Vox Magazine March 2024

Get lost in the stories of the annual True/False Film Fest and find truth with our guide for what to see and do. PAGE 12

KNOW THE FUNDAMENTALS

ROLL DICE ON GAME NIGHT

11

HISTORY AND ALL THAT JAZZ

EARLY BIRDS GET TO WORK

THE VOICE OF COLUMBIA  MARCH 2024

Sat, Mar 16, 7pm • Missouri Theatre

Sun, Mar 17, 2pm • Missouri Theatre

Wed, Apr 10, 7pm •

Mandy Gonzalez

Mon, May 6, 7pm • Missouri Theatre

Visit www.concertseries.org or call 573-882-3781 for more information on our amazing lineup!

@University Concert Series

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Jesse Auditorium

Show-Me Opera: Ariodante

Danu

Tue, Mar 12, 7pm • Jesse Auditorium

THE ART OF CONNECTION

For most of my life, I didn’t consider myself very creative. I’ve always appreciated art and that process, but I wasn’t an artist. Before becoming a graduate student at MU, I earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism from Webster University. My appreciation of the arts prompted me to pursue a minor in art history and criticism, and suddenly, I had to be an artist. During my studies, I took a simple introduction to drawing class, and I thought it would be my downfall. I was OK at drawing, but I struggled to think of things to draw. It felt like I didn’t have a fraction of the talent that my classmates had. They would conceive amazing, new ideas and execute them excellently. I was surfing Pinterest for every assignment because my mind was always blank.

“Art” can be difficult to describe. In the process of writing this letter and looking for some kind of definition, I found a quote from Vincent Van Gogh that read, “The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” It changed my view

Columbia Missourian

July 12, 1926

of what an artist is — that the construction of any form of art is about designing and creating things that matter to the people around us.

Jadi Davis creates fiber arts for her business as an outlet to reconnect with her ancestry (p. 9). Our feature package on the True/False Film Fest is about sharing filmmakers’ art with the community and all of the fun that surrounds the four-day event (p. 12).

Outside of traditional art, Columbia locals create meaning in other ways. Through deconstructing Christian fundamentalism on YouTube, the local couple behind Fundie Fridays created a community of nearly 400,000 people that resonate with their content (p. 5).

After diving into all of these stories and reflecting on my role as an editor, I can see myself as a type of artist — responsible for creating and serving the local community. We all can do so, and this issue serves as an example of the creative, dedicated people who make art every day, even if they don’t know it.

CULTURE SOPHIE CHAPPELL, CHLOE LYKKEN, COLE MILLER, KHALIA SMITH, JULIA WILLIAMS

EAT + DRINK AVA GOUGH, JADEN HARPER, MOLLY

RHODES, IAN WESSELHOFF, CAYLI YANAGIDA

CITY LIFE BETH BURTON, KARA ELLIS, EMILY ANNE GRIFFITH, ANDREA MERRITT

STAFF WRITERS SAM BARRETT, GRACE BURWELL, LEVI CASE, SARAH GOODSON, OLIVIA MAHL, ABBY RAMIREZ, SAVVY SLEEVAR

SOCIAL & AUDIENCE DIA GIBBS, MIKAYLA HIGGINS

DIGITAL PRODUCERS JACK COPELAND, EMILY BOYETT, BRIANNA DAVIS, SARAH GASSEL, AMELIA HURLEY, OLIVIA MAILLET, KATE RAMSEYER, SHIRIN REKADBAR-XAVIER, JACOB RICHEY, NATALIE SMITH, ABIGAIL ZORN

DESIGNERS CAITLIN KANE, GABBY NELSON, MAGGIE POLLARD

ART ASSISTANTS THEO JOHNSON, VALERIE TISCARENO

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT BRIANA IORDAN

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR HEATHER ISHERWOOD

EXECUTIVE

EDITOR LAURA HECK

WRITING COACHES CARY LITTLEJOHN, JENNIFER ROWE

Behind the issue

Our work on the McKinney Building story began as a project for a journalism class, but it quickly became apparent the building’s legacy deserved a wider audience. Through the reporting process, we searched hundreds of archives and spoke to a diverse array of local historians, jazz musicians and Black community leaders. We were drawn to the significance of the McKinney Building as a part of the ongoing efforts to preserve Black history in Columbia, such as The Shops at Sharp End, the J.W. “Blind” Boone Home and the African American Heritage Trail. We hope this story honors the area’s past and looks ahead to a new chapter.

—Mercy Austin, Lily Burger, Abigail Kenninger and Sterling Sewell

Photography by Lily Dozier

Photography by Jacob Moscovitch/Archive, Thomas Gleason, Jacob Luebbert, Owen Ziliak and Cara Penquite and courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

Thank God it’s Fundie Fridays

Jen and James Bryant post withering critiques of fundamentalist ideas on their YouTube channel.

BY MARY RUTH TAYLOR

Imagine a romantic getaway. Perhaps it’s white sands and turquoise waters, or a cozy cabin off the grid. You might not visualize picking through the garbage of an abandoned Christian theme park, basking in the shadow of the world’s second-largest Jesus statue, or riding a bus through the wilderness to a scale model of Noah’s Ark.

For Jen and James Bryant, these were dream destinations. The Columbia couple share a special interest in

James and Jen Bryant run the Fundie Fridays YouTube channel from Columbia. The couple deconstructs fundamentalist groups for their nearly 400,000 subscribers.

Christian fundamentalism, a conservative Christian movement. It’s translated not only to tourism of religious attractions, but also an entire career. The two are the co-founders of Fundie Fridays, a YouTube channel where they discuss various issues related to Christian fundamentalism, American conservative politics and pop culture. Their video essays, cheeky in tone but meticulously researched, have vaulted them into the limelight. The channel has nearly

400,000 subscribers, dubbed the “Jennonites.” Jen is featured in the recently released docuseries, Shiny Happy People, about the Arkansas evangelical Duggar family of reality TV fame.

They both possess a penchant for the peculiar and a tendency toward monologues. Their content ranges from discussion of famed televangelists like Jerry Falwell Sr. and divisive political figures from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to religious influencers like

Photography by Owen Ziliak

Bethany Beal and Kristen Clark of YouTube channel Girl Defined. Jen crafts exuberant makeup looks while dishing out snarky commentary, and James often joins in to offer political takes. Their most watched video, a deep dive into the Duggars, has almost 3 million views.

The fundamentals

When it comes to discussion of fundamentalism, context is important. Michael McLaughlin, an assistant teaching professor of religious studies at the University of Missouri, says it’s a relatively modern movement that first arose in the early 20th century.

A group of Protestants published “The Fundamentals,” a series of essays explaining the essential beliefs they thought a Christian should have, among them the righteousness of the Bible.

“I think part of what Fundie Friday videos are reacting to is this kind of marriage between Republican partisan politics and conservative Christianity that in our popular imagination has linked the idea that religion is conservative,” McLaughlin says. “But there’s a long tradition of liberal and progressive Christians out there.”

Indeed, Jen makes it clear it’s never her goal to make fun of religion itself, but rather those who weaponize it to spread what she considers harmful ideas. “I try to just make fun of bad people because that’s punching up,” she says.

McLaughlin explained how, historically, fundamentalists stayed removed from politics, but in the ’70s and ’80s, white evangelical leaders rallied around the Republican party. The emergence of the religious right began in an effort to protect segregated schools before later adopting opposition to Roe v. Wade. The Bryants react to this political evolution, and they also call attention to those who spread bigotry, including ableism, transphobia, homophobia and racism. The videos are done with humor, but they’re also the product of careful ethical consideration.

Although neither were raised with a religious background, they both feel that growing up in Missouri, they were only a degree away from fundamentalist ideas. When Jen thought about how those ideas translate to voting power, she

felt compelled to respond. “(Fundamentalists) try to act like they’re insular, but now they’re actively affecting politics, education,” she says. “So I need to speak up because it’s affecting me.”

This position has earned them respect in what Jen calls the “Fundie Snark” movement, a niche online community with a large presence on Reddit that monitors fundamentalist influencers. They also have an audience of people who are undergoing deconstruction, or a dismantling of their previously held religious beliefs. Many of the commenters on Fundie Fridays videos describe their experiences in toxic religious environments.

The Bryants have made videos on Christian theologian Michael Pearl, who advocates that parents use corporal punishment against their children to “break their will.” One commenter says the video helped them process their experiences.

“My parents worshiped these people,” the comment reads. “And yes, I was dragged to one of these and made to take pictures with Michael. This was triggering and brought back some awful childhood memories. It was healing to see you and James call this abuse out so openly.”

Climbing in views

When they first began, Jen had to teach herself the ins and outs of audio and video production. Subscribers climbed slowly until 2021, when she published the video, “The curious case of ‘Classically’ Abby Shapiro.” Although Shapiro is Jewish, not Christian, Jen called her out for her conservative politics, promotion of traditional gender roles and her self-righteous, judgmental content.

The video exploded practically overnight. For the couple, life seems to be divided into before Classically Abby and after. Within a few weeks, Jen quit her job to devote her time to producing content. James hopped on board shortly after. He jokes he was fully prepared for a human resources career of interviews and paperwork before “somebody had to go and get famous.”

At the end of the same year, Jen got a call from Olivia Crist, the director of the Amazon Prime Video docuseries about the Duggars, Shiny Happy People. Jen thought

Jen Bryant moved to Columbia from Moberly. In late 2021, she received a call from Olivia Crist, the director of the Amazon Prime Video documentary series about the Duggar family, Shiny Happy People

the docuseries would start months later, but she flew out the next week.

The feature, which debuted in June 2023, further boosted their popularity, and since then they’ve been going strong producing a video a week. The Jennonites are devoted. James calls himself the “designated extrovert” of their operation, so it’s his job to sort through and read fan messages. When they had just a few thousand subscribers, they’d have people thanking them for support throughout their deconstruction.

“Now they’re saying ‘You started it. You were the beginning of my deconstruction,’ ” James says. “The first time I got one of those, it floored me.”

FOLLOW ALONG

Find Jen and James Bryant on their YouTube channel, youtube.com/ fundiefridays

What those fans recognize is that under the wisecracks and snark is sincerity and care.

“I had impostor syndrome for a long time, I was like, how am I possibly helping people?” Jen says. “And then just so many people tell us that we’re helping, I’m like, ‘OK, I guess they’re right.’ ”

Photography by Owen Ziliak

Vox Picks for MARCH

Each month,Vox curates a list of can’t-miss shops, eats, reads and experiences. We find the new, trending or underrated to help you enjoy the best our city has to offer.

BY ANDREA MERRITT AND JULIA WILLIAMS

TRY YOUR LUCK making an Irish-themed cocktail and creating a ceramic mug or beer stein. Access Arts and New Haven’s Pinckney Bend Distillery teamed up for this St. Patrick’s-themed date night event for those 21 and older. “We’re just trying to be creative and think of ways to get more people to experience art with us,” says Sarah Catlin, the new executive director of Access Arts. Each person can make up to two drinks while crafting a mug or stein. The ceramics will be ready for pickup three to six weeks later. Space is limited; signup is required. March 15, 6-8:30 p.m., Access Arts, 2109 Cottle Drive suite 113, $80 per couple, schoolofservice.org/date-nights

along with local comedians at Fretboard Coffee’s Comedy Jam. Hosted by comedians Trevor Smith and Harley Bushdiecker, the free event is open to all ages and held every second and fourth Friday of the month. With a different lineup of comics every time, it’s never the same show twice. For those interested in taking the stage, future shows will incorporate open mic opportunities alongside the scheduled Second and fourth Fridays, 6-9 p.m., Fretboard Coffee, 1013 E. Walnut St., free, Fretboard Coffee on Facebook

The Daily Blend w/AC

Monday through Wednesday. Adonica “AC” Coleman is stepping into a new role with Radio Friends, which Paul Pepper hosted for 14 years. In October 2022, Coleman founded COMO 411, which supports local businesses and nonprofits. Coleman says the show is a place for small businesses to share events, and for locals to tell stories and discuss their needs. “It’s the community that makes it,” she says. Archived shows are available on the KBIA and COMO 411 websites. Monday through Wednesday from 8:50-9 a.m., 91.3 FM, kbia.org/show/ the-daily-blend

APPRECIATE the magnificent sounds of the 18-piece Maria Schneider Orchestra as part of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series. Maria Schneider is a composer, bandleader, seven-time

the new Distant Planet Comics and Collectibles location in the Arcade District next to Irene’s. The store offers a wide variety of comic books, Funko Pop figurines, graphic novels and other collectibles. The business has been on Business Loop 70 since opening in 2015, but made the move to be closer to the University of Missouri campus. “Business Loop was great to start in, but it wasn’t exactly the best location for growth,” says owner Brandy Cross. In the new spot, Distant Planet plans to expand the number of events, hang-out areas and products. Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Distant Planet Comics and Collectibles, 711 N. College Ave. suite 105, distantplanetcomics.com

Photography courtesy of Adobe Stock and The COMO 411 and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

A four-day celebration of cutting-edge nonfiction film, music & art, transforming downtown Columbia into a one-of-a-kind creative wonderland.

Weaving stories into wool

Jadi Davis uses locally sourced wool to create fiber art that illustrates her identity and ancestry.

BY ELENA WILSON

When Navy veteran Jadi Davis began crocheting dolls with her daughter in 2017, she never expected how the hobby would affect her life. It led Davis into the world of fiber arts — a craft that utilizes fabric, wool and yarn.

“I was like, ‘Well, how does yarn get made? What is the process? Maybe I can (make) my own yarn too,’ ” Davis says.

Davis began processing and dyeing locally sourced wool. At one point, she had a mound of dirt on her driveway to grow plants for natural colorants. She

Jadi Davis runs her hands through some wool above her comb and hackle table at her house.

“Most of the wool I use, I can actually drive down the street and visit the sheep,” Davis says.

“I can know they are treated well and have a good life and all that.”

now combines those skills with spinning and weaving to create mixed media artwork, figurines and accessories.

Crafting an identity

The whole family became involved in Davis’ business, Four Kids and a Mom Studio. Her children designed, marketed and helped display her work at art shows and craft fairs. As they grew up, Davis needed to develop an identity separate from being a mom and prioritize herself.

In February 2023, Davis showcased

her products at a fashion show, and while nearly everybody was taking pictures, she says, Davis herself wasn’t part of them. “At that point, I realized no one ever sees my face,” she says.

After rebranding to Jadi’s Fiber Creations in 2023, Davis received a $5,000 Minority Business Enterprise Grant from Regional Economic Development Inc. and Central Missouri Community Action, which helped her buy new equipment.

However, Davis’ post-traumatic

Photography by Thomas Gleason and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

stress disorder from serving in the Navy complicates being in the spotlight.

Staying consistent and steady is key, she says. Instead of setting out to crochet 50 things in a week and straining to meet that goal, she’ll aim for a more manageable five projects a day. “Once I do start stressing about it, it becomes less fun and it also affects my PTSD,” she says.

Weaving it all together

Davis’ art often takes shape in dreams, which she transforms into rough sketches. “My daughter will take what I scribble and turn it into this beautiful piece,” Davis says, “So I could, like, visually see a better representation of what I was thinking in my head. And then from there, the image is transferred with wool onto the canvas.”

Davis’ favorite piece, “Past, Present, Future,” is a portrait of three women made using a combination of weaving, felting and crocheting. The work pays homage to Davis’ elders and expresses the desire to pass wisdom on to future

generations. The artwork, like most from Davis, highlights Black characters.

“My work has to be a representation of me,” Davis says. “Like, that’s just it. I am a Black woman and I have to. If I don’t put myself in there or I can’t see myself in the picture, I think it takes away from that piece.”

Fiber art also helps her reconnect with her ancestry. “I have traced my lineage throughout North Carolina to the very end of slavery and we were farmers. We had sheep, we did agriculture,” Davis says. “So these things I’m doing now is just part of my heritage that I’m refining.”

Davis says she believes fiber art should get the same emphasis as painting or sculpting, especially among her own community. “I think when you see it more, and you see representation that looks like you, you’re more inclined to be interested in doing it,” she says.

Davis interacts with Columbia’s arts community through Artlandish Gallery and the Columbia Weavers and Spinners Guild — a group of fiber artists work-

WOVEN IN CULTURE

Jadi Davis’ wool is locally sourced from shepherds in Columbia and Osage Beach. Her work reflects her connection with the community as well as her heritage, having come from a line of farmers.

To buy her products, visit jfc573.com. Find her on Facebook at Jadi’s Fiber Creations or on Instagram or TikTok at @jadisfiber creations.

ing in many mediums, from knitting to making homemade paper.

“Jadi brings a very unique perspective of fiber arts to our guild,” member Pam Haverland says. “She works incredibly hard at getting things done, but she is also very good at showcasing her work.”

Since starting her business, Davis has gone from working additional jobs to creating art full-time. Philana Crite, Davis’ longtime friend and customer, calls her commitment “inspiring.”

“To me, that’s just so courageous and authentic,” Crite says. “People use that word a lot, but I think of her when I think of that.”

On Feb. 2, Davis took part in Orr Street Studios’ second annual “The Color Black” exhibition — the same event where she displayed her art about a year ago, before her rebrand.

“To finally put myself out there instead of hiding behind (my children), having them (be) the face, me being a face and me being out there and being well received — it feels amazing,” Davis says.

From bored to board games

Get your game face on at these Columbia spots, where you can play anything from Magic: The Gathering to Monopoly

BY LEVI CASE

In Columbia, every night can be a game night. There are options for dedicated gamers and people just looking to have a good time out with friends. Whether you thrive on competitive card games, interactive entertainment or tabletop classics, here’s your guide to Columbia’s gaming spots.

Family fun at Valhalla’s Gate

Valhalla’s Gate, which celebrated its 23rd anniversary last October, is Columbia’s veteran game store.

The store is packed with games, navigating it feels like being a piece on a crowded game board. Co-owners Katie and Michael Burton have a special connection to the store. “I brought my kids when they were little,” Katie Burton says. “We essentially raised them in the store.”

Katie Burton enjoys sharing that bond with the rest of Columbia. “One of my greatest joys is watching families come together over a game,” she says.

Valhalla’s Gate holds organized gaming events nearly every night, or players can rent a board game to take home for a couple of days.

valhallasgate.com, 2525 Bernadette Drive, 442-9909

Allison Scheel roles two dice to start her turn while playing Settlers of Catan during a Hexagon Alley pop-up at Serendipity Salon and Gallery. “I just really like playing board games with friends,” Scheel says. “I really like Codenames.”

Magic at Magelings

Supplying Columbia gamers for more than 10 years, Magelings Games has cemented itself as a hub for Magic: The Gathering.

The game store holds organized playing events for Magic about six days a week. Thursday is often a busy night for the locale, with an open play night every week that owner Brian Holt says “fills the parking lot.”

Open play generally lasts about an hour with no entry fee, but you could also try your hand at one of the competitive league games that start at $5 most other nights. Magelings also offers game nights for Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh and more. magelingsgames.crystalcommerce.com, 1906 Providence Road, 639-8031

Detect Nerd’s action-packed show

Detect Nerd, in the words of co-founder Douglas Miller, is “a multipronged role playing nerd-centered group.” It hosts outreach events to encourage new gamers.

Once a month, it also broadcasts players participating in an action role-playing game (RPG) online. Each show has a unique scenario, and members of the audience can influence the outcome of each game by tipping. “Every show is different; every story is different,” says Elizabeth Keach, co-founder of Detect Nerd. “I believe that’s what keeps people coming back.” detectnerd.com/events, info@detectnerd.com

Hexagon Alley’s designer night

Relatively new to the game night scene, Hexagon Alley opened in April 2023, welcoming players to eat, drink and play their favorite games. For $5 per person, players have access to over 600 games.

More experimental gamers can come to the shop on the last Saturday of every month from noon to 5 p.m. to try out board game creators’ newest creations. Cofounder Colleen Spurlock says some people have attended these events multiple times. “I love that, that’s where it starts,” Spurlock says.

Hexagon Alley also offers other organized events, such as trivia every other Tuesday, or We Teach Wednesdays, where you can learn how to play a different board game each week. hexagonalley.com, 111 S. Ninth St. 227-2213

Escape the real world

Looking for a full body experience? Try one of Columbia’s two escape rooms; ConTRAPtions in the Columbia Mall or Breakout CoMo downtown. Both offer different challenging situations where logic, problem solving and clues are integral to cracking the puzzles to escape.

Breakout CoMo owners Connor Hickox and Jon Westhoff opened the store in May 2016. With five themed scenarios that include a Mark Twain Museum and the Civil War, you and your friends can try your hand at escaping these enigmas.

Game slots at Breakout CoMo start at $30 per person. Games at ConTRAPtions start at $23 per person for 30-minute games and $33 per person for 60-minute games.

breakoutcomo.com, 218 N. Eighth St., 340-5625; escape.place, 2300 Bernadette Drive, 568-8964

Photography by Bailey Stover/Archive and illustrations by Campbell Biemiller

Photography by Photographer Name

Edited by Sophie Chappell, Kara Ellis and Cole Miller Designed by Maggie Pollard

Photography courtesy of Adobe Stock and Missourian Archive

Find your way through the fourday maze of True/False Film Fest with our guide to hidden gems, insider tips and what not to miss.

True/False Film Fest

Feb. 29-March 3

True/False remains resilient

BY OLIVIA MAILLET

The history of the True/False Film Fest proves that even if plans are rock-solid and artists are booked, nothing is certain until the festival begins. Whether that’s a fire destroying nearly $75,000 worth of equipment, COVID-19 altering plans or the dozens of on-the-fly adjustments that need to be made, the True/False team finds a way.

For Arin Liberman, the executive director of Ragtag Film Society, there’s been a sense of economic instability for True/False in the years since 2020. The festival has been short-staffed and on a tight budget. Donations from local businesses and grants have helped them continue.

“It is important for me to move this organization toward something that is sustainable,” Liberman says. “One of our core values is sustainability, and I feel like at this moment it is very aspirational.”

After the True/False Film Fest headquarters caught fire last September, the team held movie-screening fundraisers in Ragtag Cinema, which also served as a temporary office. Liberman says the fire was a setback for the festival’s timelines, but it was

more emotionally challenging than anything else. The fire “affected us in more intangible ways,” Liberman says.

The True/False staff is used to adapting to changes they can’t control. When the pandemic knocked the world off its axis, True/False righted itself quickly. In 2021, the festival was postponed to May and held outdoors at Stephens Lake Park, with films shown on five screens, including a drivein. Now, the big question is figuring out how people’s film habits have changed after emerging from lockdown, Liberman says.

Since the pandemic, attendance of cultural events has declined significantly for American adults. The National Endowment for the Arts reported that attendance of at least one arts event in 2022 was six percentage points lower than in 2017. Attendance for nearly all forms of art including movies and arts festivals declined.

For True/False musician Jacob Sommerscales, who has played at the fest for four years, the return of the full festival in 2022 was a sigh of relief. “It’s tough to consider True/False growth without talking about COVID,” Sommerscales says. “When I came back in 2022, it was really beautiful to see everybody and we had just really emerged from the pandemic.”

Being in person is an important element of the festival, from the Q&As with filmmakers to the live music to the art installations. True/False artist Karen Brummund, whose piece will be installed at Jesse Hall during the festival, says the True/False residency program fosters a community and allows the artists to support each other.

True/False Film Fest brings together many communities, whether it’s local businesses supporting the festival or creatives from around the globe making art. Together, they help keep the festival going, year after year, throughout the uncertainty of the world.

Navigating the human paradox

Karen Brummund’s “The Posture of Harmony,” will draw the community into its creation. Festivalgoers shape the installation by stacking blocks at Jesse Hall. From deer to dinner tables, the art installations at this year’s festival are eclectic and rich in meaning.

BY SARAH GOODSON

“Really very big.” These are the three words Mary Sandbothe uses to describe her vibrant, fibrous masterpiece “Deer Run,” which will be displayed during the upcoming True/False Film Fest. Sandbothe is one of the 11 artists-in-residence showing their art installations as part of the fest.

Sandbothe, as well as Andrew Ina, Cesar Lopez, Karen Brummund, Xena Felicia and Zena Segre, all brought solo installations this year. The other residents are collaborators, like sibling duo Lendl Tellington and Salome Sykes, and Anna Abhau Elliott, Desireé Moore and Robin Schwartzman of Radar Art.

This year’s festival theme, “The Human Paradox,” inspired a variety of interpretations from the artists chosen for the True/False residency. Lopez is bringing his piece “World View” to the fest. Two spherical cages act as the curve of the world, representing Lopez’s immigration to the United States and the Earth’s latitudes. “Once you see through them, you actually get to see different parts of your surroundings,” Lopez says. “They serve as framing devices for

you to kind of consider what you’re looking at.”

“Gathering Carefully,” Segre’s installation, intentionally evokes ambiguity. The daring installation is a net hanging overhead at Jesse Hall. It will hold paper and ceramic vessels. She says viewers’ individual interpretations shape the work. “I’m really excited to just kind of ambiently hear how visitors respond,” Segre says. Both Segre’s piece and Brummund’s “The Posture of Harmony” will be at Jesse Hall this year, the first time since 2020 that the building has hosted art for the festival.

The interactive “Barter Boat” from artist collective Radar Art will be located in the Sculpture Yard on Ninth Street outside the Missouri Theatre. The installation allows visitors to trade small items and trinkets, encouraging the community to interact in oral storytelling and visual art.

The eight installations featured at True/ False this year are as unique as the artists that created them. It’s an invitation to open your mind and think about the contradictions and paradoxes that we all experience.

Photography courtesy of True/False Film Fest

COMING HOME

Girls State was born out of the filmmakers’ interest in how teenage girls manage politics and power when they are the ones in charge.

BY ATHENA FOSLER-BRAZIL

The selection of Girls State as the Show Me True/False title at this year’s fest acts as a homecoming for the documentary. It takes place in the St. Louis suburbs on the Lindenwood University campus, where the American Legion’s annual program is held.

Girls State , co-directed by filmmaking couple Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, is coming to True/False Film Fest after its premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January. The film is a follow-up to their 2020 documentary Boys State — which follows a group of Texas high school boys tasked with building a government from the ground up. Girls State focuses on the program’s girls counterpart.

McBaine and Moss invite audiences to watch over 600 high school juniors from a range of socioeconomic, ethnic and geographic backgrounds construct a government. The girls run campaigns, hold elections, assemble a Supreme Court and bestow a leader with the authority of governor.

“We were excited to be with these young women we’d met from across the state of Missouri as they came into this space,” Moss says, “and they had all kinds of anxiety and excitement and ambition.”

In 2021, the festival created Show Me True/False, which is a screening of a film that has a focus on community. Show Me film tickets are the least expensive of the festival. “Show Me True/False is about connecting the film to our own community realities,” says Faramola Shonekan, director of community partnerships and education for Ragtag Film Society. “The connection could not have been stronger with this film.”

Boys State, which showed at True/ False in 2020 and won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at Sundance was a powerful exploration of masculinity in America, but McBaine and Moss felt like they had unfinished business. As parents of teenage daughters, they were interested in examining how teenage girls navigate politics, power and adversity.

“They’re not divisive, you know, they’re really looking to form connection,” Moss says. “They’re struggling with their own internalized perfectionism and the obstacles that they place in their own way.”

In the casting process, the co-directors spoke to over 200 girls, eventually narrowing it down to the seven primary subjects of the documentary.

“At 17, you’re definitely changing a lot, and whether you want to share that with the world is something only some people are really capable of doing,” McBaine says. Girls State takes place around the time of the U.S. Supreme Court’s leaked decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case that ended the constitutional right to abortion, when reproductive rights were at the forefront of the girl’s minds.

McBaine says that one of the things she loves about working with high school kids is the way they can hold multiple, sometimes conflicting, emotions at once.

“There’ll be both the despair over what is happening with particularly the abortion laws in Missouri, but also this hope for, ‘Well, what will happen when we all gather together for the first time? What will that discussion look like?’”

McBaine says. She says she admires the girls’ openness and willingness to confront political issues in spite of their fear.

Boys State never premiered in Texas due to the pandemic, and McBaine and Moss said they are excited to bring Girls State to audiences in the documentary’s home state. Though Moss has been to the festival and experienced the True/ False energy, this year will be McBaine’s first taste of the fest.

Photography courtesy of Apple TV

Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine premiered Girls State at Sundance Film Festival in January. Participants in Missouri Girls State construct a model government.

C H E C K

VIBE31 feature films. 25 short films. 40-plus musicians. Art on every corner. From Feb. 29 to March 3, True/False Film Fest is the place to be. Whether you want to party or keep it intellectual (or both!),Voxgathered planning hacks and insider tips to help you have the best fest possible.

BY MAYA DAWSON

THE BASICS

First time at the festival? You’ll want a bit of everything, and True/False is much more than films. Check out the shows, concerts and parties as well. “Other wise, you’re going to be in dark rooms watching movies for four days straight, which can kind of wear on your mind a little bit,” says Kyle Cook, co-owner of Hitt Records and a longtime True/False volunteer.

How to plan it: True/False has you covered. The Program section of its site lists all the films, art, music and events – just pick a variety and you’re good to go.

Don’t miss: The fourth annual Show Me True/False film, Girls State shown three times including a $5 show at Jesse Auditorium March 2. Catch the Friday night Cafe Berlin Showcase. “It’s got just a really dope, loud, sort of new-music kind of vibe,” Music Director Ashwini Mantrala says.

Hidden gem: At 10:30 a.m. March 2 and 3, True/False Art Installations Curator Sarah Nguyen guides a tour of the fest’s nine art installations located around town. The event is free, but you should sign up at truefalse.org in advance.

FILM FANATICS

In it for the cinema? Your perfect weekend will be spent dashing from theater to theater, hearing from producers and putting the “film” in film festival.

How to plan it: Pace yourself. “Don’t see only films on very heavy subjects, if you are inclined in that direction,” says Sam Cohen, a longtime True/False attendee. “Try to mix in lighter, weirder, less emotionally draining films.”

Don’t miss: Ragtag Film Society Director of Marketing and Communications Emily Edwards suggests This is Going to Be Big, a story about a neurodiverse teen musical cast preparing their first show. “It’s so full of heart and you grow to really love the kids,” Edwards says.

Hidden gem: Feb. 28 to March 1, the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism presents Based on a True Story (basedtruestory.com), a series of free lectures and screenings. This year includes Oscar nominee Four Daughters, followed by a Q&A with its director Kaouther Ben Hania. Also part of the program is Lana Wilson, director of the 2024 True/False film Look Into My Eyes

Photography courtesy of Adobe Stock, True/False Film Fest and Missourian archive

PARTY HARDY

Are late nights and loud music your jam? This year, the music and party lineup has something for everyone.

How to plan it: Check truefalse.org for availability of the Stay Up Late pass. The $70 pass includes access to late-night film screenings, admission to ticketed music showcases and some of the fest’s best parties. Don’t miss: The @CTION Party is a dance extravaganza from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Feb. 29 at The Landing and 10Below, which is part of Harpo’s Bar & Grill, 29 S. Tenth St. Or, at 7 p.m. March 2, take in the free Sanctuary Showcase at the Calvary Episcopal Church for a fresh take on a classical music lineup Hidden gem: Start off your festival weekend early with Eastside Tavern’s Kickoff Concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 28. “We really like to make a point of focusing Wednesday night’s music around local and regional acts that mean a lot to the specific community that makes up the primary audience,” Mantrala says.

BUDGET MINDED

Want the best of the fest without the price tag? You don’t need a big budget to have a great time.

How to plan it: concerts can be found throughout the festival. Indi vidual film tickets cost $15 each. Students with a valid ID can purchase tickets for $10 at the box office.

Don’t miss: kicks off at 4:45 p.m. March 1 to the entire community. “It’s truly my favorite part of the fest,” Edwards says. “The first time I came to True/ False as a guest it changed the way I saw the world.”

including the Sentinel Park Showcase at 2 p.m. March 2 and the Hitt Records Session at 6 p.m. March 3.

BRING ON THE EATS

Wondering where to eat? Whether you need a quick bite or a sit-down meal, the best fest experience includes a full belly.

How to plan it:

Look for grab-and-go options tween films, take an opportunity to take it all in. “I love Ninth Street going on,” Nguyen says. “It’s just kind of fun people-watching.”

Don’t miss: Stop by snack when it’s 4 p.m. and you know dinner isn’t until 8,” Edwards says. “You can crush a cone no problem.”

Hidden gem year, try La Calle 8 Cafe Twain: Missouri BBQ and Taproom

SEASONED FEST-GOER

Not your first fest? You know the drill, but here are some fresh ideas for 2024.

VOX FILM MATRIX

Having a hard time choosing what to see at this year’s True/False? Look no further!

Vox spoke with Eynar Pineda, one of the fest’s programmers, to help categorize the lineup.

DAUGHTERS

Young girls reunite with their fathers at a daddy-daughter dance in a D.C. jail.

BY NICOLE VOSS

CONVENTIONAL

YINTAH

GIRLS STATE

THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT 1489

AS THE TIDE COMES IN

Four women try to save their homeland as a war unfolds.

Amid the ArmenianAzerbaijani conflict, the director’s brother disappears.

MAGIC MOUNTAIN DANCING ON THE EDGE OF A VOLCANO

After an explosion devastates Beirut, a film crew must decide what to do.

Residents on a small Danish island battle threats to their ancestral land.

I LIKE IT HERE

OBSOLETE

A filmmaker presents his life with footage spanning decades. An elderly Mumbai couple longs for a peaceful death.

Tuberculosis patients reside in the historic Abastumani palace in Georgia.

THREE PROMISES

A son finds his mother’s home movies from when Israel’s military retaliated against the Palestinian uprising in the West Bank. The True Life Fund film.

IBELIN

A young man with a degenerative muscular disease creates community through video games.

FLYING LESSONS

Follow the battle of gentrification on NYC’s Lower East Side through the lens of an artist.

23 MILE

The struggle of indigenous Wet’suwet’en leaders against gas and oil pipelines.

UNION

Amazon workers face corporate backlash as they work to unionize.

LOOK INTO MY EYES

New York City psychics attempt to reach into the beyond.

GWETTO

In Tamatave, Madagascar, a group of undocumented men work toward a brighter future. The True Vision Award winner.

A filmmaker travels across Michigan to explore the notion that we have more in common than media or politicians make us think.

ALIEN ISLAND

Radio enthusiasts investigate an island rumored to have aliens during Chile’s 1980s military dictatorship.

BACKGROUND

A father and son try to bridge their distance. The son is a refugee in Germany and his father is in Syria.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

A shocking recording of a government meeting leads to a dissection of Brazil’s politics in the 1960s.

SR

This film weaves together the history of giraffes with that of humanity.

This year’s Show Me film, teenage girls in Missouri build a model government as disparities unfold.

BOYZ

Three teenage boys navigate the journey to young adulthood.

A BAND OF DREAMERS AND A JUDGE

A group of friends in Northern Iran search for treasure while evading police.

SPERMWORLD

Sperm donors carry the emotional baggage that comes with procreation.

THE OTHER PROFILE

Neurodiverse high school students in Australia put on a musical. THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG

AGENT OF HAPPINESS

In Bhutan, “Happiness Agents” conduct surveys to measure the people’s happiness levels.

A French filmmaker investigates a Facebook account that stole his identity, leading him somewhere unexpected.

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

This filmmaker searches for missing Black historical figure, Mavis Beacon.

K-FAMILY AFFAIRS

Through her parents, the director tries to understand South Korea’s democratization movement.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

ALLO LA FRANCE

The director’s fascination with dwindling phone booths in France takes the audience on an adventure.

This filmmaker dives into her family archives in an attempt to understand who her late mother was.

North American premiere World premiere Premiered at Sundance

With origins as a thriving Black community center and dance hall, the 107-year-old McKinney Building awaits its next act after the city purchased it last year.

STORY BY Sterling Sewell, Mercy Austin, Lily Burger and Abby Kenninger

EDITED BY Cayli Yanagida

DESIGN BY Caitlin Kane

On Broadway at the west end of downtown sits the McKinney Building, a former Black-owned dance hall that has since housed more than 14 different businesses. The century-old building has held a jazz venue, candy store, shopping outlet and Black community center. The building began a new chapter in August when the Columbia City Council voted to acquire the building for $1.7 million.

The city approved the creation of a task force to determine what to do with the building. Its members were announced in February. Amy Schneider, director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the group is 15 members, chaired by the Rev. Clyde Ruffin of Second Missionary Baptist Church and includes community leaders, historians and musicians. There are currently no finalized plans for the building.

The city has previously purchased buildings with plans of restoration, notably the Blind Boone Home. John William “Blind” Boone was a prominent Black concert pianist, ragtime composer and philanthropist within the community. His home was turned into a museum and event space that opened in 2016.

Before buying the building, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission had

Time signaTures: From jazz performers to chickens to physical therapy, the McKinney Building has a storied past.

1917

Frank

builds the two-story building at 411 E. Broadway with storefronts on the ground floor and a performance hall on the upper level.

1918

1920s

1921

Photography courtesy of State Historical Society of Missouri

McKinney

McKinney Hall brings in jazz musicians performing in the region. Businesses in the storefronts include auto shops and a harness maker.

Columbia Missourian articles show McKinney Hall hosted a performance to raise money for Black Army regiments and a pageant for Second Baptist Church.

Walthall Moore, the first Black lawmaker to serve in the Missouri General Assembly, gave a speech about civil rights at McKinney Hall. Students from Douglass High School perform music.

previously selected the McKinney Building as a Most Notable Property, meaning the property is over 50 years old and has historical characteristics contributing to the city’s social resources.

History by tHe bricks

In 1917, Frank “Fred” McKinney, who was a Black day-laborer, constructed the building. He paid approximately $5,000 to build the brick structure. In today’s economy, that would be more than $120,000.

The first floor of the building held three storefronts. The second floor, known as McKinney Hall, acted as a community center and dance hall. Sam Griffith, the director of Jazz Studies at MU, says dance halls were cultural epicenters during Prohibition. During World War II, many dance halls were torn down for financial and administrative reasons. “The fact that we have a venue that’s still standing from those times, I find to be incredibly significant,” Griffith says.

Beyond jazz, the building held church pageants, meetings and Douglass High School proms. The building hosted Black legislators from Missouri and faculty from Lincoln University. Among these was Walthall Moore, the first Black lawmaker to serve in the Missouri General Assembly. Moore gave a speech about civil rights and the future of Black Americans to a packed crowd in the building in February 1921.

At the time it was built, the McKinney Building was one of only a few structures in Columbia with public restrooms open to people of color. “One of the things (McKinney) specifically wanted it to have was a public restroom because of segregation,” says Bridget Haney, a historian with the State Historical Society of Missouri.

Matt Fetterly of the Boone County History & Culture Center says the building served as a Black social space. The building’s location is one block south of the historic Sharp End business district that served as a hub for Black-owned businesses from the

1930s

1934

After Frank McKinney’s death, his sons sell the building to William Tallen, a Greek immigrant.

1938

Tallen converts the building into a candy store, and eventually acquires licensing to brew and sell beer. The second floor of the building is converted into a chicken hatchery.

Early 1970s

After the building had been vacant for about 10 years, Proctor Real Estate purchased it.

Photography by Lily Burger

Black day-laborer Frank “Fred” McKinney built the building in 1917 for $5,000, which would be about $120,000 today. At 411 E. Broadway, the McKinney Building still stands as it did in 1978 (above), when it was added to a historic inventory by the State Historic Preservation Office. Now (right), the McKinney Building has been acquired by the city.

The Bennie Moten band performed at McKinney Hall at least twice in the 1930s. Jazz legend Count Basie was a member before his rise to fame and became the leader of the band in 1935, according to the Columbia Missourian.

early 1900s to the 1960s, before the area was bought by the city and redeveloped. “That street corner is the most important corner to Columbia’s Black community in town,” Fetterly says. “It represents not only our most prominent Black church, Second Baptist, which sits right on the corner, but also Blind Boone’s home, which sits next door, and then the McKinney Building, which sits right on Broadway.”

Following the death of Fred McKinney in 1934, the building was sold to Greek immigrant William Tallen. He converted it into a candy store and brewery, dismantling the dance floor toward the end of the decade. In 1938, the second floor was converted into a chicken hatchery. Meanwhile, the first floor saw a pizza parlor, bicycle store and key shop. The hatchery closed in the 1940s, leaving the second floor vacant until the early 1970s.

Following the national bicentennial in 1976, architectural historian Deb Sheals says there was an reinvigorated effort nationally and in Columbia to preserve historic buildings. In May 1978, the McKinney Building was added to a historic inventory by the State Historic Preservation Office.

In September 1978, the building was converted into a two-story department store operated by Ancel Proctor and Richard Halterman of Proctor Real Estate. The renovations by Proctor and Halterman added a grand stairwell and skylights. The building changed hands in 1993 when Rick Rother bought it and transformed the first floor into a physical therapy office and the second into a living space.

A culturAl epicenter

Although there are no official plans for the McKinney Building, community members have a variety of ideas for the space. Deputy City Manager Mike Griggs says the

1978

Two MU alumni renovate the building as a twostory department store.

McKinney Building could be a potential site for a downtown welcome center and African American museum. Mary Beth Brown, who worked on the city’s African American Heritage Trail, says she would like to see the space used for exhibits — perhaps a recreation of the Sharp End — and as a gathering space to educate people about Columbia’s Black history.

Fetterly proposed giving office space to Black-led nonprofits but says that the best use of the building would be to turn it into a venue for jazz performances. The idea to return the building to a venue was echoed by Josh Chittum, assistant director of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series, which is a nonprofit organization that hosts national jazz musicians in Columbia.

Annelle Whitt, whose late husband, James Whitt, chaired the Sharp End Heritage Committee, suggested that the building be used as a space to support Black entrepreneurs. It could expand upon the work of the

1993

August 2023

The City of Columbia purchases the McKinney Building for $1.5 million, yet unsure of future plans.

After Fred McKinney died in 1934, the building was sold. In the 90 years since then, it held a candy store, chicken hatchery and a pizza parlor. In 1978, the building was renovated to add a grand stairwell and skylights when it was a physical therapy office.

business incubator The Shops at Sharp End, which opened in January and aims to provide space for minority business enterprises.

Ultimately, the building just deserves a purpose, historian Sheals says.

“Find a use for it,” Sheals says. “That’s how you save a historic building — put it to work.”

February 2024

Photography by Elise Wilke-Grimm

Rick Rother buys the building and uses it as a physical therapy office.

The city forms a task force that will make a decision on what will be done with the building.

They rise so we can shine

Some heroes wear aprons. Find out how Columbia’s early shift helps create brighter mornings for locals.

BY ABIGAIL RAMIREZ

While you’re fast asleep in your bed under a warm blanket or coming home from a night out, Rebecca Miller, co-owner of Peggy Jean’s Pies, is turning on the lights.

Miller arrives at Peggy Jean’s at 3:15 a.m. to prepare for hectic days at the bakery. This extra time allows her to plan out her day and bake before the shop opens at 10 a.m. “I enjoy myself,” Miller says. “And that’s weird. You can tell I’m getting old because I didn’t used to feel this way when I started.”

While waking up so early might be some people’s nightmare, Miller has come to love mornings and the peace that comes with it. The things that keep her company in these early hours? Music, audiobooks and podcasts.

“If you look at my Spotify Wrapped, you’d say ‘That tracks’ because it’s like 67,000 minutes but a lot of that is just in here,” Miller says.

Working dawn to dusk every day has become her routine. She wakes up around 2:45 a.m., starts at 3:45 a.m., closes the shop at 6 p.m. and goes home to sleep. When you work in food service, you learn to prioritize your rest, and Miller admits this can be a bummer.

“I have been here so early that I have literally seen people going home from their night out and I will have a full-on pity party,” Miller says.

Jessi Wiggins has been a baker at Peggy Jean’s Pies for about two years. She bakes alongside co-owner Rebecca Miller during the early hours of the morning.

Photography by Cara Penquite

Brad Newkirk, owner of B&B Bagels and fellow early riser, operates similarly day to day. His days begin with 4 a.m. alarms, morning walks to work and 5 a.m. bagel deliveries across town.

Naturally, waking up early means going to bed early. Newkirk says this has

created beneficial habits, ranging from eating healthier to getting better quality sleep. Studies show that getting up early can reduce anxiety, improve mental clarity, increase the quality of sleep and allow time for healthier breakfasts, according to Summa Health, a health care research nonprofit.

“Being disciplined waking up leads to being disciplined in exercise, leads to being disciplined in relationships, leads to being disciplined in school work,” Newkirk says. “We’ve done it for 23 years. Believe us when we tell you, you can do this and you’ll enjoy it.”

Kate Hengehold, a barista at The Grind’s Forum Boulevard location, has a different perspective. While Newkirk and Miller have built careers around the early riser schedule, Hengehold balances school, work and a social life. Sometimes, this means attending class after working a shift or canceling plans to prioritize sleep.

“Since I have to wake up so early, going out with my friends is not really an option for me,” Hengehold says. “Same

with school, staying up studying isn’t an ideal situation with work in the morning, and likewise with going to classes right after work. I find it really difficult to have the motivation to attend class and stay alert.”

For those who can swing it, waking up and working early hours can create community. “(Working early mornings) means you commiserate each other’s misery of being up so early and not having a social life,” Newkirk says. “But then you do have a social life, and it’s working.”

Miller has also experienced this sense of camaraderie with her staff. While the rest of the employees are asleep, she works early hours to allow them to get more rest. If she is not willing to wake up early to work, she says, there is no reason her staff should.

“I mean, I think that’s just part of being an owner,” Miller says. “I don’t want to ask somebody to do something that I’m not consistently doing. I’m very big on that. I think it’s a hard way to lead people when you’re not willing to do it yourself.”

Photography by Cara Penquite

Chrissy McBride (left) works alongside shop co-owner Rebecca Miller. McBride has been working at Peggy Jean’s Pies for about a year.

Sauce is thicker than water

A daddy-daughter duo prepares batches of their versatile Sully Sauce for pop-up events.

BY SAM BARRETT

Twice a month, Chris Sullivan starts his day by waking up at 5 a.m. and heading over to the CoMo Cooks shared kitchen with his youngest daughter, Autumn. Both will work for about five hours making one batch of Sully Sauce.

These long mornings contrast with his typical work schedule. On most days, he drives to St. Louis before clocking into his night shift as an officer for the North County Police Cooperative. Sullivan has been commuting to St. Louis, his hometown, for almost five years.

The workload of managing a business on top of his police role is worth it. Sullivan started Sully Sauce hoping to leave a legacy for his daughters while teaching them responsibility and financial literacy. Sullivan’s eldest daughter, Kamaryn, is also involved in the business — just not in the kitchen. Kamaryn, 24, lives in St. Louis and works on Sully Sauce social media, marketing and logistics.

Sullivan has been making Sully Sauce for friends and family for almost 10 years, but never thought to turn it into something bigger until people encouraged him to sell it. Sullivan has three undergraduate degrees related to business. He began putting his degrees to use in June 2023 when the Sullivan family first sold the sauce at the City of Columbia’s Juneteenth event.

Sullivan makes two versions of Sully Sauce — one with and one without

beef — and describes it as a sweet heat, tomato-based sauce featuring a variety of vegetables such as sweet peppers, carrots, celery and onion.

“You can eat it hot or cold,” Sullivan says. “If you like pasta, any kind of pasta, make it to a texture you like, and the sauce is ready to go. It’s got that sweet heat taste. It goes down sweet, and then it’ll sneak up on you.” Although Sully Sauce is reminiscent of a spaghetti sauce, Sullivan says it can be eaten with almost anything, including breadsticks, nacho chips, tacos and chicken wings.

A family recipe

Sullivan and 10-year-old Autumn start their long day of sauce making around 7 a.m., after picking up some morning fuel at Burger King. From there, they arrive at CoMo Cooks, a commercial shared kitchen located on Business Loop 70 East, where local cooks can

Chris Sullivan prepares beef while his daughter, Autumn Sullivan, 10, dumps tomato paste into a pot. Sullivan says that preparation is the most time-consuming part of the process.

rent kitchen and storage space. Sullivan first started scheduling time there in May 2023.

After Sullivan gathers his supplies from his designated storage space, Autumn will start by opening around 24 cans of tomato sauce and paste while her dad begins to chop vegetables. “Prep is what takes a really long time because everything is done by hand,” Sullivan says.

HUNGRY YET?

Chris Sullivan sells Sully Sauce at various pop-up events around Columbia. Find Sully Sauce on Facebook for more information.

Sullivan and his daughter spend the majority of their four to five hours in the kitchen opening tomato cans, chopping a wide mix of vegetables and pre-cooking pounds of beef. He says the simmering of all the ingredients together in one pot only takes about 30 minutes.

With prep and cook time, making one batch of sauce, which fills 18 32-ounce jars, takes up a huge chunk of their day. Yet, both Sullivan and Autumn wouldn’t trade their hours in the kitchen, viewing it as the perfect bonding time.

Photography by Jacob Luebbert

“You know, this is our daddy-daughter time,” Sullivan says. “We get to have a good time and spend time together.”

For Sullivan, it’s even more than that. Through this business, Sullivan is teaching Autumn to be responsible, follow a schedule and manage money.

Autumn is also getting the opportunity to boost her confidence and communi-

cation skills with customers, all while getting to do her favorite thing with her dad: cook. “I like to cook a lot,” says fourth-grader Autumn, who designed the Sully Sauce logo on her iPad. But the most valuable thing the business does, Sullivan says, is teaching his daughters self-reliance.

Usually, Sullivan will schedule time at CoMo Cooks when Autumn isn’t attending Mary Paxton Keeley Elementary so she can join him. When Autumn is at school, Sullivan still has batches to make and orders to fill, so sometimes he ends up cooking alone. “If she’s not here, it’s just me,” Sullivan says.

Leaving a legacy

Sully Sauce is a small pop-up business, sold at local events including the Juneteenth festival and the Loop Maker Market. However, Sullivan has been in talks with some restaurants in St. Louis about adding his sauce to the menu.

Deon Ross previously owned Dark Meals, a barbecue restaurant in St. Lou-

is, but shut it down in 2020 during the pandemic. With plans to reopen in 2024, Ross says he promised Sullivan that his sauce will have a spot on his new menu. “It’s a great sauce,” Ross says. “I fell in love with it.”

Many customers have asked Sullivan to create other sauces. He says if he makes a new flavor soon, it will be a highly requested wing sauce. He doesn’t plan to slow down.

“Basically, what I’m trying to do for (Autumn) is leave her something behind,” Sullivan says. “It’s getting a little buzz now, it’s starting to take off a little bit. Sales are not where I would like them to be, but with just starting off, I’m satisfied, but I want to strive to get more.”

Sullivan and his daughter love to cook for others, and their sauce helps customers take an extra step out of their own cooking process. However, when it comes to his own household, Sullivan has a more self-reliant rule about Sully Sauce: if you want to eat it, you have to make it.

Photography by Jacob Luebbert

Autumn Sullivan applies a label to a container of Sully Sauce. Each container is 32 ounces.

Second is the best

Looking to expand your wardrobe with unique, vintage clothes? Here are tips for shopping secondhand.

BY CHLOE LYKKEN

Secondhand shopping often feels like searching for a diamond in racks of clothing. Whether you have recently taken up buying secondhand clothes

as a hobby or pride yourself on finding designer vintage pieces, these tips from Columbia secondhand shopping pros will help you find good pieces.

Decide what you value

First, you have to know what you want. Sabrina Garcia-Rubio, owner of Maude Vintage, says quality is subjective. Whether high quality is based on the sustainability of materials, how unique a garment is or how big the bargain, the definition of quality varies from person to person. So, you must first determine what quality means to you.

Casey Elliot, co-owner of Just Between Friends biannual consignment sale, centers her selection process on

Lucy Brann tries on a lace mask in the fitting room of Maude Vintage.

FIND + SEEK

Maude Vintage

9 N. Tenth St. Vintage clothes

Just Between Friends columbia. jfbsale.com Consignment shop

Nuu Clothes @nuuclothes byclaire Custom pieces, alterations and repairs

analyzing the condition of the piece. Elliot says to look for rips, tears, stains and even signs of overuse that may prevent the item from being ready-to-wear. Once your opinion of quality is determined, use those guidelines as you roam the racks of your local consignment and vintage shops.

Assess your own wardrobe

Before pulling things from the racks, ask yourself, “What kinds of pieces am I looking to add to my closet?” Garcia-Rubio recommends evaluating your wardrobe prior to walking into a shop filled with funky selections.

Whether you need basics to pair with a statement jacket, bell-bottom jeans or a

Photography by Kylie Daniel

fun pop of color, looking at what you own helps you discover your next purchase.

Claire Johnson, owner of Nuu Clothes and an experienced upcycler, challenges shoppers to explore new ways of expressing themselves through fashion while indulging in the thrifting world.

Johnson says that buying secondhand encourages shoppers to think creatively without the investment. “This is the creative place to really try new styles,” she says. “But here, you can try on that $3 shirt and maybe you’ll love it. It’s the place to have an open mind.”

Shopping like a pro is much more than the occasional spree. It’s a community-building, reinventing experience.

Get lost in the process

Immerse yourself in the clothes, the experience and the people around you during your shopping excursion. Garcia-Rubio says shoppers should take in the atmosphere, feel the textures of browse different silhouettes, try on a variety of pieces and chat with the employees. Once you identify the types of pieces you want to

find, ask for direction. Allow yourself the time and space to scope out the shop.

Johnson advises thrifters not to limit themselves to a specific category of clothing. Check out the fabric feel of children’s clothing, the men’s section or even vintage quilts and blankets. Johnson also says to thrift with friends who are ready to enjoy the adventure with you. Thrifting involves a lot of surprises and treasures you’ve got to dig to find.

One of the greatest benefits of secondhand shopping is witnessing the multiple purposes a piece can fulfill. Johnson spends time reinventing various clothing through patchwork, ripping seams and altering silhouettes. Elliot sees items get another chance in someone else’s life and recognizes a vast sense of community. Garcia-Rubio chooses pieces for her shop from a variety of decades.

“The things you are selecting for your wardrobe, they are a lot about yourself and they are a part of what you are expressing that day,” Garcia-Rubio says. “So I feel like your wardrobe extends a lot further than just your body.”

Photography by Kylie Daniel

Maude Vintage owner Sabrina Garcia-Rubio (left) shows a set of vintage pearls to customer Kiley Williams. Petticoats (below) hang on the first floor. Each floor is a different era. “It’s kind of like a time machine taking people farther back in time as you go up,” Garcia-Rubio says.

TO-DO LIST

Your curated guide of what to do in Columbia this month.

ARTS

Hairspray

You can’t stop the beat! The Tony award-winning musical comedy Hairspray is back on tour. Teenager Tracy Turnblad tries to dance her way to her favorite show’s stage in 1960s Baltimore, fighting against social stigmas and her mother’s judgment. Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Jesse Auditorium, $49$79, 882-3781, concertseries.missouri.edu

Radium Girls

You’ve heard of chemist Marie Curie. But have you heard of the female workers who fell ill from radium used to paint glow-in-the-dark watch dials? Curie could not have imagined the events that would transpire from her discovery, but the producers of this play bring them to life in this critically acclaimed drama. Inspired by the true

events of Grace Fryer’s life in the early 1900s and based on the novel by Kate Moore, Radium Girls tells the inspiring story of one woman’s fight for justice. March 13-15, 7:30 p.m.; March 17, 2 p.m., Rhynsburger Theatre, $22, 882-7529, calendar. missouri.edu

CIVIC Como Wedding Experience

If you’re getting married this year, mark your calendars for this day of planning. Seminars, vendors and venue tours are part of the free event, and there’s an interactive live wedding show with the purchase of a VIP ticket. With over 50 vendors, this show is one of the largest in midMissouri. Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., The Atrium on Tenth, free-$50, 567-0811, andrealynevents.com/ como-wedding-experience

Black History and Culture Trivia Night

Test your knowledge of Black history and mingle with fellow trivia lovers at this fun and educational event. Put a team together and enjoy a competitive celebration fitting for the end of Black History Month. Pre-registration is required. Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m., Columbia Public Library, free, 443-3161, libcal.missouri.edu

FOOD

Dining in the Alley

Join host Artemis Grey for a night of dinner and drag at this lively event by Nclusion Plus. Each ticket includes three rounds of drag entertainment. Dinner and drinks from Hexagon Alley’s kitchen are ordered separately. March 10, 4-7:30 p.m., Hexagon Alley, $12 online, $15 at the door, nclusionplus.com

BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING

CALENDAR

MUSIC

Destin Conrad

Embarking on his first U.S. headlining tour, R&B singer Destin Conrad is promoting his latest album Submissive2. Growing to fame as a Vine star, Conrad branched into music with writing credits for Kehlani before creating albums of his own. Don’t miss the chance to see this breakout artist perform a catalog of lush melodies. March 10, 8 p.m.,The Blue Note, $25-35, thebluenote.com

Great Lake Swimmers

Ready to make a splash, the Great Lake Swimmers visit Columbia to showcase over two decades of music. Rock with this Canadian band and enjoy a night of guitar riffs and harmonica solos. March 10, 7:30 p.m., Rose Music Hall, $20 in advance, $25 day of, rosemusichall.com

Danú

Hailing from Ireland, Danú is an award-winning traditional Irish ensemble performing as a part of the University Concert Series. Featuring instruments like the flute and fiddle, prepare to be swept away by these virtuosi players. March 12, 7 p.m., Jesse Auditorium, $30-42, concertseries. missouri.edu

The Brook & The Bluff w/ Special Guest Teenage Dads

Folk-rock band The Brook & The Bluff makes a stop in Columbia in support of its new album Bluebeard. Known for incandescent harmonies and arrangements, the band fuses indie influences with a contemporary spin. March 19, 8 p.m., The Blue Note, $22-45, thebluenote.com

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram w/ Special Guest Dylan Triplett

Grammy award-winning singer Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is known as a generational voice in blues. Promoting his new album Live in London, Kingfish leaves listeners spellbound by his passionate music. March 20, 7 p.m., The Blue Note, $25-45, thebluenote.com

OUTDOORS

2024 Polar Plunge Columbia

This “unbearably” cold event is a unique opportunity to support the local chapter of Special Olympics by venturing into chilly water. Don’t miss the chance to join this fun tradition with music and costumes. March 9, 12 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, $10 registration fee, $75 must be raised to participate, 469-7828, somo.org

A GRANDIOSE GAGGLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAYTON STEWARD

The Queens of True/False gather for a pep talk in preparation for the 2023 March March Parade that kicks off the annual documentary festival. During the fest, their job is to energize the crowds, answer questions and manage the queue lines at the venue entrances. Their flashy costumes identify them as Queens and ensure they can be seen among the masses.

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