Bailey Bigger will perform at GPAC this Thursday. (Photo: Courtesy EVMemphis)
🎭 Funny Girl Orpheum Theatre Performances through Sunday, October 15 Out of the mouths of babes and our writer Michael Donahue: “RUN, DON’T WALK, TO THE ORPHEUM AND SEE FUNNY GIRL.” It’s true — you can find those very words in Michael’s “We Saw You” this week. Now that he’s seen the bittersweet comedy musical, you must too. Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” Funny Girl is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. Tickets are $29-$135 and can be purchased here.
👻 Blithe Spirit Theatre Memphis Friday, October 13-29 In this play that Theatre Memphis is putting on, a crime writer who has been creatively blocked since the death of his first wife is now tensely remarried to an uptight second wife. So he summons a spiritualist who summons his first wife’s ghost. Makes sense. It also makes sense that havoc ensues in this play. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., through October 29th. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
🧟 Dance Til You’re Dead: A Friday the 13th Dark Retro Party Black Lodge Friday, October 13, 9:30 p.m.-3 a.m. Break out your most thrilling dance moves for this Halloween dance party, bring dark killer hits from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Wear a costume if you dare, and if you dare not to be fashionably late, be fashionably early by showing up for the nonstop Friday the 13th movie marathon happening all-day at the Black Lodge, screening parts 1-7 until 9:30 p.m. The dance party is 18+ and is $10 to get in.
👻 Monster Market 2023 Medicine Factory Friday-Wednesday, October 13-18 Looking to have a graveyard smash of a weekend? Might we interest you in a Monster Market? That’s where you’ll find all the odd art, strange home decor, and funky apparel your little weird heart could ever desire. Opening night on Friday, 5-9 p.m., will have snacks, drinks, tunes, and an AR experience. Hours for the rest of the pop-up’s stint at the Medicine Factory are noon-7 p.m. Take a looky-loo at this Flyerarticle because that’s what all the weird kids are doing and that’s also where you can learn more about the event.
💋 Rocky Horror Picture Show: feat. Absent Friends! The Evergreen Theatre Friday, October 13, 11:30 p.m. I see you shiver with antici … pation, knowing that the shadow-cast Absent Friends is back to bring you The Rocky Horror Picture Show like it’s supposed to be done — with costumes, props, and callbacks. The evening starts with a live pre-show and surprises including a costume contest and special pre-show entertainment to get the party going. Audience participation is strongly encouraged and so are any costumes. You can throw stuff. Prop bags are available for $5 each. Admission is $10. Doors open at 11:30 p.m.
🐶 Mutt Strut 5k Benefiting Dogs 2nd Chance Rescue Overton Park Saturday, October 14, 9 a.m. Bring your family and your fur babies for 3.1 miles of fun through beautiful Overton Park. All proceeds go directly to the care of the dogs. Every participant gets a T-shirt, goodie snack bag, and Mutt Strut 5k dog tag. Every dog participant gets a bone-shaped dog tag and goodie bag. Register here.
🚘 Edge Motorfest Edge Motor Museum Saturday, October 14, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Vroooom, vrooom your way into the Edge District for Edge Motorfest, where you can check out over 150 cars and enjoy live music, food trucks, door prizes, and more. Admission is free.
🎸 Ska-Tober Fest 2023 Meddlesome Brewing Company Saturday, October 14, 4-11 p.m. Dust off your Chucks and chain wallets, and join Meddlesome for more ska than Memphis has ever seen. This year’s lineup is skamazing with The Big News, The Lung Darts, Boss Battle, Runaway Ricochet, The Skalors, The Taj Motel Trio, and HotRails.
🎙️ Betor Fest Hernando’s Hide-A-Way Sunday, October 15, 3 p.m. Last year, our music editor Alex Greene wrote that Betor Fest “may just be the most socially enlightened concert series in town.” After all, he continues, “it’s devoted to a group that’s been quietly helping addicts and others in recovery for years now, A Betor Way.” This year’s fest will have live graffiti painting, vendors, and music by Joybomb, Mick Kolassa, Grave Lurker, Cash Martin, and more. Tickets ($10) can be purchased here, and read that full piece by Alex here.
🎶 Bailey Bigger — Concerts in The Grove Germantown Performing Arts Center Thursday, October 19, 6:30-8 p.m. Bailey Bigger, who’s gained national attention from her earthy songwriting and haunting vocals, takes the stage for GPAC’s Concerts in The Grove, where you’ll enjoy music, food trucks, and corn hole, all in a beautiful, park-like setting. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Outside food and drinks are permitted. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased here. Kids under 18 get in free.
🤣 Shelarious Shenanigans Comedy Showcase Cameo Thursday, October 19, 7-9 p.m. The Shelarious Shenanigans Comedy Showcase was created by locally-owned JR Productions as an opportunity to feature some of the best comedians in the industry who just so happen to be women. There’s no cover, so there’s no excuse not to check these ladies and their stand-up acts out.
Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival brings you the bacon … and the bourbon this weekend. (Photo: Courtesy Molly Wilmott Events)
📽️Crown Me Royal Fest Visible Music College Friday-Sunday, October 6-8 Crown Me Royal Fest, is a film and arts festival that showcases panels, workshops, and independent films from black and brown behind-the-scenes professionals from all media platforms. Meet Representatives from Nike, NBA, BeatsbyDre, and many more PLUS interactive experiences and parties.
🔥 Family Campfire Party Memphis Botanic Garden Friday, October 6, 6-8:30 p.m. Delight in an old-fashioned campfire sing-along with musician Joe Oser while making hot dogs and s’mores over the fire. Then, explore the Garden on a guided nighttime hike and learn about the animals that come out when we go to bed. Attendees can also have some bat-ty good fun with Chris Grow from Grow Environmental Services, meet a real owl with Kate Friedman from Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, and stargaze with the Memphis Astronomical Society. Activities, hot dogs, s’mores, chips, and soda/water are included with admission (vegan/vegetarian options available). $10 MBG members/$15 nonmembers.
🥓 Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival 2023 FedEx Center at Shelby Farms Park Friday, October 6, 6-9 p.m. At the annual Memphis Bacon & Bourbon Festival hosted by yours truly, we’ll have creative bacon-inspired dishes of all kinds from some great Memphis restaurants, plus a vast array of distilled spirits to tempt your tastebuds. Plus, there’ll be music and all sorts of merriment and party activities … and did we mention a whole lot of bacon and bourbon? And to make it even more appealing, we’re contributing a portion of all proceeds to the Memphis Farmers Market. So you can eat and drink to your hearts delight, knowing that you’re helping one of our city’s greatest assets. Tickets ($52) can be purchased here.
🌈 Heart & Hues Circuit Playhouse Friday, October 6, 10:30 p.m. Hearts & Hues is a vibrant celebration of Queer acceptance and a welcoming safe space for everyone, hosted by Playhouse on the Square at The Circuit Playhouse. This event brings together the spirit of inclusivity and the joy of live entertainment. Guests can enjoy a lively atmosphere with a bar serving refreshing drinks, a tempting food truck offering delicious bites, and the uplifting tunes of live music. The door fee for this event is just $10 per person, making it accessible for everyone to join in the celebration.
🐘 Art for Elephants Memphis Zoo Saturday, October 7, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Join the zoo’s African elephant crew for educational activities, a LIVE painting by elephant Gina, and loads of zoo fun. This event is included with your Zoo general admission.
🖼️ Artwalk V&E Greenline Saturday, October 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Artwalk is a one-day local artist marketplace with food and drink, live music, kid’s activities, and more — all benefiting the V&E Greenline in Midtown. Admission is always FREE and there is free street parking in the area around the grounds.
🎨 Paint Memphis The Edge District Saturday, October 7, noon-6 p.m. Paint Memphis is back to bring you a festival featuring 100 artists from all over the world creating murals in the Edge District. This year the celebrations will be in the Ravine behind Memphis Made Brewery at 484 Union Ave. with a full vendor market, a live music lineup, food trucks, a kids area, and more. See www.paintmemphis.org for more info.
🍻 Oktoberfest Grind City Brewing Co. Saturday, October 7, noon-10 p.m. Celebrate Grind City’s taproom’s 3rd anniversary with the annual Oktoberfest. Live Music and games all day along with competitions including the annual Bratwurst Toss, Keg Carry Competition, Beer Sliding Competition, and a Stein Holding Contest. Steins are $25 plus tax each, and include the stein and fill from the tap wall, $5 refills for the month of October, and VIP stein refill lines throughout the Oktoberfest event.
🐶 Barktober Fest Saddle Creek North Saturday, October 7, noon-4 p.m. Enjoy tasty local brews, live music, and the best shopping in the 901 while supporting Streetdog Foundation. Early Bird tickets are $30. A limited number of tickets will be available the day of the event for $35. 100% of your ticket purchase directly benefits Streetdog Foundation. Kids and leashed, well-behaved pets are welcome, but you must be 21+ to sample beer (duh!).
🎃 Creepville Market Soul & Spirits Brewery Saturday, October 7, 1-7 p.m. A spooky Halloween market of curiosities and oddities! Get your creepy goods from makers and artists alike. Enjoy live music and spooks along the way with Memphis Zombies.
📽️ Fright-tober: Frankenweenie (2012) and Carrie (1976) Crosstown Theater Saturday, October 7, 2:30 p.m. Throughout the month of October, Crosstown Concourse and Crosstown Arts present Fright-tober at Crosstown Theater. Every Saturday in October, you can catch spooky, kid-friendly matinees (2:30 pm) and even spookier adult-themed horror films in the evenings (6:30 pm). Tickets are free, but capacity is limited so registration is required. This weekend’s films are Frankenweenie and Carrie. Register for tickets at crosstownarts.org.
🎶 Memphis miniFEST Hi Tone Saturday, October 7, 5:45 p.m. Bridging The Music is headed to Memphis for an evening of music, art, and community in a festival-style atmosphere! Support top-notch local and touring acts, visual artists and more. Featuring Traveller the Band, Jayfed, Colbro Lambskins, Yayo Santana, Grizz Bandana, Dropone Da Producer, and Charmaine Tyrelle. Tickets are $20 in advance, plus fees, and $30.23 on the day of the show.
🍿 The Popcorn Pairing No. 2 Vance Thursday, October 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. In this class, guests will learn how to pair different types of popcorn with wine. Popcorn provides the ability to highlight and enhance flavors on a neutral base. The evening will be a true rare experience, presented by Memphis Wine Society. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Tav Falco & the Panther Burns come to Lafayette’s on Wednesday. (Photo: Jamie Harmon)
🎸 Gonerfest 20 Railgarten Through Sunday, October 1 Gonerfest returns for year 20, where exciting music from Memphis and around the world collides in four days of nonstop action, with more than 25+ bands playing and afterparties providing even more action. Here’s the rub: Advance tickets for Friday and Saturday are sold out, and so are golden passes, leaving only a limited number of tickets available at the door each day. So, do what you gotta do to get in — just please make sure it’s legal. Oh, and there’s always the afterparties — lots of them — too many for me to type out here but head over to our full calendar and you’ll see them listed there. (You’re welcome.)
📸 Photo Exhibit Opening Reception “The Bluff City Chinese: A 150-Year Retrospective” Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library Friday, September 29, 4-6 p.m. The Chinese Historical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South celebrate 150 years of Chinese-American history with the opening reception for the historical photo exhibition, “The Bluff City Chinese: A 150-Year Photo Retrospective.” The opening reception will feature distinguished speakers and light refreshments. The exhibition will be on display through October 31st.
🍽️ Black Restaurant Week Friday, September 29-October 8 Discover Black-owned restaurants and culinary businesses in the community. To achieve its mission of growth in the culinary industry, Black Restaurant Week aims to create experiences that will cater to a diverse culture of tastemakers, professionals, and area foodies looking for exposure to delicious food and exquisite wines. Here’s a list of participating restaurants in Memphis.
🏮 Mid-Autumn Festival Crosstown Concourse Friday, September 29, 6-9 p.m. The Vietnamese American Community of West Tennessee, Crosstown Arts, and Crosstown Concourse are partnering to present the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. There will be a lion dance, a youth performance, a soccer game, a magic show, arts, crafts, and more.
🎶 “Lights, Camera, Music” presented by the University Wind Ensemble Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music Friday, September 29, 7:30-9 p.m. From the iconic themes of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park to the suspenseful motifs of Jaws and the heartwarming melodies of Home Alone, John Williams has created a vast and diverse repertoire that has resonated with audiences around the world. The University of Memphis Wind Ensemble’s exploration of the musical world of John Williams is a fantastic event for fans of film music and orchestral performances. Chris McCoy, our very own film/TV editor, will expertly guide the audience through the iconic films and their sweeping scores. (Go Chris!) Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.
🍃 Mental Health Awareness Day Wolf River Greenway – Epping Way Section Saturday, September 30, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Join the Conservancy and its partners as they promote mental wellness and well-being along the Wolf River Greenway. For Mental Health Awareness Day, mental health experts and partners will be on hand to help folks explore how to better navigate mental health issues. Shroomlicious (vegan), Inspire Community Cafe (wraps), and Let’s Be Frank will offer free healthy foods. Plus, a range of activities will be offered with all necessary equipment provided. Activities include kayaking, yoga, guided nature walks and hike, hanging with a comfort dog, goat snuggling, a sound bath, nature journaling, a DIY charcuterie bar, school supplies and activities for kids, and so much more. Register here.
📽️ Time Warp Drive-In: Gothic Dreams: The Surreal Fairy-Tale Worlds of Tim Burton Malco Summer 4 Drive-In Saturday, September 30, 7:45 p.m. Descend into the eccentric, bizarre cinema of a cult film master, who went from oddball outsider to mainstream legend and whose movies redefined the fantasy film. Yep, this is an all-night Burton marathon, screening Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), and Batman (1989), with retro vintage intermission clips before and between each film. Gates open at 6:30, first film at 7:45. It’s $25 a car, for as many people as your car, truck, or van can hold.
🍻 10 Years of Beers Anniversary Party Memphis Made Brewing Co. Saturday, September 30, 4 p.m. Memphis Made commemorates a decade of beer with an anniversary partaaaayyyy. The brewery is renewing its vows, with multiple new beers (and an old favorite) available all day. On the menu — Something Old: Lucid Kolsch; Something New: Mountain Drew Hard Soda and Tin Cup, a 10th Anniversary Beer; Something Borrowed: Burn the Witch Black Lager by Meddlesome Brewing Co.; Something Blue: Blue Raspberry Dockside. Jeff Hulett and the Hand Me Downs and the Church Brothers will be playing. Smoke N’ Rolls will be the food truck.
🥊 Rumble Self-Defense Pop-Up Overton Park Shell Sunday, October 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Get ready to rumble … and by rumble, we mean warm up with bodyweight exercises and shadow-boxing followed by a self-defense workshop, where you’ll practice physical techniques and learn about vigilance and threat prevention. Dress in comfortable clothes, and be ready to move on and off of the ground to practice certain skills. Bring a friend or workout partner if you would like. (If going solo, no worries! A partner will be found for you. That’s not a threat, it’s a promise.) Oh, and this class is free.
🪦 Roses, Dust, & Ashes: An Oracle Deck Premiere Elmwood Cemetery Sunday, October 1, 2-3 p.m. Join Elmwood Cemetery for a presentation by Memphis artist and writer Stacey Williams-Ng, author of the new cemetery-themed card deck, “Roses, Dust, & Ashes.” This deck of hand-illustrated cards features headstones you might recognize from Elmwood and other historic cemeteries around the U.S. Williams-Ng will give a demonstration of how the cards are used, and afterward, attendees will be invited to sit for personal oracle card readings. Williams-Ng’s decks, expansion packs, and more will be available for sale. Refreshments are included; registration is required, so register here. The cost is $20.
🎸 Tab Benoit Lafayette’s Music Room Monday, October 2, 7 p.m. Legendary blues guitarist Tab Benoit comes to Lafayette’s. Benoit is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has built a remarkable 30-plus year career on the foundation of his gritty and soulful Delta swamp blues, acquiring a devoted legion of fans along the way, as well as five Blues Music Awards, including BB King Entertainer of the Year (twice), and an induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Tickets to the show are $35 in advance and $40 day of show, and can be purchased here.
☁️ Walk with Amal Historic Clayborn Temple, Orpheum Theatre, Tom Lee Park Wednesday, October 4, 4 p.m. Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, arrives in Memphis on October 4th for three stops — Historic Clayborn Temple, Orpheum Theatre, and Tom Lee Park — as a part of Amal Walks Across America, an epic 6,000-mile journey across the United States and one of the largest free public art engagements in the world. Amal will be joined by “Memphis Girl,” an 8-foot-tall puppet created by Jeghetto, a nationally celebrated puppeteer. A group of Memphis artists will help operate the puppet. Read more about the project here. (PS: On Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Jack Robinson Gallery, and Sunday, 2:30-4:30 p.m., at Beale Street Landing, you can join Clayborn Temple in making 300 puppets to welcome Little Amal. Register here.)
🎤 Tav Falco & the Panther Burns Lafayette’s Music Room Wednesday, October 4, 7 p.m. Equal parts primal, early rock-and-roll, deviant hill country blues, and avant-garde art, Tav Falco & the Panther Burns are ramshackle, raw, unholy, and utterly amazing. Tickets to the show are $19.20 and can be purchased here.
🌊 The 7th Annual FREE Shout-Out Shakespeare Series: The Tempest Downtown Wiseacre Brewery Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m. Tennessee Shakespeare Company performs Shakespeare’s final romance — and one of the few Shakespeare plays I’ve read — for the company’s free outdoor series, kicking off this Thursday at Wiseacre. Running without intermission, this production features 13 actors, including Michael Khanlarian as Prospero. Bring a chair and picnic; first come/first seated. A full schedule of upcoming performances can be found here.
📽️ Soul Cinema: Mr. Douglass’ Theatre Stax Museum of American Soul Music Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m. Screening at the Stax for free, this film frames Charles Henry Douglass’ unique life, from his birth soon after the Civil War in 1870 to his rise as a national business figure and Macon’s first Black millionaire to the time of his death.
The Pink Palace Crafts Fair celebrates its 51st anniversary this weekend. (Photo: Courtesy Museum of Science & History)
🎭Fat Ham The Circuit Playhouse Performances through October 8 To go or not to go? Ha! There’s no question when it comes to Playhouse on the Square’s latest production. Fat Ham is a deliciously funny retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet set in the American South, where William returns home after his father’s death and must confront corruption and betrayal, deciding whether to seek revenge or forge a new path. The DRAMA! Catch a performance on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 8th. For tickets ($25), go here, or if you’re brave enough to pick up the phone, call 901-726-4656.
🎡 Mid-South Fair at Landers Center Landers Center Thursday, September 21-October 1 Come one, come all to the Mid-South Fair! Since 1856, the fair has been serving up great food, great times, and even greater memories. Enjoy an array of family-fun activities from over 50 rides and a wide array of ground acts stationed around the property. More information here and purchase tickets here.
🎭The Wasp First Congo Theater in Cooper-Young Performances September 22-October 8 Thanks to Quark Theatre, Memphis is about to be home to the American debut of The Wasp, the critically acclaimed play written by London native Morgan Lloyd Malcolm in 2015. A psychological thriller, The Wasp unravels the relationship between once-childhood friends Heather and Carla, who have lost touch since school where a bully incident tore the two apart. At the start of the play, the women reunite 20 years later over tea at a cafe, where one offers the other a significant amount of cash and an unexpected proposition. What ensues is a dark exploration of how trauma shapes us. The DRAMA! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at quarktheatre.com. Performances will run September 22nd through October 8th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. (Oh, and if you wanna be in the know before you go, check out this Flyer article.)
🖼️ 51st Annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair Audubon Park Friday-Saturday, September 22-23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, September 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair benefiting the Museum of Science & History returns for its 51st anniversary. The three-day affair will have nearly 150 artists from around the country showing off and selling a variety of eclectic pottery, jewelry, paintings, woodwork, leatherwork, sculpture, woven goods, and so much more. Attendees can marvel at demonstrations by master craftsmen, enjoy a cool beverage and a bite to eat from food/drink vendors, kick back and enjoy live music, and entertain the kiddos at the petting zoo and with a ride on the popular choo-choo train, plus wall climbing and pony rides. Early bird tickets are $8/adult, $6/seniors and military, $3/children 5-12, and under 5 free. Best get your tix here.
Michael Kiggins is coming to Memphis to sign his debut novel, And the Train Kept Moving. The book is about Bryan Meigs, a gay alcoholic with OCD who struggles with the aftermath of getting date-raped and potentially infected with HIV. Oh, and the story is set in Memphis. Find out more here.
🎨 2023 New Public Artist Fellowship Exhibition Urban Art Commission Friday, September 22, 6-9 p.m. This exciting event offers visitors the opportunity to experience more traditional works created by UAC current fellows while eagerly anticipating the completion of their sculptural projects. The evening’s opening reception will include light hors d’oeuvres and drinks during the first hour, followed by remarks from fellows, where they will share insights about their experiences in the program so far. UAC’s fellows are Ethan James McVay, Kong Wee Pang, Brandon Scott, Pam McDonnell, Kendrick Pendelton, and Justin Bowles. RSVP for the free event here.
🍪Meet the Author: Chloe Joy Sexton Restaurant Iris Friday, September 22, 6:30 p.m. Join Novel at Restaurant Iris for a live cooking demonstration with dinner to celebrate Chloe Joy Sexton in honor of her book Big Yum: Supersized Cookies for Over-the-Top Cravings. The chefs at Iris will offer an intimate two-course dinner, and Sexton will do a live cooking demonstration, preparing a vanilla cheesecake with a berry compote. Tickets ($75) are required for this event and include a copy of Big Yum and the opportunity to meet the author and have your book signed. A virtual option is available for $23.99 and includes a signed copy of Big Yum and a link to watch the live cooking demonstration. Find more information about the event and purchase tickets here. And, hey, we got to talk to Sexton about her book, so why not give this Flyer piece a read?
Come on, Barbie, let’s go party! If you’re a Barbie girl in the Barbie world, great news: You’re invited to get plastic and throw down on the dreamhouse dance floor, as Black Lodge goes pink for a Barbie-themed rave. DJs will keep the music going all night, and catch Barbie visual insanity on the big screens. There’ll also be a special photo booth and specialty drinks. You’ll definitely want to get dolled up for the event in your best Barbie-esque outfit. Tickets are $10, and the event is 18+. Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!
💥 Memphis Comic Expo Agricenter International Saturday, September 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, September 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Memphis Comic Expo is one of the few remaining creator-focused conventions that shines a spotlight on artists and writers in the world of comics. Bringing you the best in local & regional talent, up-and-coming creators, and of course, the big names, this expo has one of the best comic-creator lineups in the South, a cosplay contest, panels, vendors, voice actors, artists and writers, food, drinks, and more. This year Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will make a special appearance. Find more information on the two-day extravaganza here. Tickets are $40 for Saturday general admission and $35 for Sunday general admission. Kids (12 and under) get in free.
💃Latin Fest 901 Overton Square Saturday, September 23, noon-6 p.m. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Cazateatro Theatre Group at this free, family-oriented festival, where family and friends can gather to listen and dance to live Latin music, taste some Latin food and drinks, and enjoy vendors and crafts for kids. Prior to the fest, catch Cazateato’s Roja, a Colombian take on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The performance is free and will take place 11-11:30 a.m. at TheatreWorks. RSVP here.
🎶 Memphis Country Blues Festival Overton Park Shell Saturday, September 23, 7 p.m. The annual Country Blues festival is returning to Overton Park Shell this year with some additional programming. The evening starts with the sounds of Alvin Youngblood Hart followed by the official presentation of the Shell’s blues marker. Then stick around because the night will only grow in energy as the North Mississippi Allstars make their way to the stage to honor the history of this Shell event. Admission is free. Read this article for an inside scoop.
Unleash your inner artist and join David Yancy III for a thrilling team-building workshop. Starting with a fascinating introduction to graffiti and the basics of using spray cans, this workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own masterpiece on the wall. You’ll learn how to structure letters, apply traditional graffiti techniques, and fill them in with captivating colors. But don’t worry if you’re an absolute beginner; this workshop is suitable for all levels and ages, and there will be an instructor there to offer expert guidance and support. All funds help support the artists of Paint Memphis. The class is $30/adults and $15/kids.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Submit events here or by emailing calendar@memphisflyer.com.
🎬 WLOK Black Film Festival Various locations Through Sunday, September 17 The WLOK Black Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday and will be screening three feature films this weekend. On Friday, September 15th, 7 p.m., Crosstown Theater will screen the 2022 biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody. On Saturday, September 16th, 7 p.m., Malco’s Studio on the Square will screen 42, and on Sunday, September 17th, 3 p.m., the National Civil Rights Museum will screen Till. To purchase tickets ($5/film) and for more information, call 901-527-9565. And if you want to be in the know before you go, might we suggest that you read this nifty Flyer article about the festival?
🔥 Guy Fieri Bottle Signing Buster’s Liquors & Wines Friday, September 15, 4-5 p.m. Guy Fieri is coming to Buster’s. Have your Santo Tequila bottle signed by the Emmy-winning celebrity chef Guy Fieri. (Bottle of 750ml Santo tequila must be purchased at Buster’s.) You must be in line BEFORE 5 p.m. to get to meet the man of Flavortown.
🖼️ World Afro Day Art Exhibition Orijennal Art Friday, September 15, 6-9 p.m. Orijennal Art presents an exhibition and natural hair meet-up dedicated to celebrating and learning about Afro hair. All featured artwork will illustrate the beauty of natural Afro kinks and curls on canvas by several talented Black artists. Enjoy wine and catered refreshments while collecting Afro Art. You can paint afro Art on canvas for an additional fee. Tickets are $22, and can be purchased here. And, hey, while we have you here, have you seen this Memphis Flyer article all about the event? Go read it. Now. (Please.)
🎬S**TFEST: Best of the Worst: Miami Connection Black Lodge Friday, September 15, 7:30 p.m. At our editorial meeting this week, our film editor Chris McCoy said, “Miami Connection is … not good.” Did he say those words exactly? Maybe, or maybe I paraphrased since I don’t have a photographic memory. But the movie — it’s not good. In fact it’s so bad that Black Lodge is centering its S**TFEST around it. Terrible acting, even worse dialogue, and scene after scene of jaw-droppingly bloody action set pieces and dumb melodramatic nonsense — add in an unforgettably silly “rock” music earworm soundtrack, and you get one of the most fun BAD movie experiences ever. This is no silent screening, people. Razzing, riffing, back talking, and drunken yelling at the screen is highly encouraged. Free to all. 18+.
🎤 Memphis is obsessed with Taylor Swift? So, there are, like, three Taylor Swift-forward events on Friday, and a quick glance at the MF* calendar shows that there are more to come. You could say she’s in style these days. (*MF=Memphis Flyer, this publication is clean AF.)
Friday at 8 p.m., Dru’s has a Taylor Swift-themed drag show, hosted by Aubrey Ombre, “a pre-celebration for Taylor Swift’s release of 1989 TV.” Cover charge is $10.
Friday at 8 p.m., Hi Tone has its Cruel Summer: A Taylor Swift Dance Party. A DJ will be playing all the bops and deep cuts from Taylor and taking your requests. There’ll be a “Cruel Summer”-inspired backdrop for you and your friends to kick off summer in style, an iconic costume contest, lip sync battles, bridge challenge (we’re assuming not the card game), bracelet trading, and free cruel summer themed koozies. Tickets are $20 + fees, and can be purchased here. 18+.
Friday at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., MoSH, as the cool kids call it, is putting on a Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party, taking her biggest hits and bringing them to life in dazzling laser light. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here. The laser show will also run on Friday, September 22nd, and Friday, September 29th.
🎈Collierville Balloon Festival Maynard Way Saturday-Sunday, September 16-17 The Collierville Balloon Festival returns to Maynard Way (behind Walmart). The festival brings together more than 20 stunning hot air balloons, live entertainment, food, arts and crafts vendors, and more to provide a great time for the whole family. Proceeds from the event will support education programs in the local community. Single-day tickets are $15/adults and $8/kids (4-12); weekend passes are $25/adults and $15/children (4-12). Purchase them and learn more about the event here.
🎶Cooper-Young Festival Cooper-Young Historic District Saturday, September 16, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Cooper-Young Festival is one of Memphis’ unique outdoor celebrations. This event has grown to be one of the most anticipated and well-attended events and one of the last free festivals of its kind. Over 130,000 guests will enjoy an appealing mix of art, music and crafts presented by over 400 artisans from around the country. Only original Memphis grown music is heard on our stages starting at 11:00 a.m. on the Main Stage and 12:30 on the Memphis Grizzlies Stage. Doug MacLeod headlines. Find out more here.
🧘♀️Medical District Wellness Festival Morris Park Saturday, September 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. MMDC hosts a free day of health-focused activities, community outreach, and live entertainment. The day will include health screenings and consultations, live entertainment by Courtney Little and the RunwayDJ, local food vendors, Zumba with David Quarles IV at 11:45 a.m., yoga at 1 p.m. with Sana Yoga Downtown, a growing Station with Black Seeds Urban Farms, an “Ask the Docs” Station with Church Health, a Vitalant Blood Drive (register to donate here), and a kids zone with face painting, bouncy house, games, and more. Free parking available at Le Bonheur garage on Manassas or St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Poplar.
🩰 Memphis Dance Festival Collage Dance Collective Saturday, September 16, noon-4 p.m. Celebrate National Dance Day with Collage Dance’s free Dance Festival. The family-focused community event presents the best dance makers in the nation including Memphis’s own Lil Buck plus artists from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (NYC), New York City Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet (San Fran), SOUL Defined (DC), and Nashville Ballet, alongside many hometown favorites including the Grizz Girls, Ballet Memphis, and Collage Dance Collective. Attendees can also enjoy a special performance from the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band (New Orleans). Oh, and by the way, if you’re a real Flyer fan, you’d read this awesome piece all about the festival.
🍻 Memphis Brewfest Memphis Sports & Events Center Saturday, September 16, 3 p.m. Memphis Brewfest brings back the biggest beer festival in the Mid-South with unlimited samples of 100+ beers, seltzers, and spiked ciders, plus an international brewery selection. Tickets ($45) also get you a collectible Memphis Brewfest 2023 cup, Jameson Irish Whiskey activation experience, DJ tunes from JJ Wilson, yard games, and more. Purchase tix here. The event is 21+, duh.
🖼️ Exhibition Lecture: American Perspectives: Curatorial Highlights by Emelie Gevalt The Dixon Gallery & Gardens Sunday, September 17, 2 p.m. Learn more about the Dixon’s current exhibition, “American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection,” with Emelie Gevalt, curatorial chair for collections and folk art at American Folk Art Museum. This exhibition lecture is FREE and open to the public. Arrive early to enjoy the exhibition before the lecture!
👠 Memphis Walk a Mile in Her Shoes University of Memphis Tuesday, September 19, 5:15 p.m. Memphis men and boys will walk to show support for women and girls in ending rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Registration opens at 4 p.m. on September 19th, or pre-register here. Walkers will rally at 5:15 p.m. and the walk begins at 5:30 p.m. All are encouraged to come in time to borrow from the supply of women’s shoes — or bring your own or wear regular shoes — and choose a sign that expresses your concern for women and girls. Registration is $15 or $10 for students and free for U of M students with ID.
🍽️ The Permission Parties Imagine Vegan Cafe Tuesday, September 19, 7-9 p.m. In celebration of Alex Wong’s newest album Permission, the Permission Parties is a multi-sensory listening and tasting dinner series. Attendees will enjoy six Chinese-inspired dishes Wong has created that share some common emotion with each of the six tracks on the album. Proceeds will benefit groups fighting for AAPI safety and visibility via The Quiet Voice Fund. In order to make this event more accessible to different budgets, tiered ticket pricing is being offered. Tickets are $50-$80 and can be purchased here.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
🖼️ “Young, Gifted and Black” Opening Reception Clough-Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College Friday, September 8, 5-7:30 p.m. “Young, Gifted and Black” champions an emerging generation of artists of African descent who are exploring identity, politics, and art history as they engage with the work of their predecessors across a variety of media. Kara Walker, Kerry James Marshall, Mickalene Thomas, Tomashi Jackson, Rashid Johnson, Sadie Barnette, Jennifer Packer, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and Tunji Adeniyi-Jones are among nearly 50 artists featured in this traveling exhibition drawn from the renowned private collection of Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi. This show is on display through December 6th.
🍸 Art on the Rocks The Dixon Gallery & Gardens Friday, September 8, 6-9 p.m. Presented by Orion Federal Credit Union, Art on the Rocks brings botanical cocktails, craft beer, wine, and more together for a fun evening in the gardens. Guests will enjoy a variety of drink tastings and bites from local restaurants along with live music. Find a full list of vendors here. Tickets are $55 ($45 for members) and include all-night drink and food tastings. Purchase them here. This event is 21+.
🖼️ Black and White Art Show Opening Reception Off the Walls Art Friday, September 8, 6-9 p.m. In conjunction with the Memphis Film Revival Club, this show features black and white art from various local artists, a black and white photo booth, and interactive artwork! Refreshments provided; black and white attire suggested. Show runs through September 30th.
🎬 LGBTv – Queer Cinema Night: Hedwig and the Angry Inch Black Lodge Friday, September 8, 7 p.m. Join Black Lodge for the first evening of LGBTv: Queer Cinema Night, a new monthly showcase highlighting the greatest LGBTQ movies from across time and around the globe! Hosted by Mars Mckay! The series will kick off with a free screening of the rousing, emotional, post-punk neo-glam rock odyssey, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Stick around after the film and get your groove on at the Queer Up Dance Party, a night of nonstop beats, DJ stylings by Ross Al Ghul and Rmzi, and a bounce house, going from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Cover is $10.
🎭 10 Minute Play Festival: The 7 Deadly Sins TheatreWorks Friday-Sunday, September 8-10, 8 p.m. Emerald Theatre Company presents its annual 10 Minute Play Festival. This year seven playwrights from around the country are presenting new works on the seven deadly sins. Tickets ($20) can be purchased here.
🐐 International Goat Days Festival Millington Sports Complex Saturday, September 9, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. If loving goats is baaaaad, I don’t want to be good. And I’d bet that the Goat Days Festival would agree — the day is all for the love of the goat, with goat yoga, a goat beauty pageant, and a goat show, plus some non-goat activities. There’ll be live music all day, a car and antique tractor show, a barbecue contest, an all-day kids zone, craft vendors, and more. Parking is $5/car. Admission is free.
🎡 Germantown Festival Germantown Civic Club Complex Saturday, September 9, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sunday, September 10, noon-6 p.m. The weens are coming! The weens are coming! They’re here to compete in the best Running of the Weenies dachshund race around. And that, of course, would be at the Germantown Festival, which happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary. This year’s festival will be complete with arts and crafts, children’s activities, rides and games, entertainment, and more. Admission is free, and free shuttle bus service is available from two free parking lots located at GPAC (1801 Exeter Rd.) and Germantown Church Of Christ (8723 Poplar Pike).
🏋️2nd Annual Memphis Fitness Expo 1348 Studios Saturday, September 9, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. This expo will have four hours of fitness fun, performances, and opportunities to network with health and wellness experts. There will be yoga, pilates, dance fitness, HIIT, zumba, and raffles. Click here for a schedule of events and to purchase tickets (free/kids 12 and under; $15/adults).
🎶Stay Fashionable and Friends Lamplighter Lounge Saturday, September 9, 7:30 p.m. In the aftermath of such successful Good Vibez™️ of a May installation of one particular singer-songwriter night, the lead singers of a few Memphis-based bands decided to do a FULL-BAND rendition in a similar spirit, for the promotion and recognition of women working unique musical things in this beautifully varied city. The evening will feature music by Stay Fashionable, Oakwalker, Kathy Zhour, and Burning Brigids. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. An offering of $10 is *strongly* suggested over other means of equalizing the pay differential.
🏠 Central Gardens Association Home & Garden Tour Central Gardens Sunday, September 10, 1-5 p.m. The 47th Annual Central Gardens Association Home & Garden Tour features six homes centered in the southwest portion of the historic neighborhood. These homes represent some of the most distinctive architecture styles that were popular in the late 19th century/early 20th century including Tudor, Prairie, and Italian Renaissance designs. Homes featured are 1475 Carr, 1478 Carr, 1461 Vinton, 1545 Vinton, 1583 Carr, and 642 Melrose. Event is rain or shine. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 day-of. Purchase them here.
🐶 Best in Show: Dog Show Community Event Overton Park Sunday, September 10, 3 p.m. Celebrate the upcoming Hattiloo Theatre production, Father Comes Home From the Wars,with the Best in Dog Show community event. Indulge in delectable treats from food trucks, pamper your pups with delightful goodies, and watch as canine companions strut their stuff in the dog show of the year. Esteemed judges from Glamour Grooming & Boarding, Dawg Team Apparel USA, and Dr. Brown from Banfield Pet Hospital will have the paw-some task of selecting the cream of the canine crop. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a day of furry fun and theater magic. Register here to show your dog!
🍜 Sip N Slurp: The Ultimate Ramen Party (VEGAN) The Genre Sunday, September 10, 6-10 p.m. Indulge in all-you-can-eat ramen and signature drinks at this flavorful ramen party. Daishu from DownwithDaishu and The Vegan Pimps of Memphis have crafted an array of delectable ramen bowls that cater to all taste preferences. Complement your ramen feast with an exclusive selection of signature drinks. Tickets ($35/general admission; $55/VIP) can be purchased here. This is an 18+ event.
There’s always something happening in Memphis. See a full calendar of events here.
Jenny Davis and Phillip Snyder (Photo: Randy Gibson)
For those savvy in computer programming, you might recognize the code “if else.” For those who aren’t so savvy, Philip Snyder explains, “It’s what you would code if you wanted to say, ‘If these parameters are met, do this, or if these parameters are not met, do this something else.’” But Snyder adds that this sentiment also carries in his experimental flute duo, if.else, with Jenny Davis.
“We’re always looking for ways for the pieces that we do to be reliant on the specific situation as opposed to being the same thing every time,” he explains, “so the energy in the room can change the way the piece progresses. It’s the sense that every time you’re in a space doing a thing, it’s gonna be wildly different from one time to the next.”
For their upcoming performance, the duo commissioned experimental composer Randy Gibson, who, in turn, created The Four Pillars Breathing in Harmonic Time, a durational, immersive sound piece, integrating flutes and electronics. To accompany the three-hour piece, Gibson, also a visual artist, created projections that’ll move throughout the darkened space. With these different elements, the hope is to make the experience of sound into something new and all-encompassing. It’s a moment to sit down, without any distractions, and just take in the music and let it guide your thoughts, almost like a meditation.
“There are these sounds that happen and they are repeating on these very large scales to a point that you’re not immediately perceiving their repetition or the speed of which they’re repeating,” Snyder says, “but they are expanding and contracting in a way that shifts and modulates your expectation and experience of time throughout the piece. … And the duration element itself kind of takes it to a new place that we wouldn’t be able go to if we were going to a concert that’s four- to five-minute songs, or even a classical concert where it’s 10 to 15.”
With the performance being so long, though, the duo encourages audience members to get comfortable, whether that be by bringing a blanket or a mat, or choosing a chair removed from the projection field, or even leaving early if they have to.
“As an audience member,” Davis adds, “we might put on ourselves like, ‘Oh, I need to be or act a certain way or feel a certain way about the performance or know something about it,’ and really, you can throw that out the window a little bit and just come and experience it. That’s kind of the whole point of it. It’s introspective, so consider how you feel.
“The most beautiful thing about any music performance is that people are gonna get different things out of it,” Davis continues. “Maybe, that person is coming in and they had an extremely stressful day at work and this is a release, or maybe they’re riding a high and this is gonna continue that or bring it down a little bit. Everybody in the audience is bringing something different into that space and into that room, and that creates an energy in the room” — an energy that the flutists can channel in their performance.
The Tree of Life, as created by CAG students, in the Mosaic Garden (Photo: Abigail Morici)
Winter is here, and there’s no way to escape it. Unless you consider the arts an escape. In that case, you’re in luck, since Memphis has no shortage of arts events this season, and as always, our local arts organizations are still tilling the soil for us to reap the benefits. In fact, this winter, a few of our favorite organizations are celebrating major milestones — 10, 25, and 60 years (read about them below). Be sure to mark your calendars for what’s to come — an extensive list of winter arts events can be found at the end of this feature or by visiting memphisflyer.com/calendars.
Carpenter Art Garden
The Purple House on Carpenter was once a site of unseemly activity — “if you know what I mean,” says Megan Banaszek. Now, the house, which was rebuilt from the foundation, is home to Carpenter Art Garden (CAG), for which Banaszek serves as executive director. It’s still purple, but today its porch holds a communal bookshelf, bulletin boards of community activities, and a table of free bread and hats. Inside you can find art and music lessons for kids, community meetings, and a laundry co-op. “It’s funny,” says Banaszek. “People are like, ‘The Purple House does what now?’”
With the intention to make up for a lack of art programming in Binghampton, the nonprofit started in 2012 in the empty lot next door, now dubbed the Art Garden. “The idea for this space was to be an outdoor art classroom,” Banaszek says, “so people cleared it out, put down a shipping container [for storage], put down some picnic tables, and just met here on Tuesday afternoons to lead different art classes.
“There were a lot of opportunities for firsts in terms of having access to these programs. For any age student, just having something that you get to sit, focus on, hands-on is a way to unwind, connect with people you’re familiar with after school, and be expressive.”
Those Tuesday drop-in art classes continue today, but by 2014, CAG wanted to do more. So it bought the Purple House and started offering small-group classes throughout the week. Classes range from violin with Iris Orchestra to ceramics with staff and guest artists. “And if someone says, ‘I wanna learn about screen printing,’ we’ll try and track someone down and do a class,” Banaszek says. They’ve even added opportunities for teen employment.
Now there’s also the Carpenter Street Workshop, where kids can learn bike mechanics, sewing, and cooking; Aunt Lou’s House, where tutoring is offered; two community gardens, where staff tend to seasonal crops that are sold at the twice-weekly pop-up market; and the Mosaic Garden, where community members can sit and enjoy CAG’s various mosaic creations, which were designed and executed by the student-run Mural Arts Apprentice Team.
“Any time something gets added, I kind of can’t believe it,” Banaszek says, “but I think it’s at a good spot right now.”
This week, through December 8th, CAG is hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar, where patrons can purchase student work, with 70 percent of the sales going to the student and the rest into CAG programming. Popular items include Griz Hearts ornaments, pot holders, Christmas cards and gift tags, and bead hangings. As a bonus with each purchase, Banaszek says, “The kids get a sense of pride when they are able to sell.” You can also purchase work online at carpenterartgarden.org/shop.
2021 fellow Sarah Elizabeth Cornejo’s final project:The Sinkhole (Photo: Courtesy UrbanArt Commission)
UrbanArt Commission
For UrbanArt Commission (UAC), the canvas stretches from one end of the city to the other, with endless opportunities for public art. So far, the organization, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has filled that canvas with 130 projects — from sculptures in Binghampton to murals at Central Station Hotel. Yet, even with such a widespread footprint, Lauren Kennedy, UAC’s director, never worries about running out of space.
“I can drive around town, dream up like 15 projects, just going to Kroger and back,” she says. “There are so many great ideas that we haven’t gotten to tap.”
Since 1997, UAC has worked with the city, neighborhood groups, and municipal authorities to produce meaningful public art, from murals to sculptures. “Public art, when you boil it down, is about making an investment in a shared space,” Kennedy says. “When public art is doing what it should do, it is also reflecting the people and experiences in that community. It’s a real boon for neighborhood pride.”
For Kennedy, the project she takes most pride in is the Concourse B installation, completed this year. For it, UAC, in partnership with Memphis International Airport, selected more than 40 works of contemporary art for the airport with a goal to highlight Memphis’ vibrant and eclectic range of artists and to reflect the city as a whole — not just Elvis, blues, and barbecue, but everything in between that gives the 901 its texture.
Of course, the Concourse B installation wasn’t the only project that came to fruition recently. After a pandemic-induced delay, the nonprofit kicked off its New Public Artists Fellowship in 2021, wrapped up the first cohort’s experience this summer, and will accept another six artists in the spring. The fellowship provides in-depth training and professional development for artists wanting to break into public sculpture, and it’s capped off with a temporary public installation. Fellowships like this and the District Mural Program, which Kennedy describes as “the same concept but focused on murals,” allow UAC to leverage their funding to prepare local artists for more opportunities down the road, in and out of Memphis.
“Large-scale public art is not something that is particularly easy to dive into,” Kennedy says. “It’s one thing to have your work in a gallery or a museum, but to paint the side of a building that thousands of cars are driving past on a regular basis is really huge.”
After all, public art lasts lifetimes, and UAC cares that the community continues to enjoy the projects long after their completion. “In the past five years, in particular,” Kennedy says, “we’ve put more emphasis into thinking about how people continue to interact with these things over time.”
This year, after a pandemic pause, UAC brought back its bi-monthly Artist Happy Hour Series, where artists can network, and its Revisiting Series, which are temporary site-specific responses to existing public art projects. The nonprofit also offered yoga by current projects twice this year, and Kennedy assures, there’s more public programming to come in 2023.
New Ballet Ensemble’s NutRemixis just one project ArtsMemphis helps to fund.(Photo: Mary Gunning)
ArtsMemphis
Founded in 1963 as the Memphis Arts Council to help fund various local arts organizations, ArtsMemphis has navigated all the ups and downs that have come within those 60 years. But Elizabeth Rouse, the organization’s president, says, the effects of the pandemic on the arts in Memphis was like nothing they’ve seen before.
“We saw how overnight so many were out of work,” she says. “It was certainly hard on artists and arts administrators.” Pre-pandemic, nonprofit arts in Memphis had a $200 million economic impact and boasted more than 6,000 full-time positions.
With so much at stake, though, both the general public and the arts community had a reinforced appreciation for all that the arts can offer, and from that, opportunities for change and growth arose.
“Like many funders, we, over the pandemic, have been much more connected with our grantees,” Rouse says, “and it’s really helped to foster a sense of community as everyone in the art sector navigates new times. The pandemic also forced organizations to be a bit more flexible and think differently about how they deliver programs.”
For ArtsMemphis, one of the biggest changes was being able to support a larger number of individual artists than ever before. About 10 years ago, the nonprofit had started to “tiptoe” into the arena with a few yearly grants, but the pandemic spurred the Artist Emergency Fund, which has since shifted into the Recovery Fund, both in partnership with Music Export Memphis. As of last month, through this fund, they have given out $1 million to artists of all disciplines, but particularly music.
Last year, the organization gave out $3.1 million to 68 organizations and hundreds of individual artists. “Those organizations are doing work in every zip code in Shelby County,” Rouse says. “It’s really about using the arts as a community resource and to bridge differences and offer these points of healing and connection and so much more.” And that includes economic impact. “We’re in the midst right now of doing a new economic impact study, and we’re excited to see how those numbers have hopefully grown.”
Part of this success, Rouse attributes to the intentional collaboration among the arts community. “It’s what makes Memphis unique,” she says. “And I think that’s represented during ArtsWeek.”
For ArtsWeek, which began on December 3rd and ends December 11th, various organizations are hosting events throughout the city. “In 2020, when things were actually shut down,” Rouse says, “Mayor Harris and Mayor Strickland designated a week to celebrate, support, and build awareness for our local arts sector. Our hope is that people will experience something new in the arts.”
And this ArtsWeek also happens to be the kick-off for ArtsMemphis’ 60th anniversary. “There’s an exciting future ahead, especially as we continue to expand our support for both organizations and artists and as people engage with the arts in new ways and the arts become much more accessible.”
Find out more about ArtsWeek and year-round events at artsmemphis.org.
WINTER ARTS GUIDE
ON DISPLAY
once a river, once a sea Maysey Craddock’s paintings, examining growth and decay along the Gulf Coast. David Lusk Gallery, through Dec. 23
Les Paul Thru the Lens Gallery of photos highlighting the life of Les Paul. Stax Museum of American Soul Music, through Dec. 30
Tennessee Triennial A major statewide contemporary art event organized by Tri-Star Arts and including the Brooks, Memphis River Parks Partnership, TONE Memphis, and UrbanArt Commission. Various locations, Jan. 27-May 7
Tommy Kha’s “Eye Is Another” will open in 2023 at the Brooks.
Tommy Kha: Eye Is Another Site-specific, photography-based installation by Tommy Kha. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Jan. 27-May 27
If you drive past Midtown’s Cash Saver on Friday, you might be tempted to rubber-neck at an unusual spectacle in the street parking spaces, since, in honor of International Park(ing) Day, those spots will be converted into tiny parks.
Park(ing) Day is a global, public, participatory art project, explains Emily Bishop, board member of MidtownMemphis.org, the organization spearheading the event in Memphis. “That’s a mouthful,” she says, “but it’s where you temporarily repurpose street parking spaces into places for art, play, and activism. What we’re trying to do is get people to reimagine that area of Midtown.”
When the area around Cash Saver, Pho Binh, Crumpy’s Hot Wings, and the like was restriped to add bike lanes, the city added parking lanes, too. “Nobody uses them,” Bishop says. “They kinda get used as an inappropriate passing lane or turning lane. I mean, I see it all the time going to Home Depot.”
As such, safety is one of the points of awareness for this Park(ing) Day Project, the other point being to bring greenery to the space. The plan, Bishop says, is to plant black gum and maple trees along the sidewalk that runs east of Cash Saver on Angelus. “The sidewalk is 10-feet wide, and it has no power lines overhead, so it’s the perfect place for street trees,” she says, adding that under a tree’s shade it can be 10-15 degrees cooler, a much needed benefit during Memphis’ hot summer months. “We’re already working with Cash Saver and the City Engineer’s Office, and if all goes well, we hope to plant those trees in early November.”
Rendering of plans for tree-planting along Angelus (Credit: MidtownMemphis.org)
In the meantime, Friday will be MidtownMemphis.org’s second Park(ing) Day in front of Cash Saver. This year, the group has partnered with Memphis City Beautiful, Clean Memphis, Evergreen, Central Gardens, Neighborhood Preservation Inc. (NPI), The Works Inc., and The Home Depot.
“We’ll have some green carpet out there to make it feel like grass,” Bishop says. “There’ll be some games. We’ll have plants and bushes that’ll give you a feel of what that would be like. We’ll just see what the creativity of each of our partners is and what they do with their spaces.”
Giveaways and free snow cones will also be available, and attendees will have a chance to meet with the various groups to learn about upcoming projects and ways to volunteer.
Already, MidtownMemphis.org has planted native trees, bushes, and flowering plants on Avalon, behind Murphy’s and next to Crumpy’s.
“We were really inspired by the Medical District, the improvements they made, and, of course, Overton Square is so beautiful now,” Bishop says. “We just want this area in between to continue the good work and spread it on down. Everybody travels up and down that section of Madison.”
International Park(ing) Day, Madison Avenue in front of Cash Saver, Friday, September 16th, 3-7 pm.
In the wake of the recent tragedies impacting our city, our feeling of safety, and our wellbeing, Memphis’ community spaces are doing what they do best — being there for us. Whether you need to meditate in a serene garden or watch penguins be penguins so you don’t have to think, the organizations you support are here to support you.
♥️ Memphis Botanic Garden is offering free regular admission on Friday, September 9th, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., to help Memphis heal and to offer a safe outdoor space for all to enjoy and find comfort and light in.
♥️ MoSH recognizes that Memphis needs some love and is offering free admission to all exhibits, movies, shows, and to the Lichterman Nature Center on Friday, September 9th, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
♥️ Friday, September 9th, Memphis Zoo is offering free general admission to the community to reflect and relax and just exist with the animals. The zoo’s hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., last admission at 5 p.m.
♥️ The Dixon Gallery & Gardens always has free admission and wants to remind us to take advantage of the oasis of safety, calm, and beauty there.
♥️ Memphis Rox will offer free admission on Friday, September 9th. No reservation or special equipment needed.
♥️ The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will offer free admission Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so that people may reflect, find constancy, and experience the beautiful possibilities of humanity.
We have included all the local sites we know are offering free admission tomorrow, but we may have missed a few. If you are associated with or know of another venue that should be included, please email calendar@memphisflyer.com.
