E-spouse and I attended the par-tay of the year last night (yes, I know it’s only January), and I talked to a number of folks about Anywhere, USA, including the film’s sound wizard, Bruce Sales, who recently opened a new biz here in Asheville called 2BruceStudio. Bruce told me there were a couple of people who had been at Sundance yesterday morning, then they’d flown in for the Hatch par-tay last night. What jet-set artsy lifestyles some of us are leading, no?
The party was a ticketed introduction to Hatchfest 2009, which will be held in our fair town for the next 10ish years. The festival is a mentoring and arts festival focusing on the disciplines of film, architecture, fashion, music, journalism, photography, design and technology. The festival has the potential, I hope, to bring in some creative, inspiring folks to work with young (and middle-aged) creative professionals. I’ve suggested Frank Deford for journalism. And, of course, Chusy Jardine for film. And he’s already in town. Although today he’s probably on a plane headed this direction. I hope he’s exhausted, hungover, and ectastic.
Again, I digress. I was introduced to Hatchfest about a year ago by the man who’s bringing it to Ashvegas: Sean O’Connell, owner of Music Allies (whose spouse, Amy Jones, is a freelance writer and mega-edgy mama. We somehow ended up in the photo booth together about three minutes after we met, making faces at the camera and giggling. Well, I was making faces. She was just smiling gorgeously).
The party was held at Echo Mountain Recording Studio (another biz I’ve profiled), which was packed to the rafters with beautiful people. Literally, to the rafters, as there were aerialists hanging from ribbons in the ceiling, contorting their bods sexily while wearing minimal clothing and exotic face paint. I did notice that only a few brave (or very dumb) party-goers were bold enough to stand under the aerialists while they flipped and shimmied.
There were 6-foot tall models sashaying around in Brooke Priddy dresses (Brooke, next time, let me model one of your works of art. After all, it’s mostly those of us middle-aged mamas who can afford your stuff).
There were fotogs with fancy cameras. I spent a good bit of time trying not to drool on Galen McGee of Peak definition’s new Nikon D300. I have yet to find shots on-line, but I’m sure they’ll be popping up soon.
There were Hatchinis, composed of pomegranate juice, vodka, and something else. There was beer from the boys at Pisgah brewing: their Pale and Summer Ales. There was food from Ophelia’s. There was a champagne toast. I imagine there’s quite a bit of party flu incapacitating Ashvegas’ beautiful people today. Anyone else feeling a mite headachy after the Hatchinis?
There was speech-making, a video presentation, back-slapping, and somewhere, fire eaters. Rather appropriate, don’t you think?
And here’s where I go off on my scree.
Why, oh why, do we let people denigrate Southerners and the South–to our faces–without even a murmur of “what the hell”? The Hatch organizer from Bozeman, Mont., spoke and the first thing that dropped out of his mouth was something to the effect of: “We thought that Asheville, N.C. might be a little too far south on the East coast for Hatch, but now that I’m here, this seems like a pretty cool town.” What? I looked around. No one blinked. Of course, maybe I was standing in a crowd of non-Southern transplants. Cause you know that people born and raised in the South couldn’t possibly pull off such a creative, alternative, stylish event.
Well, thanks for your condescension, Mr. Montana. I’m sick of people assuming that all of the South is a fricking third-world country. There are, despite popular belief, lots of highly intelligent, proactive, motivated, successful Southerners. And some of us are even blonde.
So back to our regular programming. If you could be mentored by anyone in one of these fields, film, architecture, fashion, music, journalism, photography, design and technology, who would it be?
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As the southern book title response goes, “Why we’re just like you, only prettier!”
Go get em, Edgy !
I couldn’t agree more with your scree, EM!
Frank Deford - and we could talk tennis until my head exploded!
And I totally agree about the Southern stereotype - ticks me off so much. Hollywood sure does not help (but they’re not writing right now, so I’ll just stick to my BBC America).
Oops, they’re supposed to be Hatch-tinis! I guess hatchinis are baby ducks. Or chicks.
You know, as a “yankee” moved South, we get our own share of nasty riffs from Southerner’s who have thoughts about folks from up North.
And as a the daughter of a family where both side of my family tree originate in WV, I’ve heard more horrible jokes about being stupid or inbred then I could possibly repeat - no matter where I lived. Once even being told that WV wasn’t “really the South.” (never mind is MUCH more southern then it is anything else.)
Of course, I also used to get asked if I was Amish since I get up in “Amish Country”. No matter that I wear jeans, short hair and don’t live in black clothing.
We all get crap based on someone else’s prejudices. I agree with you that it sucks that some people don’t even blink when they hear those things. It sucks that he thought he could say that and not offend anyone (because it offended me and I don’t even live in Ashvegas). Condescension sucks… my problem is with all of it not just the part pointed at those of us with accents.
The South is full of fabulous, progressive, intelligent, and beautiful people.
And you are correct that at least one of them is blonde.
530,000 very intelligent people recently have made themselves known in South Carolina.
Of all places.
One thing about the South is indisputable, however. The BBQ is awful. Cole slaw and vinegar?
C’mon.
So…mentors.
Definitely could do worse than Daniel Schorr and/or Seymour Hersh.
For journalism, not fashion.
Too late for David Halberstam, unfortunately. He definitely would have been on the list.
For architecture, I would love to spend a year or two with Andrew Freear, director of the Auburn University Rural Studio.
Music: Arlo Guthrie. Allison Krauss. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Or Andrew Jones. Take your pick.
Fashion: Mario Batali. I just love orange Crocs with shorts in the winter.
The greatest living mentor I can think of — not that you asked: Rev. James Lawson.
You said ONE category and I took FIVE.
Never was any good at short answers.
-J
I notice you have “party flu” for a label. Are you planning lots of party flus this year so you can keep track of them? Some rich people……
Hello. I am Derek (from Peak Definition). I noticed that you linked to our blog! Thanks for the mention in your post, and here are the pictures that Galen and I took from that night. We had a blast. http://www.peakdefinition.com/images/hatch
Derek,
You guys did a great job. Nice shots of the aerialists. I tend to take lots of close-up face shots as well. That said, I’d like to see a few more crowd shots in your set. More scene setting shots. Thanks for sharing! And I’m still drooling over your cameras.
Glad to have you back, JA. And love your long answers. I’m going to have to Google some of your mentors, though.
EM:
The short list—now with clickable links!
Daniel Schorr:
Seymour Hersh:
David Halberstam:
Andrew Freear:
Freear’s organization, Rural Studio, is particularly interesting for all sorts of reasons, not least of which are environmental. The link takes you to an overview of the organization itself. A link to more information on Freear hides on the lower right portion of the page—you many need to scroll.
Allison Krauss:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan:
Dammit! He’s dead! I never heard. So much for mentoring.
Andrew Jones:
Look around. He’ll pop up. Listen for the dulcet strains of Psycho Killer.
Catch the inside joke on the orange crocs.
Rev. James Lawson:
This is the guy who taught non-violence to Martin Luther King, Jr. Poke around for some video…I think he might be up one of your alleys. I would love to attend one of his non-violence seminars.
-J