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VOL. 2 / ISSUE 4 / FEBRUARY 2015
IN THIS ISSUE OF SOUTHLAKE ARTS
06 Publisher’s Letter 08 Events Calendar COMMUNITY
13 Southlake Arts Event Pick PROFILES
15 Dave Musgrave VISUAL ART
20 Focus On: Visual Arts MUSIC
23 Discussing Mathematics, Music & Brilliance with a 15-Year-Old MUSIC
28 Local Teen Ready to Perform in All-State MUSIC
30 The Art of the Grace Note VISUAL ART
32 The Aligning of the Sports Stars SANDWICH!
35 The Muffaletta FOOD
36 Wine Time
This month’s cover is an etching of Dizzy Gillespie by Lamberto™
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! Z Z Z Z Z Z A A A J J J
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Having majored in Jazz Guitar studies at UNT, I’m personally excited for the Carroll High School band to have a clinic and concert with the One O’Clock Jazz Band! That is an event not to be missed, held at White’s Chapel Church February 21st @ 7pm.
We are certainly not short of talent in our area. This issue we are highlighting CISD graduate Dave Musgrave, CISD student making the all-state choir Sophia Formella, DFW PAC student Magnus Ladue, singer and instructor Ashleigh Smith and much, much more.
Also not to be missed, a double-header the very next day with The Art in The Square Preview at Town Hall and The Oscar Party at il Calabrese benefiting the Muller Film/Entertainment foundation with a special performance by Magnus LaDue! Tickets are limited for both events, get yours early!
Enjoy the issue and I’ll see you February 21st & 22nd!
David Hall
David@SouthlakeArts.com
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five decades JAN 31– MAY 10
nashersculpturecenter.org Melvin Edwards, Some Bright Morning (Lynch Fragment) (detail), 1963, welded steel, 14 x 9 in x 5. (36.2 x 23.5 x 12.7 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Alexander Gray Associates, New York; Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Š 2015 Melvin Edwards / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Melvin Edwards: Five Decades is organized by Nasher Sculpture Center and is presented by the Henry Luce Foundation. Additional major support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger. Official Car
Official Airline
EVENTS CALENDAR MUSIC THE CADILLAC 3 Billy Bob’s February 6th CHRIS BROWN, TREY SONGZ American Airlines Center February 6th JUNIOR BROWN Granada Theater February 6th MINGO FISHTRAP House of Blues February 7th BOB SEGER American Airlines Center February 12th SARAH JAFFE Trees February 13th MAROON 5, MAGIC! American Airlines Center February 16th FOX AND THE BIRD Dallas Museum of Art February 20th LIGHTS Granada Theater February 20th MEADOWS WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE Dallas Museum of Art February 20th APEX JAZZ FESTIVAL White’s Chapel February 21st
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BOB SCHNEIDER Granada Theater February 21st
THE BOOK OF MORMON Winspear Opera House February 10th - 22nd
GORDON LIGHTFOOT Winspear Opera House February 25th
JAZZ IN THE ATRIUM Dallas Museum of Art Thursdays
2 CELLOS: CELLOVERSE Winspear Opera House February 26th DIANA ROSS Verizon Theater February 26th MEGHAN TRAINOR Granada Theater February 27th
FILM THIN LINE FILM FESTIVAL February 18th - 22nd Campus Theater THE OSCARS! il Calabrese February 22nd
ART
LANG LANG: FWSO Bass Hall February 28th
CREATE HEARTS & FLOWERS! Vetro February 6th - 7th
FLEETWOOD MAC American Airlines Center March 4th
HOT DATE NIGHT!!! Vetro February 11th - 14th
ALAN JACKSON Verizon Theater March 6th - 7th
FRAMING DESIRE: PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO The Modern February 21st - August 23rd
MAYA BEISER Winspear Opera House March 6th - 7th MIRANDA LAMBERT American Airlines Center March 12th LA BOHÈME Winspear Opera House March 13th - 29th ALICE COOPER Verizon Theater February 10th
THE STROKES OF ART IN THE SQUARE Town Hall February 22nd THE MARY BASKETT COLLECTION OF JAPANESE FASHION Crow Collection Through February STILL LIFE PAINTINGS: FROM CHARDIN TO MATISSE Dallas Museum of Art Through February
GOYA: A LIFETIME OF GRAPHIC INVENTION Meadows Museum Through March 1st H.O. ROBERTSON: A SELF-TAUGHT TEXAS REGIONALIST Meadows Museum Through March 1st THE COLLECTION OF NANCY LEE & PERRY R. BASS The Kimbell Art Museum March 1st - May 24th MATTHEW SONTHEIMER Talley Dunn Gallery Through March 14th SEEING & BELIEVING: KRISHNA IN THE ART OF B.G. SHARMA Crow Collection Through March 29th LORIS GREAUD: THE UNPLAYED NOTES MUSEUM Dallas Contemporary Through March FOCUS: RONGRONG & INRI The Modern Through April 5th SMALL WORLDS: EDOUARD VUILLARD AND THE INTIMATE ART OF THE NABIS Dallas Museum of Art Through April 19th GOLDEN LEGACY: ORIGINAL ART FROM 65 YEARS OF GOLDEN BOOKS Irving Arts Center Through April 26th
MELVIN EDWARDS: FIVE DECADES Nasher Sculpture Center Through May 10th LONE STAR PORTRAITS Amon Carter Through May 10th BENITO HUERTA Amon Carter Through May 17th
THEATRE LA WALLY/EVEREST Winspear Opera House Through February 7th STAGGER LEE Wyly Theatre Through February 15th HENRY IV PART 2 Studio Theater February 15th - 16th
BIG BEND: PHOTOGRAPHS BY TERRY COCKERHAM Irving Arts Center Through May 31st
ONCE Bass Hall February 18th - 22nd
AUDUBON’S BEASTS Amon Carter Through August 2nd
MEDEA Kalita Humphrey’s Theater February 19th - March 29th
ROCK CRYSTAL EWER Dallas Museum of Art Through September 27th
THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES Kalita Humphrey’s Theater Through March 29th
INDIA, ART, TIME & PLACE Crow Collection Through October 18th
NEWSIES Winspear Opera House April 29th - May 10th
MODERN OPULENCE IN VIENNA Dallas Museum of Art Through October 18th
ANNIE Winspear Opera House June 23rd - July 5th
AFRICAN TEXTILES Dallas Museum of Art Through December 6th FORM/UNFORM Dallas Museum of Art Through December 31st ISA GENZKEN: RETROSPECTIVE Dallas Museum of Art Through 2015
DANCE THE MERRY WIDOW Bass Hall February 6th - 8th DIAVOLO Dallas City Performance Hall March 27th - 28th
FAMILY SESAME STREET LIVE: LET’S DANCE! Verizon Theater February 20th - 22nd SHERLOCK HOLMES Perot Through February FOOD TRUCKS Klyde Warren Park Daily TARGET FIRST SATURDAYS Nasher Sculpture Center First Saturdays
SOUTHLAKE ARTS CREATIVE TEAM Publisher & Creative Director
DAVID HALL Senior Art Consultant
LAMBERTO™ Graphic Designer
NICK SCHAIDER Copy Editor
WENDY O’HEARN Writers
DAVID HALL BARBARA MILHIZER RICH ROMERO Columnist
LAMBERTO™ Advertising
TIMOTHY SMITH Advertising Designer
JESIKA COOK Photography
BRIAN GUILLIAUX BRUCE ROSENSTIEL CAROLYN TALUJA JESIKA COOK CONTACT INFO 630 E. Southlake Blvd. #61 Southlake, TX 76092 (817) 703-3205
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JOIN US
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015 5PM-11:30PM
il Calabrese / 1281 E. STATE HWY. 114 / Southlake, TX
WATCH PARTY
A FORMAL RED CARPET EVENT BENEFITTING THE MULLER FILM AND TELEVISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION IN NORTH TEXAS. A 501 (c) (3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
$150 Per Person $250 Per Couple WATCH LIVE | COMPLIMENTARY VALET HORS D'OEUVRES & SELECT WINES
Purchase tickets online at filmtveducation.org or call for more information 972-869-7714
Media Partners: 360 West Magazine, 76092 Magazine, Southlake Arts Magazine
COMMUNITY
The APEX Arts League will present to the Northeast Tarrant County community The One O’Clock Lab Band in concert on Saturday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m. at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 185 South White’s Chapel Boulevard, Southlake. Three fabulous local high school jazz bands will open the program, performing commissioned pieces written by composition students at UNT. The high school bands include: Naaman Forest Jazz Band Carroll Jazz Orchestra Rowlett High School Jazz Band I
Donations at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and Apex members. Southlake-based Apex Arts League sponsors a variety of performing and visual arts programs in the local area. For more information, visit APEX-ARTS.org
“Most of the international acceptance of jazz education can be traced to the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, and the
The One O’Clock, under the direction of Jay Saunders, is the premier performing jazz ensemble from the internationally acclaimed University of North Texas’ Jazz Studies Program. The One O’Clock is a six-time Grammynominated ensemble and has performed locally and internationally for over 65 years, producing more than 60 albums in its tenure.
wonderful program they inaugurated.”
thin line FILM - MUSIC - PHOTO A WEEKEND OF INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS, NATIONAL MUSIC ACTS & REGIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES STUDENT, MILITARY & SENIOR DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE IN PERSON
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SCHEDULE & TICKETS:
City of Denton • Denton Recycling Department • Little Guys Movers • Dallas Film Commision • Pantheon Vape Lab • Myra Crownover • More Fun! Comics • Mellow Mushroom • Axis Realty • Paul Meltzer • Cool Beans • Riprocks • Lucky Lou’s • Business Printing • Point Bank • Serendipity • Chestnut Tree Tea Room • Golden Triangle Mall
- Dave Brubeck, jazz pianist and composer
“One of the most interesting things to do in Texas” – NY Times
PROFILES
PROFILE: DAVE MUSGRAVE Be part of giving 230 kids a chance to stay in school, their lifeline out of poverty! In a remote farming valley in central Kenya stands a little rural school. Its walls hug 230 kids squirming in their seats, hungry to learn. But every morning these little ones have to make a tough decision: Do they make the journey to school and go hungry all day or stay at home for good?
Their school has a small kitchen but no lunch program. Their community is simply too poor. Students walk miles to school in the morning and they don’t eat again until dinner or later. Education or full tummies - what a choice! We are starting out getting a network of people involved with supporting a school lunch for kids who are hungry to learn, who work hard for an opportunity at success, and whose goals can be reached with your help.
Many of these kids want to be doctors, but how do they do that if they are literally stuck in place? EDUCATION. This project is about Ribui becoming a leading example, a center of excellence, more so than just food. We want to see the school keep this snowball rolling and are excited to see Ribui as a nationally recognized school, which means more opportunity for the kids. The lunch program is a big step towards that! southlake ARTS
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PROFILE: DAVE MUSGRAVE
PROFILES
HARD WORK PAYS OFF! Carroll graduate David Musgrave, or David the Inventor, was the creative director on this project and owns a full production creative agency doing work with clients from around the globe. Billboards, TV ads, logos, and good ol’ ART! He’s worked on projects reaching millions of people. What else is extraordinary about David? He’s a proud Dragon! At age 23, David has lived many places, and says, “Southlake is the best place to be from. Everything about it is a platform for success.” During a two-week filming journey in Kenya, going into the heart of places uncharted by any foreigner was scary at times, but feeling gratitude no matter what and having this flame burning while always doing more than what is required is how all this was possible. My clients brought me to Kenya because of this.
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Hope, Even in Your Darkest Hour ALL OF US ARE PROUD TO BE CELEBRATING OUR FIRST 125 YEARS.
Feb. 6 Shaunti Feldhahn Surprising Secrets of a Happy Marriage
Leslie Vernick March 6 Lord, I Just Want to be hHappy second Friday!
April 10 Anne Beiler
Pain, Blame & Shame: Purpose out of Pain
Bob Goff May 1
Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World MEMBER FDIC
Events start at 11am, Harkins Theatre in Southlake
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VISUAL ART
Taman VanScoy - Long Beach, CA Watercolor tamanvanscoy.com
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Visual arts FOCUS ON: Bruce Holwerda - Hoover, AL Off Road - Acrylic bruceholwerda.com
A SNEAK PEEK OF WORKS FROM A FEW OF THE SELECTED ARTISTS FOR ART IN THE SQUARE 2015. southlake ARTS
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MUSIC
Discussing
Mathematics, Music & Brilliance w i t h a 1 5 -Y e a r - O l d By Rich Romero
R
ecently, I had the privilege to meet with an actual prodigy. This Magnus’ age, he is looking forward to getting a driver’s license. individual began reading at two, passed numerous complex Magnus confirmed that he was indeed looking forward to driving but exams starting at the age of eight, and now, at fifteen has proven he also has other pastimes. to be an accomplished jazz pianist who could one day change the world. This may sound like the synopsis of the next MARVEL superhero “I like to do computer programming and play with my cats,” he said movie, but it’s not; I can promise you that. I am speaking of 15-year- with a boyish grin. Magnus also attends the DFW PAC in the afternoons old Magnus LaDue; a very real boy with a very interesting story to tell. where he has participated in acting courses with professional coaches. “I think it’s a great school. I like all of the stuff they do there. The The stage was set for greatness as the young man sat comfortably in a people there are friendly,” he said with a smile. Although he said plush chair at his home on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. After a firm he could be interested in taking more acting classes to further that handshake and some southern hospitality, Magnus proceeded to aspect of his life, his main goal for the future is continuing his career describe his unique past, musical present, and hopes for the distant future. working with computers and mathematics. His free time alone shows that Magnus is a three-dimensional character with a mind that has The conversation began with what was to be a simple, yet complex been on the move since he was a child. question for a boy with so many ideas in his head. The query of what makes LaDue a “15-year-old boy” (apart from his brilliance) brought Mark said that, as a parent, he recognized early on that Magnus was what appeared to be a flush of shyness to his demeanor. going to be a very advanced learner. The indicative moment to this realization was when Magnus began reading at the age of 2. The “Well, I just…I like to do stuff,” LaDue said in a normal teenage fashion. LaDues began to homeschool Magnus who quickly developed As he searched for further thoughts on the topic, his father, Mark learning math concepts at 3, multiplication at 4, pre-algebra at 5. It LaDue stepped in to help. Mark added that like most teenagers was at this age that it was discovered he had an ear for music.
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According to Mark LaDue the road to success was a trial for someone as young as Magnus wanting to take an exam of this level. “Fort Worth Country Day School just rolled out the red carpet and opened their doors for him to do that…” Mark said, emphasizing the effort put in by the school to allow Magnus to take the exam. “Certainly the administration were skeptical that somebody at that age would actually do it.” Mark said that in the end, the chairman of the math department “went to bat for Magnus and got it done.” With the first exam knocked out of the park, Magnus continued on to get a 5 on four more exams throughout the years. Some of these other exams were Music Theory and Computer Science.
“I started from the basics and I just mastered them fast and then moved on” With the tests alone Magnus has shown greatness and recently his method of moving swiftly to the top brought him to study with Georgia Tech Professor Matt Baker. For the past two years, Magnus has been working with Baker doing background reading, working through graduate course work and preparing for a number of other different subjects. This past October, Magnus said the professor suggested an idea that he liked for a project about infinite games and topological spaces. Magnus admits his love for math began early in life when he began reading up on advanced mathematics. “I started from the basics and I just mastered them fast and then moved on,” he said.
After catching me up on what he has recently been up to, Magnus proceeded to blow into the inner workings of his new baby.
“I’m going to be focusing on a mathematical game called the Cantor Game. It has two players. One is called A and [the other] B. First they start out with a number, like A would choose 0 and B would choose 1. Then A would choose a number between 0 and 1. Then B would choose a number between 0 and A’s number. They would alternate their turns and keep choosing numbers in between their previous two options and that would go on forever,” he said. Magnus admits that there is “I studied for it first, felt that I was ready and I decided to try it,” he an advantage to winning over the player that plays “A,” but he has said calmly. He received a score of 5 out of 5 on the exam. currently had thoughts about overall winning strategies for both sides. Starting from the basics for Magnus means that at age 8, he was the youngest child to ever take an AP exam. Magnus said his first AP exam was Calculus. Calculus is a subject that would make most people tremble with fear, but young Magnus took the challenge on with confidence.
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Mathematics, Music & Brilliance wit h a 15-Y ea r-O l d When asked whether or not he had a college degree based on his “How it started out was in one of my music theory books. There was an experiences at Georgia Tech, Magnus shifted in his seat and definitely exercise in there to do one and then I decided to try it...I liked to do seemed to choose his words wisely. them so I just kept doing them,” Magnus said matter of factly. One quickly turned into a total of 15 individual pieces of work. “In certain respects I could….nothing formal though,” he finally said, breaking the silence between us. Magnus said that working on one of his jazz transcriptions usually takes him two months per piece, working on it for a half hour in the Mark continued the idea by adding in his opinion on Magnus morning every day. Although he is hard at work trying to get his attending college at a young age. musical transcriptions published, Magnus admits that he currently doesn’t have the desire to create his own original pieces. “We thought it was just a huge mistake to send young children to college and put them in a classroom with older people...,” he said Currently, Magnus’ favorite artists in the jazz genre are Teddy Wilson, adding that socially, Magnus would have nothing in common with his Fats Waller, and Art Tatum. classmates. Magnus’ parents desire him to go to college when he is 18 and emotionally, socially prepared for the whole experience. “I’ve been listening to some types of it (jazz) for quite a while. When I started the jazz transcriptions I got more into it. I used to just play “Why not take your time growing up to enjoy things?” Mark quipped. classical music on the piano but I just switched from that to jazz,” he said.
A
lthough Magnus has a brilliant mind, he is very modest about what parts of his talents came from nurture, and what parts came through nature.
Keep in mind that Magnus does not keep his piano talents segregated to the home. Two years ago, the Hurst-based Artisan Center Theater invited Magnus to perform for its audiences prior to certain shows at the location.
“I would say a lot of the math came from my parents...the music, not so “It was a good opportunity to play in front of people,” Magnus said. much,” he said with a chuckle. During these performances for crowds of around 200 people, the Magnus said he originally became interested in music when he young man played some of his jazz transcriptions by memory and started playing with toy keyboards before 5. lacking any sense of nerves. “When I was 5 I took a class in keyboard and then they said I was really talented and recommended I start taking piano lessons,” he said. Since 5-years-old Magnus had been taking piano lessons and mastering the art of the ivory keys. Currently, Magnus does not have a piano teacher and has been playing for the fun of it. According to Mark, Magnus had run out of significantly new topics to learn in music theory when he was 12. It was at this point that Magnus began to become interested in transcribing jazz music and making the venture a large musical project.
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Magnus said that in the near future he will be playing for upcoming SLAM events and has performed in past get togethers for the magazine in accordance with DFW PAC. Though my time was relatively limited with the boy genius, I can thoroughly say that I am grateful to have had the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with one of the brightest minds in the country. It’s not too often that one is able to experience brilliance first-hand in their own backyard.
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MUSIC
Local Teen Ready to Perform in All-State By Rich Romero At a first glance, Sophia Formella may seem like an average Carroll Senior High School student. However, underneath her high school persona lies a vocalist that has belted her way to the top of the Texas singing tier. Formella, a junior in high school is a part of this year’s All-State Choir - a pristine organization that whittles down its applicants from 15,000 to 400 final individuals. Formella said she has been involved in auditions for All-State since she was a freshman
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in high school. She said the first two years of auditions did not get her the gold, but her perseverance paid off this year when she had the honor of being a part of the choir.
Formella said the competition begins at a district level, moves into regional, pre-area, area and finally, All-State.
“I think it’s an honor…I’m really happy with all of the work that I put into it,” Formella said in an interview with SLAM.
The cumulative of the experience is a concert in San Antonio on February 14, 2015. The program is put on by the Texas Music Educators association and involves choirs of several different variants.
Formella said the process to audition begins in October and ends in January. All competitors have to learn 10 pieces of music. Formella said she mainly worked on a German composition by Bach that was 100 pages long.
Formella said she is excited to perform and will definitely be competing for another spot in All-State next year.
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THE ART OF THE GRACE NOTE
MUSIC
THE ART OF THE GRACE NOTE By Rich Romero
Ashleigh Smith, local Hall Music Production Studios instructor, recently won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. In an interview with SLAM, Smith said that this was her second time competing in the competition. She had originally entered in 2012 and received the First Runner-Up award. “It was a really big learning experience for me… it was my first solo, big performance,” Smith said, adding that she was only 23 at the time and was the “baby” of the competition. Smith admitted that the first experience was nerve racking, but in the end she was able to mature as an artist and was better prepared for the coming years as a performer in the jazz music scene. Apparently, her experience has paid off resulting in a win for the 2014 competition. “It was a night/day thing performance-wise. I felt settled with who I was as a singer,” Smith said. She then went into explaining that the two years between the competitions had helped her to understand who she was, vocally, demeanor-wise on stage while performing. “I was just more grounded, kind of set, with who I was. This year was a big difference.” Smith said that in cases like this competition she simply does her best and just enjoys the outcome of the experience knowing that she gave her all. “I never think I’m going to win at anything I do,” Smith said. “You just never know what is going to happen.”
Smith’s last point proved true seeing as she referred to her final performance in the competition as an honest “train wreck.” While attempting to perform the classic song “Tight” by Betty Carter, Smith said she experienced several mishaps. Smith said the accompanying band had to restart the song three times, the last time she decided just to keep going to get the song sung. She also said keys of the music were changed too early, and her scat solo was cut in half. “I thought I was going to show it, but I didn’t,” She said with the sound of a smile in her voice. “I didn’t panic but it was not my best performance. ..When I won, I was actually completely flabbergasted.” After the competition, Smith discovered the Judges had her picked already as a potential winner, and her composure was what ultimately convinced the judges to choose her. Based on her performance, talent and grace on stage, Smith won a large sum of money and a record deal with Concord Records that spans three records. Smith said she has to finish the first record by June and is in the planning stages of the creation process. “It is happening, slowly, but it IS happening.” Smith is excited about the experience because she has always wanted to create good music and touch people. “Making good music was always the goal, “ Smith said. She feels she has accomplished this locally and is eager to now do this on a larger scale. Once the first album is released, a tour is definitely the next step. She said she will work with the label to get that done but is eager to go all over the country. “I can’t wait to go back home to Georgia,” Smith excitedly proclaimed while adding that she has a performance in Georgia at a venue called the Velvet Room in March.
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THE THE
Smith said in LaGrange, Georgia, she grew up in a musician family and was exposed to music at an early age. Between the ages of 8 and 9, she realized music was her life’s calling. Smith said this occurred after hearing her father play the record “How High The Moon” by Ella Fitzgerald. After talking with her father, Smith learned that the song’s scats were improvised and thus became excited about singing and jazz. “I was completely enamored with that. Whatever she did, was whatever I wanted to do.” Smith said if she could, she would love to have had a conversation with Ella Fitzgerald. “I would ask her if she could possibly let me into her mind and see what she thinks while she solos… I just want a ten minute lesson from her, and ask her advice.” Smith describes her music as a mix of R&B, Jazz, Soul Fusion, calling it “feel good music with a message.” Smith said she pulls from every music she’s ever heard towards making her unique sound. “There is something for everybody….which I like. It sounds like my iPod.” Some of her musical influences include: Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson. Smith says her music and tastes reflect being raised around all different types of music. “Hopefully you’ll hear all that I like in the music.” In 2009, Smith moved to Denton to study Jazz at the University of North Texas. In 2011, she earned a degree from the University in Jazz Studies and Vocal Performance. Smith is currently employed by HMPS teaching basic voice, piano and songwriting. She said one of the best things about her job is that she gets to work with her 32
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friends and enjoys being part of the age of people’s musical exploration. “It excites me. …everything I do for a living includes music,” Smith said. Smith said that the life she leads has its pros as well as its cons. She said the great thing about her career is her ability to see the world while doing what she loves and being grateful enough to touch a large amount of people doing what she does. She also enjoys seeing how different people relate to what her songs express. “You create your own world view while traveling,” she said. She did admit that the road can make it difficult to have a personal life and maintain even familial relationships. “That’s the biggest con…it just takes more work to do if you’re not in one place all the time.” Although the road to stardom can be unpredictable and wild, Ashleigh Smith is definitely a name to listen out for in the next few years.
ALIGNING OF SPORTS STARS
VISUAL ART
PAINTINGS SPANNING THREE DECADES CONVERGE AT CHARITY EVENT
It was like a meteorological light show — the aligning of three sports luminaries and the artwork that I created of each in different decades: Norm Hitzges, Emmitt Smith, and Tony Dorsett. It all started when my friend Joel Lenamon of Colleyville approached me about creating a painting of Norm Hitzges, the sports-talk icon who hosts a popular weekday radio show on The Ticket 1310 AM/96.7 FM. During his show, Norm analyzes professional and college sports, and engages with just about any sports personality he wishes to interview. The man is a legend in sports broadcasting and has a tremendous nationwide following because of his game forecasts and boisterous personality. You sit with Norm for a few minutes and laughter is sure to quickly erupt. Among his many accomplishments, Norm has authored four books, been inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame, and is the TV play-byplay announcer for the Dallas Sidekicks.
But there were other reasons to create a special painting. The 14th Annual Norm-AThon, held the day after Christmas to raise funds for the Austin Street Center for the homeless, was fast approaching, as well as the 40th anniversary of Norm’s broadcasting career. Joel wanted me to create this painting because he had recently acquired another special piece of artwork from me for his collection: “Wash Reflects,” which depicts former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, a man I met in 2012 and whom I tremendously respect and admire. So, on a bright November day just two months ago, Joel, Norm, and Norm’s wife, professional photographer Mary Danz Hitzges, visited my art studio, and through our animated conversation, we began dreaming of a concept for the painting. In the meantime, Joel saw another painting hanging in my home of Dallas Cowboys running back and Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, which I had created around 1993, when I was chief illustrator for The Dallas Morning News. That piece of art had been with me for two
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decades, but Joel and I decided to donate it to the Norm-A-Thon auction. Norm got Emmitt to sign the painting and then asked me to be on his marathon broadcast, which was held at Starpower in North Dallas on Dec. 26, 2014, and was sponsored by Whataburger. On the day of the event, realizing that my interview would follow Tony Dorsett’s, I impulsively searched through my extensive art archive and found a gem just minutes before I had to leave for Dallas. It was an illustration I had created of Tony Dorsett when he was a rookie running back for the Dallas Cowboys and I was a rookie illustrator working for The El Paso Times. I had created that art piece in 1977 for the Sports section cover, and it was still in good shape. It’s a multi-media piece created on art board with pencil, airbrush, acrylic, and Tempra, a paint medium that I don’t see in the art market anymore. Before I went on the air, I was able to visit with Tony, as many of his admirers crowded around us, and he very graciously signed the 37-year-old illustration for me. This is a piece that won’t go back in the archive but will have a place of honor in my home. The 18-hour Norm-A-Thon had begun early that morning and by now it was afternoon. Calls were coming in as people bid on auction
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items and made donations to the Austin Street Center, which provides emergency shelter and services for homeless men and women in Dallas. Throughout the day, Norm interviewed some guests in person and others via telephone. The guest list was impressive: Goose Gosselin (The Dallas Morning News), Jim Nill (Dallas Stars general manager), Jordan Spieth (hot young golfer on the PGA Tour), Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher and three-time Cy Young Award winner), Tony Dorsett (1976 Heisman Trophy winner, Dallas Cowboy, and Hall of Famer), Lamberto Alvarez (acclaimed local sports artist), Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank personality), Josh Hamilton (Angels outfielder and former Texas Rangers slugger), Lee Trevino (professional golf legend), Ralph Strangis (Dallas Stars playby-play announcer), Donovan Lewis (of The Ticket’s BaD Radio Show), and Mark Followill (Mavs play-by-play announcer). My interview with Norm was a blast. He knows how to make a guest feel at ease and keeps the mood fun. Afterward came the art presentation. Although Norm knew about the painting, he had not seen it in progress. So it was a surprise when Joel and I unveiled “Normaverse.” The title and concept that
Mary, Joel, and I had conceived depicts Norm in the center of his universe surrounded by “planets” of sports balls with a rush of racehorses streaking across the horizon, symbolizing another of Norm’s passions. He was truly tickled by the paining, and it now hangs in his office. The Norm-A-Thon was a huge success and brought in a whopping $348,000 for the Austin Street Center. The winning bidder for the Emmitt Smith painting was none other than Mary Danz Hitzges. Never as a young artist, when I created that art piece of Tony Dorsett in 1977, would I have dreamed that my degree of separation from these sports giants would come down to 1 degree. As Norm completed the Norm-A-Thon at midnight, he listed his guests one more time. I was honored to have my name sandwiched between these great personalities: Clayton Kershaw, Tony Dorsett, Lamberto, Mark Cuban, Josh Hamilton, and Lee Trevino. For me, it was a monumental day that featured three of my art pieces; a day I will always treasure.
- Lamberto™
SANDWICH!
“The quintessential “N’awlins” (New Orleans) an aioli and grill it to give a nice garlicky bite. carrots, cauliflower, green olives and olive oil. sandwich, the Muffaletta. Most everyone When it comes to building the sandwich, well, Of course it got much better over the years knows that this sandwich originated at the that’s where the argument begins! Some start as one shop tried to outdo the other. Ours Sicilian-owned Central Grocery in New with olive salad, others meat, olives, cheese, is a combination of Mediterranean green Orleans years ago. Workers would come in and more meat. It all adds to the mystery of and black olives mixed with pepperoncini, and grab meats, cheeses and olive salad the taste of the sandwich. We like to build banana peppers, artichoke hearts, capers, to eat. The owner started to put all the a base with two types of cheeses, a smoky spices and olive oil. To serve the sandwich, it ingredients on a bread called a Muffaletta. provolone plays well off a tart baby swiss. is cut into quarters for easier handling. That’s right - the bread is a Muffaletta, not Both cheeses add something to a peppery the sandwich, but that is where the name mortadella, covered by both salty dry cured A few other “N’awlins” favorites including originated. Now everyone has their favorite Genoa salami, and a spicy smoked capicola. “The Debris” and “The Ferdie” will also be place for a Muffaletta, but like a pizza, they are Then comes what the show is all about. (This available through the month of February at all made the same and they are all different at is one sandwich where the meat and the Weinberger’s of Grapevine. Laissez les bon the same time. We at Weinberger’s use a 10” cheese compliment the mix.) What’s the mix? temps rouler!!!!” sesame roll. We take the roll and cover it with It started as a Giardiniera, a garden mix of southlake ARTS
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An adventurous white blend from California. THE PRISONER
Blindfold The 2012 Blindfold received high reviews from the Wine Advocate, garnering a 93 points. The 2013 vintage however is giving us mixed signals. According to The Prisoner website, the 2013 received a 90, yet local grocery stores and online wine distributors maintain its 93. What happened? Was the initial review overzealous? Was there some sort of vino politics in play that has caused the 3 point subtraction? Did the introduction of honeysuckle to the blend rub the revered reviewers the wrong way? Did they long for the rose petals that are now missing? Did the marshmallow take things just too far? Whatever the case, the blindfold is still bursting with flavor! The prisoner is a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Semillon. Hailing from the vineyards of Napa Valley (Stagecoach, Rodgers, Somerston), Sonoma/ Carneros (Sangiacomo, La Prenda, Kunde) & Santa Barbara (Camp 4, Vogelzang).
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According to The Prisoner: The wine opens up with alluring aromas of freshly peeled mandarin orange, peach nectar, and honeydew melon. Hints of white citrus blossom, marzipan and toasted hazelnut add a nice layer of complexity. On the palate, the wine has a rich creamy entry that is balanced by bright acidity and minerality. These characteristics carry through to the finish with flavors of lime zest and toasted marshmallow. This wine is quite an adventure for the educated palate. An innovative blend with a high quality result.
REX GOURLEY FROM BEAR CREEK SPIRITS AND WINE SAYS: This new blend by winemaker Jen Beloz and her team sought out interesting Rhone varietals (Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc) along with some aromatic varietals (Semillon and Riesling) that would compliment a classic Chardonnay base. Slightly oak aged, the result is a wine that is complex and delicious.
Shown: The simply beautiful Miller table.
FUNNY, WE CAN’T PICTURE
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