Artist Alvin Christopher shares his passion through his art

     Alvin Christopher takes a passion for social justice and channels it into dynamic mixed media art which reminds viewers of how fragile life can be and the importance of treasuring each moment. His dapper appearance belies the struggles of his life.

     “…since I was a child…since I can remember picking up a pencil,” he answers, when asked how long he’s been creating images. He considers his ease with art to be a gift from his mother, who encouraged his earliest attempts. He hasn’t stopped since then, honing his skills and experimenting with a variety of forms.

     A first look at Christopher’s work demands a second one. The compelling images seem to deliver news headlines, as he offers thought-provoking depictions of natural and human-made issues. From his horizontal 3-dimensional depiction of the damage wrought on the Interstate 10 twin span by Hurricane Katrina, to the biology lesson of the words we keep in our heart, Christopher pulls no punches in expressing the pain he has personally experienced and his anger at the pain endured by others.

     His love of mixed media leads him to take things which are not typically considered artistic and turn them into imaginative displays of highly artistic content, recycling found items into finished products with the addition of more traditional art media. While no photograph can do justice to his work, the powerful images beg for repetitive, reflective study. Within each piece, a heartbeat of truth grabs the viewer and demands consideration. With bold colors and startling images, Christopher brings people of all races and perspectives to a common table of humanity.

     Ask a viewer to interpret a given piece and the answer may be shockingly different from your own. Each of the images opens doors to dialogues and discussions of freedom, rights and circumstances. Christopher lays his own heart bare in his work and invites viewers to do the same as they relate to each piece. He refuses to be pigeonholed on a single subject, preferring to use his art to walk on dangerous ground with bold ideas designed to make viewers uncomfortable in complacency.

     Christopher is more than an artist creating strong images. He is also a mentor, reaching out to people marginalized by society and encouraging them to identify their own artistic voice. He also works on commission for custom pieces.

     He was born in Mississippi, grew up in New Orleans in the Irish Channel neighborhood and now makes his home in Slidell, LA. Art moved from a hobby to a vocation after the turmoil of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He hopes to eventually branch out into multimedia work, including film. Supplementing his art income as a cook, he brings an artistic touch to his dishes, as well.

     At present, Alvin Christopher’s work is on display at Artists’ Galleries de Juneau at 2143 First St. in the Olde Towne section of Slidell; Connie’s Depot off of Brownswitch, also in Slidell; and a few other small shops in the community. His art deserves a home in private collections and corporate spaces. This isn’t “pretty” art to hang on a wall and ignore; this is art at its most powerful, demanding involvement and action.

Sam Metrigueye delivers scifi music with a story to tell

Sam Metrigueye as The War Doctor, checking out a "friend."

When an attorney branches off into science fiction themed music, a stage name may be in order. Enter “Some Metry Guy.”

With the often slurred pronunciation of the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, the artist was born. Facebook wouldn’t let him use Some Metry Guy as a page name, so he eventually became Sam Metrigueye, singer/songwriter and artist. Sometimes called “That Metry Guy” and sometimes simply “Metry Guy,” his label varies as people try to describe him. His music, however, is a constant – a constant delight, that is. A blend of rock and roll, techno and folk, his tunes sound deceptively simple, even as the clever lyrics transport the listener into fantasy world.

Sam has performed in various venues over the years, including the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus’ annual Chewbacchanal. Armed with a guitar, he brings original lyrics infused with science fiction references, such as “Drunken Nerd Blues.” He’s adaptive, as well, with such alternatives as “Drunken Nerd Blues (Space Cadet Version).”

In the single song, he celebrates the franchises of Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, DC Comics and more. Over time, he’s rewritten lines to accommodate changes in the scifi world, such as updating the number of Doctor Who regenerations. He acknowledges that he gets a thrill when an audience sings along with him on the signature number.

In addition to his Youtube channel, his music is available on his Bandcamp page, NumberOneMusic, iTunes and Spotify.

Besides his music, he expresses his creative side with handcrafted items in his Etsy store. From wall décor to costume pieces for role play, he offers a variety of items for fellow members of scifi fandom.

The multitalented Some Metry Guy provides listeners with thought-provoking music and art, even if they aren’t too sure about his name.

Originally appeared 06/10/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/sam-metrigueye-delivers-scifi-music-with-a-story-to-tell

Bohemian Spirit Designs jewelry from Terrina Russell-Cook captivates

Photo courtesy Terrina Russell-Cook

Artist Terrina Russell-Cook creates music and jewelry with equal ease. Her Bohemian Spirit Designs bring delight to jewelry lovers with her use of curves and movement, while her music belts out the blues with feelings from the soul.

Russell-Cook has been making jewelry since 1974, when she created puka shell necklaces and earrings to sell to tourists along Daytona Beach. Her love for “all things sparkly” began even earlier, as her late grandmother allowed the young Terrina free access to play in her jewelry box.

“I still get just as much of a thrill putting sparkly things together now as I did then,” she says with a laugh.

Many of her pieces hearken to her native American heritage. Her great-grandfather was a member of the Blackfoot tribe. Turquoise stones and traditional motifs honor his memory.

Other pieces feature swirling copper or silver, eliciting images of nature on the move. The evocative shapes have become something of a signature form for her. “For some reason I’m drawn to water and movement, so I try to incorporate as much of that in my work as possible,” Russell-Cook observes.

Although she has a great deal of experience with making jewelry, she continues to learn other techniques. Most recently, she took a course in metalworking from fellow artist Patricia Hart. Now she is expanding her skill set with repoussé, an ancient metalworking technique which involves pressing a relief design into softened metal from the reverse side.

Two outlets in New York and two in the south keep her busy with jewelry-making, but she still finds time to stand up for the creative community. She explains that what artists create has value as an original and takes hours of work. The end result may share some visual similarities with mass-produced products in Big Box stores but the quality of the handmade items soars far above the mundane.

Any conversation with Russell-Cook includes a great deal of humor and laughter. Her delight in life and her joy in her work shines through even serious discussions of technique or style. She admits to sometimes falling in love with a piece she has created and feeling a reluctance in parting with it.

Look for Terrina Russell-Cook’s work at Artists’ Galleries de Juneau in Olde Towne Slidell, LA. Her Bohemian Spirit Designs will inspire.

Originally appeared 6/8/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/bohemian-spirit-designs-jewelry-from-terrina-russell-cook-captivates

Art contest to celebrate anniversary of Bad Wolf Bar and Grill

When two scifi-loving people purchase a neighbor bar and grill, a name change may be in the stars. For Timothy and Alicia Dardar of Marrero, LA, the choice of a new name took time. They put together a list of potential nerd-related names and finally settled on Bad Wolf Bar and Grill.

The name creates an instant connection with Doctor Who fans - an “oh, THAT Bad Wolf” reaction, says Alicia Dardar - but it doesn’t exclude people who aren’t Whovians. The Dardars liked the accessibility inherent in the name.

They will celebrate two years as proprietors of the restaurant and bar on July 1, 2016. As a part of the anniversary celebration, the Dardars have announced a contest to design a new logo for the business. The deadline has been extended to June 13. The couple will choose a group of finalists and put the designs on Facebook for the final selection. They will adopt the design with the most “Likes” as the logo going forward.

More than simply a neighborhood bar and grill, Bad Wolf offers a place where nerds and jocks can coexist, according to Alicia. A group in one corner may be discussing the latest Star Wars news while another group is debating the Saints’ upcoming season. The décor features both worlds as well, with an array of nerdy and sports art and decorations.

Another feature of the establishment is the frequent special events put on in conjunction with Nerd Love NOLA, a local event planner specializing in parties with a science fiction flavor. Game nights and mini-cons appear on the calendar regularly. During “down” times, the restaurant offers the use of three pool tables, two dart boards and video poker.

While there are hamburgers, hot sausage and chicken sandwiches on the menu, other selections have themed names, such as The Bad Wolf (a burger with hot sausage, egg and cheese) and C-3PO (chicken, bacon and Swiss cheese). Tacos come as Chocobo Tacos (chicken and bacon tacos with housemade ranch) and Anorith Tacos (shrimp tacos with horseradish aioli).

Because the establishment serves alcohol, the staff enforces an Over-21 Only rule. The bar offers specialty mixed drinks (with fanciful names like Serenity and DHARMA Initiative) as well as a long list of available beers. The full menu can be found on their Facebook page.

With the contest entry extended through June 13, artists over 21 years of age have a chance to win a nice prize as well as have their work highlighted throughout the business’s signage and print materials. Check out the rules and submit your design to Bad Wolf Bar and Grill.

Bad Wolf Bar and Grill

5601 4th St

Marrero, LA

(504) 265-0738

Originally appeared 05/31/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/art-contest-to-celebrate-anniversary-of-bad-wolf-bar-and-grill

The Consortium of Genius creates blend of scifi and music and fun

Photo courtesy Lewis D'Aubin

When Lewis D’Aubin saw his first episode of Doctor Who in the early 1980s, he was hooked. He was so intrigued that he even remembers the title of his introduction to the Time Lord, The Stones of Blood.

A few years later, he found a group named The Companions of Doctor Who and joined them. He acknowledges that he was a bit of an introverted tinkerer. He built his own version of the Doctor’s robot dog, K-9, among other bits of fan gear and got involved with local conventions.

By the late eighties, he got into music and started working with local bands. D’Aubin learned to use a synthesizer and a drum machine, as well as learning recording techniques.

“The music and the fandom sides of my personality didn’t crossover immediately,” he says. He and a friend began to work on their own material. They wrote their own “silly songs” which they recorded for practice. By 1996, the practices had grown into The Consortium of Genius - aka COG - a group of mad scientists and lab assistants creating off-beat, original rock music as well as covering genre music. Their fearless leader Dr. Milo Thaddeus Pinkerton III is portrayed by D’Aubin.

Now celebrating their twentieth year of rock music science (or is that mad scientist rock music?), the group has gone through several incarnations as some members left to pursue other things and new members joined. Drumbot, the video droid on drums, was added to the group, as well.

“The members of the band are all a bunch of big geeks, too,” D’Aubin chuckles. He notes that, although they don’t make a lot of money, they do have a lot of fun. They dress in lab coats and other wildly scifi costumes.

The group plays at conventions, as well as special events throughout the region. The COG channel on YouTube (under DoctorPinkerton) offers a peek into the crazy, fun world of COG.

D’Aubin hasn’t stopped growing as a musician, however. About four years ago, a Victorian-garbed group premiered to play Dixieland, jazz and ragtime, rather than the heavy metal and rock sounds delivered by COG. Like the old novelty tune “I am my own grandpa,” he portrays Professor Milo Reginald Pinkerton (grandfather of MTP III) in a second band, The New Orleans Steamcog Orchestra. Billing themselves as a “Dixieland/Ragtime band with a difference,” the group includes Cogsworthy, a clockwork drummer.

With changes in radio broadcasting, novelty and comedic music has become more difficult to find, according to D’Aubin. With COG and the New Orleans Steamcog Orchestra, listeners lamenting the lack of such delightful music have an outlet. Both bands have videos on YouTube and albums available for purchase.

Originally appeared 05/30/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/the-consortium-of-genius-creates-blend-of-scifi-and-music-and-fun

Support your local comic book shop during Free Comic Book Day 2016

The annual Free Comic Book Day, a program created to celebrate comic books and readers of comic books, is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2016. The comic book industry offers a select group of comics to independent comic book stores at low cost so the stores can give them away for free or as a charitable fundraiser. The organization behind the event states millions of books have been given away around the world since the event began in 2002.

Besides the free comic book distribution, many stores feature in-store guests—local cartoonists who are willing to come in and meet the fans (and make future fans) of their work, gamers or cosplayers. The interaction permits a greater experience than simply purchasing comic books. Better than a big box store or convenience shop, the indie comic book store connects buyers and artists as well as others in the creative community. Other events may include games or prizes for attendees or raffles. Special activities vary by store.

The regularly issued monthly version of a comic book was first released in 1922, although individual bound books had been released as early as 1837. The modern comic book grew out of these early volumes. The industry has grown to sales in the millions of dollars, according to Comichron with 2016 sales of comics and graphic novels through the end of March estimated at more than $129 million.

Find a participating comic book store through the Free Comic Book Day locator or call your local comic book store to determine if they will participate. One of the options for Gulf Coast comic lovers is Three Alarm Comics at 15210 Lemoyne Blvd., Biloxi, MS. The store will feature comic artists such as Andy Childress of BubbaWorldComix and Kevin Hayman of Everywhen Comics, Whovians of the Gulf Coast and many additional guests.

Roscoe (left) and Andy Childress at Three Alarm Comics

Originally appeared 05/05/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/support-your-local-comic-book-shop-during-free-comic-book-day-2016