Oxford and Tupelo in northeast Mississippi now have help.

Tupelo’s Mullins owns Picnics + Poppies; in Oxford, Swinkowski runs Posh Picnic Oxford. The two expert picnic planners spoke with Invitation Magazines about their businesses.

Continued on page 60

Q: When did you start your picnic business? Is it just you or do you have business partners or staff members?

A: Picnics + Poppies: I started Picnics + Poppies in spring 2021. My husband Emory and I are the two who run the business. He’s been the biggest encourager and has carried and unloaded, with a smile on his face, more than I can keep up with. He’s also built all my tables, so the business would not run without him. I also have three little sisters who help me in the summertime if Emory is out of town.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: Posh Picnic Oxford was started in May 2021. I primarily run the business myself, but I do have a few people who assist me with setup for large picnics.

Q: How did the idea for the business come about?

A: Picnics + Poppies: I’ve always loved celebrating people. Whether it’s a job promotion, becoming a mom, an engagement or simply just celebrating a friendship, I’m the friend who wants to throw a celebration. After COVID, I noticed a yearning of people wanting to get together again. I saw where people came to realize how important it was to slow down and spend time together. I often feel like people want to celebrate others, but may not feel they have the time, creativity, decorations or resources to do it, so I wanted to take the stress out of celebrating and make it accessible to everyone. That’s how it came to be.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: The idea was sparked when I thought about how much people in Oxford already love luxury picnics because of the Grove atmosphere. I thought, why not have a service available like this almost year-round. I didn’t want this to be exactly like the

Grove, though. I wanted it to have the feeling you get when you dine at an upscale restaurant except outdoors. I’ve always loved entrepreneurship, and I knew once the idea sparked, I needed to make it a reality. I drew inspiration from some online research and meshed it with my own vision of how I think picnics should look. I love hosting and decorating, so this was the easiest part. Once I gathered items that fit my picnic vision, pictures were taken. I even had some friends model for the pictures. I posted the photos to social media, hoping it would be shown to at least one person who would book a picnic. I ended up booking my first picnic that summer and it was a domino effect. Word began to spread. People from that first picnic actually led to my second and third picnics being booked. I began running ads through social media. Luckily for me, my clients are the best and typically post photos of their events, which leads to more bookings. Through these various bookings, I expanded my maximum of 12-person picnics to picnics for 60+ people.

Q: Do you offer picnics year-round?

A: Picnics + Poppies: We do. Spring and early summer are our busiest times, but indoor picnics in the winter by a fireplace are becoming more and more popular.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: Picnics are offered from Feb. 1 to Nov. 15. I’ve learned the time outside those dates is not ideal picnic weather.

Q: When planning a picnic for a customer, do you plan your own ideas, offer suggestions, do just what the customer wants?

Continued on page 62

Continued from page 60

A: Picnics + Poppies: Most people message us through social media or email. I send a price and package list, and we go from there. Some customers know exactly what they want; some give you only colors. Still others say, “Surprise me.” We work with the client to make sure the picnic is geared toward the person they are celebrating so it’s uniquely theirs.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: If someone would like to book a picnic, you can visit our website poshpicnicoxford.com, email me at poshpicnicoxford@gmail.com or message me on any of our social media pages @poshpicnicoxford. The first thing I do is find out if the picnic is for a certain event, such as an engagement, birthday party, bachelorette party, anniversary date, sorority function, etc. Then I see if the client has something specific in mind. Most of the time, my clients let me have creative freedom on the picnics. I do try to stick with a color theme, if that’s wanted, or I might even throw in something extra that I think would go along with the event, such as a cute banner or special decor.

Q: What was the most unusual picnic you’ve done for a client?

A: Picnics + Poppies: Our most elaborate picnic was for a proposal, and he thought of every detail he wanted, and we made it happen. We had a “Will you marry me?” banner from Kaligraphy, flowers from Seven Acres, a charcuterie board from Queens Reward, and Sun Soaked Media as our photographer/videographer. We had string lights under a gazebo by a lake during a rain. It looked like a fairy tale, and, in case you were wondering, she said “yes.”

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: I’ve done both indoor and outdoor picnics, but clients typically prefer the outdoors if the weather is nice. My most unusual picnic was actually a recent one at a small farm in Tupelo. It was indoors due to cold weather, but I love doing picnics that aren’t my “usual” as well.

Q: What do you provide when someone comes to you for a picnic?

A: Picnics + Poppies: It is a two-hour rental. Each picnic will include a large charcuterie board and a drink for each person. We provide a full setup which consists of a table, floor pillows, blankets, candles, decor, a cake stand, plates, napkins, wine glasses and cutlery. Fresh flowers, s’mores and cupcakes can be added for an additional charge. We offer setups at Queens Reward, which includes your choice of mead or glass-bottled Coca-Cola.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: My basic picnic package comes with a complete rental setup of blanket rugs, solid wood tables, pillows, chargers, plates, silverware, glassware, table decor, flower arch, trash can, phone tripod for pictures, vintage picnic basket and a customizable letter board. After your event is over, we take down everything. All you have to do is come and enjoy; we take care of everything else.

Q: Is this something you plan to continue doing for a long time?

A: Picnics + Poppies: I don’t know if I’ll be doing picnics forever, but I know I will continue to do event planning and celebrating.

Danielle Mullins | Picnics + Poppies: I have a full-time job in communications. My husband and I are the parents of an almost-1-year-old girl. I have five brothers and sisters, have lived internationally twice and I played tennis at ICC. I also stage/ design homes, and I recently opened an Etsy shop.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: Absolutely. This business is an absolute dream for me, and I don’t see ending it anytime in the foreseeable future.

Q: Are you personally a fan of picnics from your childhood?

A: Picnics + Poppies: I always loved taking a picnic to the park or stopping at a rest stop to picnic on the way to Dollywood or the beach for our family vacations. The love for picnics continued when my husband and I were dating in college and would go to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge to have a picnic date night. Picnics became extremely special when my husband proposed to me on a picnic at sunset.

A: Posh Picnic Oxford: Yes! My family had a lot of picnics before the Ole Miss baseball games, and I loved them.

Autumn Swinkowski | Posh Picnic Oxford: I grew up in Water Valley but came to Oxford all the time for things like Ole Miss baseball and the wonderful food. I graduated from Ole Miss in 2018 with a degree in art. I have another business called Ruska Creations, where I sell my art online. I absolutely love doing anything creative.

MADE BY hand

MEET A TRIO OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI CRAFTSMEN WHO EACH DISCOVERED THEIR ARTISTIC GIFTS BY CHANCE.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Three northeast Mississippi craftsmen, whose work is vastly different, each found his way to his artistry almost by accident. For one, it remains a hobby; but for the other two, what began as a hobby has become a full-time job.

Whether full-time vocation or an afterwork pastime, all three men speak of their creative processes with a joy that’s nearly palpable. Each artist takes pride in the process, as well as his finished product. And clearly, their creations are labors of love.

Continued on page 66

METAL MANIA

Making things with metal is nothing new for J.W. Burcham, 62, of the Eggville community near Saltillo. It’s what tool and die makers do. But turning scrap bits of metal into whimsical art pieces is new to him. His hobby began as an ongoing thought process two years ago, but for a year now, Burcham has added action to his ideas. And now it’s difficult to build up his inventory — when folks see his artistry, they want to take it home, and usually do.

Along with dreaming up ideas for his metal creations for a year, he collected all manner of metal pieces and parts he’d eventually use to make them. He keeps in his pocket a magnet. It’s at the end of an extendable wand, so when he’s at work — or wherever metal scraps might lurk — he doesn’t even have to bend over to retrieve them.

Open your mind and picture these: A fish fashioned from a set of small Craftsman wrenches; a woodpecker made from a ball peen hammer head; a sailboat using a pick axe; a vintage fire truck complete with running boards, ladders, water tank and hose; a motorcycle made from a hammer head, armature from an electric motor and a broken wrench for the seat; a turtle made from nuts found on the floor at work; a Nativity made solely from railroad spikes; and a guitar that’s a compilation of an automotive timing chain, a bicycle chain, a few old spark plugs and an auto transmission pump for the sculpture’s base. And that’s just to name a few.

“I am constantly looking for things I can use,” Burcham said. “And when I see a piece of metal, my mind is constantly wondering what I can use it for. When I go to garage sales with my wife, Tracy, I always ask the same question, ‘You got any broken stuff?’”

Burcham loved to draw as a kid and he’s always enjoyed art, but he had no idea his affection for welding together metal bits would be such fun. He set up a booth last year at the Link Centre’s Holiday Market and had no idea what to expect. He sold almost every piece he’d made.

“It’s fun,” he said. “I thought it would be cool, but the more I get

into it and come up with ideas, the more fun it becomes.”

When Burcham photographs his work, he uses a soft drink can to show perspective and scale. Most of his pieces are small, but in 2008, he built large drum smokers.

“I built one for myself,” he said. “Then a cousin wanted one, then another cousin, and then someone requested their team’s logo be added. By the time I stopped making them, I’d made 30.”

One of his most recent creations is not as big as a drum smoker, but certainly not as small as his other pieces. It’s a tractor made from an 1890 Singer sewing machine and sprockets from a John Deere implement.

As word spreads of Burcham’s hobby, which he calls Metal Mania, people often call and ask if he can use this or that. He rarely says no.

“One man asked if I could use an old bicycle or two,” Burcham said. “When he brought them, he left 10. Another guy asked if I could use some empty oxygen cannisters. I told him I’d find something I can do with them.”

He doesn’t keep track of time when he’s having fun with his creations, but he figures he could spend three to four hours on some of them.

“But I may have spent weeks looking for everything I’m going to use to make it,” he said. “And that’s all part of the fun.”

See Burcham’s metal sculpture work on Facebook by searching “Metal Mania Art by JW Burcham.”

Continued on page 68

KNIVES OUT

A few years ago, Clay Beckwith was working in the City Grocery kitchen when his unexpected journey with knife-making began.

Not completely content with the cutlery in the restaurant’s kitchen, Beckwith ordered a pair of his own high-carbon steel knives from Dreck Metal, at that time in Arkansas, now in Kentucky.

“They were amazing knives,” Beckwith said. “I fell in love with them.”

He was so enamored, he wondered if he might try his hand at making one or two. That Beckwith, 31, was connecting with his creative nature should have surprised no one who knows his lineage. Beckwith’s father, Bill Beckwith, is a well-known Mississippi sculptor. The Greenville-born artist has done countless sculptures of famous folks, including the beloved bronze piece of the knees-crossed William Faulkner, seated on a bench just outside Oxford’s city hall.

“Because of my dad, I’d had all this equipment and all these tools around me all my life,” Clay Beckwith said. “When I asked him if I could use some of them, Dad let me run wild. I’d work all night in his shop in Taylor and then go back to City Grocery for my job.”

Six months later, he sold his first knife, and mostly by word of mouth, people became aware of his work, which was high quality, well made and beautiful. Orders started rolling in. He’s now sold knives locally, out of state, and even internationally.

“Matter of fact, I’ve sent 23 knives to a guy in Germany,” said Beckwith, who lives in Sherman with girlfriend, Megan Mooneyhan. “I never clock in for anyone anymore. Doing what I do now is the most gratifying, satisfying feeling. It never feels like work.”

The handles affixed to the high-carbon steel knife blades are all made by hand. Beckwith even harvests his own burls, often used in the handles, from the woods that are part of the family’s 40 acres. Most of his knives are made for chefs, but he has done custom orders for hunters, too. He has also made cutting and charcuterie boards, bottle openers and wooden spoons out of reclaimed barn wood.

He enjoys being his own boss and the head of SLAG Studios in Taylor, his one-man artistic knife-making endeavor. After much thought, Beckwith decided on SLAG, one-word for his business that he said is a nod to his dad, who, for a decade in the ’70s and ’80s, owned and operated Vulcan Studios & Foundry, Mississippi’s first commercial, fine arts bronze foundry. For the non-metallurgists, slag is the leftovers from forging steel and is often looked upon as undesirable scrap. Beckwith, however, has learned byproducts like slag can be recycled — new use, new opportunities.

He has been making knives since 2019, mostly learning his craft through reading and research, some trial and error, and a whole lot of practice. And he remains smitten with the making of knives.

“I don’t think people find happiness until they make a living contributing to something they have a hand in or something that’s actually a part of them,” he said. “Life is good.”

Check out Beckwith’s work on Instagram @slag_studios or at facebook.com/slagstudios.

Continued on page 70

LEATHER LEGACY

In 2013, after the death of his great uncle, William Brooks Hooper, in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Thad Hooper inherited his choice of tools associated with his relative’s hobbies. He knew little about his great uncle’s affinity for multiple hobbies until his death.

“He was a perpetual hobbyist,” Hooper said. “He made candles, worked with wood, leather, was a locksmith by trade. You name it, he was doing it.”

After briefly trying woodworking, Hooper chose the tools of a leathersmith and started his inherited hobby, even participating in the Double Decker Arts Festival in 2016. By 2020, the hobby became a full-time venture. He is self-taught, having read old books on the craft of leatherworking he found with his great uncle’s tools. There was lots of trial and error, and perhaps a bit of leathersmith DNA.

“If I see it,

it,” Hooper said of leather crafts.

The Meridian-born Hooper and his wife, Annie, were living in Huntsville, Alabama, and in 2020, went to Colorado to visit Annie Hooper’s parents, who’d bought a house there. While they were visiting, a storefront in Minturn became available.

“I went back to Huntsville, sold our house in 24 hours and headed back to Colorado,” Annie Hooper said. “We rented from my parents and opened the shop where we sold 80 percent leather and the rest was pottery and other things made by local artists.”

Minturn Mercantile opened in June 2020 and closed in Dec. 2022 when the couple, both Ole Miss graduates who met after college, returned to Oxford just before last Christmas.

For now, they are staying at The Z Bed & Breakfast, owned by Annie ’s family. A round table in an alcove off the kitchen is Hooper’s temporary workshop. Large sheets of leather stand rolled up in one corner while leatherworking tools — large spools of thread, a rawhide mallet, a rotary razor blade, a small square of marble and a few rubber mats — are scattered around the leathersmith’s feet. And, of course, there’s the unmistakable rustic scent of leather.

“We’re around it so much, we often don’t notice it,” Annie said.

Hooper is a patient man, his wife said. And patience is a good trait to possess as a leathersmith, especially when stitching by hand with two needles and heavy-duty thread.

His arsenal of inventory includes wallets, bottle openers, valet trays, totes, Yeti sleeves, flasks, aprons, journals, knife sheaths, guitar straps, Christmas stockings and more.

“I have always enjoyed working with my hands and being creative,” Hooper said. “Leatherwork accomplishes both, and it never feels like work.”

See Hooper’s work on Instagram @hooperleathercompany and at minturnmercantile.com or visit his booth at Double Decker.

I can do

LADIES BASEBALL FORUM

The 2023 Ole Miss Ladies Baseball Forum, held for the past eight seasons, took place Jan. 28. Hosted by the Rebel baseball team, the forum gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about the game of baseball, the coaches and Ole Miss players.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURETTA PIESKO

1. Kay Holman, Penny Garrard and Elizabeth Swain 2. Cathy Harrell, Tammy Moore and Paula Melton

3. Mallory McCormick, Leissa Hill, Connie Blair and Ginny Ingram

4. Romana Moss and Susan Gunn

5. Catherine Bianco, Chloe Walker and Ellie Beull 6. Mary Houston and Anna Claire Ivy 7. Melissa Irby, Sandy Gates, Polly Hubbell and Sara Lloyd

BIG EVENT CUPID RUN

Members of the nonprofit organization Ole Miss Big Event hosted their annual 5K run Feb. 12 with a Valentine’s Day theme. The Big Event has been the largest community service project in the history of the university.

1. Ashley Jacobs and Maggie Cleveland 2. Anna Catherine McDonough, Madison Moroney, Elizabeth Yeary and Hannah Bevil

3. Hannah Mimbs and Ashley Parks 4. Meghan Spalding, Francesca Patawaran and Mary Cecil Hancock 5. Samantha Namakura, Aaron Smith and A.J. Heskett 6. Elizabeth Smith and Madison Wineburg 7. Brittani Bundren, Allison McCain, Katie Murphy, Bayleigh Hall and Jesicca Stoval 8. Preston Antes and Harrison Hayes 9. Frances Abernathy and Landon Wong 10. Mary Evans and Ansley McKnit

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURETTA PIESKO

10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

Theatre Oxford’s annual 10-Minute Play Festival, held Feb. 10 and 11, continues to draw new works from all over the world. This year’s festival took place at the Powerhouse.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

1. Whitney Phillips and Renita Isom 2. Crawford Shows and Annabel Gray

3. Cathy and David Smith 4. Deborah and George Kehon

5. Keeley and Anthony Rimoldi 6. Wendy Garrison, Jeanne Hays and Liz Hyde 7. James Friedman and Jessica Carrier

TASTE OF OXFORD

The 15th annual St. Jude Taste of Oxford was held Feb. 16 at The Jefferson. The event offered a regional culinary experience along with an opportunity to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

1. Amanda Moorhead and Annie Robertson 2. Ashley and Craig Dismuke 3. Hubert and Rose Spears 4. Brooke and Jonathan Underwood

5. Erin and Alex Robinson 6. Robin Samuel and Kevin Nienhus 7. M.K. and Stephen Chavez

NIGHT TO SHINE

On Feb. 10, Grace Bible Church was an official host church for the 2023 Night to Shine, an event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation in various locations around the country. The prom night experience is for people ages 14 and older with special needs.

1. Olivia Lott, Madison Wadsworth and Lilly McElreath 2. Amy and Story Burnett

3. Eddie McNeal and Emilee Manahan 4. Cindy Snellgrove and Sydney Rhea Pitts

5. Landon Wong and Sam Drennan 6. Anna Claire Chappelle and Lindsey Ingram 7. Lucy Perry, Georgia Mercier, Claire Tosh, Mae Maxwell and Lainey Schusselin 8. Ella Shelton, Katelyn Kirkendall and Charles Johnson 9. Jonathan Burn and Andrew Sims 10. Victoria Wolf and Stuart Risner 11. Kody Hunter and Garrett Chance 12. Brooke Thompson and Kenny Cleveland 13. Tiffany Atkinson and Meredith Whited

PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

LYLE LOVETT CONCERT

musician and

PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

Texas-based

storyteller Lyle Lovett, along with his Acoustic Group, entertained a crowd at the Ford Center in Oxford on Feb. 25.

1. Mary Beth Moore, Josette Nelson, Tate Moore, Derek Moreton, Rocio Harrelson, Mark Nelson, Mary Moreton and Darrell Harrelson 2. Alex and Fathom Riffle

3. Bryant and Shelli Poole 4. Dianne and Scooter Holliday

5. Karen and Wes Copple 6. Jimmy Sledge, Jack Sonni and David Anderson 7. Lee and Becky Kneupper

Leonard Thompson Memorial Highway Dedication

Disciple Now Weekend

1. Lawillius Hooper and Simeon Maiden 2. Lucas Fergusan, Dana Bullard, Michele Rudd-Toles and Joy Miles 3. Presleigh Loper and Ashlyn Hill 4. Lee Williams and Tray Lesueur 5. Levon Kinard and Julia Thompson 6. Eli and Will Edwards 7. Louis Zinc and Jeremy Woodall

Lafayette High School vs. Oxford High School Basketball

OUT & ABOUT

Ole Miss FCA Breakfast With Champions

Ava H. Bonds Auditorium Dedication

Regents School Dunkin’ with Dad

1. Jared Farlow and Christy Dearie 2. Keith Carter and Peggie Gillom 3. Lisa Paris, Laura Webb, and Stan Viner

4. Family, friends and former students of Ava H. Bonds 5. Colby and Duke Arceneaux 6. Major, Lola, Kette and Jagger Dornbusch

TUPELO CHARITY BALL

The Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo presented its 60th annual Charity Ball on Feb. 24 at Cadence Bank Arena. The theme was A Grand Gala: Helping Our Community Shine Like Diamonds.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

1. Jennifer McAdory, Sandy Waters and Chelsea Saxton 2. Kory Hunter, Ashley McLellan and Allie West 3. Liz Beauess, Tommy Green, Candace Waterer and Kellie Mathis

4. Kevin Ann Weatherly, Susie Thompson, Ellen Caldwell, Laura McCullough, Deborah Stone, Terri Stewart and Lisa Hawkins 5. Nan Pittman, Alyssa Lewis, Ava Willoughby, Hannah Sanders and Taylor Chandler 6. K’lee Capps and Kate Neal Mayfield 7. Anna Kate Bailee, Ayleen Garcia and Caydee Fleming

MARDI GRAS PARADE

The second annual Pontotoc Mardi Gras Parade, a family-friendly event, made its way around the Square complete with folks on bicycles, ride-on vehicle toys, golf carts, four-wheelers

1. Rodney Akers and Carrie Stringer 2. Patsy Sappington with Henry and Stella Johnson

3. Ella Townsend and Allie Montgomery 4. Vickie Miller and Beth Luther Waldo

5. Angela Coleman, Kay Smith and Molly McClantoc 6. Rosie and Don Russell 7. Beth Grisham, Penny Kidd and Ben Russell 8. Bella Palmer and Valerie Caden 9. Kay Smith, Edna Scott, Lisa Lucius and Sandra Wiesner

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

and feet on Feb. 11.

CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Northeast Mississippi Championship Rodeo was held at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo in early February. Rodeo lovers enjoyed classic events such as bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, rodeo clowns and more.

1. Angela and Kerry Stribling 2. Betsy, Brittany and Beck Brock 3. Maverick, Gretchen, Myles and Josh Inman

4. Emma Wilmoth, Lexie Lyles, Breanna Armstrong and Meaghan Sheffield 5. Ashley and Willa Boren with Reagan and Luke Garner, Brodie Boren and Matthew and Kathryne Kyle

6. Briggs and Kenzie Roberts 7. Noel, Peyton, Riley and Jacob Cameron with Kacie Holliman

EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON

The annual Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Empty Bowls Luncheon took place at Tupelo Furniture Market March 1. As in years past, those attending had their choice of soup from a participating restaurant, bread, water and a pottery bowl made by school students and area potters.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

1. Rena McNeely, Clay Anthony and Travis Beard 2. Joe Gonzalez, Trevor Rodriguez and Demetra Sherer

3. Jim and Mary Larson 4. Lisa Henley and Dan Schrodder

5. Sara and Stephanie Hall 6. Gatlin Farrar, Brandi Allen, Jasmah Coleman, Nerissia Watkins, Vicki Hill and Haley Black 7. Modesty Miller and Shan Williams

EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON

8. Toni Williams and Marla Richardson 9. Joe Tanner and Stephen Pettigo

10. Destiny Ritchie, Leslie Nabors and Angelene Ledbetter 11. Tori Frantz, Jessica Chapman and Larisa Pittman

12. Warner Creekmore, Jane Garrett, Torin Mallory and Jake VanNostrand

Girl Scouts Dessert Fundraiser

1. Kim Westhouse, Jane Riley and Sonya Alford 2. Ashley Waterfill and Danny McArthur 3. Leslie Geoghegan, Leah Herndon and Mindy Austin

4. Friends and Family of Circle S BBQ & More 5. Matthew Miles and Cooper Miller 6. Jamie Herfner and Christina Linder

Billy Clifton Artist Reception at Gumtree Museum of Art

Circle S BBQ & More Grand Opening

MONTHLY MUSINGS

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Local arts festivals bring the community together to celebrate and support musicians and artists of all kinds. We talked to Mississippi artist Charlie Buckley about the great opportunities arts festivals like Double Decker offer to working artists.

AS A YOUNG ARTIST, I STARTED MY CAREER PARTICIPATING IN ARTS FESTIVALS.

My wife and I would pack up the car with a tent, display panels and loads of art. This was the most instructional and formative time of my life as a working artist, and it allowed me to understand what folks were looking for and how to create work that would be more marketable. Festivals give artists the opportunity to show their work to thousands of people in a setting that encourages growth, innovation and playfulness.

DOUBLE DECKER AND GUMTREE ARE STANDOUT EXAMPLES …

they exist to build a dynamic creative industry in Mississippi. I encourage as many early-career artists as possible to take advantage of the possibilities created by the community they’ll find at festivals across the state.

Charlie Buckley received his BFA at the University of Mississippi and MFA at Miami University, and has taught drawing and painting at Miami, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Since 2011, he has been working exclusively as a painter and is represented by Fischer Galleries in Jackson and Southside Gallery in Oxford. A two-time fellow in Visual Arts from the Mississippi Arts Commission, Charlie has been awarded the Visual Arts award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, given annually to the artist with the best selection of new work in the state. Buckley lives in Oxford with his family and a menagerie of animals.

Samantha Fish performs at the 2022 Double Decker Arts Festival. Arts festivals give both musicians and artists a platform to showcase their talents and share them with the community.