By Sarah Knowles

With their recent decision to expand to a year-round market season, the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market (CYCFM) has a lot to offer for the upcoming holiday season, including their artisan holiday series. If you are still searching for the perfect gift, or better yet, if you have not even started searching for the perfect gift, you will not want to miss this opportunity to purchase unique, affordable, and locally made products.

Memphis artists, makers, and crafters will be selling a wide variety of original, handmade items from fine art, jewelry, and purses to yard decorations, letterpress books, and birdhouses. The CYCFM has established a growing artisan community that you can be a part of by purchasing their creations and supporting the local movement. “It’s amazing how many talented and creative people the market has brought together with the artisan fair,” says local artist Page Baker. With such a diverse group of artisans and work, you are bound to find the thoughtful gift you are looking for.

Baker is a participating local jeweler and metal-smith, is a regular at the market, and has been “influential with the expansion in the artisan community,” says market manager Debbi La Rue. Baker says that making jewelry is a great way to incorporate her love of working with metal with her love of connecting with people. “When I make something that makes another person happy, it is very exciting to me. There is no better feeling than seeing someone wearing a piece that I made and seeing how they have incorporated it into their personal style.” Moreover, Baker praises the market for giving her the opportunity to “interact with shoppers and other artisans in a fun and relaxed environment.”

Avid supporter of the market and artist recruiter Penny Dodds says, “I feel better about giving my money to a local artisan, artist, or merchant. I know where my money goes – into their pockets to feed and support themselves and their families. We do have power to change the dynamics of our economy by making small steps every day. I think farmers markets, by including artisans, help all of us learn from scratch how to spend our money wisely and live well together.”

So don’t let the cold hold you back! Bundle up and come out to the CYCFM holiday series November 26 and December 3, 10, and 17 to experience the vibrant, laid-back artisan market, meet the vendors, and support the movement of shopping locally this holiday season. The market is located in the parking lot of First Congo (1000 S. Cooper) and runs on Saturdays from 9am-1pm.

By Tamara Cook

The Cooper-Young Business Association is proud to announce this year’s winners of the 2011 Young Artist Contest. This post-Festival event is held annually to encourage the love of art in school age children. The CYBA received 266 entries for the contest which had a theme of “Communities Going Green.” A reception for winners and artists was held at Peabody Elementary located on Thursday, November 3.

This free contest is open to children from all over Memphis and the surrounding communities, grades 1-12, and is sponsored by Lenny’s Sub Shop. Contestants competed against students in one of three grade level divisions: grades 1-4, grades 5-8, and grades 9-12. Prizes are awarded in each division in the following categories: $500 first place, $100 second place, $75 third place, and $50 honorable mention. These scholarship bonds were presented to all contest winners on the evening of the reception. Lenny’s Sub Shop provided refreshments, and the whole community was invited to view the art and meet the winners.

This year’s winners are:

Grades 1-4

First Place – Antrell Kendrick, Grandview Heights Elementary

Second Place – Abigail Cassius, Grahamwood Elementary

Third Place – Amanda Cassius, Grahamwood Elementary

Honorable Mention – Jonathan Johnson, Presbyterian Day School

Grades 5-8

First Place – Edgar Guerrero, Colonial Middle School

Second Place – Amelia Brittain, Grahamwood Elementary

Third Place – Kaylre Franklin, Graceland Elementary

Honorable Mention – Dori Hardage, home school student

Grade 9-12

First Place – William Ross Harvell, Christian Brothers High School

Second Place – James Ward, Wooddale High School

Third Place – MeKAyla Swain, Wooddale High School

Honorable Mention – Noe Suavez, Kingsbury High School

By Richard Kendrickson

Gallery Fifty Six will present an exciting, fun, and different kind of art exhibition for the month of November. Thirteen Memphis artists will change their names and their styles in an exhibition titled Pseudonyms. Each artist will create a work of art that is unlike their style, and they will sign their creations with a pseudonym of their choice. The real identity of the artists will remain a secret until November 18.

The artists involved in the Pseudonyms exhibition are John Armistead, Bryan Blankenship, Paul Clarke, Mike Coulson, Carol De Forest, David Douglas, Eli Gold, Jan Hankins, Chuck Johnson, Jeanne Seagle, Madison Sherman, John Sadowski, and Niles Wallace.

Gallery Fifty Six director Rollin Kocsis came up with the idea. He said that the gallery currently represents a couple of artists who use a pseudonym, so he decided to create an exhibition of known and respected artists from the community willing to create something different from what they normally do and sign it with a different name. Kocsis said, “This will be a fun exhibition. It will give the artists a chance to do something new and different, and perhaps it may lead to some growth for the artists involved. It’s really fun for me because I will be the only person who knows who did what until November 18.”

During the opening reception patrons may participate in a “Match the Artist with the Work” game. A worksheet will be provided with a list of artist names and pseudonyms. The first person to match all the artists with their work will be awarded two free lunches at the Café Palladio.

Also during the month of November, Gallery Fifty Six will present the paintings of the late Billy Price Carroll. A native Memphian, Billy Price Carroll painted in oil, watercolor, pastel, and in Chinese ink and water. Ms. Carroll was a noted portrait artist and had over 30 one-man showings of her work in public museums, art galleries, clubs, and art associations. The artist also had her own Saturday art school in Memphis for over 20 years. Billy Price Carroll‘s works are in collections throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Her exhibition at Gallery Fifty Six is titled An Adventure in Art. The work selected for the November exhibition will be landscapes and still life paintings.

The opening reception for Pseudonyms and An Adventure in Art is Friday, November 4 from 5 to 8pm. The event is free and open to the public. The show will run until November 25. All art in this exhibition will be for sale.

Gallery Fifty Six has a large collection of art by local artists and is located at 2256 Central Avenue, between South Cooper and East Parkway. The hours of the gallery are Wednesday through Friday from noon until 4pm and Saturday from 11am until 4pm.

Turner Stone opens shop in CY
By Tamara Cook
Turner Stone recently opened its doors in Cooper-Young at 792 South Cooper. The company specializes in granite and marble countertops, interior and exterior stone and tile flooring, showers, brick and stone patios, and walkways. Founded in 2006, owner Jonathan Turner left his career as a boilermaker and opened his tile and stone business in South Memphis. Recognizing the need for expansion, Turner found a prime location in the Midtown area, opening his doors in late August. His new location now offers an inventory of marble slabs.
Turner has both residential and commercial experience. He is happy that his new location gives him the opportunity to be a part of a closely-knit business association, and he is optimistic about the future of his company. For more information on Turner Stone, visit their Facebook page facebook.com/TurnerStone.

Madison bike lanes
By Barb Elder
No doubt many of you have noticed the repaving that is taking place on Madison Avenue in Midtown. Not only is Madison getting a fresh layer of asphalt, but the repainting of the street will include bike lanes. Not surprisingly, there are those on City Council and in the business community who are not excited about these new bike lanes, and some measures have been taken in an attempt to overturn the Mayors decision to include bike lanes on this portion of Madison. These efforts have been unsuccessful up to this point.

Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop is calling on those who support the bike lanes to help make Madison Avenue as prosperous and vibrant as possible by patronizing the businesses there. In a recent update they wrote, “We can work together and make this a great street for everybody. We’ll be working in the weeks to come on some special events to encourage people to support the business on Madison Avenue. Please keep an eye on our website revolutionsmemphis.com for more details. We’re in for a fun fall, and we have every reason to be excited about the future of our community – but we’re going to need your help, and your precious purchasing power, to make that future happen. In the meantime, please continue to let Mayor Wharton mayor@memphistn.gov know that you support his decision, and please support all of your locally-owned small businesses however you can!”
LifeQuest Benefit Concert
By Jim Pettit

The LifeQuest Benefit Concert, sponsored by Memphis Drum Shop and the Scott Nelson Pettit Foundation, will be presented on Friday, November 4, at 7pm in Stauffer Hall at Lindenwood Christian Church, 2400 Union Avenue, on the corner of Union and East Parkway. LifeQuest is a community counseling center at Lindenwood Church.
Prior to the show drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and dessert will be served in the Grand Foyer at 6pm. The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band, will provide the music with featured vocalists JoJo Jefferies, Tom Prestigiacomo, Marcella Pinilla, and Doug Saleeby. Tickets are $35 and are on sale until November 2 at Memphis Drum Shop at 878 South Cooper, 901-276-2328, or online at memphisdrumshop.com.

Burke’s book launch event for Memphians
By Cheryl Mesler

Burke’s Book Store will be hosting a book launch and signing event for the publication of the new limited edition coffee-table book, Memphians ($45 hardcover, Nautilus Publishing, Richard Murff, editor). This event will be held Thursday, November 10 beginning at 5:30pm at 944 South Cooper Street (4 doors south of Burke’s Book Store).

More than 200 famous and infamous, notable, extraordinary, and little-known Memphians are profiled in this book. Categories include Memphis icons, movies, television, stage, music, sports, innovators and visionaries, entrepreneurs, writers and journalists, lawyers and politicians, little-known Memphians, colorful characters, and Memphis beauties. We are presently working on a guest list of people featured in this book who will be attending this event. We will release this information closer to the date of the event. If there are any questions, please contact Corey or Cheryl Mesler at 901-278-7484.

Japan Relief efforts continue
By Barb Elder

In May the LampLighter published an article about CY resident Asuka Taga Yow who was working hard to raise awareness about the ongoing needs in her home country, Japan, following the March earthquake and tsunami. One way she had been working toward this goal is by setting up a table the first Saturday of each month at the CY Community Farmers Market selling T-shirts and origami creations and taking donations.
October 8 was the last day for the Japan Relief Booth at the farmers market. Through all of her fundraising efforts (that include the farmers market table, a yard sale, CY Night Out, and a donation from LifeLink Church) Asuka has been able to raise $1650, all of which has been donated toward Japan Relief efforts either through the American Red Cross or the Japan America Society of Tennessee. Asuka is thankful for everyone’s participation and says that if anyone is interested in a T-shirt ($20) or a badge ($4), they are still available. Just contact her at asukataga@hotmail.com.

Company d and the Buckman Arts Center presents Let It Be A Dance!
By Darlene Winters

Company d is a nationally recognized dance company of young adults with Down syndrome, under the artistic direction of Darlene Winters. Founded in 2001, Company d is committed to creating awareness of the talents and gifts of all individuals. The ensemble is celebrated for their musicality, inspirational impact, and unique ability to alter the perception of individuals with disabilities. Company d strives to shape the culture of their community one step at a time.

Company d will perform Let It Be A Dance! at the Buckman Arts Center at St Mary’s School, 60 Perkins Extended, on Saturday, November 5 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating and can be purchased at buckmanartscenter.com or by calling 901-335-8388. This unique collaboration unites some of Memphis’ most talented artists working with the dynamic and impressive dancers of Company d. Guest choreographers include Tarrik Moore of Udig Dance Academy, Wayne Smith of Project Motion, and Kevin Thomas of Collage Dance Collective, with direction by Marques Brown.

Union Station has a new Colonel
By Barb Elder

According to midtown.wmctv.com the Memphis Police Department placed Russell Houston as Colonel of the Union Station in September. The officers at this station keep watch over much of Midtown, including Cooper-Young. We thank Colonel Houston for his service and look forward to getting to know him.

The Union Station is located at 1925 Union and the station phone number is 901-636-4631. As always, for police assistance call 901-545-2677.

Church Health Center fun fundraisers
By Jeff Hulett

Many people know of all the wonderful services available to the Memphis community through the Church Health Center (see churchhealthcenter.org to learn more). Well, in November there are two opportunities to show your support for the Church Health Center and get involved.

The 15th annual Race for Grace 5K Run/Walk is Saturday, November 5 at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5530 Shady Grove. For information or to sign up, call 901-272-7170 or visit raceforgrace.racesonline.com. In addition, the 25th annual Outdoors, Inc. Cyclocross Tennessee State Championship will be held at Green Belt Park on Mud Island Sunday, November 13. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Church Health Center. Registration starts at 8am with a race for children at 9am, a race for all women at 9:20am and a pro/expert race at 10am. For information call Joe Royer at 901-482-5998, email  JoeRoyer@OutdoorsInc.com, or visit OutdoorsInc.com.

Cuts for Cause
By Frank Wolff

Remington College-Memphis Campus is holding a food drive to benefit the Mid-South Food Bank and offering a complimentary haircut, manicure, or pedicure to anyone who brings in a can of food or other non-perishable food donation. The effort is called Cuts for Cause and will run throughout the month of November. The complimentary salon services will be provided by students and instructors in the Remington College-Memphis Campus cosmetology program.

Appointments can be made by calling The Student Salon at 901-396-8625; walk-ins are also welcome. The Student Salon is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm and adds Saturday hours based on demand. The salon is located at 2741 Nonconnah Boulevard.

Every Child Ready to Read workshops at the library
By Lillian Johnson

Early literacy is a fundamental building block for a child’s future success. The library is offering a free training to parents and caregivers aimed at helping them develop their toddler’s early literacy skills. According to Library Coordinator for Youth Services Mary Seratt, “The activities that are presented in the Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) workshops make helping their children’s early literacy development especially accessible to parents and caregivers. The activities we teach parents and caregivers are easy, free, and nourish healthy relationships between adults and children. They require no special equipment or videos and can even be used by parents who do not read well themselves!”

There are three free training sessions planned at area libraries: Cordova Branch, 8457 Trinity Rd., Saturday, October 29 at 11am (this workshop is geared to teen parents); Bartlett Library, 5884 Stage Road, Tuesday, November 8 at 6:30pm; Levi Branch, 3676 Highway 61 S., Saturday, November 12 at 10:30am. Additional workshops are planned at various branches in the coming months. Seratt added, “The more people we have following this program and telling their friends, the better prepared all our children will be to learn all subjects when they get to school.” For more information call 901-415-2739.

Sister Schubert book signing at Palladio Antiques & Art
By Mindy Roberts

Patricia “Sister” Schubert Barnes, will be in Memphis to sign her book, Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters, Thursday, November 10, at the upscale Palladio Antiques & Art showroom, located at 2169 Central Ave. Sister, as she calls herself, is best known for her delicious homemade rolls available in supermarkets everywhere. She has many faces as a devoted wife, mother, successful entrepreneur, and global philanthropist. In her book Cast Your Bread Upon The Waters, Sister shares her secrets of success, cooking, and living. Not only a cookbook, it is also an intimate look into the philosophy of a woman who, using her grandmother’s heirloom recipe, started making homemade rolls for a church fundraiser. Gradually Sister took her passion for baking and turned it into a multimillion dollar business. In her book, she shares her personal thoughts during the early days of Sister Shubert’s Homemade Rolls and how she was guided by faith as she navigated each step along the way. Cast Your Bread Upon The Water is also a call to all of us, to pay it forward. There are wonderful recipes throughout, but just as important are the tips and inspirational words from Sister that are sprinkled throughout the book.

Guests can meet Sister Schubert and have her personally sign a copy of her book, Cast Your Bread Upon The Water, ($40) at Palladio Antiques & Art, between 10am and 3pm, November 10. The book signing along with an art show later that evening featuring locally acclaimed artists, Emily Ozier and Paul Edelstein, are lead-in events to The Palladio Group’s much anticipated and highly popular Christmas Open House Weekend which runs Friday and Saturday, November 11-12 at Palladio Antiques & Art. For more information about the event or The Palladio Group, contact Mindy Roberts at 901-568-5591. For more information about Sister Shubert, call 334-222-2265.
David Perry Smith Gallery November show
By Barb Elder

In a recent press release, David Perry Smith Gallery announced the opening of their new show called Landscapes that features new work from artists Greg Gustafson, Andy Reed, Charlotte Terrell, and Bob Eoff. The opening reception is to be held Friday, November 4, from 5-8pm, and the show will be available for viewing November 1 thru November 28. David Perry Smith Gallery is located at 703 New York, and gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-5pm. For more information go to davidperrysmithgallery.com or call 901-606-9690

By Donna Padgett Bowers

Donna Padgett Bowers was asked to tell the LampLighter a little about Painted Planet and Healing Planet as well as her feelings about Cooper-Young and being a CYCA Membership Sponsor (if you are a CYCA member, Donna will give you a 25% jewelry discount on regularly priced items every time you show your card). Here was her response.

Painted Planet has been in business for almost ten years and started right here in Cooper-Young at the corner of Cooper and Vinton. I don’t believe there is another retail store anywhere around where you can get better art, gifts, and jewelry, or get it at better prices with friendlier service than at Painted Planet. We have layaway and gift wrapping, and we will customize and repair your jewelry. Plus, we’re right here in your neighborhood, within walking distance for most of you.

We support the CYCA because we love them and appreciate all they do in this community. We love being a part of this wonderful neighborhood and seeing familiar faces in our gallery. I have actually watched some of your children grow up and feel like many of you are family rather than patrons.

ABOUT PAINTED PLANET

Painted Planet offers many things to its friends and patrons. We offer colorful, affordable art, unique gifts, and beautiful, handmade jewelry. But we’re so much more than that! We offer art openings each month, and during those openings we provide great food and live music in addition to great art. Our events are always free and everyone is invited. On the second and fourth Saturday nights each month from 8-10pm we offer something called Saturday Night Live at the Planet where selected artists paint live and there’s live music too. It’s held in the fenced-in, private performance area behind the Planet (located at 798 S. Cooper). Folks can bring their kids, their coolers, and their lawn chairs and enjoy live art and music under the stars! We also offer art classes and are getting ready to start again soon with artist/teacher Tonya Angel, one of Painted Planet’s favorite acrylic artists. The upcoming classes will be posted on our Painted Planet Artspace Facebook page.

We have two events coming up that we would like to invite the community to. For This We Give Thanks is our November opening on Friday, November 4 from 8-10pm. Our gallery artists and many local artists have created paintings showing what they are most thankful for. It will be a great Thanksgiving Show with great art, holiday food, and live music. It is free and just in time to get you excited about the holidays. Then on Friday, December 2 from 8-10pm we’ll be showcasing the work of Greg Bowden and Jeff Forbes in Two Men with Paint. Greg is our top selling artist, and his work has been featured all over Cooper-Young. Many folks in CY will also remember Jeff, who was my curator for years when we were located on Young.

ABOUT HEALING PLANET

A few years into our business I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and during that challenging time my artists loved, supported, and helped me survive it. I knew I had to do the same for others. Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry was born out of the desire to bless others challenged by cancer. If you go on HYPERLINK “http://www.paintedplanetart.com/”paintedplanetart.com and click on Healing Planet, you can read the whole story of how and why the cancer ministry was started.

As a part of Healing Planet we offer Spa Night on the second Monday each month. We serve a healthy dinner at 6:30pm (sometimes including a nutrition demo) and Spa Night starts at 7pm. The event is free. As soon as women arrive, they sign up for whatever services they want including reflexology, facials, brows, manicures, pedicures, paraffin treatments, foot baths, hand and foot massage, full body massage, spot massage, chair massage, personal training, yoga, nutritional instruction, and prayer. Though we are a Christian ministry, we do not discriminate in any way. No one is asked what their beliefs are, and no one has to participate in prayer if they choose not to.

It’s funny how in the beginning, Healing Planet was just about the pampering and the free services we offer. But now many women come but don’t even get “pampered” by our caregivers. They come for the fellowship, the encouragement, and the prayer. It’s such a blessing to experience what goes on at Spa Night; seeing how these precious women interact with each other, how they touch each other with their words of encouragement, their heartfelt prayers, and their empathy – empathy that can only come from someone who’s been where you are. Some of these women are in total remission, some are newly diagnosed, some are in chemo and radiation now, some have been given little more than a death sentence by their doctors, and some have even left their hospice nurses at home to attend. We’re all at different places on that same road to healing, whether it will be an earthly or heavenly healing. We are all survivors and victors in our own way!

We also are a host site for Look Good Feel Better for the American Cancer Society. This service offers free makeup and healthy beauty products to women who are undergoing chemo and radiation for cancer. At one time Painted Planet was the only host site that was not a doctor’s office or hospital. Our Healing Planet schedule is posted on our Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry Facebook page.

Our top selling artist, Greg Bowden, has created paintings and subsequent prints to raise money for Healing Planet in the past. Recently, Greg brought in his newest creation. The painting is called Resounding Hope, and you can see it on Painted Planet’s Facebook wall. Prints of this painting will be sold during the year to raise money for Healing Planet, which helps us significantly.

After business expenses are paid, the rest of the money we earn goes to Healing Planet. For the last few years there’s not been enough to cover expenses. In response, I’ve sold my personal possessions just to keep the doors open. I have never received one penny in salary or personal compensation. This is totally a labor of love, but with financial times like they are right now, it’s challenging to say the least. We desperately need Cooper-Young residents to embrace us as we embrace them.

I hope with Christmas around the corner, everyone in Cooper-Young will check us out. You will not only find great holiday gifts, but you will have the added satisfaction of knowing that your dollars have blessed women challenged by disease. We welcome your business, and we promise to continue to serve you and this community! For more info about Painted Planet/Healing Planet, check out HYPERLINK “http://www.paintedplanetart.com/”paintedplanetart.com or search on Facebook for Painted Planet Artspace or Healing Planet – Cancer Ministry. You can also email us at HYPERLINK “mailto:paintedplanet@bellsouth.net”paintedplanet@bellsouth.net or call us at 901-725-0054.

Opportunity to give to the Memphis Food Bank
By Pat Mitchell Worley

Little Helpers, a children’s volunteer organization, will be in Cooper-Young on Saturday, October 29, from 11am-12:30pm. The kids (ages 2 to tween) will travel our streets in their Halloween costumes collecting food for the Memphis Food Bank for their monthly service activity. Please prepare and give as generously as you are able.

Making strides against breast cancer
By Stephanie Wilson Nichols

The American Cancer Society’s 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K of Memphis will be held on October 15 at Laurelwood Shopping Center at the corner of Poplar and Perkins Extended. This inspiring, noncompetitive 5K walk unites the entire community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about the importance of early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund life-saving research and support programs to further our progress against this disease.

Community members are invited to be part of Memphis’ Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. There is no pre-registration or registration fee. Donations are strongly encouraged. Registration begins at 7am and the walk begins at 8am. To form a team or learn about how you can participate in this family friendly walk, contact the American Cancer Society at 901-278-2091 or visit MakingStridesMemphis.org. Through events like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer the American Cancer Society is saving lives and creating a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.

CY Community Farmers Market updates
By Barb Elder

In case you are like me and never carry cash, don’t let that stop you from getting fresh foods at the CY Community Farmers Market! According to their weekly newsletter (and my personal experience) “every Saturday, friendly staff members are standing by at our market information booth to assist you with credit, debit, and SNAP card transactions. Swipe your card, get a receipt, and get market tokens to spend with our vendors.” In addition, neighbors with SNAP benefits can get more for their money thanks to a new matching funds program called Double Green$. If you would like to learn more, drop by the market information booth.

And the good news just keeps on coming. The Memphis Flyer recently reported that the Board of the CY Community Farmers Market has decided that the market will remain open year round in their effort to provide fresh produce to the people in this area of the city. So keep those Saturday morning plans loose so that you can drop by and do a little shopping this winter.

News affecting upcoming Memphis elections
By Dee Nollner

Beginning January 1, 2012 registered voters will need a photo ID in order to vote. The first election after that date will be the Presidential Preference and County Primary on March 6, 2012. A TN driver’s license with photo is sufficient; even an expired photo license from another state will meet the requirement for registered voters. Any state or Federal government photo ID will be accepted, but student or local government ID will not be accepted. Registered voters over 60 who do not have a photo driver’s license can take the license to a Driver’s License location and have a photo applied. The 3200 East Shelby Drive location, south of the airport between Airways and Getwell, might be the most comfortable. Call 901-543-7920 for additional information.

Dee Nollner is the Shelby County Election Commissioner.

New food options coming to Cooper Street
By Barb Elder

More change is on its way to 940 South Cooper. This location, formerly filled by Grace and Au Fond Farm Table, is being transformed into a new restaurant called Alchemy. Perhaps some of you saw their sign out during the CY Festival with a sample menu scrolled across the window (Irish car bomb bread pudding and Parmigiano Reggiano French toast just to name a few of their tempting items). The opening date is unclear, but you can follow them on Facebook for the most up-to-date information.

Artisans on a mission
By Steve Garcia

In 2006, some members of St. John’s United Methodist Church (1207 Peabody Ave.) were having lunch, and one of them remarked that their congregation seemed to have an unusually large number of talented artists/crafters. One Sunday a few weeks later, their senior pastor at the time offered the following words from Frederick Buechner: “Vocation is where our greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” In other words, there are many ways to minister and effect change in the world, even through something like painting or knitting.

Soon after, a group of artists (painters, knitters, quilters, jewelry-makers, etc.) came together and called themselves Artisans on a Mission (stjohnsmidtown.org/artisansonamission). Their goal is to channel their artistic passions toward serving our community. As an organized group, they set up a booth annually at the Cooper-Young Festival to sell their artwork and handcrafted items. The money they make is applied toward various service projects. Artisans on a Mission is open to all members of the community. For more information or to join in, please call 901-726-4104 or visit the church’s website at stjohnsmidtown.org.

Newest addition to the Palladio Group
By Tamara Cook

The Palladio Group has just opened its newest shop, The WaterWorks Annex. The Annex, located at the corner of Central and Cox, showcases smaller items for the garden. The store has a large assortment of both glazed and clay pots, antique and new urns, garden statuary, bird feeders, as well as wild bird feed. A fenced courtyard which faces Central displays a large inventory of fountains. The Annex is open Monday through Saturday, 10am until 5pm at 2231 Central Avenue.

The Annex is a welcome addition to The Palladio Group’s ever growing collection of shops, gallery, and studio, which includes: Palladio - 2169 Central; Market Central - 2215 Central; Gallery Fifty Six - 2256 Central; WaterWorks – 741 South Cox; The WaterWorks Annex – 2231 Central; Architectural Arts – 749 South Cox; Café Palladio - 2169 Central; Memphis Art Factory - 777 South Cox; and Crafted Classic – 2215 Central. For more information, call 901-276-3808 or visit them online at thepalladiogroup.com.

David Perry Smith Gallery October show
By Barb Elder

In a recent press release, David Perry Smith Gallery announced the opening of their new show called summariness’ end that features new work from artists Alex Walter, Brad Robertson, Martica Griffin, Mary Long-Postal, and John Sadowski. The opening reception is to be held Friday, September 30, from 5-8pm, and the show will be available for viewing September 26 thru October 29. David Perry Smith Gallery is located at 703 New York, and gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10am-5pm. For more information go to davidperrysmithgallery.com or call 901-606-9690

By Richard Kendrickson

Gallery Fifty Six will host the Memphis/Germantown Art League’s 2011 Autumn Juried Exhibition in October. The exhibition will include approximately 50 pieces of art, and Best of Show, 2^nd Place, 3^rd Place, and Honorable Mention awards will be presented. The artist’s reception will be on Friday, October 7, from 5 until 8pm. The judge this year will be Rollin Kocsis, curator for Gallery Fifty Six.

The Memphis/Germantown Art League (MGAL) is a nonprofit organization of visual artists and associates supporting the work of its member artists. The League’s purpose is to aid its member artists in their professional growth and in the development of their artistic skills by providing juried exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, and other continuing education opportunities. In addition, MGAL works to enrich the community by presenting original fine art in public exhibits and by participating in other community art activities.

MGAL has three annual juried and judged, local, members-only exhibitions. Judges typically are well-known artists and educators such as Dolph Smith, Remy Miller, Jamie McMahan, Paul Edelstein, and Pam Cobb.

A National Exhibition and workshop is held every two years open to artists from across the country. Judges who conduct the workshops are nationally-known artists such as Alex Powers, Frank Francese, Wyatt Waters, and Laurin McCracken. Past venues include GPAC, WKNO Gallery Ten Ninety One, Memphis Botanic Garden, St. George’s Episcopal Church Gallery, A2H, Collierville Town Hall, and Askew, Nixon, Ferguson among others.

The organization began as the Germantown Art League in 1976. In 1988 the organization’s name was changed to Memphis/Germantown Art League in recognition of the wider geographical distribution of its members. Today the composition of the membership is far broader including surrounding towns in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. MGAL depends on all its members to serve on the Board of Directors, committees, and to assist in the work of the organization. MGAL is grateful to the local businesses who continue to generously support their organization.

Gallery Fifty Six is located in the Cooper-Young neighborhood at 2256 Central Ave. The artist’s reception and exhibit is free and open to the public.

By Richard Kendrickson
Memphis artist Jan Hankins will present his new work in an exhibition titled Parsimone’s Flotsam at Gallery Fifty Six during the month of September. The subjects of these paintings are based on objects that Hankins has found and picked up over time along the beaches of Florida, in the Pickwick Forest by his mother’s home, from the streets of Memphis, and elsewhere.
Jan Hankins describes these paintings as studies for a series of paintings that he calls Parsimone – 10th Muse. Hankins explains, “This trim, frugal goddess has her stingy hand on the throttle. Her “lex parsimoniae” brings the simple solution to a complicated life. She’s a hard muse to follow when you’re bent on stuffing the canvas with every bit of detritus from beach to street. Nothing goes to waste: shells, clinkers, jacks, roots, and rocks from decades of combing the ground – roots on velvet, shells on sky, coral on foil, flotsam on jetsam – my own private islands.”
Jan Hankins is a native Memphian who studied painting at the Art Academy, now the Memphis College of Art. Hankins has exhibited at Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, and the Brooks Museum of Art. He is also a talented professional sign painter who has created many of the business signs in the Cooper-Young area.
This exhibition will be on display during the month of September. There will be an artist’s reception on September 9, from 5 to 8pm at Gallery Fifty Six, 2256 Central Avenue. The public is invited to this free event. You may contact the gallery at 901-276-1251.

By Tamara Cook
The 2011 Cooper-Young Festival Art Invitational and Kickoff Party will be held Thursday, September 15, from 6-9pm at the David Perry Smith Gallery located at 703 New York Street. The Art Invitational features the work of artists who live and work in the Cooper-Young Historic District. This free event allows artists the opportunity, at no cost to them, to showcase their work in a gallery setting. Plus, all the proceeds from the sale of their art goes back to them. This year’s Invitational will feature two dozen artists, and the work will remain up during the Festival weekend.
David Perry Smith will be the curator of the show. David has a Masters in Art History from Ohio State University and has been in the gallery world since graduate school in 1987. There will be a variety of works including sculpture, paintings, photography, paper, glass, craft art, and wood pieces. Some of the artists that will be on-hand to discuss their work are Astrid French, Mary Long-Postal, Nick Canterucci, Colleen Couch-Smith, Arline Jernigan, Mollie Riggs, Darla Linerode-Henson, Dan Spector, Jason Miller, Jane Croy, and Elizabeth Alley.
Nick Canterucci, longtime resident of Cooper-Young, is the winner of the 2011 Festival Poster Artist contest. Nick’s submission for the poster art was a pink and clear late model Apple iMac computer shell with images of Cooper-Young attached to the screen. Nick’s theme for the piece is fun in the 21st century. Nick explains that he wanted a high tech, yet pop art feel for his poster art offering. Nick’s iMac art will be sold during a silent auction over the weekend. The Festival poster design is by Billy Riley of Combustion.
There will be complimentary wine and beer bars and live music by local singer songwriter William Charles. The event is free and open to the public, so mark your calendars for September 15 and enjoy our historically hip little enclave in Midtown.
This event is sponsored by Coors Light. For more info visit cooperyoungfestival.com.

By Tamara Cook

The CY Festival Artist Invitational 2011 reception is Thursday, September 15 from 6-9pm at the David Perry Smith Gallery, 703 New York. This art show celebrates the work of artists living or working in the Cooper-Young area, and will remain up the entire Festival weekend. The Cooper-Young district boundaries are Central to Southern and McLean to East Parkway. All sales from the work submitted go to that artist. There is no fee required to be in show.

If you live or work in this area and would like a piece of your work considered for this year’s Art Invitational, please contact David Smith at 901-606-9690 or email him at davidperrysmithmemphis@gmail.com. Due to space restraints, we cannot consider overly large pieces.