Issue 04

Finding Your Happy Place or “Hey, someone’s in here!”

by Christopher Davis | January 15th, 2010
Christopher Davis Pavo Magazine

Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame said it best, “Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary!”  But unlike that classic film, sanctuary can be scripted much easier and without all that public flogging.  Webster’s Dictionary defines sanctuary as a place of refuge or protection.  Emanuel Lewis, the actor who played Webster on T.V. in the 80s, once stood on a dictionary to reach the sink. Coincidence? I think not!

Now that I’ve referenced two things in pop culture so old that I’ve lost any readers under the age of 23, let’s begin! We have to get away from it all, as they say.  Whether it be a month in the south of France, a weekend getaway at a cabin in the woods or a few minutes of alone time in your study, we need sanctuary.  Those stolen moments are necessary to unwind, relax, rejuvenate and update your enemies list.  Maybe that last part is just me.  But how do you do find sanctuary? That’s the question.  It’s easy! Just follow Christopher Davis’s Helpful Advice for Finding Your Own Personal Sanctuary, and a world of ease and comfort is well within your grasp. Read more...

Labors of Love Part V - Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival

by Lauren Lippeatt | January 13th, 2010
Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival

Lauren: Would you say that Sidewalk wouldn’t be possible without its volunteers?

Chloe:  ABSOLUTELY!  Sidewalk simply would not exist without the help of our volunteer crew. Sidewalk volunteers rule!

Chloe Collins is the executive director of Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival and she isn’t kidding about these volunteers. Since 1999, Sidewalk has been utilizing downtown Birmingham’s venues to showcase new, independent cinema.  Twelve years ago the festival started out with 100 volunteers and now relies on 500 of them to make the weekend possible.  Some of those initial 100 are there every year, providing the festival’s organizers with not only their time and skills but crucial, valuable insight on the needs and wants of customers and guests.  In addition to the volunteers who keep coming back, new volunteers join the crew each year, bringing with them a fresh, enthusiastic energy.  Read more...

Devolution: Classical Music Evolving to Meet the New Century

by Janet Elizabeth... | January 13th, 2010
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

Thursday, January 14th holds in store a very exciting night for music in Birmingham.  Conductor Michael Morgan and DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid collaborate with Alabama Symphony Orchestra to bring Birmingham Devolution: Concerto for DJ and Orchestra by Anthony Paul De Ritis.  The piece, to be performed at the Alys Stephens Center in Jemison Hall, combines hip-hop sensibilities with the classical symphony setting, including samples of Beethoven and Ravel against an orchestral backdrop. 

De Ritis' piece begins with the orchestra stating the piece's theme.  From there, the piece quickly begins the work of deconstruction, the orchestra settling into a loop of the theme while the DJ mixes in other sound elements with turntables.  Read more...

More Images: 
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

Labors of Love Part IV - The Seasoned Performers

by Lauren Lippeatt | January 11th, 2010
Lauren Lippeatt's Image

This is the fourth in a series highlighting a small few of the stellar volunteer and non-profit arts organizations in the Birmingham area.  Read more...

Labors of Love Part III - Alabama Dance Council

by Janet Elizabeth... | January 11th, 2010
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

This is the third in a series highlighting a small few of the stellar volunteer and non-profit arts organizations in the Birmingham area. 

The most effective way for a community to grow is to make meaningful, diverse connections.  Alabama Dance Council's mission statement is "To promote the study, creation, performance and enjoyment of dance in all forms. The ADC offers a forum for communication about dance and provides services that support the artistic work of professional dancers, choreographers and dance educators, and advance the artistic experiences of dance students and audiences."  ADC has some events slated this month to further their mission.  Read more...

Labors of Love Part II - Studio by the Tracks

by Janet Elizabeth... | January 10th, 2010
Holy Trinity

This is the second in a series highlighting a small few of the stellar volunteer and non-profit arts organizations in the Birmingham area. 

Studio by the Tracks was founded in 1989 by Ila Faye Miller.  They're an arts institution, created ahead of their time, who are still pushing the boundaries of conventional classroom facilities for adults and children with special needs.  This day and age, there is a tremendous amount of research supporting art therapy as a viable treatment for Autism and Asperger's, developmental disabilities that have exponentially multiplied their presence in today's children.  In 1989, Autism was still a nearly unknown phenomenon to mainstream public, making SBTT a cutting edge institution that helped to shape Birmingham's Autism and Asperger's culture. Read more...

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Labors of Love Part I - Birmingham Art Music Alliance

by Janet Elizabeth... | January 9th, 2010
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

This is the first in a series highlighting a small few of the stellar volunteer and non-profit arts organizations in the Birmingham area. 

An almost unparalleled alliance exists right here in our own city.  The Birmingham Art Music Alliance, or BAMA, is one of the only organizations of its kind - a volunteer-run group of local composers whose full purpose is to bring new music - the newest, in fact - to local ears.  

In a world devoted to American Idols, Mylie Cyruses and even the Philip Glasses of the world, the idea of "New Music" is often forgotten.  We have so many ways to take music so for granted - Pandora, itunes, XM Radio, television stations devoted solely to one kind of music, not to mention all the corporate FM stations - and all of these things can be very good things.  Maybe, in fact, this sonic amplitude makes an organization such as BAMA all the more significant.  Read more...

An Apology

by Jason Templin | December 29th, 2009
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

 Wherein our Hero comes to terms with being unskilled at both gift giving and receiving... 

Let me get this out of the way right now.  I do not blame the holidays or my loved ones. I do not find gift giving burdensome.  I am not shaking my fist at corporate America for indoctrinating our culture with consumerist holiday ideals.  What I am trying to say, if you'll hear me out, is I don't hate the holidays.  No, in fact I LOVE the holidays.  My childhood memories of Christmas are almost unerringly fond ones. I enjoy decorating trees and whispering about Santa in the presence of children.  I love candy canes, baked goods, and what else can I say?  These are clearly the confessions of a man who loves Christmas. 

One problem:

 

  Read more...

Photo Gallery: Decking Old Halls

by Janet Elizabeth... | December 28th, 2009

Berthon's Cleaners is one of Birmingham's longest standing family businesses.  Laura Ledbetter photographed the business interior and exterior, capturing the pale 1950's pink of the walls against bright red foil garlands. In one image, a tulle ballet costume hangs against the hard, darkened window panes, as though in its own Advent. 

Click on the gallery link below to view:

Image Gallery: 

An Offering for the New Year

by Sharrif Simmons | December 21st, 2009
Janet Elizabeth Simpson's Image

I love words. I use them like taffy when I can, stretching them out, chewing them up and sharing them with others. Lately, I’ve been thinking about their etymology, where they come from, their origins and so on. The word giving, for example, is defined as anything presented voluntarily and without expecting compensation; to bestow; to give a birthday present to someone. A synonym for giving is the word offering, defined as the act of presenting for acceptance or rejection; to proffer: He offered me a cigarette.
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