0 2 . 0 8 . 1 8 / / F R E E E V E RY T H U R S D AY
Inking a name for herself Tattoo artist Roxane Meera has turned an art-filled life into a creative career PAGE 8
WIN-WIN
Find out where to get medal-worthy restaurant specials as you watch this year’s Olympics PAGE 6
BLACK POWER
In anticipation of the movie Black Panther, take a look at other popular black comic book heroes PAGE 16
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURE Columbia tattoo artist Roxane Meera talks artistry, inspiration and growing up surrounded by creativity. While explaining the meaning behind her own tats, she discusses apprenticing and working in a field dominated by men. PAGE 8 NEWS & INSIGHT A Columbia startup is heading to New York City. Kolu aims to connect travelers on a budget with local guides. PAGE 4 THE SCENE Looking to spice up your wardrobe during New York Fashion Week? Local fashion bloggers predict this spring’s looks. PAGE 5 MUSIC Fresh off its first Grammy win, Portugal. The Man will return to Columbia for a sold-out show at The Blue Note. PAGE 15 ARTS & BOOKS The GreenHouse Theatre Project brings plays to unusual settings. The group will perform in living rooms for a new event. PAGE 17 Q&A Stephanie Logan lost her hearing at the age of 23. Now she is executive director of DeafLEAD, a crisis center for those who are hard of hearing in Missouri. PAGE 18
ONLINE
February 8, 2018 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 4 | PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
SPRING INTO A NEW READ Vox recommends upcoming novels based on favorites such as Orange is the New Black and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. TRUE/FALSE GETS ARTSY It’s not just about films. This year, the popular documentary film festival will host 25 art installations around downtown Columbia. Vox lets you know which ones to add to your list. ROSE MCGOWAN’S BATTLE CRY The feminist icon, actress and director’s new book, Brave, details her abuses and what lead to her becoming the “architect” of Harvey Weinstein’s downfall.
EDITOR’S LETTER
CORRECTIONS: From the Feb. 1 issue, the correct location of the Blue Water Highway concert on Feb. 9 is Rose Music Hall. Antonio Sanchez: Birdman Live is on Feb. 8. Dublin Irish Dance: Stepping Out will be held Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., and tickets range from $18-38; for more information, call 882-3781. Jessi Dodge took the photo of Bur Oak Brewery on Page 11.
COVER DESIGN: LIDIA MOORE COVER PHOTO: MEIYING WU
MADISON FLECK
320 LEE HILLS HALL, COLUMBIA, MO 65211 EDITORIAL: 573-884-6432 vox@missouri.edu ADVERTISING: 573-882-5714 CIRCULATION: 573-882-5700 TO SUBMIT A CALENDAR EVENT: email vox@missouri.edu or submit via online form at voxmagazine.com. TO RECEIVE VOX IN YOUR INBOX: sign up for email newsletter at voxmagazine.com.
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When people notice one of my tattoos, the first question they ask is, “What does it mean?” And usually, I tell them it doesn’t have any particular significance — it’s just something I wanted at the time. Of course, each of my three tattoos has some sort of story. The first, I got with my two cousins who are more like sisters. The second, I got on a whim after I went to a tattoo shop to see how much it would cost. And the third, I got while in Budapest at a shop I’d never heard of. I told the artist, Christina, to draw something she thought was beautiful. Thankfully, I thought it was beautiful, too. This week’s feature (Page 8) follows a Columbia tattoo artist, Roxane Meera Jeffries, known in the tattoo community as Roxane Meera. She thrives in the industry dominated by men, and that hasn’t bothered her. She was raised for this — Roxane grew up with a Bohemian lifestyle and surrounded by art. Her only choice was to embrace her surroundings and fall in love with creativity. But this feature goes beyond just Roxane’s story; it’s about the art behind tattoos and the connections people have with them. It’s about people like me who didn’t necessarily have a deep, profound reason for getting permanent ink on our bodies. We simply have a love for art and life, and that’s reason enough.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
VOX STAFF Editor: Madison Fleck Deputy Editor: Sten Spinella Managing Editor: Kelsie Schrader Digital Managing Editor: Brooke Vaughan Multimedia Editor: Meg Vatterott Online Editor: Brea Cubit Creative Director: Keegan Pope Art Directors: Corin Cesaric, Tong Li Photo Editor: Annaliese Nurnberg News & Insight Editors: Samantha Brown, Morgan Niezing, Erika Stark The Scene Editors: Alex Edwards, Annamarie Higley, Margaux Scott, Peyton Stableford Music Editors: Jessica Heim-Brouwer, Anna Maples, Hannah Turner, Chloe Wilt Arts & Books Editors: Kat Cua, Kayla McDowell, Rachel Phillips, Ashley Skokan Digital Editors: McKenna Blair, Amber Campbell, Michael Connolly, Brooke Kottmann, Lauren Lombardo, Megan Schaltegger, Rosemary Siefert, Micki Wagner, Bobbi Watts Designers: Corin Cesaric, Annamarie Higley, Tong Li, Jennifer Litherland, Lidia Moore, Morgan Seibel, Rebecca Smith Multimedia Producers: Kaylin Burris, Cassandra Florido, Kat Jennings, Megan Liz Smith, Yixuan Wang, Maoyan Wei Editorial Director: Heather Lamb Executive Editor: Jennifer Rowe Digital Director: Sara Shipley Hiles Office Manager: Kim Townlain
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PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF MEIYING WU AND PEXELS
RADAR
Vox’s take on the talk of the week
PIZZA TIME
GOTTA LOVE GLOVER Donald Glover has retired Childish Gambino — at least on Twitter. Glover will ditch the stage name when his fourth studio album, which is in progress, drops later this year. We still have reasons to love Glover. 1. On Jan. 31, he re-released his 2011 EP, aptly titled EP, for streaming. 2. The second season of his TV series, Atlanta, premieres March 1. 3. He’ll be hitting the big screen again in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which will come to theaters this May, and the live-action version of The Lion King.
RELIVING THE GLORY DAYS
This Friday is arguably the best day of the year: National Pizza Day. Indulge during this celebration of the delectable, cheesy goodness that is pizza. Looking to join in without stretching your budget? Check out these specials from local pizza places. Wise Guys Pizza Large two-topping for $9.99 Southside Pizza & Pub Buy one; get one free Shakespeare’s Pizza Deals for those signed up for text message alerts The U.S. Olympic team for the 2018 Winter Games, which begin on Friday, boasts athletes from nearly every state — except Missouri. Some notable past medalists from our state: Helen Stephens, Fulton, track, 1936 Berlin Games Michael Spinks, St. Louis, boxing, 1974 Montreal Games Terin Humphrey, St. Joseph, gymnastics, 2004 Athens Games Lori Chalupny, St. Louis, soccer, 2008 Beijing Games J’Den Cox, Columbia, wrestling, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games
NOTHIN’ BUT NET
We couldn’t be happier to have a legit basketball team at MU again. An NCAA Tournament spot is on the table, and it’s about time — it’s been a minute. Here are some of the most notable moments in Tiger history at the Big Dance: 1976: Willie Smith’s 43-point performance wasn’t quite enough in a losing effort against Michigan in the Elite Eight. 1995: The eighth-seeded Tigers almost pulled off a huge upset, but eventual national champion UCLA stole a win in the game’s final seconds.
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2012: Missouri’s best season in nearly 20 years was derailed by upstart Norfolk State in the second round.
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Written by: Jessica Heim-Brouwer, Morgan Niezing, Annamarie Higley, Margaux Scott PHOTOS COURTESY OF AP IMAGES, PIXABAY AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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NEWS & INSIGHT
Kolu: personalized tours wherever you go Columbia startup looks to transform how you tour cities BY ANN MARION The founder of Kolu, a smartphone app startup from mid-Missouri, wants to revolutionize the way you see the world. Think of it as the Airbnb of tours. The app connects tourists with knowledgeable residents to provide specialized tours from an insider perspective. Despite growing up in Hillsboro, Alex Winkler, 24, the app’s creator, has always had a passion for global travel. Since he turned 18, he has visited 25 countries, but he’s often found his guides uninspired. “I once saw a tour guide reading from a printed Wikipedia page,” Winkler says. He envisions Kolu as the perfect solution for solo travelers who want a localized experience. Kolu began as a company called Global Hiker. In the past few years, new team members, rebranding and smarter strategies have put it on the startup map, and the company has received funding from investors. The app launched in New York City in January. Of the more than 500 people who applied to be first-ever tour guides, 22 were selected after passing Kolu’s background check. Kolu guides must have lived in New York City for three or more years, be sociable and open-minded and have intimate knowledge of the area. Tourists are matched with guides based on travel interests, age, guide rating and number of tours conducted. Winkler says the plan is to launch in Washington, D.C., this fall. For the first few months, Kolu will work to accumulate more investments, secure business
partnerships and launch in more cities. Its biggest goals now are raising $1.3 million in investments and fostering as many tours as possible in the target cities. Winkler began working on Kolu full-time in November 2017 after graduating from MU with an international business degree. He has operated his business out of Columbia for the past couple years by leasing part of a shared office space called The Hub. Winkler is planning to move to New York this June with three other members of the team: Riley de León, Emily Johnson and Marin Meiners. They’re optimistic, opportunistic and eager to make a name for themselves. For de León, social media has always been a vital part of success. “I totally believe in the connectedness of our generation,” he says. By marketing Kolu on social media channels, de León maintains the app’s brand of authenticity. It was de León who came up with the name Kolu when researching domain and trademark availability. He later learned that it meant “three” in Hawaiian, which fit perfectly with how users select three interests from a list of 12 to be matched with travel guides. The “power of three” essence was incorporated into the revamped logo design as well through a triangle. “Kolu Local,” de León’s other contribution, gives social media influencers the chance to partner with Kolu for the day. The mutually beneficial relationship gives the app free marketing and users another platform to promote themselves. Winkler hopes that one day
Kolu allows users to easily connect with local tour guides for specialized experiences.
the social media influencers will pay him for the opportunity to partner with Kolu. “If we don’t succeed, it’s not due to expertise,” Winkler says. “It’s because people just don’t want our product.” New York-bound travelers can download Kolu for iOS and Android to decide for themselves. 
February 1-4 | February 8-11 | February 15-18 2018
“Some hurts never heal.” Adults Seniors Students Thursdays Brian Yorkey music by Tom Kitt
book and lyrics by
14 $ 12 $ 12 $ 10
$
* this production contains mature content and explicit language
1800 Nelwood Drive; Columbia, MO | 573.474.3699 | www.cectheatre.org 4
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLU
THE SCENE
Old trends die hard for NYFW 2018 Local fashionistas share the style scoop on what to flash and what to trash BY HANNAH BRITTON
M
issouri weather might be inconsistent, but despite icy temperatures, the world of fashion is launching into springtime. The most couture event of the season, New York Fashion Week, kicks off today, and the chicest of the chic are predicting what new trends will hit the runway. Classic denim looks, animal prints and plastic are all trends floating around the internet from professionals. To get street style like Gigi or Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner or Karlie Kloss, Vox asked local CoMo fashionistas what trends they’re expecting at this year’s show.
Pretty pastels Step aside, millennial pink; new pastels are taking over. Victoria Beckham used a variety of the subdued colors for her spring and summer collections, and now the tones are growing in popularity beyond the runway. Columbia fashion blogger Madeline Best, who runs her own website, My Fair Style, is excited to shop for sundresses in soft colors such as lavender. “I really love everything girly and feminine, so I’m really a fan of pastels,” Best says.
Bold splashes of red If you’re into neutrals but searching for that extra oomph, spice up your look with red accent pieces. Olivia Bleeker, who runs the life and style blog A Drop in the Ocean, plans to rock the trend at NYFW. “I was just planning out my outfits for fashion week, and I’m going to make red the accent color of pretty much every outfit I wear because I’m going to wear a lot of black and then black and white plaid,” she says. Best says red is a color that transcends seasons and complements almost any hair or skin tone. “I think a majority of the time I wear red, I actually don’t wear it specifically as a clothing item,” she says. “I really like to do a red lip, especially if I wear black or neutral colors.”
Don’t deny the denim Parachute pants, Jazzercising get-ups and oversized blazers have come and gone since the ’80s, but denim is one old-school fad that’s here to stay.
Maddie Koerner, who uses Instagram to share her style, says her wardrobe is constantly changing, but she currently describes it as upcycled, thrifty and redone. This season, she predicts denim jackets with a fresh twist of modifications such as pearls and embroidery. She especially likes zipper detailing, and she hopes to see zip-around jeans become popular. Best agrees that denim will continue to be a hot commodity. “I’d love to pair a fringe shirt with a denim jacket over it to go out,” she says.
Plastic isn’t just for Barbie Designers such as Chanel have already debuted plastic on the runway in Paris this year, so be sure to jump on this haute trend. Koerner says coats, handbags and shoes are just a few items that we’ll see headlining this particular look. Bleeker agrees, saying plastic accessories will be the most popular variation of the trend in Columbia. “I actually always joke with my roommates, if that actually does become a trend, there’s a way you can get your bags into the football games because you’re being trendy, and you’re having a clear purse that you’re taking in with you,” she says.
Good looks on the prowl Warmer temperatures might soon take fur off the shelves, but wild patterns are far from out-of-style. Animal prints are surging back into popularity this year, so don’t miss your chance to make a stylish statement while you navigate the concrete jungle. Best’s favorite is cheetah print, and she styles it in belts and other accessories. “I think it adds a little nice pop to your outfit,” she says. Bleeker agrees, saying mixing hints of animal prints here and there will be big. “I definitely would wear faux snakeskin or faux cheetah print in terms of footwear,” she says. Even wearing a fun animal-print coat makes a bold statement without being too complicated.
Olivia Bleeker, left, and Madeline Best, both of whom run fashion blogs, say Muse on Ninth Street is their go-to place for buying edgier clothing.
Olivia Bleeker previewed a St. Louis company’s spring shoe line and says she noticed multiple pairs of boots that had hints of cheetah print.
PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF JENNIFER MOSBRUCKER AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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THE SCENE
Eat like an Olympian Devour these food and drink deals during the Winter Games BY BENJAMIN BORST The Olympic Winter Games are back on Friday, and in a big way. The two-week event will be the most extensively covered winter games to date, with NBCUniversal airing over 2,400 hours of coverage from Pyeongchang, South Korea — more than both the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi games combined. Despite the time difference, all prime-time events will be aired live for the first time ever, which means no more social media spoilers. There’s no better way to watch the U.S. Olympians represent the Stars and Stripes than by hitting these Columbia hot spots.
Truman’s provides a great atmosphere for all of the Olympic events. Front-of-house manager Candy Savio says she is also keen on keeping customers full with Truman’s appetizer, lunch and dinner menus, as well as all-day breakfast. Stay late, and take advantage of a late-night breakfast or a Papa Savio’s pizza. Oh, and did we mention Wing Wednesday? Location: 3304 W. Broadway Business Park Court Hours: Mon.–Sat., 6–1:30 a.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.–midnight Phone: 445-1669 Online: trumansbar.com
For drink specials
For a family-friendly option
Boasting over 40 televisions with 11 90-inch displays, Truman’s has ample space for you and your party to catch all of the action in Pyeongchang. With happy hour every day from 4 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight — including all-day happy hour on Tuesdays —
Sports Zone is another Columbia bar and grill that has more than 20 flat screens tactically placed to keep you up-to-date on all Olympic events. A $5 red-white-and-blue USA cocktail will be on sale anytime the games are on. If
Truman’s Bar & Grill
Sports Zone Restaurant & Grill
KOPN 89.5fm...Where Else? It’s not just radio, it’s community radio.
you’re hungry for more than just gold medals, Sports Zone offers several food specials. A $10.99 all-you-can-eat taco bar from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and $10.99 unlimited wings from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays will keep you satisfied while watching your favorite events. Location: 2200 I-70 Drive Southwest Hours: Sun.–Thurs., 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat., 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Phone: 445-8383 Online: sportszonecolumbia.com
For a fun atmosphere Deuce Pub & Pit
Because South Korea is 15 hours ahead of the Central time zone, events are being aired almost all day. Take advantage of Deuce Pub & Pit’s 50-cent
wings on Mondays or half-off pizzas on Tuesdays. General Manager Jason Huddleston says he enjoys the crowd that the Olympics bring in, especially for sports that don’t typically attract people to the bar. He says customers seem to enjoy hockey the most, but people still get excited for events like curling and speed skating when they come on. With a daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. and late business hours, you can take advantage of both drink specials and late-night viewing in one place. Location: 3700 Monterey Drive Hours: Mon.–Wed., 2:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Thurs.–Sat., 11–1 a.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.–midnight Phone: 443-4350 Online: deucepub.com
Get the story on Columbia’s latest showings. MOVIE REVIEWS VoxMagazine.com
On your radio dial at 89.5 fm or live streaming at kopn.org
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY MORGAN SEIBEL
To stay on campus MU Student Center
If lack of transportation or the need for a study session has you hanging around campus between classes, support Team USA at the MU Student Center. Swing by Mort’s to munch on a burger, a side of beer-battered onion rings and a drink for under $10. The Shack has an open viewing area with plenty of seats, booths and TVs — including two monstrous screens — to keep track of the Olympic events. Open early during the week, The Shack is a convenient place to combine eating breakfast and watching wearly-morning competitions. Location: 911 E. Rollins St. Hours: Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–midnight; Sat.–Sun., 9 a.m.–midnight
Phone: 882-6310 Online: unions.missouri.edu
For a worldly experience International Taphouse
If you want to support Team USA but with a foreign flair, International Taphouse serves beers from over 20 countries, and international drafts are just $4 on Thursdays. With more than 20 TVs, the bar plans to show the opening ceremony and daily events. Sound will be turned up for select hockey games. Location: 308 Ninth St. Hours: Mon.–Fri., 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sat., 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.–midnight Phone: 443-1401 Online: internationaltaphouse.com
The MU Student Center will broadcast the Olympics at 7 p.m. on Friday.
make you feel like this...
February 9-11, 15-18 Join us for the world premiere of a fascinating love story between Louie, a white audiologist for the FBI, and Thalia, a black department store clerk. A mutual admiration for foreign films and classic Hollywood movies brings these unlikely lovers together in 1967. J. Edgar Hoover looms large in this tale of spying and making the right choices.
210 Saint James St | Columbia
www.talkinghorseproductions.org
3 Convenient Locations 1-573-303-9617 | ProvidenceUrgentCare.com 02.08.18
PHOTO BY ALEX SCIMECCA PUC Flu Ad - 0118.indd 1
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Roxane Meera often listens to music ranging from metal to ’90s hip-hop in her office at Living Canvas Tattoo, where she’s been working since 2006.
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A life of art Local tattoo artist Roxane Meera explains how her hippie childhood inspired a career in design and tattooing Story: Kelsey Hurwitz Photos: Meiying Wu
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W
hen Roxane Meera Jeffries was a little girl, she wore her dark brown hair pulled away from her face in a ponytail, and her hazel eyes had already seen more of the world than some people ever will. Trying to catch a glimpse of her father’s quarter-sleeve tattoo, she used to tug on his shirtsleeves to push them up. She was 5 years old the first time she watched her father get tattooed. That was the moment she became obsessed with the craft of tattooing. Born in Malaysia and raised by hippie parents who preached equality and practiced wanderlust, Roxane was surrounded by a community of artists and free spirits. “I was given a lot more free rein for self-expression than I think happens in a lot of family dynamics,” she says. “The other thing is my parents had some wild, wonderful friends, so I was introduced to a lot of different art forms and strong personalities from a young age.” Her parents’ friends experimented with art in a variety of mediums — from airbrush artists to jewelry designers to belly dancers and yogis. She says the environment of constant creativity rubbed off on her and the other kids she grew up with, whom she playfully refers to as “hippie spawn.” Roxane, 40, is happy that she and her husband can provide a similar hippie-esque upbringing to their 11-year-old son. Although her lifestyle is much tamer and steadier than her parents’, she makes an effort to expose her son to diversity in art and people. After a lifetime of sketching and dabbling in graphic design and piercing, Roxane found her way back to tattoos. Although her last name is Jeffries, she uses the name Meera in the tattoo community. In 2006 she joined the staff of Living Canvas Tattoo in downtown Columbia and apprenticed under Pete Tieman, who has been tattooing for nearly two decades and has mentored three other artists over the years.
In the office
We’re sitting in Roxane’s office, a sterilized space with yellow-gold walls that make you feel like you’re comfortably trapped inside a fruit. There is an enormous wooden fireplace that stands out against the paint. The walls display paintings and portraits, and there’s a corkboard with her sketches for clients tacked on it. Roxane sits across from me in a leather swivel chair and pushes back her black side bangs to reveal a stud piercing in the top part of her cheek. Her tongue is pierced, too, and there’s a silver bar through her bottom lip. She’s wearing a necklace with a silver bat on it. She has an easygoing manner and talks to me like she’s known me forever. It’s easy to see why her clients feel at ease around her. There’s a knock at the door, and a man wearing a black T-shirt and sweatpants enters. “Sorry for interrupting,” he says. “You got a package.” And he slips out of the room. “That’s my new machine,” Roxane says. She continues talking, but I can tell she’s distracted. “Do you wanna go open that?” I ask. She smiles and stands up instantly to retrieve her box. Her high heels click against the wood floor. “I’m gonna be really sad if it’s just the pigment and the needles,” she says. “You’re gonna see me go on an emotional roller coaster.” 10
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Roxane’s family moved around a lot. She lived in Malaysia, Nepal, India and Australia before moving to the U.S. when she was 7 years old.
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF ROXANE MEERA JEFFRIES
She pulls out a key from the top drawer of a black metal cabinet and opens the box. “It’s my needles and pigment,” she says. “So sad.” But she’s not disappointed for long. “I’m excited about these two,” she says of two small capsules of colored ink. “I haven’t tried that yellow yet; it looks pretty bright.” For now, the seven tattoo machines in her arsenal will have to hold her over. “I’m a dork; I name my tattoo machines,” she says. There’s Legs, a black machine with a picture of a woman’s bent leg on it; Cyndi Lauper, which is hot pink; Prince, which is purple, of course; Benedict Cumberbatch, a serious black machine named after she binge-watched Sherlock; and Odetta, a metallic blue piece named after the folk/jazz/blues musician Odetta Holmes, who her father introduced her to. Except for her oldest one, they’re all rotary machines, which she switched to after noticing early stages of carpal tunnel. Tattoo machines work by puncturing many tiny holes in the skin, which lets the ink between the needles sink into the correct layer. The rotary machines are lighter than old-school coil machines, and they don’t need as much tuning or fixing as coil machines tend to require. Each varies in “how hard they hit,” she says.
Double standards
There are 10 tattoo parlors in Columbia, and most have two to four artists. Although female tattoo artists are outnumbered by male tattoo artists in town, Roxane says she’s never felt left out of the local group. “It’s just about the art,” she says. “If you work hard and you care about what you’re doing, you’re going
to be respected in the industry. Gender’s not really an issue.” Women have a history of pushing boundaries in the tattoo industry. Kari Barba, a California-based artist who has inspired Roxane, pioneered a new style of realistic portraits in the ’80s that incorporated color in a way that was untested in the region. “She’s incredible,” Roxane says. “The textures in the tattoos she does, they look like oil paintings. It’s just mind-boggling how beautiful her pieces are, so some shops really missed out by not hiring her.” Representation of women in the tattoo industry has evolved even over the past decade, especially through television exposure. Kat Von D rose to fame through shows Miami Ink and LA Ink. The reality competition show Ink Master has featured an increasing number of women as the seasons progressed, even crowning the first female Ink Master, Ryan Ashley, in 2016. But there still seems to be a double standard between men and women in the tattoo industry as tattooed women tend to be overly sexualized. After her Ink Master win, Ashley was in an Inked magazine feature spread, where she was photographed in lingerie and various furs — not the same professional outfits the previous male Ink Master winners wore for their photo shoots. Inked magazine’s website also has a subsection, Inked Girls, (note girls instead of women) that claims to have “more sexy tattooed girls than any other website.” An Inked Boys counterpart is either nonexistent or still in beta testing. In an industry that often seems more focused on women’s bodies than women’s creativity, some female
The expanded availibility of different ink colors and tools for tattoo artists has sparked an evolution toward more varied and colorful tattoo styles, such as Realistic Trash Polka, in recent decades.
Tattooing is a lot like driving a stick shift car, Roxane says. Artists have to rely on the feel of the machine to know if they’ve hit the right layer of skin. If it’s too shallow, the color will fade with time. If it’s too deep, the ink will disperse in the fatty layer and can bleed outside the intended area. ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF ROXANE MEERA JEFFRIES
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artists are taking matters into their own hands and using social media to get their art to a wider audience. There isn’t much data to be found on the number of female artists compared to male artists in the tattoo industry. This is because of a lack of consistency in records; tattoo shops and artists are regulated on a state level, not a federal one. However, there has been analysis of the people who are getting tattooed. A 2012 study by Lightspeed Research found that 59 percent of American women have tattoos compared to 41 percent of American men. Roxane has carved out a special niche tattooing women. In particular, she’s gained the patronage of many women who are members of Muse Pole Fitness, a pole dance workout facility. “They’re a creative bunch,” Roxane says of the women, “and they beat themselves up with practicing, so they sit very well.” She has also been pleasantly surprised by the diversity of people and ideas she has encountered in Columbia. Among the lineup of strange tattoos she has been asked for over the years is a succubus mermaid and a cactus with trapezoidal flowers growing from it. She loves the variety and the collaboration with her clients that she encounters in her job. Her specialized style has also helped her gain a loyal customer base. She focuses on illustrative tattoos that have bold black outlines, high contrast and color
that will hold up over time. To ensure longevity, it’s important to pack the color into the right layer of skin: the third. Too light, and the color will fade and look old; too deep, and you’ll reach the fatty layer and the pigment will spread outside the intended area. Roxane equates the process to learning to drive a stick shift. She says you can feel when you’re doing it right, and if you mess up, you can sense the drag. It’s the combination of visual and tactile input that allows her to hit the sweet spot. In doing so, she’s able to ensure that her living art will look fresh for many years to come. “I think with Roxane, the biggest thing is her stuff is really stylized,” her mentor, Pete, says. “I can look at a tattoo and be like, ‘Yup, Roxane did that.’ She’s just got her own style of tattooing.”
Permanent marks
Roxane’s apprenticeship under Pete lasted about a year. Some apprenticeship programs can be twice that length, but since Roxane came in with a thorough understanding of sterilization and safety procedures — learned from her time as a piercer — she completed her apprenticeship ahead of schedule. Throughout her time as an apprentice, Roxane referred to Pete as her “sensei,” or “master” in Japanese, and she wore a Padawan braid because of his love for Star Wars. She says she loved the fun environment of
the tattoo shop, but those 12 months weren’t easy. Pete explained to her that to be successful, she would need to live, eat and breathe art and tattooing. “It’s not like somebody plays football for the first time and they’re ready for the NFL,” Roxane says. “Anything that you want to be good at, you have to really work at it and hone that skill.” “It’s kind of an all-or-nothing thing,” Pete adds. “You’re either gonna get it, or you won’t.” He says it’s not the kind of job where you can only have skills in certain aspects and still get by; you need to be excellent at everything. It’s not enough to be good at outlines if you’re not good at shading. It’s certainly not enough to be a creative artist if you don’t understand the sterilization process. As a tattoo artist, you need to be aware that the art you create is permanent and will be marked on someone’s body forever. There’s no room for error. That being said, there are certain things Roxane refuses to do as an artist. On her “no way” list: racist tattoos, Confederate flags and names of romantic partners, which she calls “the kiss of death.” She has a lecture that she gives to anyone who’s interested in getting their partner’s name etched on their skin, though she says people don’t always listen. She once tattooed a partner’s name on a middle-aged woman who’d been in a relationship with her boyfriend for several years. She figured this woman was old enough
Influenced by a bad first tattoo experience in which the artist was talking on the phone and hitting on her friend, Roxane is careful to keep the comfort of her clients in mind by making sure they never feel ignored. Andrew Kelleher (above) received his first tattoo from Roxane about a year ago. 12
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ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF ROXANE MEERA JEFFRIES
Think before you ink Ensure tattoo success by consulting with an artist first BY KELSEY HURWITZ Sure, it might sound like a fun, spontaneous idea to pop over to a tattoo shop and get inked right then and there, but if you’re interested in getting a thoughtful, custom piece that you’ll love for a lifetime, a consultation is the smart way to go. Here’s Roxane’s advice: ààYou’ll have the time to fully explain to the artist what you want. ààThe artist will have time to think about what you want, get the creative juices flowing and make a unique piece that will capture exactly what you had in your head.
Roxane switched from traditional coil tattoo machines, which generate the buzzing sound people associate with tattoo shops, to lighter rotary machines, shown above, when she started developing symptoms of carpal tunnel.
to make her own decisions though she did still give her the lecture. Six months later, the woman was back to get the name covered up; they’d broken up.
A musical mindset
In an average week, Roxane works four days tattooing at the shop. At home, she spends her time with her son and draws, paints and sketches for her tattoos. To get in the zone, she’ll turn on some music, maybe old-school ’90s hip-hop such as Mos Def or OutKast or perhaps some metal if she’s drawing something dark. Her husband laughs at her when he hears the metal, but she’s not embarrassed; it helps her find the right mindset. Music has always been an important part of Roxane’s life and her creative process. The first live show she attended was The Cure, and since then, she has seen Santana with her parents and crashed the gates at a Pink Floyd show in her teenage days. She has also seen indie bands like Man Man and Modest Mouse. Focusing on the feeling and energy of the music rather than constricting her taste to one certain genre, Roxane has seen all types of musicians perform. “I would have trouble playing a tambourine or a cowbell,” she says, “but I make a really good fan.” The joy for her comes from seeing an artist create. Although they work with different media, they share a creative spirit. When she’s feeling the artist’s equivalent of writer’s block and is trying to get out of a lull, she turns to music. “I’ll listen to some really good hip-hop, and my arm’s flying across the page as I’m drawing,” she says. “I guess creative people just feed off of each other.” Increasing accessibility to new materials has allowed tattoo artists to expand their creativity in recent years by experimenting with new colors and styles. “When tattooing first started, a lot of it was what was available to the artist as far as supplies,” Roxane says. With the introduction of new colors, the styles changed from ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF ROXANE MEERA JEFFRIES
ààYou can get advice from artists about placement, color and design. They have experience, and they know what they’re doing. If they have suggestions that will make your tattoo look better or will make it last longer, you should definitely take their words into account.
American traditional to things like full-color portraits and ’80s-style geometric designs. One style that’s arisen over the past decade is Realistic Trash Polka, which involves black and grey photo realism layered with elements such as colored paint-smear or typewriter text. “It looks like something that you’d go into a contemporary gallery in New York and see,” Roxane says. “Thirty years ago, you never would’ve thought to see that on skin.” New ink colors and innovative styles makes now an exciting time to be in the tattoo industry.
ààThere’s less likelihood of buyer’s remorse. If you make it a point to sit down with an artist and explain what you want, you’ll have plenty of time until your appointment to go over the design, tweak things and change your mind. With a bit of wiggle room, there’s a lot less pressure to commit right away, so you can slow down and make sure everything looks exactly how you want it to before you get it permanently inked on your body.
Inspired ink
ààIt helps you form a relationship with your artist. If this is your first tattoo and you’re feeling a bit skittish, having a consultation with an artist will help you get to know them and feel more comfortable around them. If you’re going to let someone poke you with a needle for a few hours, you should make sure you feel at ease, and a consultation is a perfect time for that.
If you ask Roxane how many tattoos she has, she’ll tell you she has lost count. They cover both of her arms, her chest, her feet and her fingers. There’s a story behind each one: some good, some bad and some that have affected the way she tattoos other people. For Roxane, the hardest part about getting her first tattoo was waiting to turn 18. Because she’d fallen in love with tattoos at such a young age, she’d already spent years thinking about what she’d get when she was old enough. Having spent part of her childhood in Asia, where she learned about many aspects of Indian and Chinese culture, she wanted to incorporate those influences into her design. “The deities and mythologies were my bedtime stories,” she says of growing up in that part of the world. Her father has a tattoo of a dragon and a phoenix chasing each other around clouds, which she wanted to incorporate, too. She liked the meaning behind the phoenix. It represents feminine energy and the classic mythology of ashes to rebirth. So she decided to get a phoenix on her shoulder blade. Before she went to the tattoo shop, she stopped by her dad’s house. She says she received a different reaction than most people get from their parents about tattoos, which was, “Cool, come show me when you’re done.” With his blessing, she went to the tattoo shop,
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Behind the
tattoos
Roxane describes the stories behind some of her many tattoos BY ANNA MAPLES The bee fighting a Venus flytrap on Roxane’s shoulder represents drive and determination, and its five o’clock shadow always makes her laugh.
Roxane is keeping her right forearm blank to save for a piece about her son once his interests further develop. Roxane’s prior experience as a piercer, which taught her about cleanliness and sterilization, helped enhance her skills as a tattoo artist. She has also spent time working as a graphic designer.
finally ready for the moment she’d thought about for 13 years. The encounter wasn’t great. It started out rocky when the artist was more interested in flirting with Roxane’s friend, which made it an unfortunate experience. “The guy was really nice to my friend who was this tall, voluptuous Italian woman in cute little shorts,” she says. “I used to dress like a boy like all the time, so he was not as nice to me.” It got worse: He talked on the phone the entire time he was tattooing her. “I was like, ‘Can you just pretend like I have your undivided attention?’” In the end, the tattoo turned out fine; the experience just wasn’t what she’d hoped for. The incident has helped her in her own career, though. Knowing exactly how it feels to be in that position, Roxane tries to never give clients less than her full attention and respect. Another unexpected result came out of Roxane’s first tattoo. Years later, when she was flipping through some of her parents’ old slides, she found a photo she’d never seen before of her mother holding her. Her mother had died when she was 2, so finding a previously unseen photo of her was a gift in itself. The photo showed her mother holding Roxane over her shoulder, and when Roxane looked closer at the photo, she saw the tail of a phoenix tattooed on her mom’s shoulder blade — the exact location and subject matter Roxane had picked for her first tattoo. She couldn’t believe her father had neglected to tell her about her mother’s matching tattoo, so she brought it up to him. “The funny thing is her second tattoo was a yin-yang on her ankle,” was his reply. Roxane’s second tattoo was an om symbol on her ankle: different cultures, but similar ideas and the same placement. “I don’t know if I had that in the recesses of my memory,” Roxane says.
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Although unexpected, the connection to her mother through tattoos made them even more special.
Trustworthy hands
A client walks in, apologizes for interrupting, and asks to go quickly over the sketch Roxane has designed for her. It’s a back piece that Roxane says will take a few sessions: a spider elegantly dangling from its web, which is looped and draped around her back and covered in small dew droplets which Roxane proposes filling in with a smoky purple. As Roxane explains the concept, the woman audibly oooohs and even claps at one point. “You’re in great hands if you’re getting a tattoo done by her,” the woman tells me. “Don’t you worry.” I smile and thank her for the reassurance. “OK, I’ll go set my appointment,” she says, skipping out of the room.
When she puts both feet together, they form a Chinese good luck bat, which she chose to send out good energy.
Before Roxane and her husband were married, they got matching chest pieces that say “Always and forever.”
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF ROXANE MEERA JEFFRIES
MUSIC
Music mixology: a recipe for love
Flowers, fine dining and fancy dates are all a one-night stand, but a well-crafted mix is timeless BY TASHAN REED For many, Valentine’s Day is a time for candy, flowers, presents and extravagant dates. But candy leads to cavities, flowers die, teddy bears get worn down and heavy meals come with calories. Of all the potential gifts, none are as lasting as a mixtape. Although the medium has undoubtedly changed, mixtapes are still constructed with painstaking detail to create the intended effect. They can foster an eternal bond between a duo. MU junior and math major Ashley Rogers is a playlist enthusiast who has made numerous mixes and has several tips for crafting the perfect one. “They have to know the person who they’re making it for,” she says. “They have to tailor to their interests while also trying to introduce a fresh taste for them to where it’s still new for the person.” Rogers stressed that the mixtape can’t be too short or long and must have variety. “If I’m making a mixtape, I don’t like to put the same artist more than once, maybe twice if it’s really good,” she says. If you follow Rogers’ suggestions, your mix will be safe but still something the individual will appreciate. Kyle Cook, however, takes a more detail-oriented approach. Given that he’s the co-owner of Hitt Records in downtown Columbia, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“Valentine’s Day mixes are really tricky,” Cook says. “There’s a lot of implied questions. What is your relationship with the person you’re making the tape for? Is this a significant other? Is this someone you like? Is this someone you just admire but don’t necessarily want to be romantic with?” Whichever route you choose, here are go-to tips and songs for the perfect V-Day mixtape.
Tip: Personalize it
Frank Ocean — “Thinkin Bout You” “He’s so smooth, and his music’s just hot,” Rogers says. Ocean’s 2012 single is a great choice, but “Pink + White” from his 2016 album Blonde is a more recent option. If Frank Ocean isn’t an artist your partner is into, use this as an opportunity to broaden his or her taste. “Make it something unique for that person,” Cook says. “Something that has stay power. Something they could pull out a couple years from now and be like, ‘Hey, yeah, this mix is really great!’”
Tip: Have some fun
William DeVaughn — “Be Thankful for What You Got” DeVaughn’s heavily sampled “Be Thankful for What You Got” isn’t a love
For the record song, but it’s energetic, easygoing and sure to lift your partner’s mood. You don’t want them falling asleep. Give them something that they can dance to.
BY TASHAN REED Before technological advancements, people still wanted to share music — generally by exchanging records or listening together.
Tip: Be sappy
Sam Cooke — “Nothing Can Change This Love” Slow it down, and bring back the romance with Sam Cooke’s ode to his love. “You have to have some sappy songs on there,” Rogers says. Cooke’s ballad is filled with plenty of clichés, such as, “You’re the apple of my eye,” but that’s okay — it’s Valentine’s Day.
Cassette tapes were introduced to the U.S. in the ’60s as a much more portable medium for albums and mixes. Compact discs were released in 1982, but mix makers could not write music onto them until later that decade.
Tip: Keep it interesting
Happy End — “Kaze Wo Atsumete” Your significant other has probably never heard this one, and unless they speak Japanese, they probably won’t understand it. Either way, the guitar and calming vocals in “Kaze Wo Atsumete” should feel pleasantly familiar. Meanwhile, you’ll be introducing your partner to something new. “It’s good to take chances and put something original on there that brings them something they’ve never heard before,” Cook says. “It’s like a palate cleanser, and then you’ll have another song in English after that. Just something to mix things up.”
Initially clunky and pricey, portable MP3s gained fame in the late ’90s as a way to collect tunes electronically. Now, streaming apps such as iTunes and Spotify are the most favorable ways to create playlists or share songs.
Portugal. The Man returning to Columbia after Grammy win The Valentine’s Day show won’t just spread love; it’ll spread good vibes The last time Portugal. The Man played a show in Columbia, the band was probably more familiar to indie music lovers than anyone else. Now, fresh off of its first Grammy win for the widespread hit “Feel It Still,” the band is returning for a sold-out show at The Blue Note on Valentine’s Day, and love for the group is definitely in the air. The band, formed in Portland, Oregon, more than 13 years ago, is touring for its new album Woodstock. Besides “Feel It Still,” it also features songs such as “Live in the Moment” and “So Young,” which both hit on the theme of looking back at youth, but the songs deliver it with much different sounds. Portugal. The Man is the alter ego of the five-piece group, which includes members John Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O’Quinn, Jason Sechrist and Erik Howk. They wanted to encompass a singular group with a shared voice and figured a country would be the perfect fit for a name. Portugal was just the PHOTO COURTESY OF ATLANTIC RECORDS, ILLUSTRATION BY CORIN CESARIC
Portugal. The Man’s most recent CoMo appearance was in 2013 following the release of Evil Friends.
first one to come to mind. While accepting its Grammy, the band thanked the indigenous peoples of Alaska, home to two of the founding
band members, for inspiring them. “This Grammy is dedicated to all the kids out in the villages back home, to the Alaskan natives, and to indigenous peoples around the world,” Portugal. The Man wrote on its Twitter. “You are beautiful and your culture is beautiful. Be proud of who you are.” Matt Gerding, who books shows for The Blue Note, says the event made a huge splash when it was first announced. He noted that it’s rare to have an act at The Blue Note with someone who has won a Grammy so recently. After being a fan of Portugal. The Man for more than five years, Cole Brendel has a ticket to the sold-out show. He says he’s excited to attend because he feels that Columbia doesn’t get many bands that are seeing such success. Opening the concert will be Twin Peaks, a Chicago-based indie rock group that attracts fans with its passionate, energetic performances.
- KASEY CARLSON 02.08.18
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ARTS & BOOKS
Black history through the pages Black Panther leads the fight against racial comic norms BY DYLAN JACKSON Everything about the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther runs contrary to Hollywood’s typical big-budget films: a black superhero, a black-dominated cast, a black director and a soundtrack curated by Kendrick Lamar. Although the movie’s predominant blackness is a departure from the past, Black Panther, also known as T’Challa, is far from the only black superhero to leave the static page for the shifting screen. Since the Black Panther’s appearance in the ’60s, many black heroes have achieved mainstream success.
Black Panther
First appearance: Fantastic Four No. 52 (1966) Created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Publisher: Marvel Popular TV/movie appearances: Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018) Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four No. 52 in 1966 when the group journeyed to Wakanda, an African nation where T’Challa rules as king. “He does not have the typical backstory of a hero for hire or a black guy from the inner city who turns superhero,” says Sheena Howard, associate professor of communication at Rider University and coauthor of Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation. “Black Panther’s backstory is prestigious. T’Challa is from an advanced African nation.” His father, T’Chaka, was killed by Klaw, a dutchman who sought to extract the precious metal vibranium from Wakanda. After driving off Klaw, T’Challa defeated his uncle to seize the title of Black Panther, becoming the leader of Wakanda. “Growing up, Africa was represented to me as a child as being a very backward, uncivilized place,” says Jonathan Gayles, professor of African-American Studies at Georgia State University and director of White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black 16
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Masculinities in Comic Books. “And to have a character like the Black Panther in Wakanda, specifically, was very powerful as a counterbalance.”
Falcon
First Appearance: Captain America No. 117 (1969) Created by: Stan Lee and Gene Colan Publisher: Marvel Popular TV/movie appearances: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016) Falcon leads a double life as Sam Wilson, a Harlem social worker. Falcon often fights alongside Captain America using his telepathy with birds to control his falcon, Redwing (yes, an actual bird). Wilson’s ambition didn’t stop with crime fighting. He went on to run for Congress but was haunted by a distant criminal past he left behind before becoming Falcon.
Luke Cage
First Appearance: Luke Cage, Hero for Hire No. 1 (1972) Created by: Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr. Publisher: Marvel Popular TV/movie appearances: Jessica Jones (2015), Luke Cage (2016), The Defenders (2017) Cage was jailed after being framed for a crime he didn’t commit. He developed superhuman strength and skin as strong as steel after an experiment he volunteered for went wrong. With these newfound powers, Cage broke out of prison and began fighting crime.
According to Fandango, the film Black Panther, which premieres Feb. 16, has already broken the advanced sales record.
Storm
First Appearance: Giant Sized X-Men No. 1 (1975) Created by: Len Wein and Dave Cockrum Publisher: Marvel Popular TV/movie appearances: X-Men: The Animated Series (19921997), X-Men film franchise (20002018) Ororo Munroe’s story began in Cairo, Egypt, where she lost her family after a plane crashed into her house. Storm went on to join the X-Men under the tutelage of Charles Xavier, but not before saving the Black Panther’s life and earning Wakandan citizenship. Storm, who can control the weather telepathically, is one of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe. “I think Storm is an important and exceptional character,” Gayles says. “Storm is a goddess, and like the Black Panther, an African superhero.”
Michonne
First Appearance: The Walking Dead No. 19 (2005) Created by: Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard Publisher: Image Comics Popular TV/movie appearances: The Walking Dead (2010) Although many know Michonne from her portrayal by Danai Gurira in the popular AMC series The Walking Dead, she first appeared in the comic created by the indie publisher Image Comics. A high-powered Atlanta lawyer, Michonne had it all until the zombies killed everyone she knew. She subsequently picked up a katana and became the slashing, zombie-toting hero readers know and love. Gurira is playing T’Challa’s bodyguard, Okoye, in the upcoming Black Panther movie.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLICKR AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, ILLUSTRATION BY JENNIFER LITHERLAND
ARTS & BOOKS
Breaking the fourth wall Local theater company crosses the line between actors and audience BY DANIEL ROZEN The last time GreenHouse Theatre Project performed in a living room, it was at its inception. “We didn’t have any money,” says Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri, artistic director and co-founder of GreenHouse Theatre Project. “We didn’t have a rehearsal space. We were performing in my living room.” More than six years since its creation in 2011, GreenHouse won’t be rehearsing in a living room this time around, but rather, performing. The company will put on one-act plays in the living rooms of Columbia locals for its event, Living Room One-Acts. GreenHouse is a site-specific theater company that produces and performs both classical and original works, but instead of taking the stage, its members perform around town to promote local artists, businesses and spaces. “Site-specific theater is literally theater anyplace, anytime,” says Braaten Palmieri. “We put ourselves in all kinds of environments and landscapes, and when you do that, the idea is that you’re using what you have in those environments.” Braaten Palmieri comes from an artistic family and has been acting since she was 4. During her college days, she dreamed of directing. She wanted to fashion her own worlds and fill them with characters of her own creation. She wanted to make stories that felt as though they were alive, as if these fictitious people and events truly walked among her. She moved to Columbia with her husband, Wil, in 2010 for his job at MU. Braaten Palmieri says she initially didn’t want to stay in Columbia long, but after she created GreenHouse with co-founder Emily Adams, she says it gave her more reason to stay. The pair didn’t know how the public would respond to the project, but they did know they wanted to bring the city a new brand of theater: unique, off-beat and artistic. Now, more than six years later, Columbia has embraced the company’s quirky style of performances. GreenHouse has performed in many odd venues, but this will be the first time the theater will perform in homes. These performances will take place in the homes of supporters who have believed in the company’s work and have PHOTOS BY HAILEY HOFER
Jason Stanley and Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri of GreenHouse Theatre Project rehearse for the Living Room One-Acts, which they will perform in two private residences in Columbia. “Our shows are really intimate,” Braaten Palmieri says. “The (attendees) are always really close to the action, sometimes in the action.”
LIVING ROOM ONE-ACTS When: Feb. 16–17, 8 p.m. Price: Donation Web: greenhousetp.org Contact: greenhousetheatreproject@ gmail.com
stuck with them since the beginning. Braaten Palmieri wants to use this as an opportunity to say “thank you.” “The audience knows the location and the time,” Braaten Palmieri says. “But they don’t know what they’re going to see. It creates this excitement, anticipation, this element of suspense. I think that that’s really important in this day and age because we really have very few surprises in life.” Audiences and actors alike are drawn to the originality of GreenHouse’s concept. This style of theater is what attracted actor Jason Stanley to the group. Stanley auditioned for Waiting for Godot, which the company performed in February of last year. “I can’t remember how I got the audition, but somehow my name was given to Liz, and the ball just kept on rolling, thankfully,” he says. The boundary that typically separates audiences and actors doesn’t exist to
Braaten Palmieri and Stanley rehearse lines in her studio. Known for its experimental tactics, GreenHouse Theatre Project performs in nontraditional spaces around Columbia rather than on a stage. For the Living Room One-Acts, the audience knows the location of the performance but not the play.
GreenHouse, immersing viewers in the performances. “That’s GreenHouse,” Braaten Palmieri says. “Like I said, it’s changed and developed over the years. But it’s still maintained this heart and soul that’s deep in storytelling and
physical performance and bringing artists on that are passionate about the process and working together and creating something unique. In return, this community has accepted us with open arms.”  02.08.18
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STEPHANIE LOGAN turns a personal challenge into community impact
W
hen Stephanie Logan turned 23, she had to relearn how to communicate. A case of spinal meningitis left the then University of Georgia psychology student deaf. It took her four years of speech therapy and learning how to lip-read to regain her ability to speak. After a semester off to learn American Sign Language at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. — the only university for the deaf in the U.S. — she finished her education at Georgia with the help of an interpreter. For the past 23 years, Logan has worked as the executive director of DeafLEAD, a 24-hour crisis center for those who are hard of hearing in Missouri. Logan also acts as the professor for an ASL class at MU that teaches students of all backgrounds the hand symbols that have come to facilitate her adult life. Logan’s class, along with her presence, has made a noticeable impact on the students in her classroom. “Every day she has us interacting with each other and actually practicing signing,” says MU junior Lauren Powell. “She does a really great job of forcing us to sign.” Although the two jobs might seem worlds apart, Logan says she believes working at DeafLEAD and MU allows her to teach others the importance of offering culturally and linguistically appropriate services to those impacted by hearing loss. Whether it means teaching a signing class or responding to an emergency video call, Logan strives to make a sizable impact on those who need it. 18
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What role does DeafLEAD play in Missouri? We provide direct services to deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind victims of crime and their families and help them establish their lives free from their abusers. Services include mental health services, case management — everything that impacts an individual that is a victim of crime. We have crisis workers who are fluent in sign language who answer the phones 24 hours a day for an individual who is deaf and needing support. How does the crisis line work for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing? I wanted to set up a videophone crisis line. Deaf individuals have access to videophones, which are provided for free for deaf individuals. If I want to talk to a deaf individual, I type in their phone number right there, and then I press go, and it calls them. Then we can see each other, and we can talk. If I want to talk to a deaf person, I would call them directly, and I would see them on the screen. For example, if a law enforcement officer in another area of the state is going on-scene and there’s an assault that’s taken place or they are a victim of crime in some way, they will contact our agency, and they will FaceTime with an interpreter to provide interpreting for the victim on-site immediately. They’ve done that a few times, and it’s been really awesome. And if they are a victim in another state and they are needing resources or support from us, we can provide support for them as well.
How did you get involved in teaching American Sign Language? When I first moved to Missouri, I was asked by a local church to come and teach a class in sign language for some of their parishioners. I went to the local church, and I taught some of these women — they were older women — sign language. Up to that point, the language was very functional for me. I did not see the beauty in the language because I was so overwhelmed with losing my hearing and learning a new language. It was through their eyes and their passion for learning the language that I really realized how much I loved the language. I realized that when I was teaching them that they really enjoyed how I was teaching them. What is your favorite aspect of teaching ASL at MU? The students. They make me want to cry. I have over 200 students a semester, and I’m exposing them to American Sign Language and to deaf culture. And those students are going out into their professions and impacting it out there with a knowledge they never would have had if those classes hadn’t been available. It is such an honor to be able to work with the kids. They impact me in so many incredible ways. — CAROLINE KEALY PHOTO BY MADDIE DAVIS
THE TO-DO LIST
this week in Columbia
ARTS & CULTURE “Ever Temporary”
Enjoy Montreal-based artist Sarah Bertrand-Hamel’s “Ever Temporary” exhibition. Bertrand-Hamel won last year’s “Paper in Particular” exhibition at Columbia College, and her work has been displayed in Canada, Cuba, France, Japan and Mexico. Through February 16, Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sidney Larson Gallery, Brown Hall, Columbia College, Free, 875-7174
From Under the Russian Snow
Learn from MU School of Journalism alumna Michelle Carter as she discusses her recently published memoir, From Under the Russian Snow. The book focuses on the year Carter left her family and her job as a managing editor at a San Francisco newspaper to be a journalist-in-residence for the United States Information Agency in Russia. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Wednesday, 7–8 p.m., Columbia Public Library, Free, 443-3161
The Heiress
Romance is simply not enough for Catherine Sloper to live a fulfilling life. Witness her grow into herself and understand what she is capable of in this play set in 1850s New York. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Macklanburg Playhouse, $14; $7, seniors and students, 876-7199
Legends of Missouri Drag
Join this night of fun with 11 of Missouri’s best and brightest in drag. Splurge for the VIP meet-and-greet with the performers before the show. Saturday, 8:30–9:30 p.m., VIP meet-and-greet; 10 p.m., show, Yin Yang Night Club, $10; $15, VIP, 303-5663
Poetry Out Loud Competition
Watch and support local high school students as they compete for a spot on the Missouri state poetry recitation team. Winners get to compete in the national Poetry Out Loud championship in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 10 a.m., Columbia Public Library, Friends Room, Free, 443-3161
CIVIC Legislative Night
Hear from state legislators, and ask questions at this annual event. The night, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County, will be moderated by KFRU’s David Lile. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. prior to the event. Tonight, 7–8:30 p.m., Columbia Public Library, Friends Room, Free, 443-3161
Saturday Special Book Sale
Stock up on books every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Grab a book bag, and fill it up with as many books as it can hold for just $5 per bag. Saturday, Noon–2 p.m., Southern Boone County Public Library, Free entry, 657-7378
The Genius of Birds Book Discussion
Let your mind take flight as you learn more about all things birds at this discussion led by the Columbia Audubon Society. The group will cover Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds, which explores a breadth of research on avian cognition. Sunday, 1:30–3:30 p.m., Columbia Public Library, Friends Room, Free, 443-3161 PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSOURI RIVER RELIEF
FOOD & DRINK Families in the Kitchen: Bread
Teach children ages 3 and older to cook by having them measure and pour the ingredients for a loaf of bread you can take home and bake later. Saturday, 2–3 p.m., Columbia Public Library, Friends Room, Free, 443-3161
For the Love of Cocktails
No valentine this year? Cozy up with a Chocolate Raspberry martini or the OK Cupid for one night only at DogMaster Distillery. Wednesday, 4–10 p.m., DogMaster Distillery, Free entry, 777-6768
Valentine’s Day at The Roof
Treat the special someone in your life to a seven-course dinner prepared by renowned chefs. A wine pairing will accompany each course. Wednesday, 6 p.m., The Roof, $70; $126, couple, 875-7000
Pints and Punchlines: Rose Comedy Club
Hosted by Rob Harris and Michael Yetman, this night of laughs will feature local comedians ready to showcase their funny bones. Wednesday, 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $2, 874-1944
MUSIC Antonio Sanchez: Birdman Live
The 2015 Oscar award winner for Best Picture, Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), is given new life as Antonio Sanchez performs his critically acclaimed score live alongside the visually stunning film. This performance blends sound and visuals, giving audience members the rare chance to experience firsthand the symbiotic relationship that produces viscerally engaging cinema. Today, 7–9 p.m., Missouri Theatre, $28–38, 882-3781
English Country Dance
Here’s your chance to partake in an old-fashioned ball. All are welcome to join the Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers for Renaissance-style music and dancing. Lessons for beginners will be available at 7 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, Free, 825-4698
DON’T MISS: WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL 2018
This traveling film festival will be coming to Columbia to showcase films focusing on the challenges facing the Earth and the communities that are doing something to help. Complete with performances by singer-songwriter Noah Earle, this film-filled day will get you ready for the True/False Film Fest coming up March 1. Sunday, 1 p.m. doors; 2–5 p.m. films, The Blue Note, $14, adults; $10, students, 443-0292
Fat Tuesday with Michelle DJMe Huff
Enjoy drinks, cake and dancing to the musical stylings of DJ Michelle at Dive Bar. There will be drink specials, king cake and plenty of beads to go around. Tuesday, 3 p.m., Dive Bar, Free, 607-9523
Hayley Sabella, Pigweed Vintage Country, Liv and Lucy This night full of music will showcase the talents of Massachusetts-raised Sabella, honky-tonk band Pigweed Vintage Country and local favorites Olivia Cordray (of the Reliquaries) and Martha Kelly. Tuesday, 8–11:59 p.m., Cafe Berlin, Free, 441-0400
Fifty Shades Freed (R) This final installment of the Fifty Shades trilogy, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, follows Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey as newlyweds. F, R RUNTIME = 1:41
Peter Rabbit (PG)
Filmore and Jameson Rodgers
Filmore, a Wildwood native and MU graduate, will be returning to Columbia to perform his blend of country and pop music. Rodgers, a Mississippi native, will join him at this show at Rose Music Hall. Today, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, Rose Music Hall, $10 in advance, $12 day of, 875-0588
SPORTS Missouri Women’s Basketball vs. Kentucky
The women’s team takes on the Wildcats at home on the way to this year’s NCAA tournament. Today, 8 p.m., Mizzou Arena, Prices vary, 884-7297
Missouri Men’s Basketball vs. Mississippi State
After the Tigers travel to the University of Mississippi to take on the Rebels, they’ll be taking on another team from the state, the Bulldogs, at home. Saturday, 1 p.m., Mizzou Arena, Prices vary, 884-729
SCREEN The 15:17 to Paris (PG-13)
portray themselves. Clint Eastwood directs the story of the Americans as they stop the 2015 Thalys train attack. F, R RUNTIME = 1:34
In this biographical thriller, three men involved in confronting a terrorist plot on a train to Paris
James Corden voices the lovable Peter Rabbit in his adventures feuding with the McGregors. Domhnall Gleeson and Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame co-star in this family comedy. F, R RUNTIME: 1:34
Still playing 12 Strong (R) F, R The Breadwinner (PG-13) RT Call Me By Your Name (R) RT Darkest Hour (PG-13) F Den of Thieves (R) R Forever My Girl (PG) R The Greatest Showman (PG) F, R Hostiles (R) F, R I, Tonya (R) R Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) F, R Maze Runner: The Death Cure (PG - 13) F, R Mom and Dad (R) RT The Post (PG-13) F, R Phantom Thread (R) RT Proud Mary (R) R The Shape of Water (R) F, R, RT Star Wars: The Last Jedi (PG-13) R Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (R) F, R Winchester (PG-13) F, R
Theaters F = Forum R = Regal
02.08.18
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RT = Ragtag = 3D
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FILM FEST MARCH 1-4, 2018 /COLUMBIA, MO / TRUEFALSE.ORG
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VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 02.08.18