Suffolk Living magazine

suffolklivingmag.com

touched Inked, rubbed and molded

september/october 2014 • vol. 5, no.5

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sept.-oct. | 2014 contents EDITORIAL R.E. Spears III Editor Tracy Agnew News Editor Matthew A. Ward Staff Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com

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On the cover:

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PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

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ADMINISTRATION Steve Stewart Publisher

Suffolk Living is published six times per year

by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com (757) 539-3437

Hands-on approach A silent chat Janet Drew likes to get her hands dirty when she’s at work.

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A good masseuse can hear your body’s complaints with only a touch.

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IN THE NEWS | PEANUT FEST

34

WHERE AM I? | Guess the location correctly and you could win a $25 gift certificate.

suffolklivingmag.com

touched INKED, RUBBED AND MOLDED

september/october 2014 t WPM OP

Cover photo by Troy Cooper

Advertising rates and information available upon request.

Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions.

Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC• P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439

6 suffolk living

what to do

Art D'Vine Diamonds and Denim

Ongoing The Suffolk Division of Tourism is partnering with the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts to present “The Mystery of a Masterpiece,” an eye-popping exhibit featuring artists’ modern interpretation of book covers from iconic texts. Artists have conjured vivid imagery based on a selection of 100 classic texts and contemporary bestsellers, from Jane Eyre and The Great Gatsby to The Hunger Games and Beloved. The free exhibition will be on display at the Suffolk Center’s Norfolk Foundation and BB&T Galleries through Nov. 8., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday. The conclusion of this exhibit will be held in conjunction with the Suffolk Mystery Author’s Festival, scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

Tuesday September 16 The Suffolk News-Herald and Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront are spicing up Suffolk with the Taste of Home Cooking School. Attendees will experience two hours of delectable demonstrations by the talented Taste of Home chef Char Morse. At 4 p.m., the doors will open to everyone for an elaborate vendor show, where you can meet, sample and buy from area merchants. Attendees will each receive a goodie bag with sweet treats from Taste of Home, national sponsors and local businesses. VIP ticket holders will enjoy an exclusive VIP pre-show party catered

by Panera Bread from 5 to 6 p.m. Each VIP guest will receive a goodie bag complete with the newest edition of Taste of Home's Busy Family cookbook. VIP ticket holders will also enjoy an

exclusive meet-and-greet and book signing with chef Char. VIP guests will also have special seating.

General admission tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show. VIP admission is $35. For more information, call 934-9602. Buy tickets at tinyurl.com/suffolktaste.

Sunday September 21 River Stone Chophouse, located at 8032 Harbour View Blvd., will host the Passion for Paws Picnic and Whiskers Wine Tasting event on behalf of the Suffolk Humane Society, from noon to 4 p.m. This family- and dog-friendly event will feature unique and homemade food, wines, live music, games, contests, a silent auction, a wine auction and more.

Well-behaved, vaccinated dogs are welcome and can get in free with a paying human. All proceeds will be donated to the Suffolk Humane Society.

The cost is $15 for the picnic (adults) and $8 for children 12 and under. The cost is $20 for the wine tasting. For more information, visit www. suffolkhumanesociety.com.

Friday September 26 The annual Suffolk Peanut Fest Queen’s Banquet gets a new twist this year, as it becomes an evening event, with dinner at the Suffolk Hilton

Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com

Garden Inn on East Constance Road. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is set for 7 p.m. A Peanut Fest Queen has been honored at every Peanut Festival since 1941. In recent years, the queen has been chosen from among 10 girls — two from each public and private high school in Suffolk — the rest of whom become the queen’s court. This year’s banquet, which is hosted by the Pilot Club of Suffolk, will include a silent auction, the opportunity to buy pumpkin centerpieces decorated by Pilot Club members and local artists and live musical entertainment by Neil Forrester.

Tickets are $30 and must be purchased in advance at the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St. Call 514-4130 for more information.

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will hold its wine and art celebration, Art d’Vine Diamonds and Denim, at 7 p.m. to benefit the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Foundation. Enjoy live and silent auctions, exceptional cuisine and wine pairings with live entertainment. The event supports the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Foundation. Tickets are $55 for members and $60 for non-members.

For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org.

Saturday September 27 Ridick’s Folly House Museum will hold a free American Girl program, “Meet Kirsten Larson,” at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. There will be 4 sittings: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Ages 5 and up are welcome. Call for reservations at 934-0822 or email riddicksfolly@

suffolk living

what to do

Peanut Fest Parade

verizon.net.

Saturday October 4 Healthy People Healthy Suffolk will hold its fourth annual Peanut Fest 5K Run/Walk and 1-mile walk at Constant’s Wharf, behind the Suffolk Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront, at 7:30 a.m. The event is free, and there will be a prize drawing for participants following completion of the events. This is not an officially timed event.

The Suffolk Peanut Fest parade will be held in the downtown area beginning at 10 a.m. The parade serves as the official kick-off for the city’s hugely popular festival, which begins the following Thursday. The parade route is along West Washington and North Main Streets.

The Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society will hold its third annual Touch a Truck, Train and More event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 North Main St. This interactive event allows children to see, touch, and explore their favorite big trucks and vehicles and to meet the personnel who protect, serve and build Suffolk. Vehicles on display routinely include construction trucks, emergency responders, tractortrailers, and utility trucks. Adults and interested children will also have the opportunity to view vintage automobiles and farm equipment. The event will be held rain or shine, and tickets are $4 each or $14 for four.

Thursday October 9 The Suffolk Peanut Fest opens with the traditional Suffolk Ruritan Club Shrimp Feast, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Executive Airport. This year’s event will feature The Deloreans as entertainment, and there will be plenty of shrimp and other foods available, along with adult and non-alcoholic beverages. A ticket exchange is available for those who got rained out of the event last year. Tickets for those not exchanging are $30 in advance with free parking, or $40 at the gate. Those buying at the gate will have to pay

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8 suffolk living $10 to park, and limited quantities of gate tickets are available, so advance purchase is encouraged. For more information, call 514-4130 or 434-9240.

The event is geared toward adults and children 12 and older. Admission is $5 at the door.

Thursday-Sunday October 9-12 The 37th annual Suffolk Peanut Fest will be held at the Suffolk Executive Airport. Hours are 2 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. This family-friendly event honors the city's agricultural heritage and devotion to peanuts. Known for its fun family activities, Suffolk Peanut Fest offers concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, a demolition derby, motorcycle rally, fireworks and much more.

Visit www.suffolkfest.org or see Page 24 for more information.

Saturday November 1 The Nansemond River Pilot Club will hold its ninth annual Fall Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront. Get started on your Christmas shopping with approximately 50 craft vendors selling items including handmade jewelry, soaps, clothing, artwork, pottery, purses, home décor and more. There will also be baked goods and door prize raffles. Admission is free. For more information, call 621-3736.

Sunday October 12 Ride the 80-mile perimeter of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge during the 13th annual Suffolk Swamp Roar Motorcycle Rally.

Participants will receive a VIP reception and a complimentary parking pass to Peanut Fest. The cost is $20, and proceeds benefit Great Dismal Swamp educational programs. Staging of bikes starts at 9 a.m., with departure at 10:30 a.m. and return to the Suffolk Executive Airport at 2 p.m. For more information, call visit www.suffolk-fun.com Saturday & Sunday October 18-19 The village of Driver will hold its annual Driver Days festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. There will be face painting, carnival games, pumpkin painting, bounce houses, pony and train rides, food, live music, a car show, a motorcycle run and a wellness fair during this free event. For more information, visit www.driverevents.com.

Friday & Saturday October 24-25 Suffolk Parks and Recreation will hold Legends of the Armory from 7 to 11 p.m. both nights. Be prepared for spooks and scares as you wind through the maze at the haunted National Guard Armory, located at 2761 Godwin Blvd.

Saturday November 8 The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave., will host a Mystery Authors Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mystery authors will be signing their books and participating in a moderated panel discussion. There will also be workshops, light refreshments, musical entertainment and door prizes, as well as readings throughout the day. Authors scheduled to attend include Ellery Adams, Mollie Cox Bryan, Erika Chase, Vicki Delany, Annie Knox (who also writes as Wendy Lyn Watson), Mary Burton, LynDee Walker, Amanda Lee (who also writes as Gayle Trent), Joyce & Jim Lavene (who also write as J.J. Cook and Ellie Grant) and Maggie Sefton. Dawn Dowdle, from the Blue Ridge Literary Agency, and Jeni Chepelle, a freelance editor, are also scheduled to attend. There is no fee to attend. RSVP to kkelley@suffolkva.us by Nov. 1 in order to be entered into a prize drawing. This new event is a partnership between the Suffolk Division of Tourism, the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and the Suffolk Public Library. For more information, call 514-4131 or email kkelley@suffolkva.us.

Saturday November 15 The Suffolk Humane Society will hold its 11th annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Riverfront Swim Club, 5301 Sports Club Run Road.

Four-legged friends are invited to participate. For more information, visit www.suffolkhumanesociety.com.

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9

suffolk scene

Raft Race

The Chuckatuck Creek Raft Race, a Fourth of July tradition, was held a day late on July 5 this year, due to Hurricane Arthur. Clockwise from above, Chuck Pierce, Ernie Anderson and Brian Kaine do some last-minute work on their raft ahead of the race; spectators watch the rafts come up the creek; Sam Saunders, 9, Jennifer Saunders, Kimberly Nierman and Aly Nierman enjoy the day; Spencer Wells, Matt Crane, Amanda Thompson and Michael and Debbie Zirpolo enjoy the sunshine; and “Captain” Dick Erdt, Magen Cornett, Amy Varnell and John Smithwick catch up.

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10 suffolk living

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suffolk scene

First Day of School

Suffolk students went back to school ready for a new year on Sept. 2, and parents and grandparents shared their photos of the big day. Clockwise from top left are La'Qaejah Hamlin, 8, who is entering the third grade at Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School; Kendall Fairlie, who is starting kindergarten at Creekside Elementary School, taken by mom Mary Fairlie; Sean Murphy, a new sixth-grader at John Yeates Middle School, taken by mom Sarah Murphy; Seth Murphy, a fourth-grader at Driver Elementary School, taken by mom Sarah Murphy; Emmalyne Rose Carter, an Early Start student at Kilby Shores Elementary School, taken by grandmother Donna Kirk; and Djemila Bayor-Harper, 10, an Elephant’s Fork Elementary School student, with dad Oran Harper, taken by mom Latoya Dawkins-Harper.

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12 suffolk living

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suffolk scene TGIF

TGIF concerts throughout the summer offer free musical entertainment and Friday evening fun at Constant’s Wharf and Bennett’s Creek Parks. Pictured clockwise from left are Katie Garrett and Nancy and John Reid at Bennett’s Creek Park on Aug. 22; Amy Yost with son Colton Yost, 5, at Constant’s Wharf on July 11; Renwick and Ramona Neal, Esther Perry, and Lisa and John Bilotta at Constant’s Wharf on July 11; and Chrystal Ward and Lois Wiggins at Bennett’s Creek Park on Aug. 22.

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suffolk scene 4th of July Celebration

The calendar said July 18, but it felt like Independence Day at Constant’s Wharf. The city’s fireworks and other patriotic festivities were postponed because of bad weather on the holiday. Clockwise from right, Xiare Graham receives his duck pluck prize from Nat Knight and McGruff the Crime Dog; among the families that came out to see the fireworks were, from left, Tyler Curran, Mary Curran holding Olivia Curran, Jacob Curran, and Mary’s mom Becky Criner holding Mason Criner, who was having fun with a bottle cap on his eye; Billy and Connie Todd and Susan and Mike Group enjoy the evening; Abigail Edwards, 19 months, plays in the National Night Out duck pluck pool; and Allan and Connie Holland enjoy the music.

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suffolk living

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suffolk scene

National Night Out

National Night Out was held on Aug. 5 in Suffolk, with thousands of citizens at dozens of communities participating in the crime-fighting and community-building event. Clockwise from above, Cordero Gatling Jr., in the back, and twins Gyona and Gyoni Cross snack on popcorn at Peanut Park; Suffolk Fire and Rescueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Michael Joseph smiles for the camera with Harbour Breeze residents Melissa Posilero and son Mason, 15 months, and Joe Bentley; Nat Knight, the National Night Out mascot, holds 4-year-old Kayla Pattle at the Belmont Park National Night Out celebration; Lila and Sophie Downey show off the poster they made for the poster contest at the West End Civic League celebration; and Tammy Pope and Tracey Pope cook burgers and hotdogs at Peanut Park.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW A. WARD AND TRACY AGNEW

18 suffolk living

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Happy Healthy Cats Month You can tell a cat’s mood by watching his tail. Tail upright, happy; tail moving languidly, keep petting me; tail low, twitching erratically, I’m on the prowl; tail swishing rapidly, beware and leave me alone.

If you’ve ever been surprised when a cat you’re petting suddenly grabs you angrily, you missed a tail tale: The unhappy twitch of the tail tip would have told you to stop petting, now.

suffolk living

19

on vacation

on vacation

The last couple of editions of Suffolk Living magazine have been all around the world — or at least the Western Hemisphere — during the past month or two. Clockwise from bottom left: Susan Blair and husband Joe Alvarez have Suffolk Living in hand and Medellin, Colombia, at their backs during a trip to the South American nation; Carol Harry traveled back to her hometown in Ohio to celebrate her father’s (first row, second from left) 97th birthday and shared the magazine with relatives from Oregon, Florida, Virginia and North and South Carolina ranging in age from 1 to 97; Emma Rafferty takes a break from the hard life avoiding sharks at Waikiki Beach to catch up on her reading; Connie Brooks of Suffolk and Charlotte Lilley of Carrollton found a beach closer to home for their vacation, carrying Suffolk Living along to Ormond Beach at Daytona, Fla.; Betsy Pollard skipped the beach and opted for a pair of running shoes when she took the magazine — and her parents Lou and Bill Pollard — to watch her compete in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races at the AAU Junior Olympics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Are you running away, too? Be sure to pack Suffolk Living in your knapsack and snap a photo along the way. Send your On Vacation photos to news@ suffolklivingmag.com. Beaches or mountains. Domestic or international.

Don’t worry — we pack light. submitted photos

20 suffolk living

Janet Drew constructs a rabbit's head â&#x20AC;&#x201D; her current obsession â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from clay in her home studio on a recent Saturday morning. She said she tries to get to the studio often, as it helps her relax.

suffolk living

21

A hands-on approach This medium requires artist to get her hands dirty story by Tracy Agnew photography by Troy Cooper

J

anet Drew’s workspace at her Lake Prince-area home has the mark of disorganization that seems to distinguish all artists’ workspaces.

Supplies and materials are scattered in empty tubs and jars that previously held butter, yogurt, sharp cheddar cheese spread and boysenberry preserves. Windowsills are populated with small plastic animals. Projects she wasn’t pleased with are laid out on trays — “If I don’t keep track of what I do, I’m liable to repeat it,” she explained — and the comparatively few projects that did meet her high standards are displayed on shelves.

“I’m probably my own worst critic,” she said.

Drew is a clay artist and retired elementary art teacher. Early in her career, she gravitated toward painting and took a class in clay only because of her job.

“Clay is something children really love,” she said. “Most children like clay because it’s so responsive. Whatever they do to it, it stays there.”

See CLAY page 22

22 suffolk living

“I have to fight distractions. If I can get half a day out here, I’m happy.”

Janet Drew — Clay Artist

CLAY continued from page 21

But through the class, Drew discovered she liked working with clay. She left painting in the dust — literally.

When it’s dry, the substance that forms clay is quite dusty. But once it’s mixed with water in exact quantities, it can be molded into just about any shape imaginable.

Drew has done cylinder shapes and slab work, but these days she’s fixated on animals — particularly rabbits.

“I make one, then I think of another way of doing it,” she said.

There are different techniques of working with clay. Even non-artists are probably familiar with the wheel, which can be used to make cylinders as the artist controls the spin of the wheel with a foot pedal and shapes the clay as it turns.

But for Drew’s rabbits and other animals, only hand-building and pinching will do.

“Depending on what you’re making, you have to See CLAY page 23

At top, Janet Drew uses her wheel to craft a cylinder. Above, one of the many pieces of art sitting around her studio.

suffolk living

23

Rabbits, rabbits everywhere — Janet Drew said she keeps discarded work around so she'll remember not to repeat something she didn't like. Below, one of her favorite rabbit's-head creations.

CLAY continued from page 22

choose a technique that’s going to get you where you want to go,” she said. “It’s best to get your ideas in order before you actually start.”

Drew makes the rabbits by starting with a large ball for the head, from which she cuts a cone and inverts it to make the snout, smoothing out the seams. From there she can make impressions for the eye sockets and put in eyes and eyelids.

“The eyes are fun to make, because the thing just comes alive when he has eyes,” she said.

Drew enjoys feeling the clay as she works, but sometimes it’s necessary to use tools. Her favorite is an old knitting needle she found in a chest she purchased from an antiques store.

“I think with certain techniques, you touch the clay more than with other techniques,” she said.

Not everybody likes the feeling of clay on their hands, though. In more than 30 years of teaching — first in Massachusetts, then in Virginia — she ran across some kids who couldn’t tolerate it.

“I’ve had kids that didn’t want to touch it,” she said. “They said it feels yucky.”

The feeling of clay on her hands and the quiet of her studio help relieve stress, Drew said. But even though she and her husband are both retired, it’s hard to find the time.

“I have to fight distractions,” she said. “If I can get half a day out here, I’m happy.” ←

24 suffolk living

in the news

the medium and the mess-age

story by R.E. Spears III file photography

For most folks at the Suffolk Peanut Fest Oct. 9-12, their memories will be about the flash of the lights along the midway, the crash of metal at the demolition derby, a dash of pepper on something fried and delicious.

But for a select few who are chosen to smash their hands into a blob of specially made peanut butter, the memories will be of a more tactile nature.

The peanut butter sculpture contest is one of the little things that keeps Peanut Fest from becoming a generic country fair. Its unique proposition: Give the festival queen and her court — along with other festival officials and invited luminaries — a block of specially created peanut butter, start the clock and then let them release their inner artists.

The results are — let’s say — inconsistent, but the medium is not the most forgiving one, either.

“You can be as creative as you want to be, but it’s still hard to carve peanut butter,” warns Theresa Earles, Suffolk’s tourism director and the volunteer public relations officer for the nonprofit Peanut Fest.

Winning isn’t the point of the contest, anyway. It’s all about fun, and it reflects the fun family atmosphere of the festival as a whole. And this year, Earles says, there will be more fun on tap than ever before.

“There’s quite a bit of entertainment this year,” she said.

National recording artists Colt Ford, Parmalee and Darryl Worley will take the main stage for separate shifts on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, regional favorites Joint Therapy and The Holiday Band will play there. And in something new for Peanut Fest this year, there will be an after-party featuring the Kevin Mac Band at the main stage Thursday evening for those leaving the Ruritan Shrimp Feast or taking advantage of the chance to visit the event early.

“We’re giving them one more reason to stay,” she said.

Entertainment will not be limited to the Budweiser Main Stage, though, as organizers have set up a full range of popular area performers for the Peanut Lounge. And the Family Harvest Stage will feature a stream of school bands and choral groups, local dance troupes and other local flavor, including a Saturday evening karaoke contest.

“Peanut Fest is very close to my heart,” Earles said. “It’s a wonderful See FEST page 25

suffolk living

FEST continued from page 24

family event, and it has become a family tradition for a lot of Suffolkians. It’s a little piece of Suffolk.”

This will be the event’s 37th year, and even with updates it will feel familiar to those who have come to love it.

As in years past, the Friday night demolition derby will be a highlight for visitors, kids will flock to the rides on the midway and the runways of the host Suffolk Executive Airport will be lined with food vendors selling the kinds of treats only an annual fair attracts. There will be agricultural exhibits, camel rides, games and fun for the family.

This year’s theme is “We’re nutty about America,” and attendees are being asked to rock their best red, white and blue threads when visiting, Earles said.

For more information about Peanut Fest, visit www.suffolkfest.org.

Top, sunset over the midway at Peanut Fest in 2012. At right, Demolition Derby contestants battle it out in 2010.

25

26 suffolk living

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suffolk living 27

through the lens: innocensia salazar

I

nnocensia ‘Cristy’ Salazar says she is a “mostly self-taught” photographer.

She always has had a love for the arts, but when she picked up a camera in 1995, everything changed for her. In 2004, she finally opened I.C.Y Designs.

“I take a photo-journalistic view to all I do,” she says. “My approach is different — I like to be in the moment.” Even photographing weddings and events, she’s likely to step back and allow things to unfold, rather than set up formulaic shots.

Through the Lens is usually a color feature, but we made an exception in the case of Salazar’s arresting images. “I shoot 90 percent of the time in black and white,” she says. “I feel it allows our eyes to focus on the true moment, capturing the raw emotion.”

See more of Salazar’s work at www.icydesignsllc.com.

If you’re an amateur or professional photographer in Suffolk and you’d like your work to be considered for Through the Lens, email editor Res Spears at news@suffolklivingmag.com.

28 suffolk living

suffolk living 29

the

Folks

Art transforms the skin you’re in

S

story by Matthew A. Ward photography by R.E. Spears III

uffolk tattoo artist Mike Cann isn’t a man to shy away from a challenge — or a little pain.

The 25-year-old co-owner of Folk City Tattoo on Bridge Road first got “inked” at 16.

After getting his apprenticeship at 18 and becoming an artist of renown in the industry, he has become intimate with the experience from the other side of the needle.

Tattoo artists must be licensed a minimum of seven years to take on apprentices, and they can be reluctant to do so, because it eats into their earning capacity, so an apprenticeship at such a young age was an achievement in itself.

“I already had one lined up,” Cann said. “I had been going into shops talking to people.”

But he has hardly rested on the accomplishment.

In 2011, Cann set a new world record for the longest tattoo session, inking a dozen people in 35 hours, eight minutes and 48 seconds.

“It was hard to get someone to come in at 4 a.m., but other than that it was pretty easy,” he said.

Those tattoos added to an ever-growing body of knowledge that’s more than skin deep.

ART WITH A HISTORY

Tattoos mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but everyone shares with modern practitioners of the ancient art a debt of gratitude to America’s greatest inventor.

Perhaps better known for giving us the light bulb, Thomas Edison also invented the first known device in America to use an electric-coil motor, the electric pen. That pen was the predecessor of the modern tattoo machine, and Edison is considered by many today to be the father of modern tattooing.

See Tattoo page 30

Mike Cann gets close to his work as he inks the outline of a fennec fox on the right calf of the coincidentally named Michael McCann of Gloucester Point during a recent session at Folk City Tattoo in North Suffolk.

30 suffolk living

TATTOO continued from page 29

Nate Hudson, 36, Cann’s business partner, provided this illuminating history while showing Suffolk Living around Folk City.

The pair worked together at a studio in Virginia Beach before deciding to strike out on their own. Folk City opened in 2010.

Hudson confirmed something often pondered: The shop was named for the last four letters of "Suffolk."

Because it’s located in Hampton Roads’ most countrified city, Folk City’s owners went for a country theme — or something akin to country.

Moonshine jugs, stuffed wildlife, shotguns and other assorted firearms, hillbilly paraphernalia of all descriptions — it would be hard to accurately classify the interior decorating.

A GROWING BUSINESS

Cann and Hudson soon opened another Folk City, in Hampton, and they started the Hampton Roads Tattoo Festival with Cann’s father John Cann and his magazine, Twisted Ink. Like many tattoo artists, they’re traveling men.

“Me and Mike travel and do tattoo conventions all over the country,” Hudson said. “We came back from Florida one weekend and were like, man, we could do this here.”

The first festival, in March 2011, had nearly 10,000 visitors and more

than 200 artists from across the country, he said.

They subsequently started two more annual festivals in Virginia Beach, and a third one kicks off in Raleigh, N.C. in September.

A SOCIAL COMPONENT

One of the biggest changes in the business in recent years has been the influence of social media.

When Cann started, MySpace and Facebook were how artists disseminated their work. “Once every three weeks, you would upload 30 photos,” Cann said.

But nowadays with Instagram, it’s … instant. “As soon as we finish a tattoo, we post it immediately,” Cann said.

Because the world can see that work straightaway, artists today are pushing themselves that much harder to expand the boundaries.

“It’s getting out of control with how good the work is getting,” Cann said.

But he also lamented that clients sometimes don’t appreciate the artistic potential. “Ideas aren’t the best they could be, and a lot of that’s because they can’t understand how crazy they could get,” he said.

Cann and Hudson both cite reality TV, shows like A&E’s “Epic Ink,” as having grown the industry. Getting inked is now more socially acceptable, with soccer moms even coming in for tattoos.

See TATTOO page 31

suffolk living 31

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Folk City artist Davy Sheets chats with a customer recently in the front of the eclectically designed store in North Suffolk.

TATTOO continued from page 30

“You’ve got people that (had) never seen that culture, and it’s right in front of their face,” Cann said.

“We tattoo somebody who’s in their 70s or 80s on a weekly basis,” Hudson said. “They see the quality of the art nowadays — there’s a great tattoo artist in every city in America. Everywhere you go you see a tattoo.”

In this area, of course, the high concentration of military members and veterans factors into the art form’s popularity.

Though different types have proliferated, Cann and Hudson both use tattoo machines based on Edison’s original design. As a musician will stick with a sweet-toned old guitar even though it’s falling to bits, tattoo artists will remain faithful to their instruments, Cann said.

But they find their taste in tattoo art to be ever-evolving.

Hudson likes to do “goofy takes on animals. Anything with googley eyes and crazy teeth I’m happy with.” He shows a photograph of “a geisha with a snake face and an octopus tongue,” for which the client sat for nine hours.

Cann said he prefers “new-school tattooing, which is basically realistic animations.” But then he scratches that, saying, “Anything goes — I can do whatever you want.”

“I learn something with every tattoo,” Cann said. “What I like today won’t be what I like tomorrow or the next day.” ←

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32 suffolk living

where am I?

I

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you could be a winner.

Go out and enjoy Suffolk! photo by Suzanne Pruitt

suffolk living 33

A silent chat

Your body can say a lot to your masseuse story by Tracy Agnew photography by Mallorie Danielle Photography

H

umans use their sense of touch for many things — among those things to learn more about the world around them, to anticipate potential harm and to show emotion.

But some people actually communicate through their sense of touch.

Sheila Slocum is one of them.

An experienced masseuse can listen to a client’s body in the same way a beginner might listen to the client saying what problems she has, says Slocum, who owns Hands On Massage on Bridge Road.

“After a while, the body talks to you,” Slocum said. “It tells you if you listen.”

Slocum strikes up a conversation with her client lying flat on a table.

Lotion is a must, along with scents and music if the client so desires.

Items like hot stones are a special bonus.

Slocum loves hugs and has always been a “touchy-feely person,” she says, which obviously makes her a natural fit for her job. She got into it after working for a chiropractor, where her clients often asked her to come home with them — only half-joking.

“I decided to go to school for massage, and I love it,” Slocum said. “If you’re a people person, it’s a really good field to be in. It’s the best job in the world. You get to talk to people. You get to know them.”

See MASSAGE page 35

34 suffolk living

Massage therapists use a number of techniques to allow their clients to get the most out of their experience. Hot stones, seen above and opposite page, provide relaxing heat and pressure as the massage therapist moves them. Above left, the neck and shoulders are trouble spots for many people and are a must to work on during a session. At left, the feet and hands shouldn't be neglected. Below, lotions of various scents help set the mood and allow the therapist's hands to move more freely.

suffolk living 35

MASSAGE continued from page 33

And when she says she talks to people, she only partially means using voice and hearing to communicate.

“The body tells you everything, from if they slouch their shoulders to how they walk to how they sit,” she said. “You just touch a person, and you know.”

Slocum said she needs only a few seconds on a person’s body to know where their trouble areas are. Sometimes, she only gets a few seconds — she’s worked on people in the grocery store, as well as at events like the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, National Night Out, the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, and the Suffolk Humane Society’s Mutt Strut — where she got the chance to massage some four-legged clients as well.

The best part of her job is seeing people who came in hunched over and stressed walk out taller with straighter shoulders, she said.

“The world of massage is wonderful,” Slocum said, noting all the different specialties one can go into.

There’s the Swedish massage, done purely for relaxation; there are medical and therapeutic massages; there are massage therapies to treat the pain and discomfort of certain conditions, like pregnancy or TMJ disorders, which cause pain in the jaw joint.

There are also less conventional techniques — at least less conventional in the United States — such as Chinese cupping, which involves large suction cups placed on the client’s back and moved across the back to separate the layer of skin from the muscle underneath.

“The muscles can be very hard,” said Slocum, noting how difficult it can be for the masseuse to work out all the kinks on the client’s body. “It really pushes you to the limit.” ←

“The body tells you everything, from if they slouch their shoulders to how they walk to how they sit. You just touch a person, and you know.”

Shiela Slocum — Masseuse

36 suffolk living

suffolk living 37

index of advertisers Academy Animal Care.......18 Airfield Conference Center.12 Anderson & Anderson......18 Autumn Care.....................12 Bayport FCU................................7 Blair Brothers....................14 Chorey & Associates.........40 Christian & Pugh Well.........18 Consulate Health..............18 The Cove...........................10 Davenport & Co................26 Davis Lakes Campground..10 D.B. Bowles Jewelers........10 Drs. Jett, Sellers and LaRusso...12 Dr. Steven Gwaltney, DDS........39 Duke Automotive.........................9 East End Baptist Church….10 Ellen Drames.......................2 Farmers Bank.......................4 Harbour Veterinary Office...14

Last edition’s Where Am I?

Historic St. Luke's Church......26 Isle of Wight Academy.......12 Jani-King.......................14 Lions Bridge Financial.......10 LW's Lawn Service..............31 Mega 'Dors........................14 Nansemond Exteriors........37 Peanut Kids.........................4 Rawlings Mechanical.........14 R.L. Howell DDS.................26 Sentara Cardiology..............3 Suffolk Animal Hospital......31 Suffolk Christian Academy....18 Suffolk Eye Physicians.........26 Suffolk Public Schools........10 The Village at Woods Edge....16 Zoyo Yogurt............................31

We went from too easy in the last Where Am I challenge to too hard in this one. Nobody got the right answer to this one, which is a shot looking up at an electrical tower in Harbour View. We try to mix up the level of challenge, but we don’t want to make the game impossible to win!

We think readers will find the photo in this edition, located on Page where am I? 32, to be a little I easier to identify.

Good luck, and remember that you can win a $25 gift certificate from one of our Suffolk Living advertisers if your name is drawn from the correct entries.

34 suffolk living

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner.

Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

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38 suffolk living

scrapbook

Having a party redux: This photo is an encore presentation of a Scrapbook photo printed in the July/August edition of Suffolk Living magazine. At the time of the first printing, we knew only that it depicted Superintendent William Savage serving teachers, including a Miss Yeates at the far left, during a school division party in September 1952. We received several calls and emails from friends and family of the subjects, and we can now give a fuller report. Serving Savage his hot dog at the party was Eva Pruden (right), mother of Tapelle Pruden, who taught math at Suffolk High School. Others who have been positively identified are Gladys Yeates (left) and Page Joyner Worrell (third from right), who would have been a first-year teacher at the time. Callers believe the woman to Worrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right is either Vera Bryant or Anna Koontz. Thanks for all your help with the identification, Suffolk. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Photo courtesy of Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society

suffolk living 39

Dr. J. Ryland Gwaltney

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4