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EVINCE MAGAZINE
24541
434.709.7349
On the Cover: Berkley Pritchett, Angela Melton, Cathy Eggleston, Sara Shorter, and Sonja Ingram.
Years of Art
A Golden Legacy Danville Museum Celebrates 50
and
History
Nestled in the Old West End of Danville, the Sutherlin Mansion stands as a silent witness to the city’s rich tapestry of history. For the past halfcentury, this stately Italianate villa has been home to the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History (DMFAH), an institution that has become the cultural cornerstone of the community. As the museum prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it reflects on its journey and looks ahead to a future filled with promise and purpose.
The story of DMFAH is one of transformation and perseverance. In the 1950s, Dr. James Jennings, the museum’s first President, planted the seeds of what would become the museum by organizing the Danville Art Association. This grassroots effort blossomed, merging with the local chapter of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 1963. For years, the group hosted cultural events in various locations around town, from college campuses to high schools, nurturing a growing appetite for arts and culture in Danville.
In 1973, the stars aligned. As the city prepared to open a new library, the Sutherlin Mansion—a building steeped in Civil War
and Civil Rights history—became available. The art association seized the opportunity, signing a lease with the city and embarking on an ambitious restoration project. On October 15, 1974, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History opened its doors inside the Sutherlin Mansion to the public, marking the beginning of a new era for both the museum and the community it serves.
“From the beginning, we’ve been, as Dr. Jennings said, ‘Riding two horses’ of art and history,” Executive Director, Sonja Ingram said. This dual focus has been both a challenge and a strength, allowing DMFAH to offer a unique blend of experiences to its visitors. From showcasing local and nonlocal artists to preserving and interpreting Danville’s complex history, the museum has become a multifaceted gem in the crown of the city’s cultural life.
Over the years, DMFAH has hosted an impressive array of exhibitions and programs. Recent standouts include the Robert Marsh Retrospective, celebrating the beloved local artist and educator, and the innovative “Living Hive” exhibit by Elsabe Dixon, which explored the intersection of art, agriculture, and environmental concerns.
The museum has also tackled challenging historical topics, through powerful exhibits like “The Movement,” which examines the 1960 sit-in inside the Sutherlin Mansion, which was at the time Danville’s Whites-only library and the 1963 Civil Rights protests in Danville.
One of the most important exhibits
DMFA has had is the Camilla Williams exhibit, which explores Williams’ life growing up in Danville and as an international opera star. The content and subject matter of the Camilla Williams exhibit, and its educational opportunities, are immense.
Perhaps one of the museum’s most significant contributions
photos provided by the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History
has been its commitment to education. Each year, hundreds of students from local schools, including Head Start programs and homeschoolers, pass through its doors. Summer art camps and university collaborations further cement DMFAH’s role as an educational powerhouse in the region.
As DMFAH celebrates its golden anniversary, it’s not content to rest on its laurels. The museum is actively working to become more inclusive and diverse in its programming and exhibitions. “It’s essential that we reexamine our current history exhibits,” Ingram said, noting plans to update the Civil War exhibit and provide a more comprehensive representation of all individuals who lived and worked at the Sutherlin Mansion, including enslaved people.
“As far as riding the art horse, everyone, including our board and staff, feels it is essential that we host art exhibits that are new and exciting. Who’s to say we will not have, for instance, a Kara Walker exhibit or a Samurai Armor exhibit at VMHC in the next few years.
Looking ahead, DMFAH has set its sights on achieving accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums, a process that will take several years but will solidify its standing as a top-tier cultural institution. Plans are also underway to revitalize the museum’s spaces, including transforming the auditorium into a high-tech multimedia room for public use.
renewed vision and strategic goals. Other events and exhibits this fall include the Virginia Humanities genealogy program “Finding Our Roots,” Opera on the James, “HOWEL,” a holiday art exhibit, and a special 50th Anniversary President’s Reception.
The museum is also embracing technology to enhance visitor experiences. While audio tours have been a staple for years, DMFAH is exploring cutting-edge options like projection mapping and augmented reality to create more immersive exhibits. These technological upgrades, however, come with a hefty price tag, prompting the museum to seek grant funding to bring these visions to life.
As Danville itself undergoes an economic renaissance, with new businesses and increased tourism, DMFAH is positioning itself to be a key player in the city’s resurgence. Its location on both the Civil War Trails and the United States Civil Rights Trail makes it a natural draw for history buffs and tourists alike.
The 50th-anniversary celebration kicks off on September 6th with the opening of a special photography exhibit by renowned photographers Emmet Gowin and Glenn Scarboro. This will be followed by “Art on the Lawn” on September 14th, which will serve as a launchpad for the museum’s
“We want the public to know that we are moving forward to provide the exhibits, programs, events, classes, and tools to be the cultural heart of Danville,” Ingram added. “But we can’t do it alone.”
As DMFAH embarks on its next half-century, it invites the community to join in its journey. From volunteering to becoming a member or supporter, there are myriad ways for Danville residents and visitors alike to be part of this vibrant institution’s future. With its rich past and ambitious vision, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History stands poised to continue its role as a vibrant center of culture, education, and community for generations to come.
Ongoing
August Calendar of Evince
Danville Science Center. Thomas & Friends, Butterfly Station & Garden, Go!, Water, Cresent Crossing & Under the Arctic. Various Dome Shows, Creativity Labs. www.dsc.smv.org.
Ruby B. Archie Public Library ProgramsDon’t miss the programs offered at the Library. Adult & Tween Arts & Crafts, The Write Stuff, Computers for Beginners, Just Write, Unrequired Reading – Classics Book Club, Artist’s Studio, Youth Dungeons and Dragons, Storytellers: Creative Writing 101, Little Explorers Storytime, Little Learning Lab, Book Babies, Random Fandom, Maker Mondays, Code Challengers, Pop Culture Geek Out Hour, Get More from Google, Internet Safety 101, Needles & Hooks, Books & Beans Social Hour, Books & Brews Social Hour, Amazing Race, We Dig Science, Ozobot Adventures, LEGO Brick Engineers, Ancient Explorers, Bluey Bonanza. 434.799.5195.Explorers, Life-Size Jumanji. 434.799.5195.
Through August 2
DMFAH Attic Sale Donations. Drop offs Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 12-4pm, and Sun 2-4pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. 434.793.5644.
Through September Pittsylvania Co. Farmers Market. Sat 8am-12pm. Olde Dominion Ag Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.
Through October Danville Farmers Market. Sat 7:30am12pm. Community Market. 434.797.8961.
August 1
VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society Presents: Kyle Griffith. Learn helpful tips and hear interesting stories related to genealogy topics. Ages 18+. Registration required. 2-3pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195. The Fiddling Leona Band with JP International TV personality, performer, vocalist, classical violinist, food truck owner, and fiddler from Tokyo, Japan. $. 7:30pm. Prizery. 434.572.8339.
August 1 & 13
Legal Aid Workshop. Questions and answers workshop. 8/1 Medicaid and Long-Term Care 5:30-6:30pm; 8/13 Guardianships for Adults, 1-2pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.
August 1 & 15
Art in the Park. Create artwork that will be featured in the Children’s Village at the Community Light Show in December. Ages 17+. 5:30-7:30pm. Ballou Park, Shelter #6. 434.857.3384.
August 1 (thru 4)
The Wizard of Oz. Prepare for an extraordinary journey as Dorothy, Toto and friends go on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road. $. 8/1-3 7pm; 8/4 2pm. Walker Fine Arts Theatre, PHCC, Martinsville. phccpatriotplayers.com/tickets.
August 1 (thru 16)
Parks & Rec Outdoors. Thursday Paddle (8/1, 15 & 29) 6-8pm; Campfire Friday (8/2) 8-9pm; River Trip (8/3) 8am-5pm; Moonlight Paddle (8/16) 8-9:30pm. Various Locations. 434.799.5150.
August 2
Police City vs. County Basketball Competition. 3:30pm. OT. Bonner Middle School. 434/799.8898 x2. Schoolfield 1st Fridays. Former employees/families of Dan River are welcome as their will be a memory telephone for folks to leave “voicemail” memories of working at Dan River and
living in Schoolfield. Also, kids activities, bounce house, refreshments, Ga-Te Shoken Food Truck, a vinyl DJ and free yoga on the lawn. 5-8pm. Schoolfield Village.
ASRA Motorcycle Racing. $. Virginia International Raceway. www.virnow.com.
August 3
Breakfast Fundraiser. 7-11am.
Brosville Vol. Fire & Rescue.
Clothes Swap. Bring up to 10 clean, wearable items on August 1 & 2. A ticket is issued for each clothing item brought. On 8/3, participants can choose a piece of clothing for each ticket received. Disputes resolved with coin toss. Items not picked up by 12 will be given to Goodwill. 9am12pm. Mt Hermon Library. 434.835.0326. Pittsylvania County’s Back 2 School Festival. Free book bags, supplies & food. Also a dunking booth, splash pads, raffle drawings & more. Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham.
Community Fun Day. Gift to first 75 children, water slides, face painting, crafts, free school supplies, story time and pictures with Farmer Minor and Daisy (4pm), free food (5:30-6:30pm), community resources reps. 4-7:30pm. St. Lukes UM Church. 434.836.9345.
August 3, 17, 31
Race Night. Late Model Stock Cars, Limited Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Hornets. 7pm. South Boston Speedway - 434.572.4947. www.southbostonspeedway.com.
August 3 (thru 6)
DMFAH Attic Sale. Upscale event for bargain and treasure hunters. Times Vary. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. 434.793.5644.
August 3 (thru 31)
Pittsylvania County Public Libraries. Mt. Hermon Library - 8/3 Watermelon Day, 8/5 & 19 Knitting Group, 8/13 Book Club, 8/15 Summer Meadow Painting, 8/17
Family Movie Day, 8/20 The Tortured Poets Department, 8/22 Quilters Guild, 8/31
Family LEGOs. Chatham Library - Tiny Art Show Sessions & Bridge, 8/6, 13, 15, 22 & 29
Adulting 101, 8/9 & 23 Friday Paws, 8/14 Book Review, 8/19 Take and Make Cricut Craft. Gretna Library - 8/12 Needlework Group, 8/13 Recipe Club, 8/26 Adult Coloring Night, 8/27 Bingo for Books.
August 3 (thru 31)
Live Music. 8/3 Mystik Muse; 8/9 90 Weight; 8/10 MaMa BriBri & The Stranger; 8/16 Powerwhip; 8/23 Slaughter Avenue; 8/24 Old 97/BDE; 8/30 Raised Sheep; 8/31 Blue Drive. 7-10pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.
August 4 (thru 25)
Live Music. Hosted by Matt Crowder. Sundays 2-6pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.
August 6
Welcome to Medicare. Seminar explains Medicare and coverage options to help make smarter choices as to the most cost effective and best Medicare health plan. Registration required. 5:30-6:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.
National Night Out. An evening of fun activities, music by The Embers. 5-9pm. Booker Building, English Park, Altavista.
Diabetes Support Group. Learn tips and tricks to help better manage diabetes. Topics will vary. 11am-12pm. Ballou Rec Center. 434.799.5216.
August 8
Music at the Market Concert Series. Fescue. Bring a chair, blanket, and picnic basket for a relaxing evening listening to music. 7-9pm. Community MarketOutdoor Stage. 434.857.3384. Tossing at the Crossing - Cornhole Tournaments. Coincide with the Music at the Market concert series. Registration required. 7-9:30pm. Community Market. 434.857.3384.
August 9
The Livestock Path. Livestock lessons. BBQ dinner followed by a keynote from Willie Kirkpatrick on how livestock can shape the future for youth, and a panel discussion. 8am-2pm. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026.
Flip Flop Friday. Music by Megan Doss Band. 6-10pm. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.9463.
Let’s Glow Crazy. Playground will be lit up for night play, with glow crafts and activities. 7:30-9:30pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park Shelter 16. 434.857.3384.
August 9 & 10
Truck & Tractor Pull. Two nights of pulling with six different classes. $. 7:30pm. Danville-Pittsylvania Co. Fairgrounds. dpcfairgrounds.com.
August 9 & 24
MSAC Classes. 8/9 Make a Word Art Picture 6:30pm; 8/24 Paint a Door Hanger, 2pm. $. Main Street Art Collective. 434.602.2017. See ad page 8.
August 10
4EVER Fest. Cultivation of culture, food, music and games with vendors, mixologists, tattoo artists, food trucks, adult inflatables and more. 2pm. Carrington Pavilion. Cruise In. Rain or shine. 4pm. Walker’s Roadside Grill.
Cruise In. Food, music, 50/50. 4-8pm. Tickles Table. 434.250.1405 or 434.728.0617.
Live Music: Stomping Ground. 7-10pm. Old 97 Tavern.
August 10 & 11
Battle on the Border. Livestock show that promotes the raising, showing and selling of livestock animals by our are youth. 9am. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.
August 10 (through Oct 26)
PAA Exhibitions. A Life in the Blue Ridge by Paula Melton; History, Legend & Fairytales by Patricia Bellan-Gillen; Lingering: Contemplations by Jessica BlochSchulman. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.
August 12
Let’s Make a Scene! Reader’s Theatre Series. Join us, along with Smokestack Theatre Company, to read a role or just read along “Dancing at Lughnasa” by Brian Friel. Ages 18+. Registration required. Ruby B. Archie Public Library. 434.799.5195.
August 15
Summer of Soul Festival. Dance the night away to classic Soul Train hits with music by DJ Greg Gee. Bring your lawn chair and come ready to party. Food vendor available. 6-9pm. Ballou Rec Center. 434.799.5216.
August 16
Danville Harvest Jubilee Concert Cooper Alan w/special guest Thomas Mac. 6-11pm., Carrington Pavilion. 434.799.5200.
August 17
Touch A Truck. Presented by Chatham Rescue Squad. Bring the family to explore hands-on ambulances, firetrucks, police vehicles, and more. 10am-2pm. Chatham Middle School. Adult Recess. Nostalgic playground games, food vendors, a slip and slide, and DJ Greg Gee. 12-3pm. Ballou Park. 434.857.3384.
Stevie Nicks Tribute Breaking the Chain Relax in the outside amphitheater while sipping favorite Homeplace wine or a cold draft beer. Bring lawn chairs, pop up tents, or blankets and savor delicious food from visiting food trucks. $. 3-8pm. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.9463. Last Summer Fling. Rewind to the 90s with a retro-themed party to end the summer. Live music & DJ. Proceeds benefit Community Orchard project, Danville After Hours Rotary. 4-11pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739. Auction & BBQ Dinner Benefit. Eat in (6pm) or get a to-go plate (5-6pm). Sutherlin Barn. 434.251.8241.
Market Square Summer Concert Series Music by ZZ Top Notch, food, fun. 7-9pm. Market Square, Reidsville. The Bitchy Waiter Show - Comedy Cabaret. Darron Cardosa is the voice for restaurant workers around the world. Using Broadway songs with adapted words to tell stories about work in food service. $. 7:30pm. The Prizery, South Boston. 434.572.8339.
August 20
Cougar Business Fest. Connect, network, and discover the diverse range of businesses that make our community thrive. Carrington Rec. Center, Averett Campus. 434.791.7214.
August 22
Coates Lego Lab. Build a scene from your favorite movie. Ages 5-12. 5:30-6:15pm. Coates Rec. Center. 434.799.5150. Kentucky Just Us. Country and bluegrass music concert with tight harmonies, storytelling lyrics, and skillful instrumentation. $. 7:30pm. Prizery. 434.572.8339.
Fourth Fridays on the Veranda. Cash bar, food trucks, art, music, and community vibes. 5:30-8pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. 434.793.5644.
August 23, 24 & 25
IMSA Michelin GT Challenge and VA is for Lovers Grand Prix. Witness the riveting spectacle and feel nearly 600 HP thunder in your chest $. Virginia International Raceway. www.virnow.com.
August 24
Smith River Fest. River tubing, magic show, concert, bicycle loans, bounce houses, rock wall, petting zoo, fly fishing demo, food trucks, and more. 10am-4pm. Smith River Sports Complex. www.smithriverfest.com. Chatham Cruise-In. Enjoy an evening with cars of all kinds. New entry from North. 4-8pm. Main Street, Chatham. Risen Word Ministries Concert. Evening of worship and music with The Lawsons, The Down East Boys and Jeff & Sheri Easter. 5pm. The Tabernacle of Danville. 434.334.4718.
Race Weekend at Milton 66. Music, food truck, cold beverages and Turkey Scratch. 7-10pm. Milton 66.
August 25
Bikes on the Main Special Edition. All participants are required to leave their vehicles parked once they have entered the event area. ATV’s welcome. 4-7pm. Downtown Danville. 434.797.8898 X1
August 29
Master Gardener Class. Interactive discussion and complete a hands-on activity to learn how to care for your garden. Bring a bag lunch. Registration required. 11am - 12pm. Ballou Park Shelter #10. 434.799.5216.
August 31
DPD Father Daughter Dance. Red carpet intros, prizes, photos, contest, dancing & more. Registration Required. 4pm. 1 Community Way. 434.797.8898 x2.
Upcoming
September 1
Ghosts & Gravestones Auditions. See ad page 10.
It wasn’t in art class that Meesha Walker first discovered and began to develop her artistic talent, but rather during her other classes, when she would find herself doodling in the margins of her notebooks. Those classtime doodles began to extend to lunch breaks and other free time. When anime became popular again in the United States, Meesha found inspiration in the artistry of Sailor Moon and DragonBall Z. The Japanese style was so different from the Disney style of animation which, at the time, had saturated American animation culture, that Meesha began to study and to explore the possibilities the anime resurgence provided with its more complicated characterization and somewhat darker themes.
When asked when and how Meesha first recognized she was an artist, she, as many artists we have spoken with, demurred. “I’m still unsure on some days,” she says, but was quick to defend the term for anyone who creates, “even if you’re making stick figures, you’re an artist.”
Meesha finds inspiration everywhere. “Anything that I may come across can be inspiring
enough to sketch out a piece,” she told us. Once she’s landed on an idea she wants to develop, she’ll complete a number of doodles and sketches until the idea takes a firm shape in her mind. “The painting is almost the easier part!” she says. Using acrylic paint on canvas, or sometimes digital painting techniques, she creates her pieces with lots of color and texture. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, however, and mistakes happen, but as any artist of experience, having overcome the tendency toward perfectionism will tell you, sometimes the accidents make for some unexpectedly wonderful results.
To stretch herself and expand her skills, Meesha experiments with other mediums but will return to those she’s most familiar with if she finds herself getting stuck. Since Covid, she’s begun to dive into the craft of leatherworking and hopes to combine the skills she’s developed in her drawing and painting, and especially in her talent in creating texture, to develop something unique.
In speaking of her goals for her work, Meesha simply enjoys seeing the joy her pieces give
Collage Inside OWE Arts & Culture
Exhibit: Meesha Walker
by Val-Rae Lindenau
photos courtesy of Meesha Walker
to her clients and those who purchase her work. Her desire to please those who appreciate her work drives her to push herself into new territory and to continue to develop her skills and talents. She would one day like to be a mentor for new artists and those just establishing themselves.
As Danville continues to roll out its revitalization efforts, Meesha hopes the art community and the community at large will accept younger artists and younger ideas rather than clinging to “vintage rules” as she puts it.
To view more of Meesha’s work, you can find her online (Instagram, X, and Twitch) at Xeshema. For commissions and inquiries, feel free to email her at xeshema@gmail.com
OWE Arts & Culture exists to highlight the diverse range of talent among Danville’s creative community and to provide opportunities for that community to come together.
Oliver!
by Mack Williams
My musings of summer return me to a memorable Danville Public Schools summer musical of 1991 (there you go, Spiro T. Agnew).
Our production was Oliver! held in the auditorium of Bonner Middle School under the direction of Marcia Dalton. Danny Davis had put together an orchestra; and he was our music director.
Marcia diligently worked with us, as did Danny. In fact, Danny became somewhat frustrated with the chorus for cutting off the “s” sound at the end of the word “fuss” in the song, “Consider Yourself!” Members of church choirs and other choruses know how difficult it is to get the choristers to cut off the “s” sound simultaneously, in order that words ending with “s” don’t generate a sound similar to the “hissing” of a den of snakes (paraphrase: “I will put enmity
between the choir director and the ending letter “s”).
We were having so much trouble cutting off that “s” together that Danny felt compelled to stand on top of one of the auditorium seats jump down from that seat as a signal to cut off the word “fuss!”(during a rehearsal, not performance). You might say this particular cut-off was “gravity driven.”
And in addition to the word “fuss” ending with double “s”, that double “s” makes up half of the word “fuss,” aggravating things, and possibly calling for drastic measures of direction.
Our whole family participated in Oliver!, late wife Diane, daughter Rachel, son Jeremy, and me.
The production was a fine one, doing an excellent job of telling Oliver’s plight through the “underworld” of Victorian England and his quest for security and love. The cast and chorus were excellent, including the flatcapped children as “Fagan’s gang!”
And at that time and place, Danville, Virginia became the epicenter (besides London) of Cockney accents!
But this is not the main subject about which I now write.
During the scene where Patti (the portrayer of Nancy) beautifully sang “As Long as He Needs Me,” some of us guys were to have our heads down, “in our cups” (figuratively) on a pub table during the song.
I decided to change things up a bit!
An amiable bunch was assembled at that pub table, especially my
buddy, Jim, whom I especially think of as a “mirth-filled soul.” So, I figured I would bring a few “jolly” props to the table so to speak.
Patti was performing her song just a few yards behind us, and at a higher, OVERLOOKING level! So, I had to be careful that none of my shenanigans would interfere with Patti singing her song and draw her attention TO ME!
In a sense, the table was “my stage”, so, during each night of the last week of rehearsals, and even the performance, I had one of these items secretly in one of my pants pockets, ready to ascend to the “stage” (and now, I’m thinking of the man-powered elevators raising the lions up to the floor of the ancient Roman colosseum).
Once in place, each “performer” would act out upon the stage (hmm, maybe “act out” is the appropriate term).
The first thing out of my pants (gosh! I need to be more careful with my wording) was one of those big Mac Happy Meal Transformer toys. I slowly moved it to the middle of the table and let it (soak in) before I “transformed” it. You know that sound made when someone stifles a sneeze? Well, a stifled laugh sounds similar.
The next was one of those Hallmark climbing spider pins. Its “debut” was greeted similarly, but I hadn’t thought about the teeny tiny (or itsy-bitsy) bit of “clockwork” noise the ascending spider made. But most of all, Patti didn’t hear it!
On the next night two “performers” made their debut. The first was a placid, plastic Brontosaurus (technically, Apatosaurus), shortly followed by a hungry, plastic T-Rex (a “plasti-vore”). They “battled” in the center of the table, resulting in the poor Brontosaurus lying vanquished. It was as in The Land Before Time and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth! At this point, Jim’s laughter seemed to be in danger of overcoming his squelching of it, but he held on.
The next to “appear” was a sock puppet of Jeremy’s. I don’t know what species of fauna it was supposed to represent. It looked kind of like an eel, but I guess there’s a built-in resemblance to an eel in every sock puppet, since it extends up the arm. It was purple, with two big eyes (no, not the “Purple People Eater”), and with yellow stripes. I worked it
with my hand to make it appear as if it were the source of the singing of “As Long as He Needs Me.” During this, I almost “lost it” myself, although Jim still held on (barely). I did wonder if his “laughsquelching” efforts were causing him any internal damage, and if I would be held accountable. And I was especially glad that Patti did not glance over and see the puppet “singing” her song.
The final “creature” to emerge from below (sounds like the title of a 50s’ sci-fi film) was none other than “the Noid.” And on that night, the cast had pizza afterwards. “Pizza night!” You remember the Noid from Domino’s? It wasn’t dangerous, like “Chuckie.” It was plastic, made of flexible arms and legs, and white-gloved like Mickey Mouse. I maneuvered the Noid so that its white-gloved hand was the first part of its body to appear just over the table’s rim. The whole body then “appeared,” and did sort of a two-step. At that time, I heard the sounds of several laughs being “swallowed” at the table, but not even a murmur from Jim.
Jim later told me when he saw that white-gloved hand appear, he said to himself, “Oh my!” and lowered his head so as to not see any sort of antics the Noid might do, for he knew then he would have finally lost it!
I must now admit that Jim did say “Oh,” but the word following it was not the word “my!” (protective “writer’s license”).
Jump to the present, or rather, recent past: on April 8th, the Danville Choral Arts Society (DACAS) gave its spring concert at Saint Luke’s Methodist Church. The concert consisted of tunes from famous musicals. When we sang “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” I got to wear a flat cap and do my Cockney impression that starts with “Because I was afraid to speak when I was just a lad....”
Patti is a member of the DACAS Bell Ringers, who also performed during that April 8th concert.
When we were turning in our music, and in reference to my Cockney, I said to Patti, “Well, I learned something from Oliver!
And we laughed,
BOTH of us.
Fortunately!
Pulling up to rehearsal on a Harley Davidson with a big, burly beard and covered in tattoos, David Phillips is not your average actor, nor your average biker. Phillips has been acting for over 40 years, getting his start in his seventhgrade drama class. His drama teacher, Mrs. Johnson, took the class on a field trip to Western Kentucky University to see Rumpelstiltskin, which inspired Phillips to pursue a career in the theatre.
Phillips attended Western Kentucky University just a few years later, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, and believe it or not, a minor in dance. While he had a true talent and passion for acting, Phillips quickly realized there were many more job opportunities on the technical side of things. That is the path he focused on. He continued to audition for shows, and regardless of whether he was cast, he would always join the set construction team.
While Phillips has played many roles in his lifetime, his favorite has been Scanlon in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. This play is a stage adaptation based on the novel by the same name, which sheds lights onto what life was like in a mental institution in the 1950s. Scanlon was committed involuntarily, and constantly fantasizes about blowing things up. This role was challenging for Phillips, but was
exciting because of the creativity he could bring to the table.
When speaking about his process as an actor, Phillips puts a large emphasis on the importance of a strong director. He shares it is so important for actors to “be open-minded to the vision of the director. It is with their vision of what they think the show should be that you bring life to the character.” Phillips likes to do his own research within the script to guide his decisions about his character’s choices and personality. Once he establishes that, he will take the director’s vision, add that to what he has already created, and “Boom. The character is born.”
For Phillips, the hardest part of acting is learning his lines in the play. “Being the character is the easy part, I think… or at least, that is the fun part!” Repetition is key when it comes to learning lines. Phillips likes to go through his lines over and over, as well as his blocking (the movements and positions an actor is at in a play,) so that he can sync his movements and his lines together and they can all flow together seamlessly in his performance.
The skills learned in the theatre can also be translated into life in the real world. Phillips is wellknown for being a stormtrooper cosplayer, which, as one can imagine, requires a lot of acting to stay in character all day. He also uses his acting chops daily
Action! Inside the Method of Acting David Phillips
by Emily Wilkerson photo courtesy of David Phillips
at his day job where he must perform great customer service at all times. Customer service is one of the most underrated, but frequently used, forms of acting. Phillips encourages all to “have
fun, be in the moment, and let go of the real world for a few hours and become someone else… whether that happens on the stage or on the job.”
(Scene: On Wednesday, Mamie is driving a minivan pulling a rental trailer, jammed with consignment furniture that didn’t sell, on the road toward home, 900-miles away. She and husband Solly are rehashing what happened the day before.)
Mamie (singing the first phrase, then speaking): On the road again … glad it’s Wednesday … view out the back hasn’t changed …
Solly: The rental trailer blocks seeing anything but reversed print trailer warnings in the rearview mirror. Have to see traffic through the side extension mirrors. Yes, Tuesday was bad.
M: Some unique, twistedpsyche German word describes everything going wrong.
S (pronounced Shah’-den-froyduh): Schadenfreude. Means taking joy in the misery of others. The gods must have been laughing.
M: Maybe we jinxed Tuesday when expressway traffic meant we picked up the trailer 40 minutes late.
S: Plus, the original trailer place called. Didn’t have the trailer.
M: Had to navigate around a million potholes to find a new place with no sign and a barely readable, heavily urban address.
S: Those trailer employees didn’t know how to hook up that heavy trailer or what to do with that third cable, the brake cable. They thought it optional!
M: They draped that cable over the hitch top like a tarnished tinsel garland thrown over a Christmas tree.
S: Hunkered down on the hot asphalt, we showed them where to hook up the brake cable.
M: Arriving at consignment, we met that great Davido crew we’d hired to tie furniture down inside the trailer.
S: Davido saw the safety chains dragging on the concrete, sank to his knees, muttered something in Spanish about sparks and the gas tank, and fixed everything.
M: Before we left, I marched into Consignment to find that mirror missing from the inventory. You’d have thought I was speaking Martian without a translator.
S: As you left, I realized the van’s right rear tire had lost pressure. I pumped life into that tire. It bled out that much air by the time you returned.
M: I said, “Fill it again and find us a tire shop.” You navigated. I swerved around potholes in urban traffic in this loaded 35-foot-long horror show.
S: First tire place we’d found was out of business. Second guy I called said he could get to it in two days. I said I needed a recommendation for same-day service.
M (RYBiT pronounced “ribbit”): Thus, you called Eddie, Manager of “Retire Your Bad Tires.” RYBiT for short. Eddie said RYBiT would help us. When we got there, RYBiT
Schadenfreude Tuesday
(A Mamie and Solly Story)
by Linda Lemery
mechanics said they didn’t have time.
S: We played the Eddie card. The mechanics jacked up the badtire side of the van, trailer and all, and stared.
M: There was a 10-inch split in the tire…on the inside.
S: The RYBiTers filled up the bad tire. They disconnected the trailer, got the van up on a lift. The left rear tire also showed signs of splitting. The front two tires were worn.
M: ‘Replace ‘em all,’ said you. “RYBiT,” said I, Rosie the RYBiTer.
S: Tire employees left pronto to get replacement tires.
M: Turns out the replacement tire place didn’t have the right tires. The tire trackers located other replacement tires. Hours went by.
S: You didn’t care, Mamie. You were catching up on your reading.
M: I’m behind on reading, Solly, because I’m always driving.
S: I do my share of the driving. You refuse to learn how to navigate.
M: I navigate well with a map or the GPS. The gods running the phone navigation system don’t speak any language I can understand.
S: Eddie eventually brought cold bottles of water to cool us off before telling us expressway traffic was totally stopped, but the replacement tires would still magically appear any second.
M: Six hours and $600 after arriving, we rolled out on four
new tires. I was driving a rig the size of a wheeled brontosaurus with extension side mirrors and no rearview mirror while trying to change lanes in rush hour expressway traffic.
S: No stress there. You deserve the Angel of The Highway recognition reward, Mamie.
M: We were barreling west to pick up those 40-ish boxes we’d stored at our son’s house. The horizon ahead looked weirdly dark.
S: I checked my phone. We were driving into a tornado warning.
M: The wind gusting was really shaking the van.
S: I said, “Drive faster, Mamie.”
M: Pedal to the metal, it was. And just as we finally got there, those ear-splitting tornado warning sirens went off.
S: Wind was blowing so hard it threatened to rip off the open car door.
M: Our son, his long hair streaming out behind him in a horizontal line, ran out and was yelling over the wind, ‘No worries. Our tornado warning is over. Those sirens are for the next town.’
S: Schadenfreude, for sure. The gods, the tire manager, and the staff were all seriously entertained. At our expense.
M (happily): But we’d missed our tornado. And now I’ve been christened “Angel of the Highway.”
S: I had a weak moment.
M: In your dreams. RYBiT
About the author: Linda Lemery llemery@ gmail.com welcomes reader comments..
THE POET’S CORNER
Quilts from an antique store on Main
by Barry Koplen
photo by Barry Koplen
I’d found them, quilts from generations ago, old histories, handmade scrolls, stitched from scraps or old clothes, spare blankets, sewn-in memories to wrap both black and white babies when winters froze before our Civil War.
About Barry’s Writing:
I spent years finding my style and improving it. That will always remain a challenge. Language must be pertinent, cohesive, and energetic in order to captivate readers. Simple sentences are just as important as longer complex sentences. A well-functioning vocabulary is
essential. So is honesty.
As for poetry, that will always be one of the most challenging of the verbal arts. Poetry writing can humble any writer; knowing that has made me measure myself as a poet by this thought: a poet is only as good as the next poem he or she writes.
Thanks to Eric Chou, an amazing Chinese author (and ‘second’ father to me), I learned the most important lesson about becoming a bona fide writer: writing has to be done every day That has been my golden rule.
Send Barry a note at barry@ evincemagazine.com
“
Fashion and wine are both works of art that can instantly capture your heart.” - Michele Ouellet, Fashion Model & Winery Owner.
Wine Enthusiast recently unveiled a captivating article titled “Your Illustrated Guide to Pairing Fashion and Wine.” In this intriguing piece, they introduce some renowned fashion designers and pair each one with a wine that mirrors their unique ‘essence’. For instance, they match Michael Kors, known for his bold and sexy, accessible, casual comfort designs, with a red zinfandel from Lodi, California. The reason? “Most bottles from Lodi are as easy and approachable as a Michael Kors
Wine and Fashion
by Dave Slayton
Slayton
from this region in northeast France has a character that matches the British designer’s well-crafted looks: right for almost every situation, but stunning enough to hold center stage at the most sophisticated affairs. I have always liked dry Rieslings, but now I like them even more!
Here’s another intriguing example from the article; The Designer: Ralph Lauren. The Essence: Enduring elegance, relaxed. The Wine: Russian River Valley (California) Pinot Noir, A Wine that can range in style from soft and accessible, like a pair of Polo
jeans, to firmly structured and crisp, like a Ralph Lauren Purple Label suit. It’s the epitome of a classic American wine, whether you seek something mass market or custom fit. This pairing showcases the versatility of both fashion and wine, wouldn’t you agree?
This Wine Enthusiast article provides more fascinating examples. As I have suspected all along, good wine is always fashionable.
Cheers!
handbag or summer dress. The bold fruit and strong acidity are ideal for meaty, smoky cookout fare, while some Zinfandels from Lodi would not be out of place at a refined dinner.” A fascinating connection, wouldn’t you agree?
Here’s another one. The Designer: Stella McCartney (Paul McCartney’s daughter). The Essence: Comfortable, self-assured, refined. The Wine: Alsace (French) Riesling. The Essence: “Beautiful. Lively.” Brisk. All are equally applicable to a glass of Alsace Riesling and a model gliding down the catwalk swathed in the latest from Stella McCartney. Polished, complex, mature and world-class, Riesling
photo by Dave
Movies You Missed from 20 years ago
by Josh Lucia
Suspect Zero (5/10 Rating)
Released August 27, 2004 Streaming on Amazon Prime. For rent/purchase on all major platforms.
Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller R: Violent Content, Language, and Some Nudity 1h 39m
List) plays a serial killer…that kills serial killers. That sentence should be enough to pique your interest. Unfortunately, Suspect Zero fails to do anything interesting with these characters and this story.
Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) play the FBI agents tracking down Kingsley’s mysterious killer. All three do great with what they are given, which sadly is pretty generic in this genre. Showing the main
serial killer committing his form of justice from the beginning is nothing new, and it can work, but all the surprises seemed revealed very slowly with uncertainty. The excitement of watching a mystery thriller like this unfold is the viewer joining the investigators on their discovery journey, but here it feels either spoon fed too soon, or left too open to interpretation. It is an odd mix and confusing throughout the entire film. There is some kind of history between the two FBI agents, but it never gets explored. The concept behind Kingsley’s character’s motivation is actually the most interesting part, and should have been more of the focus. Instead, they fixate on the classic serial killer formulas, and it lacks anything special. Think of this as a less exciting Seven or Silence of the Lambs. Apparently, this script was around for about seven years before it was finally rewritten and produced. It is clear no one had a clear vision of what story they wanted to tell. Tom Cruise was attached as a producer, but had his name removed from the production. Somewhere lies
a very compelling story, but not Suspect Zero. Perchance. Don’t come seeking some missed amazing performance from Ben Kingsley. He is great, but the character is fairly boring and wasted on him. Any of the three leads could be played by just about any A-list actor. Take your pick and the movie still misses the mark. If you can’t get enough true crime or serial killer stories, it is worth a watch, but otherwise, this genre is packed with many more interesting Movies You Missed. If you can find a copy, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, also released this month, is an excellent biopic with a must see performance from Geoffrey Rush. Next month we revisit Shaun of the Dead and see how it holds up 20 years later.
Also released in August 2004: Collateral, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Exorcist: The Beginning, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Open Water (follow @jlucia85 for these reviews and more)
