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ON THE COVER: Outsider artist Michael Banks sits on the front porch of his home and studio in Florence. In addition to stories of Renaissance people who are making a difference in the Shoals, this issue celebrates artincluding the fabric art of Florence’s own Martha Beadle below.
PHOTO BY DANNY MITCHELL
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inside March/April 2012 Volume 5: Issue 2 ••• C. Allen Tomlinson Editor-In-Chief David Sims Managing Editor/Design Director Contributing Writers Sarah Gaede, Roy Hall, Laura Anders Lee Contributing Photographers Armosa Studios, Patrick Hood, Danny Mitchell Business Manager Roy Hall Marketing Coordinator/Advertising Sales Lyndsie McClure Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan Administrative/Editorial Assistant Claire Stewart Intern Andy Thigpen ••• No’Ala is published six times annually by ATSA PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106 Toll-free: 800-779-4222 Web: www.noalamag.com Standard postage paid at Florence, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States. Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements.
Features 18 Education for Everyone 24 2012 Renaissance Awards Profiles 54 The Heart of Art Everything Else 10 Contributors 12 Calendar 48 Market 88 Food for Thought 92 Twenty Questions 96 Bless Their Hearts 98 Parting Shot
© 2008-2012 ATSA, All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to atomlinson@atsa-usa.com. Letters may be edited for space and style. To advertise, contact us at: 256-766-4222, or sales@noalamag.com. The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first.
No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks on 100% recycled paper.
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editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 9
A
ll over the Shoals, there are people doing good work at things they are passionate about, and they are making a difference for us all. That’s the theory we had, four years ago, when we asked our readers to tell us who those people were so that we could honor them with our first ever Renaissance Awards. We asked again this last year, and this time you offered us 28 individuals and one group (The Master Gardeners) who have made a huge difference in the quality of life here for all of us. Most of the people who were nominated do what they do because of their passion, not because they want attention; we found, on the night of our Renaissance presentations, that some of our award winners this year are quite shy about discussing the many things they are doing. Their work is huge; their egos are not. We wish we had room to give you detailed articles about all 29 nominees, but we don’t. Instead, we present in this issue the five category winners for the 2012 Renaissance Awards. We are very impressed, and I’m sure you will be, too. Two of our winners are involved in Shoals Scholar Dollars, a community foundation designed to give each and every young person in the Shoals the opportunity to continue education beyond high school. We thought it would interest you to tell you more, so take a look at our feature beginning on page 18. And great art, a love of each of us here at No’Ala, is also a part of this issue: you will find profiles on some of the most fascinating artists in our area, each as different from the others as can be. The talent in this area is astounding. So, this issue is about people in the Shoals who are making a difference. And I have a challenge for you: please begin to keep a list for us of the people you know who are working hard behind the scenes, so that when we have our next Renaissance Awards presentation, in 2014, we can bring attention to even more individuals who make this place special. But don’t wait to thank them for their work—you can do that right now. That probably means more than any award in town.
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Sarah Gaede
Laura Anders Lee and her family recently moved to Florence from Pensacola, where she was Director of Communications for the tourism bureau, Visit Pensacola. Laura has enjoyed a ten-year career in public relations in Atlanta, Huntsville, Nashville and Pensacola. During the Gulf Coast oil spill, she appeared in such media outlets as USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and CNN. A native of Fairhope, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama. Laura has always loved writing and was first published in Teen magazine when she was 14. When she’s not writing, she’s busy chasing her son Anders around, cheering on the Tide or spending time on the water. Sarah Gaede is a chef, a priest, and a yogi—and pretty much in that order. She is constantly on a mission to find the best ingredients for the perfect meal, which is why she is writing for us. Her downtown Florence home is almost always full of the smell of something cooking which keeps her Siamese cats and husband Henry very happy. Later this year, Sarah will edit our food issue, which will make us very happy. A NOTE ABOUT EVENT PICTURES: We love to publish photos from your events—and our readers tell us they love to see them. However, in order to retain our sanity so that we can continue to bring you these pictures, we need to have a few rules. Please make a note, and we’ll all be happy! • Event pictures are FREE. We publish them as space is available, and they do not cost you anything…but space is limited. We’ll try to squeeze you in, but we can’t promise. • We need at least eight (for a half page) photos, a mixture of vertical and horizontal. They must be large! Photos that look great on Facebook aren’t large enough for print quality. High resolution, please. • We need the name of the event, the location, and the date it was held. • The people in the photos MUST be identified. This is our greatest cause of stress, because even though we know a lot of people, we don’t know everyone. Besides, when everyone gets all dressed up for a party, we hardly recognize our own families! If you are picturing large groups or crowd shots, this rule does not apply, but for anything else, if we don’t have names, the pictures won’t get printed. Spelling those names correctly is your responsibility, too. • You may drop off a disc or thumb drive, or email the photos and the names of the people in them. Our physical address is 250 S. Poplar Street in Florence; our email address is dsims@atsa-usa.com. Thanks!
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calendar
March 1–3 George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival Multiple locations and events; www.lindseyfilmfest.com. Nominated by Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the month of March, the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is an exciting event consisting of film screenings, panels, discussions and celebrations throughout the Shoals area. Shoals Community Theatre Presents “Children’s Letters to God” Shoals Community Theatre, 123 North Seminary Street, Florence; Adults $10, Students $8 in advance, $12/$10 at door; 256-764-1700 or www.shoalstheatre.com. March 1–16 Paintings by John Kelley Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday–Friday. Admission: Free. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org. March 1–April 13 Artistic Renderings of Youth Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday–Friday. Admission: Free. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org. March 2 First Friday Court Street, Downtown Florence, 5:00pm–8:00pm; www.firstfridaysflorence.com or 256-740-4141. This exciting monthly event is a gathering of artists of all kinds: musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators, and more. Downtown merchants will stay open late. March 4 Shoals Symphony presents its “Heroic Moments” Concert Florence Freshman Center & Middle School, 2:00pm; $15. March 6 Junior League “Done In A Day” Project The Junior League will be collecting gnelty used children’s books to be given away by “Success By Six” and Infants and Children’s Clinic. For information visit www.jltheshoals.org. Florence Camerata presents “Choral Masterworks” North Wood United Methodist Church, 7:30pm; Admission $15 adults, $8 students; Information and tickets at www.florencecamerata.com. March 8 Reception for “Artistic Renderings of Youth” Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, 5:30pm–8:30pm; Admission: Free; 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org. March 10 Huff ‘n’ Puff on the Bluff 15K Race & Relay Sheffield Recreation Center, 2901 East 19th Avenue Sheffield, 9:00am; Contact Joe Quillen 256-366-0040; Benefiting American Red Cross of Northwest Alabama; Two or three person relay teams. Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents “Unfinished but Unforgettable” Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, 7:30pm; Admission charged. 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org; Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No. 5 in B-Minor, Jacques Ibert’s Flute Concerto, featuring Denis Bouriakv, and Antonin Dvorák’s Symphony No. 6 in D-Major.
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March 15 Shoals Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Celebration Marriott Shoals Conference Center, 5:30pm–9:00pm; Admission charged; 256-764-4661. March 16 Quilts by the River: 2012 Quilt Show Edgemont United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 330 Eauclaire Ave., Florence, 10:00am–6:00pm; $5 Admission; 256-740-4141; Trunk Show by Gail Morgan and Quilt Skit by Mary Kathleen O’Malley. March 17 Spring Makeover Event with a Professional Makeup Artist Face2Face Cosmetic Boutique; call 256-275-3527 for an appointment. Florence City Schools Education Foundation presents “Shopping Tournament 2012” Breakfast at 8:30am, 1st United Methodist; Shopping at 10:00am, Downtown Florence and English Village; Dinner and Awards at 5:00pm. Details and registration are available at shoppingtournament.eventbrite.com or by calling 256-768-2680. Follow us on Facebook. Think golf tournament with a twist! Enter on a leap of faith; whether you are a big spender or an infrequent shopper, this unique event is designed to please. Gather your foursome for a unique shopping experience which includes breakfast, store discounts, dinner, and prizes. Registration forms are available online or at participating stores and all Bank Independent locations. March 18 Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents “Those Romantic Germans” Thurber Arts Center, Randolph School, Huntsville; 3:30pm; $20 admission charged. 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org; Haydn, von Weber, Mendelssohn and Schumann are on the program for this Casual Classics presentation, which is a little more relaxed, last about an hour, and includes commentary about the pieces from Music Director and Conductor Gregory Vajda. March 18–May 11 “The Sanctuary Artists: The Art of Nature” Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia. Sunday, 1:00pm-3:00pm; Monday-Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm; Admission: $5 adults, $3 students, museum members free, Sundays free, group rates available; Keith McMurtrey, 256-383-0533; This exhibit features works by a group of north Alabama artists who are inspired by the Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Huntsville. March 19–20 UNA Writers Series All events are free and open to the public. 2:00pm, March 19: Dr. Will Verrone will be giving a lecture on Ishmael Reed’s work in film and screenwriting in the Loft of the GUC on the UNA campus. 11:00am, March 20: Tennessee Reed, poet and memoirist, will read from her poetry in the Performance Center of the GUC. 12:30pm, March 20: Ishmael Reed, novelist, poet, playwright, and essayist, will read from his works in the Performance Center of the GUC at UNA. Reed, who is a MacArthur Recipient, is, to date, the author of 28 published books. Two of his books have been nominated for National Book Awards, and a book of poetry, Conjure, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. A booksigning and reception will follow. April 1 Edible Book Festival at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library The Edible Book Festival is celebrated around the world on or around
April 1; The celebration in Florence will include bakers, caterers, and local businesses; Check www.flpl.org for details and times. April 5 Shoals Community Theatre presents Laura Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence; 7:30pm, Thursday–Saturday and 2:00pm Sunday. $10 adults, $8 students in advance; $12 adults, $10 students at the door; 256-764-1700 or www.shoalstheatre.com. April 6 First Friday Court Street, Downtown Florence, 5:00pm–8:00pm; www.firstfridaysflorence.com or 256-740-4141; This exciting monthly event is a gathering of artists of all kinds: musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators, and more. Downtown merchants will stay open late.
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April 7, 14, 21, 28 Walking Tours of Historic Florence; Florence-Lauderdale Tourism 256-740-4141. April 12 On Stage presents Quartetto Gelato Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary Street, Florence; 7:30pm; Admission charged. Tickets available at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts or online at www.shoalsonstage.com; Virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, gypsy pyrotechniques and a world accordion champion—this is Quartetto Gelato! April 13 Crescen-Dough Auction Von Braun Center, South Hall, Huntsville; 5:30pm; Admission charged. crescendoughauction.org; This annual event, presented by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild, raises money to support the HSO and its educational outreach in north Alabama. April 17 Junior League of the Shoals presents the Special Olympics Banquet For information, times and location, please visit www.jltheshoals.org.
Find out more
April 21 Spring Makeover Event with a Professional Makeup Artist Face2Face Cosmetic Boutique; call 256-275-3527 for an appointment. Florence-Lauderdale Earth Day Celebration Wilson Park, Downtown Florence; All day; no admission charged. Adults and children alike will have a great time at this family friendly event. Kids of all ages will enjoy the children’s tent with a recyclable scavenger hunt, gigantic tortoises, art and educational activities, as well as a potter making pottery on his wheel. Parents will appreciate the educational speakers, art exhibits, information booths, and live demonstrations. April 21 Shoals Earth Day Celebration Lawn of Colbert County Courthouse, Downtown Tuscumbia, 10:00am–5:00pm; No admission charged; 256-383-0783. Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents “Grande Finale—An Epic Evening” Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, Huntsville; 7:30pm. Admission charged; 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org; The HSO ends its season with Also Sprach Zarathustra, by Richard Strauss, and a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, with the Huntsville
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Community Chorus. It’s a big evening with big musical numbers, to end Music Director and Conductor Gregory Vajda’s first season with the HSO. April 26 Shoals Student of the Year Banquet Marriott Shoals Conference Center; 6:30pm; Admission charged; call 256-764-4661; The Shoals Scholar Dollars program, a community foundation to raise money to make it possible for every student in the Shoals to continue education beyond high school, honors seventeen outstanding Shoals area students, one from each school in the two county area. An overall Shoals Student of the Year will be named. April 28 Second Annual “Hoedown for the Horses” Copper Ridge Farm, Florence; 6:00pm–9:00pm. Admission charged; copperridgefarm@comcast.net or 256-760-7933; Singing River Equine Rescue will host its 2nd annual fundraiser at Copper Ridge Farm in Florence. Music, a silent auction and chicken stew. All proceeds will benefit the abused, neglected and/or abandoned horses rescued by SRER.
SAVE THE DATE & ONGOING EVENTS: First Methodist Church of Muscle Shoals has started a Sunday School program dealing with recovery from addiction; meetings are every Sunday evening at the church at 1500 Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals. Call 256-383-0191 for details. May 5–6 Riverhill Tour of Homes Nine beautiful residences are open and on tour to raise money for the area’s only non-parochial private school. Admission charged; visit riverhilltour.com for details. May 19–20 Arts Alive 9:00am–5:00pm, Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, Alabama; Visit artsalivealabama.com for details.
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Myron Gardner, LUTCF 1819 Darby Drive, Florence, AL 35630 Bus 256-764-2234;Cell 256-335-6080 Email myron.gardner.b17k@statefarm.com
Phil Wiginton 419 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, AL, 35660 Bus 256-383-4521; Cell 256-762-5859 Email phil@philwiginton.com M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 15
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scene
Carson, Glenda, and Mickey Richey Megan Neill, Bentley Anderson, Leslie Bullard, Ashton Ray, and Jessie Harrison Sarah Tyree Elle Darby and Addison Isom
Drew, Leslie, Jerri, and Ed Bullard
Jerry and Lauren Williams
Mark and MaryEllen McIlwain
John and Leigh Rusevlyan PHOTOS BY HOLLIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Above: Shoals Debutante Cotillion Christmas Ball
Below: UNA Men’s Basketball Champagne Brunch
DECEMBER 22, 2011 TURTLE POINT YACHT & COUNTRY CLUB
JANUARY 21, 2012 FLOWERS HALL
Pam Trimble, Corey Ricks, Bonnie Coats, Lisa Hall, and Sara Huntley
Valerie and Andrew Chesney
Robin Coussons, Pat Burney, Bobby Champagne, Pat Slusher, Glenda Oldham, and Joann Thomas
Sandra and Tyler Richardson Champagne Brunch Crowd
Maxie Foster, Bobby Champagne, and Pat Burney
Joyce and Kyle Morris
Nathan and Mary Spehr COURTESY OF BOBBY CHAMPAGNE
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I know all the best places.
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Phone 256-483-9325 256-740-0706
May 5 & 6, 2012 Join us as some of the most beautiful homes in Colbert and Lauderdale County are opened for your enjoyment, as a fundraiser for Riverhill School. Details soon: save the date! www.riverhilltour.com Presented by:
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Harold Lewis thinks education opens doors. He’s a living example, a success story of a man who grew up in a working class family and worked his way to ownership of a successful restaurant equipment business, and because he understands the role education played in that climb, he thinks that every student in the Shoals should have access to education beyond high school. In some cases, that education is technical in nature; in some cases it’s a bachelor’s, masters or doctorate degree. Education, according to Harold, changes everything.
EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD
Not many people would disagree with Harold, but not many people are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel and start a program that would make that education accessible to Shoals area students. But that’s exactly what Harold, who is a past president of the Florence Rotary Club, and John Rusevlyan, Lisa Patterson, Giles McDaniel, Mitch Hamm, Stanley Goldstein, Bud Ward, the entire Florence and Sheffield Rotary Clubs and many, many others decided to do. Because of their work, Shoals Scholar Dollars was born. Each of the seventeen schools in Colbert and Lauderdale County chose a Student of the Year this winter, and an overall Shoals Student of the Year will be named at a Scholar Dollars fundraiser in April. Opposite: Kristina Danielle Carter, Colbert Heights High School; Meagan Leeanne Wilkerson, Waterloo High School; Allie Jacqueline Nelson, Covenant Christian School; Bethany Leigh Triplett, Shoals Christian School; Bryant Scott Heatherly, Colbert County High School; Tyler Austin Delano, Rogers High School; Grace Ann Newton, Lauderdale County High School; Brooklyn KayAnn Dial, Central High School; Jennifer Leann Woodis, Cherokee High School; Margie Abbigail Willingham, Muscle Shoals High School; Maggie Elizabeth Killen, Lexington High School; Bethany Anne Bradford, Brooks High School; Carley Ann Hall, Wilson High School; Andrew Steven Pyle, Mars Hill Bible School; Katherine Ann Albright, Florence High School; Eric Meyer Roddy, Sheffield High School; Molly Tarrant Norwood, Deshler High School; (not pictured: Meagan Leeanne Wilkerson, Waterloo High School; Kristina Danielle Carter, Colbert Heights High School)
That was in 2011. The Rotary Clubs, who birthed the project, firmly believe that there are many reasons why this is an important goal. First, it’s the most important gift we could give the children of our area. Secondly, an educated workforce attracts industry, so there is an economic development component to this plan. And thirdly, according to Dr. Randy Pettus, who is now the Executive Director of Shoals Scholar Dollars, it sends a message to the rest of the world that we believe in our young people, we believe in education, and we believe that our community is the type that gives back in this manner. It makes a statement. This is not designed for students from families who have the means to provide education beyond high school; it’s also not designed for the student whose test scores will guarantee scholarships to institutions of higher learning. This program is designed for the student who might otherwise not think education beyond high school is possible—the student whose grades or family income are not high enough for college, ordinarily. And the rules for this program are simple: To be eligible, students must maintain a C average in high school, have a 95% attendance record, have no behavioral incidents, and be a U.S. citizen. If the student can meet this criteria, beginning with the class of 2014, he or she will have earned a two year scholarship to Northwest Shoals Community College. There, a vast array of technical programs are offered that will improve the student’s options for careers, and, if the student does well, they can move on to a university such as UNA to complete a bachelor’s program—with no debt from the first two years of college. It’s a great program!
“This opens doors—doors that some students didn’t think would ever even be available to them. It also tells a student that the entire community is interested in his personal journey, and wants to support that journey through education.” —Dr. Randy Pettus, Executive Director of Shoals Scholar Dollars
“To make this possible, the community is raising almost $800,000 a year to fund the community scholarship fund,” said Dr. Pettus. It’s a challenge to the community and a challenge to the student, but it’s a challenge that has great rewards.
The Marriott Shoals held a staff piethrowing contest. Hotel associates paid $2 each to throw a pie in their managers’ faces; managers could opt out by paying $3 to cancel an associate’s bid. All proceeds went to Shoals Scholar Dollars.
“I think I’m most excited about this because of the message it sends to anyone looking at our community,” said Steve Holt, President of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. “It tells a businessperson that our entire community believes in the power of education, to the point that we are willing to provide it to anyone who wants it. If I wanted to relocate a business, that’s the kind of community I would want to go to. It’s a powerful message for business recruitment.”
One professional office is donating $0.25 each time the phone rings.
According to Dr. Pettus, it also sends a great message to students in the area. “This opens doors,” he said, “doors that some students didn’t think would ever even be available to them. It also tells a student that the entire community is interested in his/her personal journey, and wants to support that journey through education. It’s humbling, and exciting, and it’s very much the right thing to do.” And it’s challenging. Raising $800,000 a year to endow the community foundation with the money that will provide these scholarships requires creativity— and a lot of hard work. But a creative vision like this has led to some creative ways to raise money, and, Pettus emphasizes, every dollar counts. For example:
Some retailers offer the opportunity to round up the sales amount to the next dollar and donate the difference to Shoals Scholar Dollars. One school allowed teachers the opportunity to “purchase” the ability to wear blue jeans to school during Fundraising Week, in April. For a $5 contribution, the teachers were allowed to bend the dress code, and the money went to Shoals Scholar Dollars. (Other schools are considering a similar program to allow students to wear hats to school during that week.) At www.shoalsscholardollars.com, people can purchase green silicone wrist bands for $10; proceeds go to the community fund, and the wristbands are a symbol of what our community is trying to do.
Last fall, after the newspaper’s Shoals Woman of the Year banquet, Dr. Pettus had an idea for raising money: a Shoals Student of the Year event, where each of the 17 school systems in Colbert and Lauderdale County would determine their school’s student of the year, and those students would be recognized at a special event at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center. During the evening, one student will be recognized as the Shoals
Student of the Year. The event is planned for April 26th, a Thursday evening, and the Shoals Scholar Dollar program will receive the proceeds. Scholar Dollar volunteers are looking for table sponsors and corporate underwriters, who will help make the event a success. Because Shoals Scholar Dollars is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, donations to the fund are tax deductible, and the hope is that this event will net upwards of $30,000. “We’re aiming for a sellout,” said Pettus, “and we want to bring attention to the seventeen students, who are amazing, as well as the mission of our program. It should be a fun way to raise some money!” Eight hundred thousand dollars a year sounds like a lot of money, “until you really break it down,” he said. “We have about a hundred and fifty thousand people in the Shoals area. If every person here donated six dollars a year, we would exceed our goal. Six dollars a year is fifty cents a month, and you can’t even buy a soft drink for that. Fifty cents a month— imagine what that would do to completely change someone’s future!” What began as an idea that Harold Lewis and the Florence and Sheffield Rotary Clubs had, has grown into a communitywide movement. So, if you see someone wearing a green wristband, or you have the opportunity to donate to Shoals Scholar Dollars, consider it an investment in the long-term success of the Shoals area. It will make a difference to our region—and it could make a very big difference to some deserving young people. Education will open doors. N
For more information, to purchase a green wristband, or to make a donation, please visit www.shoalsscholardollars.com.
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scene Winner Jeanne Reid, Connie Thwaite and Nominee Kathryn Rice
Nominees Paul Bernauer and Audwin McGee
Winner Bud Ward Nominee Megan Lovelace and Christi Lovelace Nominee Dorothy Hardy, Heather RussellGregory, Nominees Kaye and Preston Hillis of the Shoals Master Gardeners
Nominee Janet Womack
Stuart Mitchell and Nominee Laurie Mitchell
Eric Jeffreys and Nominee Casey Jeffreys
No’Ala Magazine’s 2012 Renaissance Awards Presentation JANUARY 19, 2012 TABLE 18, MUSCLE SHOALS
Former Nominee Sandy McGee
Winner Donna Johnson and Jeremy Johnson Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins and Keith Womack
Billy Warren, Renaissance Man of the Year
Nominee Rob Webb Nominee Bill Matthews Former winner Arneda Heath
Winner Randy Pettus, Kyle Mitchell, Nominee Silka Miller, and Wesley Roden PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL
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“IT HAD LONG SINCE COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT PEOPLE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT RARELY SAT BACK AND LET THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY WENT OUT AND HAPPENED TO THINGS.” —LEONARDO DA VINCI
2012 NO’ALA RENAISSANCE AWARDS TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE
» PHOTOS BY ARMOSA STUDIOS
ILLUSTRATION BY WALT VANDIVER
For the past year, No’Ala has invited its readers to tell us about people you consider to be “Renaissance people.” Readers responded, and No’Ala received 29 nominations, all of them outstanding, and all who can be considered to be Renaissance People. After the nominations were received, we convened a panel made up of twenty community leaders and the people who made these nominations. Our panel narrowed the field to one winner in each of five categories: Science, Education, Service & Spirituality, Business, and Arts & Culture. We also asked each panel member to choose one person from the nominees as our Renaissance Person of the Year. Choosing one person in each category was difficult. After all, each person was nominated because they are considered by someone else to be a mentor, a teacher, a role model and an inspiration; it was difficult to pick one person from so many winners. In the pages that follow, you’ll get a glimpse into the lives of the five winners. We must also thank those who were nominated and did not win, who include:
THE NOMINEES SCIENCE Donna Johnson; Rhonda McGregor; Dr. Danl E. Spangler, Jr.; Dr. Rob Webb EDUCATION Dr. Dorothy Hardy; Laurie Mitchell; Dr. Randy Pettus; Rebecca Rockhill; Dr. Janet Womack SERVICE & SPIRITUALITY Paul and Anne Bernauer; The Master Gardeners; Dr. Felice Green Megan Lovelace; Nancy Muse; Billy Warren; Josh and Ginger Willingham BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP David D’Addario; Casey Jeffreys; Silka Miller; Bud Ward ARTS & CULTURE David Anderson; Rick Hall; Bill Matthews; Audwin McGee; Billy and Jeanne Reid; Kathryn Rice
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BILLY WARREN
RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR SERVICE & SPIRITUALITY, AND RENAISSANCE PERSON OF THE YEAR
If you were to visit Billy Ray Warren’s office at the board of education, you would immediately see his passion for the Renaissance. Art work and relics from Florence, Italy, don the walls. A map of 1818 Florence, Alabama stretches out on his desk. Row upon row of books from years of teaching and developing curriculum line the wall. Memorabilia from past Renaissance Faires dominate the shelves behind his desk. And photos of his family sit proudly on his credenza. His lifelong collection reflects the various roles of a Renaissance Man: educator, historic preservationist, minister, Sunday school teacher, organizer, volunteer, grandfather. In the 60s, Billy started his 50-year career with the Alabama School System by teaching 10th grade history and English. In the 70s, he worked to get the Walnut Street Historic District and several others established. In the 80s, he began work with Downtown Florence Unlimited and founded the Renaissance Faire. In the 90s, he helped establish Florence Main Street. In 2006, he helped create the city’s Walk of Honor. And through the decades, he has been an active leader and teacher at his church, has raised two kids and has welcomed four grandchildren into the world. After taking courses at Vanderbilt University and the University of Alabama, Billy received his bachelor’s, education specialist and master’s degrees from UNA. Following one year of teaching at Lee High School in Huntsville, he returned to Florence where he taught at Coffee and Bradshaw and later went into administration, where he still directs curriculum for the city schools.
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“Being an educator, I knew I wanted to be in Florence,” Billy said. “Florence has a long-standing reputation for education. We’re ranked in the top 10 in the state for local support. I had
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“I AGREE WITH THE PHILOSOPHY THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORTH IN PRESERVATION CIRCLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY: DOWNTOWNS AFFECT THE ENTIRE CITY.” —BILLY WARREN
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“I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT A NATIVE SON OWES SOMETHING TO HIS SOIL. WE ALL OWE A DEBT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT NURTURED US.” —BILLY WARREN
“I wanted to create a festival that took place during the school year that would cut across as many curricula as possible,” he said. “Celebrating the Renaissance is a natural with its history, art, philosophy and architecture. And Florence being the Renaissance City, the idea just fell into my lap.”
Billy took his love for history and applied it to another area: preservation. When Billy and his family first moved to Walnut Street, the neighborhood was at a crossroads. He decided to help preserve the Victorian homes and cozy bungalows for future generations. Billy led the charge for getting Walnut Street on the National Register of Historic Places. That feat started a ripple effect for the surrounding neighborhoods, and the rest of downtown felt the momentum. Today, Florence boasts 622 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and Billy had a hand in many of them.
“I don’t know anyone who works harder as a volunteer than he does,” said Hester Cope, former director of Florence Main Street. “When Billy’s involved, he goes all out. Many of the good things in our community wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for him. This community is so fortunate to have him.”
Today, the event is the official Renaissance Faire in Alabama and has been named numerous times a top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society. Leading up to the festival, local school children participate in art and sonnet writing contests, compete in chess tournaments, eat Renaissance-inspired food in the cafeteria and even make costumes in their family and consumer science class.
“I agree with the philosophy that has been put forth in preservation circles across the country: downtowns affect the entire city,” Billy said. “Rockefeller once said, ‘if a tree is only healthy on the exterior but its core is deteriorated, eventually the whole tree will die.’ We’ve been able to maintain a viable downtown, and it’s made our entire city better.”
“Billy’s a tremendous asset to our city and a tremendous force behind this project,” said Mayor Bobby Irons of the City of Florence. “He’s the glue that keeps it all together. He’s a fine man who loves this community very much. He deserves so much credit.”
“Over the years, he has impacted the lives of literally thousands of students in the Florence City Schools,” said daughter Anne Leslie Warren Tompkins. “I have people stop me to tell me all the time how much my daddy has either helped them personally or one of their children. He is a fine, well-respected, generous man who was born to teach.”
When Regency Square opened 30 years ago, Billy helped downtown merchants compete with the new retailers, and today he continues to be active through Florence Main Street, which enhances downtown with events such as First Friday and with design elements such as the library’s medallion and a mural on the Fred’s building they hope to have completed soon.
a good education here, and I knew my children would, too.” Being a lover of education, history and his own Renaissance City, Billy started the Renaissance Faire in 1987.
Six years ago, Billy became involved with the mayor’s office and its Walk of Honor project. Each year, the committee honors natives of Lauderdale County who have made an achievement on a national or international level.
Like the leaders honored on the beautiful monuments at River Heritage Park, Billy believes in the importance of giving back. “I happen to believe that a native son owes something to his soil,” said Billy. “We all owe a debt to the community that nurtured us.” N
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BUD WARD
RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP
Not too long ago, Bud Ward was an executive in New York City’s publishing world. Now he’s helping Shoals area businesses and students attain their dreams and become successful. Originally from Cleveland, Bud graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and later became a Bulgarian linguist for the NSA. He then began an impressive career in publishing with a resume that includes Reader’s Digest, World Business Weekly, McCall’s and Parent magazines. In the 90s, he became part of the dotcom era, selling companies to Windstar and Hearst. Then in 1999, he met his wife Pat, native of Florence. He moved to the Shoals soon after and has never looked back. He quickly became involved with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), UNA’s Small Business Development Center and eventually the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center. “Bud volunteers at the entrepreneurial center and gives a lot of his time to small businesses,” said Giles McDaniel, executive director of the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center. “Bud has a varied business background including sales, marketing and advertising. That’s why he’s so good. He can see the big picture and then help small companies drill down to the details, finding their customers and ensuring their success.” Bud doesn’t lead the typical life of someone who is retired. On a given day, he’s offering free counsel to start-up businesses, developing business plans, screening companies for funding and even raising money for high school students to attend college.
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“I’m able to take the knowledge I’ve gained at big companies in big cities and apply that to people here with the dream of becoming the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates,” said Bud. “They both started with nothing but an idea and the right people to help them grow. Small town or big city, it doesn’t matter. You
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“WE’RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO LOOK TO DO BUSINESS HERE, MOVE HERE, BRING THEIR COMPANIES HERE.
WE HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH AN IMPRESSIVE WORKFORCE.” —BUD WARD
Bud and Pat Ward
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just have to have the right idea and the right business plan to turn your dream into a real business.” One such business Bud has assisted is ThermaSAVE, which has received worldwide exposure in such publications as Forbes. “Bud has personally guided me through all the steps of my business,” said ThermaSAVE’s president Hoot Haddock. “He’s given a tremendous amount to me. He’s been in business for a lot of years and is a very smart person. You couldn’t find a better man to give this award to.” Although Bud has worked for media giants, he notes that approximately 95 percent of all businesses and all people working in the United States are employed by small businesses. “Big companies are few and far between, not to mention unpredictable,” said Bud. “ But if you start with one good idea and develop a business plan, then hire a few people, then grow to 10 or 20 employees, and you add a dozen more companies like that, then you’re looking at a big impact on the local economy.” Bud also helped found the Shoals Angel Network, funding various area companies ranging from pharmaceutical, cheese straw and insulated panel manufacturers to hunting and fishing outfitters. Once the company becomes well established, the Angel Network reinvests money into a new company. “We’re trying to get people to look to do business here, move here, bring their companies here,” Bud said. “We have an impressive quality of life with an impressive workforce. It’s a great place to build a business and raise a family.” Small businesses and start-up companies aren’t the only ones benefiting from Bud’s generosity. Bud is very active at St. Joseph’s Church, and he’s been working actively with Shoals Scholar Dollars, a program that will grant every qualified high school student in Colbert and Lauderdale counties a two-year college scholarship by 2014. “For many of these students, they will be the first in their families to go to college,” Bud said. “Shoals Scholar Dollars does so much to motivate students to stay in school and have hope that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.” Having more students attend college only strengthens the workforce and does more to attract business. Bud Ward has helped start a powerful cycle. N
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Admission $15 adults, $8 students florencecamerata.com 34 | NOALAMAG . COM | M ARCH /A PRIL 2012
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DONNA JOHNSON
RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
Working 8 to 5 doesn’t mean much to Donna Johnson. At the end of her day job as medical records director at MitchellHollingsworth Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, she’s often volunteering to help better the lives of the residents through the American Cancer Society or the Coalition of Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders of Northwest Alabama (CARD). Since her first job at Colonial Manor, now ECM East, in 1977, Donna has been passionate about health care, especially longterm care. Even after working 30 years at Mitchell-Hollingsworth, she seems more dedicated than ever. “People don’t come here to die,” Donna said. “They come here to live.” Donna’s volunteer work all revolves around a better quality of life for the residents of Mitchell-Hollingsworth and others in the area who are faced with cancer, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses. “Being at a health care facility, I’ve been exposed to things like Alzheimer’s that I probably wouldn’t have thought about otherwise,” she said. “What’s great about Relay for Life and CARD is that all the money raised locally stays in the area. Through my work with those organizations, I’m more aware now of the resources we have in our community to help our residents and their families.”
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Donna is extremely resourceful herself. Known to make something out of nothing, she’s often scouring yard sales and discount stores to make wreaths, bracelets, gift baskets and other items to sell in order to raise money for her volunteer organizations. The decorator of her church, she’s also a Sunday
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“WHEN ONE PERSON HURTS, WE ALL HURT, AND WHEN ONE PERSON IS UP, WE’RE ALL UP. WE’RE ALL ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.” —DONNA JOHNSON
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School teacher, involved in the ladies ministry and runs the slideshow during the church service.
Market House
Donna is also big on family. She and her husband Darryl have been married for 35 years, and their home in Wayne County, Tennessee is next door to Donna’s father and her brother and sister-in-law. In fact, her brother also works at MitchellHollingsworth and her son often calls on the nursing home through his job. Donna has even adopted some of the residents as her own family members, visiting with them and buying personal items they might need when they don’t have other family members around. “When one person hurts, we all hurt, and when one person is up, we’re all up,” said Donna. “We’re one big happy family.” Because Donna has worked at Mitchell-Hollingsworth for much of her life, even her co-workers seem like family. “I couldn’t imagine doing my job without her,” said Vicki Herston, director of nursing at Mitchell-Hollingsworth. “She’s wonderful, dependable, compassionate, and never complains about anything.” “I’ve known Donna for 25 years or more, and she’s an amazing person,” added Tom Whetstone, former administrator at Mitchell-Hollingsworth who is now at Eliza Coffee Memorial. “She’s always a joy to work with, always happy, always willing to lend a helping hand. Anything that leads to an improvement in the lives of a resident, she’s there. She’s one of these people that you just love because she has the biggest heart. She never does it for recognition. She’s just that type of person.” Everywhere she goes, Donna carries around a small piece of paper with this quote from newspaper columnist Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me.” Donna reads the quote and adds her own words of wisdom. “Life would be sad if you lived by yourself and you didn’t think about other people. Other people is what we live for.” N
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Where faith and fabulous style meet 2801 Mall Road Suite 12A Florence, AL 35630 256-577-5197 р Monday-Saturday 10-6
DR. RANDY PETTUS RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR EDUCATION
Whoever said “those who can’t do, teach” never met Dr. Randy Pettus. He is a doer indeed, whether it’s performing at the community theater, volunteering at the AIDS Action Coalition, singing at First United Methodist Church or helping students get college scholarships as executive director of Shoals Scholar Dollars. As his friends say, he is fun to watch albeit in the classroom, on the stage, or in life. When Randy was a student at Lexington High School, he became a teaching assistant for a Title 1 reading program. There, he taught second and third graders who couldn’t even read or write their own names. “I had been working with one particular girl, and one day, she got it: she learned to read,” Randy said. “I couldn’t stop after that. I was on fire. I knew then I wanted to be a teacher, and I could use my gift to help others.” Randy received his bachelor’s degree in education from UNA and eventually his master’s degree, administrative certification and doctorate. His first job after college was teaching sixth grade at Harlan Elementary School where he stayed 19 years, starting the school’s first chorus and taking the kids on muchanticipated annual camping trips. All the while, he was the head girls volleyball and tennis coach at Coffee High School.
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Then, he got the opportunity to serve as assistant principal at Bradshaw High School, where three years later he became the principal. As principal, Randy received an award as Outstanding Administrator in the state of Alabama by the Student Council Association of Alabama, and he received the Educational Theatre Association’s Administrative Award, given to only three teachers nationwide. Then coming full circle, Randy
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“I HAD BEEN WORKING WITH ONE PARTICULAR GIRL, AND ONE DAY, SHE GOT IT: SHE LEARNED TO READ. I COULDN’T STOP AFTER THAT. I KNEW THEN I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER , AND I COULD USE MY GIFT TO HELP OTHERS.” —RANDY PETTUS
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finished out his career with the board of education as director of the system’s Title 1 program. Last May, just as he thought he was retiring from education, Randy became the executive director of Shoals Scholar Dollars. Through the program, starting with the class of 2014, every student with a 95 percent attendance rate, 2.5 GPA and clean disciplinary record will receive a two-year scholarship to Northwest State Community College. “I just couldn’t say no,” Randy said. “I am firmly sold on this program. This is the hope and the light for these kids, who may not have a chance otherwise. This will give them the kick-start they need to become a better citizen for tomorrow. All a teacher wants is to leave their mark and help better a child’s life.” Randy is also a talented performer. He’s known to sing solos at First United Methodist Church downtown and has been involved with the community theater since 1988, performing in more than 30 shows. He currently serves as president of the board of the Shoals Community Theatre. “We’ve worked together for 17 years at the theater, and over that time Randy has had many leading roles,” said Laura Connolly, house manager of the Shoals Community Theatre. “He can sing, he can dance, and he’s a fearless and wise leader. He was instrumental in purchasing and renovating the new theater. From the paperwork to the painting, his hands-on leadership gave everyone else the enthusiasm they needed to do their part as volunteers.” Randy had a few opportunities to live in New York and work in theater, but he decided to stay home with partner Wesley Roden and make an impact. “My parents gave me my roots, but UNA gave me my wings and taught me what it means to get involved in the community,” Randy said. “I love this area and want to make a difference. For a small town, we do exceptional things with arts and culture. You can walk down the street and people know your name, but you also get to go and see a new art exhibit or go hear great music. It’s just a wonderful place to live.” N
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I’m Anne Bernauer and I want to be your Realtor® — for life.
Call 256-740-0706 or 256-757-9008 Email anne@annewillsell.com Visit www.annewillsell.com
BILLY AND JEANNE REID RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
To say the Reids are accomplished is quite the understatement. Just in the past few weeks, they presented Billy’s spring collection at Fashion Week, dressed The Civil Wars for their Grammy appearance and were showcased on Bravo’s popular It’s a Brad Brad World. But when asked their greatest accomplishment, Billy and Jeanne Reid look at one another and say it’s their 18-year marriage and raising their three children, who are in eighth grade, sixth grade and second grade. While Billy’s career could have landed them in Dallas or New York, the couple made a decision long ago to raise their family in Florence, Jeanne’s hometown. “I grew up in a small town and wanted to raise our family in that environment,” said Billy. “Jeanne comes from a large family, and we have so much family support here. When we first got married, we decided that we’d live in Florence, and we’ve never looked back.” “I love having that small community feel with lots of great friends and our children growing up around family,” Jeanne added. “You can always go to a big city, but home is here.” The couple, who met on a blind date at a wedding in Texas, share an interest in music. Jeanne was exposed to music at an early age through her brother, and Billy loves playing the guitar as a hobby. In fact, they’ve even co-written a song for Billy’s grandmother. Jeanne serves on the board of On Stage, and Billy is known for nurturing local bands. “On Stage brings some different kinds of music to the area that our city wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to,” Jeanne said.
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On Stage brings four top-quality performances each year, from symphony concerts and dance troupes to theater groups, brass
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“THE MUSICIANS HELP US AS MUCH AS WE HELP THEM. WE’RE ALL TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE AREA—TO HELP MARKET THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT’S GOING TO BETTER IT IN MANY WAYS. IT BRINGS A SENSE OF PRIDE.” —BILLY REID
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ensembles and noted musicians. Just this season, On Stage has brought in Ricky Skaggs and the Tschaikowski St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. “I’ve always been very passionate about music,” said Billy. “When I moved here, I realized that songs I’ve loved all my life were actually recorded here.” Since coming to the area, Billy has worked to promote local musicians by offering his stores as a performance venue, hosting local and Nashville-based musicians at South by Southwest music festival in Austin and even creating an event called Shindig to showcase local talent. The annual weekend event has brought in national media to experience the music, food and culture of the Shoals. The exposure for the musicians, and the community, has been invaluable. Billy and Jeanne’s promotion of the area has garnered positive coverage of the Shoals in Garden and Gun, Bon Appetit and on Bravo, just to name a few. “Billy has such great taste in music and wants to help artists so much,” said Shelly Colvin, musician and sales director of the Billy Reid Nashville store. “He works with numerous bands from the Shoals. It’s really admirable. He loves music so much. He’s a musician himself. He can play, he can write. It’s natural for him to want to help artists.” Billy has been a huge supporter of locally-rooted bands Drive By Truckers and The Civil Wars, who won two Grammys in February for best folk album and best country group/duo performance. John Paul White of The Civil Wars is a friend and neighbor of the Reids in downtown Florence. “When you meet the Reids, you can’t not love them,” said Shelly. “Jeanne is just one of my favorite people. She comes out to the shows and is definitely a music lover herself. And musicians all think the world of Billy. He would do anything for an artist out on the road trying to be successful.” The Shoals has a deeply-rooted history in music, and the Reids want to make sure that story gets out. “The musicians help us as much as we help them,” said Billy. “We’re all trying to bring attention to the area. We just want to help market the community, and that’s going to better it in many ways. It brings a sense of pride.” N
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market
You’re getting warmer!
Mudpie Safari Swim Trunks ($24.95) The Market House (256) 577-5197
Perfect road trip music! Bright Eyes, The Black Keys, Zero 7, and Ryan Adams and the Cardinals CDs (Various Prices) Pegasus Records (256) 767-4340
Harding Mulberry Silk Yarn ($18 per ball of yarn) Unraveled Yarn and Gifts (256) 349-2533 Knot Dress (pattern for dress pictured in book) Little Girls, Big Style by Mary Abreu ($25.95) Thread (256) 383-2223
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The Anchor tote ($39) Carter and Co. cartercooperative.com
Mudpie Chick Pettiskirt Set ($44.95) The Market House (256) 577-5197
This clever insert rolls up and tucks into almost any bag!
Jenny Krauss Belts ($78 each) Dragonfly Boutique (256) 386-5242
A Slice of Heaven by Jean Elkins Chenault (Hardback $68.95, Paperback $52.45) Andy’s The Professionals (256) 767-2800 M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 49
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market JW Los Angeles Dress ($174) Audie Mescal (256) 314-6684
Emil Rutenberg Striped Blazer ($218) A’nue Ligne Orange Tank ($70) Marigail Mathis (256) 764-9444
Kaya Black Yoga Pants ($49) Lucy Blue Racerback ($35) Be Present Pink Tank ($49) Pure Bliss Living (256) 702-3022
Southern Tide Water Shorts in Coral ($79.50) Adelaide Boutique (256) 767-2321
Monogrammed Umbrella ($24.99) Goodman’s (256) 766-5760
Women’s Nike Free Run +2 ($89.95) Men’s Reebok Zigdynamic ($99.95) Boys’ Fusion ST 2 ($49.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 386-8720
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Maui Jim Women’s Pau Hana Sunglasses ($299) Tomsik Eyecare (256) 767-5000
Fat Girl Slim Products ($38 Each) A Tan for All Seasons ($36) Bikini Perfect ( $70) Face 2 Face Cosmetic Boutique (256) 275-3527
Vera Bradley Minihipster Bag in Island Blooms ($45) Vera Bradley Carry It All Wristlet in Island Blooms ($42) The Village Shoppe (256) 383-1133
Cross Body Towel Set ($24) Jonathan Adler Water Bottle ($17) All for Color Ear Buds ($15) Lilly Pulitzer Water Bottle ($12) Printers & Stationers, Inc. (256) 764-8061
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scene Lee Pieroni, Susan Webb, Elizabeth Berry, Julie VanVeckhoven, and Laurie Tant
Jeff and Tina Johnson, Laura and Greg Adderholt St. Joseph School Moms Leah Hollingsworth and Lauren Winters
Shane Baker, (unidentified), Ryan Hamm, Holly Cabler, Ryan Baker, Will and Julie Trapp
Lauren Winters, Tom McCutcheon, Laura and Joel Hamner
Keith and Carol Medley, Melinda and Jeff Austin
Shannon and Darren Rhodes
2011 Shoals Margarita Ball —Sponsored by McCutcheon & Hamner Benefitting Shoals-Area Toys for Tots DECEMBER 15, 2011 SUN TRUST TOWERS, FLORENCE Molly Kalliath and Mercy Winters
Allen Rappuhn, Roberta Tomsik, Tom Ross, Claudia Vance, Allie Elliott and Jason Greene Hayley Roberts, Graham Heard, Tyler Anderson, Ashley Prinzi, Jordan Jaggers, Marianne Griffin, Nicole Conley, Griffin Blake
Chip and Teresa Rasch
Carter and Becky Norville
James and Phyllis Hall
Front row: Brenda Reeder, Derric Underwood, Judy Underwood, Kim Ingram, Dwight Ingram- back row: Bridgett Sims, Kaytrina Simmons, Brenda White
Delivering the toys to United Way agencies PHOTOS BY ABRAHAM ROWE
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Jenny Rouse and Cal Breed
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TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL
cal breed sean wallace jonathan cain ellen goode butch anthony martha beadle micheal banks
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cal breed
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The first thing you notice, in Cal Breed’s studio, is how beautiful the light looks reflected from the art along the walls. The glass objects, pitchers, ornaments and wall hangings are positioned in the gallery so as to take advantage of the light coming through the large windows. The art glows. The second thing you notice, in Cal Breed’s studio, is the glow of the fire coming from the work area at the rear of the gallery. What we were seeing, it turns out, was the heat of the melting furnaces, where all of the glass blowing work is done, and it drew us there like moths to a flame, because we wanted to see how the art was created. The studio itself is remote, tucked in the mountainous area around Ft. Payne, but not even close enough to Ft. Payne proper to be considered part of the town. The entryway to Orbix Hot Glass is steep and dramatic, and the road almost falls down a steep hill and rolls across a concrete bridge over a cavern of rushing water and rocks. The studio itself is an attractive structure with a tin roof and wide porches with rocking chairs; we are greeted by two large dogs, a golden retriever and a Labrador, as we get out of the car. It feels like home. Cal Breed is originally from Florence. He’s very tall and trim, with greying hair and glasses; we learn that he (and his wife, Christy, and almost everyone at Orbix) loves rock climbing and kayaking. We also learn that he went to school at Auburn to become a marine biologist, following somewhat in the footsteps of his chemical engineer father, but discovered an artistic talent, like his mother’s, when he took a stained glass class. “While I was learning stained glass, I saw blown glass being made and got interested,” he said. “I decided it would be more fun to get burned than to get glass splinters in my hands, so I started learning glassblowing.”
Above: A “stained glass window” made from the juxtaposition of hundreds of colored glass rods. Left: The Orbix Hot Glass family (clockwise, from top left) Jenny Rouse, Mark Leputa, Christy and Cal Breed. Below, the walls of Orbix are filled with a bright spectrum of vessels created by Breed’s team of artisans.
It changed everything. Cal left marine biology and earned a BFA in glass, and then went to work with Cam Langley in Birmingham. While working there, doing faux finishing around the Birmingham area to make extra money, and learning everything he could about the art of glassblowing, he began building the equipment he would need for his own studio. Cal and Christy began assembling a team to make Orbix Hot Glass Studio a reality. Which is the third thing you notice, when you meet Cal Breed: glass blowing can sometimes be a team effort. Not always—but for some of the more complicated pieces it helps to work with other artisans to create the unique and beautiful pieces the studio is known for. At this moment, there are two other artists at Orbix, Mark Leputa and Jenny Rouse. Cal, Mark and Jenny wanted to show M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 57
us how their work was done, and they pointed out the furnaces and the large melting pot where molten glass, at two thousand degrees, lay waiting for them to begin their work. We looked at trays of colored glass particles that could be used to create different hues and shades, and learned that color in glass work isn’t necessarily all the way through the piece; instead, the molten glass is layered and the color might only be contained in one of the layers, the rest clear glass that adds depth and texture. And so, the dance began. “Dance” is an appropriate description for the creation of the “Wall Flower” Cal and his team wanted to make for us; their movements appeared to be perfectly choreographed as they moved together quickly, each person knowing his part. It began with a dip of a long metal blowpipe into the molten glass, and then the spinning, spinning, spinning that provides the centrifugal force that keeps the molten glass from drooping out of shape. The hot glass wasn’t exactly liquid; it was more taffy-like, and it could be pulled and shaped and molded; occasionally one of the artists would blow into the metal tube to shape the glass from the inside. A color layer was added, and more spinning; then the piece was dipped again and again to add additional layers of clear glass. All the while, it was being shaped and spun and pulled to create the basis of the artwork, until, toward the end of this part of the dance, it was pushed into a form to create the petal pattern that would make the flower. Cal used a blow torch to heat spots that needed additional shaping, and Mark and Jenny worked to add the glass that would become the base that the art would sit on. The trio used wooden paddles, made of fruitwood for its tendency to burn
evenly, and long metal tongs and a fireproof pad to shape the hot glass, finally snipping it and pulling it apart so that it unfolded, just like a real flower would, into a beautiful piece of art. The entire process of creating this wall flower took about forty-five minutes, and this was a small and relatively uncomplicated piece; some of the pitchers, vases, and more complex pieces in the gallery take a lot longer to produce. As they worked, Cal patiently explained the process, and although it was fascinating for us to see, we could tell that it still fascinated him as well. Much of the art has to be learned by doing it, and there are many details involved in fusing handles or bases onto art, layering and mixing color, and spinning the pliable glass evenly. Cal, Christy and their team of artists sell through galleries and shows, but more and more online at orbixhotglass.com. One new project is a window made of colored glass tubes, layered on each other and contained in a frame that creates rich color as the light shines through. (A local corporation has commissioned Orbix to create several of these light boxes for a remodeled location in Ft. Payne.) They also love to have people visit their studio, and like to watch their eyes widen when they see the beautiful art for sale; there are even classes offered, so that you can try your hand at it as well. (Check the website for details and times.) Why the name “Orbix”? “It came from our passion for people and for glass,” explained Cal. “It’s partly because of how our personal paths orbit and intersect, and it’s partly because the process of blowing glass requires constant turning.” Turning, growing, and moving forward—a beautiful dance that creates beautiful art. N
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“While I was learning stained glass, I saw blown glass being made and got interested. I decided it would be more fun to get burned than to get glass splinters in my hands, so I started learning glassblowing.” —Cal Breed
Anatomy of a Wall Flower. The “wall flower” (pictured above, bottom right) actually starts out as a ball of taffy-like glass at the end of a hollow, metal tube. From there it is layered with colored glass, then stretched, mashed, and molded until Breed and his team have created what looks something like a Victorian lamp shade or oversized glass door knob. Then Breed snips the edges of the tight form and reheats it in the furnace only briefly before pulling it out and letting gravity (and a whole lot of careful choreography) help open the form into a plate-like shape. Breed then uses wet, wooden tools to create the flower’s undulating curves. Finally, more clear glass is added to the underside to allow Breed to affix the studio’s signature crest. On the afternoon we observed, Breed and his team created a small, orange wall flower, similar to the pink one pictured above. M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 59
shawn wallace
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Growing up in central Appalachia, in the coal mining hills of southwest Virginia, Shawn Wallace learned the philosophy of “Making Do.” This philosophy, which prevailed where he spent his early years, “is the ability to take what you have and make it work,” he said. “The region of the country where I grew up was a place that was isolated geographically, and the people there have managed to make do, and to some extent “keep up,” despite inadequate resources.” This young man, who learned about his own artistic talents when he started lettering signs to make a few dollars, joined the military to see the world and lived in Japan before coming back to the States. Once back home, he “got into preaching,” he said, and is currently the preacher at the Phil Campbell Church of Christ—and he also got into art in a big way. In fact, he enrolled in the Memphis College of Art and earned a BFA in painting and drawing, and today splits his time between his pursuit of art and spreading the Gospel.
Below: Wallace’s paintings often depitct skeletons and religious symbols.
Seems simple enough…but it’s much more complex than that. Shawn’s art is technically exquisite and shows incredible skill and talent; his subjects appear simple, at first, but actually contain subtext and layer after layer of meaning, so that each piece tells a story. Some use religious themes; one series illustrates proverbs from the Old Testament, translated through his unique Appalachian perspective, for example, and another series shows characters who are made up of individual elements that all combine to help tell the story. His art also reflects the ingrained “Making Do” philosophy that was such a part of his early life, painted or drawn on paper bags, scraps of wood, or composites made from old kitchen drawers. Like “Tambourine Man.” Shawn says, “This work represents how many choose to worship God in un-biblical ways.” By combining layer after layer of junk to make the image of a man, Shawn shows a human being that is made up of worldly things, with a cross on his nose and a cross at his waist to represent his supposed pursuit of the truth; in realty, this figure is made up of a combination of images that “distort the truth.” The
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“The region of the country where I grew up was a place that was isolated geographically, and the people there have managed to make do, and to some extent ‘keep up,’ despite inadequate resources.” —Shawn Wallace
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painting is incredibly detailed, and the feeling is that you could study it for hours and never run out of surprising and wonderful discoveries. Shawn shares some of the notebooks he keeps with ideas for new work, and it’s apparent that he is a voracious reader. Some of his pieces will incorporate a technique borrowed from an Old Master or a prominent artist he likes; it’s a testament to his artistic skill that he is able to blend in these homages so easily. And he never loses his sense of humor; he describes his art as using “humor, satire, discomfort, common stereotypes and my background as a rural gospel preacher” to tell his stories. It’s hard to categorize Shawn’s art—he isn’t really an Outsider Artist, but more of a folk artist, although his training and skill are much greater than most. And always, there’s that Appalachian thread that runs through his work. “I use Appalachia as the stage to tell my stories,” he says, and it’s obvious that he remains deeply connected to the lives, beliefs and ideals of the people who influenced him. We noticed that many of his paintings feature people depicted as skeletons, and wondered if this was also representative of the sometimes fatalistic philosophy of the people of Appalachia. It’s not. “I painted the story of Old John Brown (an American abolitionist who fought to abolish slavery in the United States before the Civil War),” he said. “A woman who saw the painting fussed at me and told me that I had no basis of experience to understand what it is like to be African American, and that’s true. I promised her I would never paint an African American’s face again, but it’s sometimes hard to portray a story without that, so I use skeletons —bone structure—instead.” Shawn’s current project involves drawing on brown paper bags, and each one is delightful…and inexpensive. Making a lot of money from his art doesn’t seem to be the motivation for Shawn’s work; instead, he seems to be driven to tell stories, stories about this place he comes from, and stories with their roots in a spiritual viewpoint. It could be argued that this is a form of evangelism, but regardless of the way you describe it, you’re going to respond to the art he creates. N
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jonathan cain
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“A lot of kids draw,” said Jonathan Cain. We were sitting around his kitchen table in the beautiful old home he’s restoring on Sixth Street in Tuscumbia, and we’re surrounded by colorful art. Some of it is his; some of it is not, because Jonathan collects as well as creates. “At around the fourth grade, you begin to see the artists separate themselves from everyone else,” he continued. That was the point at which it was apparent that he was going to be an artist, because while many of his friends were putting their crayons down and moving on to other interests, Jonathan was still interested in art—eventually picking up paintbrushes and clay and stained glass. Trouble is, Jonathan could never decide what type of artist he wanted to be. He loves sculpture, so he earned an MFA in it at Ole Miss. He loves painting because of what it allows him to express; he loves ceramics, he loves stained glass, he loves printmaking, he’d love to try his hand at glass blowing, and he loves other artists’ work so much he’s become an art restorer for antique oil paintings. “I’m an artistic gypsy,” he says, smiling broadly, an artist who hasn’t settled in one area but dabbles in just about every one. “My problem is, I want to know it all.” One could hardly call what Jonathan does “dabbling,” though. The fascinating thing about him is how good he is in every medium. He points out a sculpture of a horse, and explains how he created it; it’s simple and sparse, but captures the essence of
Below: A self-portrait (Part of a series. See page 67) shares Cain’s studio with a piece of bronze sculpture (bottom).
“I’m an artistic gypsy.” —Jonathan Cain
Cain loves sculpture, so he majored in it at UNA. He also loves painting, ceramics, stained glass, printmaking, and would love to try his hand at glass blowing. He’s a an artist who hasn’t settled in one area but dabbles in just about every one.
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the subject perfectly. We move to religious icons, hanging in the living room; they are bright and evocative, as are the self portraits and figure studies in his den. “When I paint, I like to be spontaneous,” Jonathan said, “and I’m much more object oriented than abstract. I think abstract art is more intellectual—I have to think about color and composition when I create.” It’s obvious, when you talk to Jonathan, that he is not only a born artist—he’s also a born teacher. It’s also clear that he has given the creative process a lot of thought. “Being an artist is ingrained,” he says, “and creativity becomes as vital as breath. I would much rather be remembered as knowledgeable than famous—famous is so arbitrary—and besides, it takes 50 to 100 years before you know who will endure anyway.” He satisfies his teaching instincts by work as an adjunct professor at UNA, which he balances with his work as office manager for Geronimo Gymnastics in Florence. Jonathan’s former mother-in-law was Betty Walter, retired head of the Art Department at UNA. She was the person who taught Jonathan how to restore paintings. He shows us a painting on an easel, half of it bright, beautiful and restored, and the other half dingy, with a tear in the corner. That’s no problem, he tells us; he has the experience and knowledge to restore just about anything that might happen to a painting, and he has proof sitting in stacks in his den. That alone could be a great career, cleaning and restoring other artists’ work, especially since that is an art in itself and so few people are trained to do it. (Jonathan showed us a few tricks, but there are certain techniques that he won’t divulge—he just smiles and says that is part of the training.) But for an artistic gypsy, that wouldn’t be a lot of fun. After all, there’s a large piece of stained glass on a desk in the corner that needs his attention, and more icons he wants to paint, and an idea for a sculpture he’s had in his head for awhile. He wants to do more ceramics—“I love opening a kiln and seeing what the glazes have done,” he says—and he’s serious about wanting to know more about glass blowing. The creative process holds a fascination for Jonathan Cain, and as long as he’s breathing, we should continue to see fascinating, beautiful pieces of art. N
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DANNY MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY
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)ORUDO 'HVLJQ (YHQW 3ODQQLQJ +RPH $FFHVVRULHV s s 1RUWK 0RQWJRPHU\ $YHQXH 6KHIILHOG $ODEDPD M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 69
ellen goode
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Spend some time with Ellen Goode, and you’ll look at corn differently. In the South, we’re accustomed to driving past fields of corn, and we assume that it will be used for feed for livestock, with an ear or two that might make it to the dinner table in the summer. Who knew that the husks, that we thought had no value, were a medium for a distinct and beautiful form of art? There’s a series of books, called the Foxfire books, that chronicle the customs and crafts of Southern Appalachia. And Ellen, who loves working with her hands, stumbled across one of the Foxfire books that contained a chapter on corn husks. That began a fascination that led her to becoming recognized as one of the best corn husk artists in our region…if not the country. “I love this natural fiber,” she said. “It’s strong, and has been used for everything from horse collars to purses, hats and jewelry. Because it’s cellulose-based, it’s a substantial fiber and can last for generations.” Ellen began researching the history of its use, and found that the use of corn husks dates back to the 1600s, when the Iroquois and Seneca nations used it in some of their rituals, including the creation of face masks. (Corn husks were also used in bedding and as wampum.) Corn has always played an important part in the life of the southeast, where our humid climate helps preserve the husk. “The dry climate of the southwest isn’t as ideal” said Ellen, who prefers to use a hybrid type of corn for her work that has a wide husk and a small ear. The Goodes grow some of their own corn, and are able to readily purchase any more she might need.
Above and left: No detail is overlooked. Goode’s corn husk figurines transcend ordinary craft into fine art. Below, the substantial fiber was also used to create these everyday items, hats, bottles, and brushes.
What Ellen can do with the corn is remarkable. When she first started, she created basic and primitive dolls, but that was more than 25 years ago, and she has perfected her craft through the years. She uses natural dyes, some made of indigo, sassafrass, bark and berries, and her pieces come alive; some of the dolls she creates today are intricate, colorful, and sophisticated. In some cases, you don’t realize that the material is the husk of corn, because she has the ability to transform it to look like fabric, or weave it together to create a rope-like material. “Creating art from corn husks is the ultimate form of recycling,” said Ellen. To begin, the husk is washed and cleaned, and then soaked to make it pliable. Then, Ellen begins twisting and forming the shapes, adding color and detail to make
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“Creating art from corn husks is the ultimate form of recycling” —Ellen Goode
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the husk into a work of art. The husk has to be kept wet to work with it, and Ellen knows from experience what form it will take as it dries, working the shapes to guide the material toward its final profile. It’s a very detail-oriented and time-consuming process, and what results is beautiful. Ellen’s art isn’t always traditional either; she continues to make small corn husk dolls, but she has also made detailed Nativity scenes, Spider Woman figures, and “more outrageous figures,” she says. It’s obvious that Ellen is fascinated by history. In fact, she taught history at Forest Hills School for years, and as she explains her art she makes it come alive. She talks about native American face masks, and how they made the masks from corn husks but did not want to realistically depict a person; she talks about how, as an artist, she is respectful of that tradition. She talks about the work she does at Burritt Museum in Huntsville, teaching young people how to work with corn husks, and her work with other school groups, introducing young people to this art form. She talks about how she has participated in the Kentuck Festival for more than 25 years, a folk festival in Northport, Alabama, held every fall. She’s modest, actually; her work is sold in the Smithsonian, the Biltmore, in museum shops along the Natchez Trace, and through the South Highland Guild. In fact, she has become recognized as one of the leading artists in her craft. Spend some time with Ellen Goode, and you’re going to learn something. Spend some time with her and you’ll look at corn differently. N
Facing page: Goode created this piece in honor of her friend Jane Frith, who is a wellknown local collector of folk and outsider art.
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scene
Kathy and John Lawson
Lyn Melton, Brenda Melton, Ian Michael Berry, Martha Berry, Elizabeth Berry, John Lawton, Gwen Lawton, Laura Berry, and Morgan Berry
Anna and Cary Burnley Kim and Marty Ferguson
Ashley Anderson and Zach Chanin
Lisa and Doug Ruggles, Amy Jon and Steve Finch
Cornelia and Tom Heflin Wes and Marcy Oberholzer
2012 Heart Ball–Life is the Greatest Show on Earth FEBRUARY 11, 2012 M ARRIOTT SHOALS CONFERENCE CENTER
Michelle Britton, Connie Barnes, Sandra Scarborough and Marcy Oberholzer
Michelle Miller, Parke and Julie Cochran, and David Miller
Ross and Julie Berry Ringmaster Ken Shepski
Catherine Baroco and Keith Sims David Lord, Virginia Hardie, Mary Hardie Lord, and Sam Hardie
Natalie and Tony Faggioni
Robbie, Betty, Greg and Susan Burdine PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL
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1629 Darby Drive Between Marigail Mathis & Sweet Basil
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Open O pen House House e& IInformational Inf nforma rrm m tio ma onal M onal Meeting eet ng g Saturday S atur t rda ay May Ma M y 5th h Firs Fir Firstt U Unit United ed Methodis M Method Methodistt Chur C Church rch +3*0+3*ŏ (+.!* !ŏđŏĂčĀĀġŏăčăĀŏ +3*0+3*ŏ (+.!* !ŏđŏĂčĀĀġŏăčăĀŏ Open pen tto o the he pu public. blic. W We e will ha have ve rrefreshments e eshments efr eshments and current curr entt members em m th there here to to he h help el answer answer a any ny questions questions ti s ffor or prospective or prospectiv ecti cttive members. members
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butch anthony
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Intertwangelism. It’s not a word you’ve ever heard, probably, but when you talk with Butch Anthony it’s going to come up. It’s the art of welding steel, mixing concrete, painting, throwing clay, bending wire, sewing cloth and hammering a nail, and when you mix it all together you end up with an astounding conglomeration that is pure Butch Anthony Outsider Art. It’s amazing…and, well, it’s intertwangled. The word comes from three places. “First, there’s inter, which means inside,” Butch explains. “Then you have twangle—that’s a distinct way of speaking.” A voice, in other words. “Ism” is a theory, and when you add them all together you have a description of Butch Anthony’s perspective on art. When you see his art, it all makes perfect sense. When Butch was about 14, he found something that would change his life: a dinosaur bone. “Down in south Alabama, a million years ago the oceans covered up what is now land, and there is an area down there where you can find dinosaur bones,” he told us. That discovery, plus the thousands of flint points, stone tools and prehistoric native American artifacts that can be found in his native town of Seale, Alabama, led to a fascination with paleontology, which Butch would go on to study, and he decided to start a museum, still in existence, called the Museum of Wonder to showcase his collections. At the same time, he had a friend named Mr. John Henry who plowed up a turnip root shaped like a human head; Mr. Henry drew a picture of it, and Butch gave it to a friend who had an antique shop. The friend put a $50 price tag on it, and believe it or not, it sold to “some folk art collector who came along,” according to Butch. Butch decided to pick up a paintbrush himself, and they were able to sell more and more. Are you following this story? Because it gets even more interesting…more intertwangled. A self-taught outsider artist, Butch continued to sell art through that antique store, but he also decided to go to Auburn to pursue his love of bones and palentology. There, he began hanging out with the Rural Studio, a now world-famous architectural program that creates structures from found objects, and, since Butch’s art is all about creating pieces from found objects (the true definition of an “outsider artist”), it gave him a chance to be creative. Butch’s intertwangled art defies description, because it’s so varied. There are bones—lots of bones, many of them collected from friend Nancy O’Neal’s cattle farm in Florence “because the sun bleaches them and makes them beautiful,” he said. There’s a lot of metal, bent and twisted and wired together to create beautiful art, and more and more he’s working with fabric in collaboration with his partner, fabric and fashion designer Natalie Chanin. A recent series of fish, on display in the window of Billy Reid’s showroom in downtown Florence,
Examples of Anthony’s “Intertwangelism” can be found everywhere at his Florence, Alabama studio (above and pages 78 and 79). It’s a tiny little place where he and his daughter Maggie hang out and create art. For more information about Butch Anthony, visit his website at museumofwonder.com. Information about this year’s Doo-Nanny can be found at www.doo-nanny.com.
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“I’m a junk collector” —Butch Anthony was sold locally, but part of it went to a collector in Dallas; many of his paintings feature the outline of skeletons and bones, an ongoing testament to his fascination with such things. Which leads to Doo-Nanny. In the mid 1990s, Butch’s friend who owned the antique store, whose name was Frank Turner, starting a little roadside art show, mostly to showcase the art of Butch, John Henry and a couple of others. A movie festival was added, and Doo-Nanny grew until today it is a muchanticipated annual event, attended by about twenty outsider artists and hundreds of art lovers/campers/followers who come for the festivities. The invitation urges “inventors, movie makers, ballerinas, bikers, morticians, bakers, artists, conspir-
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acy theorists, scientists, foodies, eco-whatevers, moonshiners, comedians, fire-spinners, yodelers, he-shes, animal-trainers, pickle-makers, party girls, sock monkeys, stackers, jugglers, musicians, whittlers, spankers, fisherpersons, beggers, wanderers, and map-makers” to “start tying stuff to your roof right now” in anticipation of this year’s event, which will be held March 30 and 31. “I’m a junk collector,” says Butch, and he does gather the most interesting things that somehow find their way into objects of art. It is the purest form of outsider art, with an intertwangled twist: you can’t help but think that Butch’s sense of humor influences a great deal of what he does. Much of traditional outsider art is simple: found objects assembled to create some-
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thing beautiful. Butch’s work can be much more sophisticated. A bowl is created from pencils, wired together; another bowl is made of nails. Old photographs have skeletons outlined on the bodies; fish are welded from old gas cans; old wooden chairs have beautiful fabrics woven into the seats.
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Talent is the ability for an artist to see things and envision how they could be, remade into something else. Butch has the ability to take the things he collects, some of which he categorizes as “junk,” and make art that’s beautiful and also commands a high dollar. Because of his philosophy of intertwanglism, and from the smile on Butch’s face, it’s easy to think that he is a little amused at the fact that Big City art collectors will pay fifty dollars for a painting of a turnip that looks like a human head. And why not? N
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martha beadle
Sam and Martha Beadle
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“Come on, barge…dadgumit, little Joe, little Joe…” Greg Beadle and his son, Sam, love to go to McFarland Park to watch the barges go by. When they spot a barge, as they sit and wait, this is what they say: “Come on barge…dadgumit, little Joe, little Joe…” About twelve years ago, Sam graduated from his high school program and transitioned to an adult program at Hope Haven School in Tuscumbia. But the adjustment was difficult, and Sam was not happy; it was a difficult time for the entire family. As a respite from the tension, Martha, who loved needlework but didn’t really consider herself to be an artist, picked up fabric and thread and stitched Sam’s favorite chant. That was the first piece; more followed. Stan Larkin, a family friend who owned a gallery in English Village at the time, saw some of Martha’s pieces and asked if he could sell them at his shop. “I said yes, but never thought they would sell,” Martha says with a smile. They did— very well, in fact. So well, that Stan began encouraging Martha to pursue her artistic passion. He suggested that she should exhibit at Arts Alive. “It took about a year to sew enough pieces to show, but I loved doing it…and we sold almost everything,” she said. She also won a Merit Award at the Arts Alive festival…and an artistic career was born. Her pieces are visual feasts. She uses scraps of fabric and adorns them with buttons, costume jewelry, and other found objects. (One of her newest pieces, based on a lyric from the country and western song “Red Solo Cup,” includes a piece of a red Solo cup that has been stitched into the background.) They tend to be riots of color, and are almost always illustrations of a song lyric, a Biblical verse, or a piece of poetry. They are complex and well crafted, but at the same time are simple illustrations of familiar phrases. It’s part folk art, part outsider art, and almost always smile provoking. “Georgine Clark (the visual arts program manager at the Alabama State Council on the Arts in Montgomery) calls this ‘high-end craft,’” said Martha, who has also been called “visionary.” All of it is created from a converted bedroom in the basement of her house near the college in Florence, made from materials that have been given to her; Martha keeps a basket on the front porch of her house and neighbors drop off
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Anatomy of a Needle Eccentricity. The process of creating one of Martha Beadle’s “Needle Eccentricities” is not that different from creating any other work of art, only the “paint” she uses is made from fabric scraps, thread, buttons, and other found objects. Beadle does still start with a sketch (top right), and pins her pieces together before stitching. Left: One of Beadle’s popular “Alabama Angels.”
“Everything I do starts with the phrase.” —Martha Beadle fabric they no longer want. Drapery materials, blue jeans and khaki pants are favorites—she can create many pieces of art from that fabric, and likes the thicker materials to use as backgrounds for the layers and layers of color that will be stitched on top of it. Martha scours junk shops for the additional elements that will be incorporated into her stories, and recycles and reuses everything she can. “Everything I do starts with the phrase,” said Martha. “The art follows.” Inspiration can come from her favorite poets, Langsdon Hughes, Emily Dickinson and others; Dr. Suess, folk songs and Biblical verses are full of inspiration as well. Owners of Martha’s pieces love to watch other people look at the art for the first time: first, there’s recognition as they read the phrase, which is usually always something familiar; then sheer delight as they absorb the playful illustration. There’s a lot of smiling involved when you look at a Martha Beadle piece. Right now, Martha is working on a series featuring Alabama ladies. She has done a bird series and a series of Alabama Angels. “I was asked to do a series of North Carolina angels,” she says, smiling, “but I just can’t—I don’t think there are any angels who aren’t Alabama angels.” Martha’s favorite piece is part of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library’s collection in
downtown Florence, although she also loves a large framed bird piece hanging over the fireplace in the Beadle home. Her favorite hymn is “Morning Has Broken,” and that has inspired many pieces. Smaller pieces take a couple of days to complete, and larger ones can take two to three weeks. The judge at an art competition one time advised her not to “go too big,” because it would take away the fun, and Martha agrees, for a couple of reasons. “Going too big in the sense that I’m stretching myself too thin and trying to rush the process would take the fun out of it,” she explains, “and going too big with the size of my pieces means that they are hard to handle and Greg doesn’t like that.” She laughs, but it is clear she is still having a lot of fun and finds inspiration in every book she picks up and every song she hears. As long as that is the case, she’ll continue to create. “Come on barge…dadgumit, little Joe, little Joe…” The original piece of art, the stitching that started it all, sits framed in her studio, a reminder of the inspiration that began her artistic career. It’s simple, compared to some of the complex and colorful work she does now, but it will always be a reminder of the events that started this remarkable journey. N
Now registering for 2012-2013 More than 32 years ago, Riverhill School was founded to give its students an educational experience that promoted each child’s individual potential. Today, we still provide academic excellence and experiences that create a lifelong love of learning. Want to know more? Come and visit! You’ll find we make the difference of a lifetime. We’re registering now for our Pre-K2 through sixth grade classes. Call 256-764-8200 or visit riverhillschool.org for more information.
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michael banks
“I picked up a pencil when I was about six years old, and I knew I had a knack for being an artist,” said Michael Banks. By the time he was in the fifth grade, he was getting attention for his talent; by the eighth grade, he was selling his art. Encouraged by his mother, a single parent who was raising him in Guntersville, Alabama, he experimented with different materials and continued to refine his skill. Michael is self taught. He doesn’t say this himself, but it’s easy to see that he doesn’t let anything escape his attention, and he has a good memory. He does say that he will get an image in his head that won’t go away, until he deals with it in a piece of art. “I get an image, and I will tear myself apart to transfer that image to any medium I can get to,” he said. He also loves to use found objects and building materials in his pieces, at one time creating an entire series of paintings on wood using roofing tar as an undercoating; these days he plays with incorporating women’s high heeled shoes into some of the most compelling and brightly beautiful pieces you will see. It’s not all just paint on a canvas or a backdrop, either; Michael will often incorporate found objects in his art, or scratch into the thick paint and tar to etch letters, words, or symbols. His images are bold and bright, using people and animals, and upon inspection you might see an acrobat holding an umbrella, a series of yellow rubber duckies, or a pair of oversized ears. There’s always that element of surprise.
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“I keep painting, because painting keeps me happy. That’s my force. It makes me what I am. It would mean death not to do it, and because of art I’m still alive.” —Michael Banks
Above and facing page: Michael will often scratch into the thick paint and tar to etch letters, words, or symbols. His images are bold and bright, using people and animals, and upon inspection you might see an acrobat holding an umbrella, a series of yellow rubber duckies, or a pair of oversized ears. There’s always that element of surprise.
A counselor at his high school encouraged Michael to pursue art as a career. But he will tell you that his intention has never been to make a lot of money with his art, even though money is necessary for survival. He is driven by the creative process, totally absorbed in the creation of his pieces and reacting impulsively and almost automatically. “It surprises me, sometimes, what I have painted, when I finish,” he says with a laugh. “I was just in my groove and this is what came out. Wow!” Georgine Clarke, the Visual Arts Program Manager at the Alabama State Council on the Arts, encouraged him to exhibit at the Kentuck Festival in Northport, labeling him an Outsider Artist. That’s fine with Michael, who lists Mose T and Jimmy Suddith as inspirations, but it’s also clear that his artistic talent stretches beyond what anyone would consider a traditional outsider genre. In 1992, when Michael was 20 years old, his mother passed away. For the next five years, his grief was so great that his passion for creating art left him. It was a dark
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time for him, but, recalling the hope and encouragement his mother had given him, he finally began to paint again. The experience also gave him a desire to test his artistic limits, and opened the door to experimentation with a variety of techniques and materials. It also led to greater recognition: he’s been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living magazines, presented in exhibitions from New York to Denver to Atlanta, and hailed from coast to coast. About a solo show, The Savannah Morning News said “Ultimately, ‘Michael Banks: Outsider Artist’ offers Savannah’s most rewarding and penetrating solo show in recent memory. As this unforgettable exhibit clearly indicates, Banks is one outsider artist who has certainly earned the right to be on the inside.” “I have to paint,” Michael said. “That’s just what I do. It takes me to a place…I don’t question it. I have ups and downs in the art world, people say this and people say that, but I keep painting, because painting keeps me happy. That’s my force. It makes me what I am. It would mean death not to do it, and because of art I’m still alive.” N
Bottom right: Lately Banks is incorporating women’s high heeled shoes into some of the most compelling and brightly beautiful pieces you will see.
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food for thought » Sarah Gaede THANK GOODNESS FOR ST. PATRICK, the patron saint of Ireland, whose feast day, March 17, provides a welcome break from the rigors of Lent, during which season it always falls, as does my birthday. Fortunately, both are feast days where all Lenten disciplines are in abeyance. All we know for sure about Patrick is that he was captured by Irish raiders in Wales when he was about 16, and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the Church he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop, where he worked to convert the pagan Celts and Druids to Christianity. As is the custom with saints, we commemorate his life on the day of his death, March 17, 461-ish.
Gosh and begorrah! Legend has it that Patrick banished snakes from Ireland by chasing them into the sea after they annoyed him during a 40-day fast he was undertaking on a hilltop. The reality is that Ireland has never had snakes, so there was nothing for Patrick to banish. He is also credited with using the three-leafed shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity. This was not a big stretch. Three was a sacred number in the ancient pagan religion, thanks to their “triple goddesses”, and the shamrock was seen as a symbol of rebirth and eternal life. Americans, under the influence of the great Irish migration of the 19th century, have come to love St. Patrick, or at least his feast day, primarily as an excuse for a parade and a day-long party—in short, to behave like heathens. Savannah, Georgia, which has a large Irish population and the alcoholic ambience of a port city, throws the second largest St. Patrick’s Day party in the country, or so they like to think. Just as in Ireland, it’s a public holiday with a big parade. A highlight is the Knights of Columbus staggering down the parade route in their green jackets, fueled on the Eucharist, green grits, and green beer. The “traditional” St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage is a purely American innovation, dating from the turn of the last century. To save money, the Irish immigrants in New York City’s Lower East Side replaced the traditional Irish bacon with corned beef, which was introduced to them by their Jewish neighbors. Despite its dubious Irish ancestry, I feel almost as strongly about eating corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day as I do about hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day. It’s not difficult to cook, and it’s always on sale in March. Look for a flat-cut brisket, and prepare according to the package directions, or look up a more refined method, like the one on cookscountry.com. No matter how you cook your brisket, be sure to finish it up with the glaze below, which comes from Epicurious via Beth
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Wallace. Serve with boiled new potatoes with butter and parsley, and the traditional cabbage, or glam it up with roasted Brussels sprouts. For dessert, whip up what is probably the single best easy dessert in the history of the world. It’s not officially Irish, but Pernod is green, so that counts. Even though Pernod costs $25 a bottle, it’s worth buying for this recipe. You can always drink the rest as an aperitif. If you can’t find it locally, order it online. Make the recipe exactly as directed; don’t omit any of the flavorings. It’s a delicate, delicious, beguiling balance of ingredients that far exceeds the sum of its parts.
Corned Beef and Carrots with Marmalade Whiskey Glaze • 1 4-5 pound corned beef brisket, trimmed of fat and cooked • 1 cup sweet orange marmalade (I like Smucker’s organic) • 1/2 cup Irish whiskey (good old southern Bourbon works just fine) • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard plus more for serving • 12 carrots, peeled, and halved lengthwise Preheat oven to 425°. Coat large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Boil next 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan until reduced to a generous 3/4 cup, stirring often, about 7 minutes. Mix in 1 tablespoon mustard. Generously brush corned beef all over with glaze; place in center of prepared sheet. Toss carrots and 1/4 cup glaze in large bowl to coat; place around beef. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper. Roast until carrots are tender and beef is golden, brushing occasionally with more glaze, about 35 minutes. Transfer to platter, garnish with parsley, and serve with Dijon mustard.
Pernod Flan • • • • • • • • •
2 cups half-and-half 1/2 cup sugar Grated zest from 1/2 orange 6 egg yolks 2 tablespoons Pernod, Ricard, or absinthe 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract 2-3 drops almond extract Cinnamon
Preheat oven to 325°. Combine half-and-half, sugar, and orange zest in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Put egg yolks into a medium mixing bowl and whisk until thick and frothy. Gradually add half-and-half to yolks, whisking constantly. Stir in Pernod and vanilla, coconut, and almond extracts, then strain mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher or glass measuring cup. Pour into six 6-ounce oven-proof ramekins or custard cups. Arrange ramekins in a deep baking dish and add enough boiling water to come half way up the sides of the ramekins. Transfer to oven and bake until flans are just set and centers are slightly soft when ramekins are jiggled, 30-35 minutes. Remove flans from water bath, sprinkle each with cinnamon, and cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Makes 6
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scene Miss UNA 2012—Anne-Marie Hall
Taylor Patton
Ann Marie Russ
Brittany Jordan
Miss UNA 2011 Brandi Lewis and Robert Adler
Lauren Bishop
Whitney Warren Kaitlin Chappell
PHOTOS BY JOHNNY WANG
Above: 2012 Miss UNA Pageant
Below: NuSkin Holiday Party
JANUARY 28, 2012 NORTON AUDITORIUM, UNA C AMPUS
DECEMBER 16, 2011 BILLY REID
Carmen Anderson and Gloria Oliver
Carmen Anderson, Kelly McGahey, and Jeannette Elkafas
Judy Sizemore, Billy Reid, Carole and Rod Graves
Gina and John Smith Nikki Yarber ad Justin Michael Jacqueline Rennington and Goode Dethero Anganel Davis, Willa Oates, and Susanne Wadsworth Cary Burnley, Lucy Crosby, and Jean McIntyre
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20 questions » Marcel Proust*
More Probing Questions for our Renaissance Award Winners What is your current state of mind? Peaceful, happy, content. (Donna Johnson) Hopeful—for a positive change in our economy. (Bud Ward) Exhausted. (They just got back from Fashion Week.) (Jeanne Reid)
*Plus Ça Change (The more things change…)
Marcel Proust
Way back at the end of the Nineteenth Century—a hundred years before smart phones and email and Facebook—teenagers went to parties, just like today. And just like today, they sat sullenly in corners and composed status updates. Only then they didn’t write with their thumbs and post their answers on Facebook for the entire world to see; they wrote them in journals, with quill pens, and then read them aloud. What can we say? It was France. One of those teenaged party-goers was Marcel Proust. And before he grew up to be France’s most celebrated novelist, he wrote his “status update” with such sublime selfawareness that the answers he gave made the questions themselves famous. Questions like “What is your greatest fear” and “What’s your favorite pastime?” We know those questions today as The Proust Questionnaire. And even though our Renaissance Award winners typed them—some of them with their thumbs?—we still think their answers are pretty sublime. —Roy Hall for No’Ala
What is your favorite occupation? Spending time with my four wonderful grandsons. (Billy Warren) Being out on the lake. (Randy Pettus) I enjoy my work, I love to do things for others, I like to sew and do crafts, I like to decorate, I love to organize, I like to spend time volunteering. I’m happiest when I am giving back. I can’t sit still without having something to do. (Donna Johnson) Playing golf and hunting and shooting. (Bud Ward) What is your greatest fear? Losing a member of my immediate family to death. (Donna Johnson) Flying. (Randy Pettus) Snakes. (Billy Reid) Finding out that I didn’t make the cut for Heaven. (Bud Ward) What historical figure do you most identify with? Thomas Jefferson—he had so many interests and saw the world in many ways. (Billy Warren) Who is your favorite fictional hero? Atticus Finch. (Billy Warren) Peter Pan. (Bud Ward) Superman. (Randy Pettus) What is your greatest extravagance? I’m never able to pass up the purchasing of a good book. (Billy Warren) I don’t know that it is an extravagance, it is probably the opposite, but I am obsessed with being thrifty and recy-
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cling. I can’t stand to see waste. I love to go to yard sales, estate sales, thrift stores and the like! (Donna Johnson)
Complete acceptance. (Randy Pettus) Loyalty and honesty. (Jeanne Reid)
My jewelry. (Randy Pettus) The car I drive. (Bud Ward) Which living person do you most admire? My father, Melvin Frazier. (Donna Johnson)
That they accept me for who I am. They are always there when I need them, as I hope I am for them. (Donna Johnson) What do you deplore about yourself? Not willing to say no. (Randy Pettus)
Pope Benedict XVI (Bud Ward) Too quick to judge. (Bud Ward) Our mothers. (Billy and Jeanne Reid) Who are your real-life heroes? Cancer survivors. Caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s. (Donna Johnson) What is your most treasured possession? My mother’s wedding band which I wear every day. (Donna Johnson) My Shih Tzus. (Randy Pettus) Our home. It was built in 1892, and we’ve worked really hard on it, and we continue to work hard on it. (Billy Reid)
How do you want to die? In my sleep. (Donna Johnson) I want to die sliding into heaven saying man what a ride. (Randy Pettus) If you could come back as any animal, what would it be? A seeing eye dog. (Bud Ward) An eagle—I like to be able to look beyond what others see. (Randy Pettus) If you would come back as any object, what would it be? The medical device that helps find the cure for cancer. (Bud Ward)
My faith. (Bud Ward) What is the quality you most admire in a man? Honesty. (Bud Ward) Do I have to pick just one? Faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, caring, loving…all of which my husband of 33 years is! (Donna Johnson)
A tree—with roots to hold me down, limbs that reach into the heavens and leaves that change every season. (Randy Pettus) What is it you most dislike? Self absorbed, ungrateful people. (Donna Johnson) Hypocrisy. (Randy Pettus)
Fairness and having a love for others. (Randy Pettus) My travel schedule. (Billy Reid) When and where are you happiest? At home. (Billy Reid) Living in the moment. (Bud Ward) I’m at the point in my life now that I am probably happiest but in all honesty, God has blessed my life in so many ways that I can’t say that I have ever been unhappy. (Donna Johnson) What is your favorite journey? The journey starts all over every morning when I wake up. (Bud Ward) Life. (Randy Pettus) What do you value most in friends? Empathy. Helping me when they think I need it. (Bud Ward)
Litterbugs. (Jeanne Reid) What is your motto? Life is not measured by how many breaths we take but by the moments that took our breath away. (Randy Pettus) Live, Love=Life (Bud Ward) What has been the greatest influence on you? Music. It has changed who I am, who I want to be, and who I will be. (Randy Pettus) Growing up in the Catholic church and in Catholic schools. (Bud Ward) My Father. He instilled the ethic of hard work in me. He led by example. He is the smartest man I know…and he only has a 6th grade education. (Donna Johnson)
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Cooking Class 2012 Thur Thursday, sdaay, Mar March ch 1s 1stt – N New ew Orleans W Wee will put yyou ou at ease with recipes recipes that you you might not not want want to to attempt attempt without seeing them ffirst. irst. Cr Crawfish aw wfish Boule Boulettes ttes Shrimp Shrimp N Napoleon apoleon with Ra Ravigote avigo v te Sauce Oy Oyster ster and Ar Artichoke tichoke Soup Trout Trout Menier Menieree Almandine Br Bread ead Pudding with Whisk Whiskey ey Sauce T Tuesday, uesdaay, Mar March ch 6th Delicious Seasonal Meals Pancetta Pancetta Crisps with Chevre Chevre and Fresh Fresh P Pear eear Broccoli Broccoli and Whit Whitee ccheddar heddar Soup with Cornbr Cornbread ead Cr Croutons outons Chicken Chicken Smo Smothered thered in Onions and Snapp Snappyy Cr Cream eam Gr Gravy avvy Mashed Mashed P Potato otato Cak Cakes es Sweet Sweet P Potato otato Biscuits
Make plans today for you and your friends to come to Sweet Basil to enjoy a fun and informative evening. There will be refreshments and a tasting of all that is prepared. Each course prepared will be paired with the perfect wine. Each class will include techniques, tips and hints that apply to everyday cooking. There will be questions and answers throughout the class. So come out for amazing food, fabulous wine, unbelievable teachings, and lots of fun & laughter!!!
Thursday Thur sdaay April 5th R Recipes ecipes fr from om the ffabulous aabulous rrestaurant estaurant Tupelo Tupelo Honey Honey Café Carolina Carolina Fish Chowder Chowder Sauvignon Sauvignon Blanc 65 Spinach Spinach Salad with R Roasted oasted Beets, Beets, Goat ccheese, heese, P Peppered eppered Bacon, and Garlic Ranc Ranch h Dr Dressing essing French French Char Chardonnay donnay 90 P Pan-Fried an-Fried P Pork ork Chops with Blac Black-Eyed k--Eyed P Pea ea and Andouille Sausage Ragout Pinot Pinot N Noir oir
T Tuesday, u uesdaay, Mar March ch 113th 3th Gues Guestt cchef hef Zac Zackk Chanin teaches teaches a Delicious Southern Meal Jac Jack-o-lantern k-o-lant ern Mix Greens, Greens, s, sha shaved aved Roasted Roasted Beets, Beets, fresh fresh Farm Farm cheese, cheese, Candied P Pecans ecans with a Ham Hoc Hockk and P Poached oached Egg dr dressing essing Chicken Chicken n Dum Dumplins plins with R Roasted oasted R Root oot V Vegetables, eegetables, Biscuits Bananas Bananas F Foster oster
T Tuesday, uesdaay, April 110th 0th Extraordinary Extraordinar y Food Food of Neiman Neiman Marcus Marcus Crispy Crispy Shrimp Shrimp W Wontons o ontons with Spicy Sweet Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce R Roasted oasted P Pear ear and Gor Gorgonzola gonzola Salad New New England Lobs Lobster ter P Pot ot Pie
T Tuesday, uesdaay, Mar March ch 20th Arnaud’s R Recipes ecipes Revised Revised Crawfish Cr awfish Car Cardinal dinal Oyster’s Oyster’s en Brochette Brochette Creole Creole Cr Crab ab cak cakes es F Fried ried Gr Green een nT Tomato o omato Shrim Shrimp pR Remoulade emoulade
T Tuesday, u uesdaay, April 117th 7th Magic of eating jus justt good ffood! o ood! Chic Chicken-Fried ken-Fried Sirloin Steak Steak with Peppered Peppered Cream Cream Gravy Gravvy Best Best F Fried ried Okr Okraa Southern Southern Lima Beans Whipping Whipping Cr Cream eam Biscuits T Toffee offfee o e Banana Pudding
Thur Thursday, sdaay, Mar March ch 29th Cooking and Connecting P Peace eace Meals Madr Madras as Shrim Shrimp p Spinach Spinach Salad with P Poached oached Egg Duc Duckk Br Breasts easts Conf Confit it Parmesan Parmesan Riso Risotto tto
T Tuesday, u uesdaay, April, 224th 4th Celebr Celebrate ate the Southern T Table aable Bes Bestt F Fried ried Chic Chicken ken Mac Mac and Cheese Creamed Creamed Collar Collards ds
1627 Darby Drive in English V Village iillage Florence (256) 764-5991 M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 95
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bless their hearts » Laura Anders Lee
My family recently moved to Florence from Pensacola. Though 400 miles away, the changes seem subtle enough so far. We’ve gone from Northwest Florida to Northwest Alabama. Rolling waves to rolling hills. The Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee River. Fried mullet to fried catfish. I’ve always loved traveling, and I find that getting to know a town isn’t much different than getting to know a person. There are qualities you instantly like—what a charming downtown!—and quirks you have to live with—is the country’s busiest Wal-mart really the best grocery store option? I’m a glass-is-half-full kind of person, so I focus on the positive: the new Publix is coming!
Getting to know a new town is also like solving a puzzle, trying to fit the pieces together until they make sense. When we first drove over the O’Neal Bridge, the city was like little bits of abstract images. It was hard to see where we’d fit in. My husband Bryan is a Point-A-to-Point-B type of person, rarely straying from the direct path. I, on the other hand, find myself driving around town, with no set destination, just to get to know the streets, to see how things are connected. I feel I get to know the neighborhoods that way and to see where the road may lead me. It’s how I’ve already discovered some of the area’s treasures… Rivertown coffee shop, Leo and UNA, the Shoals Children’s Museum, River Heritage Park, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, McFarland Park, English Village and ColdWater Books (yes, I crossed the river). And getting to know the local flavor, literally, has been a real treat. Using last year’s Garden and Gun and Destination Shoals as my guide, I’ve found Rosie’s margaritas, Bunyan’s slaw barbecue sandwiches, Trowbridge’s pimento cheese, Dish’s Thai salad, Sweet Magnolia’s bread pudding…and there’s even a restaurant for the beloved steak sauce of my childhood. I can’t wait to see (and eat!) more.
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But what I like most of all is getting to know the people—and my connections with them. True of Alabamians, neighbors have already greeted us with casseroles and breakfast breads; distant cousins have invited us to dinner; and even strangers have treated us to lunch. We are grateful for the Southern hospitality. And being from Alabama ourselves, it seems we know everyone through a friend, or at the most, a friend of a friend. It’s a small world afterall. My son Anders has been obsessed with doors for more than a year, and he’s just more than a year old. Whether it’s cabinets or storm doors or automatic doors at the grocery stores, he’s truly fascinated. Trying to be a good mother, I do my best to encourage his passion—sometimes sitting for half an hour as he opens and closes the front door. So when we told him we were moving and a new door had opened for Bryan, I like to think he understood perfectly. And so far, Florence feels at home to him—there are doors here, too. Bryan and I have moved around a lot. We’ve had eight zipcodes in eight years of marriage, including four states. But now we are back in Alabama, the state where we were both born and raised. The state where we went to college, the state where we met, and the state where we got married. We think it’s pretty special that although Anders was the only one in either of our families not actually born in Alabama, he will at least be raised here as we were. It’s home to sweet home Alabama.
We know how important it is to feel at home. Glenwood Healthcare provides a comfortable, caring home. We offer assisted living for those who need a little looking after but can still live independently. We also offer long-term care for those who need round-the-clock attention. At Glenwood Healthcare, we understand those who need assistance value security and comfort in their time of need. That’s why so many call us home.
Rehab • Assisted Living • Long-Term Care ____________________________________ 211 Ana Drive, Florence, AL 35630 256-768-2775 • www.glenwoodhc.com • admissions@glenwoodhc.com M ARCH /A PRIL 2012 | NOALAMAG . COM | 97
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parting shot » Danny Mitchell
Michael Banks in his Florence studio. January 11, 2012.
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First Southern rolls out the red carpet with VIP Free Interest Checking™ At First Southern Bank, we treat all of our customers like VIPs. Now, with VIP Free Interest Checking, you can pair your direct deposit or automatic payment with a checking account that earns interest...AND: • No monthly service charges • No fees for our debit card • No fees for using our ATMs, and we’ll refund ATM fees from other banks up to $25/month* • No fees for online banking and billpay • No minimum balance required • Unlimited check writing!
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Five convenient locations to serve you: Main branch at 301 South Court Street, Florence: 256-718-4200 1027 E. Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals: 256-718-4242 1455 Highway 72, Killen: 256-718-4273 5145 River Road, Ford City: 256-718-4255 4350 CR 47, St. Florian: 256-718-4282 Mortgage Department, 303 N. Pine Street, Florence: 256-718-4237
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Three convenient locations to serve you: 869 Florence Blvd. Florence, AL 35630 256-764-4700 202 W. Avalon Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 256-386-5220 2602 Hough Rd. Florence, AL 35630 256-740-5515 www.mrdrugs.com