THE
ART & CULTURE ISSUE
ARTIST
ANDY SACZYNSKI November 2017
LEADS THE WAY
Discover 60 Deer Lake Beach Drive
This residence boasts a rare and exceptional Gulf-front site, bordering preserve lands of Deer Lake State Park and offering extraordinary privacy and unobstructed, forever protected Gulf views.
—Erin Oden
CALL ERIN ODEN
850.502.1220
Erin@CoastalLuxury.com
TOP 1% OF ECAR REALTORS
CoastalLuxury.com COASTAL LUXURY • 9961 EAST COUNTY HIGHWAY 30A, SUITE 1, SEACREST, FLORIDA 32461 SEARCH ALL COASTAL PROPERTIES ON MARKET AT COASTALLUXURY.COM/SEARCH
DISCOVER THE
COASTAL LUXURY LIFE O F G U L F- F R O N T L I V I N G A LO N G S C E N I C 3 0 A
T H E M O S T C R E AT I V E C U L I N A RY E X P E R I E N C E O N 3 0 A Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 pm • Happy Hour 5:30–6:30 pm 8 5 0 - 2 1 3 - 5 7 0 0
|
C A L I Z A R E S T A U R A N T . C O M
Gabriel New York has arrived in Destin, at Emerald Lady Jewelry! In the Best Buy Plaza (850) 424-3823 • EmeraldLadyJewelry.com
expect th e u n expecte d.
850.837.5563 12870 US HIGHWAY 98 WEST MIRAMAR BEACH, FL 32550
W W W.LOVE LACE I NTE R IOR S.C OM
www.geoffchick.com
790 North Highway 393, Suite 2E, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
(850) 622-0210
$25 Million Under Contract in 30 Days 8858 E Co Highway 30-A
45 Abaco Lane
95 Rosemary Avenue
$6,950,000
$5,895,000
$3,625,000
128 New Providence Lane
80 S Watch Tower Lane
36 W Water Street
$3,480,000
$2,825,000
$2,600,000
221 Bay Circle Drive
45 St Augustine Street Unit A
290 Seabreeze Boulevard
$2,400,000
$779,000
$695,000
LINDA MILLER
Linda Miller is the Broker of Rosemary Beach Realty, which topped Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A market in 2016 with $250 million in sales in a single office. With 19 years of sales experience, she has been the number one agent since 2015 with over $130 million in sales, and since 2016 has sold $85 million YTD on 30-A. Miller brokered the largest sale ever on 30-A at 24 South Briland in Rosemary Beach for $12.5 million and was the area’s number one agent in listings in 2016. Linda Miller has generated over $400 million in career sales with an average of $2,340,000 per sale. LindaMillerLuxury.com
#1 Sales Agent on Scenic Highway 30A
Real Estate Broker in Rosemary Beach®
#1 Sales Agent in Rosemary Beach®
(850) 974-8885
#1 Listing Agent on Scenic Highway 30A
Board of Regents is a global collection of the finest real estate brokers in the world. With an exclusive membership of more than 500 firms with 130,000 professionals in more than 65 countries, it collectively sells over $200 BILLION in real estate annually, with an average sale of $2,450,000. ROSEMARY BEACH® is a registered trademark owned by Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC and is used with permission pursuant to a license from Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC.
The Comfort SleeperÂŽ is the best sleeper sofa available.
In this issue On the Cover
Mixed media assemblage master Andy Saczynski did not follow his dream of being a full-time artist until after he had suffered through a series of nineto-five jobs, but he was always an artist
114
JUST KEEP SWIMMING
IT’S SWIMSUIT SEASON YEAR-ROUND ALONG THE COAST OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA, WHERE OPHELIA SWIMWEAR BOUTIQUE OFFERS MODERN MERMAIDS OF ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AGES, AND STYLES THE TOP TRENDS IN SWIMWEAR, CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, AND MORE.
at heart. His unique style is well recog‑ nized in the Northwest Florida area as he creates pieces out of found objects,
FEATURE
reclaimed wood, and other materials,
30 The Colorful World of Andy Saczynski
proving that one man’s trash can be ano‑ ther man’s original artwork. Saczynski created Poetic Compositions from rec‑ laimed wood and an old guitar, giving new life to the instrument. Read more in “The Colorful World of Andy Saczynski,”
VISUAL PERSPECTIVES 29 36 The Looking Glass: The Beauty Within 42 Lost and Found: Exotic Inspirations
Beach, Florida.
C’EST LA VIE CURATED COLLECTION: THE GOLD STANDARD 48
Photo by Rinn Garlanger
VOYAGER 55
and stop by his studio-gallery in Grayton
56 A Day in the Village: Baytowne Wharf’s Many Surprises
62 Baytowne Provisions 68 World Traveling: Rockwell Tharp PUBLISHED BY
Settles in Baytowne
74 Visiting The Village of Baytowne Wharf by Boat 78 It Takes a Village
90 A Front-Row Seat on Bourbon Street: Royal Sonesta Rolls Out the Red Carpet
96 Lubbock’s Surprising Arts Scene: Art in the Wild West
LA SCÈNE 102 SARTORIAL 107 108 The Craft: A Master at Work 114 Modern Mermaids: Salt Water and Smiles
LE MONDE 123 124 Inspiration at Heart: Education and Culture Abound 130 Rhapsody in Gray: A Jazz Symphony 132 Celebrate the Classics: Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s 2017–2018 Season
AU REVOIR! 137
82 Montreal: The French Brooklyn of Canada TheIdeaBoutique.com info@theideaboutique.com
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 13
CREATIVE TEAM FOUNDER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LISA MARIE BURWELL Lisa@VIEmagazine.com
FOUNDER / PUBLISHER GERALD BURWELL Gerald@VIEmagazine.com
EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR JORDAN STAGGS Jordan@VIEmagazine.com
CHIEF COPY EDITOR MARGARET STEVENSON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SALLIE W. BOYLES, GREG CAYEA, MEL ANIE CISSONE, COURTNEY DRAKE-MCDONOUGH, TORI PHELPS, NICHOL AS S. RACHEOTES
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR TRACEY THOMAS Tracey@VIEmagazine.com
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR LUCY YOUNG SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER RINN GARL ANGER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS OLIVIA PIERCE, HANNAH VERMILLION
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ALISSA ARYN, MARL A CARTER, GREG CAYEA, MATT DINE, COURTNEY DRAKE-MCDONOUGH, ANSLEY EUDY, BRENNA KNEISS, PIERRE MONETTA, K AY PHEL AN, FRÉDÉRICK PL ANTE, MIKE PONT, STÉPHAN POULIN, LEV RADIN, ROMONA ROBBINS, JAKE VERMILLION, MIRO VRLIK PHOTOGRAPHY, DAWN CHAPMAN WHITT Y, CHASE YAK ABOSKI, ARTURO’S STUDIO, COASTAL SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY, EQROY, IRINAK, SKY CINEMA, TINSELTOWN
ADVERTISING, SALES, AND MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR MEGHN HILL BRANCH OFFICE MANAGER – IRELAND SHARON DUANE CREATIVE STYLIST SUVA ANG-MENDOZA ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ABIGAIL RYAN BRAND AMBASSADOR LISA MARIE BURWELL Lisa@VIEmagazine.com
BRAND MANAGER RINN GARL ANGER Corinne@VIEmagazine.com
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER TIM DUTROW DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR SHANNON QUINL AN
VIE is a registered trademark. All contents herein are Copyright © 2008–2017 Cornerstone Marketing and Advertising, Incorporated (Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. VIE is a lifestyle magazine and is published six times annually on a bimonthly schedule. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by state law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or the Publisher. VIE is a paid publication. Subscription rates: Printed magazine – One-year $29.95; Two-year $54.95. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.VIEmagazine.com.
14 | N O V E M B E R 2017
TOP FLOOR CORNER LAKEFRONT
GULF VIEW 2ND ROW WITH NO HOA
$490,000 | Wild Heron
$899,000 | Miramar Beach
LAKESIDE LODGE, 303 Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.375.9828 x 5799 REPRESENTED BY Peggy Geppert
238 OPEN GULF STREET Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.375.9828 x 9159 REPRESENTED BY Kim & Keen Polakoff
PANORAMIC WATER VIEWS
GATED WATERFRONT COMMUNITY
$755,000 | Holiday Isle
EAST PASS, 504 Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.375.9828 x 3109 REPRESENTED BY Nina McCaslin-Horn
$675,000 | Botany Bayou
119 GRAND FLORA WAY Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.359.0527 x 1849 REPRESENTED BY Kelly Hill
30A Blue Mountain Beach | 30Avenue Inlet Beach | City Market Bayside Destin Information presented is subject to errors, omissions, changes, or withdrawals without notice. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
PEACEFUL BAYSIDE RETREAT $599,000 | Santa Rosa Beach
337 CASA GRANDE LANE Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.214.5743 x 5759 REPRESENTED BY Jonathan Spears
ONE LEVEL GOLF LAKEFRONT $899,000 | Regatta Bay
418 COMMODORE POINT ROAD Recorded Details & Current Pricing 800.359.0527 x 7629 REPRESENTED BY Chris Abbott
Experience
Luxury Although precious jewels and one-of-a-kind paintings may be the first things that come to mind when you think of Sotheby’s, we believe luxury is an experience—not a price point. The Sotheby’s International Realty® brand equips us with the means to deliver the most exposure—regardless of price—so you can expect more for your property.
We invite you to receive a free valuation of your property at scenicsir.com/home-valuation
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ONE-YEAR FOR $29.95 V IE M A G A Z INE .C O M / S U B S C R IB E
A P PA R E L ,
J E W E L R Y,
H O M E
AC C E S S O R I E S ,
A LY S S H O P P E .CO M
A N D
G I F T S
Editor’s Note
A GAME CHANGER
FOR THE LOVE OF FASHION
A
s a young fashion designer who burst onto the fashion scene a decade ago, Christian Siriano is doing things his way. Departing from industry norms has allowed him to lead rather than follow. A Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) member, Siriano is a force to be reckoned with, setting new standards and cultural trends along the way.
Right: Christian Siriano at his Spring/Summer 2018 New York Fashion Week runway presentation on September 9, 2017 Below: Founder and editor-in-chief Lisa Burwell in New York City on September 9, 2017, wearing a three-piece striped ensemble from Siriano’s Spring/ Summer 2017 Isle of Capri collection Photos by Rinn Garlanger
There are many words that come to mind when I think of Christian Siriano: genius and renegade are two. But perhaps the most appropriate is outlier. In Outliers: The Story of Success, author Malcolm Gladwell points out that, in any given industry, there are people who come along and upset the apple cart, completely changing the existing landscape. Put simply, they understand that cultural and societal forces can give rise to opportunities. So, besides having an off-the-charts likability quotient and being telegenic and well spoken, what is so different about Siriano is that he is comfortable in his own skin and knows his own mind. An artist in every sense of the word, he doesn’t shy away from his imagination and talents. But that isn’t even the core of who he is. He loves women and is a champion for inclusivity. His ability to truly connect to a broad spectrum of customers and fans from all socioeconomic demographics is unheard of, and this is why so many admire and love him back! Siriano debuted his Spring/Summer 2018 Psychedelic Greenhouse collection on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at Pier 59 in Chelsea during New York Fashion Week; the show was an explosion of color, fun, and excitement. His new line is a continuation of his mission of creating and showing clothing for women (and men, if they so choose) of all shapes, sizes, ages, and ethnicities. Siriano’s husband, Brad Walsh, Leslie Jones, Vanessa Williams, Gina Gershon, Cardi B, Lizzo, and Patricia Clarkson were some of the VIPs present on the front row. Siriano’s friend and supermodel Coco Rocha opened and closed the show. When the music cued up, Coco appeared on the catwalk, mesmerizing spectators while sashaying with a larger-than-life presence. Leslie Jones of Saturday Night Live fame sat front and center for her first fashion show experience. A joyous frenzy transformed the packed house as Leslie cheered and coaxed Coco to strut her stuff. Excitement, joy, and fun ruled the runway along with Siriano’s stunning collection. Through willingness and collaboration, Siriano cultivates friendships with a diverse range of people, which is part of his genius. Leslie Jones met Siriano last year when she couldn’t find a designer willing to dress her
plus-size figure for the Ghostbusters premiere. Siriano stood up via Twitter and offered to create a dress for her. Another friendship was born. How many fashion designers can lay claim to having dressed such celebrities as First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Solange Knowles, and Christina Hendricks, not to mention having a plus-size clothing line with Lane Bryant and a long-standing collaboration with Payless Shoes for his line of women’s footwear? Keep an eye out for Siriano’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection in the VIE 2018 Couture Issue (May). Thank you, Christian, for keeping fashion fun and fabulous for all! To Life!
—Lisa Marie Burwell Founder/Editor-In-Chief V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 21
IF YOU VIEW SHOPPING AS A SPORT, WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES. With a wide variety of outdoor malls, specialty boutiques and funky antique shops, Birmingham has plenty of the things you will want. And a few things you never knew you needed. Plan your next trip in the place that shares your passion for shopping. Right here in Birmingham.
inbirmingham.com | #INBirmingham | 800 - 458 - 8085
The Creatives
We collaborate with talented photographers, writers, and other creatives on a regular basis, and we’re continually inspired by how they pour their hearts and souls into their crafts. Follow these creatives on social media and don’t forget to check out our account, @viemagazine.
and inspiration of the collection I am currently working on. During my latest series, Talismans, I played medieval Gregorian chant music written by Hildegard of Bingen. My favorite art genres are modern, abstract, and impressionistic. Some of my current influences are Pierre Marie Brisson, Lee Krasner, Nicholas Wilton, and Paul Gauguin. BRENNA KNEISS Photographer,
FOR THIS ISSUE, WE ASKED THE CREATIVES: AS A CONSUMER, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OR GENRE OF ART, AND WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DRAWN TO IT?
“The Colorful World of Andy Saczynski” @brennakneiss.co
This is a really tough question for me to answer! I’m a lover of art and I consume it in many ways on a daily basis. As a photographer, photography seems like the natural answer; while I love photography, my favorite type of art is music. I grew up in a musical family and love jamming out any chance I get! I spend way too much money on concerts, instruments, Spotify, etc. Music can get a dance party started or soothe you after a stressful day, and, most importantly, it’s how I worship God. It brings me so much joy!
I OFTEN CHOOSE MUSIC THAT REFLECTS THE DIRECTION AND INSPIRATION OF THE COLLECTION I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
TORI PHELPS Writer, “The Colorful World of Andy Saczynski”
ALLISON CRAFT Artist, “The Craft: A Master at Work” @allisoncraftdesigns
Asking me to pick just one genre of art that is my favorite is an impossible task. I am drawn to things that inspire me. All art can be inspiring and can brighten a mood, beautify a space, and make you feel special. I buy art that I feel a connection to, not to fill a particular space: a piece or song that I can’t get out of my heart and mind. It could be a painting, a piece of jewelry, or a song. I listen to music that makes me feel happy or relaxed or even rebellious— and many times because I am just blown away by all of the talent that created it. Art connects to us in different ways; the magic is when you find that magical inspiration for yourself.
MARTI SCHMIDT Artist, “Lost and Found: Exotic Inspirations” @martischmidt
Definitely books. Not “literature.” Books. Because I’m a writer, people sometimes assume I skew to the erudite and keep War and Peace on my nightstand. No offense to Tolstoy, but I’m much more likely to reach for a juicy mystery—the cozier the better. Discovering Agatha Christie in junior high opened up a world that I’ve craved ever since. There’s enough Sturm und Drang in real life, so it’s deliciously comforting to know that everything will be wrapped up in a neat little bow by the last page.
As an artist, musical and artistic influences have always played an important part in my daily art practice. I listen to various types of music but adult alternative artists, such as Andreas Vollenweider, and classical baroque masters, such as Mozart and Bach, seem to be my favorites. I often choose music that reflects the direction V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 23
La conversation
TELL US ABOUT IT. WE LOVE TO COMMUNICATE AND INTERACT WITH OUR READERS! AND WE LOVE IT EVEN MORE WHEN THEY PROUDLY SHARE THEIR STORIES AND POSE WITH VIE FOR A CLOSE-UP! THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT: SHARING, LOVING, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. WE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE YOU!
@beigeandburlap First project I poured my heart into in 2013 when I started my design career at Chancey Design.
@jojomonster12 VIE magazine’s Home & Garden Issue is here and I had the honor of traveling to southern Wisconsin to travel the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail for this story! #FLW150
@erinoden.30a Read about this coastal beauty, “11 Heaven,” in the latest issue of VIE magazine.
@historicalconcepts Here’s a new look at an old favorite, via VIE magazine. Read the full article online, including a look at the many movies filmed in and around Hampton Island. Photography: Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives Inc
@lockelandtable Thank you, VIE magazine, for the mention. Honored to make the cut in your top 10!
LET’S TALK! Send VIE your comments and photos on our social media channels or by e-mailing us at info@viemagazine.com. We’d love to hear your thoughts. They could end up in the next La conversation! @gerrynavarrete Check out this article in this month’s @VIEmagazine featuring Andrew Clancey/@AnyOldIron. You’ll catch runway images by us, #VisionariesPhotography, from 2017 @nashfashweek!
VIEmagazine.com @aint_so_shabby_being_abby @VIEmagazine takes on NashVegas! V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 25
616 BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH ROAD SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL
Agent: Beau Blankenship
Local Insight. Global Excellence. I’ve had the privilege of living on Scenic Highway 30-A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for the past 28 years. My husband, Jim, and I have raised our four children while we’ve watched the area grow from an undiscovered beach town into a thriving vacation destination and community of full-time residents. Working alongside my husband in both construction and real estate for over 20 years and volunteering in our local schools, churches and community have equipped me with a unique understanding of this marketplace. I have a deep love of the area and a strong desire to help people find their perfect piece of paradise here, whether that is a permanent home in which to raise a family, a rental property for a long-term investment or the ideal personal vacation home. As a representative of the highly prestigious international real estate firm Engel & Völkers, I welcome the chance to assist you in your real estate endeavors. With global marketing, high standards of excellence, advanced technology and a proven track record, we can find your spot along the world’s most beautiful beaches. © 2017 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Engel & Völkers and its independent franchisees are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act. Each property shop is independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. If your property is currently represented by a real estate broker, this is not an attempt to solicit your listing.
Renee Ryan · Engel & Völkers Real Estate Advisor 3557 E County Hwy 30A · Santa Rosa Beach, FL · 32459 Mobile (850) 259-8960 Renee.Ryan@EVUSA.com · ReneeRyan.EVUSA.com
REAL ESTATE O F F E R I N G S
ALYS BEACH
MM2
·
13 SEA VENTURE ALLEY
Designed by Kinney Morrow Architecture, this home marries exquisite design with an abundance of outdoor and indoor spaces including two pools to choose from—one at courtyard level and the other on the 4th-floor rooftop looking out to the Gulf of Mexico.
A7 · 54 SEVEN WELLS COURT
A11 · 46 NORTH CHARLES STREEET
LUCIAN 401 · 29 N. SOMERSET STREET
This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home offers a welcoming interchange of outdoor living and natural light. The first-floor master suite, living and dining rooms, followed by the kitchen, feature expansive windows that look upon the beautiful courtyard and pool.
This home is designed by Steve Mouzon and captivates you immediately upon entering the Zaguan to the courtyard. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 2,584-square-foot courtyard home provides inviting indoor and outdoor living.
Indulge in Gulf views from the balcony of this new fourth-floor Lucian residence. Located on the top-west corner of the first building in the growing Alys Beach Town Center, the 3-bedroom 3.5-bath open-floor plan condominium has just been completed.
A L Y S B E A C H . C O M
|
8 5 0 . 2 1 3 . 5 5 0 0
Alys Beach Properties, LLC, Licensed Real Estate Broker participation welcome. Equal Housing Opportunity. This is not an offer or solicitation in CA, NY, NJ or any state where prohibited by law. ALYS BEACH is a trademark of EBSCO Industries, Inc. © 2017
Visual Perspectives Learn more at StudioAnja.com.
Visual Perspectives THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
A sudden flash of bright, vivid eyes. A toss of exquisitely styled hair and chic, oversized sunglasses with a touch of Swarovski crystals. These are the timeless moments when we encounter high fashion, and artist Anja Van Herle has caught them all and more in her remarkable body of work mixing both classical and contemporary ideas of fashion. Anja specializes in large-scale paintings featuring beautiful, idealized faces, often framed with elegant eyewear. “If the eyes are the window to the soul, then glasses are more than just an accessory; they’re an extension of one’s personality. The use of sunglasses in my work allows me to define my subjects and infuse each composition with a vibrant juxtaposition of color.”
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 29
Visual Perspectives
I
by TORI PHELPS photography by BRENNA KNIESS
f you throw something out around Andy Saczynski, prepare to see it again—in one of his hotly collected art pieces. Saczynski has built an award-winning career on turning found objects into masterpieces; in the process, he has attracted ardent fans and collected an extensive list of impressive honors. The Northwest Florida artist has also captured the attention of a major baking brand, who added his work to its packaging. Was his style an ingenious, carefully designed scheme to carve out a niche in the crowded art world? Nope. He was simply being resourceful. He and his wife, Lori, were expecting their fifth child, and Saczynski, who had been gritting his teeth
30 | N O V E M B E R 2017
through a series of nine-to-five jobs, had reached a point where he just couldn’t go another day without making art. Canvas was expensive, he knew, but things that people toss out are free. Equipped with materials like house paint, metal, wire, and reclaimed wood, he began creating his now-signature mixed media assemblage art. It was a style that came naturally to him, in part because of the home in which he grew up. A local boy raised in Bluewater Bay near Niceville, Florida, Saczynski spent his childhood surrounded by the unique pieces his visionary mother collected. “She has a very keen eye for antiques and anything that’s handmade with a primitive folk look to it,” he says. “Every square inch of the house was like a well-crafted still life. It’s definitely a big influence I see in my work today.”
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 31
Visual Perspectives
L
iving in such a creatively rich space with staunchly supportive parents, Saczynski confidently set his sights on an art career and, from an early age, had a clear vision for his life that’s remarkably similar to what he’s doing now. But it hasn’t been an easy road to fulfilling that vision. There was a stretch when he gave up on everything he’d ever wanted for his career, believing it was time to “grow up.” He confesses to falling victim to the barrage of negativity that pummels artists: it’s just a hobby . . . you’ll never make money at it . . . get a real job.
THE FLUIDITY IS NO ACCIDENT, CONSIDERING THAT MUCH OF HIS INSPIRATION COMES WHILE ON A SURFBOARD. He tried other jobs, but he was miserable. Desperate to regain the sense of wholeness he felt while creating, Saczynski decided to accept what he’d always known: he is an artist.
32 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Home, of course, comes with Gulf-sized inspiration for an artistic style that’s as difficult for Saczynski to peg as it is for art critics. Folk art, outsider visionary, cubism—he’s heard all of those descriptions and more. His preference is “mixed media assemblage art” because, while he does incorporate painting, his work is mostly sculptural, using found objects and recycled materials. Thanks to his mom’s enthusiasm for nontraditional art, Saczynski has always been able to see the possibilities in shapes. He discovered that he could use almost anything that crossed his path because he doesn’t go into a project with an expected outcome; rather, he relies on that object’s shape to dictate its transformation. “Things that someone else is throwing out or sees no use for—I can create something beautiful with them,” he says. “I love the process of giving new life and purpose to broken, unwanted, and discarded objects.”
“I LOVE THE PROCESS OF GIVING NEW LIFE AND PURPOSE TO BROKEN, UNWANTED, AND DISCARDED OBJECTS.”
Left: Poetic Composition, 26 x 48 inches Photo by Rinn Garlanger
Below: Blue Crab, 60 x
His pieces might start as other people’s trash, but the treasures that follow have garnered Saczynski awards like 2013 South Walton Artist of the Year and Best Local Artist three years in a row, as well as earned him a place among the hottest artists on the 30A Hot Spot Awards list for 2017.
Admittedly, with baby number five on the way, his timing wasn’t great. But Saczynski went to work on his assemblage art in 2010, producing as many pieces as he could and showing them wherever anyone would let him. Two years later, he opened the Andy Saczynski Studio-Gallery at the Shops of Grayton just off Scenic Highway 30-A in Grayton Beach, Florida.
Soft spoken and thoughtful, Saczynski glosses over his popularity and critical acclaim in a way that makes you wonder, “Does he know he’s actually a pretty big deal?” He seems genuinely stunned by each of his awards, citing the exceptional
60 inches
Opposite: Visitors are welcome to stop by Andy Saczynski Studio-Gallery in Grayton Beach, Florida, to peruse the art and watch Saczynski work. Previous page: In the Mix, 50 x 50 inches Photo by Rinn Garlanger
It was a leap of faith for Saczynski and his wife, but the fear of not doing it was greater than the anxiety of diving in. “Doing art full-time and providing for your wife and kids, it’s a scary thing,” he concedes. “But I felt in my heart it’s what I was supposed to be doing.” In fact, it was because of his family that he decided to launch a studio. Many artists spend a significant amount of time on the road, entering their work in shows across the country to raise their profile and, of course, sell pieces. Saczynski was one of them. But the people at home needed him, and a gallery-studio allowed him to create and sell his work from his beloved coastal hometown. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 33
caliber of artists in southern Walton County. Yes, the competition is stiff, which is why his dozen-plus awards (and counting) should tell Saczynski what the rest of us knows: he’s officially a power player. He was especially surprised by his Artist of the Year award, which came just a year after launching his gallery. It was a major boost to his confidence at the time, but also a major boost to his career. Thanks to the contacts he made and shows he attended as a result, he caught the eye of the people behind Immaculate Baking Company. They loved his art so much that they featured it on some of their product packaging. What intrigued them was, perhaps, the same thing that draws other fans to his work: an often-vibrant take on subjects from musical instruments to sea life that, astoundingly, are more realistic than abstract. “A lot of my sculptural work has a fluid feel to it, yet there’s a good likeness to how the object actually looks,” Saczynski says. “A fish looks like a fish, even though it’s made with random stuff.” 34 | N O V E M B E R 2017
The fluidity is no accident, considering that much of his inspiration comes while on a surfboard. There, separated from life on shore while riding wave after turquoise wave, his mind is free to roam, take in the sea life, and let new concepts take root.
YOU SEE, THAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST, HE SAYS—TOTAL CREATIVE FREEDOM AND A MILLION WAYS TO EXPRESS HIMSELF. Those concepts have changed a bit over the years as his style has evolved. Bold, primary colors marked most of his early pieces, while a blue-green-yellow palette took over during an active period of painting Western Lake scenes. His subjects, too, have ranged from gators to guitars and Johnny Cash. But no matter the color or the subject, it’s easy to recognize a Saczynski piece—and not just because he’s the only one who could fashion a mask out of a broken ukulele and a piano pedal. There’s an underlying him-ness to everything he creates. And he’s pleased about that. Saczynski doesn’t feel a need to prove anything by switching up his artistic identity simply for the sake of being “different.” He readily acknowledges that his sculptural work, especially, will likely always be part of his repertoire because it best expresses his cumulative experiences and combines all the elements of his style.
Above: Saczynski loves creating something new from found objects such as musical instruments, surfboards, tools, reclaimed wood, and other items. Visit his studio-gallery to see more.
Visual Perspectives Or maybe he’ll chuck it all tomorrow. You see, that’s the best part about being an artist, he says—total creative freedom and a million ways to express himself. That’s a particularly attractive perk for this self-confessed “quiet” guy. “To create something every day that makes people happy is amazing,” he acknowledges. “And through my art, I speak a language I can’t express in words.” We hear you loud and clear, Andy.
ARTBYANDYSKI.COM Tori Phelps has been a writer and editor for nearly twenty years. A publishing industry veteran and longtime VIE collaborator, Phelps lives with three kids, two cats, and one husband in Charleston, South Carolina.
a unique shopping experience on
30 A
F urniture • r ugs • L ighting • A rt • A ccessories • A ntiques • g iFts • o utdoor • d esign 32 e c ounty h wy 30A, g rAyton B eAch , F L 32459 | (850) 534-0700 w w w .B e a u H o m e I n t e r I o r s . c o m
Visual Perspectives
Jack Storms’s Lumiere
glass sculpture is named for the light it exudes from every curve and angle.
THE BEAUTY WITHIN by S U VA A N G -M E N D O Z A pho togra phy co urtesy o f J A C K S T O R M S
THE LOOKING
A
fter the storm comes a brilliant rainbow of colors, and this
time, it’s in the shape of mesmerizing glass sculptures. If you’re familiar with the works of contemporary artist Jack Storms, chances are you’ve spent hours at a time online watching videos of his hypnotizing creative process. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 37
Visual Perspectives
hat makes his artwork so captivating? These aren’t glass figurines that you’d find in department stores or the average glass-art studio. That’s because Storms’s sculptures are shaped and formed using what’s known as the “cold working” method, a technique that’s rare because most glass artists do not undertake the endeavor. Cold working is a method that involves meticulous crafting skills, working with glass while it’s in its cold or annealed state. Unlike traditional hot glass working where glassmakers manipulate the shape and color of the fiber while it’s hot and flexible, a variety of techniques are used to create the complexity visible in Storms’s glasswork. These include sandblasting, cutting, grinding, polishing, and engraving. It’s a much harder skillset to acquire, but the effects are spectacular and certainly worth the extra effort. It’s how each piece gets those stareinducing translucent color effects. With an intense interest and passion in art that emerged when he was a young child, Storms knew that was what he wanted to pursue as a career. “I was always good at art and fell in love with the process,” he explains. Fast-forward a couple of decades when, at the age of thirty, Storms earned his bachelor’s degree in art with a focus on studio production from Plymouth State University. At that moment, unbeknownst to him, he was on the brink of finding his place in the art world.
38 | N O V E M B E R 2017
HE QUICKLY BUFFERS THAT THOUGHT, THOUGH, SAYING, “I ALWAYS KNEW IF YOU TAKE ART SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN MAKE IT A CAREER.” “When I threw my hat, before I even caught it, I was having panic attacks about what I was going to do with this degree in art,” he recalls. It’s a feeling many in the art industry could identify with. He quickly buffers that thought, though, saying, “I always knew if you take art seriously, you can make it a career.” With a positive attitude, determination, and a vision for possibilities, Storms started to look for professional art studios that could use his skills. He landed a position with a fiber optic sculpture studio and immediately found his calling. “The second I was there, I knew it was something I was going to do for the rest of my life,” he says. By the looks of his art and the interest shown by fans around the world, it’s clear this is truly what Storms was meant to do. VIE was honored to have the opportunity for an exclusive Q&A interview:
Above: The ViviOvo is Storms’s only museinspired sculpture, named for his wife, Vivian. Opposite: According to the Jack Storms website, “Looking into the Blue Aerial is like looking into the endless sky, and you can’t help but to daydream.”
VIE: What sparked your interest in glass art? Jack Storms: I was never a particularly great student in school. Instead of listening in class, I was constantly doodling. So I had a lot of practice using my hands to translate my thoughts into images and sketches. I eventually started to move charcoal, paint, and clay the way I pictured it in my mind. My first job led me to glass, where I simply fell in love.
VIE: Do you make a sketch of what you want a piece to look like first? JS: I start with a 2-D sketch drawing and map it out on graph paper. Then, from there, you have to know how many cuts and what type of glass you are going to be using. Then you understand the process you’re going to be embarking on for the piece’s construction.
VIE: How long does each glass sculpture take to create?
JS: The bare minimum for a piece is six weeks. Depending on the size and intricacy of the design, the longest can be up to twelve months. VIE: Your intriguing art has caught a lot of media attention—and rightfully so. What is it like looking back to before you even got into glasswork to where your journey has taken you? JS: I knew I would be successful; I just had no idea I would be this successful. I’m just trying to stay grounded and keep looking forward. VIE: Do you ever read the comments people post on your social pages or some of your videos? If so, what are your thoughts on all the positive feedback? Do you use it as inspiration? JS: Yes. It’s very humbling. I like to have the fans help name artworks from time to time. Their positive feedback definitely propels me to create.
VIE:
What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever
created?
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 39
Visual Perspectives
JS: No, not really. For me, there was no other option than to succeed. I always just concentrated on what I had to do that year, that month, that week, or that day to keep moving forward. VIE: What advice would you give to any artists trying to go after their dreams? JS: Treat it like a business and an obsession. If you consider yourself a brilliant artist, then you have a duty to gain the patronage of people in order to support yourself. If you start out making things people are willing to pay for, you will end up owning your own studio where you will be free to chase your dream.
VIE: If you could meet any three artists, living or dead, who would they be, and why? JS: Honestly, any of the four Ninja Turtles’ namesakes, if you will. The Renaissance masters have provided me with a lot of inspiration. They ushered in an era of art that based things off of nature using the Fibonacci principle and the golden ratio.
VIE: Where do you see your art going in the future? JS: After some of the feedback from people, we are starting to create a jewelry line with more affordable
MY FAVORITE PIECE THAT I HAVE EVER CREATED HAS TO BE THE LARGE FANTASTIK VIVIOVO. JS: My favorite piece that I have ever created has to be the Large Fantastik ViviOvo. I am only ever making ten and I will definitely be sad when they are done. Above: Large Fantastik ViviOvo D’Oro Right: Beveled Cube Opposite: The Bella collection includes sculpted glass decanters, wine glasses, champagne flutes, martini glasses, and more.
40 | N O V E M B E R 2017
VIE: There’s an expression in the art industry—that famous two-word phrase, “starving artist” —and it exists for a reason. How did your parents take the news when you decided that your place was in the arts? JS: My parents were happy I was pursuing something. I was thirty years old by the time I graduated college, and they were just happy I finished the trek. At that point, I was all grown up and more concerned for my future than my parents were. VIE: Did you ever have any doubts or fears on earning a living?
designs of my work. That has kept me busy trying to translate the work to a miniature size. My hope is to give everyone an opportunity to own my work.
VIE: We’re looking forward to following this sparkling journey! Interested in getting your hands on a piece of art by Jack Storms? Due to the timeconsuming process, his glass sculptures are sold only at select fine art galleries, including Storms Fine Art Gallery in Los Angeles and Marcus Ashley Gallery in South Lake Tahoe, California, and Christopher Egan Fine Art Galleries in Lahaina and Wailea, Hawaii. Special commissioned artworks can be made upon request and start at $30,000, but the results are so worth it.
Follow along as Jack takes the contemporary glass art industry by storm when you check out his channels on YouTube, Instagram (@stormsjack), and Facebook.com/ StormsArt. Learn more at JackStorms.com.
Visual Perspectives
E X O T I C 42 | N O V E M B E R 2017
I N S P I R AT I O N S
BY J O R DA N S TAG G S PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MARTI SCHMIDT
Anima I
The best thing about looking at a piece of art by Northwest Florida painter and printmaker Marti Schmidt is that you’ll never see the same thing twice. Each intricate curve offers the viewer a new perspective. Her layers of bold color and shapes in movement take influence from a variety of cultures and styles, including art deco geometry, New Orleans ironwork, Chinese watercolors, Byzantine mosaics, Japanese woodblocks, and more. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 43
Schmidt, who has created art for over forty years, uses a technique called batik, a process of layering molten wax, dyes, and pigments to create images. Original batik paintings by Schmidt have been featured in luxury hotels such as the Biras Creek Resort in the British Virgin Islands and in other prestigious hotels, resorts, homes, offices, galleries, and publications around the globe. She also transformed her work into a line of hand-printed fabrics called Islandreams Textiles, sold in top showrooms around the country.
“I LAYER PATTERNS AND ICONIC IMAGES CREATED FROM METAL AND WOOD PLATES TO EXPRESS A PERSONAL STATEMENT.” Her latest collection, Talismans–Visionary Allegories, reflects Schmidt’s affinity for mysticism and European traditions, particularly the French culture. She adapted
FALL
in love
with the newest autumn shades captured in luxurious pearls, gemstones and 18k gold. Couture jewelry by Renee Launiere, Owner and Designer. Located at City Market Bayside on Highway 98 4495 Furling Lane, Suite 170 • Destin, FL 32541 850.830.5465 • BijouxDeMer.com
Left: Nicholas Right: Animus II Far right: Artist Marti Schmidt Photo by Dawn Chapman Whitty
Visual Perspectives
“IT’S A PLACE WHERE POETRY, MELODY, AND NATURE JOIN AS PARTNERS IN A DAILY SCORE OF AN ENCHANTED LIFE.” piece is a combination of stories and creates the storyteller—a visionary and a poet.”
symbols and iconography found in medieval stained glass, Gothic art and architecture, tarot practices, and writings by the likes of Carl Gustav Jung and Saint Hildegard of Bingen. “I began to collect the symbols and images that spoke to me most,” says Schmidt. “This collection, now in its second year, continues to grow and develop as my interest and travels to France continue, focusing on frescoes and cave drawings, and as characters of medieval history reveal themselves in my research.”
Unlike her signature batik style, the pieces in Talismans–Visionary Allegories are a combination of various printmaking techniques, including Chinecollé. “Utilizing my own handmade decorative papers and a variety of papers from around the world, I layer patterns and iconic images created from metal and wood plates to express a personal statement,” says Schmidt. “One of my favorites is based on the inspirational Benedictine abbess Saint Hildegard of Bingen. In October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Hildegard a Doctor of the Church. Each figurative
When she isn’t traveling the world searching for inspiration, Schmidt can usually be found documenting her findings in the form of colorful works of art. Visitors can experience the bohemian vibe and share a moment with Schmidt when they make an appointment to stop by her eclectic studio-gallery in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Schmidt invites them to “experience the creative magic of my studio, where wood, ink, paper, and etching press dance with the muse. It’s a place where poetry, melody, and nature join as partners in a daily score of an enchanted life.” Get lost in Schmidt’s work and find something new within your soul.
LEARN MORE OR SHOP ONLINE AT MARTISCHMIDT.COM. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 45
Magnolia House LIFES T YLE S TORE
IS FOR
GIFT GIVERS
Nancy Veldman curates a wonderful selection of luxury items and gifts that are sure to please ~ FINE GIFTS | HOME DECOR | JEWELRY | MUSIC | LUXURIOUS BODY & BATH | ORIGINAL NOTE CARDS & MORE
Magnolia House is a gathering place where people come from all over the world to take something home that makes their gathering place special. Located on Hwy 98 at Sandestin’s Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, Florida 850.460.2005 | magnoliahouse.com
McCaskill & Company —— Finest Jewelry & Watches ——
© Forevermark 2016. Forevermark ®,
®
and
™
are Trade Marks used under license from The De Beers Group of Companies.
13390 Highway 98 West, Destin, Florida 32550 (850) 650-2262 • www.McCaskillandCompany.com
It’s a long journey to become the one. In our constant pursuit of absolute beauty, every Forevermark diamond undergoes a journey of rigorous selection. This is why less than 1% of the world’s diamonds are worthy of the Forevermark inscription – our promise of beauty, rarity and responsible sourcing.
THE GOLD STANDARD
For this Art and Culture Issue, we considered the phrase “All that is gold does not glitter.” Life is all about perspective, and the way we perceive art and different cultural experiences can enrich us, shape our characters, and change how we see the world. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a little gold in the mix, too. We encourage you to immerse yourself in culture, express yourself with art, and take on the world with our glittering C’est la VIE Art and Culture edition.
1
Reflected Specs
Mykita Studio2.1 Sunglasses $599 – mykita.com 48 | N O V E M B E R 2017
2
Queen Bee
Multi Ragno Slippers €747 – sanayi313.com
Polished to Perfection
4
Carrie Carlton Brass & White Glass Stone Cuff $135 – carriecarlton.com
Be Mine, Serpentine
3
Snakeskin Clutch $55 – brookewrightdesigns.com
Chained to Me
5
Eden Diodati Azu Earrings $773 – runway2street.com
Pillow Talk
7
Elysian Pillow artclubconcept.com
6
Through the Looking Glass
Crocodile Magnifying Glass $150 – L-objet.com
8
Birds of a Feather
Brackish Guinea Bow Tie $185 – brackishbowties.com
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 49
C’est la vie
9
Are You Game?
Alexandra Llewellyn Butterfly Ebony Backgammon Set positiveluxury.com
Quiet as a Mouse
10
Herend Mouse & Mouse Pad Tray Gift Set in Butterscotch $780 – scullyandscully.com
11
Linked In
Big Ben Blue Cufflinks with Rubies $4,750 – scullyandscully.com
12
Boxed Up
Sanayi 313 Fiocco Box €345 – sanayi313.com
Give Me a Ring
13
Momentum Ring in Musk $130 AUD – studio-elke.com
14
Head First
Tropicalia Scarf $260 AUD – letitiagreen.com 50 | N O V E M B E R 2017
15
Black Suits Me
SemSem Fall/Winter 2017, Look 7 semsem.com V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 51
2017-2018 SEASON Holiday Productions
Presented by VIE Magazine
Nov. 17 & 18 @ 7:30pm Nov. 19 @ 2:30pm Mattie Kelly Arts Center Our 38th annual production of this classic holiday fairytale with live music by the NFB Symphony Orchestra, led by David Ott.
Dec. 22 @ 7:30pm Dec. 23 @ 2:30pm Destin United Methodist Church Life Center Lightwire Theater’s magical and captivating tale with electroluminescent lighting set to timeless holiday hits.
GULFVIEW DINING + FULL BAR surfingdeer.com
Voyager
Voyager
SEE THE WORLD
We can bearly handle the adorable photo by Lee Crum found at the newly opened Black Bear Bread Co. in Grayton Beach, Florida. This little daytime hot spot in the Shops of Grayton isn’t just a great place to check out the portrait of this jolly bear; it’s all about the artisan goods and delicious Stumptown Coffee Roasters brew curated by restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb, baker Debbie Swenerton, chef Phil McDonald, and the rest of their team. Learn more at Facebook. com/BlackBearBreadCo. Photo by Alissa Aryn
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 55
Voyager
56 | N O V E M B E R 2017
A Day in the
B AY T O W N E WHARF’S MANY SURPRISES
Does The Village of Baytowne Wharf—a little town tucked within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort—offer attractions and activities that children love? Yes! Do fun-loving, sophisticated ladies choose Baytowne for their girlfriend outings? Absolutely! Do couples reconnect over many simple pleasures? Most certainly!
BY SA L L I E W. B OY L E S PHOTOGRAPHY BY RO M O N A RO BBI N S
Baytowne’s Old Florida ambience—an idyllic setting by the Choctawhatchee Bay with quaint architecture and a welcoming and safe environment—captivates people of all ages and stages in life. Despite The Village’s warmth and charm, this is not just another friendly, pretty place. No matter how well traveled, guests and visitors realize how rare it is to encounter Baytowne’s special blend of premium offerings in a single, easy-to-navigate location.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 57
B
efore arriving, you might choose to preview Baytowne’s options and the day’s calendar of events, particularly if you have certain goals in mind. Nevertheless, go with the flow. An impromptu entertainer or unexpected temptation could easily lure you off course, and that’s the idea!
From children’s activities such as the Baytowne Adventure Zone and the Blast Arcade and Laser Maze (below) to delicious treats to help beat the heat and shopping with local merchants such as Rockwell Tharp leather goods (opposite), there’s something for everyone at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
throughout Baytowne Village. Fortunately, Another Broken Egg Cafe prepares New Orleans–style waffles and countless other breakfast delicacies to satisfy hearty appetites. If a cup of coffee or a cappuccino and pastry sound more to your liking, then Caffe Siena is the perfect place for you. Newcomer Baytowne Provisions also adds breakfast options with biscuits, coffee, and tea.
MAXIMIZE THE MORNING
After breakfast, children (and, let’s face it, adults with the excuse of chaperoning their kids) love catch-and-release fishing in Baytowne Lagoon. If you didn’t bring your tackle, Baytowne Marina stocks bait and poles.
Many agree that the early morning temperatures and tranquility grant the best time to stroll, power walk, or run through Baytowne. The primary road, Baytowne Avenue, takes you to The Village, where sidewalks abound throughout the twenty-four-acre property. Going for a morning walk is a fine way to become familiar with the layout.
Usually, the earlier it is, the less likely you’ll wait for your turn at Baytowne Adventure Zone, so encourage your children to dive into activities in the morning. The Baytowne Zipline, which crosses Baytowne Lagoon, is a must for youngsters who have never tried a more elaborate course. Other feats to endeavor before the sun rises high in the sky are EuroBungy, the Sky Trail Ropes Course, and Tower Climb. Sky Tykes is an alternative ropes course for little ones under four feet tall.
While exploring, you’ll thank the coastal breezes for carrying aromas of bacon, baked goods, and coffee
When parents and grandparents need a morning break, Adventure Land Playground—a safe, fence-enclosed area with swinging and climbing equipment— allows children with boundless energy to run off steam. Residents of the area graciously provided the funds to build the playground, designed with a nautical theme, for young ones to engage with one another and make friends. Nothing beats shopping the morning (and the afternoon) away. Baytowne’s specialty boutiques are known for procuring top-trending labels in fashion and performance wear. They’re also terrific sources for apparel by local and regional designers not found in every other city or department store. Along with clothing for all ages, shops carry artisan jewelry, fabulous footwear, and gorgeous accessories. When making your way around, venture into Aloha Surf Company, Barefoot Princess, bluCALYPSO, Blush Boutique, High Performance Offshore, Island Clothiers, Rockwell Tharp, Sandestin Clothing Company, and Uniquely Chic. Providing gracious, attentive service, Baytowne’s store owners and employees maintain an established, loyal clientele while getting to know their first-time customers and helping them assemble outfits and choose distinctive statement pieces. Several stores will keep track of who’s purchased what so that patrons who attend the same events don’t show up in identical attire. Original styles also make Baytowne’s boutiques prized go-to sources for seasonal party attire, vacation wardrobes, and garments for other important occasions. DELIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON
Amusements have a way of making the morning fly by, but even if you lose track of time, your olfactory sense should remind you that lunch preparations are under way. Follow your nose and your cravings. If blackened lobster makes your mouth water, consider Poppy’s Crazy Lobster. For a juicy, old-fashioned burger, head to
58 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Voyager
Original styles also make Baytowne’s boutiques prized go-to sources for seasonal party attire, vacation wardrobes, and garments for other important occasions. Hartell’s Village Diner. Go to Baytowne Provisions to savor an unforgettable twist on a grilled cheese sandwich. Alternatively, the Lazy Gecko Deck Bar serves Mexican, South American, and Caribbean dishes, and Roberto’s Pizzeria gratifies Italian-food lovers. Most of Baytowne’s eateries serve a midday meal. Plan to return to the stores after lunch? All-day shoppers often devise a strategy such as trying on clothes in the cooler morning hours and devoting the afternoon to browsing all the other types of merchandise: home decor, gourmet foods and sweet treats, gifts to pamper the body and soul, souvenirs, toys, and more. You might decide to circle back to stores you’ve already visited, but be sure to visit Candymaker and Paradise Found for all the other treasures to give as gifts—or keep for yourself ! Knowing they’ll encounter a splendid variety of merchandise that they wouldn’t see back home, many visit Baytowne precisely to shop, and quite a few vacationers travel with their holiday, birthday, and other gift lists in hand. Likewise, stores assist by shipping packages to their customers’ homes or directly to gift recipients. Be forewarned that the colorful shops are just as tempting to little ones as they are to adults and teens. Dolls & Friends, for one, specializes in American Girl and Bitty Baby dolls and accessories, while Coconut Kidz displays the hottest Disney costumes, in addition to toys and adorable clothing. During the day, take time to chill with a whimsical ride on the Baytowne Carousel. Next, if you’re a cool kid, enter the Blast Arcade and Laser Maze. Play over fifty games and redeem the tickets you collect for prizes. Rest assured that you’re never too old to have a blast in the Blast ’Em Shootin Gallery and Laser Maze.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 59
Voyager
60 | N O V E M B E R 2017
A
A
t some point in the afternoon, indulge in something sweet and frozen. Baytowne’s irresistible options, ranging from family friendly to adults only, include ice creams, milkshakes, gelatos, sorbets, snowballs, and daiquiris. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but the following names of those providing the goods also speak volumes: Moo La-La Ice Cream and Desserts, Pino Gelato and Frozen Yogurt, Tony Larue’s New Orleans Style Snowballs, and Fat Tuesday Daiquiri Bar. Once refreshed, do you think you could sink a hole in one? With floating targets in Baytowne Lagoon, the Baytowne Adventure Zone’s Golf Challenge tests the most proficient golfer’s skill and patience. Conveniently right next door, Baytowne Tug Company lets youngsters take the helm as captains of model boats (originally from Disneyland in Anaheim) on a voyage in Baytowne Lagoon. COOL DOWN FOR A HOT N I G H T I N B AY T O W N E
If a cool cocktail sounds refreshing after a busy day, Baytowne’s happy-hour experts stand ready to pour fine wines, craft beers, specialty martinis, signature tropical drinks, and more. Several locations, such as Hammerhead’s Bar and Grille, Village Door Dockside, and Baytowne Provisions, present ideal vantage points for sipping and tasting while watching sunsets.
Facing a wide range of dinner options (barbecue, pizza, pasta, steak, and seafood, for instance), you might hear yourself saying, “eeny, meeny, miny, moe.” When Baytowne is bustling, however, making a reservation where they’re available is wise. Baytowne Provisions, for example, has many grab-and-go choices, but ordering a picnic basket in advance ensures that your picks are conveniently packed for an outdoor concert or movie on the lawn. Similarly, book ahead for prime-time seating at a restaurant like Marlin Grill, where diners linger over courses.
Below: The Candymaker brings nostalgia to the forefront with sweets such as saltwater taffy, chocolate-covered strawberries, fudge, pralines, and more.
If you still haven’t had enough retail therapy, don’t worry. The shops are open at night and often host evening specials and events. Children also enjoy picking up where they left off or repeating activities in Baytowne Adventure Zone. The Golf Challenge is another lively spot.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf, open to the public, invites you to stay for the day or drop by for a portion of the morning, afternoon, or evening. Depending on the evening and season, the nightly event—such as a fireworks display, a magic show or other themed performance, or a live concert—prolongs the fun. The nightclubs at Baytowne Wharf also play live music. Rum Runners is famous for its dueling piano players, and John Wehner’s Village Door Nightclub features The Dream Band’s music of many genres, including classic and college rock, disco, the 1980s, and R & B. Switching things up, a DJ, alternating with The Dream Band between acts, also plays the latest hits. If you just want to hang out, maybe to watch the big game on TV, The Village of Baytowne Wharf has over ninety screens. Cheer on your team with tropical libations at Fat Tuesday Daiquiri Bar or over a slice of pizza at Roberto’s. COME AND GO AS A SANDESTIN GUEST
The Village of Baytowne Wharf, open to the public, invites you to stay for the day or drop by for a portion of the morning, afternoon, or evening. The same is true if you’re a guest enjoying the accommodations at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Use Sandestin’s complimentary tram to come and go between tennis, golf, beach and pool time, water sports, boating, fitness, and spa treatments. If you can’t decide what to do or when to partake in activities, Baytowne Wharf ’s in-the-know guides love to help with suggestions.
For a list of merchants, activities, daily happenings and specials, a calendar of events and festival dates, maps, photos, and more, visit BaytowneWharf.com or call (850) 267-8180.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 61
Baytowne
PROViSiO 62 | N O V E M B E R 2017
ONS
Voyager
BY SA L L I E W. B OY L E S PHOTOGRAPHY BY RO M O N A RO BBI N S
As in any thriving small town, a vibrant business community sustains the happy heartbeat within The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Owners and their staff commonly mention a sense of belonging, and they genuinely want Sandestin’s residents, guests, and visitors to feel the same. Moreover, no matter their origins or travel experiences, Baytowne’s entrepreneurs—retailers, restaurateurs, and architects of amusement—often say they cannot imagine living anywhere else. Several have homes on the resort. That’s why so many of their products and services reflect a tried-and-true appreciation of a Southern, coastal way of life. Among them is Chef Jim Shirley, nationally known for his award-winning dishes and acclaimed restaurants on the Gulf Coast, and Kelli Castille, a member of the famed Landry’s Seafood family. After enjoying a successful two years of co-owning Baytowne Melt, a sandwich and salad eatery with al fresco seating by the lagoon, the business partners seized the opportunity to expand when a more abundant space opened up on Choctawhatchee Bay. Thus, in the summer of 2017, they debuted Baytowne Provisions, a combination general store/local specialty market, restaurant, bar, catering operation, and private events venue.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 63
R
egarding the restaurant, fans of Baytowne Melt can rest assured that the epicurean delights, like the famous grilled cheese sandwiches Jim describes as “street fare,” remain on the menu. (Before arriving in Baytowne, such food originated at the Melt Down on 30A, Jim and Kelli’s food truck at Seaside in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.) With Provisions now operating as a full-service restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the choices are much broader. In addition to favorites like the gooey, gourmet grilled cheese and the Smokin’ Turkey sandwich (smoked turkey, bacon, pepper jack cheese, and avocado, smothered in Jim’s Albuquerque sauce), the chef ’s other famed dishes, such as succulent steaks, freshly caught fish, and Shrimp and Grits à Ya Ya, are served. If “à Ya Ya” didn’t give it away, Jim reveals that he learned the essentials of cooking from his Southern grandmother. Travel broadened and refined his palate. Jim’s dad was a Navy pilot, which meant venturing
Right: Chef Lee Eyer is a third-generation local of the South Walton area bringing the vision of Jim Shirley and Kelli Castille to life at Baytowne Provisions. Opposite: Provisions offers many favorites that locals love from the Melt Down on 30A, such as gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, along with other specialties and grab-and-go items.
64 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Provisions is stocked to satisfy a foodie’s cravings. Along with fresh fruits and vegetables, shoppers find the chef’s prepared foods, scrumptious baked goods, gluten-free items, organic fare, gourmet cheeses and snacks, craft beers, specialty wines and coffee, and more. far beyond their home base of Pensacola to live and savor food from different cultures. Drawn to the kitchen, Jim says, “I was flipping burgers at fourteen. I also ran a pizza place almost by myself in my teens, making a dollar ten an hour.” Although he attended Mercer University with the intention of studying medicine, Jim continued to land restaurant jobs, and in 1995, he opened his first awardwinning place, Madison’s Diner, in Pensacola. In this latest venture, Jim conveys, he and Kelli are allowing Provisions to “morph into what Baytowne needs.”
Voyager
As the first to sell provisions, the retail facet is a big deal to those who live, work, and play at Sandestin. “It’s a local convenience store, like a farmer’s market,” says Jim. Beyond the typical staples, Provisions is stocked to satisfy a foodie’s cravings. Along with fresh fruits and vegetables, shoppers find the chef ’s prepared foods, scrumptious baked goods, gluten-free items, organic fare, gourmet cheeses and snacks, craft beers, specialty wines and coffee, and more. “We’re providing grab-and-go items,” Jim explains, “that you can take back to the condo or boat, or pack for a nice day at the beach.”
be packaged for holiday, hostess, and special-occasion gifts, are also available throughout the year.
For added convenience, Provisions takes orders in advance and even provides signature cooler bags. “We have so many activities and events in The Village,” says Kelli. “If people want to grab something great to eat while watching a movie on the lawn, we can have it ready.” Gift cards and gift baskets, which can
“Andy Saczynski painted the three main pieces of art for Provisions, and my friend Liza Snyder created the chalkboards and signage. We’ll continue to fill those walls with local art.”
Displaying chicken salads, potato salads, pimento cheese, hummus, pasta made for Jim’s restaurants and retailed only at Provisions, deep-fried smoked oysters, sauces, and seasonings, Jim and Kelli clearly value homemade and homegrown goods, and so do their customers. Naming some of her sources, Kelli says, “The short list includes local honey from the Honey Hutch, gourmet popsicles from Peace Love ’n’ Pops, olive oil and balsamic vinegar from 30A Olive
Oil, artisan chocolates and truffles from Cloud 9 Chocolates, and handmade ice cream from Southern Craft Creamery.”
Voyager
Provisions, situated between the The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s Grand Lagoon and the Choctawhatchee Bay, has the best of both worlds when it comes to the view. 66 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Before, the balcony, which overlooks the marina, was closed off. Today, Kelli says, “When the sun is setting on the marina and you’re on that balcony, there’s no better spot in Baytowne.”
he word local also applies to the artists represented. “Andy Saczynski painted the three main pieces of art for Provisions,” says Kelli, “and my friend Liza Snyder created the chalkboards and signage. We’ll continue to fill those walls with local art.”
To optimize such an idyllic spot, Jim and Kelli added a bar and set aside an area for private events. Special-
Local designer friends also collaborated with Kelli and Jim to create the perfect ambience for Provisions. “We had always eyed this building,” says Jim, recalling how he and Kelli would imagine how they would transform what was previously a dark, enclosed space. “It was a huge renovation project from floor to ceiling and wall to wall,” he informs. “The bones of the building were great, but the spectacular water views had been underutilized.”
“We’ve built a comfortable, classy place that you feel great about bringing your family to, and we’re looking to make a lot of new friends in Baytowne.” izing in “modern-coastal-Southern cuisine,” they cater for all kinds of occasions—holiday gatherings, football parties, convention luncheons, birthday celebrations, and rehearsal dinners, to name a few. “We’ve built a comfortable, classy place that you feel great about bringing your family to,” says Jim, “and we’re looking to make a lot of new friends in Baytowne.”
To learn more or place orders, readers should visit BaytowneProvisions.com or call (850) 460-7866. Regular updates also appear on Facebook.com/ BaytowneProvisions.
Introducing the Wolf induction range. Two simple concepts, one brilliant combination. The precision and control of the induction cooktop combined with the even heat circulation of the Wolf dual convection oven. Induction gives high to low end control as precise and powerful as any gas cooktop. The oven delivers uniform heat across all racks to produce faster, more consistent, more predictably delicious results. Come experience the new Wolf induction range today.
30" induction range
4646 Gulfstarr Dr, Destin, FL 32541 850-424-5191 • unitedlighting.com Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Voyager
L Wor D
T R AV E L I N G
Rockwell Tharp Settles in Baytowne Photo by Coastal Shots Photography Opposite: Owners Cameron Tharp and Kristi Rockwell Photo by Romona Robbins 68 | N O V E M B E R 2017
BY SA L L I E W. B OY L E S
In 2009, Cameron Tharp was conducting business on the island of Maui when he heard the sweet drawl of a woman saying “y’all.” Only a fellow Southerner would use that colloquial expression, and he had to meet her. “That’s where it all began,” Cameron says, referring to his remarkable friendship and business partnership with Kristi Rockwell. “We’ve been together ever since,” he notes. Upon meeting, Kristi—then a trauma care nurse in the ICU of a local hospital—and Cameron—a business consultant who handled mergers and acquisitions— immediately connected over their shared Alabama roots and Christian faith. They also found themselves in similar circumstances with parents experiencing health concerns. “We decided to come home,” says Cameron. They each moved back to Alabama and, as Cameron relays, “We stepped out on faith.” Before getting down to business, Kristi says, “We designed some sandals and boots for a few family members.”
Both exhibited an affinity for boots in early childhood. “I remember going to church in my frilly red-and-white polka-dot dress and my brown cowboy boots,” says Kristi. “One day, looking back on pictures, I asked my mom why she didn’t make me wear white shoes to match my dress. She said, ‘Oh, heavens! It was easier to let you wear your boots with your dress than to tell you no.’” Photographic evidence also exists of toddler Cameron sporting cowboy boots and a diaper.
“We built everything from our own personal money and sweat equity. It’s one thing to talk and dream; it’s another thing to do. My father used to tell me that if you get up each day and put one foot in front of the other, good things will happen.” Creative and passionate about all design, they set up a home office for Rockwell Tharp while still caring for their parents. “Kristi and I decided to walk away from our corporate jobs to follow our dream,” says Cameron. “We built everything from our own personal money and sweat equity. It’s one thing to talk and dream; it’s another thing to do. My father used to tell me that if you get up each day and put one foot in front of the other, good things will happen.”
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 69
G ood things happened quickly for Rockwell Tharp, known for daring but classy-to-the-hilt handmade boots, shoes, handbags, and belts. Within the first six months, their business had taken off. “I think I knew we had something special when Kristi put on the first pair of artistic boots and wore them in public,” Cameron says.
“They were black with a lot of bright, colorful flowers and whimsical designs in fuchsia, lime green, and purple,” Kristi elaborates. “I would wear them, and people would stop me to ask where I’d bought them.”
“We’ve been fortunate to travel the world, but we still feel there’s no place like Sandestin.” Today, as wholesalers to designer boutiques across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia, Rockwell Tharp remains privately owned and controlled by the dynamic duo. “We are passionate about creating unique and classy items,” says Cameron. “We are not looking to be in major department stores.” Expressing that they “thrive to make people smile,” Cameron and Kristi, who love working directly with the people who’ll don their creations, decided to launch their first ever brick-and-mortar Rockwell Tharp boutique at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, which opened in spring of 2017. From vacationing on the resort as children, they talk of their fondness for the area, and both have since made it home. “We’ve been fortunate to travel the world,” says Kristi, “but we still feel there’s no place like Sandestin.” The location also makes perfect business sense. “This store is working,” Cameron attests. “We are busy every day, and ladies are excited to stop for new, unique, and creative designs that they can’t find anywhere else.”
70 | N O V E M B E R 2017
In addition to its signature leather boots and handbags, Rockwell Tharp offers boutique clothing, accessories, and more at its Baytowne Wharf shop. Photo by Romona Robbins Opposite: Photo by Coastal Shots Photography
Voyager
That said, Rockwell Tharp is not an elitist label. Collections are priced well within the range of highend department store brands, and many believe they are a superior value. Aficionados love having one-of-a-kind footwear and accessories with features like genuine calf hair, leather linings, hand embroidery, fascinating textiles, Swarovski crystals, and intricate beading. Accordingly, limited editions, found only in Rockwell Tharp’s signature store, sell out quickly. “We might make six boots in a style, and when they are gone, they are gone,” explains Cameron. The designers take custom orders, too, and the Rockwell Tharp boutique is a great place to collaborate with individuals in person. Requests range from altering one aspect of an item from the line, such as rounding the pointed toe of a boot, to creating something totally different. “We also design a lot for celebrities and rock stars,” Cameron offers. Although the majority of the line is for ladies, men’s items include boots and wallets. Currently, the Rockwell Tharp boutique at Baytowne Wharf is the one store to display the full selection from each collection. In addition, the shop carries apparel and accessories from other specialty designers. “Some are designing unique items for this store only,” says Cameron, remarking that the exclusive looks go quickly. “We made some clothing items that sold out in ten days.”
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 71
Voyager
n all matters, whether they succeed or not, the two remain focused on serving God first. “We walk by faith, not by sight,” they say, referencing a passage from Corinthians. That’s why every boot with a zipper carries an engraved Bible verse—a controversial move. “Our business advisers said, ‘Don’t do it; you’ll alienate customers,’” Cameron divulges. The opposite seems true. “Almost all our customers notice the inscription after they get home, and they are over the moon when they see it.” Customers also like how Rockwell Tharp boots feel. “Since the beginning,” Kristi reveals, “I always said, whatever we do, we have to make our boots comfortable.” Extra foot pads in the insoles and ultrasoft, natural leather linings are important. “It just makes my heart smile every time a lady puts on a pair of boots and says, ‘Wow, these are comfortable!’” Operating Rockwell Tharp according to their standards compels Cameron and Kristi to travel extensively—four continents and eight countries in the past year alone. “Kristi and I personally source and select every piece of leather and textile that we use in our brand,” Cameron tells. “We have also personally visited and seen every supplier that we’re working with, and we do our own quality control.” The concept of procuring goods from around the world is not foreign to Cameron. “My family spent about fifty years in the wholesale business in Mobile, Alabama,” he says. In addition to importing home furniture for retailers like Pier 1 Imports and Bombay Company, they also supplied flowers for the Rose Bowl Parade. Kristi says, “We applied whatever we knew, as well as conducted our own research.”
Right: Photo by Romona Robbins Opposite: Photo by Coastal Shots Photography
72 | N O V E M B E R 2017
While abroad, Cameron and Kristi make a point of visiting Christian missionaries (as of now, eighteen family and individual units) whom they support financially, always arriving with personalized care packages containing goodies from home. “The reward is ours,” says Cameron.
Aficionados love having one-of-a-kind footwear and accessories with features like genuine calf hair, leather linings, hand embroidery, suzani textiles, Swarovski crystals, and intricate beading. Grateful to make a difference through the talents they attribute to “God’s grace,” the partners remain the chief designers for their boots, shoes, belts, and handbags. “In our minds, we dream the designs and draw them up,” says Cameron. “We feel blessed to have a good eye for designs and a strong sense of what will work and what won’t.” All the while, Cameron gives Kristi tremendous credit. “She’s a creative and passionate Southern lady
with great taste,” he says, noting that ladies not only feel joyful to express themselves with bold designs, textures, and colors, but also empowered to step out with confidence.
Grateful to make a difference through the talents they attribute to “God’s grace,” the partners remain the chief designers for their boots, shoes, belts, and handbags. “We love to make our customers feel loved and confident in what they are buying and wearing,” says Kristi. “We want them to feel fabulous!”
Beach Blinds draperies & More Serving the Beaches & Beyond
Roman and Natural Woven Shades Plantation Shutters • Custom Draperies Designer Wallcoverings • Motorized Treatments Solar Shades • Custom Bedding & Pillows
The crossings aT inleT Beach 13123 US Hwy 98E, SUitE A, inlEt BEAcH, Fl 32461 Destin: (850) 543-4424 inlet Beach: (850) 502-5401
Project Designers: Lindsay Miller & Karen Kearns of Lovelace Interiors
For the latest fashions and more, please visit RockwellTharp.com. To contact the Rockwell Tharp boutique at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, please call (808) 268-6131.
Voyager
Visiting The Village of
bAYtoWne a h Rf BY B OAT
BY SA L L I E W. B OY L E S PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMONA ROB B INS
To experience The Village of Baytowne Wharf, a hub of amusements with boutiques, eateries, entertainment, and activities within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, visitors usually enter through the front gate at 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway in Miramar Beach, Florida. Baytowne Marina on the Choctawhatchee Bay, meanwhile, offers yet another option—this one to boaters. Just a half-hour cruise from East Pass (also known as Destin Pass, where Choctawhatchee Bay opens to the Gulf of Mexico), the marina is located at the following coordinates: L AT I T U D E : 30.378230° N 30° 22' 41.6" 30° 22.6938' L O N G I T U D E : -86.330954° W 86° 19' 51.4" -86° 19.8572'
Upon disembarking, visitors quickly reach The Village of Baytowne via a treelined, scenic boardwalk. Consistently praised for its impeccably maintained facilities and all-encompassing services, Baytowne Marina has 113 slips and accommodates yachts up to 140 feet. “We take in all sizes and shapes,” says Jason Draughn, director of activities at Sandestin. With people coming and going throughout the year, the marina is especially lively when The Village of Baytowne is bustling, such as during the Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf in April. Deemed by many to be the best annual happening in the region, the event celebrates wine, food, and music in a congenial atmosphere with beautiful weather, all for a delightful pairing of festival-going and relaxing on the water.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 75
Voyager
T
he Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, hosted by Sandestin in early June, is another big draw to Baytowne Marina. With huge cash prizes awarded to winners, this fishing tournament is the “richest” on the Emerald Coast, which magnifies the thrill of the sport. For other anglers, Baytowne Marina has light fishing charters and pontoon boats to rent. Guests and visitors can also rent or purchase tackle for fishing in the Village Lagoon (catch and release), Choctawhatchee Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.
From January to early March, a variety of human snowbirds (some are Loopers, who make a circle from north to south through waterways of the eastern United States) land at Baytowne Marina to bask in the peace and quiet. “It’s a great time to visit,” Jason reveals, “with the most beautiful sunsets and no hustle and bustle.”
Throughout the spring and summer, amidst The Village’s ongoing festivities, Jason and his crew remind guests to reserve their places at the Baytowne Marina’s Tuesday evening luau, featuring a pig roast, additional Hawaiian-themed cuisine, and fun for the entire family. The marina’s resident macaw and cockatoo, Mary Ann and Skipper respectively, also play a colorful part in greeting guests and posing for pictures.
The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, hosted by Sandestin in early June, is another big draw to Baytowne Marina. With huge cash prizes awarded to winners, this fishing tournament is the “richest” on the Emerald Coast, which magnifies the thrill of the sport.
The flurry of fall and winter happenings at Baytowne Village might surprise newcomers, but in-the-know holiday visitors and guests make a point of docking at Baytowne Marina to attend an array of seasonal festivals and events and shop at the boutiques for one-of-a-kind local gifts and the right attire for every gathering. Yachters also have a tradition of ringing in the new year at Baytowne Countdown’s live concert and massive fireworks display.
As someone who began working for Sandestin as a cabana boy for a summer job after graduating college and, eighteen years later, continues to “love it every day” with his wife and children, Jason maintains that the lifestyle is hard to beat. Without question, boaters are among those who make the most of it. Residents
76 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Offering more than just a nice view, the Baytowne Marina is available for locals and visitors to travel to the The Village of Baytowne Wharf by boat to enjoy family activities, great dining, and special events.
of Baytowne and others who dock at the marina have even formed their own social group, the Baytowne Floating Society. The marina’s appeal (the protected harbor presents another bonus) to locally based owners means that most of the slips are reserved on an annual basis, and returning guests wisely book months in advance. Therefore, Jason says, “You definitely want to call ahead to get on our list. We have a variety of power requirements and sizes, so making the reservation is an important, hands-on process.” The marina, of course, welcomes day-trippers to The Village of Baytowne and readily assists with their small vessels. Upon arrival, patrons of the marina find an extremely congenial, obliging staff with a personal concierge and all the creature comforts, including a laundry and showers. Furthermore, they can purchase the sweet necessities, like gourmet coffee and scrumptious bread,
The marina’s appeal (the protected harbor presents another bonus) to locally based owners means that most of the slips are reserved on an annual basis, and returning guests wisely book months in advance. from Baytowne Provisions, a fresh market/general store in The Village. Baytowne Marina’s guests also receive an amenities card for complimentary access to the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort tram, plus the enjoyment of bicycles, kayaks, boogie boards, tennis courts, and more. Golf carts also remain on hand at the marina for boaters to rent.
SANDESTIN.COM/SANDESTIN-MARINA
For Baytowne Marina reservations and answers to specific questions, readers should call (850) 267-7773.
It Takes a Photo by Romona Robbins Opposite: Photo courtesy of The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Voyager
stumbled on a building about to be demolished. With that, we found our St. Joe brick.” The water tower, well over a century old, was rescued from North Carolina.
BY SA L L I E W. B OY L E S
Nearly twenty years ago, a plan materialized to erect a village on twenty-four tranquil acres beside Choctawhatchee Bay in Miramar Beach, Florida. When the word got out, many wondered why The Village of Baytowne Wharf, open to the public, would operate within the gates of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Thankfully, from the resort’s inception in 1973, Sandestin has been shaped by visionaries, not naysayers, allowing Vancouver-based Intrawest Corporation, which owned Sandestin from 1998 to 2010, to leave the legacy of Baytowne. Known for creating alpine villages that turned great mountains to ski into full-fledged destinations, Intrawest conceived The Village of Baytowne Wharf as a family-friendly hub with forty-something boutiques, eateries, and nightspots, as well as a venue for special events and ongoing attractions. Baytowne would also have its own residential district, since completed with 724 units. Beyond gratifying owners and resort guests with abundant on-site entertainment and activities, The Village would welcome visitors. The concept for what would become the heart and soul of Sandestin began with Eldon Beck, the architect for Vail and the original Whistler Village. “Eldon came up with the vision for The Village, and it was my privilege to be its keeper,” says Connie Wynne, then Baytowne’s master planner/project manager and now managing director for Replay Resorts Inc. More than a backdrop, the land, water, wildlife, and vegetation, blended with generous helpings of Southern culture, inspired what Wynne describes as “an old fishing village that developed over time.” She and others, in fact, wrote a history that guided their labor of love. She recalls, “Our small development and design teams knew we had something special from the start, and we wanted The Village to be rich in experience.”
Knott relays how his search for a nightlife operator yielded two unique treasures. From scoping out the hottest clubs on Bourbon Street, he met John Wehner, who moved his famed Village Door into Baytowne. “When we were building the space out,” Knott adds, “we went back to New Orleans and found the big red doors in a warehouse.” One hundred years old, the music venue’s entryway has become a village landmark.
“Then, while sitting back on a park bench in the events plaza, it struck me that we had created a place where people of all ages would come and tell stories, share laughs, and live life.” The story unfolds with brightly painted Florida cracker–style houses, distinguished by their metal roofs. One can imagine such rustic structures first cropping up around Baytowne Lagoon before prosperity ensued, producing the architecture of old New Orleans and antebellum Mississippi. Evoking simpler times, meandering lanes, crossroads, porches, and verandas beckon one to wander, explore, and visit. “As soon as you take the car out of the interaction of the storefront, the pace becomes slower,” says Mark Knott, who was Baytowne’s director of commercial development and is now director of business development for T&G Constructors, the general contractor for the project at the time. “You have things to look at and places to stop and sit.” “The details mattered,” says Wynne. For authenticity, she reveals, “We looked for salvaged materials. Even the contractors working on the project got into the spirit of what we were trying to do. The plumber called me from New Orleans on a Saturday, having
Responsible for events and programming, Katy Syco, the first director of The Village of Baytowne Wharf Neighborhood Association, attributes Baytowne’s distinctive character to the people who live, work, and play there. Nicknamed “the mayor” early on, she honored all interests—those of the independent merchants, the homeowners, and the resort’s management—in every undertaking. Beginning with the grand opening in August of 2002, Syco also considered the greater community’s wishes. “We hosted a huge dinner under a tent to benefit a local hospital,” she recalls. Indeed, outside attendance was so strong throughout the New Orleans–themed weekend that every parking lot was full. That happened to be when the current “mayor,” Alan Meyers, a.k.a. Baytowne’s executive director, first went to work at Sandestin—parking cars! Moving up the chain of command through valet services, Meyers says, “When I became involved with the operational side of events, I could see the guests smiling and the kids laughing after the fireworks shows, and then I understood why people were coming.” “We had worked about four years not knowing how The Village would be perceived by the community,” says Wynne, “but when the lights came on, it was amazing. I walked around by myself, just watching and listening to folks make their assessments. Then, while sitting back on a park bench in the events plaza, it struck me that we had created a place where people of all ages would come and tell stories, share laughs, and live life. It was rich and rewarding work. I think we did something worthwhile.” V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 79
DO YOU DREAM OF SUCCESS & HAPPINESS? THIS IS A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE AT ANY AGE!
AVAILABLE NOW ON DARINCOLUCCI.COM
the french br Ooklyn of canadA STORY BY GREG CAYEA
Voyager
y cell service dropped immedi‑ ately, and the signs went French within moments of crossing the border. Farmland crowd‑ ed my window for a hundred kilometers until the Champlain Bridge fed thousands of cars into the fifth most populated city in North America. I drove into the city, passing boutique cafés and outdoor eateries on the way to my hostel. It was summer, a comfortable 21 degrees Celsius (about 70 degrees Fahrenheit), and there were spectacular graffiti artworks everywhere—looking more like murals painted on brick buildings than vandalism.
IT WAS SUMMER, A COMFORTABLE 21 DEGREES CELSIUS (ABOUT 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), AND THERE WERE SPECTACULAR GRAFFITI ARTWORKS EVERY‑ WHERE—LOOKING MORE LIKE MURALS PAINTED ON BRICK BUILDINGS THAN VANDALISM. Outside my hostel, two Parisian girls were smoking cigarettes on the cement stoop leading down to Rue Sherbrooke. They spoke not a word of English. For the first time, I realized this city might be more French than I expected. I found my bed in the dark coed dormitory and shut my eyes.
Creative graffiti street art murals line the streets and back alleys of Montreal, the largest city in Quebec, Canada. Photo by EQRoy
The next morning, I was riding a BIXI rental bike around the cobblestoned neighborhood of Old Port. Large, old churches, intellectuals drinking espresso, and European‑style alleys met on every street corner. During the day, you’d never know the historic‑look‑ ing apartment buildings disguised some of the most exclusive nightlife destinations on the continent.
I thought it best to make sure I still had money in the meter where I parked my car before riding the bike too far away, so I went to check. That’s when Montreal changed my life. I saw shattered glass everywhere. My car had been broken into, and my laptop, iPad, hard drive—all my electronics—were gone. Not only that, but my Burning Man ticket and my passport were missing. I had planned to drive to Nevada in just a few days to attend the desert madness of Burning Man, but now my plans were foiled. I took a deep breath and ran to the cops, telling them what had happened and ask‑ ing the best way to get back into the United States, given my circumstances. To stay on schedule, I had to leave that day. They told me simply to show my passport to border patrol. “But my passport was stolen.” “Well,”—heavy on the French accent—“apply fair anuzzer?” But I didn’t have time. So, I did what any sane man would do—I rearranged my entire life within ten minutes. I quit my job, left my apartment, and decided to make new friends (all this happened in my head) in under a half hour. After all, what better options were there? So, I thought, “I better explore my new city right away and get excited about it.” First, I needed some help, so I ran to the nearest Apple Store and bought a new computer, then headed back to the hostel and posted on Facebook asking some‑ one, anyone, if they knew of anyone in MTL that might be able to help.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 83
Voyager
T
hat’s how I met Louiza, who would soon become my tour guide to the inner workings of Montreal, or as it became known in my head: French Brooklyn.
Louiza was a bottle service waitress at one of the best nightclubs in Canada, New City Gas. It was she who educated me on all the artistic talent that had emerged from Quebec, like Blond:ish, A‑Trak, and many others. I had no idea what having a cultivated local arts scene meant, but I soon found out. It meant that the entire art community was self‑sustaining. Sure, many artists left to attain fame in other cities, but they didn’t have to, and they always returned to their hometown of Montreal. The local fan base took care of their people; I liked that. Another good reason to move from Los Angeles to Canada. I stayed at her apartment in the Plateau neighborhood of MTL, which is sprinkled with cat cafés (a cat café is exactly what it sounds like), music promoters, street
artists, rouge‑lit bars, fast‑poutine joints, and artists of all kinds. It seemed like it was a town full of opp‑ ortunity, and everywhere I looked there were signs that read Au Louer, which means “For Rent.” So, the deci‑ sion to uproot my life and move to Quebec became final. After all, as I said, I had no way to leave. Later that night, Louiza took me to a bar in the Plateau section called SuWu, a “hip‑hop eatery” that is adorned with wooden everything and plant‑themed decor— very Québéquois indeed. The room was full of beauti‑ ful people and the aroma of freshly cooked poutine, the signature Montreal dish of melted cheese curds over French fries draped in a tasty gravy.
THE ENTIRE ART COMMUNITY WAS SELF‑SUSTAINING. SURE, MANY ARTISTS LEFT TO ATTAIN FAME IN OTHER CITIES, BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO, AND THEY ALWAYS RETURNED TO THEIR HOMETOWN OF MONTREAL. After several hours, when the bar scene ended, it was time to go dancing. So we entered a cab and exited in the neighborhood where my car had been assaulted. At that time, about one in the morning, only nightlife connoisseurs walked the cobblestones. The entrance to Flyjin, an Asian‑inspired underground club with cave‑like stone walls, red lights, misty fog, and deep house music, was neatly hidden from the touristy public. The front doors even appeared broken. But crowds of in‑the‑know fashionistas and high‑heeled vixens led the way. An hour later, Louiza looked at me and asked in her thick French accent: “Do you want to go to an, ah, afterpahrtee?” Absolutely. So once again we entered a cab, drove past many people in the middle of the street (drunk, with their poutine takeout), and arrived at a speak‑ easy clustered between two graffiti‑clad buildings with iconoclastic slogans all over the walls. All English speaking evaporated once we walked inside, and I made do with what little French I spoke: zero.
84 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Left: Rather than seeing street art as vandalism, the Montreal community embraces it as a beautiful way to liven up the city and showcase its culture. Photo by EQRoy Opposite: Located in a repurposed industrial building from 1859, New City Gas has been consistently ranked as Montreal’s top nightclub. Photo courtesy of New City Gas V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 85
Voyager
fter many hand gestures, sign language, and other failed attempts at communication on my part, we left to pick up some pou‑ tine of our own around four o’clock in the morning and headed back to Louiza’s apart‑ ment to rest our heads.
Right: The pedestrianonly Gay Village district along Rue SainteCatherine is adorned with pink streamers, street vendors, nightclubs, and much more. Photo by Frédérick Plante, Montreal Tourism Opposite: Photo by Greg Cayea
The next morning, I roamed the city’s Gay Village, which was festooned in colorful ropes of round ornaments hanging from one building to the other overhead, and as I walked and the sun hit the orna‑ ments from different angles, the colors made a bright rainbow. I walked down Sainte‑Catherine Street until I reached the intersection of the well‑known Saint‑Laurent, which marks the middle of the city, dividing eastern and western MTL, and also marking the division between locals to the est and tourists to the ouest. Trendy bodegas and “cultured” rest‑ aurants line the boulevard, cutting through the many ethnicities of the city and hallmarking Saint‑Laurent as the main thoroughfare. It runs from downtown all the way to the Prairies River.
Consistently Delicious since 1995! www.cafethirtya.com
3899 East Scenic Hwy. 30A, Seagrove Beach · 850.231.2166 Online Reservations. Major Credit Cards. Open Daily At 5.
TRENDY BODEGAS AND “CULTURED” RESTAURANTS LINE THE BOULEVARD, CUTTING THROUGH THE MANY ETHNICITIES OF THE CITY AND HALLMARKING SAINT‑LAURENT AS THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE.
SEASIDE_halfpageAD_LaVieEstBelle__VIE.pdf 1 4/5/2017 9:47:51 AM
And on that one wonderful afternoon, I got a phone call from a 514 number, the local area code in MTL. A stranger told me my bags had been found. No electronics, but my passport and Burning Man ticket were still there! At least the thief was artisti‑ cally appreciative enough, like the rest of MTL, to leave me my Burning Man ticket—and my passport to get there.
Wendy Mignot La Vie Est Belle Seaside, Florida
Austin Magee Austin’s Surf School Seaside, Florida
locally-owned and operated boutiques & restaurants
Voyager
Photo by Stéphan Poulin, Montreal Tourism
U
nfortunately, there was no way I could make it to Nevada on time, but I decided to return to LA and keep the life I had—at least for the moment. So, I sadly told the landlord of the beautiful three‑bedroom Montreal castle (which rented for only 1,200 Canadian dollars) that it was a no‑go. I left the most artfully crafted city in North America, the French Brooklyn of Canada, and have since returned many times.
IN ALL DIRECTIONS, MONTREAL HAS SEEMINGLY CAPTURED THE CULTURE OF HUMANITY AND BOTTLED IT INTO MANY FORMS OF ART (INCLUDING THIEVERY), SPRAY PAINTED IT ON ALL THE BUILDING WALLS, AND EVEN COOKED IT INTO THE STREET FOOD. To this day, I have yet to find another city with a barber shop that only does “white people dreadlocks” or a thousand‑square‑foot bar with an entire indoor skateboarding bowl nearly blocking the entrance as you walk in for a drink. I haven’t seen a shiny glass storefront with only two dudes sitting and working at their laptops as the locals walk by on the congested sidewalk, peering inside as the two dudes program Montreal’s next music festival. They could easily have done this from home, but no, they had to rent a retail shop so that all could bear witness to the mak‑ ing of their art—even if it’s done entirely via e‑mail. In all directions, Montreal has seemingly captured the culture of humanity and bottled it into many forms of art (including thievery), spray painted it on all the building walls, and even cooked it into the street food. It’s truly the city that only sleeps when the last party ends.
Greg Cayea writes offensive short stories about his life adventures, then draw cartoons to illustrate them. Stay tuned at ScrambledGregs.com for his next adventure. 88 | N O V E M B E R 2017
2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED A BOHEME DESIGN, LLC / © JEAN ALLSOPP AA 26001879 www.aboheme.com
Architecture designed around You and the things You love. . A
BOHEME
DESIGN
Let u s h elp y o u w i t h y o u r n ex t h om e
- 850.231.6803
Voyager
Royal Sonesta New Orleans is the only AAA Four Diamond luxury hotel right in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, offering guests prime access to all the fun and excitement of Bourbon Street and beyond.
90 | N O V E M B E R 2017
A FRONT-ROW SEAT ON BOURBON STREET
RO L L S O U T T H E R E D CA R PE T BY TO R I P H E L P S P H OTO G RA P HY COU RT E SY OF ROYA L SO N E STA N EW O R L E A N S
New Orleans is different things to different people: a culinary mecca, a historic gem, a musical powerhouse. But the one thing everyone agrees on? Much of the magic happens in the French Quarter. Royal Sonesta New Orleans offers a front-row seat—on Bourbon Street, no less—to all of the foodie, jazzy, festive fun. Even better, they add their own ingredients to the merry mix with a lineup of signature amenities and events. “It’s the only luxury hotel space on Bourbon, so guests can take advantage of upscale comforts while being in the center of all the action,” says general manager Al Groos. “It’s the go-to spot for the ultimate Crescent City experience.” That experience starts with 483 recently revamped rooms and suites, plus a Southern-chic design that extends throughout the property. Then it’s on to five food and beverage outlets where guests can dig into award-winning cuisine, sip seasonal cocktails, and groove to live music from the city’s jazz masters. Throw in a lush courtyard, wrought-iron balconies, and a world-class art collection, and it does, indeed, add up to the complete New Orleans package.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 91
Voyager So whether you’re throwing an event of your own or attending one of the hotel’s, you’ll quickly understand why Royal Sonesta has earned a reputation as the “VIP box seat to the French Quarter.”
HERE COMES THE BRIDE… Royal Sonesta should probably consider adding wedding bells to its roofline because marriage is kind of their thing. From proposals and engagement celebrations to bachelor and bachelorette parties and the big day itself, the hotel’s collection of public and private spaces, not to mention its dedicated event staff, means you can do “I do” your way. Five hundred guests for a reception? No problem. An intimate affair for fifty? You bet. The only thing that’s standard is an atmosphere of charm-soaked romance. “You’re going to get a very quintessential New Orleans event here,” says Groos. “The architecture, the jazz-inspired flair—there’s only one place in the world like this to get married.”
KIDDING AROUND New Orleans probably isn’t the first city that comes to mind when you think “family friendly,” but Royal Sonesta might change your mind on that. There’s a seismic shift that happens when you step from
92 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Left: Accommodations at Royal Sonesta come in all shapes and sizes, from the standard Sonesta guest room to the over-the-top Senator’s Suite—but each one is exquisitely decorated and includes all the modern amenities guests love. Opposite: The hotel’s courtyard is an excellent place to unwind with a glass of wine and listen to the music streaming from The Jazz Playhouse. It’s also available to rent for private events, such as weddings and more.
Bourbon Street into 300 Bourbon Street. The hotel serves as a haven for families, allowing all of the noise and hubbub outside to melt away. At the pool, which sits in the middle of a stunning courtyard, the only sounds you’ll hear are happy splashing.
the James Beard Foundation Taste America Awards hit the hotel on October 6, and—ahem—the recent VIE magazine meet-and-greet was pretty special, too.
MUSIC AND (A BIT OF) MAYHEM
Sometimes naughty but never nasty, Royal Sonesta keeps a sense of decorum even Royal Sonesta hosts multiple events geared toward families throughout the year: when events are more grown-up in nature. The annual Greasing of the Poles on an Easter Bunny encounter with cookie decorating; the Friday before Mardi Gras traces its roots to the a Royal Teddy Bear Tea, held in partnership with days when hotel management would grease balcony WHERE GUESTS CAN the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans; and the poles leading to guest rooms to prevent sidewalk holiday Lighting of the Balconies, where young revelers from finding their way inside. Celebrating INTO AWARDChildren’s Hospital patients “flip the switch” to illuits forty-eighth year in 2018, it’s now a fun tradition minate thousands of twinkling lights draped over that features celebrity “greasers” and guest judges WINNING CUISINE, the property’s iconic wrought iron. who decide on the oily winners.
DIG
SIP
STAND-ALONE SOIREES
SEASONAL COCKTAILS,
Then there’s the yearly New Orleans Saintsations AND Calendar Release Gala that Royal Sonesta hosted Here, once in a lifetime happens all the time. Take for several years. Marking the first official appearance the Hotel Thrillist visit in 2016, for example. During TO LIVE MUSIC for the entire squad, the event allowed fans to meet the three-day event, the popular lifestyle media the cheerleaders and get their calendars autographed. brand flew in a hundred-plus influencers, clients, and “Only in New Orleans does a calendar release become a major sold-out event,” says friends. What they found at Royal Sonesta was a self-contained “best of NOLA” Groos of the red-carpet bash. encompassing music, food and drinks, and distinctive city experiences. This year,
GROOVE
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 93
Voyager America’s music—jazz—is a nightly occurrence at the hotel in The Jazz Playhouse. But the place really gets swingin’ during French Quarter Fest, when The Jazz Playhouse turns into an official stage for a variety of daily performances. One especially cool moment: Stevie Wonder’s impromptu, private gig on the Playhouse stage in 2016.
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY There’s an average of three festivals every weekend, and many of them highlight the Crescent City’s free-wheeling culinary and cocktail scene. One of the best—the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE)—has brought together the finest food and wine in the city for twenty-five years. As part of this year’s event, Royal Sonesta’s Restaurant R’evolution hosted a six-course dinner of signature Cajun and Creole cuisine, paired with wines by Julien Pilon. Executive pastry chef Jackie Lopez also took home first place in the Big Gateaux Show, an illustrious pastry competition held during NOWFE. Adding a great cause to great food makes you feel even better about stuffing yourself silly. Maybe that’s why the annual United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s “Got Gumbo?” Cook-Off is a yearly favorite. The city’s best chefs put their best gumbos (and desserts!) forward to compete for sought-after awards and, of course, raise money for the community—all at Royal Sonesta.
Louis Louis is the sister restaurant of Picolo's restaurant and the Red Bar in Grayton beach.
LIVE
ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE. CASH OR CHECK ONLY, NO CREDIT CARDS. THERE IS AN ATM ON SITE.
LIVE MUSIC 7 NIGHTS A WEEK RED BAR JAZZ BAND TUESDAY TO SATURDAY EVENINGS
MUSIC
DREAD CLAMPITT DURING BRUNCH ON SUNDAYS FROM NOON–3 PM AND SUNDAY AND MONDAY EVENINGS FROM 7–10 PM
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK LUNCH & DINNER 11 AM – 10 PM BAR OPEN FROM 11 AM – 11 PM (12 AM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY)
(850) 231-1008
WWW.THEREDBAR.COM
“Best Restaurant in Walton County” “Best Bloody Mary”
TOP 200
ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE. WE NOW ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS: VISA, MASTERCARD, AND DISCOVER THERE IS AN ATM ON SITE DINNER TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 5 PM – 9 PM
(850) 267-1500 | WWW.LOUISLOUIS.NET | 35 MUSSETT BAYOU RD.
If you love a good cocktail, plan to visit during the weeklong Tales of the Cocktail. Every summer, libation lovers from around the world flock to the hotel for seminars, tastings, tours, and lessons in both old-school and modern cocktail techniques. No matter why you come to New Orleans, Royal Sonesta is designed to make your visit more exciting, more memorable, more New Orleans. Your VIP seat is waiting.
SON E STA .COM Tori Phelps has been a writer and editor for nearly twenty years. A publishing industry veteran and longtime VIE collaborator, Phelps lives with three kids, two cats, and one husband in Charleston, South Carolina.
Left: There’s always something on Bourbon Street to entertain guests and locals alike. Royal Sonesta is the perfect home base for your next trip to the Big Easy. Opposite: The hotel boasts three restaurants, four bars, The Jazz Playhouse, meeting spaces for every size, and Bourbon Balcony Hospitality Suites.
COMPLIMENTS OF JENN-AIR BRAND
FREE * APPLIANCES N E V ER LO O K ED S O G O O D. With qualif ying purchase(s), get up to $ 3,300 in instant credits to buy additional appliances.** Additional terms apply. Of fer valid July 1– December 31, 2017
*Offer only valid at participating Jenn-Air brand retailers in the U.S.A. Receive instant credit deducted from the retail price at the time of purchase. Customer pays difference if retail price of appliance is greater than credit amount. Valid in-store only. Must purchase qualified Jenn-Air brand products on a single receipt to receive instant credit. No substitutions allowed. Visit a participating retailer for complete details. ®/™ ©2017 Jenn-Air. All rights reserved. To learn more about the entire Jenn-Air brand line, please visit jennair.com. NCP-23198
Voyager
96 | N O V E M B E R 2017
LUBBOCK’S SURPRISING ARTS SCENE BY COURTNEY DRAKE-MCDONOUGH
Think of West Texas and visions of tumbleweeds may go rolling through your mind, perhaps accompanied by the soundtrack from a classic western film. A thriving arts scene isn’t likely to be part of that vision, yet that’s what Lubbock, Texas, has. The city’s commitment to the arts is a surprise to visitors and a source of pride to its residents. The arts scene lives primarily in two areas: across the sprawling Texas Tech University campus and in the Lubbock Cultural District downtown. Rushing from class to class is a lot more pleasant for the students of Texas Tech with sculptures and paintings to see along the way. For visitors, too, expanses of lawn, tree-lined paths, and a variety of architectural styles are dotted with artworks placed as part of the school’s public art program. The school created the program in 1998 with the purpose of extending its educational mission and enlivening the campus experience for all. One percent of the estimated cost of each new capital project funds the program, so as buildings get built and improved, so too, does the public art scene on campus. Between the Lubbock, Amarillo, El Paso, Abilene, and Angelo State University campuses that make up the Texas Tech University System (TTUS), there are 227 works of art with a total value of $8.1 million, according to Emily Wilkinson, the system’s public art director. Ninety-eight of those pieces are on the Lubbock campus with approximately 80 percent of them located outdoors. Visitors can take a walking tour of each campus to see them all, and a mobile app is in the works.
IN THE WILD WEST Opposite: The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, affectionately known around town as LHUCA, provides emerging artists a place to exhibit or perform art while enabling the public to be exposed to a variety of artistic mediums. Photo courtesy of LHUCA
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 97
Voyager
nce a new construction project is approved on campus, artists apply to be included in the public art program, and a few are selected to create a full proposal and presentation to the University Public Art Committee. After reviewing recommendations from the committee, the University system’s president and chancellor make the final decision. Most art pieces are commissioned specifically for the project, but a few are purchased from existing collections. Some of the notable artists with pieces in the TTUS program include Deborah Butterfield, Terry Allen, Barbara Grygutis, Larry Kirkland, Jesús Moroles, Tom Otterness, Shan Shan Sheng, and Lubbock native Glenna Goodacre. Many artworks are themed to accompany the department building they are near, such as Agave Dreams by Julian Voss-Andreae, which is outside the biology building, and Illuminated Arboreal Data Codes by Koryn Rolstad, outside of the college of business. The program was named one of the top ten public art collections at US colleges and universities by Public Art Review in 2006 and received the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) Catalyst Award in 2016. LHUCA is one of the elements of the Lubbock Cultural District, devoted to nurturing emerging artists and enabling the public to connect with them and their art. In addition to LHUCA, which offers gallery shows and performing arts, there is the Charles Adams Gallery and the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP). The privately owned project provides live/work studios for artists who apply to be part of the two-year program. The arts incubator allows the artists to make art, show their work, gain experience running a studio, interact with the public, and teach classes. Artists living at CASP are expected to engage the public through holding open studio hours, giving demonstrations and lectures, and participating in the monthly First Friday Art Trail.
THE ARTS INCUBATOR ALLOWS THE ARTISTS TO MAKE ART, SHOW THEIR WORK, GAIN EXPERIENCE RUNNING A STUDIO, INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC, AND TEACH CLASSES. 98 | N O V E M B E R 2017
The gallery and project’s namesake, Charles Adams, is a Lubbock native who couldn’t wait to leave when he was a young man. He went to Manhattan and had a gallery on Bleecker Street from 1969 to 1980. “Manhattan is fabulous if you’re young or rich, and I was neither, so I came back to make a difference here,” says Adams. Inspired by a project he’d seen in New York, in which a city-owned building was repurposed with modest apartments for artists and gallery and workshop spaces, he wanted to create something similar in Lubbock. Having worked with artists for decades, Adams knew what was missing in his hometown. “When you graduate from Texas Tech or any university, you completely lose your facilities,” he says. “You lose your camaraderie and your feedback and teachers paid to critique your work.” Students also lose access to equipment and supplies that can be cost prohibitive in the real world. Adams built studios in the Lubbock Cultural District with equipment artists would need, like a foundry and a lithography press. In the process, he created a sense of community between the artists and those who appreciate art. “Artists in most places live on the edge of their communities and sometimes have no heat, electricity, or toilets—plus the public can’t find them. Here, they have all of that in the middle of an arts district. What we found is that the public is obsessed with the viewing process! If you talk to an artist about ‘process,’ you’re more likely to buy that art than art you just see as ‘product.’ It has been a win-win.”
Left: In the Lubbock Cultural Arts District downtown, street art signals the central gathering place for the First Friday Art Trail, where the public gathers to enjoy food, music, and the opportunity to meet and talk to artists. Photo by IrinaK Below: Cast in bronze but looking exactly like weathered wood, Wind River by sculptor Deborah Butterfield is the perfect homage to West Texas on the Texas Tech campus. Photo courtesy of Texas Tech University
Voyager
lthough the public can explore the Charles Adams Gallery and CASP anytime, stopping by to try their hands at printmaking, ceramics, and other mediums for free at the First Friday Art Trail provides a year-round opportunity to turn the art experience into a festive atmosphere for thousands. With all three entities participating (LHUCA, Charles Adams Gallery, and CASP), it’s an opportunity to see exhibitions by local and national artists, enjoy music and dance performances, and sample offerings from food trucks. In addition to First Fridays, twice a month there are Saturdays at LHUCA, featuring art lectures, gallery talks, and even Tai Chi classes. The organization also sponsors the annual Flatland Film Festival and the Lubbock Book Festival. “LHUCA’s mission is to cultivate and celebrate all the arts by inspiring creativity and engaging
Above: Sasha is one of the pieces that artist Peter Keltz has created during his time in the CASP program, an incubator concept that provides artists with studio and living space, materials, time to work, and an opportunity to engage with the public, potential art buyers. Right: Positioned for the views over Ransom Canyon, the Robert Bruno Steel House is a visual masterpiece to take in. Photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough
100 | N O V E M B E R 2017
“WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM TEXAS TECH OR ANY UNIVERSITY, YOU COMPLETELY LOSE YOUR FACILITIES. YOU LOSE YOUR CAMARADERIE AND YOUR FEEDBACK AND TEACHERS PAID TO CRITIQUE YOUR WORK.”
Taylo r
with the community, so we provide frequent opportunities to participate,” says Jean Caslin, executive director of LHUCA. The center collaborates with numerous entities at Texas Tech University, with other nonprofits, and with businesses. “By collaborating with others on events and programs, together we build on our strengths and expand our audiences.”
almost animal-looking sculpture then inspired him to create a similarly shaped home. The Robert Bruno Steel House overlooks Lake Ransom Canyon through a wall of irregularly shaped windows. The artist died before the dramatic multilevel, multangular house/ work of art was completed, but tours are available from the property’s caretaker, a loyal friend of Bruno’s.
One interesting extension of Lubbock’s arts scene is a sculptural dwelling. Artist Robert Bruno had created Untitled for the Lubbock campus; this abstract,
In addition to the arts scene, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Lubbock: a variety of museums, the Buddy Holly Center and gravesite, wineries, great
Origi Famil
nal G
y, Gra yton © 1976
rayton
Girl
restaurants (don’t miss Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue or La Diosa Cellars), and other fun activities, such as practicing the “art” of golf at 4ORE! The Overton Hotel and Conference Center makes for a centrally located base while taking it all in. The palpable energy and opportunities for both artists and art enthusiasts in this neck of West Texas are a definite draw—pun fully intended.
VISITLUBBOCK.ORG Denver native Courtney Drake-McDonough is a writer and editor specializing in arts, culture, and travel. She enjoys traveling to unlikely destinations that make people ask, “Why would you want to go there?” She enjoys responding, “That’s exactly what I’m going to go find out.”
Kitty Taylor, Broker, GRI, CRS, CIPS Catherine Ryland, Broker Associate “Grayton Girl Team” Selling Grayton and Beach Properties along 30A. 850.231.2886 | 850.585.5334 133 Defuniak Street, Grayton Beach, FL 32459 www.graytoncoastproperties.com
MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS MTV celebrated its annual Video Music Awards on August 27, 2017, at the Forum in Inglewood, California. The stars came out to an incredible awards show filled with performances from today’s most popular artists and the most extravagant fashions on the red carpet. Photography by Tinseltown
Heidi Klum 102 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Hailee Steinfeld
Demi Lovato
Carey Hart, Pink, and Willow Sage Hart
Olivia Munn
Paris Jackson
Katy Perry
Hailey Baldwin
La scène
Mary and Vlas Parlapanides Photo by Lev Radin
Nat Wolff Photo by Ron Adar
Willem Dafoe Photo by Lev Radin
DEATH NOTE PREMIERE Netflix proudly introduces Death Note, an anime-based Netflix original film about a high school student named Light Turner who discovers a mysterious notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written within its pages. Armed with the notebook, Light launches a secret crusade to rid the world of criminals. Producers and cast members gathered on August 17, 2017, at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater in New York City to celebrate its premiere. Photography by Mike Pont /Getty Images for OCRFA
Cast of Death Note Photo by Miro Vrlik Photography
104 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Jason Liles with guest Photo by Miro Vrlik Photography
Margaret Qualley Photo by Miro Vrlik Photography
SWIMWEAR + LIFESTYLE
seaside | seacrest beach and now in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin Shop online at OpheliaSwimwear.com
mikoh • vitamin a • mara hoffman • acacia • frankies • l space • for love & lemons • melissa odabash
*
wildfox • poupette st barth • tularosa • spiritual gangster • faithful • helen jon • camilla
Sartorial Photo by Sky Cinema
Sartorial STRIKE A POSE
The Met Gala is always a hit, with the fashion and entertainment industries coming together to support the arts. This year’s gala theme was Comme des Garçons, celebrating the fashion brand’s founder, Rei Kawakubo. Although actress and singer Zendaya’s full-train parrot-print Alta Moda gown by Dolce & Gabbana strayed from the theme, it still made for a major wow moment on the steps as she arrived. Voluminous hair and a punchy tangerine lip color paired perfectly with the gown’s bright hues. The memorable ensemble is a welcome sight as we celebrate the fall season and look forward to spring’s upcoming trends.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 107
Sartorial
108 | N O V E M B E R 2017
by M E L A N I E C I S S O N E photgraphy by H A N N A H & J A K E V E R M I L L I O N
It’s no surprise that artist and jewelry designer Allison Craft
enjoys piecing together her hand-constructed pearl and leather jewelry on the beach. Everything about being at the water’s
edge—from having her toes in the sand to soaking up the glow of a beautiful sunset—resonates in the works of this Albany,
Georgia, native who now resides in Grayton Beach, Florida. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 109
Sartorial After graduating from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Craft taught elementary school in Atlanta for about seven years. To illustrate how dedicated she was to her work, Craft, who then lived in north Atlanta, split her time between two schools in different parts of the city and taught some 1,800 students a week. Despite lots of driving and a crazy schedule, she always found time for creativity. Precipitated by the arrival of their first child, Craft and her husband returned to Albany to be closer to family. In the ensuing decade, Craft had another child and worked four days a week—her daughter and son had their mom as their art teacher—all the while making jewelry and painting. Craft gained a reputation in Albany for her whimsical and capricious murals and paintings, mermaids and the sea being central to their themes. Having become friendly with the owner of a local dance studio where she had painted a mural, Craft made a trade with the studio’s owner that would be a foreshadowing of a life yet to be discovered. In exchange for a week’s stay at the studio owner’s Panama City Beach, Florida, vacation home, Craft painted backdrops and did stage design for dance productions. Craft likes to keep busy, even during vacation, and so
AS CRAFT’S BUSINESS GREW, HER JEWELRY DESIGNS
evolved. SHE HOLDS FAST AND TRUE TO THE IDEA creating jewelry OUT OF WHAT INTERESTS HER.
ALSO OF
found herself on the beach making jewelry. In those early years of trading her skills for time at the beach house, Allison had no idea that the area along Scenic Highway 30-A existed just a few miles west of Panama City Beach. Several beach trips later, Craft and her family not only discovered the eighteenmile stretch of unique beach towns called 30-A, but they also decided to buy a lot in Seagrove Beach. Halfway through the construction of their vacation home, however, Craft discovered that she was pregnant with her third child. With the prospect of having three children underfoot, she wanted to be at the beach. So, she quit her job back in Albany. She now laughs when she says, “I was going to be a stay-at-home mom.” With a three-month-old baby in arms, the family moved to Seagrove and Craft began painting murals locally and selling paintings and jewelry through local retailers. She recalls a Seagrove store called Collaborations where she used to sell 110 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Left: A mixture of white freshwater pearls on leather with an adjustable closure and “AC” signature accents in back Next page: Artist Allison Craft Previous page: This necklace features seventy-two Tahitian pearls and a central baroque pearl on handcut conditioned leather.
SHE DOESN’T HESITATE TO INCORPORATE HANDWROUGHT METAL OR SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES WITH HER
signature
pearls and leather, ALWAYS IN PURSUIT OF PRODUCING SOMETHING unique THAT SHE LIKES AND WOULD WEAR. her work and says, “It was one of the coolest spots in the area. It was filled with an eclectic mix of local art, furniture, and other finds.” For four years after her initial move to the area, Craft worked from home—and on the beach. She also shared studio space with photographers Jackie Ward, Shelly Swanger, and the late Sheila Goode. As Craft’s business grew, her jewelry designs also evolved. She holds fast and true to the idea of creating jewelry out of what interests her. She doesn’t hesitate to incorporate handwrought metal or semi-precious stones with her signature pearls and leather, always in pursuit of producing something unique that she likes and would wear. Additionally, she is clever about making many of her pieces transformational;
necklaces can be wrapped around a wrist in such a way that they become a bracelet, or a longer necklace can become a choker. Craft explains, “I like options myself.” A bit of a perfectionist, she personally makes everything she sells in her store, which is located in the colorful Shops of Grayton. A friend of Craft’s compliments her by telling her she’s good at guerrilla marketing, to which Craft counters, “I call it being broke.” In 2010, she took it upon herself to style a friend—a mother of sextuplets—who would be appearing on an episode of The Rachael Ray Show. She decked out the entire family in pearl and leather jewelry, including the children, the children’s grandmother, and the children’s aunt, all of whom appeared on air. What
IF SHE CAN DRILL IT, IT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO AN
Allison Craft original. On the heels of a marriage separation in January of 2012, Craft signed the lease of her first retail space at Shops of Grayton in February. She recalls the fearful period: “It was the first time I had been on my own, and it was with three children.” With a bootstrap mentality, Craft was undeterred by the circumstances. Whether you call it guerrilla marketing or being broke, the hustle paid off; on her first day of business, Craft sold enough jewelry to cover that month’s rent. Life changed quickly for Craft in 2012, but she has a real “keep on keepin’ on” attitude. Her pearl and leather jewelry designs are her bread and butter, but she continues to paint for the pleasure of it. She has amassed numerous accolades, including South Walton Artist of the Year for 2012 and Perfect in South Walton Awards for Best Jewelry Boutique Grand Champion in 2015, Judge’s Choice in 2016, and Best Retail Collective in 2017. With the loving assistance of Scott Henderson, the man in her life and her partner in business, Craft is allowed the time to consider unique projects, like a collaboration with Rock Hard Designs Jewelry, created by her late friend, designer Rocky.
a coup for Craft; an editor of Rachael Ray Every Day magazine wound up featuring Craft and her work in the publication, which has millions of readers. Ray herself became a fan, and Craft displays an image of the talk show host wearing an original pearl and leather necklace from Allison Craft Designs while on a visit to the White House. No stranger to celebrities who are fans, Craft is a music enthusiast who has ingeniously made musicians aware of her work. Craft draws inspiration from songs and goes to great lengths to research their meanings and the lives of the musicians who wrote them. Every year, she identifies in advance several musicians who will be playing at the 30A Songwriters Festival, researches their work and lives, designs and makes custom pieces, and gives them away. Among those musicians and celebrities who can be seen wearing her designs are John Oates, formerly of Hall and Oates, Amy Grant, Shawn Mullins, Kaci Bolls, the Tennessee Titans cheerleaders, Chas Sandford, Kelsey Waters, and Sam Bush, who won’t go onstage without his neck piece, which was inspired by the Karyn Williams song “Ordinary Angels”—he even has a backup. 112 | N O V E M B E R 2017
There’s no doubt that this landed mermaid will stick to her unique style and that she will continue to handcraft unique pieces of jewelry using unconventional objects and techniques. If she can drill it, it can be incorporated into an Allison Craft original. For someone who doesn’t like to make the same thing twice, who lets the pearls and other jewelry components guide her, it makes Craft happy to think about the unfettered jewelry designs and paintings she’ll make. Learn more or see the mastery for yourself when you visit Craft’s website and the Allison Craft Designs store in Grayton Beach.
ALLISONCRAFTDESIGNS.COM
OpenTable’s Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America Urbanspoon’s “America’s Top 250 High-End Restaurants” Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for ten years running (2008-2017)
Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award winner five years in a row
B O O K YO U R H O L I DAY PA RT Y N O W
Steak | Seafood | Sushi | Pizza | Dessert Cocktails Private Rooms & Full-Service Catering Available
Firefly Restaurant & Lounge at the Shoppes of Edgewater Panama City Beach, Florida
850.249.3359 | fireflypcb.com
Casual Fine Dining, in the most Romantic Atmosphere
Sartorial
Colombian brand Maaji’s colorful bathing suits bring runway trends and quirky patterns to Ophelia Swimwear’s inventory. Photo courtesy of Maaji
BY JORDAN STAGGS
The cool evening breeze coming off the Gulf of Mexico has put hints of fall in the air—but the Gulf Coast doesn’t celebrate the changing of leaves and the promise of hot apple cider.
S A L T A N D
W A T E R S M I L E S
Autumn is a time to rejoice as the summer crowds thin, art and food festivals abound, and the sunsets on the horizon are more stunning than ever. It’s a time when a woman might think of donning a light sweater over her favorite bikini on the weekend. For all those celebrating fall—or any season—at the beach, there’s a must-stop swimwear mecca with three trendy locations in Northwest Florida. It all began in 2002 when owner Tori Von Hoene found her oasis on the Florida coast, and after years of visiting the Panhandle with her family, she decided to make a permanent switch to the mermaid lifestyle. She opened the first Ophelia Swimwear in Grayton Beach in 2010. “The original inspiration for the name came from the 1975 song from The Band called ‘Ophelia,’ and then, of course, there’s the ingenue of Shakespeare’s Hamlet,” Von Hoene says. “In the play, Ophelia drowns after a branch from a willow tree she’s climbing breaks. The irony of giving a swimwear shop the name of a drowning Shakespeare character wasn’t lost on me, so as we designed our logo, the girl with flowers in her hair is sort of floating along as the flowers bring her back to life. We incorporate that flower into everything—it’s intended to signify the idea of breathing life back into what the character stood for.” Fast-forward seven years and Ophelia Swimwear is taking the world by storm with top swimwear, clothing, and accessories brands stocked in its three prime locations in Seacrest Beach, Seaside, and the new Miramar Beach store in the shops of Grand Boulevard Town Center. V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 115
Sartorial
116 | N O V E M B E R 2017
hen we started the design process for the new Grand Boulevard store, we considered how overwhelming it can be to shop for a bathing suit,” Von Hoene says. “We wanted the space to feel clean and refreshing and for the products to truly stand out.” The store’s bright white palette is garnished with shining gold and rose accents. “We have a Gray Malin print in the shop; it’s a dreamy reminder to get in that gorgeous new suit and get to the beach! Our pendants and chandelier are from Beautiful Lights in Destin, and we get so many comments on our lighting.” But it’s the colorful array of bathing suits, clothing, and other products that take center stage—and it’s enough to make any woman swoon. “Our style is elevated and a bit eclectic,” says Von Hoene. “It’s a collection of things you can’t find just anywhere. Our shoppers tell us all the time that when they wear our pieces, the suits and outfits are special and recognizably from our shop. The Ophelia girl has that classically cool feel, and many of our brands, like Vitamin A, Mikoh, and Boys & Arrows, are exclusive to our stores in this area.”
“OUR SHOPPERS TELL US ALL THE TIME T H AT W H E N T H E Y W E A R O U R P I E C E S , THE SUITS AND OUTFITS ARE SPECIAL A N D R E C O G N I Z A B LY F R O M O U R S H O P . ” That’s the beauty of Ophelia Swimwear: although the brand is known for its huge following on Instagram and photos of millennial mermaids wearing its trendiest styles, it has something for every woman. “We want all women to feel beautiful in their swimwear,
and there’s a variety of types of women who shop with us,” Von Hoene explains. “It’s moms and daughters and women of all ages and sizes, with suit styles ranging from classic, conservative lines to trendier, more youthful styles.” Comfortable and stylish highend day and evening wear from lines such as Poupette St Barth, Camilla, and Flynn Skye hang alongside the latest one- and two-piece swimwear silhouettes from Karla Colletto, L*Space, Mara Hoffman, Lolli, Beach Riot, and many more. Wildfox tees offer a vintage look with nonchalant messaging to the world such as “Occupation: Beaming Ray of Sunshine” and “I don’t want to taco bout it.” Activewear and basics round out the mix, along with fun pool floats, tote bags, sandals, and everything else you need for your most fashionable day ever at the beach, by the pool, or on a cruise ship.
Above: Mikoh brand’s clean lines and modern looks are a hit with Ophelia shoppers. Photo courtesy of Mikoh Opposite: The new Ophelia Swimwear location at Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, Florida, is the perfect stop for swimwear, clothing, accessories, and more. Photo by Rinn Garlanger
“Many of our brands are designed and produced in California and inspired by 1970s beach glamour,” Von Hoene says. “I love seeking out under-the-radar designers that are on the cusp. When we go to market, V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 117
Sartorial
we’re always looking for designers that will be unique to Ophelia. We have brands from all over the world: dresses from Positano, accessories from Marrakech, and swimwear from Saint-Tropez, for example. We also recently collaborated with Andi Eaton on her new book, which focuses on traveling stylishly. Within the book, she interviews artists, musicians, and fashion designers to dissect their travel styles. We provided swimwear and clothing for the chapter featuring 30-A, and our shops are featured in the book as well!” With groovy vibes like these and the bright-andsunny images that come along with a positive attitude, it’s no wonder Ophelia’s social marketing channels have taken off, gaining about twenty-six thousand followers on Instagram (and counting). “Social media is a constant conversation,” says Eaton, who began working as a creative consultant and marketer for Ophelia after the book collaboration. “We want to stay in that conversation with the Ophelia girls that follow the brand from all over the world. At the end of the day, our goal is to drive traffic to the shops and the web store and to heighten brand awareness 118 | N O V E M B E R 2017
through social media; however, for us, it’s most important to stay connected to the local community through our social channels, too!” Models and celebrities visiting Northwest Florida have become fans, including Savannah Chrisley, Caroline Boyer Bryan, Cassie McConnell Kelley, and more.
L
ifestyle blogger Alden Easter (@aceatthebeach on Instagram) often shares her Ophelia styles with her nearly thirty thousand followers and is always updating her laid-back coastal-chic look with new pieces from her favorite boutique. “I am not a ruffly or frilly kind of girl, and you will never see me in pink,” admits Easter. “I love unique pieces and think shoes and jewelry make the outfit. I can best describe my style as laid-back beach style mixed with city chic. Some days I live in a bikini and others I’m dressed up in all black.” Easter has shopped at Ophelia stores since they opened. “Ophelia
Swimwear has always had the best new styles of swimsuits and clothing that fit my personality so well. I would say that lately my favorite thing from Ophelia is a Frankies Bikinis black crochet top. It is such a fun piece, and I wear it all the time. I would not shop anywhere else for my swimsuits!” Writer and gallery owner Anne Hunter also lives the life of a #OpheliaGirl, showing off the brand’s versatility, from swimwear and cover-ups to work-worthy jumpsuits and dresses. “Ophelia fashion fits in all of my favorite spots—at home on 30-A, visiting my family in Texas, writing in SoHo in New York City and, more recently, in the South of France,” Hunter says. “Fashion is art to me. I love to shop in local boutique stores owned by in-vogue curators whose styles reflect the region. Tori’s collections both reflect and elevate the Southern style of the Gulf of Mexico.” Hunter says her favorite piece from the store is a sculptural necklace by Orly Genger, but for swimwear, it’s a toss-up. “One is an orange one-piece that
Left: Lifestyle blogger Alden Easter in one of her favorite looks from Ophelia Swimwear Photo by Ansley Eudy Opposite: Owner Tori Von Hoene at the Grand Boulevard store, featuring a dazzling print by Gray Malin and lighting by Beautiful Lights in Destin, Florida. Photo by Marla Carter
Sartorial is conservatively comfortable. I love the structure, lines, and material. The other is a bikini that Antoine Verglas selected for a photo shoot. I would never have imagined myself in it, but now it’s my go-to bikini.”
O
ne word to describe Ophelia— no doubt about it—is fun. Von Hoene’s penchant for creativity shows not only in the selection of products in her stores and the personality of the brand’s online presence but also in her runway and other fashion events. The store’s collaborative show with lifestyle brand 30A at South Walton Fashion Week’s debut in 2013 is still talked about as one of the most upbeat SWFW runway moments. No doubt the Ophelia team draws inspiration from its annual trips to Miami Swim Week, where top swimwear designers show their upcoming lines for buyers, media, and fashion influencers. “It’s a true inspiration to meet the designers and see their newest collections,” says Von Hoene. “Learning what’s inspiring them and spending time with likeminded people—those who love fashion and the arts—is such a great opportunity. The designers are always a step ahead in regard to what’s trending in color palettes, textures, and styles—and we get to see that at Swim Week before the rest of the world.” Meanwhile, shoppers who can’t visit Ophelia Swimwear’s three chic locations can still get their fix online! “We are in the middle of a website facelift right now,” reveals Von Hoene. “The online shop already sees shoppers from all over the United States, and as we update it this fall, it will truly become our fourth Ophelia shop.” The team is constantly updating the store’s website with blogs and news, as well as new products available to buy from your laptop or mobile
Right: Even the dressing rooms at Ophelia Swimwear in Grand Boulevard exude the brand’s fun bohemian vibe. Photo by Rinn Garlanger Opposite: Photo courtesy of L*Space 120 | N O V E M B E R 2017
“I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE COME IN, T R Y T H I N G S O N , A N D F E E L G R E AT ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK.”
device. You can even shop Ophelia’s favorite looks from Instagram with just a few clicks. “I love what I do,” says Von Hoene. “I love going to market and seeing new items come into the shops; it’s like Christmas all the time. I love seeing people come in, try things on, and feel great about how they look. Seeing them post photos in their suits on Facebook and Instagram and seeing them so happy about what they’ve gone home with is an awesome feeling!” Keep those rays of positivity coming and stay salty, my friends.
OPHELIASWIMWEAR.COM
Le monde
Le monde GOES ROUND AND ROUND
Capri, a picturesque isle of just four square miles off Italy’s southwest coast, has been a hub of culture and beauty since ancient times. Its Matermània Grotto holds ruins of a Roman shrine to the water nymphs and Cybele, the goddess of the earth. Thanks to its status as a seaside escape for nobles as early as the second century BC, Capri has long attracted poets, artists, and other creative types, as well as tourists. It became a beacon for bohemian expats during the early to mid-1900s and has been the setting for such films as 1960’s It Started in Naples starring Clark Gable and Sophia Loren. Today, tourists and art and history lovers alike enjoy the island’s beauty and cultural destinations, such as the Ignazio Cerio Museum and Library, the Blue Grotto, Villa San Michele, Villa Jovis, and much more.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 123
Le monde
he
INSPIRATION AT
EDUCATION AND CULTURE ABOUND
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION
FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS, THE MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION (MKAF) HAS BENEFITED DESTIN, FLORIDA, WITH EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT BRING THE ARTS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
124 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Its namesake and matriarch, Mattie May Kelly, was known for making a difference long before that. She and her husband, Coleman Kelly, moved to Destin in 1935 to start a turpentine farm and launch a charter boat, creating jobs and income that helped kick-start the area’s growth. Not only was Kelly a philanthropist who made generous contributions to arts organizations in the area, she was also a poet, a musician, and a composer.
Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, MKAF carries on her legacy. The foundation supports art of all types through its independent, nonprofit community outreach programs and events that are open to the public. Its team of dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members work year-round to bring artists, performers, and events to the Emerald Coast.
Today, thanks in great part to Kelly’s donation of fifty-two acres of land that is now home to the
Marcia Hull, CEO: The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation was established in 1995 on the cultural, educational, and spiritual beliefs of the late Destin matriarch,
VIE caught up with the staff of MKAF to learn more. VIE: Can you tell us a little more about the history and mission of the foundation?
Concerts in the Village at the Dugas Pavilion, part of the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida Photo by Chase Yakaboski
Mattie Kelly. Fast-forward from our humble beginnings in 1995 to today and the organization has had the support of over 150 local business leaders dedicated to bringing their talents and treasures to actively serve on the board of directors. We currently have 300 annual members and 250 annual volunteers, and we’ve delivered twenty-two seasons of performing and visual art events, including community outreach programs in seventy schools and United Way agencies and numerous military and veteran warrior organizations. VIE: How does one become a member of MKAF? MH: Membership is open to individuals, couples, families, and businesses. Membership applications with levels and benefits are accessible by visiting us online. Our members and volunteers are the lifeblood of sustaining our organization, helping to fulfill our mission through quality cultural events and arts education outreach programs. Membership helps to foster the growth of the nonprofit arts sector that makes Northwest Florida a center for creativity and artistic excellence. As Robert Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the
Arts, stated, “Most Americans understand that the arts improve our quality of life. A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive.” VIE: What makes you so passionate about the arts? MH: My parents introduced me at a young, impressionable age to a world of arts and culture. Whether it was taking tap dance, ballet, or piano lessons, enjoying cultural experiences such as seeing Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly! on the Broadway stage, ballerinas at the New York Lincoln Center, or performances at Radio City Music Hall, or appreciating the visual arts at such fine art museums as the Getty Museum or the Los Angeles Metropolitan Museum of Art, it allowed me to find my voice. Art has always been in my soul, and my ministry for the past nineteen years is Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. Although we may have a small staff, it is a true collaboration of people from the community who make it all happen—it does take a village, and we invite all to join our arts family. VIE: What has been one of your favorite MKAF events in the past? V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 125
Le monde ITS TEAM OF DEDICATED STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND BOARD MEMBERS WORK YEAR-ROUND TO BRING ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, AND EVENTS TO THE EMERALD COAST. MH: My favorite thing overall is being able to provide some of the same cultural privileges that I was afforded during my childhood to those who lack access to the arts. If I had to choose just one event, it would have to be the artist residency outreach with the late George Rodrigue, internationally renowned for his Blue Dog paintings, and his wife, Wendy. A weeklong student outreach inspired over 4,500 K–12 students with a live painting demonstration. Few people can say they observed a living master artist creating his craft from the first brushstroke on a blank canvas to the finished design. VIE: How does MKAF plan to grow? MH: Since the 2013 capital improvement to develop seven acres to build the Dugas Pavilion and Village Green at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, future development plans include the construction of a multipurpose indoor cultural center. Plans are to house permanent administrative offices, student and adult art labs, educational classrooms, gallery and meeting spaces, a state-of-the-art culinary kitchen, and a sculpture garden. As I tell my board, we already own the property free and clear; it’s just a matter of capital resources. This is not a private endeavor; this vision belongs to everyone who wants to be a part of Kelly’s legacy. VIE: Can you tell us more about the types of concerts and events MKAF hosts each year? Deb Nissley, Director of Operations: We produce fifteen musical concerts, a wine walkabout, a juried art festival (now in its twenty-second year), and numerous other outreach programs for children, special needs audiences, and wounded
warriors. All of our concerts are held at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, a beautiful venue with a covered stage and seating for up to three thousand guests. Our Sounds of the Season Christmas concert is a holiday concert in collaboration with multiple churches in the local area, held indoors at Village Baptist Church in Destin. The Fall Wine Walkabout is an annual event hosted by Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Destin. In 2018, the Concerts in the Village summer series will extend to ten weeks, and we will expand the Concerts in the Village fall series to five weeks. The concerts have become a popular tradition for friends, families, and businesses who love to come and enjoy a picnic and live music under the stars on Thursday evenings. The Festival of the Arts features a hundred juried artists, continuous live music, a children’s interactive art station, Cuisine on the Green, and a wine and beer garden. We like to say the Festival of the Arts is a celebration of art, music, food, and family fun. The Ruth’s Chris Wine Walkabout is one of our most popular annual fund-raisers. It includes a sumptuous array of appetizers and wine stations featuring fifteen to twenty wines. The raffle for this event features some exciting travel packages to destinations around the country and a popular Blind Wine Pull. VIE: What is your goal when choosing performers and shows for the MKAF lineup? DN: We have a dedicated concert committee that works hard to produce our incredible music lineups featuring the best local, regional, and national music talent. Our concertgoers love to dance, so a large number of the bands play fabulous
126 | N O V E M B E R 2017
dance music. Artists showcased at the Festival of the Arts are chosen by a group of impartial jurors based on the quality of their submitted images. VIE: What is the best part about working with MKAF? DN: I’ve been with MKAF for nineteen years. I love the events we produce and believe passionately in our mission. The most challenging part of working here is our limited staff during high event season. We deeply appreciate our dedicated board and corps of volunteers, who help make the magic happen. We also appreciate all our members; many people may not realize they can take part and support the community by becoming a member of MKAF, which is a great way to support the local arts and enjoy discounted pricing to our wonderful annual events. VIE: What types of programs are the staples of the MKAF educational mission? Melanie Moore, Director of Education: We love providing outreach programs that both educate and inspire! We serve over ten thousand people a year by taking national and regional touring artists directly to area schools, United Way agencies, and other partner nonprofits. One of my favorite programs is Hands On with Zig, which entails interactive performances and hands-on drumming workshops with Zig Wajler. Zig is a percussion and music education specialist who was featured on VH1’s Save the Music program, and who also does a fantastic job interacting with people who have special needs.
Opposite: Mattie and Coleman Kelly with their family Photo by Arturo’s Studio Left: Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation CEO Marcia Hull with a piano painted by renowned Blue Dog artist George Rodrigue
Le monde “I THINK ART ENRICHES LIVES AND THAT AS THIS AREA GROWS, THE DEMAND GROWS FOR QUALITY ARTS PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.” the Emerald Coast Autism Center, and military and veteran organizations such as AFSOC Warrior C.A.R.E. and the EOD Warrior Foundation. Plans are under way to collaborate with a new nonprofit called War Paints, founded by former Navy SEAL Rusty Noesner, which connects veterans and first responders with opportunities to create and sell their artwork. We also partner with the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center for summer camps that feature art, music, theatre, and nature classes. Since its inception, MKAF has partnered with over seventy schools and agencies and reached more than three hundred thousand people. It is a common misconception that we are related to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center programs at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Though we applaud what they do to promote the arts in our area, we are not affiliated. The foundation is an independent nonprofit based in Destin. VIE: Why do you think this area in particular in so rich in arts and cultural education?
The Fountain City Players opened the 2017 Concerts in the Village summer series on May 4. Photo by Kay Phelan
VIE: What is the biggest goal for MKAF in terms of education? MM: I think our biggest goal for community outreach is to bring more arts programming to those who truly lack access to the arts, including children and at-risk youth in rural and underserved areas. We have also made great strides in increasing programs for those who can reap the therapeutic rewards of the arts, such as children and adults with special needs. I also look forward to growing our Warrior Arts program to serve more veterans with both visible and invisible injuries. VIE: Can you tell us a little about MKAF’s partnership with area schools and other educational institutions? Are you affiliated with the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College? MM: We are proud to be a proactive arts education partner with the Okaloosa and Walton County School Districts, the United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties,
128 | N O V E M B E R 2017
MM: I think art enriches lives and that as this area grows, the demand grows for quality arts programs for all ages and abilities. Art is what unites us all and is something that makes us uniquely human. I think many people associate the availability of arts experiences as essential to their quality of life. Area nonprofit art foundations such as MKAF are investing more and more into area schools and their communities. It is a wonderful trend! VIE:: We look forward to watching that trend continue to grow! Thanks to the MKAF and its partners for all you do.
Learn more about Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, become a member, or view the calendar of events at MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org.
Le monde
RHAPSODY IN GRAY
SYMPHONY
BY NICHOL AS S. RACHEOTES
130 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Boston Symphony Hall, May 2017. Guided by one of the expert ushers, he arrives bent and shuffling behind a walker. I stand for him as he squeezes by on the way to his seat. Over the past seventy years, he has seen and applauded them all, conductors from Koussevitzky to Nelsons. If you ask him, he can compare Yo-Yo Ma to Pablo Casals, Joshua Bell to David Oistrakh, and Martha Argerich to Arthur Rubinstein. I don’t dare ask because he is holding the program close to his thick glasses and reading every word.
L
et’s change scenes. Elegantly dressed, another man fixes his gaze intently on the stage from his regular table in the back corner of the hotel lounge, occasionally brushing at the gray fringe of his thick, otherwise black hair. For decades, he has fought to keep the Boston jazz scene vibrant. The masters of yesterday and today have been his friends and employees. Miles and Dizzy, Max and Buddy, Mingus and Monk, Bags and Satchmo, Wynton and the once young and now middle-aged lions all called him mister. For these men, who may appear to us as cultural bookends holding up a row of old volumes nobody wishes to read, something has changed, and nothing has changed.
single college station or be an insomniac to catch the latest and greatest output of the genre. Still, there is anything but a shortage of colleges and universities offering degrees in jazz performance and jazz studies. So, if there is a problem, where is it hiding? The eyeball test holds the answer. Audiences are disproportionately gray-haired visitors from Europe or Asia versed in high culture and young performers knowledgeable about repertoire. We may be flirting with the danger that “classical music” and jazz ensembles are taking on the status of museums—to be visited occasionally, quietly supported by uncertain
or opera, a symphony or a concerto? Check with a teacher to learn whether the long, careful, evidencebased presentation has given way to bite-sized information packets, slogans, rituals, and pedagogical comedy. Check with the preacher who needs to confine the Good Book to a ten-minute window. There may be much more than the need to peddle antiaging products that causes broadcasters to give us the nightly news at a rate of five-minute bursts. Finally, we have come to the coda or final chorus. If you want to get the current and next generations reading with deeper comprehension, writing the best essays in their courses, exposing the vapid huckster, and penetrating the flummery behind a political address, get them into jazz and symphonic music. As their ears develop, their concentration will grow. Then, automatically, will come their understanding of virtuosic genius, the rapture which music inspires, and the ability to appreciate what makes the fine arts fine. However, there are risks, such as the temptation to snobbery or to being labeled a nerd. The cure comes in the form of humility before true greatness.
If you want to get the current and next generations reading with deeper comprehension, writing the best essays in their courses, exposing the vapid huckster, and penetrating the flummery behind a political address, get them into jazz and symphonic music.
Both men might reflect on the not-sogolden days of yesteryear. Listen to the thin applause on the recordings as the giants of jazz played to tiny audiences in the legendary clubs of New York and Los Angeles throughout the 1950s and ’60s. Wonder, but be sure to keep it to yourself, as to what portion of the elite in what was known as the Big Five orchestras—New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland—was there for the music or the sake of appearance. This group of elite ensembles has certainly expanded to San Francisco, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and beyond, despite losing recording contracts and radio outlets. There may be over a thousand symphony orchestras playing schedules of varying lengths in the United States today; although I doubt this figure, I am also inspired by it. Someone must be attending.
As for jazz, if it isn’t dead, is it “over”? In my notso-little town, remote broadcasts of live jazz from the hottest spots could once be heard on AM radio. Now you either have to hit the morning shift on a
public funds, and, for the most part, out of sight and out of mind. Hold on, though! In the few remaining paragraphs, you will not be pummeled by a rant on how the eclipse of these complex, demanding, and worthy forms of human expression heralds the end of civilization. Given the cross-pollination of musical forms, this is hardly the case. For centuries, popular songwriters have pillaged the melodies of symphonic composers on the way to Hitsville. A brief survey of interviews by members of rock bands who fill stadiums would show how many of them grew up with jazz in the house. I have a different worry. Are we losing the ability to devote our undivided attention to just one thing over a long period? Watch the audience members at a sporting event dually watching the action and their phones. Are you reading this while music plays? If so, is it jazz
Maybe America’s symphony orchestras will never fill stadiums and will have to content themselves with the thousands who subscribe to their annual programs. Maybe the exponents of jazz will have to live on the proceeds from their teaching, studio gigs, and summer festivals. Perhaps never again will there be prolific radio outlets dedicated to their music. Nevertheless, there is always the web, and all we have to do is follow the example of those profiled above, and listen.
Nick Racheotes is a product of Boston public schools, Brandeis University, and Boston College, from which he holds a PhD in history. Since he retired from teaching at Framingham State University, Nick and his wife, Pat, divide their time between Boston, Cape Cod, and the Western world.
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 131
THE CLASSICS SINFONIA GULF COAST’S 2017–2018 SEASON 132 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Le monde
eeping the tempo at the forefront of the Emerald Coast’s cultural scene since its founding in 2005, Sinfonia Gulf Coast maintains the tradition of “symphony redefined.” The organization, led by music and artistic director Demetrius Fuller, enters its twelfth season with a stellar lineup of concerts and educational initiatives as the region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra. The season will start on a high note at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 24, with an intimate cabaret-style performance by singer Chris Mann. He has garnered acclaim from his debut on the world’s stage as a finalist on NBC’s The Voice to rave reviews from his PBS Chris Mann in Concert: A Mann for All Seasons performance and landing the lead role in the national US tour of The Phantom of the Opera. Mann and his crystalline voice will take the Sinfonia audience on a musical journey from Broadway to contemporary standards and the Great American Songbook.
The Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ Classical Connection series features three concerts at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin during the 2017–2018 season: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017, FEATURING CELLIST SANG-EUN LEE Hailed for her expressive artistry and dazzling technique, the Washington Post praised her performance saying: “She is a prodigiously talented young artist with powerful technique and musical poise.” FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018, FEATURING STRING QUINTET SYBARITE5 One of the most exhilarating string groups on the scene today, this quintet has taken audiences by storm all across the U.S. via an exciting ride that engages the senses and redefines the rules from Mozart to Radiohead. SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018, FEATURING VIOLINIST CORINNE STILLWELL Stillwell, who is on the faculty at both Florida State University and the Brevard Music Festival, joins Sinfonia’s principal musicians as guest concert master and soloist.
Left: The Voice Season Two finalist Chris Mann will kick off Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s 2017–2018 season on October 24, 2017, at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Photo courtesy of Chris Mann
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 133
Le monde
ary Wilson of the Supremes is bringing her larger-than-life voice and amazing energy back to the Sinfonia stage at Destiny Worship Center for “A Rockin’ Holiday” concert on Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and multiple award-winning artist will have music lovers dancing in their seats with the sensational songs that made her famous, holiday favorites, and Sinfonia’s full orchestra.
Sinfonia impacts all areas of our community. Our performances and educational outreach programs feature timeless classical masterworks, present the highest-caliber award-winning guest artists, and provide multiple free education concerts for area youth. — DEMETRIUS FULLER, MUSIC AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SINFONIA GULF COAST
Robert Preston, Willson’s brilliant songs and score will be performed live by Sinfonia Gulf Coast in their exhilarating and spectacular original Oscar-winning orchestrations by the legendary Ray Heindorf. Emmy winner and five-time Emmy nominee George Daugherty will conduct the performance.
The finale of the main season comes to life during the annual gala event on Saturday, March 31, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Sinfonia Gulf Coast brings the world premiere of America’s most beloved movie musical to the Emerald Coast: Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Gloriously restored and projected on the big screen, with unforgettable performances by Shirley Jones and 134 | N O V E M B E R 2017
Season Tickets offer preferred seating and a discount over single-ticket prices and include all three Classical Connections concerts, plus “A Rockin’ Holiday” with Mary Wilson of the Supremes. Single tickets for all performances are available for purchase by calling the Sinfonia Box Office at (850) 460-8800 or going online to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
Above: Meredith Willson’s The Music Man at the Symphony, conducted by George Daugherty, will be the grand finale to the season on March 31, 2018. Photo courtesy of Meredith Willson Music LLC & Happy Valley Foundation Left: Cellist Sang-Eun Lee will open the Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ Classical Connection series on November 9, 2017. Photo by Matt Dine
Au revoir!
Au revoir! THE L AST WORD
Be prepared for a meal fit for the gods when dining at the dreamy and luxurious Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée in Paris. Simple produce, fish, and grains dominate the menu, all exquisitely prepared by chef-owner Alain Ducasse. “This is cooking as I love it most,” says Ducasse. “A cuisine of naturalness, unfettered, liberated. This very personal interpretation is now an integral part of my restaurant at the Plaza Athénée.” Everywhere guests look, they will see unique details that reflect the menu’s blend of land and sea, from the shell-shaped booths to a treasure cabinet of silver on loan from the Christofle museum, crystal from Saint-Louis, and copper cooking tools from Ducasse’s private collection. C’est magnifique! Learn more or book a table at DorchesterCollection.com/Plaza-Athenee. Photo by Pierre Monetta
V I E MAGAZ INE . COM | 137
Where Aging Becomes Art Form, Beauty and Transformation
The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center W W W. S K I N A N D V E I N S . C O M Th e B io Li f t: N o n-S ur g ic a l Fa c e , N eck & Brow Lift Laser
•
R e sur FX
Co n t our i ng
•
De r ma to l o g y
•
S ma r tLipo Tr iple x
•
P D T: Skin Cancer
Quick
•
•
Painless
Sclerotherapy •
No Downtime
Dermal Fillers •
•
Botox
Photorejuvenation
S c ulpSure Permanent Fat Reduction
•
R e juve na tio n EVLT
•
•
Geneo Oxygen Facial
•
•
•
•
Sculptra
•
AcuPu l se C O 2
Velashape Cellulite & B o d y
ThermiT ight
•
ThermiVA Va g i n a l
Laser Hair Removal
Varithena: Non-Surgical treatment of Varicose & Spider veins
• •
No General Anesthesia
•
Covered by most health insurance providers.
K I M B E R LY M O S K O W I T Z , M D Board Certified, Venous & Lymphatic Medicine Board Certified Internal Medicine Skin & Laser Medicine Specialist Anti-Aging Medicine
6 5 1 G R A N D P A N A M A B LV D .
•
SUITE 102
•
PA N A M A C I T Y B E A C H , F L 3 2 4 0 7
•
TELEPHONE: (850) 233-0264
•
FA X : ( 8 5 0 ) 2 3 3 - 3 1 1 3
CHOOSE JOY! gioiajewelr yandgifts.com
•
45 Central Square Seaside, FL 32459
•
850.213.4242