The LocaL, June 2018 by The LocaL Magazine, Columbus, Ga

LocaL

June 2018

Letter from the Publisher

hen I first thought about making a magazine, the idea came out as a joke. I was frustrated with another publication, the unprofessional approach taken toward some of my clients. I, again jokingly, asked my friend Jenni Sardinas at Lemongrass (2435 Wynnton Road) if she would like to invest in a magazine. I had no idea what it would take to actually follow through on making a magazine. I had been working with Mat Cornett, now our graphic designer and layout editor, on Jenni’s and other client’s billboards, and I knew his work was exceptional. Tom Ingram, our editor, and I had spent only a couple of hours together at a few different events over the years, but I was familiar with his work at The Ledger-Enquirer and other publications; when I learned he was available, something clicked. It felt like magic, the way all the pieces to this magazine puzzle fell into place. By Nov. 2016 we were having serious conversations about creating this publication, and by March 2017 we had a name. I have always loved working with local businesses, and a magazine like this allows me to work full-time promoting the wonderful local businesses I love. Many years ago, I worked advertising in Columbus radio. I left Columbus for Wichita, Ks., but came home six years ago. With my radio days behind me, I was inspired to return to Columbus advertising. Working again with wonderful people in the community has been an enormous inspiration. So many friends, including Jenni at Lemongrass, have invested in the magazine as advertisers, as well as many new friends we’ve made along the way. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my neighbors succeed. This community-minded approach to business is, in my experience living elsewhere, unique to Columbus. Entrepreneurs of all stripes take steps to help one another, to work together, and in the process grow the environment necessary to help still more entrepreneurs succeed. Our mission statement says it all, and one of my favorite lines is, “featuring stories and events that comprise and drive the ongoing surge toward a more beautiful community, this magazine exists because we who work on it believe in actively engaging with community improvement.” I am forever humbled by the response, support and connections we’ve made. Your smiles when we drop off magazines, your phone calls, your reviews and testimonies all motivate us to continue this work. Columbus, with all of your gifted, beautiful people, thank you for giving us a chance to be here. Happy anniversary! Monica Jones Publisher

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June 2018

STUFF TO READ JIM PHARR is he serious?

Letter from the Editor

Music Spotlight

Art & Museum

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Mango Strange

Music Spotlight Mango Strange

The Wicked Hen

Music

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Midtown’s Dining Destination Keeps Getting Better

Carnoisseur

When You Care Enough About Your Car

In Conversation with Bo Bartlett

COCKTAIL CLUB

ne year ago, this magazine’s first issue, delivered by our scrappy start-up team, found its way into restaurants and auto body shops, libraries and bars, coffee shops and hotels. After months of hard work, we delivered our first issue to every location that would carry it, eager to enter our publication, chockablock with local events and informative stories, into the public conversation. The next month, we did it again. Every month since last June, we have published at least 24 pages of arts and entertainment news and events, and now, one year later, we are grateful to offer this, our anniversary issue. Our first feature story was Pasaquan, Eddie Owens Martin’s visionary art environment in Buena Vista, Ga. This month, another great artist graces our cover, Columbusnative Bo Bartlett, whose reputation is global, and as you will see in our interview with him, his local impact profound. In our interview, Bo talks about the way art serves to connect communities, and it has been our aim with this magazine to connect our community through art. In the process, I have found surprising ways in which these conduits recirculate; on our first cover, a great artist, and another for this issue. For our first restaurant review, we visited The Wicked Hen; a year later, we return to marvel at their continued growth and progress. Last year at this time, I celebrated the completion of our first issue with an Omaha Brewing Hannahatchee Creek; this year, I have their Viberations chilling in the fridge. Our process has come full circle, and has always moved forward. That’s how I see it: interlocking gyres, moving ever forward, one upon another, always advancing and in their advance incorporating what has worked in the past. This is growth. Our magazine has introduced new voices, not just the subjects of stories but also those wonderful people who have helped tell those stories. Our reach has widened as well, and even I am sometimes surprised to walk into a business and there it is, our magazine, awaiting an eager reader. In so many ways, some subtle and others in broad strokes, we strive daily to widen our reach, so as to better build those community connections which make a community worthy of the name. For all of our labor, for all of the late nights, last minute edits, the rushing here and there to catch a story or snap a last crucial picture, what has astonished me most in the past year is the community’s support. From all corners of the Chattahoochee Valley, we have found an audience, for which I am supremely grateful. For all of your letters, emails, questions in the coffee shops, story tips passed over beers, and encouragements every step of the way, I, one year on from my first letter to you, our readers, continue in this work by virtue of your support. As long as you peruse this magazine, I and the wonderful people I work with will continue to produce the best damn arts and entertainment magazine we can. And it is my intuition, knowing as I do the way all things recirculate, that by producing the best magazine we can produce, you’ll continue to read it. You have been here for us, and we have been here for you. I will keep showing up for you, and I have faith you’ll keep showing up for me too. Saying, “thank you,” simply doesn’t cover it, but thank you. Tom Ingram Editor

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t hel o cal co l u mbu s . co m f acebo o k . co m/ t hel o cal co l u mbu s g a

What We Are All About. The mission of the LocaL magazine is to bring you the best in art, music, food and fun from Columbus and the surrounding area. Locally owned and operated, we work to improve and expand community relationships through promoting positive events and stories. When good things are happening, we will be here to help you get involved. Our monthly print issues will feature stories and events that comprise and drive the ongoing surge toward a more beautiful community. This magazine exists because we who work on it believe in actively engaging with community improvement, and we invite you to join us, not only by reading these pages, but also by taking part in any of the many wonderful events we feature.

PUBLISHER

Monica Jones publisher@thelocalcolumbus.com ads@thelocalcolumbus.com

EDITOR

Tom Ingram editor@thelocalcolumbus.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Mat Cornett

CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS

Bobbie Yeo Joe Miller Frank Etheridge Richard Edwards April Norris

COVER PHOTGRAPHY Tom Ingram

June 2018

JIM PHARR is he serious? hose who love the Springer Opera House and No Shame Theater may have T read on social media about the health issues of the talented Jim Pharr, host of No Shame and resident actor for The Springer. There is no replacement. I

learned over coffee, (Fountain City Coffee, where he begins each morning) that Jim was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 23, roughly the time he began working at the Springer. “There is nothing like waking up after a car accident, talking to a police officer and then realizing you’ve pissed yourself.” After I spit my coffee, I was reminded why I chose him to highlight as a Local comedian/ actor/screenwriter. He recently wrote a vignette, a small play production, that took place in The Lion House owned by Brian Luedtke (fellow No Shame player and January’s cover of The Local). He was given his diagnosis of epilepsy in 2011 and things were calm until another major seizure in 2015. After three seizures in 2016 he had to dial back the play hours as they were only becoming more frequent. Doctors can’t explain why the seizures increased, but they are convinced that it is induced by stress and can be remedied with deep breathing and in his words “Buddhistlike methods.” As host of No Shame he has seen many odd/stressful human behavior including a time he was reading a poem rather than his usual bit at the end of the night and a woman kept laughing while he was reading his painful experience on stage. “I try not to be an asshole, but the format of the show is not always funny. So I had her escorted out.” Most people understand that No Shame theater is 15 acts and they feature original sketch comedy, poetry, and music. There is a time for crowd participation and then there is a time to “Shut the eff up!”—Jim’s request at every show on behalf of all the jittery performers. I asked him about future endeavors and he said, “I dress like a cartoon/baby and I get paid to pretend…I feel like I’ve tricked people.” He will be working at Nonic as a server in addition to continuing his commitments to the Springer. Jim works 50 out of 52 weeks a year for the Springer’s No Shame theater and admits that it is a tough role to fill. Finding one replacement won’t be enough. Occasionally he will have someone fill in when he is sick, but the hosting of no Shame will have to be a shared position. I asked him to tell me a fantasy party he’d love to host; a future that I am certain he will see to fruition. I’d like to have a Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Party. Everyone should wear sweater vests and for some reason everyone needs to have a perm. A punch bowl of cocktails (Shirley Temples for me) with a global invitation. If he is serious, I will be in attendance. You can see Jim almost every Friday at No Shame Theater at 9:30 PM (look for the “Lady”) if you want to get on the board as a performer. Acts begin around 10:00 PM. The cost is only $5 at the door and you can purchase beer/wine. You won’t regret the crowd participation and the variety of local talent. Jim will boss you around and you will like it! u By April Norris

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PAWS H UMA NE S ADIE’ S STORY

A few months after I began working in animal welfare, my husband, Dave, and I decided to become foster parents to dogs who might not otherwise have a chance at a new life. I worked at an open admissions shelter in 2012, taking in nearly 5,500 animals each year. The individual kennels were cramped and absurdly loud. It was a difficult environment to work in. I can only imagine how stressful it was for the dogs who had to live there 24/7. Dave and I hoped to give our foster dogs respite in a quiet and loving home environment. We were excited to hear about our first prospect, a two year old Boxer who came to be known as Sadie. In 1938, the AKC published this description of the boxer breed standard: “The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age.” I couldn’t wait to meet my new foster dog and rushed into the kennels when I heard she had arrived. My heart sank when I found an emaciated and completely hairless dog. Her legs and feet were swollen and her skin was bleeding and oozing pus. It was hard to believe this animal was still alive, and I marveled at the idea that anyone thought she could possibly recover from this state. I was worried about how Dave would react when I brought this creature home. Most people have limits as to how far they are willing to go for an animal that is not their own. But Dave isn’t most people. He is a saint, and he is dedicated to a life of service. He welcomed Sadie with open arms. We both knew that Sadie might not make it, but were resolved to do whatever we could for her. I carried her into the house, wrapped her in a blanket and put her in bed next to me. If nothing else, I wanted her to know she was loved and was not alone. Slowly, Sadie did recover. She gained weight, got over her cold, her skin healed and her hair grew back. She came into our home at the beginning of October 2012 and marched in the Christmas parade ,where her forever family first saw her. It was a match made in Heaven and, to this day, I get to follow her on Facebook with her lovely family. Fostering has an amazing, lifesaving impact on the sheltering system and the options are endless. You can play the field like Dave and I, or you can specialize in kittens, puppies, medical fosters, scaredy cats and dogs—you name it. At Paws Humane Society, we have a robust foster care program. If you’re interested in learning more, please check out our website at www.pawshumane.org. u

Bobbi Yeo lives in Opelika, AL. She is the CEO of PAWS Humane in Columbus, GA, an animal shelter and veterinary clinic offering low-cost spay/neuter and other services to the public. Email her at byeo@pawshumane.org with your comments and story ideas. Adoption Hours Mon-Fri•10am-6pm, Sat•10am-5pm, Sun•12pm-5pm 4900 Milgen Road Columbus, GA 31907 www.pawshumane.org office@pawshumane.org (706) 565-0035 Vet Clinic phone number (706) 987-8380 4

June 2018

By Frank Etheridge

Strange Brew Gentlemen Jammers Mango Strange Prepare For Lift Off During certain times at select places, if you pay close enough attention, you can sense a scene being born. Thick as humidity, high as a Georgia pine and real as red clay, the buzz building around the ascendant local rock band

have an obvious influence on the emerging talents in Mango Strange and present a few parallels as well. The mix of white and black musicians, no matter nature’s ordained benefit of cross-pollination, is sadly just as noteworthy today as when the Allmans formed in the first days of Georgia’s evolution out of the Jim Crow era. The communal living arrangement of good buddies learning and creating together half the band shares a spot in the Jordan-Johnson neighborhood dubbed the Strange House harkens back to the fabled A-Frame House on Weymands Court in Athens that nurtured Panic’s sound and scene along with the Big House on Vineville Avenue in Macon that spawned the Allmans and is now preserved as a museum dedicated to the band. “To play the kind of music we play, you have to know what’s going on between everybody,” says Mango Strange frontman Will Ward, surrounded by his five bandmates in The Loft’s Green Room on a Wednesday afternoon before the band’s weekly gig at the city’s leading live-music club. “It’s all chemistry,” the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist continues. “It definitely takes a mesh and requires acceptance not a push and pull.” Ward explains Mango Strange began to take form two years when he and bassist Brooks Northrup started performing as a duo at Wild Wings Cafe. Lead guitarist Jason Davis came into the fold following countless conversations with Ward about their shared musical passions and inspirations. Guitarist and back-up vocalist Trey Eakle joined after an informal jam session revealed the technical precision he could provide. “The Dead, the Allmans that scene attracts people to playing that music,” says Davis, at age 23 born two generations after those seminal hippie bands’ heyday. “I love that music so much and love to play it. We’ve all written and recorded together and don’t want to be looked at as just a cover band. But right now we’re paying the bills getting to play all the time and I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.” With several personnel changes over the past year, Mango Strange’s line-up was solidified in late winter

was palpable in the sultry summer air during their Saturday night set to close out the Frogtown Jam last month. Faces familiar from gathering every Wednesday night to catch Mango Strange at their Loft residency found one another braced for impact, ready to boogie as the boys took the stage in silent poses cast against a swirling kaleidoscope of lights and surreal smoke machine. A trippy tone set the mood with an original instrumental intro into “Shakedown Street,” with the disco-era Grateful Dead lyrics “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart” registering in this scene’s ears as acknowledgment of an open shared secret that the Columbus counterculture now has something to hold on to: a sound to groove to, a vibe to commune over, a reminder of what we’ve been missing. The rollicking, all-covers set shuffled along peaking during a stellar sit-in with blues guitar master Neal Lucas, a three-song stretch climaxing as the seven musicians on stage wove their way into improvised transcendental bliss during the Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post” before ending with a joyous, outof-left-field take on the Fleetwood Mac anthem “Rhianna.” Slack-jawed strangers shook each other’s hands and made promises to meet again soon some Wednesday night at the Loft with hopes to once again catch lightning in a bottle. Such organic, Georgia-grown musical prowess with the addition of keyboardist Brandon Briscoe. “They found me in a dumpster out back,” jokes and shared energy has been produced before, most Briscoe, whose influences are a departure from those notably by the Allman Brothers Band (1960s Macon) in the Dead’s constellation but whose clear talent and and Widespread Panic (1980s Athens). Both bands background in the soulful, bluesy gospel so rooted LocaL

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in Georgia music make him an excellent choice for rounding out the sextet’s sound. “We’re all brothers,” the piano man says of the dynamic he’s discovered. “We just want to get together and jam.” Ward gives a lot of credit for the band’s development to drummer Steve Thompson, who at 39 has recorded multiple albums of original jazz fusion and toured the world with the Neal Lucas Trio (“our hometown heroes,” Davis says). “These guys have phenomenal talent,” says Thompson . “They just needed to own it. I told them, ‘It doesn’t matter if there’s two people or 2,000 people in the audience, we’re playing the same place. Once they embraced that, everything just took off.” Coming up with chord progressions and melodies for original material is never a problem, says Ward, adding that their creative flow typically comes while chilling at the Strange House. “Coming up with words can be a struggle,” he admits. Yet, the band’s only fully realized and recorded original, “Bridges,” carries all the emotion, imagery and subjective perception of a well-crafted song. “We’ll have our own music soon,” Davis says. “It’s just going to take us all getting together and spending more time together and learn how to please all our different musical interests. R&B, blues, jazz, soul, rock. Right now we may not know how to really write songs but we’re learning. And I think we’re doing a pretty good job.” Get weird with Mango Strange at the Loft every Wednesday night. Free admission, 9:30 p.m.-midnight.u

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June 2018

Paint Party

Please join us at RAM Fit for our first of many paint parties. Sip and Paint with Creations is an fun interactive art party, with a little bit of singing, a little bit dancing, and an extraordinary live paint class. Professional Entertainment Artist Wanda will be guiding each participant in creating their Masterpiece. June 22, 7:30 p.m., RAM Fitness Studio, 3743 Macon Road, Columbus

Fantastic Fridays: L’il Liza Jane

Storyteller Bobbie Pell has shared her love of stories with audiences for over 30 years. Join her as she uses her skills to bring American folklore to life in An unforgettable tour in the private studios of three incredible local artists. this exciting presentation of L’il Liza Jane. June 22, 10:30 a.m. - noon, The Tour is $75 per person and lunch and shuttle transportation to each studio. Tour Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road begins at Leigh & Paige Fine Art in Midtown. Advanced reservation required. Summer Special Astronomy Night at The CCSSC Spots limited. Call (762) 822-6251 or visit Leigh & Paige for tickets. June 9, 9 a.m. This event is Free! Come check out the Coca-Cola Space Science Center - 12:30 p.m., Leigh & Paige Fine Art, 1309 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus durring our Summer Special Astronomy Night! Our Exhibit Gallery will be up and running for you to tour our NASA artifacts, ride our cyber fighter Najee Dorsey — Open Studio simulators, journey to the International Space Station aboard A Space Shuttle Local Contemporary Artist and CEO of Black Art in America, Najee Dorsey, Odyssey, and more. Dr. Rosa Williams will start with presentation in our is opening his studio up for the public to view his works. This is the first studio Omnispher Theater at 8PM about the night-time sky followed by telescopes opening this year, and in Najee’s new studio location. Free & Open to the Public on the lawn manned by our team of CSU students to help guide you through June 9, noon - 5 p.m., Najee Dorsey Studios, 4718 18th Avenue, Columbus the universe with views of astronomical phenomena on our fleet of mobile telescopes. June 23, 8 - 10 p.m., Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Look at Lunchtime LOOK! @ Lunchtime is a collaborative viewing exercise and dialogue centered Science Center, 701 Front Avenue Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com on works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection. Jonathan Frederick Walz, Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art, facilitates LOOK! discussions every second Tuesday to explore a new object each month. Featured object: Jonathan Mannion, Jay-Z, New York, 1997; printed 2010. June 12, 12:15 - 12:30 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Artists Private Studio Tour

Teen Takeover: Themed Canvas Art

Join us each month as we create a one-of-a-kind canvas art piece. Each month focuses on a different work of art. All materials provided. For ages 12 - 18 June 14, 6 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus

Fantastic Fridays: African Folktales

Join two storytellers, Akili and Jabari, as they share stories that celebrate the vastness of the African landscape. Audience interaction abounds as these skilled performers bring to life Anansi, pourquoi, and trickster tales. Singalongs, stories, and humor help celebrate work, cultures, language, and oral tradition in this inventive and high energy production of Bright Star Theater. June 15, 10:30 a.m. - noon, The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Museum Shop One Day Sale

Don’t miss this one day sale to shop great deals on season gifts, clothing, jewelry, pottery and a look at the new items we have from local vendors Local vendor items will not be apart of the sale but sold full price. June 21, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road

Guest Lecture Series: Grant Mosley

As a part of the museum’s ongoing Cool History educational programming, we’re introducing a special guest lecture series where experts will give lectures on a variety of topics. These events are free and open to the public. All of the lectures will take place at The National Civil War Naval Museum. Mr. Grant Mosley, AIA, Founding Principal & CEO of MSTSD, lead architect for the construction of the new Cyclorama building at the Atlanta History Center will discuss the history and moving of the mural. June 21, 7 - 9 p.m., National Civil War Naval Museum, 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus

Summer Concert Series: Don Tipton

We are turning up the heat in the Museum with the Summer Concert Series. Throughout the summer, the arts collide with music provided by local and regional bands and free guided tours of the Museum’s collection provided by staff and docents. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase one from one of our featured food trucks. Featuring Don Tipton June 21, 6 - 8 p.m., The Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road LocaL

June 2018

A beautiful new dining room isn’t the only evidence of The Wicked Hen pushing the envelope. Regular patrons will notice some menu changes, too. The dinner menu, perfectly priced for any night of the week, features a wide variety of fresh-caught seafood; to get fresher, you’ll have to visit the Gulf and catch it yourself. One of the new fresh seafood offerings is a pumpkin seed dusted rainbow trout, served with herb roasted Yukon potatoes, beurre blanc and seasonal vegetables. A wild mushroom chicken marsala features Springer Mountain Farms chicken breast—after all, The Wicked Hen has been serving local and regional farm products since day one—with wild mushrooms dressed in a marsala wine pan sauce, whipped potatoes and baby spinach. The lunch menu will continue to feature some of our favorites, including the tomato basil soup, a to-die-for Cuban sandwich and shrimp pasta campri, but new, exciting options are on the way. We are particularly excited about the pulled beef bulgogi; regulars will recognize the dish as a recurring special now coming to the menu full time. Summertime means fresh vegetables, and The Wicked Hen will make ample use of local produce in new vegan and vegetarian options. For all the exciting developments downstairs, don’t sleep on the great goings-on upstairs. An already wide selection of Georgia-brewed beers will be bolstered each month when Omaha Brewing (265 Brew Street, Omaha, Ga.) brings one of their latest brews for a release party. In May they brought Viberations, the St. EOM-inspired saison perfect for summer and one of this magazine’s favorites (seriously, we keep Viberations and Hannahatchee in the refrigerator at all times), and we can’t wait to try their next creation. The Viberations party coincided with live music, which will reoccur every Thursday night. For all the ongoing innovation, The Wicked Hen also preserves those foundational elements of success for which the restaurant has been so highly praised since opening. In the kitchen, in their Golden Cast Iron Cookers, you’ll find only the freshest ingredients from as many local farms and suppliers as can be found. When the expert and exceptionally courteous wait staff bring you the best in farm-to-table American dining, you’ll know you’re at The Wicked Hen.

By Tom Ingram

Midtown’s Dining Destination Keeps Getting Better

n some ways, not much has changed—except for I a beautifully remodeled dining room, new menu options and live music, The Wicked Hen (1350 13th Street,

Columbus) remains, as it was last year when we first wrote about it, Midtown’s premier destination restaurant. But that’s why The Wicked Hen still sets the bar, and a high bar at that: from atmosphere to delectable fare, The Wicked Hen team, unwilling to rest on past success, is always looking to make great even greater. The dining room renovation, which began during Spring Break and lasted for nearly two months, has been transformational. A full bar serves

the 80-seat space, a space reinvented with new flooring and commodious banquette seating. The centerpiece of the renovation, of course, is the long communal table, a concrete-top span perfect for parties of all kinds that commands the center of the room under three new large lamps. The effect in full is open, a light mingling of cool grays and soft browns, a space perfectly suited to group lunches and intimate dinners.

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June 2018

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with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. June 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30 at 7:30 p.m., Riverside Theatre Complex, 6 West 10th Street, Columbus

Introduction to Computer Animation with Jeff Scheetz

In this one-day workshop you will learn how to get started with computer animation and follow along with live tutorials that will cover, modeling, animation, and rendering in Autodesk’s MAYA; the industry standard in animation software. For more information, email jeff@monkeyprods.com June 16, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

No Shame Theatre

At 10:30 every Friday night, the Springer plays host to No Shame Theatre. No Shame Theatre is an uncensored evening of original performance that allows anyone to explore their creative potential. Signup begins at 10 p.m., and the first 15 to sign up get a five-minute time slot to perform their original material. Admission is $5, including for performers. Every Friday, Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, (706) 324-5714

INDIE Artist Showcase & Open Mic

For singers, musicians, poets and comedians, all genres of music (except rap), hosted by Mr. Fliguy and Saprinadenise Entertainment. Enjoy $6 martinis and the new tapas menu. Performers must submit any tracks to be played via email (saprinadenise@gmail.com) by Monday prior to the event, and performers must register Wednesday by 7 p.m. Show will be taped and portions streamed online. Each week a best of show will be voted on, the winners to perform on June 20. Every Wednesday through the 20th, 8 p.m., CIRCA Craft Cocktails, 900 Front Avenue, Columbus

Crown and Comedy at The Loft

Two comedy shows EVERY Thursday! Performances are from 7:00-8:30 and 9:0010:30, with new comedians every week and hosted by our very own Lil Bit! Enjoy $7 Crown Royal and ordering from our full menu selection. Ensure your seat by buying tickets online! Ages 21 and over only. The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

The Fox on the Fairway

A tribute from Ken Ludwig (Lend Me A Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo) to the great English farces of the 1930s and 1940s, A Fox On the Fairway takes audiences on a hilarious romp, which pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy denizens of a private country club. Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors, and over-thetop romantic shenanigans, it’s a furiously paced comedy that recalls the Marx Brothers’ classics. This will be a “Bring Your Own Dinner” theatre event. Booths and tables will be available. Call the box office (706-507-8444) or visit theatre.columbusstate.edu for more information. June 1-2, 7-9, 14-21, and 28 at 7:30 p.m., Riverside Theatre Complex, 6 West 10th Street, Columbus

Princess Ballet Camp

Campers will learn all the basics of ballet and creative movement with our professional dance faculty while experiencing the true royal princess experience. Children will create fairytale crafts, play games, and play dress-up. Princesses will be given a royal makeover, including: a special princess tiara, princess make-up, beautiful sparkling nail polish, and of course a sprinkling of fairy dust. Camp runs Monday through Friday. Tuition is $99; register through the website columbusmusicanddance.com. June 11-15, 9 a.m. noon, Columbus School of Music and Dance, 7600 Schomburg Road, Columbus

James & the Giant Peach

Focused on a young boy who befriends a colony of eccentric giant bugs who live inside a gigantic peach and their travels around the world, James and the Giant Peach explores themes of newfound family, standing up to cruel people, and the frightening but exciting period that is childhood. A delightfully offbeat adaptation of the classic adventure, this play has been tickling audiences with its fantastical adventure for generations. June 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 10 a.m.; June 17, 24 & July 1, 2 p.m., Department of Theatre at Columbus State University, 6 West 10th Street, Columbus

The Addams Family Musical

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love

LocaL

World Cup of Cinema

Round 1: Brazil vs. Italy

t’s World Cup time again, and to mark the occasion I’m devoting my column this month and next to cinema from the top four, all-time greatest FIFA countries. Which is easier said than done, because any such endeavor would have to include Brazil, the winningest nation in World Cup history, and the best of Brazilian cinema is almost impossible to find online. The high point of Brazillian film came in the 1960s and early 70s, when Pelé was dominating international soccer and Brazil was plunged into a dictatorship. During those years, director Glauber Rocha led a highly political film movement that he named Cinema Novo in a manifesto he delivered at a global seminar for the Third World in Genoa, Italy, 1965. “Wherever there is a film-maker prepared to film the truth and to oppose the hypocrisy and repression of intellectual censorship,” Rocha declared, “there will be the living spirit of Cinema Novo. Wherever there is a film-maker prepared to stand up against commercialism, exploitation, pornography and the tyranny of technique, there is to be found the living spirit of Cinema Novo.” Sounds exciting, but the only films from this period that I’ve been able to find online are grainy and scratchy videos on YouTube, without English subtitles. I can tell just by watching the opening scenes that they’re amazing movies, with enticing titles, such as Black God, White Devil and How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman? But alas, I don’t understand Portuguese. There is, however, City of God (N), which some folks hale as the greatest Brazilian film of all time. It’s the story of two hungry kids from the same housing projects whose lives are violently intertwined, and it’s a fast-paced thrill ride through the ghettos of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, thumping with a soundtrack full of South American funk. Brazil’s Cinema Novo was heavily inspired by the Italian Neorealism movement of the 1940s and 50s, which is convenient for my little exercise here because Italy is a fellow member of the FIFA all-time final four. Neorealism emerged in the aftermath of Mussolini’s fascist regime, when directors turned their attention to the poor and working class, filming on the streets, using regular folks as actors. If you haven’t explored this genre, a good place to start is Roberto Rossellini’s Neorealistic Trilogy, of which the first installment, Rome, Open City (FS), was

June 2018

filmed in secret while Italy was under Nazi occupation. Together with the second and third installments, Paisan and Germany, Year Zero, (FS) these three films reveal in vivid detail the tough economic conditions and moral uncertainty Europe faced in the aftermath of WWII. As the 1950s came to an end, and Italy regained its economic footing, Italian cinema evolved to focus on broader themes of the human condition, and a new generation of auteurs emerged, chief among them Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni and Pier Paolo Pasolini, whose The Gospel According to Matthew (FS) is the quintessential film from the transition. The script is lifted straight from the New Testament, and is shot in a cinema veritĂŠ style that shows Jesus as a righteously indignant radical who stands up for the poor and throws the money changers out of the temples. Most powerfully, Pasolini fills the films soundtrack with indigenous music from Africa and South America, and even civil rights spirituals from the American Deep South, to link freedom struggles across the globe with the righteousness and glory of God. Next month: Argentina vs. Germany N=Net flix FS=Films t r u c k Joe Miller is an Associate Professor of English at Columbus State and a certified film freak.

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available for purchase through Columbus Hospice; please call (706) 569-7992 for more information. Individual tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Columbus Civic Center box office. June 16, 6:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street

Josh Courson at Wild Wing

June 17, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

2018 Southeast Trombone Symposium

The Southeast Trombone Symposium is held for one week every summer in the world class facilities of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. Trombone players may choose to attend as a Performer, Participant or Auditor to take part in the exciting and inspirational masterclasses, concerts and performance opportunities. Guest artists this year are Joe Alessi and Steve Lange. June 21 - 26, 9 a.m., Schwob School of Music, 900 Broadway, Columbus

Open Mic Hosted by Matt Kirkley

Do you play an acoustic instrument and/or sing? Come out and showcase your talent. All musicians wishing to play must sign-up in advance. Sign ups are at 7:00 at The Loft. Every Wednesday, 8 p.m., The Loft, 1032 Broadway, Columbus

The Tavern in the Basement Presents: Mr. Brownstone

Odd Alice At The Tavern

June 8, 8:30 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

June 22, 8 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at Soho

Money $hot at The Tavern June 22, 9 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

June 8, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

At The Estate: Shaping The Legacy Invoking the Abstract Chronologist at The Estate

STS New York Philharmonic Orchestral Excerpts Masterclass

Part of the 2018 Southeast Trombone Symposium, audience members are welcomed. June 24, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Legacy Hall, Schwob School of Music, 900 Broadway, Columbus

June 8, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Money $hot at Soho

June 9, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Schwob Summer Music Festival

Dixie Red at Legends

June 9, 9 p.m. - midnight, Legends, 5762 Milgen Road, Columbus

Lizz Faith and Mama’s Kin at Soho

June 15, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Wylde Child Jam Session

Join us with your little ones for a free music group in the park! We started Stay Wylde Child to help provide musical instruments (adapted and not) for kids with physical disabilities. Right now we have a variety of percussion instruments, shakers, guitars, and some creative homemade noisemakers to share but feel free to bring any instruments that you and your wylde ones have. June 9, 23, 10:30 a.m., Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Puddles Pity Party at the Phenix City Amphitheater

Join us for an exciting appearance by Puddles Pity Party on Friday, June 15, at the Phenix City Amphitheater! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the gate the night of the show, or in advance at the Phenix City Parks and Recreation Office or xorbia.com. A food truck court will be onsite and adult beverages will be available for purchase. Blankets and chairs are welcome, but no outside food, beverages, or pets allowed. Rain or Shine. Kids 12 and under are free. June 15, 9 - 11 p.m., Phenix City Amphitheater, 508 Dillingham Street, Phenix City, Al.

MosesMo of Mother’s Finest at Soho

A summer music camp for students aged 14 - 18. The Schwob Summer Music Festival provides a prestigious immersive musical environment for wind, brass and percussion students ages 14-18. During the festival, students will rehearse, perform, and receive a high level of group and individual music instruction that will enhance their technical and collaborative skills, while preparing each student for the college audition and enrollment process. Visit schwobsummermusic.com for more info. June 25 - 30, Schwob School of Music, 900 Broadway, Columbus

So This Is Suffering / God of Nothing / Reign at The Estate June 28, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

Dixie Red at Soho

June 29, 10:30 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

Alabama Avenue at The Tavern

June 29, 9 p.m., The Tavern, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

The MuSec Summit

Free to the Public - The MuSec Organization is organized for music and education to connect. MuSec means Musicians Understanding Standard Educational Concepts. The MuSec Summit is a half-day conference that educates and encourages young musicians to cultivate their entrepreneurial skills and create substantial networks. June 30, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Troy University on the Chattahoochee, 1510 Whitewater Avenue, Phenix City

Filth / Insurgence / Sky Burial / Six at The Estate

June 16, 9 p.m., Soho Bar & Grill, 5751 Milgen Road, Columbus

July 2, 7 p.m., The Estate, 1231 Midway Drive, Columbus

GP38 at The Outskirts

June 16, 9 p.m., The Outskirts Bar & Grill, 5736 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Fountain City Father’s Day Blues Festival

Big Boy Investments brings blues legends to the Civic Center to kick off the summer. Sir Charles Jones, Latimore, Calvin Richardson, T.K. Soul, Pokey Bear, Bishop Bullwinkle, and Tucka with host MC Lightfoot. June 16, 6 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street

2018 Denim & Diamonds

This year’s musical fundraiser will feature Travis Tritt, with special guests the Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker bands. Sponsorship levels are now LocaL

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Uptown Market Days

Every Saturday, as many as 170 local and regional vendors set up shop along Broadway in Uptown Columbus. Join one of the southeast’s best farmers markets. Every Saturday, 9 a.m., Broadway, Uptown Columbus

Highland Kids Academy Summer Program

We have a summer camp for the ages! Let your child time travel through the events that start all the way back at the beginning past today and into the future! We’ll have Fine arts, Invention time, Bible stories, Sports, visits from explorers, inventors, artists, etc from all centuries! Your kids will learn History in such a fun way, they won’t even know they are learning! highlandkidsacademy.com (706) 221-6947 Highland Kids Academy, 7300 Whittlesy Boulevard, Columbus

NIM Kids Summer Camp An Adventure Through Time

NIM Kids Summer Camp is a day camp filled with great activities for ages 6-14, designed to promote teamwork and teach the Army values. There are five week-long sessions over this summer. nationalinfantrymuseum.org (706) 685-5800 National Infantry Museum, 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus

Read & Play Storytime

Adult caregivers and children are invited to join us in the Children’s Area as we have fun listening to stories, singing songs, and repeating rhymes! An interactive craft and playtime will immediately follow the program. Every Monday, 10:30 a.m., South Columbus Public Library, 2034 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus

Read & Play Storytime

Noise & Toys: STEAM Play Hour. Miki will be in the children’s department before and after storytime to help your child select a musical instrument to play or a STEAM kit to explore, all of which can be checked out. Recommended Ages: 0 – 5 years. Every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., through July 31 North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus

Chess at the Library

Whether you’re a grandmaster or you just want to learn how to play, come join us every other Tuesday. We provide a social atmosphere where anyone can enjoy playing and meeting other chess players. Special group lessons will be held on June 5, July 3, and August 14 from 5:30 - 6:00 pm, with free play to follow. All chess meetings will be held in the Synovus meeting room, side A. For additional information, call 706-243-2669. Every Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

Saturday Storytime

Have little ones who love books? Meet us by the stage in our Children’s Department at 11 am each Saturday for storytime and an activity, coloring, or a craft. More details about each week’s theme are available on our store’s event page. https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2101. Every Saturday, 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Boulevard, Columbus

Teen Takeover: Chat & Craft Book Club

If you love to read and you love crafts, this is the book club for you! Each month we will read a selected title and meet up to discuss it, as well as make a craft that ties into the book’s theme. If you’d like to learn more, call the North Columbus Public Library at 706-748-2855. June 6, 4 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus LocaL

June 2018

Georgia Clean Energy Roadshow

The 8th Annual Clean Energy Roadshow hosted by Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, returns to Columbus, GA to showcase the business and government benefits of clean energy and transportation. Hosted by Liberty Utilities. June 6, 8 - 11 a.m., Liberty Utilities Columbus, 2300 Victory Drive

Political Rewind Live in Columbus

Join us for a live recording of Political Rewind (https://bit.ly/229hl8P) hosted by Bill Nigut. Bill and his panel of experts will break down complicated issues facing voters, from local elected officials to state and federal government. June 7, 7 - 8:30 p.m., RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway

Legos with Teens: Building North

Teens, if you love building with Legos and are up to a challenge, join the library this summer as they attempt to build the first ever model of the North Columbus Public Library. For details, call (706) 7482855 June 7, 6 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus

Shelter Pets Rock

This is an all ages event where attendees can make rope toys and blankets to be donated to Animal Ark Rescue. Leading up to the event, The North Columbus Public Library will be collecting additional needed items to be donated along with the crafts we make. Some of their top needs include: bleach, detergent, all purpose cleaner, air filters (20x20x1), Purina dog and cat food, garbage bags, and jars of baby food. June 8, 3 - 4 p.m., North Columbus Public Library, 5680 Armour Road, Columbus

3rd Annual Fast & Furriest Poker Run

The Poker Run will start at Flat Rock Park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and kickstands up at 11 a.m. Awesome route with great stops through Harris County, ending at the Cataula VFW where we will hold a raffle for some great prizes. Sheriff ’s Department escort will be provided, so no sweating at red lights and stop signs. All proceeds will go towards the final funding of the 75th Ranger Regiment K9 Warrior Memorial. Cost is $20 per rider and $5 per passenger. June 9, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Flat Rock Park, 6106 Warm Springs Road, Columbus

How to Become an Inventor

Got an idea for an invention? Attend this free workshop where you will learn how to choose the right patent to apply for, how to protect your idea, how to get it manufactured and lots more. June 9, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Mildred L Terry Public Library, 640 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Southern Living Plant Collection Garden Party

You don’t want to miss this Southern Living Plant Collection Garden Party at Bloomers Lawn & Garden 6301 Macon Road. Plant experts on hand with demos, make and takes, refreshments, kids activities and more! Plant specials, sale items & great giveaways. Container Gardening with evergreen plants at 11:00 & 1:00. Come out and join us for this free, fun, family friendly event. June 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bloomers Lawn & Garden, 6301 Macon Road, Columbus

Columbus Lions vs. Maine Mammoths

June 9, 7 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street, Columbus

Wii Have Fun with Books

Join us for some exciting technology and reading-based competitions, crafts, board games, and much more. Enjoy friends and snacks at this monthly tween/teen game night. June 12, 5:30 p.m., Mildred L. Terry Public Library, 640 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Mini Makers: Mini Musicians

Join us at the intersection of art and science for Mini Musicians! We will use various supplies to make our own unique drums and shakers and even experiment with a water xylophone. June 13, 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

Parents Night Out Glow Party

Kids are out of school and you need a break? Well we got you covered. Kids will dance, have dinner, arts and crafts, and much more. Theme: Glow party! Please make sure your child is wearing appropriate attire to light up Ages: 10-15 boys and girls. Cost: $15 per child or bring a buddy for $25. June 15, 6:30 - 9:45 p.m., RAM Fitness Studio, 3743 Macon Road, Columbus

We’ve Got Issues: Comic & Graphic Novel Meet-Up

Graphic novel and comic lovers unite! Read one or both of the listed comic/graphic novel then join us as we discuss the art, storyline and cultural relevance. June 17, 4 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

Juneteenth Celebration 2018

The Juneteenth Celebration is an event created by a group of like-minded individuals in the Columbus LocaL

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area. We understand the importance of celebrating our marvelous history and glorious culture through entertainment and education. This free, family event will delight our senses with music, dance, art, entertainment and more. Let’s celebrate because black is beautiful! June 17, 1 p.m., The Liberty Theatre Cultural Center, 821 8th Avenue, Columbus

Phenix City’s Mayor’s Education & Charity Ball

Our mission is to enhance our community by uplifting our citizens. We will continue, with your support, to assist our young people with their educational needs, and we will continue to support those agencies that provide services for the unfortunate in our area. June 23, 7 p.m., Columbus Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue

student success will also be available. June 26, 6:30 p.m., Mildred L. Terry Public Library, 640 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Columbus Lions vs. Massachusetts Pirates June 30, 7 p.m., Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street

River City Soap Box Derby

Bring your lawn chair and come watch the excitement as 24 local youth racers compete for the jackpot at the River City Soap Box Derby. June 30, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Lakebottom Park, 18th Street, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Rex’s Journey: Launch Party, Reading and Book Signing

The official Launch of the book Rex’s Journey: Helping Children Understand and Cope with Emotions. Dr. Pass-Turner will read book. Children will learn and practice fun healthy coping skills. Books will be available for sale and signing. Food will be served. June 23, 2:30 - 5: 30 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

Disney Junior Camp

Join all of your favorite friends, like Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Mickey and Friends, and even Jake and the Neverland Pirates as they embark on an adventure through music and dance at Columbus School of Music and Dance. Campers will learn awesome dance moves to all their favorite, memorable tunes. We will create cute crafts, play games and have lots of fun, all while learning how to dance. All dancers will present a special performance for friends and family at the end of the camp. June 25 - 29, Columbus School of Music and Dance, 7610 Schomburg Road, Columbus

Family Fun Night at Your Library

Enjoy fantastic family fun through literacy activities. Resources to promote

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June 2018

W he n You Care E nough A bout Your Car To L eave Nothing To Chance, Trust T he Exper i e n ce A n d E x p e r ti s e A t C a r n o i sse u r

ince has been detailing cars in the Columbus area since 1997. In 2013 he transformed his mobile car detailing business into a brick-and-mortar location, in order to provide the highest quality service under any conditions. Now, with a new location, at 3885 Miller Road, Vince offers his years of expertise to those who truly care about their cars. Carnoisseur Detail Studio lives up to it’s neologism name, and might go beyond. For those who want an expert to handle the detail process, not only does Vince have years of experience—from cleaning cars since before he could drive to now his second thriving detailing business—his shop also boasts the equipment and resources you’ll not find at your regular corner detailing shops. His is the only shop in the area doing ceramic coatings, which last for years and eliminate the need to wax—a major time and energy saver for those of us who’ve spent many hours waxing our vehicles. Vince is also a paint specialist; many other shops send black vehicles his way, he’s that good. Vince has always loved cars; he’s a certified ‘car guy,’ and for those who want to do it themselves, Vince is an endless wealth of information. Having operated detailing businesses since 1997, Vince can help anyone who comes through his doors. Whether your not sure which product is best for your new car’s color or you’ve never tried to detail your own car, Vince, who stays up to date on all the latest technology, tools and chemicals by attending several yearly training and trade events, can get your started. Detailing without knowing the right products and methods can be harmful to your vehicle. With Vince’s help, you can get the job done knowing your car will look its best for years to come. Vince also offers the

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By Tom Ingram

products customers need for the job. Adam’s Polishes, the new Jay Leno Garage line, and Shine Supply, a small company with a strong following among detailers, are a few of the products Vince stocks to get his customers detailing the right way today. “I’ve always loved cars,” Vince explains. “I just always liked things clean, always got picked on by my friends for having a clean and organized room.” What began as a way to earn extra money as a teenager has grown into a thriving business, and Carnoisseur has been the premier detail shop in the area for eight years. Offering the best in technology and service for those who bring their cars in and exceptional expertise and products for those who want to detail their cars themselves, the new Carnoisseur location is sure to be the go-to spot for anyone who wants to keep a good looking ride looking good for years to come.

B EFORE CERAMIC TREATMENT

AFTER CERAMIC TREATMENT

June 2018

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In Conversation with Bo Bartlett

T h e B o B a r t l e t t C e n t e r ’ s p a s t, p r e s e n t a n d f u t u r e , a n d f i n d i n g c o m m o n g r o u n d t h r o u g h a r t

n an overcast day, as the sun broke through a light rain long enough for me to walk from my car to the Corn Center for the Visual Arts, which houses the Bo Bartlett Center, I waited for Columbus-born artist of international renown, Bo Barltett, in the lobby area. I had visited The Center many times since the opening reception on Jan. 19, and I had always been struck by the contrast in these experiences—the energy and hum of several hundred people on opening night compared to the soothing vacancy of The Center during regular open hours. When Bo arrived, dressed in a light gray blazer daubed at the cuffs with paint, he seemed to come out of the walls of the gallery itself. The main gallery’s high ceilings,

tall enough to amply accommodate his larger works, benefit from the skylight above. During our conversation, part of which is printed here, he explained, in his softspoken, eloquent manner, an element of the ambiance that had always intrigued me: the soundscape. “My son, in New York, is an artist,” Bo said, “but he works with sound a lot. That’s his piece echoing around. We chose that particular piece because it works with the brain, with the MRI.” The sound drones, elevating and fading at intervals that seem to draw me through the galleries. I had always thought it light enough to be unobtrusive, but I could never quite pin down why it helped me feel so rooted as I wandered around The Center. As our conversation developed, I began to better understand. The Bo Bartlett Center is a kind of nexus through which all variety of community synapses might fire. It is a home to both enthusiasm and introspection, accommodating crowds as well as the individual. There are also, I realized as Bo continued, surprises everywhere.

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By Tom Ingram

“The little pops and crackles we hear, which play into it in a beautiful way, I think, is the material used for the skylight. Depending on whether the sun is out or not, it expands and contracts. You think it’s something falling on the roof. It’s with the temperature shifts you get the crackle.” In the Bo Bartlett Center, there is always a new crackle to discover. Whether viewing works in the Visiting Artists galleries, or the Scarborough and Candler Galleries, which house Bo’s work, surprises wait around every corner. Stolid and certain as the works are, wait a while, give them time, and as the soundscape entrances you, you will find still more crackles popping out here and there, tiny explosions, the subtle firing of synapses as you move through Columbus’s most intensely mystifying gallery spaces. Bo and I spoke for nearly an hour, about The Center’s past, present and future, which you will find here, edited for clarity and length. Bo was also gracious enough to show me around and speak at length about specific works on display. Our conversations about specific paintings will be printed in future issues. This is the first part of our tour. Tom Ingram: Tell us about the genesis and evolution of The Center, how it came to be here. Bo Bartlett: My brother-in-law, Otis Scarborough, started collecting my work when I was young. This is sort of the way it truly evolved. When I was young, in my early 20s or early 30s, it would be the end of the year and I would have a tax bill due—I was an artist, I wasn’t planning ahead necessarily—and so at the end of the year I owed a certain amount of money. I’d call him and say, “hey, do you want to buy a painting?” And he would say, “yeah, sure.” So he would buy a painting for the amount that was due, you know. It was great. He started to build this collection, and the prices of the paintings started to go up, and the tax bills started to go up, so it was all proportionate. Eventually it got to the point where at the end of each year I’d have a couple of big paintings that maybe hadn’t sold because they were too big to go anywhere, and he would say, “I’ll take that one.” I would show him what was available, so he started to collect these large ones. A time came when he had to decide what to do with them. A lot of them were just rolled up. He didn’t have the space to show them. He started talking to the Columbus Museum and other places, and CSU stepped up and said, we’ll build a museum for them. I remember him [Otis Scarborough] calling me, because he thought it would take twenty years. I remember him calling me and saying, “it’s going to happen right now, it’s going to happen next year, they’re gonna start building”—this was June 2018

way back, twenty years ago—and I was like, “it’s gonna happen now?” So I had to come down and start to look at the architect’s drawings. That was way back, and it did in the end, after raising money and getting it right, going through all the iterations it had to go through, finally he had a collection and they [CSU] built the space. And here we are. TI: Now that we have this space, maybe you can talk a little about the role the community will have, the role The Center will have in growing and sustaining the arts community. BB: We have a disabled program that works with New Horizons. We have a school program, Art Makes You Smart, where we go into schools, and they will start to come here, now that The Center is here. And we have a jail program where we go into the jails on Mondays. I’m there for a lot of these. The whole idea, originally, Otis’s vision for this, was a building with three wings. There would be a museum spot, where we could exhibit large paintings; an education spot, like a school; and an outreach, community party. He actually imagined a building that looked like that, a three-winged building. It is that, but that in theory, not in practice. We have a large exhibition space, there’s archives, there’s storage, and all of the outreach stuff goes on, tendrils out in the community from here.

I feel good about the way it’s going, all quadrants, an all-levels approach, to speak on a holistic level. Here [in the Center] we have the aesthetic approach, where you can come in and have an emotional or intellectual or spiritual relationship to the art; and so a certain strata of the community is gonna want to come in and do that. And we’ll have seasonally rotating exhibitions in the two visiting artist galleries. Then you have the outreach, going out into the community in a more social-minded way, so we reach all strata of the community. It’s great for the participants, it’s great for the volunteers; we have a large volunteer pool of mostly artists and board members, and they’re helping with all the programs. You walk down the street now and see a homeless person painting at a table. Instead of sitting there doing what they may have been doing previously, which was loitering, now they’re painting and selling their wares. We have a great, growing contingent of “homeless” Columbus artists. Homeless in quotes because now [through the program] they’re getting a sense of self worth, they’re getting places to live. We have some people who were honestly under the trees in cardboard boxes when they started coming to the program, and now with that sense of agency, they have apartments, some even have apartments and studios. It’s really been a great thing to see. We started the jail program thinking it would just be isolated to the jail. Turns out when they get out of jail, they come straight to the homeless program, because it’s a productive thing to do. TI: So there’s a continuity there? BB: There’s a continuity. They get out, they keep working with us, and all of the sudden they, too, are gaining in their self worth and sense of pride in what they’re doing. That one I hadn’t imaged. It was a great surprise how one fed into the other. We thought of them [the programs] as separate things. We still have plans to work with some of the psychological aspects of it, such as at the Bradley Center, LocaL

especially with teens and addiction, and also at Fort Benning. These are programs we are waiting to implement. My hands are so full right now, I’m trying to figure out when—who’s gonna come on and help me do it. TI: You mentioned holistic, and it seems like things are moving in that direction. It’ll be interesting to see how all of these different programs overlap in the future. BB: You know, Columbus has got that great sense of diversity, and I think this is one of those programs that draws lines of connection through the community, and aspects of the community that weren’t connected before. So it allows a kind of intermingling and understanding, and empathy grows in the process. TI: Speaking of connectivity, I’ve seen it, I believe your own words, where you talk about connective tissue between opposing ideas, moving beyond dualistic thinking. So there’s opposing ideas and some sort of synthesis that you hope to bring through your work. I’d like to go around and talk about some specific pieces [of art in the gallery], but generally, before we get to that, would you speak to that particular issue in your work and maybe also how it has changed over the years? BB: I think that art is a bridge. Art can be a bridge. Like many of the other things in the arts, writing or music, it can be a place where people with opposing views can find common ground, commonality. I’ve seen the oldest, most conservative person standing at amazement in front of a painting, right next to the wildest, most radical young art student—they’re just looking at a painting, they’re finding connective tissue there, the story speaks to them. I think that art has to be transpartisan. I think that what we’re striving for is a place where we rise above it. Right now we’re stuck in that duality, we’re stuck in the two-sided struggle. TI: Seems like that [two-sided struggle] is particularly entrenched at our current moment. BB: People just get siloed in their own Twitter feed or TV station, and they’re just more and more ensconced in their way of being. But what we’re hoping to do is find ways for us to get out of those silos, to start conversations across the board. That’s where I think that The Center—one of the goals is to be a place where the whole community can come and find a version of evolution, psychological evolution, where we’re transpartisan. It won’t happen overnight, but it’s gotta happen. TI: I like that phrase, transpartisan. My editorial stance has been nonpartisan. I’ll have to consider changing, adjusting the language a little bit. BB: I believe we can do it through art. I believe we can find a common ground. It’s basically putting yourself in other people’s shoes, because when you stop, slow down and start looking at something, just by the nature of the act, you do become more objective, less subjective. You shed that stuff and just let your eyes do the searching. Next month, we will run the first in a series of conversations, in which Bo explains work currently on display in The Center. The Bo Bartlett Center is upstairs in the Corn Center for the Visual Arts, at 921 Front Avenue, Columbus, Ga. u

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looking for a challenge a 2 mile swim consisting of 1.5 mile down river and 0.5 mile upriver. River depths are consistently 4-6ft. Participants receive a race specific towel. Food and festivities will be at the finish line. Swim teams are welcome and encouraged. Register at tricolumbusga.com June 9, 9 a.m. - noon, Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

35th Hotter than Hell Rugby 7s

Chattahoochee Council Day Camp, Boy Scouts of America

The Chattahoochee Council is providing 4 great options for Cub Scout Day Camp in 2018; locations will be in LaGrange, Columbus, Auburn, and Pine Mountain. This is the premiere event for all ranks of Cub Scouts! Come out and have tons of fun with your friends and do all the exciting summer activities. Age appropriate siblings are now invited to attend Day Camp! chattahoocheebsa.org Chattahoochee Council, BSA 1237 1st Avenue, Columbus

Whitewater Kayaking Wednesday

The longest running rugby 7’s tournament in Georgia returns for it’s 35th Year. Join your local Cruisers Rugby Team as they host teams from all over the south for a rugby tournament like no other. Feel free to bring pop-up tents, chairs, and even your own coolers. We will have food trucks, a bouncy house, and a water feature as well. The best part about this event is it is FREE for spectators. So come on out and enjoy the action and excitement of rugby in Columbus. June 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Cruiser Dome, 1904 Blanchard Boulevard, Columbus

Junior Beekeeper Workshop

Join the Chattahoochee Valley Beekeepers Association and Oxbow Meadows for a day long workshop and learn what’s the “buzz” about honey bees. June 9, 10 a.m., Columbus State University’s Oxbow Meadow Environmental Learning Center, 3535 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus

Callaway Kids Fun Run

Have you ever wanted to learn how to whitewater kayak? Join our ACA instructors for a basic introduction to this great sport. You will learn the difference in kayaks, safety gear, and basic paddling maneuvering. All gear and boats will be provided for FREE but we do ask that you reserve your spot by calling 706-321-4720 Every Wednesday, 13, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Whitewater Express, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Fly Fishing 101

Learn the difference in the rods, gear that’s needed, flies and most of all how to cast. Guides will be on hand; please call ahead. (706) 321-4720 Every Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Whitewater Express, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

Saturday Morning Pancake Group Run

Need motivation to get that Saturday run out of the way early? Meet up with members of the Big Dog crew at BDRC-Uptown Columbus. There’s no fee. We meet at BDRC before 6 a.m. The run will begin at 6 sharp, follow a route of the group’s choosing, and end back at the store by 6:50 a.m. Feel free to extend your run. There will also be pancakes Every Saturday, 6 a.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus

Uncommon Athlete Free Saturday Workout

Curious about Uncommon Athlete? Join us on a free Saturday workout and see for yourself. Become a part of the UA Family. Every Saturday, Uncommon Athlete, 1205 1st Avenue, #103, Columbus

Friday, June 15 at 7pm, our kids fun run offers youth ages 0-13 the opportunity to feel the excitement of the weekend’s competition while enjoying the outdoors and promoting healthy living. Distances include 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, and 1 mile out and back courses along Robin Lake. Each athlete will receive a finishers medal, t-shirt and bib number. All proceeds will benefit the TriColumbusGa Community Foundation. Register online or at packet pick up at the Callaway Gardens Beach Pavilion. Our race will begin at the beach below the Callaway Gardens Beach Pavilion. http://tricolumbusga.com/races/ June 15, 7 - 9 p.m., Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Highway 27, Pine Mountain, Ga.

Columbus Figure Skating Academy Summer Camp Chill

Only for the “coolest” kids in Columbus! CFSA Summer Chill is for ages 6 and above and all skill levels. Prepay before June 1 $150 per child / After June 1 $180 per child. On-ice and Off-ice activities. Afternoon care from 12 to 5 for an additional fee. Camp is directed by Robbie Prezpioski and the staff of the CFSA. Children will learn figure skating techniques and present a show on Thursday for the parents. Also available through Brookstone Cub Camps. June 18 - 21, 8 a.m., Columbus Figure Skating Academy, 400 4th Street

Firefighters MDA 5K

Join myTEAM TRIUMPH for the 2018 5K. All interested captains, angels and volunteers and encouraged to register trough classy.org. June 23, 8 a.m. - noon, Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Avenue, Columbus

South Georgia Combine and Showcase

Porch to Big Dog

Are you ready to start a running program? We are here to help! At Big Dog Running Company we offer a safe, welcoming environment for you to improve fitness, make friends, and have fun. Our Porch Dog to Big Dog Program will successfully guide you through a 8 week structured running program which includes welcoming coaches, weekly group training sessions, a running training plan, weekly health topics and informational newsletters to keep you on track. Goal race is the Columbus Roadrunners Woodruff Park 5K on June 9th. Email Carolee at pdbd@bigdogfleetfeet.com for more information. June 6, 6 p.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus

Parents and guest admission will be charged at the front door or you can pre-purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. This is a climate controlled indoor Arena Football Field. Stadium seating will be available. will undergo a battery of tests that showcase all of their skills to coaches and scouts in attendance. June 29, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., IPRx, 1951 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

Full Strawberry Moonlight Paddle

The Big Run

Chase the Hooch 1 & 2 Mile

Quiet your mind and be less reflexive to emotions. Free and open to the public. All levels of practice and the curious are welcome. Come learn how to meditate or deepen your existing meditation practice by joining others. Offered by Urban Dharma GA at Art of Yoga in Uptown Columbus, Georgia. Meditation instruction will be provided, followed by chanting, and then a period for meditation practice. There is an open door policy, so visitors may come and go as needed. Meditation cushions are available, but if you have your own please bring them. Offered by Urban Dharma Georgia. A Buddhist meditation community-in-formation in the heart of the Chattahoochee Valley. Affiliated with Urban Dharma North Carolina and the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. July 1, 1 p.m., Art of Yoga, 627 2nd Avenue, #6, Columbus

Last year, 12,000 runners across the country participated in the first-ever Fleet Feet nationwide 5K, The Big Run, on Global Running Day. In 2018, The Big Run is back and bigger than ever. On June 6, Big Dog Fleet Feet will join with other Fleet Feet locations nationwide, in partnership with Brooks and Nuun. We will have a certified, timed 5K race. All results from certified, timed 5K races will funnel up into a national leaderboard to determine and reward the overall fastest runners and age groupers in the country with some pretty cool cash prizes. And since this is Fleet Feet, and we celebrate and welcome runners of all abilities and levels. June 6, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Big Dog Fleet Feet, 1200 Broadway, Columbus On June 9 at 9am, swimmers have the option of a 1 mile downriver swim or for those LocaL

Free Meditation Instruction

Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

June 2018

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June 2018

PASSIONATE PEACH PISCO 3 oz Inca Gold Pisco 1 oz agave syrup ½ oz Hudson Standard Peach Lavender Shrub ¼ oz lime juice 1 large egg white

The Shrub

A REFRESHING SYRUP FOR COCKTAIL RECIPES OF ALL KINDS

he American version of the shrub is a vinegar T based syrup typically sweetened with fruit juice and sugar. This syrup is added to sparkling water

for a refreshing thirst quencher, or added to spirits for an interesting cocktail. As is true with several of the liqueurs and cocktail additives I have discussed in previous columns, shrubs have their roots in use as a health tonic or a medicinal cordial. Another interesting use of the shrub was by smugglers intent on avoiding import taxes on alcohol, who would sink barrels off shore and later retrieve them. The shrub, with it’s fruit flavor, was added to the retrieved barrels to mask the taste of alcohol fouled by seawater. Prior to the advent of modern refrigeration, to preserve fruit for consumption in it’s off season, citrus juices were added. As an alternative to citrus juices, vinegar was added. Later versions of the shrub called for vinegar to be added to fruit and allowed to infuse for several days. Following this period, the fruit was strained out and the remaining liquid mixed with sugar or honey to sweeten it, then reduced to a syrup. This syrup could be added to alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. It wasn’t until a few years ago that shrubs again became popular, and are now featured in cocktails in American restaurants and bars, and other countries as well. The acidity of the shrub makes it a great alternative to cocktail bitters, or as an aperitif.

Combine all ingredients in ice-filled shaker. Shake well to blend and chill. Strain into rocks glass.

PAMPLEMOUSSE 75

1 ½ oz Aviation gin ¾ oz Shrub & Co. Grapefruit

Sparkling wine

The Poultry Company Lunch/Dinner Benefitting Animal Ark Rescue

Make your meal count. The Poultry Company is hosting a fundraiser for Animal Ark Rescue, with 100% of proceeds from the entire day to benefit the pets at Animal Ark Rescue. Dine in or place your to go order at The Poultry Company on Thursday June 14th anytime 11am-9pm to support the pets at Animal Ark Rescue. We will have a few adoptable pets on site as well! June 14, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., The Poultry Company, 1207 Broadway, Columbus

Business After Hours at Striffler-Hamby

Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres in a relaxed setting with fellow Chamber Investors at the end of your work day. This is a great environment to meet, mingle, and make new contacts. This is a free Investor exclusive event. June 21, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus

Cocktails & Characters

Pour gin and shrub into cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake, then strain into flute, then top with dry sparkling wine. by Richard Edwards,

R i c h a r d Ed wa r d s, S p i r i t s M a n a g e r, Uptown Wine & Spirits

“Cannibalism: a perfectly natural history by Bill Schutt This library staff led book club meets at Mellow Mushroom and is open to the public. Attendees are responsible for buying their own food and beverages. July 3, 6 - 8 p.m., Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Parkway, Columbus Want to see your event listed here? Email events@thelocalcolumbus.com

Kids Cooking Class with Chef Bruno

Join My Boulánge’s head chef, Bruno, for a one-onone experience baking with him! Cost is $20 (cash) per child and must be paid at the bakery to reserve your spot; no calling to reserve spots. Children 3-10 are welcome. Every Thursday, My Boulánge, 111 12th Street, Suite 101, Columbus

Cocktails & Characters

PALOMAESQUE 2 oz Chamuco Blanco tequila 2 oz Shrub & Co. Grapefruit Shrub ¾ oz fresh grapefruit juice ¼ oz simple syrup dash of salt club soda

Combine all ingredients except club soda in icefilled cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into ice-filled glass. Top with club soda. LocaL

“The Last Castle” by Denise Kiernan This library staff led book club meets at Mellow Mushroom and is open to the public. Attendees are responsible for buying their own food and beverages. June 5, 6 - 8 p.m., Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Parkway, Columbus

SUDS = StartUp Drinks for Entrepreneurs

Social drinking club with a StartUp problem. We are a group of creative minds who come together to socialize and develop entrepreneurship networks. We have fun, build relationships and change the world one drink at a time. June 12, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Trevioli Italian Kitchen, 7466 Blackmon Road, Columbus 22

June 2018

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June 2018

LocaL

June 2018