volume 2, issue 12

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

STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINERS ON

TEXAS AVE.

PG 7

FREE

JARED LEEAUX:ARTIST PROFILE

PG 4

FROM CALI TO SBC: TRANSPLANTING JIM

HAYES

PG 3

Heliopolis Volume 2 Issue 12 | June 12, 2014 heliopolissbc.com | #heliopolissbc

Heliopolis StaffEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Karen E. Wissing [email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGERSpencer Teekell

[email protected]

CONTENT EDITORSNick Flowers

nickfl [email protected] Fontaine

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS Amjad AzzaweRobyn Bradley

Michael Cade ChreeneJessica Coburn

Chris DeRosiaReed Ebarb

Candace D. GahanJasmine GreenJohn Hampson

Regan HornGarrett Johnson

Chris LyonLandon Miller

Ryan MustaphaRobert E. Trudeau

PHOTOGRAPHERSCasey Habich

Robert E. Trudeau

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

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Heliopolis (He • li • op • o • lis):The name given to the snagboat

belonging to Captain Henry Miller Shreve. Visit us online @ heliopolissbc.com

Cover & inside art by Jared Leeaux // Artist Profile pg 4

June 12, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 12 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com

As I pulled around the back side of a building on Kings Highway, I wondered if I was in the right place. The ad-dress was correct, but the run-down building didn’t seem like it could be home to one of the most cutting-edge workshops in northwest Louisiana. But, as I parked, it became clear that I was where I was supposed to be be-cause the chassis of two old hot rods, sitting in various states of completeness, were parked next to the garage door. I entered LA House of Props through the back and was greeted by some of the staff, who were already pre-paring for the day’s work.

The man I had come to see was running a bit behind, having needed to run an errand for his son. While I waited for him to arrive, one of the workshop staff flipped through a photo album showing me all the work that they had done in the last seven years. There was another old scrapbook dating further back than that. I was struck by the vast quantity of recognizable builds I was seeing and was about to comment about how extensive the work was when I heard my name.

Jim Hayes, a tall, slender, bald, inked man, stood in the doorway. His tat-toos would be at home on the cars in the parking lot, but the first thing I or anyone else will notice about Jim is his gigantic smile which was there to greet me, as always. I shook his hand and he gave me the dime tour of his workshop - a print room, a molding room, wood shop, storage - 10,000 square feet that would be any construction artist’s dream.

Once we got through the winding corridors back to his office, he swung around a chair for me to sit in and we began talking. I’ve known Jim for over 4 years. He built props for my short film “Stay with Me” in 2010 and has been collaborating with Centenary Department of Art and Visual Cul-ture Chair, Bruce Allen, who I knew from my time at the Robinson Film Center. In all that time, I’ve never sat down to hear Jim’s story - back before he lived in Shreveport. I was dying to know why he had chosen our city as a place to set up shop, to raise his family - to live. I pulled out my phone to record and sat down, taking no notes, but really absorbing his enthusiasm, his energy as he spoke excitedly.

Jim was born in Oceanside, California at Camp Pendleton where his father was stationed as a first division marine after serving in World War II. When he was 13, his parents divorced, and he and his mother moved from Oak-land, CA to live with family in Los Angeles where he would spend his time working on metal sculptures and hot rods. These formative years would shape Jim’s style and perspective on life. “I was probably too mellow for California at that time. They were concerned about various things [like Vi-

etnam]. I was easy-come-easy-go. Very laid back,” he recounted. Over the years he found his way into the film industry working at Hand Prop Room, creating props for movies like Dr. Evil’s chair for the Austin Powers series, weapon designs for “The Scorpion King,” and many, many more.

In 2007, Jim came to Shreveport for what was supposed to be a one-time trip to support the industry transition to Louisiana. But during his stay, something changed this. “I told my then-girlfriend, now-wife, Christine that this was it,” he said leaning forward in his chair, “There was so much potential and opportunity.” He and Christine moved almost immediately and placed their son, Walker, at A.C. Steere that same year. With the film industry burgeoning, Jim opened LA House of Props, and there was a lot of work to go around. Remember that this was the same year which saw the releases of films like “Pride,” “The Great Debaters,” “Cleaner,” “The Mist,” “Premonition,” and “Mr. Brooks.”

Back then, Shreveport’s film industry was hot in a way that’s hard to fath-om even for those of us who were here, working in and around the indus-try at the time. But Hayes saw something beyond the temporary boom, speaking to the potential of Shreveport’s future. “It’s more than just big fish in a small pond. The proportion of artists and art enthusiasts is huge. It’s like ‘He can play guitar and she can sing and they can do sculpture or whatever’ and that kind of density and enthusiasm is hard to find.”

A few years later, Jim was working on a SyFy channel film called “Man-drake” (2010) when he was asked to move from being a props designer to take on the role of production designer. This swept him into a whirlwind job of managing props and developing the on-set look of the film. “It was nonstop. I was running here and there, one minute at the props table, another making decisions about set design and working with wardrobe which is not typically what a production designer would do. It paid very little in comparison to the work, but it was a lot of fun.”

Professor Crash Anburn, PhD has just returned from a voyage in space where he consulted the stars personally. This was in an effort to make back some of his recent gambling losses before the bookie gets to him, but since he was there he picked up some information about your future, too.Gemini (May 22 - June 21) Everything is not as it seems. Reality is not so real. Could be those mushrooms you found in the field.This week: Expand your miiiiind maaaaan.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) A caring soul will buy you dinner at a restaurant, and then steal your wallet.

This week: Ugh! Now you have to go thef f***ing DMV!

Leo (July 23 -August 21) All your years of hard work and planning will suddenly come to fruition. Just go ahead and quit your job and tell your boss what you think.This week: You’re supposed to count your chickens before they hatch, right? Yeah, do that.

Virgo (August 22 – September 23) It’s not that bad really. It looks … fine. You’ll get used to it.This week: Keep telling yourself that.

Libra (September 24 – October 23) Two weeks and that thing still hasn’t gone away. Probably time to get that checked out and hope for the best.This week: Quarantine.

Scorpio (October 24 - November 22) You’re the King

(or Queen) of the world! Have others bow at your feet as they bask in the magical glory that is you.This week: Act like Leo DiCaprio in Titanic. (Before he dies a horrible death, of course.)

Sagittarius (November 23 - December 22) Hit on Miss Liberty, under the cherry tree, drunk on hypocrisy.This week: Listen to OFF!

Capricorn (December 23 - January 20) Trying to decide between two things will have you completely immobilized for a long period of time as you labor in extreme anguish and indecision over something utterly trivial and irrelevant. So look forward to that.This week: For Christ’s sake, just pick one already!

Aquarius (January 21 - February 19) That’s not chocolate.

This week: Then what the hell is it?

Pisces (February 20- March 20) Ladies, those booty shorts you are rocking for summer are going to cause a massive traffic accident on Youree Drive. Fellas, you’re probably in the accident… you can try to blame her, but it’s your fault.This week: Dress responsibly, eyes on the road.

Aries (March 21 - April 20) Open your nose and love will find its way into your heart- in the form of greasy cholesterol.This week: Renew that gym membership you’ve never used.

Taurus (April 21 - May 21) Well, the universe has not been kind to anyone’s immediate future this week. You think you’re special? We wouldn’t count on it.This week: Become a master of origami.

Horoscopes By: Professor Crash Anburn, PhD

Chris Lyon [email protected]

FROM CALI TO SBC: TRANSPLANTING JIM HAYES

Jim Hayes of LA House of Props / photo by Chris Lyon

CONTINUED PG 7


You might have seen him on the streets of Shreveport drawing portraits of anyone interested or just doodling around, but local artist Jared Leeaux is more than a caricature artist. His pen and ink characters and color pencil designs come to life on paper, on walls and in his clothing line Threeof-cups. We caught up with Jared to ask all the hard hitting questions.

What do you like on your hamburger? Or are you vegan?Pizza. Avocados. Ice cream. Fruit shakes. Denny’s.

Good answer. So, what kind of artist are you? I would like to call myself a “raw visual” artist. A lot of what I create has connect-ed with me in some form or another. Usually I’m able to have an explanation of my actions or why I used a certain color scheme. I use visual art to express.

How long have you lived in Shreveport? Since I was in grade school, about 1993, 1994, 1995, I don’t know, haha, some things are best left unsure.

What’s your favorite place/thing to do in Shreveport-Bossier? I honestly do not have a favorite place to hang out at except Stray Cat bar on spur of the moment lonely nights when my mind gets the best of me.

What’s your favorite color? I do not have a favorite color, but if I had to chose, it would be... ... ...red? maybe black? I really like yellow... and cyan blue, orange is cool too…

What are your favorite colors to use in your art? Why?Hmm. That is a tough question, I seriously let the art speak to me, then I ap-ply the color, or if I have a preset pallet, it usually includes: browns, grays, and yellows.

What was the first piece of art you ever completed? When I was about 5 or 6, I drew the sky-line out of a hotel.

If you had unlimited funds, what would you do? This. Question. Here. IF I HAD THIS, I would be creating a network of organic farms in a lot of major cities, creating community projects involving farming, bee farming, and art programs that encourage those, no matter what age, to CREATE. Along with the entertainment side, there will be seasonal festivals year round that cater to all ages. As the funds would be unlimited, my ideas would match. The main goals though would bring community together. That is highly important in this day and age.

What does being an artist mean to you? Being an artist is seriously my life. I do not know too many who have dedicated their life to just art and creation. At least for my age group and what I’ve been exposed to. All I really know is art. It is my release from this realm. It is my gift. It is my duty to create. If I’m not creating, I don’t know what I’m doing. It helps me connect with people on many levels, and brings smiles to people when I share

or give art to them. That alone is just too beautiful to me.

How, if at all, has the Shreveport-Bossier ar-tistic scene changed while you’ve been working within it? It has drastically changed. I can honestly say from growing up here until about last year, if some-one said, “art scene,” I would have thought they were joking or just really excited about ArtBreak. I guess the time is prime for the creative souls be recognized. It’s been highly supportive lately and I really like the direc-tion it is headed. Please tell SRAC to never stop what they are doing.

You have created a character that appears in a lot of your work. What can you tell us about that character and how it came to be? His name is JEAN (pronounced Jon) French. This is a story I would love to share:

When I recently got situated in my friends place, I was sitting alone and looking through some art that I needed to finish in order to try and sell them and pay some rent. I was staring at a basically empty sheet of paper, with the only thing

on it being a hand with a little eye in the center. I was filled with drive to com-plete this and make something of that page. To not give up and to finish what I started. That is a big deal with me; so, swiftly I began on

that page to knock it out. I drew another hand/ turned it into an antler, and then gave it a body, and this nameless character appeared.

I went about two weeks without a name for him until I went to this event. This band from France came through our city named JEAN JEAN and performed at Back to Back Bar in Bossier City. I was instantly a fan... I connected with the members and… even drew self portraits of all three of the members. They were such a lively group.

I guess around that time I was going through a weird mental phase as this lone-some, but not lonesome character was appearing in my art. The timing of when I named him just seemed to match up. As JEAN JEAN was an explosive band, JEAN (a single), is a work of art contained in a single form.

He is more than just a little image to me; I could say we relate in appearance. Or mentality. Friends would explain what they see in him, and I would always get back, “He looks like he’s seen a lot, to be quite a loner,” I would respond, “Yeah, he has been around for a while, just watches the human race do their little hustle and bustle.”

I’m making him into a comic right now, to further express how I see JEAN. Along with limited edition t-shirts that will pop in and out of IIIofcups (Threeof-cups). We had our first feature of JEAN on tees within the same month he was created.

He will be the next “Blue Dog” figure but better; he will have a personality that many could relate to.

What do you hope people feel from looking at your work? Gain? Experi-ence? I hope they feel what I felt while creating it. When I give out special doodles with some of my thoughts written out on them, they have been relating to the person who received the gift. It’s actually really astonishing. That lets me know I have a serious connection with this gift. I don’t take it for granted.

I want people to gain a story from me, about me, whatever, I just want them to enjoy the work.

Everyone has their own experience, from what I’ve witnessed lately, and it’s a beautiful thing to see/take part in.

If you could be any animal what would you be? Turtle. A giant tortoise.

See, all the hard questions. Thanks, man.

Check out Jared’s work and clothing at facebook.com/threeofcupsclothing. Read his full profile at heliopolissbc.com.

JARED LEEAUX: ARTIST PROFILECompiled by Spencer Teekell

I want people to gain a story from me, about me, whatever, I just want them to enjoy the work. Everyone has their own experience, from what I’ve witnessed lately, and it’s a beautiful thing to see/take part in. -Jared Leeaux


Girls with Glasses: My Essential Rosé & Lago Cerqueira Vinho Verde Jessica Coburn & Candace D. Gahan

YOUR LIFE COACH: THE GREATEST RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN HAVEJasmine Green [email protected]

My Essential Rosé, Provence, FranceI’m not a lover of Louisiana’s infamous summer heat, but one thing that makes it easier for me to bear the SBC summertime is rosé season. My favorite region for such is Provence in southern France, known for two things: lavender and rosé. Many vintners grow duplicate crops, one after the grape harvest to keep the soil arable, and in the case of Provence, this makes anytime a good time for a visit. The lavender, outside of normal growing season, blankets the countryside in vivid purple, and it is absolutely beautiful. I don’t know if it’s just the placebo effect, but anytime I drink wine from this region, I smell hints of lavender against the light strawberry. Very crisp and clean, the My Essential Rosé is a beautifully crafted representation of what one can expect from the southern shores of France. I also love the philosophy of the winemaker, Richard Bates, who says, “Wine is a grocery, not a luxury.” At $14 a bottle, he allows this beautiful wine to be just that. -Candace 2013, Lago Cerqueira Vinho Verde RoséMy latest Rosé find took me to Portugal (not literally but in my mind). The Lago Cerqueira is a Vinho Verde Rosé. The term “Vinho Verde” translates to “green wine” but it actually has multiple meanings; it is a regulated wine region in northern Portugal, so you’ll see “D.O.C.” or “Denominação de Origem Controlada” on the label, and vinho verde is also one style of winemaking practiced in this region that uses a blend of five to six grape varietals. The grapes are usually harvested before they fully ripen, which gives these wines lower alcohol content, 10 percent in this case, and the early picking encourages a secondary fermentation in the bottle which makes the wine have a slight fizz when it’s poured. Bartender at Wine Country Bistro Abbie Reynolds said, “Lago has been flying off the shelf since we put it on our ‘By The Glass’ list last [week]. It’s got a slight effervescence and subtle fruit flavors that are perfect for easy drinking.” My ideal pairing for this wine (or at least what I’m craving after tasting it) is tacos or something spicy to offset the dryness and crisp fruit flavors. At $15.99, you can afford to cool off with this rosé all summer. -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.

Candace (left) is a wine geek at Wine Country Bistro & Bottle Shop in Shreveport, where she peddles fine wine and artisan cheese. Her favorite local spots are Rhino Coffee, Great Raft Brewery, and Day Old Blues Records. Email her your wine questions at [email protected].

Jessica is a native Texan and a self-proclaimed oenophile who enjoys curling up with a good book, a glass of wine, and her cat (usually all at the same time). She can be found selling wine and cheese

in the bottle shop of Wine Country Bistro during the week and, on her days off, biking along the riverfront and checking out local hot spots around Shreveport. Email her your wine questions at [email protected].

You’ve heard this over and over again; you are your worst critic. It’s good to have an inner voice which helps you evaluate what you could’ve done better, or for that matter, what you shouldn’t have done at all. The problem occurs when that worst critic grows into a worst enemy. Whether it is your weight, job performance, creativity, relationships, or - just wait for this one - your goals.

We get into a habit of being really hard on ourselves, more than we should be, and it in turn doesn’t help us to be better people. We tear ourselves down to a point where we accept other people tearing us down as well. That, in my opinion, is unhealthy and can lead to an even bigger problem - abuse.

The most important relationship you can have is the one you build and nurture with yourself. Most of the time, we invest a lot more time, energy, and emotion into the relationships we’ve formed with other people; forgetting that we are not only just as important, but significantly more. Think about it. If a friend confesses to you that they’ve made a big mistake, you don’t harshly criticize them. You fill them in on what a good person they are and try to make them feel better. What about you? How is it you can be so supportive, loving, kind, and even patient with others, but not yourself?

It’s time to turn that frenemy you have inside of yourself into your very best friend. Spend some time with yourself to understand more of what you don’t like and what you do. Be more patient with yourself, knowing that you aren’t perfect; and that you wouldn’t dare intentionally hurt yourself. When you set goals, become more confident that you have what it takes to be successful, and to be nicer to yourself. You are the foundation of everything that you do and you must ensure that you develop a relationship with yourself that you can benefit from. After all, you are the maker of your own success!

ALIEN JAWS BATMAN 6.27.14 7.25.14 8.22.14

Trivia at 8:30pm Movie at 10:00pm

A new program featuring trivia, giveaways,drink specials, preshows, and your favorite movies

only at theRobinson Film Center

Moviesauce and Heliopolispresent


The Shreve Memorial Library in downtown Shreveport is one of my favorite places. Having grown up in the second fl oor collections, I am constantly blown away by how much Shreve Memorial Library has grown up with me in the Information Age.

Last week, I had been searching all over town for the current issue of Foreign Aff airs magazine with no luck in sight, until I nearly slapped myself for not checking the library fi rst. Sure enough, they had exactly what I needed - and like every trip I make to the library, I happened upon at least fi ve other things I didn’t know I was even looking for until I had gone and browsed around!

One great thing that I discovered was that Shreve Memorial Library off ers a service called Zinio that allows patrons to “check out” magazines online and use with PC/Mac, Kindle, iOS, and Android– but you never have to return them! Unfortunately, they don’t off er Foreign Aff airs through this service, but I was able to download the latest issues of National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Popular Science.

Not only can you check out the latest issues of your favorite magazines, but you can download back issues from the archive. If you’re a current magazine subscriber, or want to fi nish that interesting article you found in the waiting room, check out Zinio today and see if you can save yourself some money – you only need a Shreve Memorial Library card!

“I knew there were some digital services provided by Shreve Memorial Library, such as e-books being available through their website, but I didn’t know the extent of those services until I actually sat down and browsed through them,” said Rachel Wilson, a graduate student at LSU Shreveport. “I’m very impressed, particularly with Mango languages, and I will defi nitely be using this service and others in the future.”

In the age of digital streaming music services, most won’t go further than Pandora, Spotify or iTunes to get their fi x. But did you know that you can download DRM-free .mp3’s from Shreve Memorial Library’s Freegal music service? Even Lil’ Jon’s pop craze “Turn Down For What” and Santana’s latest album Corazón are available for download. You can select up to 3 tracks per day, but why wouldn’t you want to come back often and see what else is available?

If you have children, you can even fi nd animated, talking picture books through the Tumblebooks service. If they’re older (or if you’re planning a vacation soon), you can also learn up to 61 languages through the Mango service. Or even get help from a live tutor with Shreve Memorial Library’s Online Homework Assistance program in math, science, social studies, or English. Computer training courses can get you up to speed and details can be found on Shreve Memorial Library’s website.

If you’re addicted to your e-reader, (and I don’t blame you!) you can also load up on e-books, audiobooks, music, and videos through Shreve Memorial Library’s Overdrive service. Now, there’s no reason to claim that Shreve Memorial Library is too far away, limited in their off erings, or costs too much (wait, who says that?). Right now, you can get online and check Shreve-Lib.org to get that next item on your wish list, catch up while you’re on the move, or discover something new. Did I mention that they have George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series available?

So what’s stopping you from visiting your local Shreve Memorial Library branch or their website (Shreve-Lib.org) today?

DOWNTOWN LIBRARY OFFERS ZINIO, FREEGAL (AKA DRM-FREE .MP3S AKA FREE DOWNLOADS), MANGO

.06.06

John Hampson [email protected]

Shreve Memorial Library, located downtown at 424 Texas St. / Photo by yahcatpotos on fl ickr


June 12, 2014 | Volume 2 Issue 12 Heliopolis #heliopolissbc | heliopolissbc.com .07.07

“People are doing fun things with 20-foot shipping containers all over the globe,” says Brandon Oldenburg, creative director of a series of events in Shreveport Common called UNSCENE!. “We wanted to supply the same kind of canvas for our local artists. I love seeing the diversity in creative vision for these things.”

The industrial containers, the sort that are stacked 15 high on globe-girdling container ships, arrived at 837 Texas Ave in time for UNSCENE!/TACA’s Mak-ers Fair.

The first residents included artist Su Stella, whose display included a black light rear Voodoo room. Also a pioneer was Emily Daye, whose sparkling vi-sion melded clouds and blue sky canvas wall paper with a series of student desks - each containing pencils, paper, etc., in the drawers. “This classroom scene came to me in a dream,” she said with a convincing smile. Kids and adults participated in her display by making sketches and writing notes in the 20’ classroom.

Amanda Rowe, a Natchitoches-based painter and sculptor, created a star-tling scene of death masks integrated into ominous clouds above a cracked-egg humanoid surrounded by gilded guns and ammo. It was “Humpty in the dumps. Falling off a wall and spilling golden violence,” she noted.

This month Nicola Medley Ballard is creating an art lounge; she’s using wooden shipping pallets. “It’s a pallet patio for our party,” she said. Painter Jeormie Journell is calling his Animal Art Trap. He has of late produced detailed and realistic paintings of rats, a rooster, and an opossum. Journell will be selling T shirts that cannily evoke the basic rat trap logo. The trap company he has created is called Ratchet City.

Robert Trudeau will be opening a gallery show called Swanky Shreveport. It will be filled with “affordable prints of my pen and ink sketches, matted and ready to go on the wall.”

The newest container artists’ debut date is Friday, June 20. That’s the night that UN-SCENE! will mount a feast ($35 ticket) called Rich Table in the nearby Mu-nicipal Auditorium. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if the artists have a soft opening on Thurs, June 19, 5 p.m.

Shreveport Regional Arts Council, sponsors of the containers, want the artists to open the steel boxes as often as possible. Artists are encouraged to produce parties and special events of any UnExpected sort, since they are part of UNSCENE!, an attempt by SRAC to bring fresh, art-fueled life to Texas Ave.

That same year Hayes would meet Brandon Oldenburg, who had just started Moonbot Studios - the now-famous animation production house - with Shreveport legend William Joyce. Bill and Brandon were creating a short called “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” and asked Jim to build the miniature sets and environments for the film. “I had never done miniatures before, but my experience with cars and models helped me with the sense of scale they wanted,” he recalled. The short would famously go on to win Shreveport’s first Oscar and launch Moon-bot into a national brand which saw another collaboration with Hayes on Chipotle Mexican Grill’s award-winning ad and cautionary narrative “The Scarecrow” three years later.

Even before his collaborations with Moonbot, Jim had begun expanding his shop’s focus from film to interactive and atmospheric installations. He and his team would shape spaces like the Robinson Film Center’s Abby Singer’s Bistro or the Norton Art Gallery basement, which was transformed into a New Orleans-inspired place of learning and inspiration. House of Props was tapped to design the whole of the interior of Twisted Root Burger Co. on Line Avenue which features a drum set hanging from the ceiling as a kind of chandelier accompanying a guitar-adorned bar.

Jim and his cohorts have aimed high to transform Shreveport’s always-enthusiastic, but sometimes-lackluster community of businesses into spaces with real atmosphere and bravado. This effort continues today as he looks to work with (and I’ll go ahead and add “inspire,” because it’s true) local artists to build on the wave that’s been rising in Shreveport since the late ‘90s. He and I even got off on a tangent about Shreveport artists claiming to be suppressed by the apparent dominating effect of “Old Shreveport” and new. Jim finds that excuse less than acceptable, saying “If you want to do something, don’t let someone tell you ‘no.’ It’s up to you. Letting other people say you can or can’t is giving up your pow-er to create and that’s a shame. If you can’t get started yourself, go help someone else. Go help UNSCENE! or help with someone’s [Louisiana] Film Prize project. Working your mind is a great way to get the creative juices flowing where you can use that momentum to do your own stuff.”

I agree wholeheartedly. And no one could be a more shining example of coming from the outside in, and seeing the potential of this city and con-tributing to its vibrancy than Jim Hayes. It’s difficult to imagine Shreveport without him - a man who has shaped, sometimes under the radar, some of the most iconic spaces and artistic works in town, all contributing so much to raising the bar of community aesthetic and artistic energy. Jim continues his work with film today in addition to his inhabitable art and design work which he says takes up more and more of his time. Finding work is no longer difficult, and he prides himself on working on projects that he really loves. “Anyone can do this - create for a living - if they really want to. If you do work you are proud of, people see that… I just like doing what makes me happy.”

Robert E. Trudeau [email protected]

Industrial art sites in downtown Shreveport: steel shipping containers on Texas Ave.

HAYES CONTINUED

COMEDY COMPETITION AT BACK 2 BACKRegan Horn [email protected] the culture that defines our city, SBC has a comedy scene that locals are working hard to improve. You may think you are funny in social gatherings, but are you capable of delivering a killer routine that will make people fall out of their seats? Christopher Washburn of Bossier City says he feels like a rock star when there’s any number of people in the room that he can make laugh. Telling funny stories is something Washburn works hard at, and having the chance to perform regularly is a rare commodity for the Ark-La-Tex region. Washburn wishes more venues would provide the stage time to Shreveport-Bossier comedians. Thankfully, for Washburn and others, SBC comedians host a competition every summer; this year you can find them in front of the lights, cameras, and audience at Back 2 Back bar on Diamond Jacks Blvd. every Wednesday in June. Nine comedians will try to make you chuckle, including comics from Tyler, Lafayette, and Texarkana. The top three each week will be chosen by a panel of judges and advance to the finals on June 25 to compete for a $600 prize. Last week’s first place winner was Brandon Davidson of Tyler, who expressed the tremendous appeal of traveling here to do stand-up. Washburn slid into second place this week, while Jesse Capps of Texarkana slipped into third. David Allen of Shreveport battled Mac McMillan of Lafayette in a four minute lightning round to qualify for the wildcard; McMillan the victor. The SBC comics welcome out-of-towners such as Davidson, saying that everybody wants to be the funniest, but bringing comedians in only helps to promote the events and provides diversity. We are the hub of Ark-La-Tex comedy!

Anyone that wants to try their hand at comedy is welcome to make a fool of themselves in front of total strangers; no one is stopping you.

For those of us who are allergic to the stage, Back 2 Back provides a laid back atmosphere and plenty of dark corners to listen to our local comedians tell their tales. The cover is $5, and there are whole pickles for sale.

Clockwise from top left: Ballard, work by Journell; Trudeau’s “Creswell King’s”


13 | FRIDAY addyArt@Noble Savage Through June 14: Cheesecake Girls artspace (710 Texas St., Shreveport)

South Highlands Summer Market @ Mall St. Vincent 1133 St. Vincent Ave., Shreveport • 5 - 9 p.m.

14 | SATURDAY FREE Brewery Tour at Great Raft Brewing 1251 Dalzell St., Shreveport • 1, 2, & 3 p.m.

All Y’all: Mistakes Were Made East Bank Theatre (630 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City) • 7:30 p.m. • $10

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) • 9 p.m.

Reception for Louisiana Society of Animal Artists (exhibit open through July, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tues. - Sat.) East Bank Gallery • 630 Barksdale Blvd. (Bossier City) • 2 p.m.

20 | FRIDAY UNSCENE! Farm to table experience, following with “Ratatouille” Municipal Auditorium • Doors open 5 p.m. • $35

20 - 22 | FRI - SUN Let the Good Times Roll Festival Festival Plaza (101 Crockett St., Shreveport) • $5-$10

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

Hwy Lions Back 2 Back (750 Diamond Jacks Blvd., Bossier City) • 8 p.m. • $5 Jazz Under the Stars: The Summer Solstice Party Sci-Port (820 Clyde Fant Parkway) • 21+ • 8 p.m. • $35

26 | Thursday Dirty Redd Jam Noble Savage Tavern (417 Texas St., Shreveport)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS | JUNE 2014

Meet Sprinkles! Sprinkles is 18 months old, a beautiful spayed female, very

aff ectionate and is looking for a home where she will be cherished and cared for. She can’t see out of one eye, but

that doesn’t stop her from being one of the sweetest cats you have ever met. If you’d like to give her a home, visit the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter at 1500

Monty Street in Shreveport, or call (318) 226-6624.

volume 2, issue 12

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