S H R E V E P O R T - B O S S I E R ’ S V O I C E F O R T H E U N D E R G R O U N D

V O L . 2 . I S S U E 1 1 . M A Y 2 9 . S H R E V E P O R T - B O S S I E R C I T Y . L A

profile of multimedia artist

sarah duetPG 4

what is shreveport's

identity?PG 6

shreveport farmers' market returns saturday

PG 3

FREE

Heliopolis Volume 2 Issue 11 | May 29, 2014 heliopolissbc.com | #heliopolissbc

Heliopolis Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karen E. Wissing kewissing@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGERSpencer Teekell

asteekell@gmail.com

CONTENT EDITORSNick Flowers

nickfl owers15@gmail.comSusan Fontaine

sfonta2@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS Amjad AzzaweRobyn Bradley

Michael Cade ChreeneJessica Coburn

Malari CoburnAmy DeRosia

Chris DeRosiaReed Ebarb

Candace D. GahanGarrett Johnson

Landon MillerRyan Mustapha

Lindsay Johnson NationsHalley Rachal

Terri RichardsonChris Schmoutz

Robert E. Trudeau

PHOTOGRAPHERSCasey Habich

Robert E. Trudeau

On the cover: Sarah Duet Read her profi le on page 4.

Correction: On the cover of Vol. 2 Issue 10, the artist profi le featured Stephanie Hansen.

Heliopolis is published bi-weekly on Thursdays by Front Row Press, LLC, 500 Clyde Fant Parkway, Suite 200, Shreveport, La. 71101. No portion of this publication may be reproduced

by any means without written permission. An endorsement of information, products or services is not constituted by

distribution of said publication. Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily refl ect the views of the publisher.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2014.

HeliopolisVolume 2, Issue 11

May 29, 2014

OFFICIAL SPONSOR

HANGAR 21 NOW OPEN AT 616 COMMERCE ST., DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORTDowntown Shreveport residents Sarah Lyles and Ryan Veuthey give Hangar 21 on Commerce St. “literally 5 out of 5 on bar food.”

As the bar’s grand opening Thursday night, it was a stop on Shreveport’s Unwind Pub Crawl, sponsored by Glazer Distributing. Gordon Nurse, local Caribbean cook, took the stage with his band and steel drums.

The two ordered pepper jack macaroni bites, fried pickles, and an “Angry Pig,” a pulled pork sandwich on sourdough.

The “big, fresh fl avors” were washed down with a couple of Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat seasonals.

Visit this new downtown eatery, morning or late night, and those living in downtown Shreveport will soon have the option to have Hangar 21′s diverse tastes delivered to their front door.

Photo by Sarah Lyles.

Sarah Lyles & Ryan Veuthey

May 29, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 11 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com

The advent of warmer weather brings skin, sweat, and the relief of a cold brew. A Caddo-Bossier summer consists of several periods of heat rang-ing from unbearably hot to who left the goddamn oven on? In spite of the troubles from a life in hu-mid hell, however, the perks of sunshine are unde-niably valuable. It is during these months that we can truly appreciate the blessings of fans, pools, and the first ice cream licks of summertime.

With the approach of Shreveport summer comes the return of the local Farmers’ Market, an event that unites farmers and vendors with avid con-sumers of fresh goods.

The selection of goods at the market is diverse, following a tradition of variety established by the organizers since 1986. Sweets and local delights find common ground with artisans of paintings and crafts. Food trucks dot the background, pro-viding more substantial meals for shoppers pick-ing up the fruits of labor for both farmers and artists. Even wine connoisseurs will feel right at home with special micro-wineries in the area. The myriad of goods avail-able at the Shreveport Farmers’ Market will leave every taste satisfied, which is especially important during the thirst-driven days of summer.

Many consumers of the market are families seeking a morning or evening out of the heat and under the spell of local goods. The attraction of natural and organically grown foods has grown year after year for good reason. Fresher ingredients bring unique tastes that cannot be captured in the processed shelves of a typical market chain. Local vendors such as Ma-haffey Farms, Shady Grove Ranch, and Flowing Hills Cream-ery bring their meats, produce, and dairy products made with the love and attention only found in this area. The promise of local groceries is in the touch of detail discerned through taste and quality.

Meeting the faces behind the delicious food is also complete-ly satisfying through the addition of personality. The impact of knowing one’s money goes straight into the local economy cannot be measured in quantity but rather in the smiles on the faces of the vendors themselves.

I find it especially important to take note of the local restau-rants that take advantage of the promise of the Farmers’

Market. Restaurants are dime-a-dozen in this area. Yet, the utilization of local produce and groceries is unfortunately not as common as many may hope. Eateries and shops such as Wine Country, Sevendipity, and Maxwell’s Market find their unique sensibilities in their selection of local ingredients over the processed, sub-par supplies often seen in the kitchen. Even the food truck Some Like it Hot has room in their micro-kitchen for the choice tastes of the Farmers’ Market. This list isn’t the definitive compilation of organic, local restaurants, and I’m sure there are many other restaurants that utilize area farmers. I cannot, however, overstate the difference in taste when enjoying a meal at these restaurants when compared to others; my knowledge of their organic ingredients certainly helps make the case for their deliciousness. Everyone can ap-preciate local businesses pouring money into local farmers who in turn keep the money in the area. Our economy grows through the circulation of wealth through the area.

Located in the downtown Shreveport Festival Plaza, the Farmers’ Market opens at 7 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, May 31, and continues every Saturday morning until August 30. The market will also be available on Tuesday afternoons from 3 - 6 p.m. through July 15.

Professor Crash Anburn, PhD has spent years finding the proper mixture of whiskey and ancient Native American medicines to help him see into your future and to provide you with the soundest advice the cosmos can bestow upon you. This is not that, but it’s close enough.Gemini (May 22 - June 21) Chinese takeout will be your best friend or your worst enemy.This week: Play it safe and order a pizza from Johnny’s.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) The cute blond at the bar is actually your third cousin. Do it if you want, we won’t tell anyone.This week: Move to Arkansas.

Leo (July 23 -August 21) You have angered the Gods! Make penance before their wrath rains upon you like the hell of a thousand tempests.This week: Learn how to conduct a proper sacrifice ceremony.

Virgo (August 22 – September 23) Just… Just fuck it. Petty drama and all of your responsibilities are beginning to become obnoxious. Be completely irresponsible and immature. This week: Party and sleep, just try not to get fired.

Libra (September 24 – October 23) You will come into great fortune this week and all of your money problems will be solved! Just kidding, you’re still broke.This week: Steal something from Wal-Mart.

Scorpio (October 24 - November 22) Death awaits you. Cancel all plans.This week: You’re not listening, are you?

Sagittarius (November 23 - December 22) No ideas are bad ideas. Don’t think about anything you are doing, just trust your gut.This week: Earn a Darwin Award.

Capricorn (December 23 - January 20) The stars are aligned perfectly. What for? I’m not sure.This week: What do you think I am, some sort of astrologist?

Aquarius (January 21 - February 19) The voices in your head are back aren’t they? You should listen, one of them has some really good points, but the other is playing sick jokes.This week: Try not to talk to the voices in public, it’s a bad look.

Pisces (February 20- March 20) Angry? Can’t keep your thoughts to yourself anymore but you’re afraid of the judgment of other people when you open your mouth? A fake Facebook profile will solve all of your problems as you hide behind a picture of a tough guy. This week: There will be seven days.

Aries (March 21 - April 20) Your stubbornness and sense of entitlement will finally pay off, just keep doing what you are doing.This week: Ignore all warning labels and safety measures, that’s just the man trying to keep you down.

Taurus (April 21 - May 21) Look out! Whew, that was close.This week: Write a thank you letter to Professor Anburn for saving your life. (Look deep into your soul for the address, it dwells with in you.)

Horoscopes By: Professor Crash Anburn, PhD

Amjad Azzawe amjadazzawe@gmail.com

RESIDENTS, RESTAURATEURS READY FOR FARMERS’ MARKET

Photo by Neil Johnson

Heliopolis Volume 2 Issue 11 | May 29, 2014 heliopolissbc.com | #heliopolissbc

What kind of artist are you?I guess the most accurate answer would be a multimedia artist? That’s a tough one to answer. Music and writing came first, and these days I try to keep up those pursuits in addition to working on graphic design projects and abstract, mixed media paintings. However, life in commu-nity and prioritizing holistic health take as much if not more creativity than the traditional art forms, so I consider these things to be artistic endeavors as well.

How long have you lived in Shreveport? 7 years. I moved here to go to Centenary College, graduated in 2011, and am proud to call Shreveport home now.

What gives your art depth and meaning? Always working from a place of empathy, staying aware of the con-nectivity of everything/everyone, always working in layers, respecting Mystery, and integrating a diverse array of influences and information into each project.

If you had unlimited funds, what you do? Build a state-of-the-art makers’ studio in Shreveport for the arts com-munity––complete with a fully equipped recording studio, Mac lab, tool library, woodworking shop, painting and photography studios, meeting rooms, all-purpose maker’s space, and a small cafe to serve local food and beverages. Then make a ton of work in the space!

What’s your favorite place/thing to do in Shreveport-Bossier? Thing: Hang out with my friends and family. Place: Wherever they are.

Also, jogging around the Gilbert loop and hanging out at Rhino Coffee or Sevendipity for solitary time reading, writing, and researching while downing too much coffee. Oh, and I’m enjoying Air U (the new trampo-line warehouse) pretty thoroughly, too!

What’s your favorite color? Deep red, purple, burnt orange, brown, or grey…depending on the day you ask.

What are your favorite colors to use in your art? Why?Burnt Orange: It’s an earthy color that almost pulses with creative en-ergy.

Aqua/Teal: It complements orange and references the fluid movement of water. (And I love the water).

Grey: It’s realistic. So few things in life are black and white…I feel like we live in the grey area maybe even more often than we’re ready to admit.

Deep Red: It’s a passionate and sensual color. Desire and engagement of the 5 senses are fundamental in our lives.

Dark Purple: It’s a color associated with a few things I either find una-voidable or essential to pursue or acknowledge: mystery, lament, and frustration…but also wisdom, balance (as it is equal part red and blue), and dignity. And it’s just easy on the eyes.

White: I like to accent with white as a reference to peace and right-

ness––how things were created to be and will again be one day.

I dig color theory. Obviously.

What was the first piece of art you ever completed? That’s hard to say. We have a box of almost a hundred “books” that I wrote and illustrated as a little kid––most of which I made before I could spell, so that gets entertaining. And the first song I wrote that we have on record was called “My Favorite Boy”––performed during bath time, sung into a cassette recorder, and fondly dedi-cated to my Big Bird bath toy. Also enter-taining.

How, if at all, has the Shreveport-Bossier artistic scene changed while you’ve been working within it? There seems to be a growing community of artists and entrepreneurs who are claiming Shreveport as home and investing in things like the Texas Avenue Maker’s Fair, supporting local venues, and/or starting small businesses. Creativity breeds creativity so it’s encouraging to be here amidst all of that!

If you could be any animal what would you be? A wolf. Strong enough to be pretty independent, but loyal and wise enough to stay together with the pack. Sleek, intuitive, and vocally ex-pressive. (Yes, I’ve thought about this before.)

What does being an artist mean to you? It means being who I’m made to be in the world (I hope). It means I’m committed to pursuing beauty, always looking for ways to transform what’s been broken or painful into something new that restores life to people or a place. It means my job is to pay attention, listen, learn con-stantly, feel, dig deep, and then make some sense of things by making things. And to share what I find. It means I never, ever have an excuse to be bored. It means my mind rarely stops, and the work is hard and sometimes absolutely nerve-wracking, but so fun and fulfilling on the good days. It means I get to connect with some amazing people. And last but definitely not least, it means that I can wear clothes covered in paint in public places and not be embarrassed about it.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist? More than there being a point at which I knew that I wanted to be artist, it’s been a process of discovering that I am already an artist by nature…then embracing that fact and acting on it.

Did you have any idols/role models that helped facilitate this dream? So many. There were numerous people early on––family members, ba-bysitters, older kids at church, etc.–– that either helped to develop my imagination or showed me it was possible to pursue work in the arts. In recent years, I’ve ended up with some amazingly gifted friends who

grow me as an artist just by being around, bouncing ideas back and forth, and collaborating. Better known artists who have probably had the most direct influence on my work are Joni Mitchell, Sandra McCracken, Derek Webb, Patti Smith, and Thomas Merton. I learn from them constantly.

What words of advice would you give to young - or old - people pursuing an artistic life? Don’t settle for easy, dig deep, be vulnerable, get disciplined, embrace a routine, make a lot of work, find a community, commit and stick around. Be brave and keep going. And be generous.

What do you hope people feel from looking at your work? Gain? Experience? First, I hope people would feel. Period. Then I hope they’d realize that they’re not alone––that they’d feel a connection with something or someone that maybe they didn’t before the encounter. I hope they’d ask questions or have new thoughts. I hope they’d feel inspired to go and make some-thing themselves––whether that’s an art piece, a conversa-tion, a journal entry, an apology, a game night, a meal, etc.

What do you like on your hamburger? Or are you vegan?I don’t eat many hamburgers, but when I do I enjoy the heck out of it! Whole wheat bun, cheddar cheese, ketchup, spin-ach, onions, pickles, (and avocado if that’s an option).

You can visit sarahduet.com to see more of Sarah’s work and stay up to date on new projects. Sarah is also on staff at the Yellow House of Highland, an intentional community for young adults and part of Community Renewal International’s work in Shreveport. Visit criyellowhouse.com for more infor-mation or to connect with the Yellow House community.

SARAH DUET: ARTIST PROFILE Compiled by Maegan Daigle

May 29, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 11 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com

GIRLS WITH GLASSES: OLD WORLD GRAPES IN A NEW WORLD STYLEJessica Coburn & Candace D. Gahan

YOUR LIFE COACH: KEEP IT MOVING We’ve all done things that we aren’t so proud of; we’ve made choices prior to this present moment that have us in the position that we’re in now, whether it be good or bad. As human beings, that automatically deems us as “imperfect.” It’s in our nature to make mistakes and believe it or not- that’s actually OK. The problem comes in when you stay stuck on that mistake that you’ve made. It also keeps you stuck in that bad situation, preventing ANY growth.

How do you know that you’re stuck? Here are a few ways to tell:

1. You’re unhappy.You know what it’s like to be truly happy. There was a time in your life when you didn’t have to think about smiling. You felt good about yourself and the people in your life. Your head was clear of the negative chatter that presently goes leading to…

2. What you’ve done is ALWAYS on your mind.Now, it seems as if you’re even harder on yourself than you ever were be-fore. You criticize yourself for every single thing that you do or even think. You play in your head over and over again what you should’ve done, how you should’ve reacted or what you shouldn’t have said.

3. You want things to change.A lot of people feel like just because they want things to change, things will actually change. Truth is, wanting it is not enough. This is the most difficult for some to accept. You must actively make choices and act towards that change you desire! It is very possible to change each of those, but it begins with your mindset. It begins with forgiving yourself for doing what you’ve done. Understand that it is your innate nature to do the very best thing for yourself. You wouldn’t intentionally do anything to hurt yourself or those you love. You did the very best you could do at that time, with the knowledge and re-sources that you had. Give yourself credit! This does take time, but it can be done!

Next, practice living in this present moment. The present is what is hap-pening right here, right now. Living during the time of your bad decision is holding you back from getting to the part in your life where things actually change and get better. That is the ultimate goal! This is something that you must work at and implement daily.

Forgiveness and living in the present moment, in my opinion, are the two most critical actions in moving forward in life. Something that I always say to my clients is, “Release the mistakes of your past. What you do moving forward is all that matters!”

And life is doing that just that - moving forward!

Jasmine Green is a spiritual life coach, journalist, motivational speaker, and entre-preneur located in northwest Louisiana. She is dedicated to helping people reach their full potential and awaken to their purposes in life by utilizing their experiences and faith. Jasmine can be contacted currently through her personal email: jasmine-paige.jg@gmail.com.

Jasmine Green jasminepaige.jg@gmail.com

Tuck Beckstoffer ‘Hogwash’ Rose, Napa, California 2013It’s officially hot as !@$! outside, and nothing does a better job of combating the Louisiana heat like a big, cold glass of rose. At this point you might be thinking, “Umm, no thanks, I don’t drink sweet wine.” But rest assured, doll-face. This isn’t your grandma’s White Zinfandel. Made by Tuck Beckstoffer, one of the leading producers in Napa, this rose is 100 percent Grenache, which is generally a very inexpensive grape to produce, because it grows like a weed, and naturally has intense, fruity flavors without needing much coaxing from the vintner. Because Grenache has a thick, hearty skin, the flavors in this Rose are more intense than, say, one made from Pinot Noir, presenting deep flavors of strawberry, D’Anjou pear, and rose water, with lots of floral notes in the bouquet. There is just a slight note of residual sugar on the finish, but it’s just enough to make you go back for another glass. Rose pairs with just about all cheese, because it is so mild. This one would go well with blue, as the soft acidity would tame the sharpness of the blue mold. If you don’t like blue, try literally any goat cheese, brie, triple cream, or sheep milk. It will be magical. ~ Candace

My friends and I at work are always on the lookout for up and coming winemakers or small production projects that are so high quality they can’t be ignored. We recently picked up four different wines from Curt Schalchlin of Sans Liege Wines, which so far have completely blown me away. Buying and blending grapes seems to be a growing trend, and I’m not complaining in this case. Schalchlin sources his grapes from some of the best appellations in California like Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and Santa Ynes. At $30 a bottle, The Offering is a Rhône-style blend of 48 percent Grenache, 29 percent Syrah, 21 percent Mourvedre, and 2 percent Viognier. This wine hits the nail on the head with rich dark fruit flavors, smoky meat and mushroom aromas, with an overall smooth and very satisfying mouth-feel. All his wines have appealing artistic labels inspired by Dante’s Inferno that mirror the complex and poetic juice within. ~ Jessica

Girls With Glasses will be hosting a grand rose tasting, Stop and Smell the Rose, on June 18, 4-7 p.m. at Wine Country Bistro & Bottle Shop, located at 4801 Line Ave., where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation, an ongoing charity event at Wine Country for the month of June on all rose sales. $15 a person, and a special discount will be given on all

wines poured during the event.

Heliopolis Volume 2 Issue 11 | May 29, 2014 heliopolissbc.com | #heliopolissbc

“Shrimpdogs,” transformative life moments, bitchy reality show girls, long-winded parental texts, and jarring memories were all cre-atively expressed in short-story format at the first incarnation of the All Y’all storytelling event on March 8.

The theme “New Round Here” introduced audience members to the interesting characters that make up the community of Shreve-port-Bossier City. Local creative forces Sara Hebert and Chris Jay are behind the All Y’all podcast and live storytelling series that continues on June 14 with the theme: “Mistakes Were Made.”

“We picked that theme after talking to our pal Jim Noetzel about his time in the service as a B52 pilot,” said Hebert. “He’ll be one of our storytellers that night, along with six other amazing people we’ve gotten to know over the past few years.”

With a title like “Mistakes Were Made,” prepare for comedy-of-er-rors anecdotes alongside sobering life lessons, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

“We created All Y’all to document the zany, often unbelievable characters who populate the Shreveport-Bossier City region and to allow the city to tell its story in its own words,” said Jay.

Live music from Twang Darkly will complement the evening be-tween storytellers; a cash bar provided by Thrifty Liquor will be on hand for patrons over 21, and snacks will be available during inter-mission. “Mistakes Were Made” is a one night only event, though you will be able to listen to the audio on their website and find it for free in the iTunes store, in podcast form. However, with the event being just $10, there’s no reason to not see it in person.

“We’ve been trying to find interesting spaces to have the storytell-ing events and [the Bossier Arts Council] really stepped up to help us have it at the East Bank Theater,” said Hebert. “It used to be the old city jail and courthouse for Bossier City. The space just seemed to fit the theme perfectly.” When: Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m.Where: Bossier Art Council’s East Bank TheatreTickets: $10 Advance tickets are available at http://www.allyallblog.com/tickets/ (89 tickets left as this article is written!)More: allyallblog.com; facebook.com/allyallblog

Make Some Mistakes (Or Just Hear About Them) at the All Ya’ll storytelling event

.06.06

Garrett K. Johnson gjohnsonlsu@gmail.com

WHAT IS SHREVEPORT? FINDING OUR CITY’S IDENTITYWhat is Shreveport to you?

To most of us, it is home; for others it’s a stop along the way, and in both cases that can be an unfortunate situation or a happy surprise.

But what is Shreveport to the outside world? How are we perceived by the people around us? All the “Great Cities of the South” have an identity that can be summed up in the confines of a postcard; Memphis, TN: the birthplace of rock ‘n roll and BBQ. Austin, Texas: Live Music Capitol of the World. New Orleans, LA: Jazz, blues, food, Mardi Gras, and the list goes on.

Shreveport, LA? Home of… Some Casinos? Birthplace of… Terry Bradshaw? Shreveport, Louisiana: Elvis Played Here Once!

I’ve never heard it described to me accurately, none better than, “Shreveport: It’s Not That Bad.” (24/7 Wall St. recently dubbed us the 8th most miserable city in

America, maybe we should go with that?)

Shreveport is a lot of things. There are many sides to this city and a fairly large number of clearly defined groups of people. In reality, we have strong traits of East Texas, with highlights of South Louisiana and a splash of something else. But, to East Texans and other surrounding areas, we are probably best known for our casinos and bars that stay open way too late.

Shreveport-raised artist Jared Leo says it’s kind of tough to pinpoint. “The longer I live here, I notice there is different groups of people that have so many various opinions of [Shreveport]. But as a port… it’s pretty much a melting pot.”

In order for this city to become one of the Great Cities of the South, or maybe in the course of doing so, Shreveport has to develop its own true identity, one that is understandable and accurate. Frankly, one that is marketable. That identity can’t piggyback on New Orleans or Austin or Dallas; it

has to convey something that is unique.

Spencer Teekell asteekell@gmail.com

Sara Hebert MC’ing the previous All Y’all Event, “New Round Here.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

I’Etranger by Talbot Hopkins, 2011

May 29, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 11 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com

May 29, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 11 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com .07.07

“It’s a platform for artists to interact with,” explained Alan Dyson of his big (16’x16’x11’), black stage and frame. It is called Por-tal. Tightly constructed by Lawhon Myers Builders, it was re-cently installed in Shreveport Common near 836 Texas Ave. It’s in the open area to be developed as Caddo Park.

“My influences are Richard Serra and James Turrell,” said Dy-son, who is a successful designer (Shoppes at Bellemead, Ristorante Giuseppe, etc.) as well as musician (Planet Unity Or-chestra, “Louisiana Jive,” etc.), and visual artist (“Look but don’t touch,” East Bank Gallery, 2013).

“Portal was intended for the Oakland Cemetery, but the ‘Friends of the Oakland Cemetery,’ felt that the structural requirements could result in the disturbance of remains. The final location was determined by negotiation with SRAC.”

“SPAR is interested in relocating the piece to a city park after the year-long tenure in the common is complete,” added Dyson.

“We used the black background of Portal as a backdrop for photographing our Softie ladies, a doll-size series,” said Kathryn Usher. “It turned out well. I think Portal can be useful, but the challenge is that the population in Shreveport Common is so light. But photographers and videographers should enjoy using it. Maybe someone making a LA Film Prize movie will use it.”

Dyson hopes it will be used by poets, visual artists, and oth-ers as a frame for their work. Visitors to the Calanthean Canyon musical houses, 1001 Texas Ave, will find that Portal and the Steve Olson skate-board sculpture are nearby and are cool spots for snaps. “The chal-lenge for both,” believes Usher, “is that they’re pretty big. They’re not the right size for self-ies.”

Dan Keele, of the Texas Ave Com-munity Assoc, sees Portal as, “a viewfinder of things to come, a focal point for future presentations.”

There are a lot of great things about this area. In a lot of ways it is the crossroads of the South, with many great cities just hours away and all roads leading here. The land provides the sportsman with game and fish, the food is soulful and eclectic, and the music and art, while underdeveloped, is strong and unique. Cultural traditions and southern hospitality are, in many ways, alive and well.

It is also a city divided along racial boundaries, troubled with crime, and a shrinking economy, and always plagued with the idea that there is not much to do here. Young artists and innovators are drawn away at first chance by the allure of open minds and fresh faces, and most without a fortune to inherit don’t take much joy in the idea of settling down in Shreveport. The city continues its outward sprawl, building new and cheaper places to house the next round of imported endeavors, while older areas are just left to decay, not worth the effort of refurbishing. Regardless of history, a building will usually be torn down or left to rot in favor of a cheaper, easier way to manage it. As the city decentralizes and fractures off into many different entities, so does the identity of the city as a whole.

Jennifer Hill moved to Shreveport from Pennsylvania in 2012. “Once we realized it was in the opposite corner of Louisiana from New Orleans, we weren’t enthused about moving here. I only could think of Shreveport in terms of what little I knew about Louisiana, which I knew were shallow stereotypes, but I had trouble dismissing them from my mind.”

She offered her fresh perspective on the identity of Shreveport. “Outside the Highland area, it seems people are pretty detached from the idea of Shreveport as a certain city. They live in their enclaves and commute to and from work and raise their families and they don’t seem to really be interested in what Shreveport is as a city to them -- that maybe they should be involved in making a special place.”

Robert E. Trudeau Trudeau11@gmail.com

Shooting people pics downtown? See the Texas Ave. “Portal” by Alan Dyson

SHREVEPORT’S IDENTITY CONTINUED

READ THE FULL STORY ONLY AT HELIOPOLISSBC.COM

Heliopolis Volume 2 Issue 11 | May 29, 2014 heliopolissbc.com | #heliopolissbc

29 | THURSDAY All Shook Up the Musical @ Shreveport Little Theater Through June 14: Cheesecake Girls artspace (710 Texas St., Shreveport) 30 | SATURDAY Seratones, Bass Line Bums and Don’t Forget Your Dinosaur Bear’s (1401 Fairfi eld Ave., Shreveport)

31 | SAT Rib Tip express BBQ cook out at Columbia park Columbia Park, Shreveport • 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Shreveport Farmers’ Market Festival Plaza (101 Crockett St., Shreveport) • 7 a.m. - Noon

Lulu and the Vipers @ Bears Hwy Lions @ Tiki Bar 639 Kings Hwy., Shreveport • 10 p.m. Explitive, Milk Carton Mafi a, Fields of Elysium, Eat a Helicopter, and Astringency @ Back 2 Back Quiet Company (ATX) + The Bristol Hills LIVE @ Chicago2 | MONDAY Jack White @ Municipal Auditorium3 | TUESDAY Firestarter (NY), Ampersand (NJ), Far From Proper (NY) @ Naked Bean Cafe! 451 Kings Hwy., Shreveport • 6 p.m. • $5

6 | FRIDAY I Took Off Work and Came All The Way Down Here: The Art of Wayne White artspace • 6 p.m.

8 | SUNDAY COMA FEST with LUST OF DECAY NC, COATHANGER ABORTION TN, CANCER WHORE and DEVANGILIC from ITALY Big D’s BBQ (101 Common St., Shreveport) • 6 p.m.

Shreveport Welcomes the TEXAS 4000 Reception Shreveport Water Works Museum (142 N. Common St., Shreveport) • 1 - 3 p.m.

14 | SATURDAY All Y’all: Mistakes Were Made (see page 6 for story) Bossier Arts Council (630 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City) • 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Krigblast (Ft. Members of Leftover Crack and D.R.I. and Phobia ) + Ionike + Caanan (AR)+ Wartrodden! Back 2 Back • 750 Diamond Jacks Blvd., Bossier City

CALENDAR OF EVENTSMay/June 2014

Our pet of the week is Smoothie, who has been up for adoption for more than a month at Caddo Parish Animal Services. He is neutered, about 4 years old, and is a medium sized dog. Smoothie is alert, friendly, and would make a good house

dog, as he is not hyper. He is a great dog for a family -- even a family without

previous experience with dogs. If you are interested in adopting this perfect guy, call

Caddo Parish Animal Services at (318) 226-6624.