Issue Magazine - June 2015 by The Art Studio, Inc.

THE ARTS MAGAZINE OF THE ART STUDIO, INC.

LONG, HOT SUMMER SEE PAGE 8

JUNE 2015

INSIDE: GEEKS’ SUMMER GUIDE, FRANK & NANCY NEWTON, ALTERNATIVE SHOW, AND MORE

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Weekday lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wedding Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners • Meals to go

10% discount for artists 500 Main Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas

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John James James AAudubon udubon (1785-1851), (1785-1851), aartist; r tist; RRobert ober t Havell, Havell, JJr.r. ((1793-1878), 1793-1878), engraver; e n g r av e r ; John Passenger Pigeon, PPiigeon, 1829, 1829, etching etching aand nd aaquatint quatint on on ppaper, aper, hand-colored, hand-colored, iinn The The BBirds irds of of America, America, Passenger Volume Museum Volume IIII, II, Stark St a r k M useum of of Art, Ar t, OOrange, range, TTexas. exas. 11.1.2.C. 11.1.2.C. PPhotograph hotograph by by Will Will France. F r a n c e.

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ISSUE Vol. 21, No. 9 Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Art Studio, Inc.

A View From The Top Greg Busceme, TASI Director

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Coughlan Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracy Danna Contributing Writers . Caitlin Duerler, Tim Collins, . . . . . . . . Kyle Swearingen, Jacqueline Hays Contributing Photographers . . . . . . Caitlin Duerler . . . . . . . Jac’quor Williams, Kyle Swearingen Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Van Gerven

HELLO EVERYONE AND HOPE your summer is starting out like it should. Our summer ArtsKool program is slated for the weeks of July 13 and July 20, a little earlier this year as scheduling made it possible to avoid the August heat — as if we could tell August heat from July heat. Nonetheless, there is a difference. We have a great line up of artists eager to teach your young ones something about art. I will be teaching ceramics/raku, Joe Winston and John Fulbright will lead the film photography class and Elizabeth Fontenot will return as our printmaker doing lino cuts with the kids. Andy Ledesma is back making papier mache creatures and having a ball with it, as usual, as will Sheila Busceme who will teach color theory and drawing to our upcoming artists. Art is a way for young people to explore their world, to bring to fruition an idea, a concept, that can take real form in a lino cut or a ball of clay or an exposed photographic sheet of paper.

The Art Studio, Inc. Board of Directors President Ex-Officio . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Busceme Vice-President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Busceme Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Roberts Members at Large: . . . . . . . . . . . Sheila Busceme, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth French, Andy Ledesma, Stephan Malick, Heather Butler The Art Studio, Inc. 720 Franklin Beaumont, TX 77701 409-838-5393 www.artstudio.org info@artstudio.org

Exposing children to art at any age is a positive experience for the development of a child. Through art, complex problem solving is exercised, as well as cognitive thinking, mathematical skills and retention of information. Most of all, it’s just plain fun. You don’t need to encourage a child to make art any more than you need to encourage a child to eat ice cream. Most kids migrate to these things automatically. I hope your child gets the chance to participate in this year’s ArtsKool because we are ready to teach them. On the first of May I had another small heart episode. With a couple of stents I was out of danger, but it makes me think what if? What if it was major or fatal, and who would take my place and who would decide that. The Studio has been privileged to have amazing volunteers through the

See VIEW on page 14

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ART STUDIO The ISSUE is a monthly publication of The Art Studio, Inc. Its mission is to publicize The Art Studio and its tenants, and to promote the growth of the arts in Southeast Texas. ISSUE is also charged with informing TASI members of projects, progress, achievements and setbacks in TASI’s well-being. Further, ISSUE strives to promote and distribute the writings of local authors in its “Thoughtcrime” feature. ISSUE is provided free of charge to members of TASI and is also available, free of charge, at more than 30 locations in Southeast Texas. Regular features include local artists of note and reputation who are not currently exhibiting at TASI; artists currently or soon to be exhibiting at TASI; Instructional articles for artists; news stories regarding the state of TASI’s organization; and arts news features dealing with general philosophical issues of interest to artists.

Contents Collectors Frank and Nancy Newton . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Sterns Price at AMSET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Alternative Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 Summer ArtsKool details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 The Geek’s Summer Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Hot Metal at LU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Pride Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Will Stark at High Street Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 “The Other Mozart” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

The Alternative Show Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 6

The Annual Tenants Show Opening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 5

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4 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

A Cartography of Commitment

Frank and Nancy Newton’s Beaumont home reﬂects a lifetime of shared passion for collecting art.

NEWTON’S ART COLLECTION REFLECTS LIFETIME OF PARTNERSHIP, TRAVEL Story and photos by Caitlin Duerler

This is the latest in an ongoing series about Southeast Texas ar t collectors. FRANK AND NANCY NEWTON have mapped their personal history though the accumulation of art works from around the Western hemisphere. From the time of their marriage

and the early days living in New York City, to summers in Mexico where Frank led university programs, the couple have acquired pieces to commemorate times spent in their different homes. Since the late ’60s, the Newtons have shared a passion for galleries. “We just enjoyed going to art museums, and it started when we lived in New York,” Frank said. “It is not an interest that is really shared by other members of the fam-

ily — it is just something we liked, so collecting is something that has been happening over many years.” Dependent only on their own judgement and a common aesthetic, the couple formed their collection. “We would go to galleries where we lived, and when we saw art that we liked and could afford, we would buy it,” Frank said. “Unlike some collectors, we have not used individuals to advise us.” Nancy interjected.

Volume 21, No. 9

“We probably wouldn’t listen to them anyway!” The couple laughed and Frank continued. “…which probably results in some strange combinations, but the works come from a lot of different sources.” While the pair have not drawn on advice from consultants, they have researched the art they have purchased, and are accomplished art historians in their own right. The interior of their beautiful, West End Beaumont home mirrors the white walls found in contemporary galleries. Art works are arranged tastefully in rooms, pieces partnered with complimentary works so the eyes are not overwhelmed. Framed paintings and drawings of various scales bring color and light to the rooms. While most of the art is two-dimensional works on paper, the couple have small sculptures from Mexican and Texan artists — including a piece by the famous Texan sculptor James Surls. However, the Newtons are not necessarily attracted to accumulating art by big names, but rather to works that reflect the experience of selecting pieces together. “Virtually everything we own, we saw and bought when we were together,” Frank said. “Like anyone else, there are pieces that we prefer, and like any other taste over time, you may change what you like. But largely this is based on accessible art that we found attractive. “We also do not collect multiple pieces by the same artist — these are all different artists. Our collection, compared to most people’s, is atypical in how it was purchased and the contents.” After collecting for more than 40 years, the breadth of the couple’s collection ranges from ancient Clovis points created in North America some 40,000 years ago to 21st-century works. Most impressive is the presence of artists underrepresented in the art world, including many women artists, gay artists, African American artists during the 20th century diaspora, and even a work by Clifford Possom — an Australian Aboriginal artist. From their days in Mexico, the couple acquired a piece by Valetta Swann, who exhibited with Frida Kahlo.

This Alexander Calder piece is one of the earliest works Frank and Nancy Newton purchased together, with leftover money from Frank’s scholarship at NYU.

June 2015 ISSUE • 5

The room that houses several Mexican drawings, above, is set out like its own gallery, with a simple bench in the middle and displays on all four walls. Works on paper and sculptures, below, make up most of the Newton’s collection. The couple have a story associated with many of the art works: the Mayan artifacts stumbled upon from a sale at a museum in Mexico, a work from their son’s professor in Indiana. The central piece in their living room, Leonard Baskin’s “Man of Peace,” brings back a happy memory from the couple’s time in Washington, D.C. Frank, who is a lawyer, was finishing a lecture for the American Association of Law schools while Nancy patiently waited for him. After he finished, she mentioned that rain was imminent and they ought to hail a taxi to make it back to their place — however, Frank insisted on walking. “We start off down Connecticut Avenue and, sure enough, it starts raining and Nancy and I duck into this art gallery,” he said. “It is pouring down outside and we’re not seeing anything we like very much in the gallery. “She wanders off to the back and comes back and says, ‘I’ve found a piece I love, we have to get it.’ So she had found the Leonard Baskin. She says now, that was the most expensive taxi ride that I never gave her.” Since 2002, the Newtons have lived in Beaumont. Frank serves as president and CEO of The Beaumont Foundation, a charitable institution that generates grants for underserved people in communities across the United States, while Nancy is the librarian at All Saints Episcopal School. Their home is a living testament to their dedication to art and to each other. The Newton’s collection is a sur-

vey, not only of fine art, but of the stories of a couple’s commitment and the many places they have called home.

6 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

A journey with ‘Mike’ AMSET HOSTS HOMECOMING EXHIBITION FOR PIONEERING SETX ARTIST WILL-AMELIA STERNS PRICE was a wife, mother and grandmother — she was also a pioneering artist who was a driving force in the burgeoning Southeast Texas arts scene of the mid-20th century. In the Art Museum of Southeast Texas’ exhibition, “Will-Amelia Sterns Price: Mike’s Road To Taos,” the full breadth of this influential Beaumont artist has been lovingly gathered by her grandson, Stanley K. Price. The “Mike” of the show’s title is Sterns Price herself. She earned the nickname when a patron telephoned and jokingly asked for “Michelangelo.” The name stuck. The exhibition’s catalogue features an essay by the artists where she describes Will-Amelia — named for her father and her maternal grandmother — as problematic, because people assumed her name was Wilhelmina. At the opening, Stanley talked about the surprise he had when his grandmother was featured in an AMSET show a few years ago. He did not realize the influence she had had on the local arts scene, and the high regard in which her work was held. Until that time, she was simply his grandmother. The children rarely saw her work, as she would stop and devote her time to them when they were around. Stanley was inspired to become a historian of Mike’s work, and the catalogue features several of her writings that describe how she developed her love of art. In 1934, at the age of 27, Mike and her family spent the summer in Taos, an arts community that had rapidly become a mecca for painters, musicians and writers. While she was there, Mike visited Walter Ufer, one of the founding arts colonists, and after some persuasion on her part, she became his student. The 1935 watercolor “Taos Communal House” is a fine rendering of a New Mexico abobe. “Shrimper” and “Untitled (Old House)” are dark and do not reflect the bright light that would later be the hallmark of Mike’s work. Her husband was transferred to Beaumont in 1942 and Mike helped found the Beaumont Art League, serving as its first president, and later the Beaumont Art Museum, now the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, which hosts the current exhibition. The portraits of family and friends from the mid to late ’50s find the artist working on developing a craft.

Review by Andy Coughlan

THE GORGE by Will-Amelia Sterns Price “St. Francis of Assisi” from the same period, has elements of cubism subtly worked into its background, both in its design and its color pallet. Remember, Mike was a dedicated mother yet she still found time to paint. However, by the 1950s, once the children were older, she became more prolific. “Dock,” painted in 1960, sees Mike break from the purely representational, the boats floating not just on the water, but also in front of a background that is more suggestion that representation, often little more than slabs of color. In 1962, when her friend Doel Reed retires to Taos, Mike and her husband make plans to do the same. The couple bought a house in there in 1967. The Taos-inspired landscapes she painted over the rest of her life reflect the rich, deeply vibrant colors that are a trademark of the paintings from that area. 1977’s “Arroyo” and “Sagebrush” are excellent examples of the Taos style, with the sparse mountain terrain alive with a dynamism. These are purely landscape, but as

the 1980s arrived, Mike began to drift away from the purely representational into an almost expressionistic style. “Corndancers” features a pair of semi-abstracted, red-clad dancers, which segues into “Poppy Fields” with its giant slab texture — it is brilliant, both in rendition and in the bright color that generates from within. The sumptuous “The Gorge” is the perfect hybrid of luminous landscape and rough-hewn brush strokes. The sun is setting just around the corner, with one side, to quote Dylan Thomas, “raging against the dying of the light” from the creeping shadows. Illness led to a return to Beaumont where WillAmelia Sterns Price died in 1995. Her “Road to Taos” — and back — is a journey that the discerning Southeast Texas art lover will want to take. “Will-Amelia Sterns Price: Mike’s Road To Taos” is on display through Sept. 6. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is located at 500 Main St. in Beaumont. For information, visit www.amset.org.

Volume 21, No. 9

June 2015 ISSUE • 7

Alternative Show opens June 6, submission due June 4-6 SUBMITTING ART TO A gallery can be intimidating. An artist may believe his art is not worthy to be hung and will be rejected. However, The Art Studio, Inc. will offer an opportunity for artists to hang their work without rejection at The Alternative Show, opening June 6. Submissions will be accepted 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., June 2-4, and there is no entry fee. Artists may submit up to three pieces. The show opens with a reception 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 6, and runs through June 28. “You can put in anything — sculpture, painting, whatever you got,” TASI tenant Kailee Viator says. “It could be just something completely, totally out there. That’s kind of the point. And it’s a huge show.” Viator says The Alternative Show is a way for artists who have not exhibited before to get a start. “Some people are nervous about showing their work, you know?” she says. “It’s a good way to get yourself out there, especially if you’ve never shown before. What’s the point of making something if you’re not going to show it to people?” The Alternative Show has been a staple every June. Tenant Gina Garcia says it is one of the best shows of the year because everyone gets to bring in whatever they want. “Basically, it’s kind of fearless,” she says. “It’s very outlaw art, and that’s what I like about it. We always get a really great turnout. We get so many pieces that we line the walls. There’s art everywhere. “Anyone can come and enter and we accept all. That’s really good, because it helps people get over the fear. Sometimes it’s intimidating to bring art in.” TASI administrator Elizabeth French says the Alternative Show offers an opportunity for people who make art but don’t have experience with galleries. “They just make art because they have to,” she says.

Story by Tim Collins

“Maybe they didn’t go to Lamar for art school or anywhere, so they don’t know how it all works, but they’re kind of intimidated by that gallery — I think a lot of people are. Everybody has to put their name on it. You have to claim it.” The Alternative Show traditionally receives a lot of entries, which makes the show unpredictable. “You can’t really do much for it except get your invitation out and make a call for entries pretty early,” she says. “It’s not just a row of art, it’s everywhere. We had to limit (the number of entries), otherwise we’d have to turn people away. “It’s really for the community to be able to participate in the gallery process and get their art hung in a gallery for a full month.” Everyone is allowed to submit art to the Alternative Show, and there is no limit to what kind of art can be submitted. “We don’t care whether you’ve made art before or not,” French says. “If you have the guts and energy to put it up and put it together, bring it in. It could be something you did 25 years ago — there’s no parameters.” Though it’s challenging to hang such a large show, French says, the exhibit is always exciting. “There’s so much, so many different kinds of artists and so many different kinds of art, and it’s fun,” she says. “It’s just like, ‘Alright, this is it. Let’s hang it up.’ Sometimes it just keeps climbing up the walls. It’s nice to have a parent and their child, their artwork hanging in the gallery together.” With the large number of pieces, The Alternative Show openings are normally a fun party. “That’s a lot of people, and all of them are friends, and everybody wants to see their work,” French says. “It’s exciting, but it’s unexpected. You never know what you’re gonna get.” For more information, call 409-838-5393, or visit www.artstudio.org.

TASI ArtsKool set for July 13-17, 20-24 THE ART STUDIO, INC.’S summer 2015 ArtsKool for ages 10 and up will be held July 13-17 and July 20-24. Cost for morning and afternoon classes is $200 for each week. Morning or afternoon only week-long sessions are $100. The morning classes, which are held 9:30 a.m. to noon, include drawing, linocut printmaking and film photography. Afternoon classes will be held 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and include ceramics/raku, paper maché and sculpture.

Instructors for the week are Sheila Busceme: Drawing & Color Theory; Elizabeth Fontenot: Linocut Printmaking; Greg Busceme Sr.: Ceramics / Raku; Andy Ledesma: Paper Mache Sculpture; Joe Winston and John Fulbright: Film Photography. “Students will experience the creative processes like the artists at The Studio,” administrator Elizabeth French said. “Emphasis will be on different techniques and time management, plus there will be a small reception in the gallery featuring the artworks created by the students.”

Families are encouraged to attend the “opening” at the end of each week, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays. Students can take home all projects after the reception Friday evening. Students are encouraged to “Dress for Mess!” An apron or smock is recommended. No cell phone use will be permitted in class. Students attending all day should bring lunch. The Studio will provide beverages. All art supplies are included in price of ArtsKool. For more information, call 409-838-5393.

8 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

We’ll have Fun, fun, Our resident geek highlights summer treats for the non-outdoorsy SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE and at the time of this writing, the Astros are No. 1 in the American League, which puts this year in the running for one of the greatest years in baseball history, which, in turn, puts it in the running for greatest year in recorded history. But when you’re not watching the most ragtag, fun loving team since the 2004 Red Sox, you can keep yourself entertained with these little pieces of pop culture.

Commentary by Jeff Dixon (Jeff Dixon loves movies and comic books in a way that often terrifies him. You can follow his insane ramblings on Twitter @ThatJeffDixon)

Ant Man

JURASSIC WORLD — This is the big one. Right behind “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is this monster just waiting to drain every drop of nostalgia you have left in your brain. John Hammond’s original vision of a park unlike any other has finally been realized but, you guessed it, the dinosaurs get out and run amuck. It’s up to Chris Pratt and a team of trained raptors to save the day. How can you not want to see that? Did you read that sentence? Here’s hoping for a surprise cameo by Jeff Goldblum at the end. BIG GAME — When Air Force One is shot down over Finland by rogue terrorists, it’s up to a young Finnish boy to keep the president alive as they make their way through the forest. Oh, by the way, Samuel L. Jackson is playing the president. This is the first big budget release for Jalmari Helander, director of “Rare Exports.” This film is sort of flying under the radar, so if you happen to notice a screening nearby, jump on

it. I guarantee it will be the most badass Finnish action movie you’ll see all year. ANT-MAN — If I’m being honest, we, and by we I mean comic book fans, we all thought “Guardians of the Galaxy” wasn’t going to work. Honestly, up until that first trailer I had no idea how they were going to pull it off and they knocked it out of the park. Because of that I have been optimistic about “Ant-Man.” True, he may be a founding Avenger but he’s never been able to hold down his own ongoing series, and even the limited series he’s been in haven’t been that well received. But damn, this looks incredible. Michael Douglas stars as Hank Pym, one of the smartest men in the Marvel Universe. Once, in the comics, Pym built a lab coat with a singularity in the pocket so he could store anything he wanted. For a lab coat! In the film, Pym’s AntMan suit that allows the wearer to shrink down to the size of an ant — I know — and also talk to ants through a psychic helmet, is stolen by a business rival. So Pym employs Scott Lang, a career criminal played by Paul Rudd, to steal the suit back. I just can’t wait to see how this all plays out. I know it will be good and I’m betting so many little kids will have Ant-Man costumes this Halloween. TRAINWRECK — If you don’t know who Amy Schumer is you probably haven’t been on the Internet in a few weeks. Google her and come back, I’ll wait. … See? Funny right? OK, now imagine her dating Bill Hader in a Judd Apa-

Volume 21, No. 9

June 2015 ISSUE • 9

Fun, ’til Daddy takes

tow-directed movie. Sounds pretty good right? Yeah it does! Schumer plays a woman in her early 30s who still goes out drinking almost every night and can’t figure out what Hader’s character sees in her. Hilarity is bound to ensue. SOUTHPAW — I’ll go see anything Jake Gyllenhaal stars in. I’ll also go see anything Antoine Fuqua directs. So I think it’s fair to say I’m pretty jazzed about “Southpaw.” Gyllenhaal gained 40 pounds of muscle for this role, transforming himself into quite the intimidating fighter. But just like all the best sports movies,

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. — If there were a midway point between the new James Bond movies and the swinging ’60s of the Austin Powers films it would be “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” This remake of the original series stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer and is directed by Guy Ritchie. Honestly, from the trailer I have no idea what the plot is but it does look really sleek and cool in a way that only movies set in the ’60s can look. Oh, and just to get it out of the way, Henry Cavill just looks like Superman. It’s not that “Man of Steel” fixed that in my mind, because let’s face it — it wasn’t good enough to do that. But the man just looks like Superman. I mean did he even have to audition? Did he just walk in and they were like, “Well I guess we’re done here.”? STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON — This is the movie for everyone that was in high school during the ’90s. This is our “Ray,” our “Sid and Nancy.” Ice Cube’s own son is playing him in a movie about the most important time in his dad’s life. How can you not get hyped about that? Paul Giammatti in a movie about gangsta rap? Yes please! Whatever I have to do to see this movie I will do it. The soundtrack alone is enough to get a normal human being that lived through

the ’90s excited. SECRET WARS — This is the big event from Marvel for the summer and if the movies have been piquing your interest, this is where I would start, because apparently, it’s going to “change everything.” Some are fearing a reboot akin to the one DC put out a few years ago, but for the most part it seems like they’ll just be pulling characters from alternate realities and futures and melding them into one cohesive universe. What does that mean for readers? It means a fight to the death between universes. And a lot of cool mini-series. Here’s how weird this is getting, one of the new books is called “Thors.” It’s about all the alternate universe Thors teaming up to bring law and order to this event. There’s also one about all the different SpiderMen teaming up to do science together and stop this whole thing from blowing up in everyone’s face. Oh and there’s also the main series “Secret Wars,” written by Jonathan Hickman who has been setting this whole thing up for years in the pages of Avengers and Fantastic Four. Well, I’m off to spend hours and hours listening to the Astros win baseball games on the radio. I have a date with a huge glass of ice tea and a nice sunny patio. I suggest you do the same. And when it gets too hot, pop into a theater or a comic shop and see what kind of stories you find. Mahalo!

the wi-fi away!

this film looks to be less about fighting and more about why we fight. There’s Oscar buzz already for this one and its high time the Academy recognized how amazing Gyllenhaal is after they snubbed him for “Zodiac” and “Nightcrawler.”

TURNING UP

10 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

IRON POUR RAISES FUNDS FOR LU ART More than 1,100 pounds of iron were dumped into the furnace, and an expectant crowd of almost 50 shielded themselves from the intense heat as they waited for the students and faculty to pour molten metal into 70 molds, May 2, at Lamar University. Visiting artists Hans Molzberger, from Houston Baptist University, Jeffery Brewer and Lauren McAdams, from Stephen F. Austin University, and Dewayne Hughes from the University of Texas-Tyler, joined faculty, students and alumni for the pour. The iron was melted at 2600 degrees, and when the iron was fully melted, the bott — a clay plug — was broken and liquid metal ran into the ladle, as sparks ﬂew around the facility. Teams of students, wearing heavy protective gear, poured the iron into the molds, which were bought and designed by visitors of all ages as part of the fundraiser. After half an hour, the metal had cooled enough for the molds to be broken open and the scultures were doused with water. It was hot work, but everyone agreed the resulting artworks were “cool.”

Volume 21, No. 9

June 2015 ISSUE • 11

THE HEAT

Photo story by Jac’quor Williams and Andy Coughlan

12 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

Beaumont’s second Pride festival set for June 13 YOUNG, OLD, GAY, STRAIGHT — all are invited to wrap themselves in leather, rainbows, glitter or suits for the second-annual Beaumont Pride, June 13, in downtown Beaumont. “Last year, we brought more than three thousand people together for a single purpose,” Shawn Hare, committee chair, said. “That is a beautiful thing.” The LGBTQIA Pride walk commences at 11:30 a.m., at 1393 Broadway. Participants will continue downtown to Crockett Street. The family-friendly Pride festival opens at noon. Admission is free with a one-time $7 cover for indoor venues, The Gig, Tequila Rok and The Red Room. Tequila Rok will house live music. “Beaumont’s live music enthusiasts are excited to revive one of our scene’s favorite stages,” Olivia Busceme, entertainment chair, said. Pride will showcase local and out-oftown bands, she said. “We have made sure there is something for everyone in this lineup, which ranges from electro-pop to country grunge, doo wop to funk,” Busceme said. Pride will again play host to local artists. “We are happy to be able to showcase local artists at Beaumont Pride. It sets our city’s Pride festival apart from others,” Busceme said. “Not only are we a proud LGBT community, we are proud of the creativity that our community at large has to offer. We are glad that everyone can come together for peace and love when it is needed most.” The Gig stage is reserved for performance arts. “It is exciting to have a specific space for the drag queens because they have always played a pivotal role in the development of the queer community,” Chance Henson, marketing chair, said. “These aren’t just performance artists. They are dedicated to the community

Story by Jacqueline Hays

and dedicated to creating change here — to serve as positive role models for at-risk, Southeast Texas LGBT people.” Drag queens were on the front lines during the Stonewall Riots, which initiated the modern gay rights movement, he said. Pride 2015 is themed “Preserving Our Past–Ensuring Our Future.” “We want to celebrate the roots of our local LGBTQIA community and culture,” Hare said. “But we also want to set the stage for healthy growth in our area.” Pride, traditionally held in June, originated with the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. The Riots were in response to police brutality and raids on gay establishments. “We recognize that we must learn from our local and national history in order to meet our mission,” Hare said. “We must use education, participation and visibility to develop a strong, sustainable Southeast Texas queer community.” Pride has initiated substantial change in the area, Henson said. “We have seen positive changes with a reduction in high-risk behaviors in our community and greater involvement with community service organizations that are sponsored and supported by Pride,” Henson said. Beaumont Pride is a non-profit organization, which raises funds for area services like the Southeast Texas Food Bank, Palm Center and Triangle Area Network. “Pride fest 2014 received a number of awards and accolades, including best Southeast Texas Festival,” Hare said. “We’re working to live up to that standard by bringing in the best food, entertainment, arts, music and drag queens.” Pride will feature more than a dozen food trucks and a play performed by Ad Hoc. Dozens of street performers will be milling about, with a fire show at dusk. Suga’s Deep South Cuisine and Jazz Bar and Fame will provide entertainment during Pride. The festival has grown larger than

one block, Hare said. “It is a thrilling experience when people from Houston to Manhattan tell us that they want to come to Beaumont Pride,” Hare said. “Beaumont is the center of an extremely rich culture and people from all over want to come here to experience it.

“We welcome everyone and their families to come help us celebrate this wonderful community.” The event is all ages until 9 p.m. when patrons must be 18 to enter indoor venues. For more information, visit Beaumont-Pride.org or their Facebook page.

Volume 21, No. 9

June 2015 ISSUE • 13

Will Stark show to create ‘Safe Space’ “THE NAKED MAN IS the most striking figure in human form.” Photographer Will Stark says that in today’s world, we are conditioned to think of the nude as being exclusively female. However, his new exhibition of photographs, “Safe Space,” seeks to turn that perception on its head. “There is the feminist movement that I believe in, but it’s kind of only a one-handed fight,” he says. “Women have said they are strong, but now I think it’s time to showcase good guys.” “Safe Space” opens June 16 at the High Street Gallery, with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Stark says that not all men are villains, and his work seeks to show that males have value and their own vulnerabilities. “We have demonized certain kinds of males — like the football player that knocks out his girlfriend in the elevator — but what

Story by Kyle Swearingen

Mission Statement Founded in 1983, The Art Studio, Inc. is devoted to: providing opportunities for interaction between the public and the Southeast Texas community of artists; furnishing affordable studio space to originating artists of every medium; promoting cultural growth and diversity of all art forms in Southeast Texas; and providing art educational opportunities to everyone, of every age, regardless of income level, race, national origin, sex or religion. PURPOSE The purpose of The Art Studio, Inc. is to (1) provide educational opportunities between the general public and the community of artists and (2) to offer sustained support for the artist by operating a non-profit cooperative to provide studio space and exhibition space to working artists and crafts people, and to provide an area for group work sessions for those artists and crafts people to jointly offer their labor, ideas, and enthusiasm to each other. GOALS 1. To present public exhibitions 2. To provide educational opportunities 3. To provide accessible equipment for artists 4. To provide peer feedback through association with other artists and crafts people OBJECTIVES 1. To present nine art exhibitions per year 2. To maintain equipment for artists in a safe working environment 3. To provide better access to artists for the public 4. To offer regularly scheduled adult and children’s classes 5. To develop and maintain public activities with all sectors of the community 6. To develop and maintain equipment to aid artists in their work 7. To provide a display retail outlet for artists 8. To expand programming and activities with increased facility space

“Safe Space,” Will Stark’s exhibition of photographs of male nudes, will open June 13 at High Street Gallery.

about the good males?” he says. “The males I have chosen are all great guys. “I think the next thing is to have a pro-male movement that says these are good guys and we should follow their example.” Stark says that the idea of the show is to promote the idea of unity between the sexes. “It’s not just a feminist movement, it’s an ‘All’ movement — let’s just evolve as people,” he says. The photographs in the show aim to present a balance between planned technique and “happy accident,” Stark says. “People get super technical with their work, but there is a balance, because a lot of stuff comes by accident,” he says. “A lot of stuff comes from that moment where you have an idea — the balance is somewhere between trying to hone your system and trying to play jazz.” The images are captured moments, Stark says. “(It) is kind of like hunting,” he says. “When you shoot a gun, there is a moment when you know you are on target — I just try not to tense up and try not to lose focus at the same time.” Stark is a Beaumont native who works in advertising sales at the Beaumont Enterprise. “I got into photography midway through high school — I went to Kelly,” he says. “Then in college I got more interested, and by the time I got out of college I was shooting a lot. “I used to work at The Art Studio Inc. years back, painting upstairs. Recently they added the dark room and I started utilizing that.” Lighting plays a huge role in his work, Stark says. “When I start shooting, I start with three lights — I set them all up the same,” he says. “I take three cameras with a roll in each and I do it with full lights on. I then begin to manipulate the lights in a way that create these illusions. “I’m not really shooting my models. Yeah, I’m taking very graphic and detailed pictures of them, but I’m taking pictures of the tone, of the shadows. I’m writing with light and using their forms as the paper. In the beginning, it’s kind of supernatural and then it moves to something very contrasted.” Stark says that the show’s title refers to a place that is inclusive for different kinds of people. “The Art Studio, Inc. and the High Street Gallery are both ‘Safe Spaces,’” he says. “My models are guys that, if anyone around them caused a problem, would step up and make it a safe space.” The exhibition will include approximately 50 unframed black and white prints. “The black and white is used because it’s all we have — we can’t process color by hand and at the Art Studio, everything is by hand,” Stark says. “I’m hanging my prints with wood clasp hangers on wires, because I really want people to be with the paper. I don’t want glass. There is a certain power when it’s just you and the paper.” Stark says that the show is very personal. “I want to invite people into my head,” he says. “I can communicate better through an image than I can through talking or writing.” ‘Safe Space’ will run through July 4. For more information, visit High Street Gallery’s website at www.nakeddads.org.

14 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

‘THE OTHER MOZART’ COMES TO BEAUMONT IN JUNE

RECENT ART STUDIO NEW OR RENEWING MEMBERS INDIVIDUAL John Alexander Monica Arias Kathleen Boudreaux Sandra Hammerling Jef Russell III FAMILY/GROUP Milton & Hester Bell Margo Holst Marilyn & Bob Lanser Doug & Ros Mattingly FRIEND/BUSINESS Dexter Augier C. Delle Bates Neches Engineers Mary Ellen vonNetzer

Sara Florence Fellini plays Nannerl Mozart in “The Other Mozart,” June 4-13 at the Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts. ACCLAIMED AS “STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL” by the New York Times, “The Other Mozart,” a one-woman show telling the little-known story of Mozart’s talented sister, travels from New York City to the Beaumont stage for a limited run the first two weekends in June. The exciting new play features Sara Florence Fellini as Nannerl Mozart, a virtuoso performer and composer in her own time whose contributions were long forgotten. “The Other Mozart” by Sylvia Milo, who originated the role, uses stories and lines from family letters to tell Nannerl’s charming and sometimes heartbreaking story.

Ad Hoc Beaumont, an independent Southeast Texas theater group committed to producing fresh, new theatrical works, is producing the show in collaboration with Beaumont Community Players. The intimate, 75-minute show takes place atop an opulent 18-foot dress designed for the production. The Drama Desk-nominated sound design features music composers of Nannerl’s time, including her famous brother and Marianna Martines, a female composer who inspired her, as well as original works by Nathan Davis and Phyllis Chen of International Contemporary Ensemble using teacups, fans, bells and other household objects.

With the opulent beauty of the dress and hair design, the sweet smell of perfume, and clouds of dusting powder rising from the stage, “The Other Mozart” is a multi-sensual experience that transports the audience into a world of outsized beauty and delight — but also of overwhelming restrictions and prejudice against women. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 4-6 and June 12-13 with a matinee at 2 p.m. June 6 at Beaumont Community Players’ Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 4155 Laurel Ave. in Beaumont. Tickets are available for $20 at beaumontcommunityplayers.com or email adhocbeaumont@gmail.com.

WE WANT YOU FOR BAND NITE This is the last issue of the season. We will return in September. If you would like to advertise in the new-look publication, email

info@artstudio.org and our ad rep will visit you. Have a great summer.

Listen to original music by local musicians at For upcoming gigs, visit The Studio’s facebook page

admission

All ages welcome • 21 and up BYOB and have your ID.

SUSTAINING Rob Clark & Jerry Thacker

VIEW from page 3 years who treat this vocation like a high-paying job. How long can we depend on that and what happens if it breaks down? For these reasons, a good solution would be a strong and involved board of directors. A board can be impartial and utilize a broad range of participants to get things done. A board can direct The Studio to have a paid staff that is necessary for some funding sources and aids administrative credibility. A board can determine the financial strengths and weaknesses of the organization and assist its recovery. And the board can go out and find funding better than any staff can. Now, I’m not saying my days are numbered, but we haven’t had a strong board since 2004 and it is high time we got one. The Studio is in fine shape. We live within our means but we can do so much more with the assistance of a board. Board development is a slow process but starting it now will bode well for the future. Be ready to serve.

Volume 21, No. 9

June 2015 ISSUE • 15

Thoughtcrime "Boom For Real" for Basquiat

Achtung! die Snake

Endurance

Endure

First the mother, Then the child

Sandra & Richard Laurette On view June 4 to August 9, 2015 Artists’ Reception 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7 Art Museum of Southeast Texas 500 Main Street Beaumont,Texas 77701 409-832-3432 • www.amset.org

And so it goes Generation after generation

Playing Gray sounds in the Mud. Experimental mind with a shattering thud. Boom For Real in trilingual tongue. Sophisticated thoughts with a body so young.

First the mother

Adam Cook

Cathy Atkinson

Then the child.

Breakfast Rescue I am not hungry in the morning, so much as empty — not in the belly though. In morning, I eat from habit, if coffee counts as eat — strong, and thick with milk and sugar It’s a kind of meal. I read the paper then and reach around, to catch the cup, without a thought, a sip, a thoughtless sip of hot, sweet, caramel-colored coffee, without a thought, and I do that a dozen times again until I’m done reading about what happened since the last I broke the fast.

It had been another stupid perp, in a half dozen hostage standoff situations. It had drug on nearly two eight hour shifts, with some on duty the whole time. The SWAT team hovered, but he had all the windows covered. Then suddenly, someone burst out running toward officers with his arms extended, and the closest shot him once as he reached out. As he lay on the ground, his dying breath was, “ I just wanted to hug him for the rescue.”

Jesse Doiron

D.J. Kava

HATS & HELMETS by

Who becomes the mother. Then the child.

Shaman of the graffiti age. All the pseudonyms going into place. New York lights in blinding sight. Painting Venus all throughout the night.

Submission Guidelines and Disclaimer ISSUE solicits and publishes the work of local authors. Poetry, short fiction, scholarly works and opinion pieces may be submitted for review. All works must be typed and may be sent to TASI by email or by messaging the ISSUE Facebook page. The opinions expressed in “Thoughtcrime” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TASI, its Board of Directors, ISSUE’s editorial staff, or donors to TASI. Send typed works to: ISSUE, 720 Franklin, Beaumont, TX 77701 or e-mail issue@artstudio.org Authors must submit a daytime telephone number and email along with all submissions. Pen names are acceptable, but authors must supply real names for verification. All printed works are protected by copyright. The author retains rights to any published work. ISSUE does not notify of rejection by mail or telephone.

Enduring

Women at ‘Play’ They are fighting with lines. That’s how it always goes. Two weeks before curtain, There’s a palpable panic From the sidelines I watch the scene unfold. Not just the action of the play, But also the bonds being forged The women support each other, Laugh and empathize, Rail against gender injustice, Whisper advice behind the scenes. A group diverse in ethnicity and age, Strong, positive, feminine, wry. The lines will come. The characters are already real. Andy Coughlan

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INSIDE • GEEK’S GUIDE TO SUMMER • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • NEWTONS COLLECTING TOGETHERNESS • AMSET SHOWCASES LOCAL PIONEERING ARTIST

When you support The Art Studio with your membership, you receive ISSUE, Southeast Texas’ and Southwest Louisiana’s alternative press, as well as class schedules, invitations to opening receptions and various Studio functions.

Volunteers These people are the life blood of our organization. WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! To volunteer, drop by The Art Studio, Inc., or call 409-838-5393.

Elizabeth Fontenot Bryan Castino Heather & Adam Butler Rhonda Rodman Sue Wright Cyndi Grimes Rhonda McNally Andy Coughlan John Roberts Beau Dumesnil Karen Dumesnil Sheila Busceme Kailee Viator Gabe Sellers Abbie McLaurin Scott & John Alexander Heather Adams Terri Fox Avril Falgout B.J. Bourg Michelle Falgout Dana Dorman Stacey Haynes Olivia Busceme Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson Gina Garcia Nathaniel Welch Tracy Danna

THIS MONTH:

JOIN US FOR ART OPENINGS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

ALTERNATIVE SHOW JUNE 6-27 GALLERY RECEPTION IS JUNE 6, 7-10 P.M.

This project was funded in part by the B.A. & E.W. Steinhagen Benevolent Trust through the Southeast Texas Arts Council.

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