The View 38002 October- November 2013 | Page 2

38002.com theview theview Page 2 October/November 2013 38002 Creative: Interviews with Five Local Artists Story and Photos by Terry Louderback “Artist’s Colony” he first creates the metal may not be the term that armature out of alumi- steam springs to mind when num, whose malleability and the mold dries. After talking about 38002, but allows him to “draw” the being heated to over 1600 Arlington and Lakeland forms into shape while degrees, molten lead are home to a growing forging. crystal from New Zealand number of artists who The glass elements is poured into an opening have found regional, are created using a tech- in the now-ready plaster. national, and international nique called “lost wax When it is finally cooled, acclaim. This month, casting,” which means the glass piece can only THE VIEW 38002 visited that a unique mold is be released by destroying the studios of artists created for every piece of the mold. Russell can working in five different glass. Russell first shapes then finish the piece and media. the design in sculpture polish or etch it to create The first trip took me wax and covers it in the desired effect. over the Loosahatchie plaster. The original wax The two materials— River and down winding design is removed using metal and glass—are then country roads to combined to complete Brian Russell’s studio the artwork. Russell nestled in the woods explains that he uses of the Arlington lead crystal instead of Annex reserve. traditional blowing Working in metal and glass because its crysglass, Russell creates talline structure makes a range of sculptures it more translucent and from dramatic strucallows it to “glow” tures that tower over when placed in front of the viewer to smaller light. pieces that invite Russell’s work can be closer inspection. found around the Today the centerworld, including pripiece of Russell’s vate collections in Asia studio is a commisand the middle East. sioned work that he is Closer to home, he was creating for the Jewse lected to design and ish Federation of construct the Grand Cincinnati. Evoking Stair at the FedEx the image of a burnFamily House, which ing bush, the installahe welcomed as the tion should be comopportunity to “bring a pleted in May 2014. Brian Russell, Brian Russell Studio sculptural aesthetic to Russell explains that an otherwise mundane The View 38002 believes in correcting its mistakes. If you believe there in an error in advertising or news content, please contact us. Arlington Publishing LLC PO Box 863, Arlington, TN 38002 facebook.com/TheView38002 www.theview38002.com Who We Are: The View 38002 is Arlington and Lakeland’s free community newspaper, published six times a year by Arlington Publishing LLC. Distribution: 8000 copies, serving readers and businesses in eastern Shelby County, Tennessee and the greater Memphis metropolitan area. Founded: In 2011 by Edina Nuhic purchased in April 2013 by two enterprising Arlington residents, Terry Louderback and Iggy Collazo Mission: To inform, educate, and connect the residents of suburban and rural Shelby County and to demonstrate ethical and sustainable publishing practices for future generations of news consumers. Questions about news content can be directed to Terry Louderback at (901) 4519213 or [email protected] Questions about advertising and distribution can be directed to Iggy Collazo at (901) 8484092 or [email protected]. The View 38002 welcomes reader submissions of photos, calendar items, feature articles, news briefs and Letters to the Editor. Items can be submitted by mail, fax, email or Facebook post. Publications of submissions is not guaranteed. All submissions become property of The View 38002 and will not be returned. We will not publish professionally-taken photographs without a copyright release from the photographer. We will not pay for information or interviews. Unless otherwise noted in editorial content, the opinions expressed in The View 38002 are the opinions of the principals of Arlington Publishing LLC. Viewpoints expressed in advertising are the views and opinions of the advertiser alone. The View 38002 is delivered free of charge to most areas of Arlington and Lakeland. Copies are also available at Krogers on Hwy. 70 in Arlington, Lakeland City Hall, Sam T. Wilson Public Library (Arlington), the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and area businesses. For more information, email [email protected] The View 38002 is published six times a year by Arlington Publishing LLC. Arlington Publishing LLC is an independent publishing company dedicated to providing community news and information. No portion of The View 38002, printed or electronic, may be reproduced in whole or part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. © 2013. setting.” In October, Russell’s work will be featured in “Continuum,” a 15-year retrospective at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. The artist will speak at a “Munch and Learn” at the gallery on October 30. Next year Russell will compete his 30th year as an independent studio artist and 20th year working in Arlington. About being an artist, Russell comments that he enjoys having the “freedom to express myself. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of labor. . . . But what gives me joy is making stuff.” In his free time, Russell is building a 45-foot all-aluminum sailboat from scratch, which he and his wife Helen plan to take on an ocean voyage. Brian Russell Studio, www.brianrussellstudio.c om. Children’s clothing designer Charite Helve is ready for prime time. Literally. The Arlington resident recently announced that stylists for NBC’s comedy-drama Parenthood have selected one of her patterned knot dresses for the character of Nora to wear in the upcoming season. All the more amazing, considering that Helve taught herself to sew only four years ago when she left an eight- year career in financial planning to spend more time with her then elementary school-aged children. “I read the book,” she laughs, “and started with selling at craft shows.” Charity Helve, Madibella Helve starts by selecting fabrics and then designs garments from them, mixing patterns and colors along the way. She describes Madibella’s style as “Southern”—lots of bows and ruffles for girls. Using cotton quilting fabrics, her goal is to create dresses, “bubbles,” rompers, and ties that are as comfortable as they are colorful. For Fall 2014, Helve may add trendy jackets and skirts to her staple peasant dress and include more styles for boys. A member of The Artisan Group, Helve and her Madibella label have gained national exposure through inclusion in “swag bags” presented to celebrities at the 2012 Country Music Awards and selected press at the 2013 Golden Globe and Academy Awards. All this success resulted in Helve making the decision earlier this year to expand her operation. While she remains the designer, garments will be manufactured to her standards in Chicago and a sales representative is exhibiting her lines at wholesale markets across the South. Locally, Madibella can be found at The Happy Heart in Depot Square. Madibella, www.madibella.com Donna and Tom Hathaway officially began planning Major Tom Harvey Leatherworks about ten years ago, but really the pair’s interest in working with leather goes back to their childhoods in rural northern Missouri. Starting at age eight, Tom “hung around” the town’s saddle and bootmaker, Don Atkinson, forging a friendship that would last for decades. Donna learned sewing skills from her grandmother, who also carved leather. In 2004, the couple was already living in the Memphis area when they began to plan for a leatherworking business and found that West Tennessee was an ideal market. Continued on next page