Nona Aronawitz writes on The Atlantic Cities website about the creative scene in Jackson:
Thirty-year-old Josh Hailey is a few beers in, hamming it up for my benefit in a mock-announcer voice. He and a handful of his friends have just taken me out for a Mediterranean meal on a mild February night in the Jackson neighborhood of Fondren. They're telling me about a recent block party held at the Metro Center, a strip mall whose abandoned lower half was inhabited by pop-up stores and temporary restaurants that past Sunday.
City officials "are offering all of the old stores to any artist that wants it," adds Whitney Grant, 27. "So yeah, young people can make it here, because now they're just giving away malls."
Sandwiched between the music havens of New Orleans and Memphis, Jackson, Mississippi, isn't exactly considered a magnet for ambitious young artists and college grads. But in the last few years, young people have been moving and returning to Fondren—a cheerful, gentrified part of Jackson that has welcomed artsy types for 15 years—as well as a post-industrial neighborhood a few blocks away called Midtown. On the surface, Midtown looks blighted, lined by railroad tracks and full of neglected warehouses and boarded-up homes with spray-painted white X's, announcing their vacancies or foreclosures. But inside the buildings, twentysomethings have formed a tight-knit community that's surprisingly diverse: natives and transplants, black and white, DJs and studio artists and filmmakers and urban planners.
Since the scene is so small and the cost of living is so low, the vibe is decidedly collaborative, not competitive... Rest of article
48 comments:
Im all for more libtards moving to Jackson. As long as they stay in Jackson. They can keep voting for all the idiots that are destroying the city and they can have their perfect, screwed up world. I LIKE IT!
Nona Aronawitz apparently has an eye for the diaphanous. She's seeing something which many of the rest of us may find invisible - even nonexistent. She fails to mention what it is that these Artists are producing.
Or maybe her eye is for the big strapping lad with the substantial beardage, on the sofa, next to the whiskey bottle.
While I applaud the phenomenon of artists meandering between studios into the wee hours (interacting/sharing ideas ... maybe even reaching 'synthesis' or 'breakthroughs'), I do have to wonder about the END PRODUCT.
After all of this bohemian bonhomie, is there a product? And who pays for it? From what I've seen, most people in the Metro, even people in million-Dollar houses, go down to TJ Max, and buy whatever "art" is hanging or stacked along the back wall. That is, if they don't collect duck prints and/or Civil War pictures.
Or maybe sculptures are being produced? Blown glass? Vagina Pillows? (or will the usual three-decade lag between Jackson and Portland apply here? Will VPs not arrive in Jackson until 2040?)
But again, even if something tangible is being produced by these artists, who around here is going to buy it?
Boy, that's something to really celebrate. Looks like a bunch of deadbeats!
Good morning, I am one of the millennials mentioned in this article. I would be happy to speak with any of you to let you know all of the products being produced, businesses and programs being started and run and buildings being renovated by the creative individuals mentioned and many more. My name is Whitney Grant and my e-mail address is whitneygrant@midtownpartners.org. Nona Aronawitz spent an evening with 20 of us and found what we have going on compelling enough to select Jackson as one of the few cities that is notably successful in providing opportunities for educated millennials to build careers, specifically in the creative sector. On November 30, the Midtown Arts District is hosting a Holiday Open Studio Tour. There you can see for yourself over 15 small businesses that are permanently housed in the neighborhood and over 20 other vendors selling hand made goods. Also, please feel free to stop by HeARTalot on State St. in Fondren any time between now and the end of the year to see Josh Hailey and take an art class. While there, you may also notice a number of new retail and restaurant establishments that have opened up and are being run by Milennials. I'm not saying we've got it all figured out, but we're making progress. And again, if you're really interested in seeing what this article is all about, I'll give you a personal tour.
Have a good day,
Whitney
10:25-- i know a few people in Jackson who make their living in art --perhaps someone like Wyatt Waters? There are plenty of people who support legitimate artists in Jackson-and with our low cost of living compared to la, nyc--artist can live in nice homes and drive newer cars. but your question of the end product being produced in that area is right on the mark-go look around. its full of art, film, music wanna-be's who should give up the dream and find their true calling
Sorry Whitney. There isn't any more room in Jackson's larder for more snake oil.
Good for you Whitney. While many may have doubts about this "creative class" stuff, including me, I give you props for trying to do something, anything to help out in Jackson. I wish people would stop bad mouthing others who are at least trying to do something. I wish you good luck in what you are trying to achieve.
Ahhhh....urban pioneers...or as we in law enforcement like to call them....volunteer victims.
Unemployed and semi-employed bourbon swilling hipsters makes Jackson vibrant!
These are the folks Pelosi spoke about four years ago when she said the ACA would allow young people to opt out of the office and follow their dream to be artists and musicians. She promised them health care in exchange for their contributions to society ~ You know...blown glass, pastels on canvas, a crooked thrown pot, some poetry or a flute rendition of a Joan Baez favorite.
It's five o'clock somewhere, Whitney. See ya at the umbrella table.
While the hipster-type movement has some good qualities (self reliance, creativity, beards, drinking), it fails in many respects. In the article, a young man declares that 1 year of college is not worth the effort when he could live off that money for 2.5 years (presumably by sleeping on a dirty couch in loft with art and a DJ). That is not "sustainable" thinking.
I lived similar to this when I was first out of college, however it was not a destination I chose.
At minimum any influx in these areas offers a slight offset to the declining tax base, and provides some more witnesses which may be a crime deterrent (or not these days). So while sometimes misguided, it couldn't hurt I guess.
Whitney,
As a 6 decade resident of Jackson, I have seen many waves of "creative class" types attempt to do what you claim to be doing, quite a few in the exact locale that you inhabit. Each wave had a time frame when they were able to live as you and your 20 associates choose to. I've always thought that it would be great if they could make a go of it. You, as well. As long as you, and your bearded friend, aren't actually living off of the taxpayers. You know, EBT cards, rent subsidy, etc. If that's what ya'll are doing, please go do it somewhere else.
As long as they are not doing any illegal drugs or living off their parents or my tax dollars or anything just leave them be.
It makes them feel warm and fuzzy and keeps their hopes up for change with "creative" dreams. Problem is, where is the job creation and all the profits?
The guy who thinks that $10k is more wisely spent on 2.5 years of crashing on couches than 1 year of college has an interesting outlook on life. I think he doesn't get the concept that $10k invested in education generally is the best investment one can make . . . by increasing one's future earning capacity.
That said, it's probably best that this young man NOT attempt to graduate college until (if!) he ever grasps that elementary concept.
Josh Hailey will be exactly where he is when he reaches Ladd's age. He'll probably throw 2 or 3 more going away parties to himself between now and then.
God, I love this blog. The only enjoyable part of watching Mississippi's perpetual backslide is the paternalists like the commentors on this blog who make sure to point out when anyone else is "doing it wrong." You guys live in such a great place that you must have it all figured out!
Just a quick reminder, Mississippi relies on federal dollars to keep the lights on. You're all welfare babies.
Cheers!
November 14, 2013 at 4:47 PM = riddled with envy
Dear 4:47: 4:46 here. FYI, I left Mississippi many years ago.
PS: You're doing it wrong.
Whitney Grant,
Maybe you could post links, for us, to places online, where we could view the work being produced.
Surely, these artists have a presence on Etsy, or Pintrest... Blogspot? Tumblr? Even Ebay.
Christmas Shopping season started the minute Halloween was over (if the tacky ceramic snowmen stuck in front of every Kroger are any indication).
Strike now, while the iron is hot! Show us what ya got!
Three cheers to Miz Grant for posting with her name and email address as opposed to posting anonymously.
As it turns out you can go to the Midtown studio tours to buy art and various handmade local products. It's located in Midtown. November 30, 10am - 8pm. Food. Music. Profit. There's no admission so you can just go enjoy yourself and spend your profits at your leisure.
Anything you say "Clipper". LMAO
"Or maybe sculptures are being produced? Blown glass? Vagina Pillows? (or will the usual three-decade lag between Jackson and Portland apply here? Will VPs not arrive in Jackson until 2040?)"
Vagina pillow ? . . . Lord have mercy
"As it turns out you can go to the Midtown studio tours to buy art and various handmade local products. It's located in Midtown. November 30, 10am - 8pm. Food. Music. Profit. There's no admission so you can just go enjoy yourself and spend your profits at your leisure." November 15, 2013 at 6:30 AM
Wonderful! However, these artists have an audience RIGHT NOW - because of Kingfish - sitting in front of our computers, safely in Brandon or Madison. We can run down to the nearest Kroger or CVS and buy Vanilla Visa cards, and send payments at any hour. (assuming we don't want to risk using our regular credit cards) We don't have to wait until November 30 (when we're as likely as not to be busy with other things). We don't have to find out where "Midtown" is, and don't have to endanger our Lexus SUVs (or the integrity of our craniums), by venturing into what is, for most of us, Terra Incognita.
Or we WOULDN'T have to do so, if the artists would list their salable output on Etsy....or Ebay... Surely these guys have a a 'shop' at one of these online venues?
If cash, delivered by hand, is the only medium of exchange that is accepted, most of us have assistants and runners we can send. But we are most likely to locate desirable art online.
11:34
You just have to get into the spirit of the creative scene, my brother/sister. The point is that you/we need to go to Midtown to observe the quantum leaps that have been made in the development of the creative millennial enclave. After all, it takes the highly educated (or not) twenty-something to educate the rest of us. Remember, it's not about the money.
This is probably the saddest list of comments I've ever seen on this site.
This is the sort of article that people should cheer, not pick apart and insult the people involved.
You're really all here looking for "job creation" and "end products." I can understand if you don't like their art, but how can you sit here and criticize this? This "movement" does absolutely nothing but benefit Jackson and Mississippi.
3:17
What's really sad is the sight of yet another self-proclaimed "artist" telling me that I just don't get it. Believe me, I do. Maybe, just maybe, if your poster boy (with his oh-so-carefully crafted "look") wasn't sitting there sucking down a beer, with his pint of Wild Turkey proudly displayed, you might be taken a little more seriously. But, then you had to talk about your "movement". Didn't I see you down at the Occupy Mississippi campsight? Well, movements come and movements go, but remember: You can get anything that you like at Alice's Restaurant ('cepting Alice).
"You're really all here looking for "job creation" and "end products." I can understand if you don't like their art, but how can you sit here and criticize this? This "movement" does absolutely nothing but benefit Jackson and Mississippi."
November 15, 2013 at 3:17 PM
"...don't like their art..." ??? We haven't even SEEN their art, nudnik! Some of us are withholding judgement until we've seen some of it.
We're ready to slather-on the praise. But it would be nice to see more than the bearded hottie on the leatherette settee. Unless the artistic 'scene' in 'Midtown' (wherever THAT is...)is, itself, a 'Conceptual Art Intstallation' - the 'scene' itself being the 'Product', we haven't seen whatever it is that Cute Bearded Dude and his friends are busy producing.
I can see what Annelle Primos has been busy producing, by looking at her page on Pinterest. Surely, some of these bright young computer-savvy Millennials have similar online showcases for their work. Just point us toward those showcases, please!
I, for one, think that even if these artists are producing nothing but a 'scene', and even if they have Obamaphones and EBT Cards, and even if Daddy and Grandma are sending them money for Coffee, Cigarettes, and Catfood... at least they're not violent gang members, looking to invade homes and rape/strangle/rob the elderly occupants.
They DO represent an improvement.
Whitney, ignore these Neanderthals.
Anything good happening in Jackson challenges their narrow views of the world.
Some of the art y'all are producing is incredible and I, for one, am thrilled to invest early.
It's a miracle so many artists succeed in MS .
I remember everyone making fun of Gail Pittman and Jill Conner Browne when they started and Grisham had sell books out of his trunk.
This is the same crowd commenting and they don't buy art until someone else makes the purchase feel socially safe.
Pearl river glass is the oldest artist in midtown. http://www.pearlriverglass.com/
Some great millennials working and making art in midtown include
Aaron Phillips
http://www.aaronphillipsphotography.com
Andy Hilton
http://www.swinglab.co/
D&P design
http://www.dpluspdesignbuild.com/Shop/
Clay Hardwick
http://echomech.com/
Here is the trailer for the documentary Subsippi that was produced in midtown by the bearded burbon drinker. Its screening on the documentary circuit and was shown at the mississippi museum of arts among other places.
http://www.subsippi.com/
I can't find a webpage for Shambe Jones but his work is regularly in galleries in town and he sells his wares at Chimmneyville and the craftsman's guild center.
Plus there are a bunch of working musicians who are based in the neighborhood but it seems like the request was for just visual artists.
4:28.. Annelle Primos doesn't produce anything.. She does have a good way to find local craftsmen to take advantage of! I suppose you can call that an art of sorts :)
Richard Stowe, like Andrew Young of Pearl River Glass, isn't a millennial but he has a studio in midtown and is doing great art http://nstowe.dphoto.com/#album/b612ey
Chad Mars had a studio in midtown until fairly recently https://www.facebook.com/chadmarsart
daniel Johnson who is mentioned in the article has a studio in midtown. He does conceptual art and performance art so you can't really purchase his work, but he's been getting fellowships left and right and is moving his way up the art world ladder as measured by things such as awards/grants. Also, He is collaborating on a project with an artist from NYC that is going up in Paris, France shortly.
http://danieljohnsonmakesart.com
There are a number of good graphic designers and illustrators who have shops in midtown. Tyler Tadlock is one of the busier ones. http://tylertadlock.prosite.com/
Stephen Barnett is a light artist based in midtown. For money he does really creative event lighting.
http://www.davainelighting.com/index.php
He is the organizing force for a couple of big local events which, given time, could be the next Jubilee Jam. For "art", he does some very cool installations such as this upcoming installation http://www.finditinfondren.com/2013/11/11/lighting-project-asks-look-up/
It's noteworthy that Jackson artists like Mr. Barnett are doing installations such as this given how popular this line of work has become in other cities. For example, San Francisco had the artist Leo Villareal do a lighting installation over the entire Bay Bridge. www.thebaylights.org ...so, as per a previous commenter who wondered if we would have a 40 year delay before hopping on art trends, perhaps the answer is no.
Thanks, folks, for all those SPECIFICS!!! That's what we were waiting for. And what you've contributed in the last few posts has been truly impressive.
Now, those of us reading Kingfish's blog know where to go, to see the actual work.
Fondren independents or dependents are no different than the agri-business of the delta that 'thrives' on the government subsidies, loans, and crop insurance. Or the bond attorneys. They have different hours and tastes. Besides when the final financial meltdown occurs those 'volunteer victims' will probably stand up better in the new Darwinism of inflation, unemployment, and bread lines. Millenials are resourceful and flexible...already know the margins of the macroeconomy and backwater of the neighborhood economy. Xers are hustlers on a more organic level.
Oh well, for most of you, Da Vinci would have been a weirdo dependent on wealthy patrons to eat.
Y'all could have really had fun trashing Gauguin.
And, you all missed apparently the role art plays in defining the success of a society when you took history.
If you'd studied art, you might have made a lot of money on artists BEFORE their work was discovered! Really smart and successful businessmen and women buy good art for a reason, yokels!
Sorry Charlie. It will take some type of actual currency to operate in the post-meltdown "backwater" economy. I highly doubt many people will trade black market fuel or a basket of fresh vegetables or ammunition or a silver coin for some art your Xers couldn't sell even when the economy was still standing.
Actually 9:18, I need the vitriol to keep flowing. We've got an over/under betting pool going for the number of times we get insulted on this thread and I am three "libtards" short of winning the prize . . . a case of PBR.
"Unless the artistic 'scene' in 'Midtown' (wherever THAT is...)"
Really. Where is this so called "midtown"? I keep hearing Mill Street, but what are the other boundaries
of this self proclaimed enclave of creative Da Vincis, Warhols & Frank Zappa types ?
9:18 you're talking about Vinnie can Gogh, aren't ya? the guy who sold precisely ONE painting before he died?
Sure, somebody (actually, lots of somebodies) made some serious money after he kicked off, but the poor starving artist, probably living in the then-equivalent of Fondren, made zippo from his work.
I asked him about it once and he looked at me and said "HUH?"
Hate to tell them this, but if any one of them want to become known or see their works sell for high prices, they need to die. Yup, Whitney, want to see any of these artists become successful, you need to kill some of them. Seriously.
@ November 15, 2013 at 8:11 PM
I wouldn't get too excited about your "light artist". For a few years now, I have been a member of an internet community of Christmas Lighting hobbyist. I looked over his work in your links and can tell you categorically that it is really not that special. We have been putting stuff like that on our own houses for years now. Hardly cutting edge, much less bleeding edge.
BTW, I wouldn't cite the Bay Bridge lighting project as a success. It was an engineering failure and we use it as a case study on how not to put on a light show.
Art is humble and part-time usually. I went to the High Street farmers market this morning. There its priced to sell unlike some districts or @ Mistletoe.
A down market that is not TARPable is hard to image. Barter is here already in the recovery. Its a skill not taught @ JP. An art market totally without grants or fellowships is hard to envision. Miss. artists have other employment, hawk during seasonal markets, or use the internet launch. Art districts like Midtown are useful to young folk in any kind of economy. Freedom and art will provide other values too.
There are some in the suburbs who will never believe that Jackson is on a positive trajectory. i do hope that some on this thread are open to the realization that Jackson has many positive fronts which are advancing and they are welcome to join us.
i can understand why some are left with questions after reading this article. Frankly, the audience was not the suburban on-line art buyer so certainly none of the time-stamped anonymous contributors here can be faulted for not coming away with a glowing feeling about their capital city. This article is more likely to attract young artists from around the nation than to inspire a migration from Pearl.(Although they will unknowingly be purchasing some Midtown products at their outlet mall for Christmas gifts.)
Hopefully though, after visiting some of the websites listed, you will attend the upcoming Midtown Studio Tours mentioned and get a glimpse of something you can be proud of which is growing right here on your doorstep.
For those who do not know me, i am daniel johnson. i am an artist who works in 'relational aesthetics', an art form which creates immersive experiences integrated into reality. i own a management consulting company with my wife which specializes in using elements of theater and game theory to lead clients in activities which advance their mission.
We work for individuals, corporations and nonprofits so if any of you would benefit from assistance articulating a vision and developing strategies for advancement, send me an email at daniel@significantdevelopments.us.
Feel free to check out our website www.significantdevelopments.us for a list of previous clients and the services we provide.
If you want to get a look at us in person, join us Dec. 9th at the Mississippi Museum of Art for the unveiling of our latest project Core Sample.
I checked out your website. 2 questions:
1. Why don't you capitalize your name and follow other basic rules of the English language ?
2. Please translate "bringing progress and clarity to the intentions of our clients through the crafting of unique, immersive experiences"
Daniel, I'm afraid most of the bloggers can't understand what you just wrote.
It speaks well of you that you try to communicate rationally with others.
Those who are responding negatively dismiss theories out of hand as they can't imagine any value. They aren't analytical or open to new ideas or curious. They never question their preconceived notions. Some are "right fighters" who can't entertain the notion they might have been wrong headed for decades.
Change is frightening to these folks. New ideas are frightening. Anything that looks different is frightening. So, even though Mississippi hasn't prospered and continues to have a negative image, they will continue doing and thinking and supporting the status quo.
They aren't your market. They will buy the art of some artist their friend has bought or that has be featured at a charity auction or of a socialite in town.
But, many of us are encouraged by you young folks. We understand that progress requires trying new things and ideas and failure is not fatal but a learning opportunity when success eludes at first.
Bravo! You and your creative ,daring peers give me hope!
YAWN ... SSssnnnooorrreeee ... ZZZZZZzzzzzzz
"Actually 9:18, I need the vitriol to keep flowing. We've got an over/under betting pool going for the number of times we get insulted on this thread and I am three "libtards" short of winning the prize . . . a case of PBR.
November 16, 2013 at 10:17 AM"
Libtards, libtards, libtards, libtards, libtards, libtards. There! Does this win the case of 'PBR' for you? If that's some kind of drug, I hope you don't take it all at once.
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