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

THE ARTS MAGAZINE OF THE ART STUDIO, INC.

(UN)USUAL SUSPECTS SEE PAGE 7

INSIDE: SOUTHEAST TEXAS COLLECTORS, MONET’S GIVERNEY, ‘FOR THE LOVE OF VICE’ IN PICTURES, AND MORE

SEPTEMBER 2015

, t r A Fiinnee Food F

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in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas

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

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Diabolical

Mysterious

Weird

Lurking at Stark Museum of Art in Orange, Texas Opens October 3, 2015 starkmuseum.org Based on the book Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and other Botanical Atrocities by Author Amy Stewart. © 2009 Algonquin Press New York, NY. All Rights Reserved. Stark Museum of Art is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation. ©2015 All Rights Reserved.

ISSUE Vol. 22, No. 1 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, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joyce Gaskin Contributing Photographers . . . . . . Caitlin Duerler . Lacie Grant, Dakota Courville, John Rollins Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Van Gerven

WELCOME BACK TO THE ISSUE. I hope your summer was as productive as ours. Along with sweltering to the heat, as all the residents will attest to, they nonetheless persevered in their effort to create art. Our refurbished exhaust fan on the roof has come back to life thanks to the efforts of a machine shop and Mark Jacobsen, who oversaw the electrical aspect of this project. This fan draws hot air out of the second floor thus giving some relief to our painters. The box is still in need of repair as weather and time has eroded the integrity of the outer sheathing needed to optimize the effect of the fan. The Studio appreciates the efforts of our volunteers who selflessly give of their time and skills to make the facility a better place. We had a successful Summer ArtSkool, led by our teachers Joe Winston and John Fulbright, photography; Elizabeth Fontenot, printmaking; Sheila Busceme, drawing and

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

painting; Andy Ledesma, papier maché; and yours truly for ceramics. The children seemed to enjoy themselves and really dived into the lessons, and came out with some impressive work for a short week of creation, topped off by an exhibition of their work. If you think kids are not as curious, intelligent, creative or savvy as we were, you are badly mistaken. My sample of youth have goals and aspirations and are doing something about it. I would dream but never activate. Another wonderful thing is that some of the kids were second generation, as their parents also attended events at The Studio in their youth. This points to the generational success of The Studio’s concept of openness and inclusivity. As a teacher, you have a unique perspective

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 Constructing a Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 “Evangeline” Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Tenants Show 2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 For the Love of Vice in Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Monet’s Giverney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Supernatural Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Granitz “Mutabulis”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 AMSET Carnival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Montage Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Thoughtcrime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15

Cover photo of TASI tenant Elizabeth Fontenot working on a woodcut in her studio space, by Andy Coughlan

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

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

Maurice Abelman Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 3

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4 • ISSUE June 2015

Volume 21, No. 9

Constructing a Collection BEAUMONTERS CLARK, THACKER ‘TAKE CARE’ OF CONTEMPORARY ART Story and photos by Caitlin Duerler

This is the latest in an ongoing series about Southeast Texas ar t collectors.

THE TERM ARCHITECTURE, IN a nutshell, is the art and science of designing buildings and other structures. Taking into account the environment, materials available and purpose of the newly constructed space, architects integrate function with thoughtful design. Beaumont architect Rob Clark, and his partner Jerry Thacker, have collected artworks for about 22 years together — artworks that complement their home’s interior and reflect their passion for challenging works that parallel the complexities found in the field of architecture. Their West End home features hundreds of pieces of art with works on display in one room overflowing into the next. Clark and Thacker are not partial to a single medium — photographs, paintings, drawings, woodcuts and sculptures, along with mixed-media pieces, cover the walls and are displayed on pedestals and mantles. “We love going to shows to see work,” Clark said. “You really learn about an artist after you watch them over time. Purchasing a work generally means that we feel an artist has really encapsulated their statement in their art.” The pair try to establish relationships with artists, which may influence what artwork they choose to buy. “Getting to know the artist makes you appreciate the work more,” Thacker said. “Once you meet them and see how they are wired, how they

Jerry Thacker, left, and Rob Clark have built an impressive collection of contemporary Texas and Latin-American art in their Beaumont home, including “Who is the Third,” above, by Mary McCleary.

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speak about their work — some artists may turn us off because the energy is off.” Clark and Thacker’s collection is a fusion of contemporary Texas and Latin American artists. The couple often collect multiple works by the same artists which reflects how the artists’ oeuvres grow and change. Clark has known Beaumont photographer Keith Carter for nearly four decades, and owns a survey of his works throughout the years of their friendship. A painting by Beaumont artist John Alexander from the 1970s hangs in the living room, while a piece from the ’80s hangs in the bedroom, and tableaus and sculptures by Beaumont artist Paul Manes make several appearances throughout the house. The couple attend gallery shows and auctions to see new works by artists in their collection, as well as uncovering emerging artists in the contemporary art zeitgeist. Their house is not just a home, but a learning facility for interested guests. Clark and Thacker provide guided and informative viewings of their collection — finishing each other’s sentences and filling in gaps in the other’s recollection of purchasing a work. The gentlemen are also invested in nurturing new artists who are developing their individual modes of expression. “We are very much into mentoring and watching for emerging young artists,” Clark said. “They come by the house and we review portfolios. We are constantly going to galleries and shows to watch artists and watch their transitions throughout their careers, and adding them to our collection. “We like to maintain a dialogue with these artists and see how their works grow throughout their career. It is about creativity and newness, and it links together with the architecture.” Thacker said that as an artist develops, one sees whether or not they have a real strong foothold, and if they are consistent with the narrative throughout their work. Alongside works by up-and-coming artists, the couple gravitates towards cerebral works that challenge the viewer’s perception. In the kitchen, Mary McCleary’s “Who is the Third” is composite of kitsch objects and paint to create a scene from T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland.” Rather than just paint the scene, she constructs it with found objects — and she plays with the viewer’s notion of Hell with the appearance of a little snowman and Heaven, with the literal all-seeing eyes of God. “The works we are attracted to have a complexity similar to what one finds in architecture,” Clark said. Obsessive compulsiveness is another theme throughout the collection — a hair strand altered to resemble a DNA strand or a shadowbox with encaustic dead goldfish. The couple also like works that play with one’s understanding of con-

September 2015 ISSUE • 5

cepts. “Artist Celia Eberle’s ‘Hovel Sculpture’ plays with the notion of success,” Clark said. “She was thinking that the epitome of everything is the perfect house. So she has this log, and sitting on top is this little house made out of petrified wood. Inside, there is a speaker — the other perfect dream; reaching fame like Mariah Carey — that plays her belting out high notes.” Other themes weaving through the collection include the exploration of relationships, such as those between mother and daughter, as well as revisiting one’s past to uncover narratives. “It’s about looking through layers, how much do we really understand and see,” Thacker said. One special piece is a collaboration by Mexican artists Gonzalo Lebrija and Luis Miguel Suro. The photograph is one of only three produced, and the only one to hang in a private residence. The image features three white horses eating bales of hay. “The artists brought in a hundred bales of hay and arranged them to spell out ‘Bureaucracy,’ and then released three white horses to eat away at them,” Clark said. “One edition is in the Tate in London, one is at the Museo Moderne in Mexico City and we have the third one. We just had that immediate reaction to the work and knew we had to add it to our collection.” The couple also enjoys bringing their works to the community and allowing a larger public to view art. They frequently lend to local exhibitions as well as integrate works in a Sunday School class at Calder Baptist Church. “We don’t feel like we own the works — simply that we are taking care of them,” Clark said. Just like architecture, Clark and Thacker’s collection challenges how the world works, plays with concepts and displays meticulous attention to detail. Clark may not have designed a museum building, but he has certainly created a museum in Southeast Texas.

Celia Eberle’s “Hovel Sculpture (petriﬁed wood house on log)” is part of Rob Clark and Jerry Thacker’s collection.

“Story of Job” by Arnold Belkin, above, and Lance Letcher’s collage “Go Figure,” below, are included in the couple’s collection.

6 • ISSUE September 2015

Volume 22, No. 1

‘Evangeline’ sketches keen observations in words APTLY ENTITLED “EVANGELINE AND the Mysterious Strangers,” Phoebe Hambright Dishman’s book sees strangers in many species of birds, a number of beasts, a few reptiles and some butterflies. She notes their surroundings of trees and flowers. Evangeline, the street where she resides, gives a nod to Cajun country and those near neighbors. Her clear, almost folksy conversational style feeds in facts and behavior, much as one would off handedly share what is of interest . Most of the collection she terms essays, lyrical and witty prose, with a scattering of poems. However, her prose borrows from the poet’s tool box. Her words brush delicate sketches of nature around her keen observer’s eye and ear. The pictures are subtle but accurate, one receives them in distinct, careful lines. The following takes place on the beach, a snowy egret: How lovely she was, how small and slender, how white against the dark sea. How elegant her lacy plumes, her long black legs, her suave yellow shoes. Bright feet stepping along in the shallows. Neck tightly coiled, prepared to strike. A dart, a shake of sea spray as she swallowed. (117) The sharply chiseled accuracy is there but wonderfully clothed in Dishman’s playful, artful, almost gleeful animation. And note the eagles : Oh the eagles take your breath away. Sable feathers , snow white heads and tails. Aristocratic beaks, talons of disconcerting potential. And oh those yellow eyes—-fierce like the sun. Not above a little opportunism, true. Even a little road kill. And I hate to tell you, but they don’t scream like in the movies. Like their buzzard cousins, they squeak, and grunt. So ferociously gorgeous . . . . And they soared, cutting circles in the sky. And they jostled each other, playing games. And their joy lifted hearts below. (101) In another passage, butterflies flutter up and down near her: I can feel the rustle of their wings. Well this is almost too much joy. (157) The etymology of words are presented with interest in helpful spots, such as shrike being “akin to Middle English ‘shriken’ which means to shriek.” (73) She also gives the reader dictionary particulars and Latin and Greek derivatives : The word squirrel, she says “. . . floats gently down to us from the Greek skia, shadow, and oura, tail. Shadow tail! Family. Sciuridae” (127). These shadow tails have made her large elm tree a well trafficked highway and dash wildly to cover when she opens the backdoor. She says they offer “comic relief.” Likewise her information is integral to the tale, without being central to it: The American goldfinches are tiny eating machines,

Review by Joyce Gaskin

plumping up for the trip north to their breeding grounds . . . (79) And the consideration of Merlin is entertaining and learned: Miniature falcon. In medieval times they called her ladyhawk. Why? Because if you were a lady in need of a hawk, that is if you were an outdoor kind of girl, fond of hunting, you had a merlin. Dashing, fearless, strong. But small enough for a lady to handle. The word “merlin” means courageous.” That , she is. . . . She moves through space as if there were absolutely no time to waste. She hunts with lightning speed, using three methods: determined and deadly chasing, power dives at up to 200 miles per hour, and surprise attacks from inconspicuous perches. A lady to be reckoned with! . . . The one who visited me was brown (female), the males being gray , or powder blue. These days, merlins are seldom seen. One reason is their relative scarcity. Another reason: Merlins are often overlooked by bird watchers because of their tremendous speed. They appear and disappear before any one can say merlin. Yes. My enchantress was the mere blink of an eye. Two moments of pure joy, one to introduce herself, and one to make sure I understood the gift. That was all. (43) Tiny glimpses are often enlarged and given a timeless, meditative filter. The wilds she recognizes sometimes as not too removed from civilization. In one reading Dishman follows the antics of some brown thrashers , and later a mockingbird flinging itself repeatedly into its reflection in the patio doors. She then states the following as simply as an aside tossed into the fray: Guess birds and people alike are just trying to work out their lives and manage as best they can. There seems to me to be a lot of mutual incomprehension. (18) Another reading has to do with house finches: Today a male finch bullied his way onto the feeder, shoving aside a female. . . But before I could cry ‘Gender domination’ another female lit into the male. Before I could cry ‘Serves you right’ the male flew with his sunflower seed to a junior house finch and fed him. (83) More wisdom comes in terms of the absence of a tree in her backyard . The tree has been cut down and the concept of negative space is considered. “Space is more than emptiness.” (119) The transformation of the space offers definition and habitations, artfully illustrating what the birds and squirrels are making of it. One astute observation concerns this young male cardinal: His crimson color taking hold. His flight feathers and tail feathers are long and strong. There he perched. . . on a wrought iron chair. . . he eyed me this way and that, practicing the Look his father is so fond of giving those not of his tribe. (33) Not one-of-us.

“Evangeline and the Mysterious Strangers,” by Phoebe Hambright Dishman, is published by Tuckapaw Media, 2015, 183 pp. $12. ISBN 9780982069851

Amusement sometimes carries the day such as the excursion Dishman undertakes with the experienced birdwatchers group, the ones in the know. There is both wit and respect, laughing at herself trying to dress like she thinks an insider would and enjoying the occasion nevertheless as she “kept up with my betters.” (89) Also, in this vein are the stories of the family cat, Sandy, given dignity and humor. Sandy has no interest in birds and is harassed by a family member engaging her in uncatlike games which she does not care for: Her eyes dilate menacingly, she lays her ears back. . . and she endures. She keeps her temper, knowing that when he puts her down, at least she’ll have the satisfaction of stalking away with dramatic tail lashes.” (143) There are bible verses tucked in as well as some bibical allusions. The introduction includes a verse from Job which asks the beasts and birds to teach and let us learn from them. Dishman grew up with a bird book and bible at hand, compliments of her mother. The hymnal was her other big influence, compliments of a grandmother also interested in birds. Nature, the bible and hymns are the basics evident in her work. The red shouldered hawk on the front cover (a photograph taken by Dishman) creates a dim, misty image in the wilds, perfect for the book and title. However, the content is the treasure. One should read carefully. Savor. No scanning. Study. And enjoy. Let the word pictures teach you what she sees, reads, respects, delights in, and loves. Joyce Gaskin lives in Beaumont, Texas where she retired from teaching at Lamar Institute of Technology. She and her husband operate Red B4 Books in Beaumont. Evangeline and the Mysterious Strangers is published by Tuckapaw Media, 2015, 183 pp. $12. ISBN 9780982069851

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September 2015 ISSUE • 7

Tenants Show to kick off TASI exhibition season IN THE BOILING HEAT of a Southeast Texas summer, a gaggle of unruly artistic types are hatching a plan — no, they are not planning on breaking into a bank and making off with millions, although most of them fit the “starving artist” stereotype — they are planning to launch the new arts season. “The (un)Usual Suspects,” The Art Studio’s annual Tenants Show, will begin Sept. 6, with a reception 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The tenants cover all media, including painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography and more, and the show offers a glimpse into the processes of the artists who call The Studio home. “We really enjoy being able to show people the mechanics of the creative process,” Greg Busceme, TASI director, said. “The Tenants Show gives us a chance to start the new exhibition season by showing how we

make art.” Artists represented include Barbara Allamon, Dana Dorman, Karen Dumesnil, Cynthia Grimes, Rhonda Rodman, Sandra Laurette, Suzanne Garrett, Rhonda McNally, Sue Wright, Andy Coughlan, David Granitz, Kailee Viator, Elizabeth Fontenot, Gina Garcia, Nathan Jones, Beau Dumesnil, Stephen Scales, Maurice Abelman, Alex Murphy, Greg Busceme, Lisa Baumer, John Alexander, Stephen Derrick, Yolanda Perez, and Darkroom Friends, G. Sellers, W. Stark, J. Winston, J. Fulbright The Studio hosts nine exhibitions each season, which runs from September to June, as well as hosting work spaces for more than 20 artists. The facility also holds classes, Band Nites, theatrical performances, fashions shows and multiple other events involving clocal organizations.

“In the more than 30 years that The Studio has been in existence, it has grown to be an important and vital artistic hub for the whole Southeast Texas community,” Andy Coughlan, TASI tenant, said. “The tenants show is a chance to showcase the work of the artists who form the foundation of the organization.” During the opening reception, visitors will be able to tour the facility and many of the artists will be on hand to talk about their work. “It’s always a great way to kick off the new arts year — if we can’t celebrate the creative process, then what can we celebrate,” Busceme said. The Art Studio, Inc. is located at 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.artstudio.org, or like the Facebook page.

8 • ISSUE September 2015

MONEY FOR ‘VICE’

Volume 22, No. 1

Fundraiser raises $3,000 A fundraiser, “For the Love of Vice,” was held at The Art Studio, Inc., Aug. 8. The event featured a fashion show and art exhibition, and participants were encouraged to dress up in the style of Baz Luhrman’s movie “Romeo+ Juliet.” More than $3,00 was raised.

Photo by Dakota Courville

Please suppor t our generous sponsors:

Volume 22, No. 1

September 2015 ISSUE â&#x20AC;˘ 9

Photo by Dakota Courville

Photo by John Rollins

Photo by Dakota Courville

10 • ISSUE September 2015

Volume 22, No. 1

Giverny: A Sentimental Journey to the Heart of the Impressionism Story and photos by Elena Ivanova

“It took me time to understand my water lilies. I had planted them for the pleasure of it; I grew them without ever thinking of painting them.” — Claude Monet GIVERNEY, France — Claude MONET’S “NYMPHÉAS,” BETTER known as water lilies, are as ubiquitous as Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Every imaginable item of consumer goods — bags and purses, tees and scarves, notebooks and mouse pads — carry a digital imprint of the familiar paintings. Our culture is so saturated

with this image that it would seem we hardly can be excited about the real pond that inspired the famous Impressionist master. Nothing is further from the truth, believe me. I just visited Giverny where Monet spent 43 years of his life. It was a sunny day in mid-April, with the temperature somewhere in the lower 50s, when I stepped into Monet’s garden. The first impression was as if a black-and-white world suddenly exploded in colors. Flowers of all shapes and sizes covered the ground like a carpet as far as the eye could see. Planted in rows, they formed a colorful grid which inadvertently reminded me of the Impressionist painting technique — small patches of various colors placed

next to each other. First I paid homage to the artist’s home. This modest two-story cottage with narrow winding stairs was a maze of little rooms, with walls covered with Japanese prints and paintings by Monet’s contemporaries. The only spacious room was the artist’s studio. With a high ceiling and a large window which took the better part of the wall, it appeared grand, worthy of the great master. His own works (replicas of the originals scattered all over the world) traced his career from the early paintings of boats on the Seine to the well-known Impressionist masterpieces, such as the Rouen Cathedral and the cliffs of Etretat. But even this splendid space proved to be inade-

Volume 22, No. 1

quate for the famous Nymphéas paintings. Due to the gigantic size of the panels, another studio had to be built next to the cottage (today it houses the museum store.) But let’s hurry to the pond. The garden path leads us to the tunnel which runs under a busy road. As we emerge on the other side of the road, we enter an enchanted world. It seems that time has been standing still since the day when Monet set his easel by the waterside. The pond is calm like a mirror and reflections of tall willows are intermingling with lily pads that are floating on its surface. Frogs, seized with spring madness, are filling the air with loud gurgling sounds and are occasionally leaping from one leaf to another in pursuit of a suitable mate. Following a narrow winding path around the pond, we arrive at the familiar green bridge. It looks exactly like its painted image. But wait, here is another one, at the other end of the pond! Which one did Monet paint? Probably both... I stayed till closing time taking pictures from every possible angle. The evening was warm and the village of Giverny was basking in the golden light of the setting sun. I did not want to leave. Walking along the street I admired brick and stuccoed houses overgrown with wisteria and ivy. Just as I was thinking of turning around and going to the shuttle, I noticed a church. It had an austere look of an old Romanesque chapel, with grey stone walls, narrow arched windows and a black steeple. A graveyard nestled on a hill by its side, but one grave was set apart, on the path to the hill. When I approached it I realized that it was actually a family plot and it belonged to the Monet family. One of the

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plaques read, “Here rests our good friend Claude Monet, born on November 14, 1840, deceased on December 5, 1926, missed by all.” I would have left Giverny without stopping at his grave had I not stumbled upon it by accident. The artist was a private man in life and he continues to avoid publicity after death. My trip to Giverny is over, but yours may still be in its planning stage. I would like to leave you with a few helpful tips. To get to Giverny from Paris, take a train from Gare Saint Lazare. By the way, this is the same train station that Edouard Manet painted in the background of his eponymous masterpiece, but its interior has been completely transformed to accommodate the needs of modern travelers. From the subway “Gare Saint Lazare,” follow the signs that say “Grand Lignes” all the way to the upper level of the train station. As you get there, watch for the footprints with a water lily image. They will lead you to the ticket office marked “Grand Lignes” at the far end of the station where you can buy a ticket either at the window or at an automated kiosk. Choose destination Vernon-Giverny, direction Rouen. Remember to punch your ticket at a yellow stand (looks like a small parking meter) on the platform before you board the train. It takes about 50 minutes to get to Vernon where you follow the water lily footprints again into the underpass and all the way to the shuttle stop. Fifteen minutes later you are in the village of Giverny. Just follow the crowd and you’ll get to Monet’s house with no problem. For more information visit giverny.org/ gardens/fcm/visitgb.htm

Claude Monet’s home in Giverney features impressive gardens, far left. The house is a museum with his studio, left, situated as it was when he lived there. The famous bridge, above, was the subject of many of his impressionist paintings.

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Volume 22, No. 1

Dishman hosts LU faculty show

Under and Over: Beppu and Beaumont by Christopher J. Troutman, 2015. Charcoal on paper.

THE DISHMAN ART MUSEUM is currently exhibiting new work, including paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and graphic design, from Lamar University’s art faculty. The annual Art Faculty Exhibition will be on display through Sept. 18. “This is a show that we welcome students back to school with, and give them a chance to see what their faculty have been doing over the summer,” said Donna M. Meeks, chair of the Department of Art. “Just as the students present their work to us, we present our work to them once a year.” The annual showcase highlights work created by LU Department of Art faculty, including Keith Carter, Kurt Dyrhaug, Xenia Fedorchenko, Sherry S. Freyermuth, Meeks, Prince V. Thomas and Christopher J. Troutman. The show will also display works by adjunct faculty members Linnis Blanton, Greg Busceme and Rose Matthis, as well as studio staff members Tammany Burchinal and Neal Pitak. A closing reception for the exhibition will be held Friday, Sept. 18, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. “The reception will be a great time for LU students, faculty and staff to gather with the community and celebrate the start of school,” said Meeks. The Dishman Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon For more information, call 409-880-8959 or visit lamar.edu/ dishman.

YWCA’s ‘The Miss Fearless Women’s Film Series’ continues with ‘Nefarious: Merchant of Souls’ YWCA BEAUMONT IS EXCITED to show the third film in our four-part Miss Fearless Women’s Film Series, dedicated to bringing awareness to issues aligning with the YWCA national agenda for: domestic violence and violence against women, women’s health, and racial justice issues affecting the community. On Thursday, Sept. 17, YWCA Beaumont in partnership with the Sozo Project will screen “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls” at the Lamar University Dishman Art Gallery, located at 1030 East Lavaca St., from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. After the screening, there will be a community panel discussion about the film. The confirmed panelist are Antoinette Mays (Advisor: Bruised but Not Broken Student Group at Lamar University), Krystal Hall and Megan

Fontenot (co-Founders: The Sozo Project), Crystal Banchor (Family Advocate: Family Services of Southeast Texas), Lisa Boler (Founder/director: Harvest House Beaumont) and Detective Mike Nixon (Special Crimes Unit, Beaumont Police Department). “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls” is a tell-all, hard-hitting trilogy that exposes the disturbing underworld of modern day sex slavery. “Nefarious” features expert analysis from humanitarian leaders, and gripping testimonies of survivors. The film offers startling facts and statistics to leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective. “The goal of the Miss Fearless Women’s Film Series is to bring to the Beaumont community documentary films that provide critical perspectives on the most pressing is-

sues facing women and girls today,” says Bridget M. Johnson, executive director of YWCA Beaumont. “Our objective in screening this film is to increase awareness of human trafficking and the harmful effects it has on victims. In addition, we will discuss and provide information and action steps to reduce the effects of this form of modern-day slavery from organizations and law enforcement representatives who work with victims first hand. YWCA staff and panelist are available for interviews to promote the film. In addition, the media is invited to attend the screening and cover the post-screening panel discussion. For information Donica Beckett, YWCA program coordinator at dbeckett@ywcabeaumont.org, or by calling 409-899-1011.

Volume 22, No. 1

September 2015 ISSUE • 13

Finder’s Fayre to host artist David Granitz III , Sept. 3 BEAUMONT ARTIST DAVID GRANITZ III will present “Mutabulis,” an exhibition of his work at Finder’s Fayre Antiques. The show is part of the Contemporary Local Artist Showcase Series. The exhibition will open Sept. 3, with a reception scheduled for 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and continue through Oct. 1. Finder’s Fayre Antiques is located at 1485 Calder in Beaumont. In an homage to his home town, Granitz will showcase a large collection of artworks created over the last several years, including a selection of ceramics, sculptures, paintings and drawings. “I like to think of my work as poetry,” Granitz says. “They can be as simple or complex as the viewer wants. Ultimately all I’m aiming for is one form of beauty or another.” Granitz’s work focuses on exploration of the line. “Drawing has always been the heart of my love for art.” he says. “I believe the line is one of the cornerstones of drawing which is a cornerstone of art. Line is one of the fundamental elements of cre-

ativity, much like a note is to music or a letter is to literature. I try to use my line to express my interests in beauty, nature and life. “From my perspective, each new line offers the potential for beauty.” Granitz’s subjects range from the human form to natural elements such as the lemons or Mutabulis roses from his backyard, to animal skulls from his father. Granitz uses a range of media such as steel, oil ink, paint, wax, wood and clay. He burns ceramic pots in his yard and polishes them with beeswax, or paints them, and transfers ink line drawings onto them. As as incentive to get people out and talking about art, Granitz is offering a special for people who purchase a piece during the opening reception. He will offer a complimentary drawing with each work bought, while supplies last For details, contact Finder’s Fayre owner Dexter Augier at 409-833-7000, or Granitz at 409-673-9555, or email davidgranitz@gmail.com. MUTABULIS by David Granitz III

Carnival, AMSET’s 28th anniversary gala, set for Sept. 11 THE ART MUSEUM OF Southeast Texas (AMSET) invites Southeast Texans to spice things up and join in a night of lively entertainment at its 28th anniversary gala, “Carnival de AMSET: a night for the arts,” at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 11. This raucous affair will be overflowing with cocktails, delectable dining, fabulous entertainment and many exciting surprises, a release states. Carnival de AMSET will honor art patrons, Judy and James Black, and celebrated artist, Joan Steinman. Chaired by the Carnavalesca herself, Sandra Clark, and with support from gala advisor, Albert Nolen, and underwriting chair, Sandy Fertitta, guests will have the opportunity to join in AMSET’s largest fundraiser of the year. “Carnival de AMSET will be a fun and festive night of great food, good friends and fun entertainment,” Clark said. “The dress for the gala is casual, but colorful.” Cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7:30 p.m. in the mu-

seum’s galleries. Prepared by Two Magnolias Catering, the dinner menu will feature a selection of the Brazilian cuisine. A dance follows with music by Susanna Sharpe and the Brazilian

Quintet from Austin. A silent auction featuring artwork, parties, sports tickets, stunning jewelry and other items will top off the event. Reservations are $200 a person for Assentos de penas e paetes (feather and sequin individual seats — unreserved seating), $1,600 for Tango para oito table (tango reserved seating for eight), $2,500 for a Beija-Flor Samba table (hummingbird dance for reserved seating for eight), $5,000 for an Imperatrizes e Emperors Samba table (empresses and emperors dance reserved seating for eight), $10,000 for a Divas e Divos Samba table (goddesses and gods’ dance reserved seating for eight), or $15,000 for a Grande Rio Samba table (grand river dance reserved seating for 10). Dress is colorful, festive garb, with sequins, feathers and masks highly encouraged. Seating is limited. For tickets or information, visit www.amset.org, or call 409-832-3432.

Multi-media workshop slated for Sept. 26 Southeast Texas Summer Lydick, will host a three-hour workshop at the Gulf Coast Guild, 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 26. Cost is $65. The workshop will feature mixed media techniques and meditative exercises, “designed to de-stress, delve into your creative dreams, and awaken your authentic artistic self,” Lydick said. “A modern twist on the classic self-portrait, this workshop will guide you in the creation of your own unique selfie, using collage and the power of your subconscious to manifest your highest and best self.” For more information, call 409-2930999, or email summerlydick @gmail.com.

14 • ISSUE September 2015

Volume 22, No. 1

RECENT ART STUDIO NEW OR RENEWING MEMBERS

SETAC FEST TO INCLUDE, BOOTHS, COSTUME CONTEST, ONE-ACT THEATER THE SECOND ANNUAL MONTAGE Arts Festival will be held at the Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts, Oct. 9 and 10, at 4155 Laurel Ave. in Beaumont. To recognize National Arts and Humanities Month, the Southeast Texas Arts Council and the Beaumont Community Players have partnered with Studio 33 to present the Gary Garrison Master Class and Showcase. The master class will be presented on the main stage, Oct. 9. Selected oneact-plays submitted from across the country will be included in the master class. Garrison, an alumnus of Lamar University and current executive director for the Creative Affairs of the Dramatists Guild of America, will teach the class. On Oct. 10, a variety of arts and humanities organizations will man booths to promote dance, painting, sculpture, music, theater, history and literature. Gates open at noon. Activities include

street performances and hands on activities, along with plenty of refreshments. Tickets are $10. Children 12 and under are free. The Gary Garrison Showcase of Plays will be presented on the main stage throughout the day. Tickets are $5 per play or $25 for the whole afternoon. A children’s costume contest will be held at 5 p.m. on the festival grounds. Entry forms will be available at the gate and there is no charge to participate. Festillusion, a theater costume competition judged by professionals in the arts and humanities, with winners receiving cash prizes, will be held at 7 p.m. New to this year’s event is a special effects makeup competition with its own award. For more information about Montage, visit montageartsfest.com or call 409-835-2787.

VIEW from page 3 on young people and the interaction is a special one between student and teacher. I feel safe that our children will do as well or better than we are. Speaking of generations, the “Creatives” descended upon The Studio and bestowed a party fundraiser that did both. “For the Love of Vice” was themed on the movie 1996 movie “Romeo+Juliet” (the one with

Leonardo di Caprio) so we all came as Montagues or Capulets. Space Capsule played music all night long as the event featured fashion shows, drag shows, an art auction, an art exhibition, a silent auction and the greatest participants ever! This was the effort and brainchild of chair Jaime Barclay, along with her partners in crime — or vice — Olivia Busceme, Gina Garcia and Haley Hardin, who pulled together a great event that drew lots of people to make a successful fund raiser that net-

INDIVIDUAL Scarlett Blanchard Sarah Boehme Mary E. “Beth” Dupree Caitlin Duerler Gail Hancock Celeste Salhab Renee McLain Jim Milner Sandra Purcell Welch FAMILY/GROUP Lynn & Kris Castle Ann Cutshal & Jude Searl FRIEND/BUSINESS Anthony Busceme Sr. Brent Carey Suzanne & Lee Roy Garrett Roger & Sharon McCabe Jo Rita & Steve Lyle SUSTAINING K. Feldschau MEMORIALS for Olivia Serio Mona & Donavon Salter Richard & Sandra Laurette for Maggie Wilkerson Richard & Sandra Laurette

ted us around $3,000. no small change for us. More importantly there is a new generation who value The Studio and want to contribute to it and use it to advance the arts in wonderful and unique ways. I thank you and all the volunteers and contributors involved in this effort. It touches me to know that many of the volunteers have grown up at The art studio and now see it as a viable facility to utilize, as artists have done for more than 30 years.

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

Volume 22, No. 1

September 2015 ISSUE • 15

Thoughtcrime The Opossum

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.

She was large, gray, and curious as hell. Snout down to ground, bobbing, swaying. Had I not expected her, I would have been surprised, but she was now a common sight — a kind of sign that God had made the world aright again, overnight , baptizing the garden with his holy dew, anointing with the chrism moon the grass and trees, and transubstantiating the darkest kind of life for life of light.

Arjuna’s Gambit my heart is the soldier within me my tongue, his squinted eye my arms, his loaded trebuchet at once flexed to hold and let fly... my lips are his sun-colored standard pressed to the sweetness of sky my hands are his means of surrender deceitful and tender and wry... bravely go forth, my armorless corps my riderless ranks in file... leading to fray my corporeal roar follow my reasonless guile... let slip the dogs of war... hunting my enemy smile... tracking a rival driven to siege and to conquer the dark and the vile...

Wherefore she went between these realms of his? Hissing at the cat, she turned away from us, towards the odd growth of the neighbor’s ferns still furled from sleep beneath the still dark sky. The incandescence of my porch felt faint across her path and grew more faint with every step she lightly took between the bobbing and the swaying of her unusualness -then gone into the dawn -- creature of the night and day. She was large, and gray, and curious as hell.

my heart is the soldier within me... his battle forever old... the field, a mine he’ll never see his shells and his ordinance cold... Command him to fire he’ll burn himself down command him to charge and he’ll fall... but mirror his weapon and love him as bold and victory conquers us all.

Jesse Doiron

Alan Bailey

WE WANT YOU FOR BAND NITE

Nickname

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.

In her late 40s, she left her second husband who loved his work more than her and didn’t particularly like her kids. After moving into her mother’s home, she visited a relative in Austin that took her to an adult store where, after being amazed at the inventory & purchased her first vibrator. She stuffed it under her mattress and forgot about it. Until months later when an unusual bee buzzing sound was barely audible. She looked all over the place and called her nearby sister who brought her husband. Then the vibrator memory occurred. She tried to push them out without explanation but finally admitted it was a vibrator. She was embarrassed into flushing redness. To this day in drunken family gatherings a few knowing adults, call her “Good Vibrations.” Now she just smiles. D.J. Kava

720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit #135 Beaumont, TX

RETURn SERvICE REqUESTED

INSIDE • FOR THE LOVE OF VICE PICTURES • THOUGHTCRIME: MUSINGS FROM AREA POETS • MONET’S GIVERNEY • MORE SOUTHEAST TEXAS COLLECTORS

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 Scott & John Alexander Heather Adams Terri Fox Avril Falgout B.J. Bourg Michelle Falgout Stacey Haynes Joe Winston John Fulbright Mark Jacobson Nathaniel Welch Tracy Danna Jaime Barclay Gina Garcia Hayley Hardin Spencer Holland Tack Somers Jack Hays Tyler Hargraves Aslinn Garcia Chase Kiker Paisley Polk

THIS MONTH:

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

THE ART STUDIO, INC. TENANTS SHOW

SEPTEMBER 5-27 GALLERY RECEPTION IS SEPTEMBER 5, 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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