Author, Illustrator, Mystic After decades in New York City working with some of the publishing world’s biggest and brightest, Elaine Clayton recently returned home to Columbus. But even at this point in an already accomplished career, her creative output continues to ascend: Clayton’s book A Little Bit of Angels was recently reprinted and translated into French. Her forthcoming The...
Prodigal Son / Acclaimed Chef Landon Thompson returned home to open a new restaurant and with a new concept — Animal Farm. His latest venture is a hip spot for sharing plates and enjoying in-house butchered meats on 12th Srreet downtown in former Bare Roots space. Why invest your time, talent and money in opening a restaurant in Columbus right now? “I grew up here, so that means I grew up...
Acclaimed writer on finding fascination in Columbus, developing the local literary scene, crafting fiction more true than truth, and awakening the genius in us all. Plus, which work she is most proud of in her stellar career — and why. How would you describe the art and science of teaching someone to write? “I didn’t start out as a teacher. I just kind of fell into it out of necessity and...
Creator of the the wacky/wonderful/world-famous Lunchbox Museum, noted local collector and historian Allen Woodall now aims to “preserve the history of Columbus, Georgia.” What inspired you to create The Lunchbox Museum? “Back in 1985, I was in an antique show in Atlanta, Georgia, and on one of the tables one of the vendors had a Green Hornet and a Dick Tracy lunchbox. When I saw...
Strut the Hooch parade founder, musician, educator, author U.S. Navy veteran, bon vivant How would you describe the Strut the Hooch parade to the uninitiated? “As a kind of giant Mardi Gras parade.”Is it hard to instill that Mardi Gras vibe in Columbus?“No. I’ve found people who want to have a lot of fun and show off their personality and their creativity.”What are some of the most creative...
A conversation with Gallery Outreach Coordinator Eliza Daffin. Additional comments by Collection Manager Jessica Hughes. What distinguishes Southern photography as compared to photography from other places?“Southern photography is really rooted in history. And the place. Some Southerners have a real pride in where they’re from and who they are.Even though the history of the South is pretty...
Right-wing religious groups mobilize to block extending civil rights on basis of individual’s sexual orientation / sexual identity. Georgia one of 3 states in the country without civil rights law. Text from an email by Assistant City Attorney Lucy Sheftall sent out to City Councilors 8.18.2021:Attached you will find a clean copy of the NDO which will be placed on the Agenda for next Tuesday...
New nonprofit will host popular annual event, the nationally touring Wild & Scenic Film Fest, August 19-21. How did the last local Wild & Scenic Film Festival in 2019 become its largest ‘On Tour’ event?“I think it’s because of the way we choreograph it.And the capacity potential we’ve got. We have an amazing urban footprint downtown now that’s walkable, with all these amazing outdoor...
The Chill Power Couple Columbus Needs Right Now Who — or what — is an Afro Hippy? “The term is more so to represent the alternative Black culture and the subcultures within that. Things I’m into: nerd culture, photography, things of that nature. On her side, it’s holistic care and the wide variety of things that play into that.We did the Afro-Hippy event [June 26 at the...
A conversation with Jonathan Frederick Walz, Ph.D., Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art, at the Columbus Museum. He is curator of the exhibition Alma W. Thomas: Everything Is Beautiful, which stats a national tour on July 9 at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. The exhibition concludes in Thomas’ hometown at the Columbus Museum, where it will be on...