Blog
-
Local Documentary on the Chattanooga Trial of Jimmy Hoffa Makes Public Debut Tuesday, July 08, 2008
The second event in the AEC’s 2008 Back Row Film Series will make available to the public a local documentary about local history: the 1964 Chattanooga trial of Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa.
The first public screening of “Balancing the Scales: the Chattanooga Trial of U.S. v. James R. Hoffa” will take place Thursday, July 10, 2008, at Loose Cannon Studios, 1800 Rossville Avenue. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and the film screening will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Filmmaker Barry Cammon of Advanced Video Solutions will address the audience immediately after the film. The event is free but seating is limited to the first 100 people. The AEC will be accepting donations in any amount.
In 1964, Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering in a federal court in Chattanooga. Forty years later, this trial, which severely tested the limits of American justice, remains an important topic of historic interest. Featuring interviews with numerous trial participants and observers, the 2008 documentary “Balancing the Scales: The Chattanooga Trial of U.S. v. James R. Hoffa” explores the difficulties of finding justice in a high profile, high stakes “trial of the century.”The Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association commissioned the film to show at the 2008 Judicial Conference of the 6th Circuit, held in Chattanooga in May. The AEC is pleased to make it available to the general public for the first time as part of the organization’s Back Row Film Series.
More History
On January 19, 1964, Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa stepped onto the runway at the Lovell Field airport in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Only three days earlier, he had finally secured one of his greatest goals - the execution of the first National Master Freight Agreement, a milestone for the union, which would guarantee uniform wages, benefits, and working conditions throughout the trucking industry. Many considered the signing of this agreement to be Hoffa’s “finest hour.”
His arrival was greeted by a crowd of cheering Teamsters carrying signs that read “Welcome to Chattanooga,” “We’ll always be for Jo and Jimmy Hoffa,” and “Thank you Jimmy for the contract.” Smiling and waving to the crowd, Hoffa climbed into a waiting limousine and left, surrounded by a 40-car caravan with a police escort.
The following day, he would appear in court to defend against charges that would threaten him with years in prison and - ultimately - the loss of his stranglehold upon the Teamsters organization.
Posted by in Collective Rethink
-
Creative types are essential to urban and regional economic growth. Here’s why… Monday, July 07, 2008
by Maya Roney (Source: BusinessWeek online, Real Estate February 26, 2007)
Want to know where a great place to invest in real estate will be five or 10 years from now? Look at where artists are living now.
Sociologists and policymakers have long been touting art and culture as the cure-all to economically depressed neighborhoods, cities, and regions. The reason? It has been proven that artists—defined as self-employed visual artists, actors, musicians, writers, etc.—can stimulate local economies in a number of ways.
Artists are often an early sign of neighborhood gentrification. “Artists are the advance guard of what’s hip and cool,” says Bert Sperling, founder and president of Portland (Ore.)-based Sperling’s Best Places.
Creativity Leads to Growth
Artists, because of their typically lower incomes, usually need to seek out less expensive, developing neighborhoods where they can afford the rent. But because of their creativity they are able to fix up these areas, eventually attracting hip boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Not all artists are starving. While some are able to achieve success writing, acting, painting, or dancing, others get tired of scraping by as waiters or bartenders and sometimes apply their abilities in more entrepreneurial ways.Anne Markusen, an economist and professor at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and a leading researcher on the effects of the arts on regional economics, once profiled an abstract painter whose work is now displayed on ceilings and in MRI machines in hospitals across the country. In Markusen’s research, artists have also been found to stimulate innovation on the part of their suppliers. A painter may need a certain type of frame that is not manufactured, forcing the frame maker to create a new design that happens to also work well for other artists.
But Markusen also maintains that artists bring more than culture to a community. “Businesses don’t often understand the extent to which art affects them,” Markusen says. “[Artists] are just as important as science and technology companies.”
Nonarts businesses also use artist contractors to improve product design, help with marketing, or even use dramatic theory to solve employee relationship issues. Being a cultural center also helps local businesses attract employees who want to be able to regularly go to the ballet or the theater, hear authors read from their latest books, or attend art gallery openings.
Follow the Money
Due to the individual nature and economics of their work, artists are also some of the most itinerant professionals out there. When relocating, they often look for cities and towns that already have high concentrations of artists and a young, racially and ethnically diverse population. The presence of a nurturing art community in the form of art societies and centers is also essential, especially to young artists.A low cost of living is important, but many artists make financial sacrifices to live near an art-rich urban center or live in a cheaper neighborhood. Few struggling artists can afford to live in neighborhoods like New York’s SoHo and Greenwich Village, or even Williamsburg, which once were artistic havens before attracting wealthier residents. Now you are more likely to find New York-based artists in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or even Philadelphia.
In addition to the presence of like-minded individuals, proximity to wealth is also important. The fact of the matter is that artists can seldom earn a living, let alone become rich, selling to other artists. They need wealthy benefactors to buy their paintings or support their local symphony, which explains why each of the places in the U.S. that we found to be the best for artists are in or located near centers of wealth. Los Angeles, No. 1 on our list, is most commonly associated with the film industry. While the city provides great opportunities for actors and directors, there are equally rich prospects for musicians, artists, writers, and dancers. Of course, the majority of these people can’t afford to live in Beverly Hills—at least not until they get their big break—and instead opt for more affordable digs in areas like Echo Park.Posted by in Collective Rethink
-
Four Creative Individuals Approved for ArtsMove Wednesday, July 02, 2008
ArtsMove, CreateHere’s artist relocation program, awards a $15,000 housing incentive to approved artists and artisans. We are excited to announce the most recent approved artists.
Woodworker, Philip Wallis of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin will be moving with his wife Cindy to Chattanooga. As an emerging fine craft woodworker, Phil’s signature is simple, rustic, and elegant. He uses wood from all over the world and does not work from plans or blueprints, so each creation is unique. He will be moving his shop “Moose on the Loose Rustic Furniture & Wooden Creations” to downtown Chattanooga. Phil and Cindy are very excited to participate in the many art festivals and shows in Chattanooga and throughout the Southeast. Phil plans to offer master classes on various woodworking techniques to the community. Cindy also offers a creative personality as a professional classical flautist.
Emerging jewelry and graphic designer, Ashlea Mayo moved to Chattanooga in 2004 after spending most of her life in Louisiana and Arkansas. Ashlea’s jewelry is sold in various cities throughout the US, including Chicago, IL; Destin, FL; St. Louis, MO; and Richmond, VA. Her work can be found locally at Blue Skies on the North Shore and Umbra Essence Candles & Gift in St. Elmo. Ashlea is excited to be a first-time home owner. http://www.fawnscrown.com
Sculpture, Jonathan Hudson is a native of Chattanooga. He currently resides in Ooltewah but soon will be relocating to the Southside. Jonathan was a recipient of the Emerging Artist Scholarship at the 4 Bridges Art Festival in 2008. His current body of work includes life cast molds and paper. Jonathan’s artistic abilities also include photography and painting. He has been approached for collaboration with a public sculpture for the City of Chattanooga. HudsonianArt.com
Emerging fine arts photographer, Maria De Las Casas of Santa Fe, New Mexico was also approved for the ArtsMove housing incentive. Maria has worked in Venezuela, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and presently New Mexico. Chattanooga fell onto Maria’s radar after she read an article titled “Ten Great Towns for Working Artists”, which appeared in the March 08 issued of Art Calendar magazine. http://www.mariadelascasas.com
The ArtsMove incentive is a $15,000 5-year forgivable mortgage which requires no pre-payment and accrues no interest, provided that artist purchases property in a qualifying neighborhood and the property remains owner occupied for the full 5-year term. Qualifying neighborhoods include Cowart Place, Jefferson Heights, ML King District, Fort Negley and Main Street. Currently, 25 artists have moved into qualifying residences.
It has been shown time and again the huge impact artists have on revitalizing neighborhoods. Creative types are essential to urban and regional economic growth.
The next application deadline is July 25. Applications can be downloaded from our website. For more information, visit: www.artsmove.org .
Who’s Talking About Relocating to Chattanooga:Relocate-America’s Top 100 2008, Chattanooga is #3!
http://top100.relocate-america.com/Posted by in Collective Rethink
-
Local small businesses blossom through innovative tools Monday, June 30, 2008
To the casual observer, Pejoux Designs, a burgeoning floral design business in Chattanooga, looked successful. Owner Julie Tolbert had plenty of customers and was breaking even every month. But in March 2008, after being in business for eight months, something was still missing: Pejoux wasn’t turning a profit, and still had $5k+ in start-up debt.
Typical of many creative entrepreneurs, Tolbert had great ideas and credentials; but an education in sculpture and floristry had not prepared her to manage a business. So, in March of this year, Julie enrolled in an entrepreneurial training program called SpringBoard. In the three short months following her graduation, Pejoux has become a debt-free, profitable enterprise.
SpringBoard, a program of CreateHere, is not a typical business planning course. Geared toward small-business owners and creative hopefuls who want to understand the foundations of business, it involves the entrepreneurs and teachers in what leader Sheldon Grizzle calls a “facilitated dialogue” aimed to help people turn their personal passion into profitable and sustainable work. SpringBoard adopted its curriculum from a similar initiative in Asheville, which has helped over 1,000 businesses and resulted in over $50 million in economic impact.
In Chattanooga, the program is 31 graduates and four months strong, and is already having effects on the small business sector of the city. Monday, June 23, marked the end of the third round of SpringBoard classes. From artistry to economics, these folks have a lot in common. All have grand ideas, a lot of creativity, and, now, both a basic understanding of how businesses work and a new network of fellow entrepreneurs.
This third SpringBoard course was taught by Brent Jackson, an MBA student who helped get Niedlov’s off the ground, and Sheldon Grizzle of CreateHere. The class meets three hours once a week for eight weeks. A typical evening begins with a thirty-minute guest lecturer from the business community. Then the facilitators jump into the night’s topic with group discussions and experiential learning. Each participant also receives two free consulting sessions to discuss their individual business plan with one of the SpringBoard staff.
Portrait artist Mia Bergeron, a recent graduate, says that SpringBoard course is “desperately needed,” and would encourage anyone to enroll. A fourth round of SpringBoard begins July 7. Jackson and Grizzle will co-facilitate the course again. Guest lecturers for this class include local lawyers, bankers, marketing specialists, and accountants. Registration is ongoing until the start date, but will close as soon as space in the course runs out.
What: SpringBoard Business Training Class, Round 4.
Where: CreateHere Studio, 55 East Main Street, Suite 105, Chattanooga, TN 37408
When: Once per week, July 7-August 25; 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Cost: Sliding scale from $100 to $500
For more information: contact Sheldon Grizzle at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), call the CreateHere studio at (423) 648-2195, or visit http://www.createhere.org.Posted by in Collective Rethink
-
A Man Named Pearl Thursday, June 26, 2008
The AEC Back Row Film Series kicks off Saturday, June 28th with a demonstration, film screening and talk by renowned topiary artist Pearl Fryar.
The documentary A Man Named Pearl tells the inspiring story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar, whose unlikely journey to national prominence began with a bigoted remark that inspired him to create a message of peace and goodwill through his garden sculptures. Pearl and his gardens have been featured in the New York Times and Smithsonian, and on NPR and CBS Sunday Morning. This award-winning documentary, co-produced by Shaking Ray Levi Society, offers an upbeat message about respect for both self and others, and shows what one person can achieve when he allows himself to share the full expression of his humanity.
Tickets are going fast! Call the AEC or visit http://www.backrowfilms.com to get your tickets early.
When: Saturday, June 28th
Where: The Tennessee Aquarium5:00 PM Free Topiary Demonstration by Pearl Fryar on the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza
6:30 PM Film Screening and Discussion with Pearl Fryar in the Tennessee Aquarium Auditorium - use members’ entranceCost: $5 for AEC and Aquarium members; $10 for non-members.
Presented by green|spaces
Posted by in Collective Rethink
