A Journey Through Light
The Photography of Glenn Scarboro
Content September 2024
A Journey Through Light The Photography of Glenn Scarboro
September Calender Collage Inside OWE Arts & Culture Performers: Vintage Silk by Val-Rae Lindenau Day School Luncheon by Mack Williams Quantum Exchange by Linda Lemery The Poet’s Corner While searching for your poem by Barry Koplen
4 13 8 6 11 12 7 14 A Journey Through Light
A Glass of Rubies, Please by Dave Slayton Movies You Missed from 20 years ago by Josh Lucia
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On the Cover: In 1969, I was driving to Richmond to visit bookstores, art supply stores and photo material stores…the photo was taken on Broad Street…I’m walking along and see this elegant Black woman. I took one photo, one exposure… what a moment. Glenn Scarboro Editorial Policies Evince is a free monthly magazine about Arts and Culture in Danville and the surrounding area. We reserve the right to accept, reject and edit all submissions and advertisements.
The Photography of Glenn Scarboro
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- Glenn
Glenn Scarboro, a native of Danville, Virginia, has been capturing moments through his lens for an impressive 62 years. His photographic journey, beginning in the 1960s with street photography, has grown into creating dynamic abstract images. Scarboro, also a licensed clinical social worker, has consistently pursued his singular interest: finding beauty in all moments of light.
Light, for Scarboro, is a poetic reminder of faith and an everpresent source of beauty and calm. His early work in Danville, particularly from the 1960s, offers a raw and honest portrayal of his hometown. These images are more than mere documents. They reflect both the photographer and the world; he observed with intuitive honesty.
Scarboro’s images from Danville in 1963, such as “Soldier with Children” and “Friends at Danville Fair,” reveal the hard edges of race and class in small-town life. These photographs capture silent yet pervasive tensions, difficult to describe without visual narratives. They document the photographer’s journey, showing
us not just the external world but also his internal reflections.
In Scarboro’s work, there is a patient listening, an observant wandering that captures the essence of moments. This listening and observing, integral to revelation, underscores his belief that pictures made today may well form a lasting body of work. His photographs from the 1960s, filled with social and racial unrest, document a time of distrust and tension, revealing the photographer’s effort to make sense of both his inner life and the outer world.
William Faulkner once remarked that the aim of every artist is to arrest motion, to hold life fixed so that it moves again a hundred years later. Glenn Scarboro’s images, made over fifty years ago, achieve this aim. They capture moments of history, seen anew with each viewing. Eudora Welty’s idea of the camera as a “hand-held auxiliary of wanting-toknow” resonates with Scarboro’s work, as he revisits and reflects on earlier moments, enriching his understanding of observation and history.
His work marked Scarboro’s
early years as a high school photographer for The Commercial Appeal, a weekly newspaper in Danville. Meeting Emmet Gowin in 1963 was a turning point. Their shared love for photography and books, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson’s The Decisive Moment and Edward Steichen’s A Life in Photography, cemented a lifelong friendship.
Throughout his career, Scarboro embraced his influences, studying faithfully and opening himself to the history of art and photography. His work, influenced by the “lyric documentary” style, captures authenticity and beauty. In the 1990s, Scarboro’s focus shifted from the specific to the abstract, creating light drawings and photograms. His experimental approach led him to photograph everything from x-rays to tomatoes, challenging conventional photographic norms.
The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History has twice featured Scarboro’s work in solo exhibitions. His 2018 retrospective, “The Light in Fog,” showcased a wide range of his work, from early portraits to abstract images. His book Other Ephemeral Moments, featuring
A Journey Through Light The Photography of Glenn Scarboro
photo by Glenn Scarboro
street photographs from the 1960s and 1970s, won accolades and found a place in prestigious collections.
Glenn Scarboro’s photographs are more than images; they are a testament to his enduring love for light and beauty. His work captures the essence of moments, revealing the world through his wandering eyes and intuitive honesty. Scarboro’s journey, from street photography to abstract expressionism, underscores his belief that every place and moment is imbued with eternal light, worth capturing and preserving.
The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History presents more of Scarboro’s photography along with the works of his friend, Emmet Gowin. Visit “Double Exposure: Photographers Emmet Gowin and Glenn Scarboro,” running from September 14th to November 1st at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. This show celebrates the 50th anniversary of Gowin and Scarboro’s inaugural exhibition, “Two-Man Photography Show,” which marked the reopening of the renovated Jennings Gallery.
Woman at Horse Show, Orphanage Road, Danville, Virginia, 1967
I had gone to the horse show on Orphanage Road with my father. I was standing there as a horse and rider were coming around the arena, when suddenly the young woman turned and looked straight at me. I only made one exposure.
Scarboro
September Calendar of Evince
Ongoing
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, Treehouse Tuesday, Computers for Beginners, Just Write, Unrequired Reading – Classics Book Club, Artist’s Studio, Youth Dungeons and Dragons, Little Explorers Storytime, Little Learning Lab, Book Babies, Maker Mondays, Code Challengers, Pop Culture Geek Out Hour, ACEC Information Sessions, Get More from Google, BBB Presents- Avoiding Job Scams, The Loop Group, Community Cardboard Quilt Squares, Books & Beans Social Hour, Girls Who Code, Books & Brews Social Hour, We Dig Science, Ozobot Adventures, Paint Like an Artist, LEGO Brick Engineers, The Wild Robot, It’s a Pirate’s Life For Me!, Boos and Brushes. 434.799.5195.
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. Thru October 26
PAA Exhibits. History, Legend & Fairytales, drawings by Patricia Bellan-Gillen; Lingering: Contemplations by Jessica Bloch-Schulman; Paula Melton: A Life in the Blue Ridge. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.
September 1 Ghosts & Gravestones Auditions 2-5pm. Smokestack Threatre Company. www.thesmokestack.org.
September 1 (thru 22)
Live Music. Hosted by Matt Crowder. Sundays 2-6pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739. September 2 (thru 30) Pittsylvania County Public Libraries Brosville/Cascade - Storytime, Needlework, Crafternooners, Silent Book Club, Sudoku Day, Beginning Crochet, Intro to 3-D. Mt. Hermon Library - Mother Goose on the Loose, Preschool Storytime, LEGO Lab, Amigurumi (Stuffed Animal) Class, Mt. Hermon Book Club, Knitting Group, Senior Planet Lecture: Using Mychart, Bluey Bash, Autumn Day Painting, The Tortured Poets Department, Quilters Guild. Chatham Library - Friends of the Library Wreath Raffle, Bridge, Tot Time, Little U, Adulting 101 Sessions: Protective Orders, After School Games, Friday Paws, LEGO Club, Chatham Branch Book Review, Take and Make Cricut Craft, Crafternoon, Book Club Interest . Gretna Library - Baby Tales, Story Time, Needlework Group, Recipe Club, Art Explorers, Bingo for Books Tuesday, S.T.E.A.M., Teen Zone, Adult Coloring Night. September 5 & 10
Legal Aid Workshop. Questions and answers workshop. 9/5 Child Support 5:30-6:30pm; 9/10 Child Support, 1-2pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.
September 5 & 19
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.
September 5 (thru 8) Tobacco Road Futurity Cutting Horse Show
8am. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.
September 6
Schoolfield 1st Fridays. Kids activities, bounce house, refreshments, food truck, a vinyl DJ and free yoga on the lawn. 5-8pm. Schoolfield Village. Live Music. The Hypothetical House Band. 7-9pm. Crema & Vine. JonHerington.com.
September 6, 7 & 8
Extreme Bounce & Slide Festival. 10,000 sq ft of inflatable foam slides, pits, rock climbing walls & more. 12-7pm. Big Lots Parking Lot, Executive Drive. 434.251.2059.
September 7
Fall Bazaar. Over 100 vendors selling arts, crafts, baked goods, flower & more. 8am-2pm. Danville Community Market. 434.797.8961.
5k with 5-0. The run starts and ends at the Danville Police Department. 8am. Quinceañera Expo. Vendors, food, music & fun. 12-5pm. Danville Conference Center. 434.822.3707.
Better Together Block Party. Get active, have fun, and get informed about resources for adults and kids. Kids activities, bounce house, snow cones, water slides & more. 2pm. Salvation Army, Henry Street.
Barn Yard Cruise In. Dinner, kids activities, live music, 50/50 raffle, silent auction. Fundraiser for Laurel Grove Fire & Rescue. 3pm. Sutherlin Barn. 434.250.6809.
September 7, 13 & 21
MSAC Classes. 9/7 God Given Health Hacks, 2-5pm; 9/13 Decoupage Pumpkin, 6:30pm; 9/21 Crochet Class, 1-4pm. $. Main Street Art Collective. 434.602.2017. See ad page 8.
September 7 (thru 28)
Live Music. 9/7 Between Three; 9/13 Andy Burnett Trio; 9/20 Sleepless Denver; 9/27 Will Woodford & Doubleshot; 9/28 Blue City Bombers. 7-10pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.
September 10
Welcome to Medicare. Seminar explains Medicare and coverage options. Registration required. 5:30-6:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.
September 10 (thru October 1)
Let’s Dance. Two Step. Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.
September 11
Bats & Badges Softball Tournament Championship Game. Home run derby. Fundraiser for God’s Storehouse. American Legion Field. 434.793.3663 x315.
September 12
Music at the Market Concert Series
Old 97 Band. Bring a chair, blanket, and picnic basket for a relaxing evening listening to music. 7-9pm. Community Market-Outdoor Stage. 434.857.3384. Tossing at the Crossing - Cornhole Tournaments. Coincide with the Music at the Market concert series. Blind draw for partners, players can bring their own bags, prizes awarded. Registration required. 7-9:30pm. Community Market. 434.857.3384.
Mesmerizing Magic with Jason Hudy High quality magic entertainment. $. 7pm. The Prizery, South Boston. 434.572.8339.
September 13
Flip Flop Friday. Music by Papa Thump. 6-10pm. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.9463.
Mebane Night Market. Evening of music, food, local artists. 5-9pm. Mebane, NC. Savory September: Fortune & Flavor.
Food and custom cocktails by local chefs., live music by Jake Earles, tarot card readings, attire - all white or all black. 7pm. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.
September 13 (thru 21)
Danville-Pittsylvania Co. Fair. Nightly entertainment, new rides, monster truck ride, figure 8 racing, demolition derby, school night, senior night, bull riding, the magic of Lance Gifford, The Flying Cortes, and more.
September 14
Yardsale Fundraiser. Craft vendors & food truck. 8am-1pm. St. Luke’s UMC. Bikers Against Trafficking Ride. 50/50, trophies, silent auction, vendors, music. 9am-4pm. Fraternal Order of Eagles. Art on the Lawn. A day filled with art, history, and fun at one of the best-loved and long-standing outdoor festivals in Danville. Purchase great art, enjoy music, food trucks, beer and wine will be available. 10am-4pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. 434.793.5644. Let’s Roll - Adaptive Bowling. 3pm. Riverside Lanes.
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.
Bluegrass by the River. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy music by Shelton & Williams and Lonesome River Band. 6:30pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. bluegrassbytheriver.com.
Frank Sinatra Classics. Presented by John Wilt with highlights of Sinatra’s career and special dancer, Miley Nelson. $. 7pm. The Prizery, South Boston. 434.572.8339.
September 14 (thru Nov. 1)
DMFAH Exhibit. Double Exposure: Photographers Emmet Gowin and Glenn Scarboro. Opening Reception 9/6 6-8pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. 434.793.5644.
September 16
Let’s Make a Scene! Reader’s Theatre Series. Join us, along with Smokestack Theatre Company, to read a role or just read along “You Can’t Take it with You” by George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart. Ages 18+. Registration required. Ruby B. Archie Public Library. 434.799.5195.
September 17
Heritage Academy Golf Tournament 4-person captain’s choice, red tees & mulligans, longest drive, closest to pin on par 35. 11:30am. 1pm shotgun start. Goodyear Golf Club. 434.432.2226. Eat Out to Help Out. Each participating restaurant will donate 10% of their sales from that day to this Fundraiser for God’s Storehouse. 434.793.3663.
Pasta Palooza Cooking Class. Learn how to make linguine with meat sauce, roasted zucchini, garlic knots, and classic cannoli. 5:30-8:30pm. IALR. wondercommunity.org.
September 19
Alma Latina (Latin Soul). The Latin Ballet of VA weaves the tales and traditions that are the heart and soul of Hispanic Culture. $. 7:30pm. The Prizery, South Boston. 434.572.8339.
September 20 & 21
VWRHOA Walking/Racking Horse Show Offering adult and youth classes. 6-11pm. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com. River Fest. 9/20 5-10pm; 9/21 10am-10pm. Uptown Eden. www.ExploreEdenNC.com.
September 21
Of Words and Art - Author and Artisan Fair. Features both artistic and literary works created by local artisans and authors. 7:30am-12pm. Danville Community Market. Sip & Paint Party. Painting a floral high heel shoe picture. All supplies included. Brunch foods and Mimosas. 12:30pm. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1097. 434.822.3229.
Peter Pan. Join Bright Star’s acclaimed comic duo Lenny and Mabel as they hilariously work to bring this literary classic to life in a hysterical play within a play. 6-7pm. The Smokestack Theatre Company. 434.799.5195.
September 25
Danville Crime Stoppers Fundraiser Dinner, entertainment, door prizes, a silent auction and more. 5:30pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. Harvest Jubilee Shrimp Fest Entertainment by SupaFly Five. Menu will be shrimp, baked beans, and slaw. Beer, wine, mixed drinks. Must be 21. 5:30-9:30pm. Community Market. 434.857.3384.
September 25 & 26
SOVA Youth Career Fair. Helping students gain a clear understanding of the skills, education, and salaries associated with various careers, fostering a pipeline of future talent aligned with our region’s economic development goals. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.
September 26
The Spirit of Harriet Tubman. Witness the Spirit of Freedom through a performance by Diane Faison. Registration required. 1011am. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.
September 27
Sainted Trap Choir. In the vibrant intersection of gospel tradition and contemporary hip-hop beats, Sainted emerges as a groundbreaking force. They achieved 4th runner-up in AGT’s Fantasy League after receiving the golden buzzer from Simon following a powerful rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” 7pm. Carrington Pavilion. Danville Concert Association. eventbrite.com.
Are We There Yet? Live Tour. With Comedian Jeff Allan. $. 7:30pm. The Prizery, South Boston. 434.572.8339.
September 28
Harvest Festival. Enjoy attractions, entertainment, activities, live performances by local bands and dancers, photo booth, and food trucks. 9am-5pm. Downtown South Boston. 434.575.4208.
Bright Leaf Hoedown. Artisans, crafters, local food, agriculture expo, classic car show, cornhole, face painting, bounce house, live music & more. 9am-7pm. Downtown Yanceyville. Fall Festival. Enjoy favorite local artisans, food trucks, longhorns, horses, and activities for the kids. 10am-3pm. The Gentry Farm. 434.483.0232.
DPD Cars and Community. Food, entertainment, fun as well as classic, muscle, exotic and novelty cars, hot rods, rat rods and more. 12-4pm. Dan River Church Parking Lot. 434.797.8898 x4. Ice Cream Social. 4-6pm. Doyle Thomas Park. Old West End.
Chatham Cruise-In. Enjoy an evening with cars of all kinds. New entry from North. 4-8pm. Main Street, Chatham. Market Square Summer Concert Series Music by Special Occasion Band, food, fun. 7-9pm. Market Square, Reidsville. The Kappa Fall Ball. Formal attire, cash bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres. 7pm. Craighead Street.
September 28 & 29
Old 97 Rail Days. Experience lifelike model train displays, and tour a fully restored Norfolk and Western caboose. Science Station, Danville Science Center. 434.791.5160.
September 29
Octoberfest. Free entry, Oktoberfest beer release, German food specials at The Cauldron food truck, and live music by The Sauerkraut Band. 2-7pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.
Upcoming
October 3
Danville Harvest Jubilee Concert. Riley Green. 6-11pm., Carrington Pavilion. 434.799.5200.
October 3 (thru 6)
SVRA SpeedTour and TransAM. Experience a weekend of blending the past and present while we celebrate VIR’s impressive history with VIR SpeedTour (formerly known as Gold Cup). $. Virginia International Raceway. www.virnow.com.
Danville residents Dave Shilling and Jeanie Bell have been performing together as Vintage Silk since 2012. Dave, a native of Michigan, lived in Texas for a time before moving to Culpeper, Virginia. Jeannie grew up in Alexandria but moved away for a time, living in Maryland and Florida before returning to Virginia. The stars aligned for them one evening in 2011 when the two met at the party of a mutual friend. Jeannie caught Dave’s eye, and he asked his friend about her. His friend gave him a few pertinent details and added that she was an incredible singer. Dave’s interest thus perked. He approached her and introduced himself. They didn’t speak long, but Dave felt intuitively that they would meet again.
A few months later, the two were dating. Their time together was usually spent around music, though their tastes did not exactly align. Dave was a fan of Folk Revival and Jazz music, while Jeannie enjoyed Oldies and Motown, but a common bond was found around the song, “All I Have to Do is Dream,” by the Everly Brothers. They sang it together and found that they naturally harmonized and that
their vocal ranges overlapped beautifully.
Having discovered a shared talent and a mutual interest, they began discussing the idea of performing together. Dave had been performing already at local open mic nights in Orange, Virginia and so, one night, he introduced Jeannie into his set. The performance was a success, and so they decided to make it official, coming up with the name Vintage Silk (a nod to their mutual love of vintage music and frequent compliments regarding their silken voices) and compiling a list of songs to perform.
As Vintage Silk, the couple who married in 2015, performs locally in Danville and all-around Virginia at bars, breweries, restaurants, and festivals. They take great joy in sharing their love of music with others. “We’re under no illusions of going to Nashville, or touring the country, or going viral on social media,” says Dave. “I think we found our sweet spot a few years ago. We get a lot of joy from what we do. I’d say that’s enough.” Jeanie seems to agree. “We just wanna play as many places as we can for as long as we can,” she says. “Hopefully, if Danville keeps growing, we’ll be
able to play here in town more often.”
Motivated more by the joy of creating than for any aspirations to fame, Vintage Silk, as their name implies, also thrives on sharing the magic of music with their audience and transporting them back to a simpler time.
“We’ve always done a lot of oldies,” says Jeanie. “I try to read the crowd and pick songs that they’re in the mood for. It’s hard sometimes because you can’t always tell what they like. But it’s always great to see them singing along with an old song they haven’t heard in forever.”
While Vintage Silk is primarily a cover band, they do occasionally write their own material. One original song in particular, “She’s Too Wonderful,” was featured on the Vintage Silk episode of the Emmy nominated PBS series, “The Life of a Musician.” But with all the wonderful songs out there, Vintage Silk is just as happy covering songs written by other artists. The result is that Vintage Silk’s repertoire is very eclectic and hard to put into a single genre.
In 2017, Dave and Jeannie arrived in Danville, where they
by Val-Rae Lindenau photos
courtesy of Vintage Silk
purchased a historic home in the Old West End and are now an institution in the local music scene. You can find them on social media at Facebook.com/ VintageSilkDuet.
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.
Day School
Luncheon
by Mack Williams
For many years, Danville’s First Presbyterian Church has operated and continues to operate a first-class day school, benefitting many children in the community, without church membership being a pre-requisite for either student or teacher.
Recently, a just-past-noon Sunday luncheon was held by the day school, with the members of the congregation being invited.
The luncheon site was what might be termed a “side-courtyard” tucked away between the main sanctuary and the extension containing the fellowship hall, Sunday school rooms, and of course, the day school.
This rectangle of open space is bordered by hedging, almost as if for setting it apart, as well as for outside decoration. One end of “the little rectangle” faces Danville’s Main Street, with a medium-sized, nicely branching tree providing some seclusive cover, sort of like a Japanese Shoji screen.
A bounce house for the children was set up, seeming to “just fit.” And with the church walls as boundaries for three sides, with a tree on the fourth, there was not much likelihood of the bounce house going far in the event of a great wind (except if it “flew” straight up like a helicopter or a Harrier jump jet).
As we watched the kids descending the bounce house’s slide, one parishioner said, “Mack, that slide has your name on it!” But I declined, knowing that if a mishap were to occur, an emergency room form would also “have my name on it!”
There was a line of tables with hot dogs, their “fixin’s”, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips, and water bottles. Youth Minister Jackson Weller, of German heritage, was the grill master for the wieners.
Metal chairs were set up in the bright sun, along with some being unfolded in the shade of the aforementioned tree. I sat
sunwards with my prepared plate, as a nice, “funneled” breeze made its way through the tree’s boughs.
A fellow choir member remarked, “You’re sitting in the hot sun.” But I didn’t mind, as the day was “April hot,” not “Dog Day’s hot.”
The scene resembled a matchbox miniature or a crystallization of everything important in a more spread-out “Dinner on the grounds” fellowship, food, and fun.
Although no music was being performed, there was a feeling of the same intimacy as that of a chamber music space.
Looking at my food (and looking to make sure neither chili nor mustard wound up on my pants), I couldn’t help looking even further downwards to notice the turf’s vibrant greenness. Sections of its neatly mowed top had also been “combed” in different directions by the passing feet of men, women, and children, giving it a certain “chopped” appearance, reminiscent of those brush strokes of Vincent van Gogh.
Just out of curiosity, I looked deep into the grass, searching for the slightest imperfection or presence of any invasive weed. After which, I said to Ashley Stanley-Robey, our Director of Music Ministries, “There is not a single weed to be found here.” She said it would be especially nice if the Church Council passed that compliment along to the lawn service with whom they had contracted.
The evenness of the grasses’ 2–3-inch cut reminded me of my brother Joe’s flat-top haircut in the 1950s!
I also thought, it’s as if AstroTurf had been installed, then miraculously had come to life and grown several inches, perfectly!
Pastor Beth Broschart’s sermon that
day had included a section where she stated unexpected fill-in-theblank words to common phrases. So, in keeping with her sermon, I stared into the turf and said to myself, “A full head of grass.”
Psychologists say we compartmentalize bad memories, shutting them off from our conscious self. But I think we compartmentalize good memories too, preserving them safely in that “compartment” so they are always readily available to be “conscioused-up.”
That day of The First Presbyterian Day School luncheon has joined many other pleasant days, which are always with me.
And another thing! (gosh, I’m turning into Colombo). These History Channel documentaries, as well as the writers of history books are always pointing out the horrible events that took place in ancient pagan temple sites: human sacrifice, etc. (And on a similar note, the movies imply that everybody in classical times spoke like Sir Lawrence Olivier, Sir John
Gielgud, Richard Burton, Christopher Plummer, and Terence Stamp).
Well, just for once, consider the possibility of something more casual, “non-bloody” sometimes taking place at those ancient pagan temples, something more “people friendly” (remember, it was Pete of “Pete’s Diner” in The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) who memorably stated, “Peoples is peoples.”).
n the heart of our region, one organization stands out as a beacon of hope, progress, and unwavering advocacy. The Arc of Southside (“The Arc”) is celebrating an impressive 70 years of transforming lives and championing the civil and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1954 by a dedicated group of families, with guidance from Rev. Richard Smith, The Arc began its journey alongside a burgeoning national movement advocating for better opportunities and rights for those often marginalized by society.
A Journey of Empowerment and Change
At the time of its formation, The Arc of Southside was among the first of its kind, joining a small but determined national effort to secure a brighter future for children with disabilities. In an era marked by significant educational and societal exclusion, these pioneering local families, driven by a shared sense of justice, rallied for their children’s rights. Their efforts laid the foundation for what would become a transformative force in the Danville-Pittsylvania County region, improving the lives of countless individuals with disabilities.
Over the years, The Arc’s commitment to the people it serves has driven it to continually evolve and innovate. The organization’s journey from early programs like Hatcher Center and White Oak School to advocating for community-based support mirrored a larger societal shift towards inclusion. Ahead of its time, The Arc set a precedent, anticipating and transcending governmental guidelines by prioritizing the voices and choices of the very people they assist. It was a deliberate embrace of the conviction that people with disabilities deserved much more: the right to pursue a range of opportunities and the empowerment that comes from being active, valued members within their communities.
Legacy of Advocacy
Advocacy has always been at the heart of The Arc of Southside’s mission, fueling transformative change through active engagement with policymakers. Over the decades, the organization has cultivated a proud legacy, from meeting
with President Reagan in 1982 to participating in a congressional briefing in 2018 on the critical need to fund supported employment programs. Their advocacy extends to regular visits to Virginia’s General Assembly, where they educate legislators on issues impacting people with disabilities, and on a national scale, their influence has been felt through strategic meetings with senators in Washington, D.C In 2023, The Arc’s impact was further recognized when they stood alongside Governor Youngkin for the signing of two significant bills they had championed, reinforcing their pivotal role in shaping policy and ensuring the voices of those they serve are heard.
In Their Own Words
Today, The Arc of Southside continues to embody its mission: to promote and protect the human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. Its modern services reflect its evolved approach, providing robust support across various areas, including home life, employment, and community engagement.
The true impact of The Arc is best understood through the experiences of those it supports and its staff. Tonya Martin, a participant of The Arc, expresses her gratitude by saying, “I just really enjoy living on my own and having people who support me.”
This sentiment is echoed by employees like Paula Booth, who finds joy in witnessing people thrive against odds, stating, “Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a person happy and thriving in their own life by working a job they love, living in their own home, and being fully included in their community, after being told for many years that they couldn’t do these things.”
Looking Forward
As The Arc of Southside looks to the future, it remains dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights and inclusion of people with IDD. With its rich history of advocacy and forwardlooking vision, The Arc aims to further its mission, ensuring that every person, regardless of ability, is valued and empowered.
The Arc of Southside Celebrating 70 years
An Open Invitation
In honor of The Arc of Southside’s 70th anniversary, 2 Witches Winery & Brewing is hosting a celebration to mark this incredible milestone. On Saturday, September 21, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., 2 Witches invites the community to join in a celebration featuring the launch of ALLY Ale—a commemorative brew that honors The Arc’s motto of “A Life Like Yours.” The event will
feature performances by local bands Papa Thump and Soulplay, a DJ spinning tunes, delicious food, and raffle prizes.
Let’s show up, not just for The Arc, but for each other. Let’s celebrate a shared commitment to doing good—right here in our community, and a future where everyone feels welcome and valued.
(Scene: Mamie and Solly, married for decades, are weeding a garden. Weeds are flourishing amidst sparsely populated iris.)
Solly (staring down in dismay): Garden is really overgrown. Weeds and flowers are intertwining. It’s a kneehigh jungle.
Mamie (on all fours, weeding): How could all this have grown up so quickly?
S (pulling on a weed): It’s all tangled…
M (standing, rubbing her back): The house is wrecked. We were busy ten out of the last twenty weeks. No wonder we’re all tangled up.
S (frowning): There’s that word again.
M (waving her weed digger): What word? Wrecked? Busy? Weeks?
S (looking resigned): Tangled.
M (turning to look at him): Tangled? Why are you focused on “tangled?”
S (meeting her eyes): I’m entangled in reading articles.
M (eyebrows raised): And you’re mulling them over while we’re weeding.
S (shrugging): I’m just trying to understand them.
M (sympathetically): Physics again?
S (reluctantly): Yes.
M (focusing her attention): Knew you were stewing over something. Tell me.
S (sighing): Quantum entanglement.
M (musing): I assume that’s particle physics. Why on earth do you think about stuff like this?
S (seriously): It resonates. And because I can.
M (nodding): …Of course it resonates, and of course you can. Tell me about quantum entanglement. I’m not current with physics, but talking may help you distill what you think.
S (slowly): Well, under certain conditions in the universe,…
M (anticipating): …and here we go…
S (looking inward): …atoms and their particles get smashed together, compressed beyond belief. Their parts mingle. They’re somehow tied together at the subatomic level, no matter how far apart they are.
M (thinking): …Like friends are. Because of memory.
S (surprised): …What?
M (shrugging): Friends. Spouses like us. Acquaintances. People who have conversations.
S (staring): Friends aren’t quantum particles. They’re people. We’re talking about completely different things.
M (shaking her head): Not so different. People quibble over ideas. Discussions influence how they think. Their ideas entangle. Like in the garden. That’s how people become friends. Or not.
S (frowning): Mamie, you can’t talk about people’s thoughts entangling like the roots of weeds and flowers.
M (smiling): Sure, I can, at least in metaphor. Think about how memory works.
S (eyebrows a flat line): … Memory? We’re talking about memory?
M (assertively): Right now, we are. Old friends who haven’t seen each other in forty-plus years can pick up where they left off because of shared memories. We’re the proof: We just did that with old friends during their visit to us for nearly a week, remember? New discussions make new memories. If that’s not entangled, I don’t know what is.
S (shaking his head as if clearing it): I was talking about quantum entanglement, Mamie.
M (thinking aloud): Quantum means something teeny-tiny that we can’t see. Entanglement means somehow twisted up
together. Our brains can store new, shared memories, replacing less important ones.
S (eyebrows raised): But in physics, quantum entanglement relates to two particles that share certain characteristics over immense distances. Our conversation in this garden doesn’t relate to particle physics.
M (quizzically): Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. Maybe distance is relative in terms of shared memories. A human brain weighs about 3 pounds and has about 86 billion neurons. My neurons remember reading that. Eightysix billion of anything crammed together in cranium tofu is pretty complex...
S (hesitantly): …which makes people complex because ultimately people think with their brains, then articulate their thoughts.
M (nodding): And it’s true that people’s conversations shape ideas.
S (thinking aloud): And there are theories about quantum mechanics in brain function, though I’m not so sure about memory.
Quantum Exchange
(A Mamie and Solly Story)
by Linda Lemery
M (forging ahead): Ideas grow like weeds. We dig them up, examine them through conversation…
S (slowly): …to determine what they are. Or aren’t.
M (musing): See? Entangled ideas. Isn’t it interesting how mixed-up gardens and quantum physics,…
S (thoughtfully): …how weeds and flowers,…
M (curiously): …how behavior of particles and conversation about ideas can all twist together? There’s some other elusive pattern here, though. Can’t identify it.
S (shaking his head): Never thought we’d weed a garden and end up in this conversational vortex. Who knows what we’ll talk about next?
About the author: Linda Lemery llemery@ gmail.com welcomes reader comments..
THE POET’S CORNER
While
searching for your poem…
by Barry Koplen
photo by Barry Koplen
Deep within resides a poem I regard as an unseen visitor; it’s presence clings to mystery, stirs emotions bound to anticipation. Have you noticed me, a searcher, dazed, yet trolling for stanzas much too evasive to catch?
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
A Glass of Rubies, Please
by Dave Slayton
photo by Dave Slayton
When you read a wine review, the wine’s color is usually mentioned in the description. In the article “What if gemstones were fine wines?” appearing on the website jewelrycult.com, the writer says wines are often described as precious and fascinating gemstones, so we combined them in this article.
The first wine used in the article for wine and gemstone pairing was a red French Bordeaux, which is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was described as a deep, dark, ruby color, much like Myanmar (formerly Burma) rubies. Rubies can be various shades of red, such as deep red from Mozambique (southeast Africa), medium red such as those from Thailand, red like those from Tanzania in East Africa, Pinkish red like those from Afghanistan, and purplish-red like those from Madagascar and Sri Lanka from the Indian Ocean region. Because of these color variations, you may see the ruby color referenced in the description of other red wines, like Pinot Noir.
Another Bordeaux wine mentioned in this article is a “white” wine made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. This wine’s color is
described as that of a pure yellow diamond. As you may know, the diamonds most used in jewelry are prized for their lack of color; however, a pure yellow diamond is a rare, beautiful gem to behold.
The article cites a Portuguese Vinho Verde “white” wine as having the color of light green and the transparency of peridot, the birthstone for August. This transparent gemstone’s color can range from pure green to yellow or brownish-green. The rare true green, with no traces of brown or yellow, is the most desirable color, and the one referenced in this description.
Our article also discusses a rare bottle of Sherry that sold at auction for $43,500. It states that the sweet and old wine, with its tawny color, equals the organic, honey-like appearance of amber. As with pearls, amber is one of the few organic gemstones that originate from animal or vegetable processes. While amber may be golden in color, don’t confuse it with citrine or topaz.
Here’s hoping that your next wine is a real gem.
Cheers!
Movies You Missed from 20 years ago
by Josh Lucia
Shaun of the Dead (7/10 Rating)
Released September 24, 2004 For rent/purchase on all major platforms. Genre: Comedy, Horror R: Zombie violence/gore and language 1h 39m
This film launched the career of writer actor Simon Pegg (Mission Impossible 3-7, Star Trek) and
writer director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Baby Driver), at least here in the United States. Both had already found cult success with their British sitcom Spaced, which aired in the UK from 1999 to 2001 and featured actor Nick Frost and was produced by Nira Park. Shaun of the Dead is the first film in what is known as the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, including the movies Hot Fuzz (2007) and
The World’s End (2013). All three comedic films starred Pegg and Frost, along with several other actors, including Bill Nighy, Rafe Spall, and Martin Freeman. They were also co-written by Pegg and Wright, directed by Wright, and produced by Park. Aside from these connections and the references to Cornetto ice cream cones in each, the movies have nothing to do with each other from a plot standpoint. Perchance. Shaun of the Dead was released just six months after the remake Dawn of the Dead, which also mixed comedy with zombie horror and likely helped with the success of Shaun of the Dead. Dawn also introduced the world to Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Justice League) and somewhat James Gunn (ScoobyDoo, Slither, Guardians of the Galaxy), so 2004 was a big year for newcomers in cinema. Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead was promoted as a romantic comedy with zombies, but bromantic comedy is better suited as
the film focuses more on the relationship between Pegg’s “Shaun” and Frost’s “Ed.” This film is a smart comedy with lots of references and homages to Romero’s zombie films as well as commentary on society today. It is also a good zombie movie and fans of the genre should definitely check this out if it’s a Movie You Missed. There is plenty of gore, so if that is not your thing, skip it. Director Edgar Wright showcases his filmmaking style with plenty of quick cuts, creative zooms, and fun transitions. Like Tarantino, he uses songs you would not expect to fit, but bring scenes to life…or back to life? Don’t kill the brain on this one…give this undead classic a first time watch or a rewatch.
Also released in September 2004: Shark Tale, The Forgotten, The Motorcycle Diaries, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Kung Fu Hustle, Wimbledon, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Cellular (follow @jlucia85 for these reviews and more)
