LEO Weekly August 3, 2022

FREE AUG.3.2022

& Arts Entertainment

Guide

FOUR EXPERTS ON WHY NATURAL DISASTERS ARE HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY | PAGE 8

Spotlight on:

Local Artists + Dean Christensen + Brennen Cabrera + Nikki Douglas + Kojin Tashiro + Shyama Iyer

NEW LOCAL MUSIC REVIEWS | PAGE 28

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

1

2

fashion forward without spending a fortune shopsassyfoxconsign.com

LOUISVILLE ECCENTRIC OBSERVER

Volume 32 | Number 08 New Hours Tue–Fri 11–5 pm Sat 10–4 pm

502.895.3711 150 Chenoweth Ln

974 BRECKENRIDGE LANE #170. LOUISVILLE KY 40207 PHONE (502) 895-9770

FREE AUG.3.2022

& Arts Entertainment

Guide

FOUR EXPERTS ON WHY NATURAL DISASTERS ARE HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY | PAGE 8

Spotlight on:

Local Artists + Dean Christensen + Brennen Cabrera + Nikki Douglas + Kojin Tashiro + Shyama Iyer

ON THE COVER

FOUNDER

John Yarmuth

From LPM, Louisville Public Media

MANAGING EDITOR

Erica Rucker, erucker@leoweekly.com STAFF WRITER

Josh Wood, jwood@leoweekly.com Carolyn Brown, cbrown@leoweekly.com ART DIRECTOR

Talon Hampton, thampton@leoweekly.com CONTRIBUTING VISUAL ARTS EDITOR

Jo Anne Triplett, jtriplettart@yahoo.com Elizabeth Knapp, eknapp@leoweekly.com

Subscribe free at LouisvillePublicMedia.org/ArtsandCulture LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

Writer Illustrations by Yoko Molotov ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Marsha Blacker, mblacker@leoweekly.com

STAFF WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER

OFFICE MANAGER

Support from

CONTRIBUTORS

Robin Garr, James Wilkerson, James Bruggers, Jeff Polk, Sarah Kinbar, Melissa Gaddie, Nik Vechery, Dan Savage.

Scott Recker, srecker@leoweekly.com A&E EDITOR

WFPL’s Stephanie Wolf brings the latest cultural news and events to your inbox every other Tuesday.

PHOTO BY NIK VECHERY

NEW LOCAL MUSIC REVIEWS | PAGE 28

EUCLID MEDIA GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Andrew Zelman

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS

Chris Keating, Michael Wagner

VP OF DIGITAL SERVICES

Stacy Volhein

www.euclidmediagroup.com

LEO Weekly is published weekly by LEO Weekly LLC. Copyright LEO Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Publisher. LEO Weekly is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express permission of LEO Weekly LLC. LEO Weekly may be distributed only by authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) is a trademark of LEO Weekly LLC.

VIEWS

EDITOR’S NOTE

IN THE WAKE OF HISTORIC NATURAL DISASTERS, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE HELPING LONGTERM

By Scott Recker | leo@leoweekly.com

But, maybe the most important thing that we can do is not let this disaster fade from memory after the breaking news cools down.

In a few weeks, there will be fewer devastating updates, less catastrophic images and not as heavy of a spotlight on the still-developing situation, but it will take those communities affected years to rebuild. The same goes for the areas of Western Kentucky that were torn apart by tornadoes last December.

There aren’t quick, patch-up fixes that will swiftly bring everything back to normal.

They’re going to be grueling, time-consuming rebuilds that will be ongoing for a very long time. If we want to help as individuals, we should make a continued effort to be involved: Donate now, check in to see what they need in a month, a year, two years, etc.

Often, when natural disasters strike, and the danger level is still high, or rescue operations are still in play, officials tell people from outside the region not to randomly drive in, so roads don’t get jammed up. Everyone wants to help in the moment, and that’s natural. But, in a month, the need for volunteers might be extremely high. Let’s stay tuned in and give them what they need.

In terms of the natural disasters themselves, we can’t become numb to them, like it’s part of some apocalyptic new normal that we shrug off like America sadly continues to do when a mass shooting occurs.

These disasters will almost certainly ramp up, but we have to stay vigilant and helpful.

Of course, we’ll have to have a lot of tough conversations about climate change.

For only being two years into the decade, it’s been a tough ’20s for the Commonwealth: COVID, the police killing of Breonna Taylor, the tornadoes, the floods, rapid

inflation that accelerated the housing market and raised rent to financially crushing prices.

An age of radical volunteerism is needed.

The organizations to get involved with are out there, we just need to open up our time

and wallets. We have to remember everyone who’s suffering.

This is a note to myself, as much as it is to anyone else. •

MARC MURPHY

THE footage from the Eastern Kentucky flooding has been absolutely jarring, as historic water levels quickly submerged multiple communities, leading to heartbreaking damage and a rising death toll.

As of Tuesday at noon, there were 37 confirmed fatalities in five counties, with searches for missing people still underway.

From a distance, it’s always hard to know exactly how to help during disasters that happen fast and morph rapidly. We see our neighbors viscerally suffering, but sometimes we’re unsure of where to begin the process of contributing or volunteering.

Right now, for the average person, that likely starts with donations. Gov. Andy Beshear has established the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, a centralized, state-run web donation portal where 100% of the money goes to those affected.

There are also many more donation outlets, such as the fund set up by the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. The day this issue hits stands, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, the city of Louisville is holding a donation drive from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to pack SOS trucks that will be parked in front of Metro Hall (527 W. Jefferson St.) with general hygiene products to send to Eastern Kentucky (the list for which you can find on the city’s website). Small Louisville businesses are also hosting drives, like Headliners Music Hall, which is giving a pair of tickets to anyone who donates a gift card from 2-6 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 5, at the venue’s box office. These giving opportunities will continue to pop up around town via social media. Water, cleaning supplies and hygiene products seem to be currently the most needed things. Give what you can.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

3

VIEWS

TITLE IX GUY

UofL AND IUS HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE RED ZONE

By James Wilkerson | leo@leoweekly.com

AS the area continues to bake in the summer heat, it can be difficult to think that cooler temperatures are around the corner. Soon, however, we’ll be right back to the tailgating, Huber’s apple picking, craft beer sipping, pumpkin spiced glory known as fall.

The change of the season also signifies the beginning of the collegiate academic year for millions of students nationwide.

While students brim with the excitement of returning to campus, university sexual misconduct prevention practitioners prepare their campuses for “The Red Zone” — a period ranging from the start of the semester to Thanksgiving when the highest amount of collegiate sexual assaults occur. A 2007 report prepared for the National Institute of Justice found that around 50% of sexual violence incidents on college campuses happen in The Red Zone. With the new semester on the horizon, two Kentuckiana universities are going well beyond the bare minimum of compliance in preparing proactive education for their students.

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

Starting this fall, UofL will be putting an emphasis on bystander intervention with their incoming freshman class. “We will be relaunching our Green Dot training in the fall,” says Sarah Mudd, the school’s assistant Title IX coordinator. The Green Dot Bystander Intervention program has its roots in the Commonwealth, as it was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dorothy Edwards during her tenure as the director of the Violence and Prevention Center at the University of Kentucky. Since then, Green Dot training has become a popular prevention tool in the world of academia and is one UofL hopes to fully utilize this semester. “We have about 25 certified Green Dot Trainers from all areas of our campus community, including faculty, campus police and student affairs,” says Mudd. She continues, saying, “We will be working to train all of our freshmen through our campus culture classes.”

Anyone with a UofL diploma displayed on their wall will be familiar with the campus culture freshman experience class, as it is a requirement for graduation. Mudd says that Green Dot training will become a requirement in those classes this fall and will affect the approximately 3,300 students of their incoming class.

4

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

James J. Wilkerson.

In addition to Green Dot, Mudd says the university will be working to infuse sexual misconduct education into campus life using methods beyond typical workshops.

“We’re trying to look at ways we can get in front of students in ways that maybe aren’t presentations,” says Mudd. These methods include resources that Mudd has developed for resident assistants to use as educational components on the information boards in the resident halls. Mudd looks optimistically forward to both Green Dot training and her office’s other efforts saying, “This type of education aligns perfectly with UofL’s Cardinal Principles of being a community of care and respect.”

INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST

The Greek Law program began in 2015 as a law school student government program designed to teach fraternity members about sexual consent. This fall, Indiana University Southeast will adopt the program as their own to weave healthy sexual practice into

the fabric of their Greek Community. “On our campus, we have a very nice model where our Title IX office and Student Conduct Office work together to provide preventative and reactive measures,” says Dean of Students Seuth Chaleunphonh.

“The Greek Law program will give our new members a common language and set of expectations and goals to abide by as they mature as students.” All freshmen fraternity and sorority members will attend a session in September titled “Greek 101,” where they will learn about the university sexual misconduct policy as well as other topics such as consent, different types of sexual misconduct commonly found on college campuses and how to properly report misconduct issues. New members will also receive their Green Dot certification. Throughout the year, Greek chapters will participate in community outreach projects covering a variety of topics ranging from domestic violence awareness to healthy masculinity practices.

“Having chapters coordinate their own community programs will show an understand-

ing of the material they are learning,” says Chaleunphonh.

The Greek Law program will extend into the spring semester’s “Breaking Bread” sessions, where chapters will intentionally engage in conversations on a variety of topics including dating violence, masculinity and current events. Chapters that fully participate in the program will be recognized at the Student Awards ceremony in April.

With less than a month away, students are already excited about the program. “I think Greek Law will really help bring awareness to topics that can be difficult to discuss,” says Panhellenic Council President Kaylee Brown. Brown hopes the program will not only help students become knowledgeable, but also accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, Dean Chaleunphonh believes the lessons learned through Greek Law will ultimately contribute to the students’ personal development while instilling lifelong values. •

at the Trager Family JCC

Tickets to MainStage Productions on Sale August 8!

$25 each

Upgrade available for VIP experience

2022-23 Season Dates

August 2022 25, 26, 28 & 29

October 2022 27, 29, 30 & 31 November 2022 3

February 2023 23, 25, 26 & 27 March 2023 2, 4 & 5

May 2023 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20 & 21

The King’s Revue • December 10, 2022 The Diary of Anne Frank • April 13, 15 & 16, 2023

For more Season and Ticket information, visit: jcclouisville.org/centerstage Trager Family JCC • 3600 Dutchmans Lane • Louisville, KY 40205 LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

5

NEWS & ANALYSIS

INSIDE LOUISVILLE’S NON-POLICE RESPONSE 911 DIVERSION PROGRAM

By Josh Wood | jwood@leoweekly.com

THE WORST, BEST & MOST ABSURD THORN: ABORTION ILLEGAL AGAIN Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, abortion’s legality has see-sawed in the Commonwealth. In July, abortion providers won a victory in court by getting a temporary injunction allowing abortions while their lawsuit against Kentucky’s strict abortion bans continued. However, on Aug. 1, the state court of appeals granted Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s motion to stay that injunction, meaning that once again in Kentucky, if a child was raped and impregnated by a family member, they would, according to law, have to carry the pregnancy to term unless their life was in danger.

Louisville police cars downtown. | PHOTO BY KATHRYN HARRINGTON.

WHEN plans got underway to introduce a non-police response to some behavioral health-related 911 calls, Louisville Metro Emergency Services Deputy Director Kelly Jones didn’t love the idea.

As a former cop who spent three decades on Louisville’s police force before joining Emergency Services, the thought of sending unarmed civilians into unpredictable environments struck him as reckless and dangerous.

In Jones’ telling, he put his “foot down and [his] mouth open” and told representatives of Seven Counties Services — the company hired by the city to staff the program — that he would not take responsibility for civilian responders getting killed, so they better find a way to operate safely.

“I was adamant about that. Probably not so nice about that. Because I didn’t want anybody hurt — including the person that needs the services,” he said.

“It took one of them to finally tell me

6

THORNS & ROSES

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

one day: ‘Look Kelly, our people are willing to accept those risks when they go into the field. Get over that. We’re willing. You’re not putting us in that position. You’re not making us. We’re not a last resort. We’re willing to take the risk, just like you did when you were a cop.’”

Today, Jones is a strong supporter of the diversion program, which began operations in March after a year and a half of planning and study.

The program, which can see unarmed civilian crisis interventionists respond to some behavioral health crises instead of police officers, was the most ambitious community-related policing reform included in the September 2020 settlement between the city and the family of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black ER tech who was killed by police in her apartment more than two years ago.

Diversion programs in Louisville and elsewhere across the country oper-

ate on a simple premise: Police are not always the best choice to respond to certain emergency calls, nor are they equipped to do so. As communities across the nation sought ways to “reimagine” policing and reduce contacts between the general public and armed police officers amid 2020’s racial justice protests, diversion programs were frequently brought up as a reform that could do that.

While diversion programs reduce contact between police and members of the public, the leaders of Louisville’s diversion efforts say their program also frees up 911 dispatchers as well as police officers to better do their jobs at a time when the department continues to struggle with low staffing levels.

AN OPTION BEYOND JAIL OR THE HOSPITAL

Under Louisville’s diversion program, people experiencing a behavioral health crisis, or who are with people

ROSE: BESHEAR’S AGAIN HANDLES DISASTER WITH GRACE For the second time in less than a year, Kentucky has faced a natural disaster that has killed dozens and made national headlines. As happened with the December tornado — and the uncertain days following the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 — Gov. Andy Beshear has handled the Eastern Kentucky floods with grace, empathy and leadership. With the floods, Beshear has brought back his familiar refrain to Kentuckians: “We will get through this together.” Unfortunately, with climate change in full swing, Beshear might have more opportunities in natural disaster spotlight.

THORN: THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH Recent reporting by the Courier Journal has put into perspective something we all innately know during this era of rapid inflation: The rent is too damn high. CJ reporter Thomas Birmingham featured the story of a JCPS employee making $35,000 per year who was being forced out of their apartment after their rent suddenly went up by $353 a month. Those kinds of increases aren’t outliers: According to the article, the average price of a onebedroom apartment today in Louisville is more than the average price of a two-bedroom apartment in 2019. “It feels like a blatant money grab,” the JCPS employee told the paper.

THORN: ANOTHER YEAR WITH 100+ HOMICIDES For the third year running, Louisville has surpassed 100 homicides. For three years, the folks in power have talked about the urgent need to address violence and the root causes of violence. But here we are again. Here’s hoping for better days in 2023.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

who are experiencing such a crisis, can see their 911 calls diverted to a trained “crisis triage worker” at downtown’s MetroSafe building. If their crisis cannot be resolved over the phone, a mobile response team is dispatched to that person’s location. A mobile response team can also be requested

by LMPD officers who deem their presence appropriate.

“Essentially their focus is to figure out what’s going on with that person and help de-escalate them through their crisis, whatever that looks like for them,” said Nicole Wiseman, deflection project coordinator with Seven Counties Services.

The program is currently operational between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily for callers in LMPD’s 1st and 4th Divisions. The 1st Division covers downtown and Phoenix Hill as well as the West End’s Russell and Portland neighborhoods. LMPD’s 4th Division covers South Louisville, Old Louisville, Shelby Park, Smoketown, Germantown, Schnitzelburg and several other neighborhoods. Those behind the program hope to expand it to a 24/7, city-wide operation as soon as possible, but have been struggling with staffing (Seven Counties is currently advertising for multiple 911 deflection jobs on its website).

Through June, the program received 261 “unduplicated” calls according to Seven Counties Services, which noted that they received “a lot more” repeat calls. According to Emergency Services, there were more than 630 calls to 911 through June that would have qualified for the deflection program, but were received outside of its working hours or originated in areas of the city not yet covered by the program.

Most diversion calls get resolved on the phone, with the mobile response team being dispatched on 75 occasions, according to Seven Counties Services.

While police have few options for intervention mental health calls — pretty much the hospital or jail — mobile responders have the ability to connect people experiencing a crisis with services that they need by putting them in touch with resources or even giving them a ride. They also have the ability to bring them to a “respite center” at a Seven Counties facility where they can stay for 24 hours.

“What that looks like is a place that they’re able to go for up to 24 hours and just be safe and stable, to take them out of whatever situation that they’re in so they have a little extra support,” said Wiseman. “So, it’s not to the extent of hospitalization, because for many folks, that’s not what they need.

But they need a little more support than

what they have at that particular moment.”

The respite center differs from the Living Room, a similar space that ceased operations due to budget cuts in 2019, in that it requires a referral from the 911 diversion program, meaning police can’t drop people off there nor can people show up there without a referral.

Mobile responders can also give a person in crisis a ride to a service, or even a friend’s house.

“Sometimes that transportation might be to a family or friend’s house because that’s someone who’s a natural support to them,” said Jean Romano, vice president of adult services at Seven Counties. “We want to increase their use of natural supports so they’re not relying on 911 as their ‘I need help.’”

Calls where an individual is in physical possession of a weapon, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol “to the extent requiring medical intervention,” is in the process of or threatening to hurt or kill someone, requires medical attention or is known to be potentially violent do not qualify for diversion and will still be routed to police.

However, Meiman, the Emergency Services executive director said it is a case by case basis at times: For instance, he said, if somebody said they were going to get a gun in their house and kill themselves, that would likely result in a police response whereas if somebody threatened suicide with pills, that might only see the crisis response team show up.

Crisis responders have the ability to summon law enforcement if they feel the need and can also opt out of any situation they feel is unsafe.

STOPPING REPEAT CALLS, FREEING UP POLICE

Those overseeing the 911 deflection program say it also frees up 911 operators and police officers.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we have some callers that sometimes call [911] 200 to 300 times before lunch,” said Jones.

“And that takes away from people who really need 911 services. Because if [repeat callers] call and hang up, they have a policy, they have to be called back.”

Often, people call 911 when they feel there is nobody else to help them, even if their reason for calling does not rise to the level of what might traditionally be considered an emergency. The diversion program allows for those people to speak to somebody who is able to listen and connect them with services they could benefit from, going

beyond what a 911 dispatcher can offer. effects of over-policing for decades, mobile Meiman, the Emergency Services Execu- crisis responder Curtis Sears saw firsthand tive Director, recalled a “success story” how many people were reluctant to call the where a person who used to call “several police when they were in trouble. hundred times a day” was routed to a crisis “They felt like if they called the police, triage worker who found out the caller had with that individual having those mental been without their medication and needed to health meltdowns or whatever, that it be connected with services to help them get wouldn’t turn out so good if the police came medication. out,” said Sears.

Another success story Meiman recalled When Sears saw plans for the 911 deflecwas when officers were able to call mobile tion program on the news, he thought it was responders to a behavioral health crisis — something he’d love to be a part of. He had freeing the officers to respond to a robbery previously been with the Department of blocks away when the mobile responders Juvenile Justice for nearly three decades, took over. where he worked with minors caught up “For a lot of those folks, we found out in the justice system, many of whom had they really just need to talk to somebody,” mental health issues. said Wiseman. “And they may have not As a program supervisor with Louhad that outlet for whatever reason before. isville’s deflection program, Sears gets Perhaps they didn’t dispatched to know about crisis behavioral health hotlines, or they crises that cannot didn’t have that be handled over the natural support in phone. Responders Sears is optimistic their family.” like Sears work in Police respondpairs, riding in a that the program will ing to behavioral plain white van and health crisis calls wearing civilian help people access often have no good clothes, hoping to behavioral health options, with jail free callers of the and the hospital stigma that might services they need being the places come with blue they can bring — particularly in police lights, sirens somebody in a and uniformed officommunities where mental health crisis. cers outside of their “Having us be home. people are hesitant able to engage and Sears feels the to have contact with interrupt that cycle fact that they are has been helpful,” civilians helps police. said Romano, the people in crisis open Seven Counties Serup and get the assisvices adult services tance they need. vice president. “I’ve “I think people had multiple officers are more open to call me and say ‘Hey, what about this one? us sometimes because they see us as mental Is this one that we can do?’ So I know health specialists and what they’re experithey’re thinking about it.” encing is a mental health crisis,” he said.

And sometimes, the presence of police “It’s almost like saying you wouldn’t go to a on those kinds of runs can have potentially hamburger joint to get a fish sandwich.” deadly consequences — just see headSears is optimistic that the program lines like “13-Year-Old Boy With Autism will help people access behavioral health Disorder Shot By Salt Lake City Police” or services they need — particularly in comthe chilling statistic from a Washington Post munities where people are hesitant to have investigation that found police officers killed contact with police. the person they were called to help 178 “This program will help a lot of people a times nationwide between 2019 and 2021. lot, because a lot of people who would generally not be getting help will get it now,” he said. • A SERVICE FOR THOSE WARY OF

CALLING THE POLICE

Growing up in Louisville’s mostly-Black West End, an area of the city where residents have complained about the deleterious LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

7

NEWS & ANALYSIS

FOUR NOTED ATMOSPHERIC SCIENTISTS EXPLAIN ‘WHY WE KEEP GETTING HIT’

By James Bruggers | Inside Climate News

[Editor’s Note: This story was originally published by Inside Climate News. Visit their website at insideclimatenews.org] AFTER three years in office, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has grown accustomed to holding media briefings on weather disasters.

In February 2020, heavy rain caused flooding across Central and Eastern Kentucky, and mudslides in Eastern Kentucky, raising the Cumberland and Kentucky rivers to their highest levels in decades. In an essay lamenting the suffering, Kentucky author Silas House wrote of residents of a Harlan County trailer park having to escape rising waters with “only the clothes on their backs and their babies on their hips,” hundreds of damaged homes and the governor declaring a state of emergency.

In February 2021, the worst flooding in at least six decades inundated Central and Eastern Kentucky, triggering landslides and numerous water rescues.

In December 2021, the deadliest tornado outbreak in state history killed 80 people. One of the tornadoes cut a path on the ground for more than 165 miles across multiple states, and was as much as a half-mile wide when it tore through Western Kentucky.

On Thursday, as images and videos of the horrific nature of the catastrophic flooding in the mountain valleys of Eastern Kentucky spread on social media and across the national news, Gov. Beshear recited the details of the latest disaster as he knew them: Some counties were half underwater, double-digit deaths were expected, the flooding was the worst he had seen in Kentucky in his 44-year lifetime.

Then he said this: “I wish I could tell you why we keep getting hit here in Kentucky. I wish I could tell you why areas where people may not have much continue to get hit and lose everything. I can’t give you the why, but I know what we do in response to it. And the answer is everything we can. These are our people. Let’s make sure we help them out.”

The response on Twitter was swift.

8

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

Some of his supporters embraced Beshear, a Democratic governor, for what has become one of his trademarks, and strengths, as he prepares for a tough 2023 re-election battle in an otherwise Republicandominated state public appearances where he displays a degree of empathy worthy of former president Bill Clinton.

But others on Twitter were quick to attack him, saying that the answer to the “why” was obviously climate change, an issue the governor rarely discusses. His statewide energy plan, for example, does not include any mention of the words “climate change,” though he loves to talk about two planned new manufacturing plants for electric vehicle batteries, to be built along the Interstate-65 corridor south of Louisville.

Beshear is among the most popular Democratic governors in the country, with some polls giving him a 60% approval rating. But he is also hemmed in politically by the supermajority of Republicans controlling the Kentucky General Assembly. They are unsympathetic to the climate crisis in a state where Republicans and Democrats alike have long backed coal mining and coal burning as part of the state’s identity, even though Kentucky has been shedding coal mining jobs for decades.

“Given his close margin of victory in the last election and the importance of the coal industry to the state, I just don’t think he can afford to mention climate change,” said Melissa Merry, a University of Louisville political science professor whose research area includes environmental politics. “It will make him an easy target for his political opponents.”

Beshear defeated incumbent Matt

Gov. Andy Beshear in Eastern Kentucky during the flooding. | PHOTO PROVIDED.

Bevin, an unpopular Republican, by only about 5,000 votes in 2019.

Merry said, “Beshear, like other Dems, has incorporated some environmentally friendly priorities into his agenda, like building infrastructure for electric vehicles.” But, she added, “He’s not going to call that a solution to climate change or in any way suggest that it threatens the status quo way of doing things, politically or economically.”

Dewey Clayton, another University of Louisville political science professor, said of Beshear, “He’s hamstrung in many ways.”

The state’s legislature has taken away some of the governor’s powers, Clayton said, but he added, “Andy is a noncontroversial kind of guy,” and that seems to be working for him, given his favorable poll numbers.

Another Southern governor, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, driven in large part by his state’s experience with devastating hurricanes, has been able to put forward a climate agenda even though his legislature, also is controlled

by Republicans. But Clayton describes North Carolina as “more progressive” than Kentucky, with an evolving elector-

ate as newcomers move into the research triangle around Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and the rapidly growing and increasingly diverse Charlotte metropolitan area.

Beshear’s media office declined comment. But The Courier Journal reported on Friday that the governor said he believes climate change is real and causing more severe weather.

“With that said, I don’t know about this one, and whether it is or is not connected. And I don’t want to cheapen or politicize what these folks are going through,” the Courier Journal quoted Beshear as saying.

Climate change doesn’t care about polling or political viewpoints.

On Friday, with extreme weather making headlines seemingly everywhere — drought and fire in California, deadly flooding in St. Louis, a heat wave in Europe — and a vast swath of eastern Kentucky’s valleys and hollows underwater, Inside Climate News went to four top climate scientists and asked them how they would answer Beshear’s question of “why we keep getting hit here in Kentucky.”

Here’s what they said:

NEWS & ANALYSIS JONATHAN OVERPECK, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN:

“It’s clear now to climate scientists that human-caused climate change has warmed the atmosphere significantly, and that this warmer atmosphere can—and often does—hold more moisture. So when it rains it can rain harder and more intensely.

“This means the risk of flooding is going up dramatically over much of the planet where people live, and Kentucky is one of those places. The evidence is clear that climate change is a growing problem for Kentucky and the surrounding region—more floods like this week, and more floods when wetter tropical storms track north over the state.

“Kentucky also got a taste of dangerously high temperatures earlier in the week, and not too long ago, the state was ravaged by tornadoes. Heat waves are clearly getting more dangerous and deadly due to human-caused climate change, and there is growing evidence that thunderstorms are getting supercharged by the warming atmosphere as well, and that can mean higher tornado risks.

“My heart goes out to the people of Kentucky who have been impacted by the worsening climate crisis in so many ways, and the governor needs to acknowledge that there is more that he and his fellow politicians can do to stop this worsening crisis.”

MARSHALL SHEPHERD, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: “The attribution literature is clear about certain extremes. The DNA of climate change is increasingly [found] in today’s heat waves, rainstorms and droughts. In a nutshell, the naturallyvarying weather is getting a boost in the same way baseball players did in the steroid era. Natural variability and anthropogenic-related climate change happen together. It’s not either/or.”

DREW SHINDELL, EARTH SCIENCES PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY: “I have a little bit of sympathy for [Gov. Beshear] being in a difficult position. But he’s not doing the citizens of Kentucky any favors by gilding over the truth and sort of giving the impres-

sion that we can’t say the ‘why,’ we can just say, ‘Oh, this is a sad thing, and we should try to make these people’s lives better.’

“We’ve had hurricanes come into North Carolina, and those are more powerful because of climate change. The heat waves are stronger and more likely and last longer because of climate change.

And the same thing with these kinds of flooding events. This is extremely well-known that the ‘why’ is because we pump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, mostly carbon dioxide and methane, we make the planet warmer, and a warmer planet has more extreme weather. This is the kind of stuff we’ve been forecasting for decades. We’ve been watching it happen now, because of our failure to rein in emissions.

“We know exactly why this kind of stuff is happening more often to people across the United States, in both red states and blue states. And it’s not going to solve the problem by pretending that we don’t know the cause of it. We know the cause. And it’s fossil fuel use.”

SCOTT DENNING, ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES PROFESSOR, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY:

“Why are these kinds of massive rain storms and flooding events happening more often than they used to? By definition, that is climate change. Climate change is a difference in the statistics of the weather. So the rain on a given day in a given place — that’s the weather. The trends in horrific flooding, that’s climate change.

“But in Kentucky, and not just Kentucky but pretty much everywhere east of the Mississippi, there’s this dramatic increase in the number of these extremely heavy rain events. That’s climate change.

You know, it’s not even controversial.

There’s no attribution required.

“Now as to why that’s happening. It’s because we’re setting carbon on fire. And that adds to the heat holding capacity of the earth. And that increases the temperature and there are all these knock-on effects. So, unfortunately, it will get worse and worse and worse, until we stop making it get worse.

“And by that, I mean, we have to stop setting carbon on fire. Full stop.” •

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

9

10

& Arts Entertainment

Guide

Art is subjective — a cliche— and it is a practice and vital to our survival. It is all of these things, and it’s something that we will never quite get a handle on. The human experience is so varied and shaped by influences that we can and have no capacity to control. We create to seek understanding and to challenge ourselves to be better. It isn’t just on paper — we do this with our speech, our bodies in dance, with our instruments in music. This issue, we’re speaking to five local artists who are challenging narratives about what art can be, setting their own styles and agendas against the norms. With humor, blood, sweat and romance, these five artists are part of what makes Louisville such an important arts town. Whatever we get from our river water and the bluegrass air, Louisville is something different — deserving of the attention our artists get and worthy of more. Here are this year’s five creators...

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

ARTIST DEAN CHRISTENSEN WANTS YOU TO EAT YOUR BROCCOLI

By Sarah Kinbar | leo@leoweekly.com

FIGURATIVE painter Dean Christensen was in kindergarten when the importance of art became real to him. He was eager to show his classmates a Pokemon card, the snake Ekans to be exact. There was a problem. He didn’t have that card. His mother Laurie drew the Pokemon for him, “and I was just like, you don’t even need to buy these things. You can make them if you learn how to draw.”

Astounded by the possibilities, the budding Louisville artist began drawing his own Pokemon cards.

Fast forward 17 years to 2016 and Christensen would have his first solo exhibition at Galerie Hertz, “The Millennial Man: Me, My Selfie and I.” His paintings explore the influence of smartphones on how we see ourselves and understand life.

Now Christensen is 29, living in Brooklyn, and he’s taking requests. Or, more accurately, he’s taking questions. If you would

Artist Dean Christensen now resides in Brooklyn, New York. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTENSEN

like to know more about him and his art, tag him in an Instagram Story @deansace_official with your questions for him.

We’ll go first. We have questions!

IS YOUR ARTWORK DEFINED BY TRAUMA IN ANY WAY?

It has to be, you know? I’ve always had ADHD and I thought that I was stupid. But having this hyper-focus on art, it has become my safe haven. It’s the thing that I am good at, and I always go back to it because it is this place that I feel I have value.

WHEN YOU CREATE ART, DO YOU THINK ABOUT AUDIENCE PERCEPTION?

That’s a really good question. I think I do. But if I’m ever making a painting to get

a response out of other people exclusively, it’s incredibly draining. The paintings I do fully for myself are really energizing, and because of that, I end up caring less whether people like it or not, because I had fun.

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE YOUR AUDIENCE?

I see younger people that are interested in art but don’t think of it as a feasible profession. And I like to feel like I am that person who makes them realize, ‘if he can do it, then I can do it.’ My audience is so diverse.

All of my art shows are full of all different types of people, all ages, all genders, all races. It’s really important to me for it to be that way and for it to feel open and inclusive for everybody. The demographic insights on Instagram tell me my audience

is 50% female and 50% male, which I really love, but it would be better if they tracked a nonbinary option. It’s ridiculous they don’t have that.

YOUR WORK HAS CLEARLY BEEN CELEBRATED AND ADMIRED BY MANY PEOPLE. HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN FEEDBACK OR READ A REVIEW OF YOUR WORK THAT WAS NEGATIVE?

There was a critique of my first show, and the paintings were massive selfies. The writer – whose review was entitled ‘Eager or Ego?’ – asked whether I was just obsessed with myself or if I was actually saying something with my art. I didn’t take it negatively because I wanted to be controversial LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

11

12

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

BRENNEN CABRERA: THE GRIT AND GRIME OF ART

enough to have that questions asked.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE WORLD AS YOU KNOW IT, WHAT COMES TO MIND FIRST?

Connection. I feel that connection supersedes all other things. I don’t know who said this, but somebody said there are three things that connect people: God, love and art. That’s kind of what fills me up – to be able to have a physical show where I can meet people as opposed to interacting online, and actually have a connection.

DO YOU SPEND ANY TIME IMMERSED IN CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORLD AS YOU KNOW IT?

I worry all the time, especially because I live in New York. I do a very unpredictably paying job in one of the most expensive places in the world.

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com

An excited prize winner at Christensen’s show “Felt Cute, Might Delete Later “ | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTENSEN.

For my 2019 show ‘Felt Cute, Might Delete Later,’ I had full curatorial reign on that one. I thought about ways to make it memorable and use it to establish connections. And so I bought a football field’s worth of AstroTurf and covered the floor with it. The experience was interactive — I had a spinny wheel like ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and people could win prizes. One of the giveaways was a massive painting, which someone won. Doing it that way was cool. It was different.

BOTTOM LINE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GIVE TO PEOPLE IN THIS LIFE?

Joy. I really like seeing people happy, you know? But also – back to giving clarity for younger artists – that fuels me a lot.

Being an example that shows that being an artist is possible. To give people some hope, you know, all those sheltered introverts out there.

DO YOU THINK THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE IN LOUISVILLE IN ORDER FOR ARTISTS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE AND NOT MOVE AWAY? Yes. Right now, there isn’t enough of a collector base. Artists are selling something that people don’t technically need. So we need people that really have a mindset for art collection. When it comes to placing monetary value on a painting, what people might not realize is that if it is priced at $44,000.00, for example, if you break that down by the hour, the artist is making under $20 an hour. It’s a tough, tough game. What Louisville artists need is a direct path to having relationships with collectors. In a way that’s the gallery model, but in my experience galleries rely on the artist to do the promotion, so we are bringing our collectors to the gallery. We need a way to connect the collectors to our work.

“Felt Cute, Might Delete Later” painting winner at his home (on left wearing grey shirt), with his prize on the wall (right). | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTENSEN.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH BROCCOLI? WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH AN AFFINITY FOR IT? That kind of started as a joke. I wanted to give people another reason to pay attention to my art. I wanted to have them walk away with something other than, ‘Oh, this guy paints his selfies.’ I have a message: eat broccoli, enjoy life. It became my motto.

It started as thing between friends. People would talk about their problems and I would come back with ‘eat more broccoli.’

But then I severely broke my leg, and they said I wouldn’t be able to walk for six months. I was doing ice bathing, and I started eating strictly vegetarian for the first time in my life. I was able to walk within three-and-a-half months. So then it became like, okay, really eat broccoli. Broccoli saved me in this situation.

Visit Dean Christensen’s Instagram profile, @deansace_official, where he posts his work regularly. Note his profile picture.

Broccoli Saves. •

Artist Brennen Cabrera’s work often uses unconventional materials. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CABRERA

BRENNEN CABRERA’S art is fluid, changeable and explores their interest in what is raw, textural, dirty and destructive. It analyzes life at its most base and atomic level. They don’t create without the audience in mind but much of the work explores issues personal to them. Audiences are given an experience that helps frame the concepts Cabrera presents. Cabrera is thoroughly modern, connected in the usual continuum of art’s legacy but working in a world challenged with disease, illness and technology.

Cabrera’s creative problem to solve is also one created by modern living.

LEO: TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR ART PRACTICE? Brennen Cabrera: I consider myself multidisciplinary, however, my main focus is mixed media painting with sculptural

elements. Drawing, performance and my cellphone approach to experimental video are the other areas. I have a studio in Clifton, and I also work from my apartment that’s a healthy distance away by bike or foot.

When it comes to mixed media, I commonly use acrylic paints and mediums, dry pigments, unprimed canvas and wood surfaces.

Sometimes I use unconventional materials like dirt and human blood. I’m interested in rawness, texture, destruction and grime.

I like things that faced the elements. I do a lot of layering, staining, distressing, markmaking, dialogue and occasionally realism.

I look at a lot of things on my walks, like scratches, marks and residue on different surfaces. A lot of what I look for in those surface obstructions is subtlety, but they most definitely get a lot more obvious. I’ve been focusing a lot on a minimal color palette and incorporating vibrant colors when LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

13

14

Exceptional Experiences.

Extra ordin ary Musi c.

Your Louisville Orchestra.

SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2022-2023 SEASON | LouisvilleOrchestra.org

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

|

502.587.8681

I feel it’s necessary. I find myself interested in black and white, colors associated with nature, and liminalist colors like muted tones and pastels. When I get to the studio, I put on some music or an arthouse film and get to creating. My work is both planned or unplanned. Planned, of course, comes with a drawing or reference on paper or a phone. If it’s unplanned, I do have a concept in mind, but no visual reference, and I go by observation of the piece over time. I apply these things when doing something performative/ filmed as well. When performing the piece, I must document through video and photography. I also have relics, which are the things I interacted with or wore during the performances. I make time to do computer work, social media, and of course, go out to support other artists in the community.

HOW DO YOU USE ART AS A WAY TO TELL A PERSONAL STORY? DO YOU TRY TO REACH OTHERS WITH IT OR IS IT MORE ABOUT CATHARSIS AND PROCESS FOR YOURSELF? As an independent queer autistic man, some of my work shares personal stories.

I never wanted any of my art to be just for myself, even if it is cathartic. I think it’s important as marginalized artists to share personal experiences both pleasurable and painful to society to find relativity, understanding and artistic growth. I find that performance art can be an interesting and different ballgame when telling something personal. An example would be my most recent event, Come to Church. I snapped when I started working on it. A few meltdowns in the space where it was going to be. It wasn’t from building the set but more from what was on my mind.

I wanted something immersive. I wanted the audience to experience overstimulation and the horrors of ableism. I also felt that being vulnerable with my struggles and mistakes would show I’m just as human as anyone else. Dehumanization is common in the autism community. So, when I did this performance, I presented myself as the monster neurotypical society perceived me as, Dimitri Bellrock. Dimitri is shadow work and a vessel for expressing stigmatization, abuse and trauma. He’s also an outlet for my sexuality, comedic openness and rage. I never think of him as acting because everything feels real with him. I was going to confess things in this performance, so I thought a church environment was the way to go. The confession was quite long and was a welter of trauma, anger, sins I was sorry for, so-called sins I was not sorry for

and justice sensitivity. After this confessional sermon, I unrobed myself, naked and covered in dirt. I lifted and rolled away a tire I sat in during confession, walked down an aisle of chain-link fencing to un-dulled barbed wire which I wrapped around my unprotected eyes. Then came continuous flagellation with a rope and electrical cord that I dipped in metal buckets of fake blood.

With every lash to the back, I would return the blow to a canvas in front of me that was covered in layers of ableist and conflicting dialogue. The whole time this performance was going on, there was color changing and fluctuating light along with rumbling sound from two speakers. We increased the volume so that the room started shaking after the confession and Lord’s Prayer. I need to be accommodating so I made sure that earplugs were available and reminded people to bring glasses that would reduce light if it was too much. The audience was made up of neurodiverse, neurotypical, and ableists. That’s an intense example.

WHO ARE THE ARTISTS THAT YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION?

I love Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois and Tracy Emin. Artists of my childhood would be Monet, Salvador Dalí and Alberto Giacometti. Artists who make things for the stage and screen are also artists I enjoy.

Ingmar Bergman, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noe and Dario Argento are just a few for film. For stage, it’s a lot of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

ANY UPCOMING SHOWS?

I am currently working on a solo exhibition for Surface Noise on Baxter. I look back at everything I have compiled in the studio, and I am very happy with what I have. Some pieces have not been seen yet. I also have more performance art ideas that I’m looking forward to working on.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND WITH ART AND HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I believe around 3 years old was when I started drawing. I was also doing pottery classes around that time. I grew up in the Presbyterian church. I didn’t like many of the reasons I attended, so I would run away to the library or workroom during services or events to make things. You would never find me without a pencil or paper. I started painting in watercolor in middle school with the church elders. I immediately stopped after the instructor passed away. Then one

of my mother’s friends gave me her mother’s paints and pastels when she died. I started painting as soon as I got them and continued focusing on painting ever since. I attended atelier classes and workshops on and off in my childhood and teens.

When I graduated high school, I only did art school for a week. I love teaching, so I did workshops for developmentally disabled adults and children at the library and for other organizations in the Louisville area.

Then I did some interning, summer camp counseling, and volunteering in the Speed Art Museum’s studio programming, Art Sparks, and afterhour events. I was a private artist mentor and tutor a few times.

WHAT THEMES ARE YOU EXPLORING RIGHT NOW? I use stimulation and overstimulation to explore mental health and environmental factors, ableism and accessibility, emotionality and eroticism.

But ableism has been a big word on my mind for quite some time now. There is still plenty of stigma and structural issues when it

“Don’t Push, Pull” by Brennen Cabrera . | PHOTO PROVIDED BY CABRERA. LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

15

SONG LYRICS HELP LOCAL ARTIST NIKKI DOUGLAS TELL HER STORY

By Carolyn Brown | cbrown@leoweekly.com

Cabrera aka Dimitri Bellrock wrapping un-dulled barbed wire around his unprotected eyes in “Come to Church. “ | PHOTO BY BILL FRENCH.

comes to the lives of disabled people. I think it’s a very important subject society still overlooks. On a more stimulating note, I’m exploring eroticism and intimacy. Sex is a spectrum that I want to explore more of and how it affects the mind and body.

HOW DOES THE DUTY OF THE MODERN ARTIST DIFFER FROM SOME ARTISTS IN THE PAST? WHAT DO YOU THINK WE STILL HAVE IN COMMON WITH PREVIOUS ARTISTS?

Technology. Technology is a big difference I see in the duty of a contemporary artist compared to ones of the past. I think it’s vital for communication and getting your work seen to a wider audience. I think what artists have in common is that we look at the world through a philosophical lens, where art depicts the nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.

HAVE YOU HAD SHOWS OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE? WHERE?

One of my first shows was a group show in Rosemont, Illinois. It was the gallery space in the Chicago O’Hare Interconti-

16

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

nental Hotel. I had the opportunity to have my work featured in an on-set interview on ‘Good Morning Chicago’ along with other amazing artists. I was in another group show titled, “Hidden Truths” in Cosa Mesa, California at The Gray Matter Museum of Art. I have some acquisitions in public spaces in the boating village of Cape Vincent in Upstate New York and had some work shown in their local gallery The Breakwater.

It’s a lovely little area with a lot of history.

ANY COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL ARTISTS?

I do have plans to collaborate after this exhibition and I’m looking forward to what we make.

WHAT’S ON YOUR CREATION PLAYLIST? Diamanda Galás and plenty of metal.

Also ambient electronic and classical music. •

Artist Nikki Douglas thinks Taylor Swift has a lyric for any emotion. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY DOUGLAS

27-YEAR OLD LOCAL artist Nikki Douglas creates pieces in an eye-candy style she calls “lyric art,” a type of collage that combines images with song lyrics, especially those from popular artists like Taylor Swift, Mayday Parade and Blink-182. She’s racked up a healthy social media following from it; some of the artists whose songs have inspired her have reciprocated the appreciation and shared her work to their fanbase.

Douglas spoke with LEO about her work, the importance of Taylor Swift, and how music can help people heal.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

LEO: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WORK AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU.

Nikki Douglas: My thesis is about how music is universal, but that interpretation is not always as universal. What I may interpret a lyric to mean could be completely different to how you interpret it, and

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

17

what the artist meant when they wrote it could be entirely different to what we both interpreted. What is universal to it is that it makes all of us feel an emotion, and in my art, I’m trying to capture that emotion.

I started doing [this style of art] in high school a little over 10 years ago, out of a need to express my emotions in what I would call my art journals. They were basically mixed media journals where I would express what I was feeling that day. If, that day, I was really struggling with my body image, I did a piece about my body image; if it was a rough day and I was really feeling down on the world, I’d do a piece about that.

Or if it was a really great day, I would do a piece about how great I was feeling that day.

And so those journals really cataloged my emotional journey throughout high school, and that’s what sent me on my way into this style of art, of collage and mixed media.

YOUR INSTAGRAM BIO LISTS YOU AS A SWIFTIE, AND, OBVIOUSLY, BANDOM IS A BIG THEME IN YOUR WORK IN GENERAL. WHAT IS IT ABOUT TAYLOR’S MUSIC SPECIFICALLY THAT INSPIRES YOU?

She truly has a lyric for practically anything you’re going through at any moment in time. Whether it be the line in ‘The Man,’ ‘If everyone believes you, what’s that like?’

With everything going on with Roe v. Wade, I had to share that piece about that. Because as a woman who has struggled myself with that, not being believed by men, when I was going through a brutal time in my life, ‘When everyone believes you, what’s that like?’ [Or] even just heartbreak lyrics. I truly believe her lines are so easy and accessible.

She’s been to Louisville three times, actually. She came for Speak Now, Red, and Reputation, and I’ve never seen her at any of them, because — you’re gonna find this so funny — I was the girl who was too cool for Taylor Swift. ‘Ew, who’s Taylor Swift?’ That was literally me; I mocked her for years.

Actually, when Reputation came out, I had a man who was trying to destroy my professional career. When I heard Reputation, I was like, and this is literally what I thought, ‘Shit, this bitch gets it.’

That’s why that album means so much to me. In the same vein of her, in the darkest time of my life, I found the most beautiful thing in the world, which was [my fiancé] Alex [Shaw.] When I thought the world was gonna end and I would never get past it and things would never be okay again, they’re more than okay. They’re wonderful. They’re fantastic. And I’m doing better than I ever

18

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

was, as she would say. One of her quotes is ‘I’ve stopped listening to what people say what I can’t do and doing whatever the hell I want to do.’

YOU HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF ARTISTS LIKE AND SHARE YOUR WORK ONLINE. WHICH ONE OF THOSE WAS THE MOST EXCITING OR MEANINGFUL TO YOU, AND WHY?

Mayday Parade, because they actually recognized me and realized who I was when I saw them in concert. I told them I would be front row at their concert, and they said that they would look for me. I had a sign that said, ‘Thank you for sharing my art.’ And Derek [Sanders], the lead singer, was singing, and he looked at me like, ‘You look familiar.’ And then he nodded his head like, ‘Yes, you’re that girl that always shares the art.’ And I was losing my mind. I’m like, ‘Yes, yes, that’s me!’

Them realizing that I am that person was just the highlight of my career for me at this moment because I’ve been such a big fan for them. ‘Oh Well, Oh Well’ really helped me through a really dark time in my life, as most lyrics have.

Shallow Pools, they’re a smaller band — what was funny about them is, I think they shared [my piece] in a group chat, because slowly each member of the band commented on my piece one by one. That was really exciting to see that they’re all noticing and recognizing my work and talking to each other about it. It means a lot to me that they inspired me and I’m inspiring them back.

ONE WEEK, ONE MONTH AND ONE YEAR FROM NOW, WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR WORK?

One week from now, I hope people take away — always, I hope that people take away — that they’re not alone, because I feel like the world is such an isolating place, especially when it comes to emotions. People can feel so alone when they get bottled up in their emotions — especially now, people feel so cut off from the world.

That’s why I try so hard to share my story, my life. I’m not afraid to talk about things that have happened to me because I think it’s important to share stories, because it makes people feel less alone.

One month from now, I would still love

“august.” | PHOTO BY DOUGLAS

to be continuing to create work; I would love to do more within my community — get more outreach within my community, give more back to my community.

A year from now, I would still love to be giving, doing artwork, getting more outreach to artists. I’d love to do more of local artists, like doing an album art. I’ve actually had a few musicians reach out to me about possibly doing lyric videos and doing it in my art style.

Some people want free art. A lot of people don’t want to pay for art, and I get that. I’m really trying really hard to make art accessible to everyone. That’s why every

single one of my business cards is a unique piece of art, and no two are exactly alike. I tried to create the idea of art in your pocket, because I think it’s very important that art becomes more accessible to people, because people can feel like art is gatekept by the more wealthy. I think that we should try to make art as accessible as absolutely possible to people of all demographics because it’s so enriching to the soul. •

BEHIND THE SCENE

PRODUCER KOJIN TASHIRO’S IMPACT ON LOUISVILLE HIP-HOP

By Scott Recker | srecker@leoweekly.com

KOJIN TASHIRO knew he wanted to be a producer ever since he was 12 years old.

He’d already been a musician at that point for several years, first picking up the violin when he was 4, but after his father introduced him to classic Motown records and his classmates got him into hip-hop not too long after, he knew he wanted to primarily create soundscapes for other people. So he built a makeshift studio out of a karaoke machine and Windows XP and started making beats.

“I decided that I want to be the guy that makes the music,” Tashiro said. “I never liked being on stage, being the guy that plays the music.”

That lifelong journey has paid dividends, as he’s worked with some of the biggest names in the Louisville music scene and beyond, including Jack Harlow, Jecorey

Producer Kojin Tashiro wanted to be the person who created music. | PHOTO BY J. TYLER FRANKLIN.

Arthur, James Lindsey, Marzz and Bblasian.

He also scores podcasts and documentaries.

Tashiro moved from Tokyo, Japan to New Albany, Indiana, when he was 3 years old and was introduced to R&B and hip-hop when he was around 6. Later, while he was attending Floyd Central High School, he met Ryan Marsh, the other half of the group The Free Soul Effect, a band with a lean toward crafting music for other people. Tashiro and Marsh eventually attended Indiana University Southeast, and when they were in their junior and senior years of college, they started venturing out to Louisville venues, meeting and working with people in the scene.

“I was throwing my production wherever I could, to try to work with everybody,” Tashiro said.

That was around 2014, a time when local

indie hip-hop was bubbling with creativity and density.

“Everywhere you turned, there was something going down music-wise,” Tashiro said.

In 2015, Tashiro and Marsh got a break when they got a major label offer to do production work on “Remember Home,” a song by Sebastian Kole and Alessia Cara, which appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy.” They formed a four-person group with a manager and another producer, and they started picking up work from artists in New York City.

In 2017, Tashiro and Marsh released an album under The Free Soul Effect banner called, Of Random Unison, which featured collaborations with Louisville artists like Otis Junior, [Yons], Rob Lee, Dom B, ChelleLynae, Gina C. and Brooks Ritter. It’s a sharp and deep record that walks the line

between contemplative, melancholy R&B and vibrant underground dance pop.

“That was almost a production album,” Tashiro said. “We wanted to show the world, or the city in general, that we are pretty good at producing. It was a showcase.”

Around that same time, Tashiro did work for Jack Harlow’s “Eastern Parkway,” a soulful track off of 2017’s Gazebo. Harlow, the 24-year-old phenom, is now a wildly popular, Grammy-nominated artist who is possibly more of a household name than any musician in Louisville’s history. Like most people in the music scene, Tashiro isn’t surprised that Harlow reached another next level, but he was surprised at how quickly it happened.

“I knew he was going to get big to a certain point, but I didn’t realize he was going to blow up like that,” Tashiro said of Harlow with a proud chuckle.

Some of Tashiro’s most dynamic production comes from his work on Jecorey “1200” Arthur’s 2019 record Arsnova. It’s a powerful album, steered by Arthur’s cutting and precise lyrics that methodically deconstruct, prosecute and evoke the city of Louisville.

Arthur — who is now the metro councilperson for District 4 — is one of the city’s most visionary minds of the last decade. And Tashiro created something that perfectly mirrored Arthur’s thoughtfulness and intensity. With that sort of connection, it’s not surprising how the album was born.

“We went to a random cabin, in Lebanon or something like that, and stayed there for about a week, and all we did was write and produce music, and that’s where most of Arsnova came from,” Tashiro said.

That’s the brief version of Kojin Tashiro’s story — just some of the highlights. The longer version of everyone he’s worked with and everything he’s worked on could fill many more pages. •

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

19

SHYAMA IYER: GIVING NEW LIFE TO ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND DANCE

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com

BEING raised around dance at her mother Guru Smt Akila Iyer’s Guru Vandana Arts Academy, it seems natural that 24-yearold Shyama Iyer followed in her mother’s footsteps into the world of Indian classical dance, specifically the South Indian Bharatanatyam style of dance. Bharatanatyam traces its origins to an ancient text about theater written by a priest named Bharata Muni. The text, “Nāṭyaśāstra,” covers subjects from dance to stage production to makeup and the theory about the aesthetic and emotional impact of arts known as “rasa.”

This text and Bharatanatyam were the seeds of Iyer’s affinity for the power of both theater and dance.

“I grew up surrounded by her dance students and all the programs, all the excitement of music and dance around me,” said Iyer. “It really shaped who I was just growing up. That art form has informed most of my work as I get more and more further in my career.”

Iyer’s love of dance and theater took her from her hometown in Louisville to a BFA at Western Kentucky University then to a Master of Arts at Ohio State University. Now that she’s completed those and co-produced the 11th Geeva Arts Festival that hosts a weekend of Indian traditional performing arts, she is heading to Yale to the David Geffen School of Drama.

“I’m going to Yale for dramaturgy and dramatic criticism,” said Iyer. “Particularly, I want to look into ancient Indian texts, dramaturgical texts, which are related to the study of dance and music and theater and then kind of put those into practice outside Indian context, as well as inside them.”

It is important to Iyer that the movements of Indian dance become more familiar to dancers outside the culture. She thinks other art forms have much to learn from these traditional arts.

“I think it’s super important for a couple of reasons. First of all, it has its own contribution to the artistic landscape, of whichever artistic landscape we’re talking about,” Iyer said. “If we’re talking about the west, well, then it can bring interesting new rhythms, interesting new melodic ideas, interesting

20

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

new approaches to how you costume or how you light or how you direct.

“When we come from solely the Western perspective — Greek theater — we’re limited to a certain aesthetic and I think that bringing in an Eastern or an Indian aesthetic is just giving us so much more to work with and it has its own contributions. One of my research topics in my master’s program was the “rasa” theory, which is an Indian concept from the Nāṭyaśāstra, a Sanskrit text.”

The Nāṭyaśāstra text informs how Iyer’s style of dance creates its costumes in colors to evoke specific emotions or sounds to bring a specific response from the audience, including the movements that help tell the stories of the dance that also may affect how the audience response and the experience they are given.

When Iyer performs, she says the most important equipment for her performances, like a ballerina’s shoes, are the Salangai or Ghungroos, the ankle bells: “They make all the rhythms that you’re dancing to.

So in a way, your feet become one of the instruments.”

The skill with which a dancer can use the bells says much about their aptitude with the dance and Bharatanatyam offers many opportunities for improvisation.

“In Bharatanatyam, which was the tradition that I grew up in, there are hand gestures — many, many hand gestures, almost like a mime language. And, using those gestures, we basically speak on stage,” Iyer said. “So I think it’d be really cool for other dancers or actors to actually play with some of those hand gestures and see how… we call it like outside-in acting, when you have gestures or motions that might actually affect your inner psyche and bring out a character in that way.”

The stories told in Bharatanatyam are often based on Hindu mythology, but the style can be applied to many types of tales, and Iyer has tapped into some of those possibilities in her work.

“I’ve worked on a few productions where I kind of told the story of a young girl falling in love for the first time, and all the experiences she has with her very first relationship,” Iyer said. “And all told through

this gestural language and in English, so not accompanied with an Indian language. So it’s much more accessible for any audience member.”

As we talk about her ideas to expand the audience for her dance, we also have to discuss the risk of cultural appropriation that comes with sharing traditional arts and allowing them to be adopted and incorporated into modern, Western forms of performance.

“It’s a tricky situation, and Shyama Iyer wants to show other artists the value of Indian Classical Dance. | PHOTO PROVIDED BY IYER. I think I consider it a kind of a double-edged sword,” said Iyer.

“On one end, you don’t wanna do for ourselves to remember our heritage.” make the art form solely for people who The issue of cultural appropriation is an look a certain way. Right? In my opinion — issue — we’ve seen the evidence over and everyone has their different opinions — but over. Yoga, an Indian tradition, is barely I feel that if you restrict it, then it’s a sort of recognizable from its original form. And a discredit to the art that you’re saying that yet, art forms, like languages, can cease to this is just an ethnic art form, you know?”

Iyer says that, much like playing an exist if they do not grow and are not learned instrument, there is no color attached to the or shared. How many people do you know learning of a skill, and that Indian traditions that speak Prussian? As it stands, India, like offer the same depth of skill as piano or many places around the world, has tradiviolin. tions — certain styles of painting, puppetry “It’s for everyone,” Iyer said. “It has the and embroidery — at risk of disappearing richness, and has the long-standing tradibecause the knowledge and skill hasn’t tions. And, the skills provided to do that art spread far enough. form are so skillful that you applaud anyone “If someone is doing — which this also who’s able to do it. And, I think in the same happens — Indian classical dancing, and way, the Indian traditions are so rich, so some person of maybe non-Indian origin, complex. We all have a body. We all have a or maybe somebody who just doesn’t have voice. And, I think that putting to use those the same learning in the art form takes it and skills is just as commendable, no matter who then does the wrong classes, and then makes you know, who you grew up as or who your it a Zumba class,” she said, laughing. “Like, parents are or who your grandparents are.” that’s not the coolest thing.”

Iyer has noticed that others outside the Indian culture have begun to learn Indian But, Iyer is dedicated to her art and traditional arts and she feels that offers it actively seeking and finding ways to share the same legitimacy that we give other art and introduce Indian classical dance to forms. audiences. With the opportunity to study at “I think nowadays we see, actually, a lot a prestigious university and to explore her of not-Indian people coming into the Indian cultural traditions in more critical ways, it classical arts who are really flourishing,” she feels exciting to see where Iyer will take said. “And, I think it’s really welcomed by her career and even though she has to leave the Indian community because it kind of just Louisville briefly to do it, we hope that she shows that, ‘Oh my God, this is like a legitiwill return with something new to share with mate art form.’ And it’s not just a thing we the local community. •

STAFF PICKS THROUGH AUG. 7

PNC Broadway in Louisville: Anastasia

Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts | 501 W Main St. | anastasiathemusical. com/tour | $46.22-$151.52 | Times vary; show runs about 2.5 hours with one intermission There’s “A Rumor in St. Petersburg” — well, actually, in Louisville — that the national tour of “Anastasia” will play eight performances at the Kentucky Center after a twoMUSICAL and-a-half-year delay. The musical, based on the animated movie from the ‘90s, takes the audience from “the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past,” according to the press release. “Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat.

Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.” — Carolyn Brown

THURSDAY, AUG. 4–6

Michelle Wolf

Louisville Comedy Club | 110 W. Main St. | louisvillecomedy.com | $35-$42 | Times vary You may remember MiLAUGH chelle Wolf from her appearance at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Or you might know her from her Netflix comedy special, “Joke Show.” Bill Burr says she’s a killer, in the “Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill” comedy special, also on Netflix. I don’t know about all that, but I do know that Michelle Wolf is funny. So go have a laugh. –Ethan Smith

Photo courtesy of Broadway Across America.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3-7

As You Like It (Louisville Ballet for Kentucky Shakespeare)

Central Park | 1340 S. Fourth | kyshakespeare.com/season/sicp | Free | 8 p.m.

The ballet returns this summer with another performance of Shakespeare in Dance.

This performance will officially close the season of Kentucky SHAKESPEARE Shakespeare’s “Shakespeare in the Park” series. There have been many interpretations of the Bard’s works, and having the ballet join in the fun of introducing and interpreting Shakespeare will create a win/win for fans of Shakespeare and fans of ballet.

There will be food trucks, Kid’s Globe, Will’s Gift Shop and Will’s Tavern. —Erica Rucker

SATURDAY, AUG. 6

3rd Annual Midsommar Party

ShopBar | 950 Barret Avenue | Search Facebook | Free | 5 p.m. - 1 a.m.

As I remember it, “Midsommar” was a fun, happy movie about a girl who goes on a sunny vacation with her friends and wears a pretty dress. And you can, too! At this PARTY (21+) party, ShopBar will crown a May Queen, who will get a $100 gift card and their name on a plaque.

A local vendor will be selling flower crowns, and you’ll also be able to buy mushroom tea. Presumably not exactly the kind that the movie had, but who knows. Might wanna stay away if you’re a dude named Christian. —Carolyn Brown

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

21

22

aug 5

tim allen*

aug 20

damage inc. - a tribute to metallica

aug 25

august burns red

sept 2

rumours - a fleetwood mac tribute

sept 7

daughtry

sept 9

fozzy

sept 11

dreamers+the score

sept 16

conan gray*

sept 21

peach pit

sept 22

Larry fleet

sept 30

Intern John's lost

oct 1

*disney junior live on tour: costume palooza

oct 4

matt maeson

oct 10

chelsea cutler

oct 13

lost dog street band

oct 14

southern accents: a tribute to tom petty and the heartbreakers

oct 15

*ryan adams

oct 16

*lady a: Request line tour 2022

oct 28

brett eldredge*

*amanda seales

nov 4

sept 23

warren zeiders

*puscifer

nov 11

sept 27

movements

dead letter office international tribute to r.e.m

nov 12

w/ we came as romans, hollow front, void of vision

w/pop evil*

FULL SCHEDULE AT LIVENATiON.COM

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

*AT THE LOUiSViLLE PALACE

STAFF PICKS

VOTED BEST

LOUISVILLE DIST ILLE RY

MONDAY, AUG. 8

Creighton Beryl’s Free Thank You Show

Art Sanctuary | 1433 S Shelby St. | art-sanctuary.org | Free | 8 p.m.

Creighton Beryl is putting on a free concert MUSIC (18+) featuring bands from the local music scene and beyond. Louisville’s Villa Mure and Isolation Tank Ensemble will be joined

by Beams, a psych-folk band from Toronto, for a night of genre-bending experimentation. —Scott Recker

D I ST I L L ERY AM E R I CAN B RAN DY, G I N & ABSINTHE DISTILLERY AMER ICAN B RAN DY AGED IN KENTUCKY BOURBON BARR E LS EXPERIENCE SONIC AGING: LISTEN TO THE BARRELS ROCK ‘N ROLL EXPLOR E T H E S KYDEC K & TAKE IN T H E VIEWS OF DOWN TOWN LOUISVILLE

Beams.

11 21 E . WASHINGTON ST LOUISVILLE , KY 40206

COPPE RAN DKIN GS.COM

FRIDAY, AUG. 12–13

St. Joe’s Picnic

St. Joseph Children’s Home | 2823 Frankfort Ave. | sjkids.org/picnic | Free | 5-10 p.m.

You know it, you love it — it’s time once again for the St. Joe’s Picnic. This picnic has it all: live music, food and drinks, carnival and casino games, and raffles. And COME HANG it’s all for a great cause — funding the St. Joseph Children’s Home for children who have been removed from their homes due to severe abuse and neglect. — Ethan Smith

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

23

24

NOW ON VIEW

At #yourSpeed for a limited time only.

Exhibition season sponsored by: Cary Brown and Steven E. Epstein Paul and Deborah Chellgren Arthur J. and Mary Celeste Lerman

Claude Monet (French, 1840 – 1926) Nymphéas, 1897–1899 Oil on canvas

Charitable Foundation Debra and Ronald Murphy DavFam Art Fund

Loan courtesy of Friends of the Speed Art Museum L2022.1

2035 S. 3rd Street

Louisville, KY 40208 LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

STAFF PICKS

THROUGH AUG. 13

‘From The Cabinet Of Unnatural Curiosities’ Moremen Gallery | 710 W. Main St. | moremengallery.com | Free

Artist Al Gorman loves the Falls of RECYCLED the Ohio State Park in Clarksville.

So much so, he has made it his outdoor studio and the place where he gets most of his supplies. He could give a master class in recycling, using such found items as Styrofoam, glass and rocks for his media. “I have been a finder of lost things my entire life,” Gorman said. “The riverbank ‘Absurd Styrofigures’ by Al Gorman. Found objects. offers much to look at, ponder and collect…I only use materials that I specifically collect and document from the park which has always been more than enough.” Moremen Gallery is also presenting a solo show (her first) of new paintings and drawings by Sara Olshansky. “The Textures of Memory” also runs to Aug. 13.

—Jo Anne Triplett

Monday - Saturday OFFER EXPIRES 9/16

Find us on Facebook & Instagram

Kathysshoppe.com

THROUGH SEPT. 3

‘Day In & Day Out’ By Colleen Merrill

WheelHouse Art | 2650 Frankfort Ave. | wheelhouse.art | Free This is about as timely an exhibition as we can get.

ART Lexington artist Colleen Merrill’s debut show at WheelHouse Art examines the female body and women’s authority over said bodies. Her work “playfully untangles and scrutinizes how these larger social domains hold influence and power over our most private and interdependent intimacies,” she said. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Merrill’s focus has compelled her to donate 10% of all profits to the Kentucky Reproductive Freedom Fund. —Jo Anne Triplett

‘Plebiscite’ by Colleen Merrill. Repurposed quilt, rivets. | DANA ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY. LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

25

26

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

STAFF PICKS

THROUGH DEC. 16

‘The Early Poster Designs Of Julius Friedman’

Photographic Archives, UofL | Archives & Special Collections, Ekstrom Library | louisville.edu | Free

Lincoln String Quartet "World-class musicians performing in a beautiful rural Indiana setting."

My guess is you’ve seen a poster with a ballet dancer’s foot balanced atop an egg (“Toe on Egg”) or even more eggs illustrating the primary colors (“Fresh Paint”). They GALLERY were the work of the late graphic designer and photographer Julius Friedman. Most of Friedman’s art has been donated to UofL’s Photo Archives, with its gallery renamed in his honor. The Archives is in the process of cataloging the full collection; the public should be able to see it next year. In the meantime, this exhibition lets visitors see his work from 1965-80. —Jo Anne Triplett

August 14-20 www.chamberfestbrowncounty.com

‘Center for Photographic Studies, 1973’ by Julius Friedman. Poster.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

27

28

MUSIC

LISTEN LOCAL:

MUSIC REVIEWS

By Je�f Polk | leo@leoweekly.com

ACHILLES TENDERLOIN

“SUMMER SOLSTICE SINGLES” (TINCTURE FOR TROUBLE TWO-SONG ALBUM PREVIEW)

Achilles Tenderloin is Joe Augustin, an indie-folk and acoustic blues guitarist/singer/ songwriter from Richmond, Indiana. Known for his passionate vocals, heavily textured lyrics and unique guitar picking style, Joe has been writing and performing his original songs and poetry for the past 25 years. His latest, a two-song preview of his upcoming album Tincture for Trouble (scheduled to be released in March 2023), sees Joe, backed by a cast of equally-talented guest musicians, embracing his folk side a bit more than previous efforts, but with spectacular results. The first track, “Don’t Be Long,” is a jaunty, bouncy, bluegrass-y little tune built around a simple melody, but with an underlying sadness about it— lyrically, and most likely autobiographically, dealing with leaving home to sell your art to the world, but longing to be back with the one you love. While the second track, “Blue Silhouettes,” is a heartbreaking tale of lost love that invokes images of seafaring and far away coasts set to a beautifully dark, dynamic, almost-haunting traditional Irish-folk arrangement. World-class songwriting and musicianship make this upcoming new album teaser just that, as you are left wanting to hear much more.

Search Bandcamp

CLINT LA FAVERS

“WHERE I STAY AT” / “THE SON”

No disrespect to Jack Harlow, but now that he’s blown up, white male rappers from Louisville have been forced into his shadow. The comparisons are inevitable, and the general expectation is that they are all going to be copying his style. It’s really unfortunate, especially when you hear someone like Clint La Favers. Aside from being a rapper who shares the same skin color and excitement for life in our city, Clint is a force all his own. This could not be more evident than on his latest couple tracks. “Where I Stay At” is an upbeat ode to life in Louisville with a simple but catchy-as-hell hook that is just begging to be played at Cards’ games. Clint takes a more dramatic turn on “The Son,” creating a sweeping cinematic piece that still manages to keep your head nodding. His self-professed love of punk and ska come into play here in the form of heavier-than-you’d-expect guitar and drums, helping create a huge crescendo going into the chorus. If these tracks are any indication of what’s to come, then it’s safe to say you’re going to be hearing a lot more about Clint La Favers in the near future.

Search Instagram LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

MUSIC

HOUSEPLANT “ACETONE” (SINGLE)

Here’s a challenge for you: Listen to Houseplant’s latest single (and first studio recording) “Acetone” and see if you can get it out of your head the rest of the day (spoiler: you won’t). Between the funky Bootsy Collins-esque basslines, soulful keyboards, groovy guitar rhythms, catchy vocals and smooth flowing beat, this is a track you’re going to want to keep bouncing around in your head all day —a sound that really transcends not only genres, but time itself by capturing elements of every era of music from the ‘60s through today. It’s the sound of My Morning Jacket, Frank Zappa, Phish and The Flaming Lips all jamming together in the parking lot at a late ‘60s Grateful Dead show. If this track doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, you might want to check your pulse. For a band that has only been together a couple of years, impressive is an understatement. Look for their new album out this fall, and catch them live at one of their many upcoming shows here in town.

And bring your dancing shoes, you’re gonna need them.

Search Spotify

THE HISTRIONICS “WRITHE” (SINGLE)

Originality is not something easily pulled off in music these days. Not many artists are able to walk that fine line between paying homage to their influences without blatantly ripping them off. With their latest single, “Writhe,” The Histrionics prove they are firmly on that line. “Writhe” is a dark, foreboding journey into the protagonist’s pain and loneliness. Striking Chris Cornell-meetsJim Morrison-style vocals start the song but soon give way to impassioned post-hardcore shouts, underpinned by a flowing mix of garage rock meets grunge meets punk meets emocore. Certainly, this is a band that would have been right at home playing alongside legendary Louisville bands like Slint, By The Grace Of God, Metroschifter and Enkindel.

But while one can definitely hear a nod to Louisville’s distinct ‘90s hardcore sound here, there is much more to The Histrionics than that. Equal parts hardcore, grunge, indie rock, alternative, emo and a bit of ‘60s rock for good measure, they have carved a groove that is uniquely their own and set them apart from the rest of the scene. Undoubtedly, this is a future legendary Louisville band in the making.

Search Bandcamp

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

29

FOOD & DRINK

RECOMMENDED

TANDOORI FUSION OFFERS ARTISTIC INDIAN CREATIONS

By Robin Garr | LouisvilleHotBytes.com THOUGHTS inspired by a recent meal at Louisville’s Tandoori Fusion restaurant: Fusion cuisine has been around for centuries, going back to Chinese restaurateurs coming up with chop suey to please Western consumers in 1850s California, and maybe even to Marco Polo and his noodles.

But the concept didn’t get a name until the 1980s, when chefs like Roy Yamaguchi and Wolfgang Puck began to intentionally combine flavors from different cultures.

Before long, just about everyone was chowing down on Pacific Rim cuisine and Thai pizza, and calling it “fusion.”

The concept became hugely popular — I loved it, too — as it invited chef-driven creativity to come up with, well, “new original cuisines which could be called true artistic creations … artistic dishes never seen before.” Yeah, the original Japanese Iron Chef took fusion to a new level.

But a funny thing happened on the way to Hawaiian pizza: People started asking questions about cultural appropriation.

“Many white cooks and chefs have been called into question after presenting audi-

30

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

ences with dishes from which they have no culinary connection,” food-culture expert Sylvia Tomczak wrote in Canada’s RestoBiz magazine last April. “This is problematic as ethnic ingredients are rebranded to be trendy, cool, and relevant for Westerners while sometimes totally disregarding culinary histories.”

Uh-oh. Does this mean that we need to strip our pantries of international delights like Laoganma hot chile crisp, and even [gasp] pasta? Naaah. Even Ms. Tomczak eases up a bit at the end of her piece. “While it’s inevitable that our pantries will see more unique international goods going forward, we must be respectful of their origin and not claim to be anything other than inspired by another culture.”

So what about Tandoori Fusion? Well, for starters, it’s owned by folks of Indian origin who live in Kentucky now, so no one can question their cultural authority. What’s more, it musters an admirable farm-to-table approach. Many of its ingredients come from local farms, including the Veering Creek farm in Smithfield, Kentucky,

Goat biryani, a feature on the summer specials menu, offers a huge quantity of rice and minced goat meat so spicy that even heat level “1” sets your face on fire. In a good way. | PHOTOS BY ROBIN GARR.

Substituted for a more traditional masala dosa, this huge rice- and lentil-flour crepe is filled with lightly sauteed, finely chopped red onions, with spicy sambar and chutneys on the side.

FOOD & DRINK

Blistered shishito peppers, pan-fried with salt plus soy sauce on the side, make a tasty starter at Tandoori Fusion.

founded by Tandoori Fusion’s owner Purna Veer.

Tandoori Fusion specializes in traditional South and North Indian cuisine, but it earns the fusion moniker with a selection of culturally hybrid dishes ranging from chicken tacos and dosadillas (yeah, quesadillas wrapped in South Indian dosa pancakes), and even pizzas with your choice of tikka,

spinach palak or a traditional margherita.

That’s fusion, all right. Just about everything on the 14-item fusion menu page is priced from $9.99 to $12.99.

The main menu’s two large pages are filled with about 130 Indian dishes (and a handful more fusion items mixed in). Just about all the entrees range in price from $11.99 to $15.99, with a few extra-large

tandoori roasted dishes rising to $21.99.

A dozen summer special appetizers and entrees are currently available, and a dozen lunch combination plates are priced from $9.99 to $14.99.

We paid homage to the fusion notion with the Japanese charms of blistered shishito peppers ($7.99 on the menu, but only $6.99 on our tab). Eight tasty, two-bite pale-green peppers were lined up on a heavy, rectangular white plate. Just gently piquant, they were dotted with a few black spots from a quick encounter with the grill, dusted with salt and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. A dish of soy sauce on the side made a pleasant flavor boost.

Back on the regular menu, I ordered a masala dosa ($11.99), but got the bad news that they were out of potatoes for the filling.

Our server suggested an onion dosa instead, and it was all right. This South Indian speciality is based on a large, thin pancake made with rice and lentil flours, quickly griddled, rolled around a filling and served with a thick brown soup called sambar and spicy chutneys. It wasn’t bad, although the portion of finely diced, gently-sautéed red onions was a bit puny. The dosa itself isn’t spicy, but my requested spice level four (out of five) definitely lit up the sambar and what

appeared to be horseradish and mustard chutneys.

Goat kheema biryani ($17.99) from the summer special menu was a huge portion, enough to provide leftovers for days. Served in a black bowl with yogurt raita and an orange chutney on the side, it was made with very long-grain basmati rice flavored with an aromatic mix of Indian spices and fat that unctuously coated every grain and each bit of crisply fried minced goat meat. We had requested low-heat spice level 1 for Mary’s sake, but the dish we got was incendiary… and delicious. It was topped with a sliced hard-boiled egg, a thick round of red onion, two lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

With a couple of iced, yogurt-based salty lassis to beat the heat ($3.99 each), our meal for two came to $45.95, plus an $8.77 tip. •

TANDOORI FUSION 4600 Chamberlain Lane 255-2590 thetandoorifusion.com

SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND TRAUMA

INCLUDES: 3 DAYS GENERAL ADMISSION FREE PARKING FREE CAMPING

BETTES BURLESQUE - YOGA WITH KABIRA LIVE MURALIST CRYSTAL DAWN GUIDED MEDITATION W/SHADWICK WILDE ASTROLOGY WORKSHOP - DRUM CIRCLE GUIDED FULL MOON HIKE SPOKENWORD: SKYE NICHOLSON - RILEY POYNTER

LIVE ART ART AND CRAFT VENDORS BAR AND FOOD TRUCKS CAMPING - HIKING - YOGA AND MORE!

K I A N A & T H E S U N K I N G S S A L E M A V E N U E - Z U Z U Y A Y A S Y D N E Y S L E AD D - T H E L O W G L O W S E A N M I C H A E L J E N N I N G S S T E V E D E W E E S E - F O R T E Z Z A

LUNG - SPOOKY DIAMONDS JUS -WORM OUR UNBELIEVED MUTE J U S T I N

M I L L E R

JAIK

A ND

THE

ELEMENTS

OF

SOUND

WILL I S - B L I N D F E L I N E SHADW I C K W I L D E

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

31

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ZANZABAR COMIC BOOK REVIEWS!

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD

ZANZABARLOUISVILLE.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS

03 04 05 07 08 14 20 24 28 06 09 11 13 17

2100 S PRESTON ST

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

KINGDOM COLLAPSE PEDESTRYANS + SAM BRENZEL + JORDAN BLASE AN EVENING OF PUNK ROCK & ELECTRONICA DAISYCHAIN + DEEP ABOVE + THE ANCHORITES HOLY F*CK + PENELOPE ISLES THE COLD STARES WILL WOOD DANIELLE PONDER DANIEL DONATO’S COSMIC COUNTRY

‘Flavor Girls’ #1

FOOD

LIVE MUSIC

CHARLOTTE SANDS + NO LOVE FOR THE MIDDLE CHILD

MAGIC CITY HIPPIES DRAGGED UNDER + RIVALS + ARYIA + GLASSLANDS WINDHAND + DONNIE DOOLITTLE TONSTARTSSBANDHT

BUFFLAO (09/18) THE HEAVY HEAVY (09/24) ON SALE NOW KING NIKKI LANE (10/04) TITUS ANDRONICUS (10/14) SALES (10/18)

32

By Felix Whetsel and Krystal Moore | leo@leoweekly.com

ARCADE

Written and colored by Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky & Eros de Santiago Review by Felix Whetsel Twelve years after the invasion of a mysterious alien race known as the Agarthians, the people of Earth are doing their best to carry on with their lives. While the protective walls that keep their cities safe offer some sense of relief, the giant face-shaped spaceship that looms over them is a constant reminder that the Argathians could strike at any moment.

When poli-sci major Sara flees from a surprise attack, she is absorbed by a huge, glowing pineapple.

Said fruit transforms her into a skirt-wearing, pineapplestaff-wielding hero. She finds herself chosen to become the fourth Flavor Girl, a group of fruit-wielding magical girls in charge of keeping the world safe. But while she wants to make a difference, Sara is more brains than brawn. Will Sara overcome her reluctance to join the alien fighting team and save her planet?

“Flavor Girls” is a fun, colorful journey about a wary chosen hero thrust into a world she could never imagine. Filled with dreamy landscapes, fun costumes, strange magic and a colorful cast of characters, it is a love letter to the magical girl genre. If you’re a fan of “Sailor Moon,” “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power,” or “Little Witch Academia,” then I recommend grabbing “Flavor Girls” #1 off the stands!

‘Absolution’ #1

Written by Peter Milligan Art by Mike Deodato, Jr. Review by Krystal Moore In a not-so-distant future, Nina Ryan, an assassin, has been sentenced to death for her crimes. But she’s been given a choice: she can still do what she does and have it live-streamed to an audience of online judges, including celebrity commentators, and of course “the people,” including all that comes with that — trolls, bots, jerks, fans, etc. If she can get enough support, she receives absolution in the form of points and walks free. But, as we all know, the internet isn’t always a friendly place, and for every fan who loves her exploits and style, there are others who want more blood, more boobs, more personality, more violence, less violence, the list goes on and on. Ads for everything from Bitcoin to acne treatments pop up as well, making it a lot to keep up with. Oh, and there’s the little detail of actual bombs implanted inside her that will go off if she should fail to impress the masses.

Ultimately, as Nina sees her points toward absolution go up, the more ugly and violent her actions are. She’ll have to question whether it’s worth it in the end. Written by Peter Milligan with art by Mike Deodato, Jr., this comic comes with quite the pedigree. Of course, this book is a sci-fi commentary on our own present (aren’t they all?) and the path we’re on with our addiction and devotion to the online world increasingly bleeding into our real lives. Just like Nina, we’ll probably one day have the same question, ‘Was it worth it?’

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

33

34

SPonsored By

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Tequila El Jimador, 40% Alc. by Vol., Imported by Brown-Forman, Louisville, KY

Bartender’s from these restaurants will be competing for the Best Margaritas in the Ville.

Tickets on sale Now at

margaritasintheville.com Margarita Tasting • BACK IN-PERSON! LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT TO SEE: GALLERY ROUNDUP

BY JO ANNE TRIPLETT | leo@leoweekly.com

A gallery roundup of art shows to see in Louisville this month. Note: This list is only a selection of current exhibitions.

“STILL, LIFE! MOURNING, MEANING, MENDING” Through December The show focuses on dealing with loss during the pandemic.

21c Louisville

700 W. Main St. Hours: Mondays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

21cmuseumhotels.com “CEREMONIALS” Through Sept. 2 Art by Wendi Smith.

Bourne-Schweitzer Gallery

137 E. Main St., New Albany, Indiana Hours: Thursdays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 1-3 p.m. bourne-schweitzergallery.com “ATE X 10” Aug. 4-Oct. 15 Group exhibition about food.

Carnegie Center for Art & History

201 E. Spring St., New Albany, Indiana Hours: Mondays-Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursdays, noon-8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. carnegiecenter.org “THE NOD” Through Sept. 30 Art exhibition and book release by illustrator August Northcut and photographer Thomas Northcut. fifteenTWELVE Creative Compound

1512 Portland Ave. Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. �ıfteen-twelve.com

“FORGOTTEN FOUNDATIONS: LOUISVILLE’S LOST ARCHITECTURE” Through Sept. 23 Exhibition of photographs and architectural records of destroyed historic architecture in downtown Louisville.

The Filson Historical Society

1310 S. Third St. Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. �ılsonhistorical.org

“COLLECTION CURVEBALLS” Through Dec. 31 A roundup of curiosities from the museum’s archives featuring art, music and pop culture.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

800 W. Main St. Hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; FridaysSaturdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. sluggermuseum.org

“I BET WE CAN BUILD THAT: WEBER GROUP PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE” Through mid-September A retrospective of the Louisville-based Weber Group design �ırm.

“THE TEXTURES OF MEMORY” Through Aug. 13 First solo show of new paintings and drawings

by Sara Olshansky.

Portland Museum

“FROM THE CABINET OF UNNATURAL CURIOSITIES” Through Aug. 13 Solo show by Al Gorman.

Moremen Gallery

“WEST OF NINTH: RACE, RECKONING, AND RECONCILIATION” Through September Photographs, artifacts and wall panels featuring stories from the nine neighborhoods in West Louisville.

Organized by Walt and Shae Smith of West of Ninth. Part of the Louisville Photo Biennial.

Frazier History Museum 829 W. Main St. Hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.;

Sundays, noon-5 p.m. fraziermuseum.org

“NEW M/M PAINTINGS” Through Aug. 20 First solo exhibition by Andrew Rosenbarger.

Galerie Hertz

1253 S. Preston St. Hours: Thursdays-Saturdays, 12-5 p.m.; most Sundays, 12-4 p.m. galeriehertz.com “THE REALITY OF OUR ESSENCE” Through Aug. 14 Paintings of Black women by Sandra Charles.

KMAC Museum

715 W. Main St. Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. kmacmuseum.org

Photographic Archives

Archives & Special Collections, Ekstrom Library, UofL Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. louisville.edu

710 W. Main St., Suite 201 Hours: Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. moremengallery.com “SHINING A LIGHT” Through Aug. 7 Annual photography contest and exhibition.

“WHAT LIFTS YOU” Through Dec. 31 Work by Kelsey Montague inspired by Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali Center

144 N. 6th St. Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays, noon-5 p.m. alicenter.org “IN A NEW LIGHT” Through Sept. 1 Couplets of photographs from gallery owner Paul Paletti’s collection.

Paul Paletti Gallery

713 E. Market St. Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. paulpalettigallery.com “THE EARLY POSTER DESIGNS OF JULIUS FRIEDMAN, 1865-1980” Through Dec. 16 Posters by the late graphic designer and photographer Julius Friedman.

“New M/M Paintings” by Andrew Rosenbarger is showing at Galerie Hertz in August.

2308 Portland Ave. Hours: Wednesdays-Fridays, 12-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 12-4 p.m. portlandky.org

“KENTUCKY WOMEN: HELEN LAFRANCE” Aug. 26-April 30 Retrospective of the late Kentucky artist’s work.

“ZECK” Aug. 5-28 Work by Suzi Zimmerer, Juli Edberg, Nancy Currier and Keith Kleespies.

“PICTURES FROM PIECES – QUILTS FROM THE ELEANOR BINGHAM MILLER COLLECTION” Through Aug. 21 Features the Speed’s recent gift of 10 American quilts, including many from Kentucky.

PYRO Gallery

1006 E. Washington St. Hours: Fridays-Saturdays, noon-6 p.m.; Sundays 1-4 p.m. pyrogallery.com

Speed Art Museum

2035 S. Third St. Hours: Fridays, 1-8 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. speedmuseum.org

“ESTATE OF MIND” Aug. 5-28 First solo show at Revelry by Liz Richter. Usually a muralist, Richter is showing how she takes her street art sensibility into the gallery.

“DAY IN & DAY OUT” Through Sept. 3 Debut exhibition at WheelHouse of art by Colleen Merrill.

Revelry Boutique + Gallery

WheelHouse Art

742 E. Market St. Hours: Mondays, 11 a.m-5 p.m.; Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. revelrygallery.com

2650 Frankfort Ave. Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. wheelhouse.art

“SITES AND SIGHTS OF WORK” Through Aug. 26 Show focusing on printmaking from 19th-21st centuries.

Schneider Hall Galleries, University of Louisville

104 Schneider Hall Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. louisville.edu

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

35

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE LOUISVILLE PERFORMING ARTS?

By Melissa Gaddie | leo@leoweekly.com

LOUISVILLE has a captivating and very busy art scene. So many theater productions, so much music and plenty of dancing. Our city shines with the creative arts. Here are a selection of events and arts companies that we enjoy.

AMBO DANCE COMPANY ambodancetheatre.org Kids These Days - Aug. 26-27, 2022

LOUISVILLE BALLET louisvilleballet.org

Coppelia - Oct. 6-8, 2022 Celebrating Alun - Nov. 4-5, 2022 The Brown-Forman Nutcracker - Dec. 9-23, 2022 Chorshow - Jan. 25-29, 2023 Spotlight Series: Women in Focus - March 2-4, 2023 La Sylphide with Scotch Symphony - April 13-15, 2023

VENARDOS CIRCUS venardoscircus.com Oct. 21-23, 27-30, 2022

A/TONAL atonalensemble.com

Season 9 opener - Oct. 2, 2022

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LOUISVILLE louisvillechambermusic.wordpress. com

Takács String Quartet - Oct. 23, 2022 Curtis On Tour: Eric Owens and Singers from Curtis Opera Theatre - Nov. 20, 2022 Merz Trio - March 19, 2023 Dover Quartet - April 15, 2023

KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS kentuckyperformingarts.org

Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown Sept. 1, 2022 Petty Nicks – The Iconic Tribute to Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks - Sept. 17, 2022 Southern Soul Music Festival - Sept. 18, 2022 The Magic and the Wonder - Oct. 8, 2022

36

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

KENTUCKY OPERA kyopera.org

La bohème - Sept. 23, 25, 27, 29 and October 2, 2022 María de Buenos Aires - Nov. 11 and 13, 2022 The Gift of the Magi - Dec. 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 2022 Cinderella - Feb. 24 and 26, 2023

LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA louisvilleorchestra.org

Season kickoff at Iroquois Amphitheater - Sept.

10, 2022 Shawnee Park - Sept. 11, 2022 Swing, Swagger & Sway - Sept. 16, 2022 Swing, Swagger & Sway - Sept.17, 2022 Pops Opening Night with Kelli O’Hara - Sept.

24, 2022 Radical Romanticism - Oct. 14-15 2022 Disney In Concert: Music and Film - Oct. 30, 2022 Philharmonia Fantastique - Nov. 12, 2022 Tchaikovsky’s 4th - Nov. 18-19, 2022 Jingle Bell Concert - Nov. 26, 2022 Handel’s Messiah - Dec. 2, 2022 Fifths of Beethoven - Jan. 13-14, 2023 Lights, Camera, Action! - Jan. 22, 2023 Pops: Hollywood’s Golden Age - Jan. 28, 2023 The Gilded Age of Paris and Vienna - Feb. 3-4 2023 Pops: Aretha: A Tribute - Feb. 25, 2023 Festival of American Music: Journeys of Faith - March 4, 2023 Festival of American Music: The Literary Influence - March 10 & 11, 2023 Pops: Decades: Back to the 80’s - March 18, 2023 Cultures Crossing - March 26, 2023 Rachmaninoff - March 31, 2023 Classics: Rach & Bartok - April 1, 2023 Pops: The Texas Tenors - April 7, 2023 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert - April 21, 2023 From Silence To Splendor - May 12-13, 2023

The Company of the North American Tour of ANASTASIA | photo by Jeremy Daniel.

ACTORS THEATRE actorstheatre.org

Dracula - Sept. 7-18, 2022 Fannie: The Music And Life Of Fannie Lou Hamer - Oct. 12-23, 2022 A Christmas Carol: Ghost Story - Dec. 14-23, 2022

THE BARD’S TOWN thebardstown.com/index.html

Extra Crispy Improv - Third Fridays Aug. Dec. 2022 Improv Anonymous - First Saturdays Aug. Dec. 2022 Bette’s Burlesque - Aug. 19-20, 2022 Comedians Michael Henry & Tim Murray Aug. 26, 2022 The Ten-Tucky Festival of 10-Minute Plays Sept. 15-24, 2022 Wayward Actors’ Company and Theatre Reprise! presents The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Holmes - Oct. 6-8, 13-15, 2022 It’s Still A Wonderful Life - Nov. 11-20, 2022 The Kings of Christmas - Dec. 8-23, 2022

BOOTSTRAPS THEATRE facebook.com/people/ LOUISVILLE YOUTH ORCHESTRA Bootstraps/100084325110941 lyo.org Bootstraps Volume 1.1: One Act Plays Music of the Stars - Nov. 6, 2022 All Seasons Change - Nov. 20, 2022 Discovery Concert - Nov. 21, 2022 Holiday Legends, Lights, and Lore - Dec. 11, 2022

Showcasing New & Emerging Directors - Dec. 1-4, 2022

BROADWAY LOUISVILLE louisville.broadway.com

Anastasia - Aug. 2-7, 2022 Jagged Little Pill - Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2022 Fiddler on the Roof - Oct. 18-23, 2022 Pretty Woman - Nov. 29 - Dec. 4, 2022 Annie - Feb. 14 - 19, 2023 Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations - April 11-16, 2023 Hadestown - May 16-21, 2023 To Kill a Mockingbird - June 20-25, 2023

BUNBURY bunburytheatre.org

“Indecent” with after show discussions Aug. 4 - Intersectionality of Jewishness, Blackness and Queerness - Keith McGill, Nationally Acclaimed Standup Comic Aug. 6 - An INDECENT Talkback - Dr. Janna Segal, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at University of Louisville Aug. 7 - Exile - Rabbi Ben Freed and Ariane Barrie-Stern, Artist-in-Residence, from Keneseth Israel.

This talk is on Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of the ancient Temple and the Jewish diaspora.

Aug. 11 - Jewish Music - Cantors Sharon Hordes, Keneseth Israel and David Lipp, Adath Jeshurun Aug. 13 - Interfaith Paths to Peace, Dr. Jud Hendrix Aug. 14 -About “God of Vengeance” the original Yiddish play by Sholem Asch, with the YIDDISH THEATRE ENSEMBLE (Berkeley, CA).

TEATRON will stream from July 31 - Aug. 21, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CENTERSTAGE jewishlouisville.org/the-j/j-artsideas/centerstage

CenterStage: A Century Of Entertainment - Aug. 25-29, 2022 Falsettos - October 27, 29-31, 2022, Nov. 3, 2022 The King’s Revue - Dec. 10, 2022 13: The Musical - Feb. 23, 25-27, March 2, 4, 5, 2023 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - May 11, 13-15, 18, 20, & 21, 2023 The Diary Of Anne Frank - April 13, 15 & 16, 2023

February 17-29 & 26-28, 2023

DERBY DINNER PLAYHOUSE derbydinner.com

The Chamber Theatre will be returning in Spring 2023 with two new productions.

Watch thechambertheatre.com for updates.

The Wizard of Oz - July 6-August 21, 2022 Bright Star - August 24-October 2, 2022 Murder on the Orient Express - October 5-November 13, 2022 Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - October 8-November 12, 2022 White Christmas - November 15-December 31, 2022 Santa Claus the Musical - November 19-December 23, 2022 Grumpy Old Men the Musical - January 4-February 12, 2023 Young Frankenstein - February 15-March 26, 2023 Escape to Margaritaville - March 29-May 24, 2023

CLARKSVILLE LITTLE THEATER clarksvillelittletheatre.org

FAITH WORKS STUDIOS faithworks-studios.com

THE CHAMBER THEATRE thechambertheatre.com/index.php

Footloose September 9-11, 16-18 2022 A Christmas Carol November 11-13, 18-20 2022 The Nerd January 13-15, 20-22 2023 Moon Over Buffalo March 10-12, 17-19 2023 Something Rotten May 12-14, 19-21 2023

CHICKEN COOP THEATRE COMPANY thechickencooptheatre.com

Misery - August 17-21, 2022 The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz - January 19-29, 2023

COMMONWEALTH THEATER CENTER commonwealththeatre.org

Our Town - October 12-22, 2022 The Selkie Wife - November 10-19, 2022 IDEAS at CTC Reading Series - January 20-21, 2023 Young Playwrights Festival - February 9-18, 2023 Young Company Presents: Little Women March 9-18, 2023 Young American Shakespeare Festival - May 11-23, 2023

COMPANY OUTCAST facebook.com/companyOutCast

Straight Outta the Nursery - August 5-7, 11-13, 2022 Little Miss Sunshine The Musical - October 21-23 & 28-30, 2022 A Tuna Christmas - December 9-11 & 16-18, 2022 Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest -

Ragtime - September 7-11, September 14-18, 2022

FLOYD CENTRAL THEATREARTS floydcentraltheatre.org Every Brilliant Thing - September 8-10, 2022 The Mystery of Edwin Drood - November 11-20, 2022 Twelfth Night - January 12-14, 2023 Anything Goes - March 10-19, 2023 Into The Woods - April 13-16, 2023

LITTLE COLONEL PLAYERS littlecolonel.net

Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy - October 7-9, 13-16, 2022 A Dickens Christmas Carol, A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts - December 2-4, 8-11, 2022 Things My Mother Taught Me - February 3-5, 9-12, 2023 Arsenic and Old Lace - March 24- 26, 30, 31, April 1, 2, 2023 Writing My Own Obituary - June 2-4, 8-11, 2023

MIND’S EYE THEATRE COMPANY mindseyetheatre.com Musical of Musicals - September 23-October 2, 2022

NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE ARTS newalbanytheatrearts.org

Seussical the Musical - November 11-13, 18-20, 2022 Mary Poppins - March 3-5,10-12, 2023

PANDORA PRODUCTIONS pandoraprods.org

Shakespeare’s R&J - August 8-28, 2022 The Legend of Georgia McBride - September 2-4, 8-11, 15-18, 2022 The Girl Crazy Queer’s Guide to Fairy Tale Classification - October 2022 Unexpected Joy - November 4-6, 10-13, 17-20, 2022 Dot - January 13-15, 20-22, 26-29, 2023 It Shoulda Been You - March 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 2023 Godspell - April 28-30, May 11-14, 18-21, 2023

REDLINE PERFORMING ARTS redlineperformingarts.com

Sister Act : A Divine Musical Comedy - Aug. 26-28, 2022

SHELBY COUNTY COMMUNITY THEATER www.shelbytheatre.org The Lion King Jr. - Sept. 15-25, 2022 Frankenstein - Oct. 20-30, 2022 A Christmas Carol - Dec. 1-11, 2022 She Loves Me - Feb. 2-12, 2023 Telling Tales - March 4, 2023 The Women of Lockerbie - April 14-23, 2023 As You Like It - May 11-21, 2023 Shakesperience! - June 2023

STAGE ONE stageone.org

Last Stop On Market Street - Oct. 15, 22, 29, 2022 *Sensory Friendly performance Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Dec. 3, 10, 17, 2022 *Sensory Friendly performance Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.

The Giver - Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 2023 *Sensory Friendly performance Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane March 25, April 1, 15, 2023 *Sensory Friendly performance April 1 at 2pm Storytellers Series - Back to School - Aug. 6, 2022 Theme: Back to School Storytellers Series - Grandparents Day - Sept.

10, 2022 Storytellers Series - Gingerbread Man - Oct. 1, 2022 Storytellers Series - Halloween/Fall Fest - Oct. 29, 2022 Storytellers Series - Thankfulness - Nov. 19, 2022 Storytellers Series - Trying Something New Jan. 7, 2023 Storytellers Series - Bedtime Stories/PJ Party - Feb. 18, 2023 Storytellers Series - Audience Pick - March

18, 2023 Storytellers Series - Fitting In and Standing Out - April 15, 2023 Storytellers Series - It’s a Jungle Out There May 20, 2023

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE THEATRE louisville.edu/theatrearts

Blood at the Root - September 2022 Gloria - November 2022 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - February 2023 Fairview - April 2023

WHODUNNIT MURDER MYSTERY THEATER whodunnitky.com

Murder Behind the Curtain - Saturday Evenings September 17-November 5, 2022 Sherlock Holmes: Silenced Night November 19-January 7, 2023 Murder by the Sea: The Dark Veil Mystery February 11-April 1, 2023 The Case of the Reluctant Mummy - dates TBA

CARMICHAEL’S carmichaelsbookstore.com

Mohsin Hamid: The Last White Man - August 8, 2022 Colson Whitehead in conversation with Adam Serwer - August 9, 2022 Ellen Hagan with Olivia A. Cole and Danni Quintos - August 13, 2022 Drag Queen Storytime in Kentucky - August 20, 2022 Cynthia Newberry Martin with Katy Yocom August 25, 2022 Kim Kelly: Fight Like Hell - October 13, 2022

KMAC MUSEUM kmacmuseum.org

Poetry Writing Workshop - August 13 & 20, 2022 KMAC Poetry Slams - Last Saturdays August December 2022

LOUISVILLE BOOK FESTIVAL louisvillebookfestival.com October 28 & 29, 2022

ROOTS 101 AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM roots-101.org

MaxwellSounds Presents: Roots 101 Poetry Slam - Third Tuesdays August - Dec. 2022

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

37

ETC.

9

27

28

33 38

29

34 39

40

47

41

42

48

49

58

62

63

68

69

59

81

65

83

106

107

75

79

80

85

86

89

95 99

67 71

84

88 94

66

70

78

87

61

74

82

90

96

100

101

108

109

114

97 103 110

111

116

120

121

122

123

124

125

96 100 102 104 105 106 person 107 110 111 114 115 117 118 119

91

92

93

118

119

98

102

115

104 112

117

126

Plan in detail Puppy ‘‘kisses’’ Rot Ill suited 9-5 automaker, once Muppet who refers to himself in the third ‘‘At Last’’ singer James Almond ____ (toffee brand) Computer with a Pro model Ship pest H+ or IA ticket may be given for a high one: Abbr.

Man’s name derived from the Bible Man’s name derived from the Bible

A S S U M U R P H I B I T O S L O N S T A O E N Z R I N K I S T A P B A H D E Y P R E H I P S E V F E W E O L E L E M E N E C O A K I C K I N E E M M A N D A P P E L C H T Y

E D L A I N T S H U E R O N L O O K E R C H E R

G E N D E R H Y D E

51 One of three for German nouns, or one of four for those in Africa’s Zande language 53 Like a tug-of-war rope 55 One may go off in the middle of the night 56 Scientist whose name is associated with a number 57 Wine list section 59 Heavy medieval weapons 60 Robot sound 62 Hot condiment 63 Italian bread that’s no longer made 65 Comply with a peace treaty, maybe 66 Some camping excursions 67 ‘‘I’m relieved!’’

70 H.S. subject 73 ‘‘La Tauromaquia’’ artist 75 Come off as 77 Went ballistic 79 ‘‘Easy there!’’

80 Small particle 82 Binder inserts with tabs 83 Literally, ‘‘revenge’’ 84 Org. that evaluates toothbrushes 86 Good cheer 88 Singer ____ Marie 89 Joins firmly 90 Epoch when palm trees grew in Alaska 91 In an obvious way 92 All-time connector 93 Big ____

45 51

60

64

77

44

18

54

73

76

17

50

P E N L I G H T

72

43

53

57

16

36

R V T R I P S

56

15

30

35

52 55

14

25

R O C A

32

46

13 22

24

37

113

12

21

26 31

11

D E L I

20

10

C D S P I A N U N L I I C T W E E M A N N I N T E

8

S C A L E N E

7

23

105

Brains of a tech start-up?

Racket Noticeable Roused from a nap Neighbor of Nev. Barely usable pencils ____ sandwich Like some roller coaster drops Task for a crossword constructor Washed quickly Bon ____ Instrument used in a medical checkup Out of whack Vessel with a hatch, informally The ‘‘teardrop of India’’ Not exceeding ‘‘Dark Lady’’ hitmaker, 1974 ____ Park, N.Y. Christianity’s ____ Creed Word with code or card Good witch in Oz ‘‘That’s enough about your sex life!’’

Pallid Some have combinations Like J, alphabetically English majors’ degs.

Having three unequal sides Equal: Prefix Outmoded storage device Witness Some breads Smitten British exclamation

6

R A I M N I S E D I S T O A U D T I S C A O R O M L I D T E C A Y

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 25 28 31 32 33 36 39 40 42 44 45 47 48 50

5

S C T L E U E G E P L I I N I N G N D L A M O A V E C E C E O S A N D C A M E A M P E I O N O U T N T S

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

DOWN

19

4

V E N D E T T A

38

1 Bank offerings, in brief 4 Twists 9 Losing roll at dice 13 In itself 19 Piece played with four hands 21 Tart sorbet flavor 22 Kind of bed 23 *Opposite of endearing 24 *Freely expressive 26 Winter eaves dropper 27 Some attacks on castles 29 Día de ____ Muertos (Mexican holiday) 30 Stories that may or may not be true 31 12-year-olds, e.g.

34 Ballerina’s bend 35 App whose icon features a camera, in slang 37 Aimee with two Grammys 38 Plank targets 41 Only trisyllabic rainbow color 43 Ferrari of automotive fame 46 *Communicating (with) 49 *Contracting 52 Acceptance principle of improv comedy 53 2-year-old, e.g.

54 What may connect the parts of a school assignment?

55 ‘‘Who ____?’’

58 Relative of an alpaca 60 ‘‘A Christmas Carol’’ cry 61 Dress in 62 Things people catch and then ride 63 Fifth sign 64 Actress Hepburn 67 Poke 68 Nickname in baseball and gossip columns 69 *Harsh language 71 Up 72 Loses firmness 73 Country with the most archaeological museums in the world (110+) 74 Brand seen at speedways 75 Cut off 76 French menu phrase 77 Sushi chef’s eggs 78 Uncle for whom an annual award is supposedly named 80 Not so many 81 When nothing goes right 83 Dutch name starter 85 Frank Robinson or Brooks Robinson of the Baseball Hall of Fame

3

W I N O D U K A B E S N S A B R F A Y E S E S S L I G R R O E A Y G A T E E D L E I N R C A A K T S

ACROSS

2

C A R W A V E A R O D S A G S A L A B A D D I R R I M O V I D E R S

No. 0227

1

E T T A

BY DAVID STEINBERG | EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

*Watered artificially *Goes well with Turn in a game Canine coat Instant, informally Island with a trisyllabic name Sat around In the thick of Ending remark that’s surprising Starting point Suffix with labyrinth Czar known as ‘‘the Great’’ Once called *Noisy disagreement *Ordered Service with a Capitol Corridor route Promote aggressively Without accompaniment Crows Ones in hills or farms Luxury vessel The dark side

E L M O

CHANGE OF HEART

87 89 94 95 97 98 99 101 103 105 108 109 112 113 116 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

S A A B

The New York Times Magazine Crossword

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROBINSON

ETC.

SAVAGE LOVE

By Dan Savage | mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage

THAT HUSBAND OVER THERE

This is a preview of this week’s Savage Love. The full version is now exclusively available on Dan’s website Savage.

Love.

Q: I’m a 36-year-old married woman who fantasizes about her husband of 10 years being intimate with other women. This isn’t a new thing for me. I’ve fantasized about this for years, but we’ve never acted on it. He is intrigued but afraid that it might somehow damage our relationship. But I’ve done some research on it and it’s something I’m eager to try. (With my husband’s consent, of course!) But in all my research, I’ve found different and sometimes conflicting definitions of what it means to be a “cuckquean.”

I’m interested in watching my husband pleasure and be pleasured by another woman in a purely physical way. I’m not interested in being “cheated on.”

No flirty texts, no unsanctioned coffee dates. I’ve read accounts of women who are turned on by the humiliation and insecurity of their partner being with others, often women the husband knows “in real life,” either through work or through social life. In my case, I would rather my husband not even know the name of the other woman.

And he would only be able to sleep with her with my consent and I would want to be “in control” of the situation. So, what does that make me? Do cuckqueans come in all different proclivities? I feel like the end result is the same—my partner bedding someone else—but my motivation is different than what I’ve seen.

What The Cuck Am I? A: “The scenario WTCAI describes sounds more like hotwifing with the gender roles reversed than cuckolding,” said Venus, host of The Venus Cuckoldress Podcast. “She’s interested in hothusbanding!”

Let’s quickly define terms: a man into

hotwifing enjoys “sharing” his wife with other men, WTCAI, and a woman into hot husbanding enjoys “sharing” her husband with other women. (All this sharing, of course, is consensual.) Cuckolds, on the other hand, aren’t sharing their wives. They’re being “cheated on” by their wives. And cuckqueans aren’t sharing their husbands. They’re being “cheated on” by their husbands.

Cuckolds and cuckqueans, by definition, don’t just wanna see their spouses fucking another person, they also want their partners to humiliate and degrade them. (I put “cheated on” in quotes because the “cheating” is consensual and symbolic; likewise, “sharing” is in quotes above because spouses aren’t property.)

“But cuckolding and hotwifing have a really wide spectrum of practices and dynamics,” said Venus. “Some cucks are submissive and get into degradation and some cucks really aren’t subs or into degradation at all. I don’t see why hothusbanding/cuckqueaning can’t be just as varied. Humiliation, submission, and degradation don’t have to be involved!”

Venus is right: there are guys out there who call themselves cuckolds but aren’t subs and don’t wanna be humiliated or degraded. But I would argue that these guys aren’t cuckolds, WTCAI, just as I would argue that you aren’t a cuckquean. We have lots of words to describe letting your partner fuck other people—open, monogamish, swinging, mate-swapping, hotwifing, hothusbanding, stag and vixen, CNM—but we only have one word to describe letting your partner fuck other people while getting off on being humiliated and degraded: cuckolding. And since most people understand cuckolding to involve humiliation and degradation, telling someone you’re a cuckold when you’re not into those things is like telling someone you’re a power bottom when you don’t like anal or telling someone

you’re into impact play when you don’t like having your ass so much as tapped.

It confuses rather than clarifies. What’s worse, tell someone you’re a cuckold/ cuckquean and they might start degrading you while they’re fucking your partner, which would ruin everything for everybody.

As for setting up a sex date for your husband with an anonymous woman, Venus had a practical suggestion.

“There are a lot more men out there looking for casual sex than there are women,” said Venus, “which makes WTCAI’s fantasy difficult to pull off. But I know a woman whose wife wanted to be blindfolded and then have a group of women come in—all strangers to her—and go down on her. Not an easy fantasy to pull off either! So, they hired a sex worker to facilitate things and it was amazing. Perhaps this would be an ideal solution—hiring a sex worker—because then WTCAI would be in total control.”

Finally, WTCAI, re-reading your letter just now… it sounds to me like what you really wanna do is… whore your husband out. It’s an expression I’ve heard gay men use to describe set-

ting up an anonymous encounter for their boyfriends or husbands. You find someone you wanna see fuck your husband—taking care to find someone your husband would wanna get fucked by—and all your husband needs to know is when and where. Cuckolds and cuckqueans are subs and a sub can “top from below,” as the saying goes, but at least officially a cuck doesn’t have the power. Someone who’s whoring his husband out, on the other hand, has all the power. And that’s what you want, right?

Follow Venus on Twitter @CuckoldressV, and check out her podcast, blog, dating advice, and more at www.venuscuckoldress. com.

I am a woman married to a man. Many years ago, I told him that I was attracted to a mutual friend of ours…

Go to Savage.Love to read the rest. questions@savagelove.net Listen to Dan on the Savage Lovecast.

Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage.

CLASSIFIED LISTINGS LEGAL

Auto-Motion Inc 636 E. Broadway Louisville KY 40202 (502) 589-1155 is seeking to obtain a clear title to a 2010 BMW 328XI. VIN# WBAPK5C51AA649473. Lien holders Capital Community Bank 15400 Sherman Way, Van Nuys CA. 91406. Owner Ernest Lewis 5006 Red Oak Lane Louisville Ky 40218. You have 14 days from the last publication of this legal notice to notify me in writing.

REPOSSESSION SALE

These vehicles will be offered for sale to the highest bidder at the time, date and place stated below. Term of sale is cash only. Seller reserves the right to bid and purchase at said sale. Dealers welcome.

August 15, 2022 2011 Toyota Camry SE. 4T1BF3EK8BU700391 DIXIE AUTO SALES 7779 DIXIE HWY., LOUISVILLE, KY 40258 (502) 384-7766

HELP WANTED

Quality Assurance Supervisor Engineer – (Louisville, KY) Swift Pork Company: Meet & exceed quality & food safety goals set forth by plant mngmnt by leveragng adv. engineering skillsets.

Req's: Bach in food science, biotechnology, biochemistry, or rel’d & 1 yr exp as Production Supv/Engineer, Trainee, or rel’d. * Travel 5% (domestic). Send resumes: Danielle Younkin, Danielle.Younkin@jbssa.com Ref #: 5017

LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022

39

40

10th & 11th September 2022

Music and Art Festival Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10th & 11th at Big Four® Bridge Louisville, Kentucky LEOWEEKLY.COM // AUGUST 3, 2022