Taking Notes
2018 May
A Taste of Spring
BAPTIST DESOTO
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THE HAMILTON
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May 2018
GENTLE DENTAL
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MAGNOLIA LIGHTING
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May 2018
ON THE COVER
WHAT'S INSIDE 14 Food A Taste of Spring
18 Home+Garden May Flowers
18 Recipe Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
32 Arts Studies in Solitude
61 Drink Bourbon Campari Punch
63 Wild South Alligator Gar
22 Taking Notes We chose local music instructor Peter Whitham's Mississippi Youth Chamber Orchestra for our cover this month to celebrate the Mississippi Music Foundation's pursuit of audile excellence. The Orchestra will be in attendance when the Foundation celebrates its annual awards show on May 5 at the Landers Center.
Out and About 36 Mudbug Bash 40 Southern Thunder Bike Night 42 Soil & Water Conservation 44 Miss Olive Branch Pageant
FEATURE BY SARAH VAUGHAN COVER BY MICHAEL HENSLEY
46 Byhalia Chamber Awards 48 Bloomin' Art Birthday Bash 50 Spring Into Art 52 Brooks Uncorked 54 Memphis Fashion Week 58 ONE Night myclickmag.com
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From the Editor
Sounds Good Do you have a hidden talent that you’ve been neglecting? I took up snare drum in 1998 with dreams of joining the Kirby Middle School marching band. The only problem with this grand dream was that my 11-year-old self was quite tone-deaf and couldn’t stay on beat to save my life. Looking back, I think I only lugged that huge drum case to and from the bus stop every day in hopes of waking up with the uncanny ability to spin a pair of drumsticks like Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe fame. Fast forward 20 years and I still don’t have a musical bone in my body. Turns out my aptitude in this field was neither hidden nor talent -- even with such a basic instrument, I was very plainly and obviously terrible. But hey, at least I got to miss a couple of math classes. The students from the Mississippi Music Foundation featured on this month’s cover obviously don’t have that problem, and it’s due in part to the hard work and tutelage of lead instructor Peter Whitham. Easily identifiable around town with his shock of silver hair and short stature, Peter is a Goliath when it comes to North Mississippi musical endeavors. Read all about the Foundation and their upcoming awards show on page 32. We’re ushering in the spring with a slew of seasonal features, including an inside look at the work done by the Hernando Civic Garden Club, courtesy of writer/ photographer, Mike Lee. See what they’re digging these days on page 18. In addition, Chef Keith Richard Clinton of Erling Jensen has provided us with a delectable selection of edible artwork. The plate is a canvas for Clinton, and his upscale, spring-inspired offerings do not disappoint. Read all about the flavors of spring on page 14. Hungry for more beautiful artwork? Look no further than our page 32 interview with Nesbit-based painter and poet, Claude Wilkinson. The landscapes painted by Wilkinson really show how much can change over the years, even in sleepy Southern towns. So from all of us to all of you: enjoy this issue. We hope you love reading it as much as we loved putting it together. Read on,
Casey Hilder Editor Editor@myclickmag.com
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Write to us Editor @myclickmag.com Click Magazine P.O. Box 100 Hernando, MS 38632
Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman & Angie Pittman Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com Art Director Hannah Lovell Ad Design Courtney Spencer Copy Editor Taylor Smith Contributing Writers Tess Catlett Casey Hilder Sarah Vaughan Contributing Photographers Brian Anderson Frank Chin Casey Hilder Mike Lee Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lyla@dttclick.com Account Representatives Sheri Floyd sheri@dttclick.com Melanie DuPree melanie@dttclick.com
We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner. Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder at address listed above.
Submit Your Event Interested in having your next party featured in Click? Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com. Š2016 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's services or products. Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.
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Click Contributors
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Taylor Smith Taylor Smith really should change her name to “Word.” She’s been a reporter for multiple publications in the MidSouth, including The Daily Helmsman, The Leader and The Commercial Appeal, and she journals every day. When she’s not moonlighting as a copy editor, she’s working full-time as a project coordinator for City Gear, an urban streetwear retailer, or watching another episode of Forensic Files with her boyfriend, Jason.
Tess Catlett
Sarah Vaughn Olive Branch native Sarah Vaughan has written for more than a dozen publications in and around Mississippi. Sarah is a graduate of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss and enjoys working as a freelance writer and graphic designer. When she’s not reading cozy English mysteries or trying out a new recipe, she’s probably repairing or rebuilding the most recent demolition of her two beagles, Amos and Annie, and tabby cat, Arlo.
Mike Lee Event photos in this issue were captured by Click photographer Mike Lee. Mike started in news in 1971 as a TV writer, photographer, and art director. For 20 years, his work appeared on national and international television broadcasts, and was published in print media worldwide.
A Southaven native and recent graduate of University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett is a former intern for Click. An avid and tenacious writer, Catlett has been featured in various publications including Vox Magazine, The Columbia Missourian and The DeSoto Times-Tribune. When not writing, Catlett enjoys binge watching underrated TV dramas.
Michael Hensley This month's cover feature was shot by photographer Michael Hensley of Hensley Imagery. A longtime Click contributor and world traveler, Hensley offers full-service website development, photography, videography, and marketing. Follow him on on Facebook at /hensleyimagery and see his photos on Instagram through @mind_of_mike.
Andrea Tatum Letard Andrea LeTard is a personal chef, cooking instructor, and creator of Andrea’s Cooktales, a recipe website and video series where there’s a story behind every recipe. Her recipes are what she calls “nextgeneration Southern” — fun and fresh with a modern twist using unexpected ingredients. Her recipes have been featured on The Today Show and she was chosen as a Top 100 contestant on MasterChef Season 6. She’s a regular cooking segment contributor on Local Memphis Live. Follow Andrea on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or read her blog and watch her video series at AndreasCooktales.com.
It’s Your Turn, Mom Jessica H. Cox DDS, MSD • Orthodontics for Children & Adults Flex Accounts Welcome
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ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY
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People, Places, and Parties
Up Front
Carrots four ways: Carrot candy, carrot puree, carrot scales, and carrot tops with beef tenderloin.
14 Food
16 Home + Garden
22 Music
A Taste of Spring
May Flowers
Taking Notes
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A Taste of Spring
A seasonal serving of fresh greens and local delicacies
FEATURE & PHOTOS BY CASEY HILDER
A dazzling array of colors, fresh greens and spices marks a sudden change of weather for Chef Keith Richard Clinton. As the seasons change and our collective palates shift from craving super savory dishes to lighter and fresher fare, Clinton draws inspiration from locally sourced vegetables and produce to create the unique and familiar flavors of spring. “Having beef bourguignon was nice, serving it was nice, but it’s no longer the season where people are after that flavor,” Clinton says. “Right now, it’s all about beets.” As a disciple of legendary Mid-South chef Erling Jensen, Clinton has worked nearly every position at the revered East Memphis fine dining establishment over the past decade, from stage to garde manger, sauté chef to sous chef and finally, his current title of chef de cuisine. “Erling showed me who I want to be as a chef and kind of got me pointed in the right direction,” he says. T he cook i n g ser ved at Erl i n g Jensen’s is very French, very precise and unapologetically old school. Many of the dishes served by Clinton closer resemble long-term projects than standard dinnertime prepwork, including certain stocks that have to be on the burner for 14
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48 hours on the mark. But life in Erling’s kitchen isn’t all exact measurements. “Fun and experimental projects are what keep me coming into work every day,” Clinton says. When the cooking is done, Clinton presents his plates to diners as true edible works of art. From swirling flourishes of sauce to perfectly placed garnishes, each plate is just a little different and bears its own signature marking courtesy of the chef. “Erling really turned me on to older chefs like Marco Pierre White, who had a very refined and technical style of plating,” says Clinton. “Then I branched out into using different plates and even different vessels, such as finding a way to serve a complete dish in or on a bone or inside the shell of a scallop.” The plate becomes a canvas for Clinton, who tends to shift into a more artistic mindset when assembling his signature dishes. “I like making things parallel, spaced equally, very linear on the plate,” he says. “I also try to use the negative space we have to kind of ‘paint’ a design by placing foods or sauces.”
Roasted quail, local honey comb, and brandy blackberry coulis. “A lot of our customers recognize Lent, so we keep them in mind when we’re creating new things,” says Clinton. “For this dish, I became really fascinated with those old verses about milk and honey and tried to incorporate that in some unconventional ways.”
Tuna crudo with apple chips, mango yuzu vinaigrette, and shiso. "A little summer mango lime and raspberry is what brings all this together," says Clinton.
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Sunflower seed risotto with black summer truffles. "This is on the menu right now and it's a very simple, clean, vegetarian meal," Clinton says. "We shave some truffles for the top and also incorporate them directly into the risotto."
Beet-cured salmon, blood oranges and baby sorrel. “The idea for this one came from the alliteration behind the ingredients – BBB – the beets, blood oranges, and baby sorrel give this dish a brilliant color,” Clinton says.
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May Flowers
Digging deep with the Hernando Civic Garden Club
FEATURE & PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Backyard gardens have brought beauty to neighborhoods for generations by providing habitats for birds and insects to nest, pollenate and feed on plants and flowers. A successful garden, however, is not a matter of happenstance or blind luck. No, it is a well thought out, planned and cultivated ecological system designed not only for beautification but to benefit nature. Doris Jones, a master gardener and member of the Hernando Civic Garden Club, is one such devotee. Her extensive garden rings her home with flower beds, arbors, paths and walkways that include seating areas that complement the grounds. Everything in her yard showcases the numerous plants that not only fill her neighborhood with beauty but also with intoxicating perfumes that attract wildlife. “Mine is a shade garden, meaning that my property is covered by senior trees that block much of direct sunlight. So I take advantage of it by growing hydrangeas, azaleas, which are perennials, and hostas. I also grow tulips, daffodils and iris. I have a section set aside specifically to attract our state butterfly, the black tailed swallow. All of my plants plus a host tree provide 18
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a restful place for the insects as they pollenate the flowers in my garden.” Pollination is vital to the health of a garden, and plants and flowers provide nectar not only for butterflies but also for bees. And Jones speaks from decades of experience, having been a gardener for over 25 years by explaining, “The fundamental health of a garden is very much dependent on insects, but also on some creatures not ordinarily noticed or – if they are – effort is made to eradicate them; things like spiders and even snakes. Each of them serves a specific purpose in maintaining a healthy garden.” Then there's the question of chemicals. According to Jones, “Mine is pretty much a 'natural' garden, devoid of insect sprays. But there are some pests that I deal with using the commercial chemical Round-up. It's effective, but I don't over-use it because it is a chemical solution that is limited in what it can do to protect my garden from insects. I use a sheet of cardboard to block the spray from reaching other plants in my garden and to isolate the chemical to specific areas. It is effective, but it's a manmade solution to a problem that nature
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already addressed in the form of predators that will eat insects.” There is also a side benefit to a garden and Jones put it on a personal level. “Gardening is therapeutic for me,” she noted, “because I can come into my garden to relax, away from the everyday world and working in the soil, planting bulbs and weeding makes the hours of the day breeze by.” And Doris Jones is not alone in her love for gardening. The Hernando Civic Garden Club is comprised of some 35-plus members, several of whom are master gardeners, experts in the discipline, and the club is one of over 200 gardening clubs statewide; all part of the six-state “Deep South” group of garden aficionado. Clubs are overseen by the National Garden Clubs, an organization with memberships in the thousands across the country. Among each club, members share tips on planting and cultivation methods. In some ways however, gardening as a hobby is lost on today's younger generation. Youngsters no longer have 20
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time to devote the effort to growing f lowers and plants, since a successful garden requires physical work. An area must first be cleared of leaves early in the year – usually in February – then treated with pre-emergence to control weeds. Then bulbs and seeds are planted that will begin to sprout in March. But that's just the beginning. A garden requires regular attention. Plant food must be applied periodically. It must be weeded and watered, and knowledge of what will grow successfully and when it will grow is important, because not all plants can grow in the South. It isn't guess work but knowledge, and luck plays no part in a successful garden. Dr. Joy Anderson of the Mississippi State Extension service in Hernando understands the need to be well-informed before starting a garden. “Years ago, I often spoke to students in our area schools about gardening. But nowadays, classes focused on agriculture no longer exist and children aren't taught how to grow things. Today's generation isn't interested, and agronomy has been
'put on the back shelf' so-to-speak in today's world,” she says. But the Hernando Civic Garden Club is making an effort to change things with a dedicated program this year called, “Grow Something” designed to challenge the next generation to – as state horticulturalist Felder Rushing says – “get dirty.” If the members of the Hernando club have anything to say about it, they will get dirty and the club's effort will pay off not only for our neighborhoods, but also for the many birds and insects that rely on plants.
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Taking Notes The Mississippi Music Foundation keeps music education alive in the Magnolia State
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FEATURE BY SARAH VAUGHAN
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HENSLEY
Music is intrinsically tied to the state of Mississippi. Just about every well-known blues artist was born and raised in the Delta, and some of today’s most well-known artists hail from our humble state, including Faith Hill, Tammy Wynette, 3 Doors Down, Blind Melon, North Mississippi AllStars, Saving Abel, and so many others. Hundreds of artists have called Mississippi home, and yet there are so many more musical artists here who will never have the opportunity to perform or showcase their talent simply because they don’t have the funds or resources they need to market their talents. The Mississippi Music Foundation is seeking to change that. “If you don’t have foundations to help support musicians financially or for marketing their talent, it’s extremely hard for them,” says Peter Whitham, CEO and President of the Mississippi Music Foundation. “Foundations are very important in the big scheme of things. For instance, the talent scout for national television shows like America’s Got Talent calls me on occasion to find out if anybody stands out, so without us in the foundation, or without any foundation, they might not have that opportunity.” The Mississippi Music Foundation, headquartered in Hernando, was founded by Whitham and Dr. Reginald Martin, who
wanted to give back to the music world what it had provided for them: the opportunity to create, perform, and produce music. “We wanted to see if something like this could work in Mississippi, and we were surprised when we searched for a music foundation here and realized there wasn’t one, so we said, ‘Why don’t we try?’ Now we’re a 501 (c)(3), and a large group of us get together to promote Mississippi music, says Whitham.” One way in which the Mississippi Music Foundation seeks to acknowledge Mississippi’s talented musicians is through their annual music awards. The very first Mississippi Music Awards show took place in Senatobia four years ago. During the program, the foundation awarded B.B. King with a lifetime achievement award shortly before he passed away in May of 2015. Seven-time Emmy Award winner and 2-time Grammy Award winner David Cook has also been recognized by the foundation. “The show began as a way for us to bring together the best musical acts in our state and to give artists a chance to perform and promote their music in a public forum,” says Whitham. “We’re going to have almost 90 artists performing at the show this year, and when we open the voting for the awards, we’ll usually have more than 150,000 votes in just two weeks.”
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Whitham has founded and coordinated many of the programs that support music in Mississippi through collaborations with established Mississippi music artists, educators, and industry professionals to find and promote talented musicians of all ages and backgrounds throughout the state. One such program is the Money Match Program, which raises funds for local musicians to cover the costs of recording sessions, production time, and other expenses. So far, dozens of Mississippi musicians have participated in the program. Cory Taylor Cox is one Mississippi musician who took advantage of the Money Match Program to help cover the expenses of recording and production. In 2011, Cox’s “We Made These Sounds Together” was produced in part with funds donated from the foundation. “It’s very important to a thriving music community to have fans, supporters, record stores, venues, and foundations like the foundation,” says Cox. “I’ve toured ever since, and I’m still using those recordings as references to book shows. I’m very proud to have grown up in and cut my teeth musically in Mississippi. From delta blues to Elvis to the indie rock and roll bands of today, the rich heritage of the state and the friendliness and support of 24
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the community are unmatchable. Let’s continue to build each other up, create opportunities, and share our stories through music.” “It’s hard for a musician to stand out,” says Whitham. “What he or she has to do is branch out to other places to be recognized and then come back to Mississippi to create. That’s kind of the industry now. Artists like Cedric Burnside went overseas and became much bigger and then came back. Cedric now travels around the world to perform and then comes back to Mississippi. Another artist didn’t get discovered until he was 80 years old. Both of these artists have received awards from the foundation. Another artist has been a songwriter for Columbia Records for years and lives here in Mississippi, but you would never know, because artists don’t get a lot of exposure here.” Considering the lack of federal funding for arts programs in Mississippi, organizations like the Mississippi Music Foundation are essential for keeping music alive. As early as this year, Mississippi legislators presented the motion to abolish the Mississippi Arts Commission and its programs. “Without art, I don’t know what society would be like, especially for kids,” says Whitham. “If you eliminate art and music
for kids, you’ll have future generations who can only enjoy electronic music. It’s already starting to happen now.” For Whitham, music and the art of discovery were always a part of life. Whitham was raised on the island of Malta by a grandmother who was a concert pianist for Pinewood Studios in the silent movie era. “I started playing piano really young. My grandmother used to play all the time, and of course, I used to listen to her play as a baby, and I thought it was so intriguing, so I started trying to pick up some things myself.” Since emigrating to the U.S. in 1966 with his family, Whitham has performed for hundreds of audiences all over the world while working as a writer, director, conductor, and producer. From the 1994 musical performance at the opening of Tiger Country at the Memphis Zoo to writing the music for FedEx training videos, Whitham has become well-known in the local and national music scene. In the early 2000s, Whitham also hosted QTR TV, a national television program that featured interviews with dozens of talented musicians. He has also served as a local judge for multiple musical competitions, including the CMA Awards, The Voice, and American Idol. “I think my biggest accomplishment is just being able
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to play and getting paid for it in the classical world, because it’s a tough industry, but I’ve played all over the world,” says Whitham. W h it ha m a lso works w it h t he Mississippi Youth Chamber Orchestra to promote children’s programs for youth. From directing and producing to writing musical arrangements, Whitham has inspired the youngest generation of Mississippi musicians by showing them just how possible it is for them to achieve their musical dreams. Auditions for the orchestra are held each year in August. “Programs like the orchestra give them an opportunity to perform," Whitham says. "Kids love to perform, and it's good for them, because whenever they go on to college or whatever they do in life, it gives them a lot of confidence and self-worth.” Three of Eric du Toit’s four daughters have played in the orchestra and taken individual private lessons from Whitham for the last three years. Thirteen-yearold Eden is proficient in seven different instruments, while her younger sisters Amaris (12) and Milana (11) are proficient in five. The youngest du Toit daughter, Ivy, 7, is also learning to play the violin and is eager to join the orchestra with her older sisters. “Being a part of the foundation has helped our girls learn to play as a group 26
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and advance their skill and knowledge in music,” says du Toit. “Peter works to build students, musicians, and the music program in this area, and the students who participate in the program have a great musician to follow. In addition, he’s become a good friend and resource for recording expertise and music composition. Our girls are very fond of him. He is very positive and motivating.” Unlike most traditional private lessons, the Mississippi Music Foundation enables the children of the youth orchestra to par ticipate in numerous public performances, collaborate with other well-known artists, and opportunities to travel both locally and regionally to perform. The foundation doesn’t measure a child’s progress based upon store-bought instructional manuals. By combining private lessons, group training, and public performances, a child is encouraged to grow and learn at their own pace. “Without the foundation, our daughter would have very limited places to play snd her skill set would be nowhere near the level Peter has her performing at,” says Les Green, whose 15-year-old daughter Elizabeth is already an accomplished violinist. “He has taught her some of the most difficult things regarding music and her instrument. He invests in them, and
they respond." “ W hen the youth orchestra was performing with a professional orchestra in North Carolina for a television program, there was some confusion over the music, which required the youth orchestra to transpose it. The conductor assumed they would be unable to transpose, so he was stunned when the entire orchestra transposed the music while he was standing there. That’s what Peter does: he prepares the kids for performing at a high level.” Samantha Eccles is amazed at how much progress her 11-year-old daughter Ellie has made as a pianist since working with Whitham and the youth orchestra. “She is years ahead of several of her friends in her music education and skill though they have either been playing the same length of time or longer,” says Eccles. “I am amazed at how accomplished they are every time I hear the youth orchestra perform. I am so proud of their diligence and perseverance. Mr. Peter has a rare talent in that he is not only a talented master of music, but he is able to draw out each student’s talent and ability and customize each lesson or session for that particular student.” “North Mississippi has many wonderful things to offer, but the options to study and perform classical music under the direction of someone with the talent and resume of
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Mr. Peter Whitham are truly rare and rewarding,” says Darren Ray, whose 14-yearold daughter Abby studies violin under Whitham. “Peter has dedicated his life to music and continues to devote countless hours teaching the youth of Mississippi the classical arts. He volunteers his time with the youth orchestra by arranging and conducting free performances both locally and across the nation. The truly unique opportunities that the children of the youth orchestra receive from the foundation bring great credit to itself, DeSoto County, and the state of Mississippi." “I’ve been teaching piano and violin for many years, and it is so much fun to take somebody who has never played before and have them go all the way through college and performance,” says Whitham. “What’s nice about it is that they follow up with you afterwards and tell you what they’re doing in their career. There’s a lot of joy in that.” W hitha m has persona lly taught hundreds of students throughout the course of his career. “A lot of musicians are introverts, so if you can somehow let them speak through music you’ll see them come alive. Once in a while I’ll have an open rehearsal with the orchestra which gives a chance for people to bring their little ones, and it’s so much fun to see someone who is three or four-years-old who can’t wait to get hold of a violin to give it a try.” Benefactors can support the Mississippi Music Foundation in a variety of ways either by donating their time or experience as well as money. Volunteers have the opportunity to perform in live events and to work with youth orchestras and other programs that have partnerships with the foundation. The 4th Annual Mississippi Music Awards will take place on May 5, 2018 at the Landers Center in Southaven. Guests will have the chance to take photos on the red carpet with Mississippi’s most well-known musical talent and experience live music from all types of genres.
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Herb Mustard Chicken Salad A fresh alternative to a Southern favorite, sans the mayo WITH ANDREA TATUM LETARD OF ANDREA'S COOKTALES
THE GOODS
DIRECTIONS
For the Salad 2 pounds chicken tenderloins 2 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup chopped celery ¼ cup minced fresh basil ¼ cup sliced fresh chives 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley Grilled bread – for serving Lettuce cups – for serving
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
For the Dressing ¼ cup white balsamic reduction ¼ cup whole grain mustard 3 tablespoons Dijonaise 1 lemon – juiced 2 garlic cloves – minced 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
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On a baking sheet, toss the chicken tenderloins together with the olive oil and a heavy sprinkle of salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes,or until cooked through. Set aside to cool. When cooled, dice the chicken tenders into small cubes and place in a large bowl. Add the celery, basil, chives, dill, parsley, and the dressing. Toss together until all the chicken is coated in the dressing and herbs. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with grilled bread and lettuce cups. Refrigerating the salad in an air-tight container for up to 3 days before serving enhances the flavor. Combine the white balsamic reduction, whole grain mustard, Dijonaise, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, a dash of salt and pepper, and olive oil by whisking in a small bowl or shaking in a Mason jar.
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Studies in Solitude
Mississippi artist Claude Wilkinson captures stark Southern landscapes
Q & A BY CASEY HILDER
The work of Nesbit-based poet and painter, Claude Wilkinson, captures an earlier time in the history of Desoto County. Each of his eye-catching, evocative landscape pieces reflects Wilkinson's 30-year artistic journey and showcases just how much a patch of land can change over time. "Although I am particularly drawn to rural areas, my landscapes are generally reflective of places which border small towns rather than of true wilderness. Indeed, a number of my paintings have resulted from sketches and photographs made within a few miles of my house. While I typically paint scenes that offer an alluring serenity, there is always present, at least to my mind, the undercurrent that these spots may soon be lost to some form of encroachment," he says. Click Magazine: How did you get started as an artist? Claude Wilkinson: I began drawing when I was just four years old, mostly rural scenes since I grew up in Nesbit. Although both of my parents were educators for Desoto County Schools, we had a subsistence farm and that led to me spending a lot of time in the woods when I was growing up. CM: How did you take your work from a hobby to a career? CW: When I started, it was merely something I enjoyed doing, more of a calling than a career choice. But I was led along the way through different educators and eventually studied art in college at the University of Mississippi. Around the mid1980s, I saw this becoming something I 32
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could do for the rest of my life. There was no singular moment, but each step led to the destination. CM: What keeps you down here in Nesbit? Are there any other areas that you have dreamed of painting? CW: I’ve always dreamed of moving to New England. I love the physical beauty of the place. And it’s not as overcrowded as this area is becoming these days. CM: How has urbanization and development affected your primary subject of landscapes? CW: Quite a bit, actually. There were two houses here when I moved in around the 1980s, and while I wouldn’t say it’s become extremely crowded, it is more noticeable
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than it used to be. I have two paintings of the space across the street, a pasture area, that is no longer there. In fact, work started on that patch of land just a few days after I had finished by painting. CM: As a painter, how important is it to have a space of your own to take in the landscape? CW: It’s very important to me. I always listen to something when I’m painting: classical music, blues, gospel, jazz, or just the sounds of nature. It’s much more difficult painting a landscape with the sounds of construction and cars going on in the background. CM: What’s your favorite medium? CW: I like different media for different subjects. For instance, if I’m working on a figurative painting with a human subject, I’d typically use watercolor. Landscape paintings generally call for pastel, and I really like the wide range of colors used for that. There’s something hypnotic about the gentleness of touch that you need to achieve certain qualities in the work that I’ve always found appealing. I began in oil exclusively before venturing into other media. Oil, pastel, and oil sticks are my go-tos for most of my landscape work. CM: How would you describe your poetry? CW: Most of my poems have to do with the natural world and the spiritual implications of natural-world experiences. It’s mostly ekphrastic poetry, which is poetry that focuses on works of art. Mine are a little bit different in that they aren’t just descriptions of art, but it attempts to expand on the creative process and present some new ideas about the ideas and motive behind the work. CM: What are some ways your personal hobbies and beliefs play into your work? CW: I wouldn’t say I have any hobbies, but I am very geared toward 34
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capturing mood in my work. As I said before, what I choose to listen to while creating a piece of art is often very influential in creating that mood. You could say that travel plays a big role in my work. I’ve painted scenes from Northern Ireland and New England from photographs taken on my trips. What I typically do is use a combination of photographs, color notations and sketches when painting a landscape. Now, this area has become so busy that I can’t just drive somewhere and stop along the side of the road to make color notations like I used to. Nowadays, I mainly procure my subject matter in this area through photos. CM: What is your absolute favorite subject to paint? CW: As far as scenery, it has to be whatever strikes me at the time. I may be inspired by something as simple as a shadow falling from a tree outside my house that I haven’t noticed for several years. CM: How can a Claude Wilkinson painting be identified? CW: People generally talk about color harmony, mood and tranquility in my work. That’s what I believe stands out. CM: What are your least favorite things to paint? CW: If it becomes my least favorite thing, I tend to start over. I started and stopped many paintings early on, but generally that was when I was a beginner. Now I find myself finishing paintings and not being satisfied with the end result, so I don’t keep them. But if it’s a subject that inspires me, I generally like to carry through to the end. CM: What are your plans for the rest of 2018? CW: I have a new book of poetry coming out in September, as well as some contributions to Southern Writers on Writing coming soon. As far as painting goes, I hope to spend a lot of time
exclusively painting after I finish my writing projects. Generally, I try to divide the year up between painting and writing, though I recently found myself spending whole years working on one or the other. CM: Who are some of your favorite artists? CW: Most of my favorite painters are from the 19th century American academic tradition. They tell the story of people’s relationship with their surroundings. Oftentimes this work is said to have a spiritual aura. Daniel Ridgway Knight, George Ennis, Claude Monet, Edward Hopper. My favorite poets are Derek Walcott, James Dickey and Mary Oliver’s early work.
PRO STONE
CM: What's the secret to putting together a great work of art? CW: It all begins with composition. Though the best draftsmanship can make a good painting from a weak composition, a lesser draftsman can put together a great painting from a strong composition. Other than that, I'd say tonal quality and color are the most important elements. CM: How would you like your work to be remembered? CW: I hope and believe that the mood or message conveyed through these paintings and poems sticks around over time. Even when we have structures and establishments that don’t last, I believe art should be lasting. You can go to a museum and look at 19th century academic landscapes and those places are all long gone. If there’s no notation behind those works of art, you probably couldn’t even find the place outside of what scholars assume. I hope it’s no different with my work.
SPITFIRE
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Ashley Pollan & Linda Worsham
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May 2018
Out & About Mudbug Bash
Valerie Hawkes, Joey & Heather Ries
36 Mudbug Bash
40 Shamrock-n-Run
42 Soil & Water Conservation
44 Miss Olive Branch 50 Spring Into Art
46 Byhalia Chamber Awards 52 Brooks Uncorked
48 Bloomin' Art Birthday Bash 54 Memphis Fashion Week myclickmag.com
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Mudbug Bash The Mudbug Bash has raised nearly half a million dollars for the Palmer Home since 2004. Patrons fill the historic Hernando Square for this annual event to raise money for North Mississippi children. Guests kick up their heels to live music provided by Dr. Zarr and the Funk Monsters and enjoy a spring feast of crawfish.
APRIL 14 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Brad & Ashley McElhannon
Josh & Brittany House
Marcus & Linda Cain, Suzanne & Bruce Prewett
Robert Ferris, Delena & Jeremy Beavers 38
May 2018
A.J. & David Linville
Gary & Soundra McElhannon
Morgan & Matthew Ward, Jewel Nelms
Alice Rush & Roberta Jolly
Chris Trosclair & Jody Gaines
Terri & Mike Igleheart
Cortney, Christy & Dink Upchurch
Roger & Patsy Clark myclickmag.com
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Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson Bike Night Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson's Bike Night was just one of many monthly celebrations hosted throughout the year, all featuring free beer and live music under the Water Tower Stage.
APRIL 6 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Steven Pepper & Ahsley Jones
Sweeper, Troy Scott, & Voo Doo
Motley & Chris Pietrangelo 40
May 2018
Tim Smith
Kerry Clay & Jus-Rollin'
ALWAYS IN YOURALLSTATE CORNER Cheryl Walker & JoAnna Maher
Dean Agency 662-985-7556 anthonydean@allstate.com © 2016 Allstate Insurance Co.
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Dillon Tacker & Aubrey Depew
Rude Dawg & Alessio Mauro
WILDBIRDS UNLMTD
Dominic Keilty & Patrck Pietrangelo myclickmag.com
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DeSoto County Soil & Water Conservation District Dinner The annual DeSoto County SWCD’s awards dinner hosted district members at the Gale Center in Hernando. The ceremony also recognized several achievements in 2017 by presenting awards to Glenn Floyd (Outstanding Conservationist of the Year) and Pamela Selby (Conservation Education Volunteer of the Year).
MARCH 29 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Sherry and Chelsi Smith
Meliah Tyus & Pete Hunter
Lisa & Will Abbay 42
May 2018
Meleiah Tyus & Pete Hunter
Susie Burns & Walt Starr
Shelda Rickman & Pam Selby
D r. S te p h e n Jo e
D r. R h et t S i m m o n s
4824 Goodman Road • Olive Branch • 662.874.5917 Marlon Williams & Barbara Sowell myclickmag.com
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Miss Olive Branch Pageant Zoe Storck took home the crown at this year’s Miss Olive Branch Scholarship Pageant. As Miss Olive Branch, she’ll serve as an ambassador for the City and the Chamber of Commerce for 2018.
MARCH 24 PHOTOS BY DOUG FARRIS
Kaitlyn Hopper, Madelynn Michell, Breanna Buford, & Madalyn McAlexander
AB Safford & MIss Olive Brand 2018, Zoe Storck
Miss Olive Branch 2017, AB Safford
Ethan Benton, Leanna Parrish, Emily Pearson, Leslie Furguson, & Micah Barker 44
May 2018
Olive Branch Mayor, Scott Phillips, & Stacy Phillips
EAGLE BANK Mayor Scott Phillips & Kaitlyn Ann Hopper
Katie Smith, Zoe Storck, & Madison Eunis
Judges Carl Volgl, Teesha Kelow, Justin Jaggers, Jamie Thompson myclickmag.com
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Byhalia Chamber Annual Awards Luncheon Mayor Phil Malone welcomed guests into this year’s awards luncheon at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. He went on to recognize the Byhalia High School Lady Indians basketball team as the state runners-up in this year’s Class 4A championship. Now in its 30th year, the Byhalia Chamber doled out awards in the categories of Industry of the Year, Leader of the Year, Board Member of the Year.
MARCH 22 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Renee Archer & Karen Skelton
James Sales & Sanchez Blake with the Lady Indians
Ashley Hester, Robyn Turner, & Dean Stewart 46
May 2018
Tommy & Faye Woods
Russell & Amanda Pennington
Joie Barbieri, Ida Jones & Deb McCullough
Bob & Brenda Barden
Gracie & Pat Woods
Jamal & Charlotte Jawhar myclickmag.com
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Bloomin' Birthday Bash DeSoto Arts Council celebrated their first anniversary of their new home with a birthday bash for the ages. The reception also kicked of the annual Bloomin’ Arts exhibit, which ran until April 25.
MARCH 23 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Helen Goosby & Willy Harris
Ellen Jernigan, Gwen Lutrell, & Diane Hawks
Peter Whitham & the Mississippi Youth Chamber Orchestra 48
May 2018
Rita Ray & Jim Seay
Sheila & Steve Beavers
Pat & Carol McGarrity
Gonda Riggs & Brian Hobbs
Alliann Hoover & Cathy Gray
FIRST SECURITY BANK
Billy & Levonzell Walker myclickmag.com
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Spring Into Art The Hernando Young Women’s Club hosted Spring Into Art, a celebration of local artists. This year, the silent auction featured a live painting by Hernando native Melissa Payne Baker.
APRIL 6 PHOTOS BY MIKE LEE
Anna Beeman & Natalie Bright
Wendy Myers, Rip & Emmye Walker
Amanda Cunningham, Jeff & Mary Ahsley McNelly 50
May 2018
Mary Patridge & Stacy Dorris
Rosie & Michael Hensley, John Fowler
Erin Owen & Erin Funderburk
Ashley & Andy Bynum
Lyn Fort & Karen Sandridge
Brittany & Adam Lynch
Tyler Golden & Drew Funderburk
Collin Tackett, Doug Murphy & Ken Purvis
Karen Smith, Dawn Carter & Mandy Fuchs myclickmag.com
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Brooks Uncorked The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art kicked off the 2018 Food + Wine Series with Winemaker, AndrĂŠ Hueston Mack of Mouton Noir Wines.
MARCH 23 PHOTOS BY FRANK CHIN
Tanesha Nash
Grace Peterson & Ashely Phoummavong
Nadia Mitchem & Nicole A. Thomas 52
May 2018
Elaine Ichniowski & Doug Hallowell
Dev Varma & Michelle Duckworth
Elizabeth & Adam Langley
Bob & Brenda Barden
Gracie & Pat Woods
DISTINCTIVE CARPETS
Tammy Davis & Jeremy Tolbert myclickmag.com
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Memphis Fashion Week Dedicated to cultivating and celebrating local talent, Memphis Fashion Week showcases original work by emerging designers in the Mid-South. Proceeds from preview parties and runway shows are shuffled back into the city’s burgeoning fashion scene through The Memphis Fashion Fund.
APRIL 11-14 PHOTOS BY BRIAN ANDERSON & FRANK CHIN
Andrea Fenise & Cara Greenstein
Chelsea Jones, Wendy Fey & Jana Smith
Lara Bennet, Carly Rae, Abby Stevens & Denise James 54
May 2018
Kandi & Katherine Stehlik
Melissa Turner & Alice Dean
Sara R. Watkins & Meredith Taylor
Taiya Hill
Carol & Arthur Sims
Grace Steven & Jean Williams Jackie Simpson, Kelly Able, Yvonne Norris & Nora David
Tamara Baggett & Raenetta Jackson
Traci Massey & Diedra Luke myclickmag.com
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MFW Featured Designer Runway Shows Notable national and international designers showcased their spring/ summer collections in participation with the Memphis Fashion Week. This years event was held at Elvis Presley Automobile Museum and featured designers Rachel Roy, Ituen Basi, This is Sloane, Daniel Magana Couture, and TIENA.
APRIL 11-14 PHOTOS BY BRIAN ANDERSON & FRANK CHIN
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May 2018
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ONE Night Hosted by Regional One Health Foundation, the annual fundraiser isn’t just a party — it’s a powerful philanthropy. More than 1,000 donors, supporters, patients, and community leaders were in attendance for this annual event.
APRIL 14 PHOTOS BY BRIAN ANDERSON
Carl & Tanya Biggs Mark & Lori Carson
Chelsea Casey, Zara Parsons & Rachel Cass 58
May 2018
Grace & Jeff Williams
Gloria Wilson, Jean Samson & Wanda Ellis
Jenny & Steve Rodgers
Jeff Taylor & Friends Veronica West. Sean Andrews, Yasmine Everette
Laurie & Jeff Sanders
Lisa Carson, Andre Turner & Kim Ackerman myclickmag.com
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Marketplace & More
Beeer Hearing Month
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Mention this ad and get 15% OFF any service. Cannot combined with other offers or discounts. Exp. 5/3/18 Maybe 2018
Bourbon Campari Punch A refreshing cocktail dressed up with freshly squeezed orange juice, grilled orange rounds and just enough club soda to give a little sparkle PHOTO & RECIPE BY SERENA WOLF
THE GOODS
DIRECTIONS - Yields 1 Pitcher, 8 Cocktails
2 oranges, sliced into ½-inch rounds 2 cups Campari 2 cups bourbon 2½ cups fresh squeezed orange juice 1-1½ cups club soda Ice
Pre-heat a grill or grill pan over high heat. When hot, add the orange rounds, and grill for about 1 minute on each side until some nice grill marks appear. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Leave half of the rounds intact, and slice the rest in half. In a pitcher, combine the Campari, bourbon and orange juice. Add half of the cooled orange rounds. (At this point, you can pop the punch into the fridge until ready to serve.) When ready to serve, add the club soda and ice to the pitcher OR pour the punch into glasses with ice and top each with soda to taste. Garnish each glass with a grilled orange half (or two) and drink up!
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AOM Illustration
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April 2018
Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) BY RUSS THOMPSON
In this corner of the river, weighing in at three hundred and twenty-seven pounds and measuring up to ten feet in length, the alligator gar. That is no exaggeration according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, which reported a monster gar this size in 2011. Indeed this giant amongst fish is one of the largest in our area. Usually, they range from four to six feet and weigh closer to 40-150 pounds. All the same, that size is nothing to sneeze at. They are also an ancient species thought to have been around one hundred million years. So, cut your grandpa a break for talking about the old days, he isn’t nearly as old by comparison to this critter. This creature looks like the love child of an alligator and a giant fish, hence the name. Usually they have a yellow or olive green body and a body covered in scales. Its most prominent feature is its menacing snout full of teeth. Most of their teeth are needle sharp, arranged in two rows, and vary in number. Let’s just say there’s a lot of them. You really have nothing much to fear from this giant unless you’re a fish or even turtles, snakes, small mammals, amphibians, and waterfowl -- pretty much anything that will fit into its gaping mouth. When you reign supreme in the river you inhabit, you don’t have to worry much about predators, other than, fitting enough, alligators that have been known to eat a gar or two. Many people fear them, but attacks on humans have never been reported. However, their eggs are poisonous if you choose to eat them. So, look elsewhere for a source of caviar. These ancient denizens of river
basins and lakes can be found as far south as Mexico, west to Texas and Oklahoma, and as far north as the basin of the Mississippi River. They can also be found in the Missouri and lower Ohio Rivers. Gars like to inhabit slowmoving, large lakes, rivers, bays, bayous, and even brackish water. There they can find shallow waters where junior gars have better protection from being eaten themselves. Alligator gars have been observed making gulping noises and blowing bubbles in large groups. Although no one is quite sure why, some say they are communicating with one another either as a means of warning against a possible threat or even as a way to maintain their territory. Who says human beings are the only creatures who enjoy blowing bubbles? The only other threat to the existence of the alligator gar is, you guessed it, humans. Not only have we built dams and dikes to block access to their favorite spawning grounds, we have also overfished them. Throughout their range, they are now declining in number, and even believed to be extirpated in parts of the north. Now, programs of re-stocking and habitat restoration are underway to try and reverse the reduction of their numbers. It’s the least we can do for a fish that helps us. They like to eat Asian Carp, an invasive species that we introduced. Way to go, humans! So, we should show some respect for this toothy, scaly heav y weight champion of the rivers and lakes. For although menacing looks can be deceiving, size does matter (at least in the case of the alligator gar).
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Kimbrough Cotton-Patch Blues Festival The Hut, Holly Springs
May 11-13
Photo courtesy of Bill Steber
This three-day festival honoring the late David “Junior” Kimbrough kicks off Friday evening with a photo and sculpture reception featuring work by Bill Steber, Steber began photographing Junior in the early 90s, at Junior’s infamous Chulahoma juke joint. On Saturday, Little Joe Ayers and David Hayden will join Junior’s sons — the Kimbrough Brothers — in teaching a legendary workshop on how to play the Cotton-Patch Blues. The celebration wraps up on Sunday with an old-school family picnic. Over a dozen musicians are scheduled to perform, including Robert Kimbrough Sr. Blues Connection, RL Boyce, and Lightnin' Malcolm. FOR MORE INFORMATION sonandfriendsofjuniorkimbrough.wordpress.com 64
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