Arts

by Bo Hicks

A really cool event is going on tomorrow, Thursday July 8th. One of wellthatscool's favorite people Elliott McPherson is having an art show at the Mellow Mushroom in downtown Tuscaloosa. The event cost $5 with the proceeds going straight to gulf coast relief. If the name sounds familiar it's because Elliott is one of the founding members of the Tuscaloosa based band the Dexateens. Elliott makes lightboxes from found objects as well as other discarded items that have a very delightfully southern feel to them. So how does a rocker end up making light boxes? Well the bio on elliottmcpherson.com I think sums it up pretty well.

" made the first “Lightbox” in a last-minute effort to complete an album cover for the band's self-titled release in 2004. That first Lightbox featured the same headphones that McPherson had used as a child to “listen to the rock and roll that my parents forbade me to listen to...Since then, every Dexateens release has borne a Lightbox on its cover...I like making art out of things that some might say are used up and ready to be thrown away. Folks don’t realize that when they use something, they put a part of themselves into that thing"

Elliott is a man of many hats that when not rocking asses or building lightboxes can be found running a kitchen and bath cabinetry business that he and his wife run together while raseing two sons. Elliott is a hard working family man that was one of the first people to show me that being from where we are is nothing to be ashamed of and in fact there is nowhere nicer then here in west Alabama. Since then I have been an ambassador of our community and I want to thank him for that. Your community is what you make of it and we are lucky to have Elliott in ours to make it cooler. So come out and check out some great art with some really great people. The event starts at 9pm and runs till 11:30pm and will feature local Tuscaloosa celebrities spinning their favorite vinyl LP's and 45's. Read more »

From the U of A Creative Campus website, one can learn that their mission is to build a collaborative environment where students can connect with each other, faculty and their community while turning innovative ideas into action.  This weekend, on March 27th to be exact, one such innovative idea is taking place, the Druid City Arts Festival.  Bob's your uncle.  You should, nay... ought to attend.  It's your Tuscaloosa art duty. Read more »

   If you are not aware yet, we have a "Kissin' Cousins" website - thechukker.org. Where Well That's Cool is hyper-local giving you the best of Tuscaloosa,  The Chukker is a site dedicated to showcasing everyones local.
   Right now The Chukker has a great article you should check out - "Lost..."
The article even has a Tuscaloosa tie in with original song by a former Tuscaloosian.
If you are a fan of Lost or not, this is a must read.
http://thechukker.org/lost Read more »

 Have you ever wanted to yell Roll Tide at your TV while a model strolls down the runway in a gorgeous fashion? Well now you can.  University of Alabama graduate Anthony Williams will give you that opportunity. Williams is going to be on the Lifetime Networks, Project Runway.
  Bellow is a clip from the show. Make sure to take the tour all the way to the bedroom. There is something on the bed that will make most readers of this site proud and lots of the state of Alabama angry.
Roll Tide!

If you need more info check out this story on the Tuscaloosa News.

From our Kissin' Cousin Website - TheChukker.org
  This Friday at 1pm est. Digital media maker, founder of thechukker.org, former host of Well That's Cool. and the guy writing this, will be creating video art before your very eyes.
   I have struggled with dyslexia all of my life. Because of the stigma attached learning disabilities when I was in high school I was not tested until I nearly failed out of college with 2 semesters to go because I could not pass a basic math class. It is a uphill battle every day to get by in life, it is hard for a grown man to ask how to spell a five letter word.
   Even some of my closest friends still laugh at me and think I have lived for 30 years  trying not learn how to spell on porpoise.
   So I am making what I hope to be the first of many video pieces dealing with my personal struggle learning disabilities. Friday at 1pm EST, stop by thechukker.org and I will be competing in a spelling bee. You can watch me standing in front of a green screen battling it out with the kids from the 2009 Scripts National Spelling Bee. The live video will be on the top of the main page.
   My last spelling bee was in 1989, I was laughed at and sent back to my classroom on the first word. It was bad.
   Twenty years later and I don't think I am going to do much better.

Read more »

Make sure to come out this Thursday night for Art Night at Grace Aberdean. There will be work from Allison Abney, Courtney Childress and from Lizzie Oglesby. There will also be a live taping of the Well That's Cool Podcast. Grace Aberdean is located in Northport, in the Vestavia Center. Read More for Map Read more »

Andrea Mabry is the person to contact if you, a University student, faculty or staff member would like to have your work displayed at Earthfest 2009.  Apply soon so you can show Tuscaloosa whatever it is that you do. 

If you're not an artist, that's ok!  Earthfest is for everybody!  There are going to be acitivities for all ages!  There will be live music all day long, featuring Skullduggery, The Hypsys, Plato Jones, and PH Delicious.  For the youngins there will be activities like a recycled box maze and all sorts of crafts, including crafts using recycled materials.  All this excitement will be happening on the West side of the Quad from 10:00 am until sundown on April 19th. Read more »

   Friend to Well That’s Cool and Arts programs all over Tuscaloosa, Sara Anne Gibson, executive director of the Kentuck Association is stepping down from her position. Sara Anne has been the executive director at Kentuck for the last 5 years and serving Kentuck in some capacity for the past 30 years. Read more »

It is time for the 37th Kentuck Festival of the Arts. You say, "that sounds good, but what is it and how far do I have to go to get there?"

Glad you asked. Kentuck is an outdoor arts festival with over 250 artists from around the country, displaying work in all different media, all under the shade trees of the park. There is also plenty of music and great food to be had.

Kentuck is located in Northport, just down the street from City Café. Read more »

Northport is home to the best arts festivals in the the country, Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Read more »