LIVE FROM MEMPHIS

This past Friday, the whole block was hot, both literally, because it was like 100 degrees that night, and figuratively. Artist Mark Brown had a follow-up opening reception for his show at Marshall Arts called Ism and Ish. The exhibition, whcih includes more than 25 original pieces and installations by Mark, is a nice lesson in turning other people's trash into treasure. The event also included spoken word, hip hop artists and live instrumentation. I'm not an art critic, mere supporter, but I will say that Mark pushed boundaries and in some instances redefined them with this breadth of work. If you haven't seen it, you must and you have a little more than two weeks to do so!

On the same night, Sneak Peek introduced a pretty innovative idea to the city which they call Five for Five. Essentially for Five bucks 200+ folks got to party with the best of 'em, enjoy libations, a live deejay, a freestyle battle and take part in a one-of-a-kind photo shoot with emerging Memphis photographers Akeara and Tommy. The background, if I can toot my own horn (toot toot) included nearly 100 Memphis icons setting the framework for "Me in Memphis" and attendees received five high-quality photos, to share with the world, of them in their city.

After reading this some of you will say, "I didn't know stuff like this went on in Memphis!" My goal with this blog is to expose (without exploiting) all that Memphis has to offer, creatively. Wetting your appetite for diversion from the norm. We are creating the Memphis that we want to see. Won't you join us?!

Until next time, I am strange fruit.