Local Artist Spotlight Show and Consult Medley Publishing

 
Nicola Medley Ballard of Consult Medley Publishing has invited me to work on a new project with her. It's the television show Local Artist Spotlight Show.  Artists who create in the Shreveport Bossier area will be featured. We shot a segment for the pilot with Su Stella over the weekend. Handling the majority of the production work is Ernest Lloyd Aaron Williams. I shot some still photographs and some extra video. It's exciting to work on a collaborative project. There is an energy and expertise each member brings to the table.

We'd like to have four artists on each show. If you want to be featured on the show just let one of us know. We'd like to have an interesting mix of creators on each show. Shreveport is a city with a huge mix of .... oh hell, we have lots of white folks and lots of black folks and a number of Hispanic folks and folks with other heritages. What we'd like to see is a show that celebrates everyone together. And gets in a good mix of ages. And even takes a broader look at what is art and creating and making. The call to artists includes culinary artists so you know we're open minded about what exactly art making is. I think it reflects a progressive take on the idea. Shoot Nicola an email at Consultmedley (@) yahoo.com for more information.

Speaking of culinary ... I had some tasty meat at Debbie Buchanan Engle's house last night. The adult children of her husband Alan Dyson are both in the culinary business and they spent yesterday preparing a feast. Stuart Dyson is the executive chef at Anvil Bar & Grill.  Alana is home for a short visit. For the last year or so she's been creating food for the lucky folks in Florida. She's also a singer and songwriter. A couple of years ago she and her dad created this song about the Shreveport Farmers' Market (that video was produced by Kay Kennedy-Garner).

TedxRedRiver Talk May 2012

I can't believe I didn't take a single photograph at minicine? Swampland Tuesday night at the TEDxRedRiver event (click here for the info). That is how nervous I was. I. Forgot. To. Take. Pictures. Shooting is how I deal with stress. Thank goodness there were other folks who had their cameras with them.

Since I spoke on creating your authentic life everyday and not waiting for festivals or events like Burning Man (link to Burning Man here) to be who you are meant to be, I've had several folks come up and tell me that I've inspired them to create some interesting art for their front yard. Can't wait to see the projects everyone creates.

It was great fun. I'd like to tell you about everyone's talk but I was so nervous I can't remember anything. I'd like to gift you with exact quotes but instead I'll have to tell you the messages I remember from the evening.

Dacoda Montana spoke first. His topic was about trapping animals and animal traps or so it seemed. But he was sharing his early life experience. And this beautiful sweet young man (see the photo Robert Trudeau took of him) ended up presenting a talk that made us all  think about how out of touch we are with where our food comes from. Peter Fetterman's talk has me thinking about how I can make my own kind of music (Trudeau's photo of him). Andrew Parson (Trudeau's snap of him) has me thinking about how to bring passion to my daily work. He surprised us with beautiful food that he had prepared. It was my first time to eat an orchid. Tasty.

Videos from each talk are in the process of being produced. As soon as they land on a spot on the Internet I will pass along the link. There is a chance one or more of the talks will actually end up on the TED website. John Grindley is the Executive Director of CoHabitat Foundation in Shreveport. He spoke earlier this year and his talk ended up on the TED website. 

To keep up with future TEDxRedRiver events join their Facebook page. One of their big events is coming up in September. DigiFest South is a digital arts festival and technology career fair that celebrates how digital technology has combined with artistic creativity to shape our modern society. Click here for the Digifest South Facebook page. 

Self Saving Princess Spellyrific Voodoo Doll Mousey

Getting ready to list Mousey at my Etsy store. Her full name is Spellyrific Voodoo Doll Mousey The Self Saving Princess. UPDATE MAY 23 2012 --- Mousey is now listed. She retails for $88.00.

Mousey is four years old and spends her days in her special tree house. In her front pocket she carries a stick to roast marshmallows with. She also keeps a spellyrific rock in her front pocket just in case there are any monsters under her bed. Her big ears make her look like a mouse, hence the name Mousey.

Vintage cotton fabrics, flowered patterns in pinks and greens, silk, and cemetery flowers merge to make her. Hand tatted eyes from white cotton thread were scooped up at an estate sale.

Mousey can set on a shelf. She also comes with a cotton loop so she can be installed on the wall. She measures 9 inches tall in a seated position. Her arms stretch wide to 10 inches.

An official hand crafted Louisiana Voodoo Art Doll. Not intended as a toy for children. All artwork and content © 2012 Kathryn Usher. All rights reserved.

P.S. Had a great time speaking, mingling and eating at the TEDxRedRiver event last night. Will blog about all the fun later this week. In the meantime, here's the link to the event on the TED site. 

TEDxRedRiver Kathryn Usher's Talk Goes Viral

Whew... work on my TEDxRedRiver talk has been like wrestling a big ol' slippery alligator. My biggest fear is that I will be boring. So I've been writing, recording and practicing.

It happens starting at 6 PM tomorrow night at minicine? Swampland in downtown Shreveport. I think it'll be an inspiring night. I'm sharing the bill with Chef Andrew Parsons, fire-breathing performance artist Pete Fetterman and musician Dacoda Montana.You can read more about it here at Trudeau's blog. Or see the Facebook invite here.

I'd be honored to have you come as my guest. See ya Tuesday ... now where'd that sippery ol' alligator slide off to?

Kathryn Usher is Etsy Store Name Open for Business Hey Mister Need Some Good Luck Voodoo?

Been working that Voodoo magic to the bone! I now have an Etsy store for my handmade one of a kind Voodoo Dolls. Go here to see it. I'm gonna add brooches and hair goodies also.

So why no wild name for the store? I've always liked my name. So I went with Kathryn Usher. Not creative or original. But honest. 

My Voodoo Dolls are collectible and an investment. My stitching work is currently in the Artists-at-Work show at Meadows Museum in Shreveport. Read more about my art career here. Don't want this to come off as bragging. I just want collectors and potential collectors to see that I've been invested in making art and telling the story of Louisiana for a long time. And that I plan on continuing to make Louisiana art for a long time to come.

TEDxRedRiver May Event Speaking About the Voodoo in My Front Yard

Next week I'll be speaking at the May TEDxRedRiver event (details here). It's free and you're invited.

TEDx (read about it here) was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." The program gives communities the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

This week I'm getting TED-like... drinking tea and building my front porch/yard folk art environment. And contemplating "do I really have an idea that should be spread?" I'll have ten minutes next Tuesday night to share my passion about place making in your front yard.

P.S. Your giant inflatable blow up yard decorations are not invited.

Happy Mother's Day Breastfeeding Time Magazine Cover Stand Up and Breastfeed

   
The controversy about the mom on the cover of Time magazine (image here) who breastfeeds her three-year-old has been crazy. I love the photo. Love it. It is strong and beautiful. I'm not afraid to say that I'mma wee pissed off that I didn't think of shooting that image.

Grandma Estep (sorry, we have no cool names for grandmas in my family) breastfed my Uncle Mack until he was five. He grew up to become a police chief and a mayor. Suck on that breastfeeding detractors.

Katee suckled until she was two years and three months. The photos above were taken by her daddy, Charles (Charlie) Fontane. At the memorial service we had for him this past September one of his friends told me how tickled Charlie was to be the daddy of a breastfed baby and how he much he loved being a part of family bed parenting. The best thing the dad (partner) can do is love and nurture the mom. I felt that love and support from him. It wasn't rosy and perfect. He was bipolar and undiagnosed and unmedicated for the early part of our marriage. But every family has its struggles. I wouldn't trade those days for anything in the world.

Thank you, Charlie for my baby. I love her and you very much.