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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
The view from the other side of the nail bar By Nina Quatrino
N
ail technicians and manicurists often seem quiet and to themselves while pressing on acrylics, applying wax to eyebrows and painting layers on nails. With so many nail salons around Denton and such a wide variety of manicurists at each salon, learning nail technicians’ names and their stories are at the back of customers’ minds as they get their nails done. But nail technicians have lives outside of the nail salon, just like their customers. They’re busy with families, stressed with bills and trying to make it in the growing city of Denton. Many of them have struggles of their own beyond getting a chipped nail. “This job is really hard,” said Henry Pham, a Happy Nail Spa technician. “[But] everything that we do, we try the best we can to make the customer happy. That’s all we do.” Pham has been a nail technician in the United States for over 14 years. He came to America from Vietnam in 1991 with hopes of finding a better life. “I was born during the war in Vietnam,” Pham said. “It’s not fun at all. It’s not fun when you grow up out there.” The 46-year-old is a first-generation VietnameseAmerican, as his mother was Vietnamese and his father was an American-born soldier. Pham said being an American soldier’s son made growing up in Vietnam difficult, because it was frowned upon by others. Growing up during the war period also presented challenges and hardships that have made lasting impressions on Pham. “They can do whatever they want to you,” Pham said. “Steal from you, hurt you – it’s horrible.” While he has faced different challenges in America than he the ones he faced in Vietnam, standing up for himself is what has made him into the happy, perseverant nail technician many in Denton love — and are willing to be on a waiting list for. In an industry created solely by customer service, nail technicians must provide excellent service or fail to receive tips for the time spent doing the service. Many nail technicians and manicurists work multiple weeks in a row, as Pham does, just to put
food on the table or gas in the car. He usually works seven days a week, painting nail after nail in a systematic fashion.
“I do everything I can to support my family.
“That’s what I have to do,” Pham said. “I do everything I can to support my family.” His family includes his 18-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. With his sister in Vietnam and his parents both deceased, Pham works to make his children’s lives better than his was. “I don’t have much family around here, [so] everything I do, I do for them,” Pham said. His ultimate goal is to put both his children through school so they can start doing what they love straight out of the gate. Pham said since he thinks he is halfway through his lifetime, he works hard not for himself, but for those around him. “If they don’t have any education, they cannot get better jobs,” Pham said. “It makes for a better life. In 15 to 20 years, college won’t do anything for me. But for my children and the younger generations, [it will].” While he strives to provide the opportunity of education to his children, it’s the people surrounding Pham on a daily basis who also keep him loving his job. Although Pham has only worked at the Happy Nail Spa in Denton for a year and a half, he has already developed a large fan base with regulars who request his service by name. “I have about three or four regulars a day,” Pham said. “I’m really happy to see my customers.” For regular customer Vikki Summerall, Pham provides a sense of trust. Summerall moved to Texas from Arizona and hasn’t stopped coming to Pham since she discovered the shop. Summerall gets her nails done with Henry every month, and she said he is the nicest nail technician
Henry Pham, a nail technician, has been at Happy Nails on S. Loop 288 for a year and a half. Happy Nails is open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cameron Roe she’s ever had. “This is the only nail salon I will go to,” Summerall said. “Ever since he’s been here, he’s been doing my nails.” Even though not all customers are able to get their nails done by Pham, they take time to appreciate technicians’ willingness to help them fulfill their nail dreams. Hair salon receptionist Haylee Hendricks is able to get her nails done whenever she has the time, and believes employees like Pham should be treated with respect and kindness. For some people, getting their nails done can be a biweekly occurrence. For others, it’s a luxury. But whatever the reason is, Hendricks said people should take time to appreciate the technicians who spend their days scrubbing feet and getting acrylic dust in their face. “Their job is to help you feel good and look good
when you get your nails done,” Hendricks said. Although blocking out his struggles can be challenging, Pham stays positive when looking at his hardships. He believes working to help others is better than standing around doing nothing. While customers may just walk in and out of the salon, each client and opportunity plays a special part in Pham’s life. “You have to always be looking forward, and never backwards, because the back has already happened and you don’t have to go back,” Pham said. “I don’t care what’s happened to me in the past. I know it’s hard, but if you do the best you can, you’ll have a happy life.”
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Entering the world of watercolor By Dionecia Petit From detailed brush strokes that bleed a mixture of colors across the canvas to the visceral feeling radiating off the finished piece of art, the medium of watercolor is certainly one that is a standout to both artists and audiences alike. The Texas Watercolor Society’s 68th Annual Exhibit is currently on display at the PattersonAppleton Arts Center in Denton until Aug. 26. The society was founded in 1949 by Margaret Pace Willson and Amy Freeman Lee. Their mission has always been to advance the art of watercolor painting, particularly through an annual exhibition that celebrates the work and talent of artists. “What we are trying to do is provide a vessel for painters and the passion of painting,” society president Betsy Moritz said. “When there is a community that likes all the same thing, it becomes stronger.” The process of selecting paintings for the annual exhibit begins Jan. 1 of each year, with an all-call to various artists to submit paintings. The deadline for the entry of up to three original watercolor paintings is April 1. The thought process for selecting paintings among at least 50 entries can be dependent on a number of factors. For Soon Warren, a juror for the 2017 exhibit and watercolor artist, some factors outweigh others. “I usually select everything that is more unified,” she said. “I am looking for [how well the painting flows], that unity and connection.” Entries are submitted via email as digital art, and Warren said opinions can certainly change once the art is observed in person. “Usually the digital image is different than the actual painting and it changes the feeling in a different way,” Warren said. “When I look through the digital art, sometimes I feel, ‘Wow this is great’ or ‘This looks so superb,’ but sometimes it looks kind of OK. Sometimes [in person] the paintings are as good as my initial impression from the digital image.” Ultimately, it is the connection the juror feels to a painting that can be the deciding factor. “I am not looking for what kind of subject matter
or what kind of technique,” Warren said. “I usually call it attitude, but I mostly call it the energy within the painting. So I actually kind of go through the paintings many times to kind of feel it.” Dee Tunseth is watercolor artist whose awardwinning painting, Escalera a La Villita, is currently featured in the 2017 exhibit. Tunseth’s work has won awards during five of the seven years she has been a member of the society. She credits the artistic community that has been formed as what has encouraged her growth as an artist. “Receiving awards is wonderful and certainly humbling, but to me, the important parts of belonging to an organization are the relationships and friendships that are formed,” she said. “Artists generally work alone in a studio, so it’s important in learning and growing to have occasional feedback from other artists.” What is special for the artist is the name and reputation they carry after their painting has been chosen for the exhibit, or if they have won an award. This includes the addition of the society’s symbol next to the artist’s initials on the painting. “Our signature is known throughout the United States, which means if you get chosen you get to put our initials ‘T.W.S.’ next to your name,” Moritz said. “That ‘T.W.S.’ carries anywhere in the United States, along with other artists, other groups, other societies.” While the exhibit is special for the artists whose paintings are chosen, it can also be an exciting experience for anyone engaging with the medium of watercolor. “I wouldn’t call it more valuable or more artistic, but I think it has its advantages and disadvantages, like other mediums,” Soon said. “Watercolor [as a medium] is very lighthearted and opens up the imagination in a way. Sometimes, you can see things happening that you don’t expect.”
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017
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A guest wanders around the Texas Watercolor Society exhibit at the Greater Denton Arts Council in Denton. TWS is a nonprofit organization that watercolor artists can join, taking annual entries to be considered for awards up to $2,000. Katie Jenkins
Sky Theatre lights up minds By David Urbanik For thousands of years, people have stared up at the night sky and assigned patterns to the stars. Creatures and characters from ancient cultures all over the world, including the mythological Greek and Roman gods, have shown through the darkness to light up the imaginations of anyone willing to look up. In modern times, it’s possible to study these celestial bodies at any time of day under the expert guidance of trained astronomers and the use of planetariums, which are unique auditorium-like theaters that project the stars and other video content onto large domed screens above an audience. UNT is home to one of these theaters. Tucked away in the Environmental Education, Science & Technology building located at the northwest corner of UNT campus is the Sky Theater, a 100-seat, 40-foot theater which showcases a fullcolor, HD projection system. The Sky Theater features regular weekly shows that present a variety of content rotating on a monthly basis. “Our Sky Theater is like attending a movie theater on steroids,” planetarium director Ronald Diiulio said. “The screen and sound are all around you.” Planetariums like the Sky Theater allow for the night sky to be simulated for astronomy education and entertainment purposes. Classes are held in the theater, and the planetarium also hosts a variety of school field trips. While planetariums can be compared to traditional theater screens, planetarium manager Ryan Bennett said UNT’s planetarium is anything but ordinary. “This creates an immersive experience all around you, rather than just in front of you like a traditional theater,” Bennett said. “In addition to having software that lets you travel through the universe and observe celestial motions, the projection system allows for the viewing of any 360-degree video which opens up a very wide range of immersive entertainment options which doesn’t necessarily have to just involve astronomy.” There are hundreds of digital dome theaters throughout the United States, and with each planetarium comes an array of features specific to that location. One aspect of the Sky Theater that makes it unique from other planetariums is the fact that some of the
content shown during the shows is produced in house by the astronomers at the college. “I would say that it is about half and half,” Diiulio said. “Some of the programs are leased or purchased, and the other half are produced in house, including script, visuals, narrators and music and special effects.” The programs shown at the Sky Theater are meant to appeal to an audience of all ages by including various interactive presentations from the astronomers. “Most of the programs are astronomy-based and are geared towards all ages,” Bennett said. “Every show also has a night sky talk at the end where we bring up what the sky will look like that evening and show where you can find different constellations and astronomical objects.” The theater is also available to be reserved for private parties and special occasions. “The main difference between a private and public show is that private groups get to pick what show they want to watch and we tend to do a little more questions and answers with our private audiences,” Bennett said. “More recently, we have also rented the facility to people interested in using it for their own shows such as the Pink Floyd laser show we did last spring.” The theater is popular with local residents. Denton residents Ronnie and Diane Allen, who brought their grandchildren to see the show, appreciate having a full-size planetarium close to home. The other planetariums in the area are around Dallas, so the Allens use the Sky Theater to help teach their grandchildren about the world around them. “Rather than having to go all the way to the planetarium at the science museum in Fort Worth, it is nice to have something like this close by,” Diane said. “It’s a great educational activity we can do with the kids, especially for our grandchildren who are already interested in space.” The Sky Theater holds three showings at noon, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. every Saturday. Admission prices range from $3 to $5 with the entire program usually lasting about an hour.
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