I sell vintage clothes, and what began as a hobby in hoarding has evolved beautifully into a lesson in sustainability, history and the art of reinvention.  It’s just as simple as taking what we have, honoring what it was and creating what it can be.

So with this company culture in mind, I was completely ecstatic when Strange Fruit Vintage was invited to participate in an innovative event to temporarily redevelop Broad Avenue into the street, community, arts district, and economic engine we’d like it to be permanently.

Truth be told, I have had a genuine love for Broad Avenue for years and many of my community investment experiences actually stem from this street. It’s almost eerie… when Memphis City Council proclaimed Broad Avenue as the Broad Avenue Arts District I was there; UrbanArt Commission, located on Broad, awarded me a public art project which was completed in 2008; I currently serve on the UAC’s Gateways Project Steering Committee which when complete will result in numerous public art projects throughout the city including one at Sam Cooper and East Parkway; NIA Artist Collective hosted our annual salon at the former MCA gallery space on Broad; and Strange Fruit Vintage held its very first and successful pop-up shop at Odessa also located on Broad Avenue.

I love this “Old Broad,” obviously, and I’m extremely excited about what an estimated 10,000 people will see her become for the two-day event, “A New Face for an Old Broad” being held November 19^th and 20^th.

On Broad Avenue, between Hollywood and Collins, every building will be occupied with approximately 30 Memphis area restaurants and retail businesses including Strange Fruit Vintage.  There’s also two full days of music on the Facelift Music Main Stage, temporary bike lanes for your family and Saturday’s Broad Avenue Biker Babes Kid’s Parade with Congressman Steve Cohen serving as the Grand Marshal, art classes, murals, beverages and a skate park in partnership with Skatelife Memphis.

In my opinion, Broad Avenue, centrally located, artistically infused, locally owned, is one of our community’s many jewels that is worthy of cleaning up, dusting off, sprucing up and ultimately sharing with people just like you. Enjoy!

The room was surprisingly filled with a number of college-aged Memphians who are currently experiencing our city’s culture and workforce in the Leadership Academy’s The Summer Experience internship program.  I may be a bit poetic but, I was truly proud to see the juxtaposition between our city’s legends and our city’s future…all in one room.

As a young fine artist moving to Memphis, I remember a helpful Memphian, in the airport, telling my mother that I must attend Watkins Overton High School because it was simply the city’s best creative and performing arts school.  And so I did.

While at Overton, I was surrounded by many, now successful, creative types, including Kirk Whalum’s nephews.  I also had the opportunity to hone in on my craft which has culminated in more than twenty art exhibitions, a public mural through the Urban Art Commission and most importantly (in my opinion) a passion for connecting art enthusiasts with our city’s emerging artists.

At the luncheon, held at Rumba Room, Kirk talked about how at the tender age of twelve he was loaned a school-owned saxophone and the first song he mastered was Amazing Grace. He went on to explain the impact art in schools have and how exposure to the arts can serve as a catalyst for growth and opportunity.

Here’s the proof…today the 45-member Overton High School Woodwind Ensemble will perform with Grammy-winning Kirk Whalum at the world renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City. Many of them have previously never been out of our city and many of them will forever be changed. So to them, to the interns that attend the luncheon and to you, I say, may the sky be the limit and creativity be your aircraft.

Introducing my latest and greatest creation…Strange Fruit Vintage!!!

Strange Fruit Vintage is an online urban vintage clothing boutique that specializes in offering quality clothes and accessories for men and women from the 1980s to present.

To celebrate the launch of the new online boutique and to get the word out we are hosting a Strange Fruit Vintage launch party on Saturday, April 17th 2010 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at MPact Memphis located at 506 South Main.

During the launch party attendees will experience an eclectic mix of music from past to present by DJ Manus, a unique “everyday people” styled fashion show featuring items from the Strange Fruit Vintage inventory, vintage clothing for purchase, vintage giveaways and an opportunity to engage with Memphis’ creative culture in a vintage-inspired environment.

My homies from Live from Memphis will be documenting the launch party for their “Flipside of Memphis” documentaries.

As my friend, supporter or someone I think is pretty dope….I’m cordially inviting you to come celebrate a dream come true with me!

p.s. the online boutique launches next week, plenty of time to buy something dope for the party. Stay tuned for the web address!

I heART HAITI
Friday, February 12th
5p – 9p
Caritas Village
2509 Harvard Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112

I heART HAITI is an art exhibition, silent auction and benefit for the beautiful country of HAITI.

More than 20 artists from around the country will be exhibiting donated work including Margarette Louiseau (Haiti), Dail Chambers (St. Louis), frank d. robinson jr. (Memphis), Johnnie Mayberry (Jackson, Miss.), Carl E. Moore (Memphis), Krista Franklin (Chicago), John Bullock (Memphis), Shalishah Petey Franklin (Memphis), Edwin McSwine (Memphis), Marcellous Lovelace (Chicago), Siphne Sylve (New Orleans), Morris T. Howard (Memphis), Terry Lynn of TWIN (Memphis), Brandon Tolson (St. Louis), Darlene Newman (Memphis). Artwork from members of NIA Artist Collective and students at Memphis College of Art will also be on exhibit.

Presented by Strange Fruit Productions and NIA Artist Collective at the Caritas Village, we encourage you to come, hear live music, spoken word, and most importantly help our creative community rebuild another community.

I heART HAITI. DON’T YOU?

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT HAITI THROUGH GSL HAITI PARTNERSHIP.

CITIZEN SAFETY COALITION ON CRIME

Together, we are making Tennessee safer.

Tennessee still has some of the weakest laws against gun violence and illegal possession of guns by convicted felons in the country.

We need your help in sending a strong message to our state lawmakers to strengthen Tennessee’s crime laws, particularly those involving guns.

In preparation for the state’s 106th General Assembly on Capitol Hill in Nashville, you are invited to attend the Citizen Safety Coalition’s Forum on Crime.

February 11, 2010
Jewish Community Center
6560 Poplar Avenue
7:00-8:30 P.M.

At the forum, you’ll hear from state legislators including Congressman Steve Cohen, State Representative John DeBerry, City of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford, Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons, Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and City of Memphis Council member Jim Strickland. There will also be presentations by families of crime victims.

Also, if you would like to participate in the Citizen Safety Coalition please email Linda  K. Miller at lmiller@memphiscrime.org or call 901-527-2600.

Strategy 9 – Launch the JustCare 180° program to “turnaround” youth with unruly and delinquent behavior.

Team Leader: Judge Curtis Person, Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court.

Cummings School, Soulsville USA, JustCare 180^o and the Ujima Family Wellness Center recently presented a resource provider workshop to promote healthy youth, families and communities.

The workshop enabled resource providers to understand the necessity of wrap around services and the root causes of unhealthy families and communities. The providers also had an opportunity to collaborate and develop strategies to provide quality resources for the South Memphis community.

Also, the community enjoyed a resource fair including food and live entertainment.

JustCare 180^o is a comprehensive program to reduce juvenile delinquency through existing community-based resources including counselors for youth and families. The pilot program led by Tennessee Voices for Children is currently being implemented in two Memphis area communities in conjunction with the Lemoyne-Owen College and Southeast Memphis Community Development Corporations. Funding for the pilot programs was granted by the City of Memphis.

For more information, click here for the full Operation: Safe Community October newsletter.

Skewby, one of Memphis’ premier hip hop artists is performing live with DJ Crumbz and DJ Charlie White during his album release party for “Proving You Wrong Since 88.” Here’s your chance to support local artists and hear some dope music before the rest of the city and soon the country.

It’s also South Main Trolley Night and the street will be alive with art, music, people and Free trolley rides on South Main. If you attended our grand re-opening on Trolley Night or heard about it, you know it’s going to be live.

Experience your city, its creative talent and its premier urban streetwear boutique, Sneak Peek, in one night!

Sneak Peek, urban streetwear boutique, and Red Bull have teamed up to provide an info session this coming Wednesday, September 16th from 7p – 9p at the boutique, 515 South Main. During this session, ALL MEMPHIS AREA ARTISTS will have the opportunity to see previous art pieces, learn about the unique exhibition, ask any questions and register to participate.

Memphis is full of extremely talented visual artists and this is our chance to showcase our skills, individuality and thirst (pun intended) for creativity.

You can see some examples of Red Bull Art of Can artwork. I encourage you to attend and I invite you to pass this on!!

For more information, prior to the info session, check out Sneak Peek’s blog and the Red Bull Art of Can website..

www.sneakpeek-memphis.blogspot.com
www.redbullartofcan.com

SUPPORT THE ARTS!!

SNEAK PEEK GRAND RE-OPENING PARTY

Come Join Sneak Peek Memphis As We Open The Doors Of Our New Downtown Location @ 515 S. Main Street (South Main Historic District). Everything That You Loved About Sneak Peek On Marshall and So Much More.

New Arrivals From Brands Like KidRobot, Nike (Sportwear and SB), Rocksmith, 10 Deep, UndrCrwn, LRG (Grassroots), G-Shock, The Hundreds (Footwear and Shoes), DGK, Crooks & Castles, Sneaker Fiend, Jordan, Sugar Craft, Another Enemy, Fresh Jive, Alador and Smith, Asics, Converse and a Special Release From Fli Pelican.

- Free Giveaways All Night
- Two DeeJays
- RedBull Will Be Flowing
- Special Grand Opening Pricing
- Main Street Trolley Night
- Sneak Peek Logo T-Shirt Release In Limited Colors and Quantities

Follow Sneak Peek On Twitter:

http://www.Twitter.com/SneakPeek901

Facebook Event Link

http://www.facebook.com/IAmPetey?ref=name#/event.php?eid=146381575991&ref=ts

HOT HOUSE GRUV – 8.29.09
409 South Main Street
Saturday, August 29th
9pm – until
$7+FREE Drinks

Experience Deep House and Soul Music in a Red Hot and Sultry environment like Memphis has never seen it done before.

DJ Witness AKA “Somethin’ Serious” and DJ Soul Infinite, resident DJ for Nashville’s LoveNoise, will be spinning deep house, soul and broken-beat into a funky gumbo to feed all those hungry for musical diversity.

Also experience a special performance from the highly anticipated deep house album, HOT HOUSE GRUV, featuring Valencia Robinson.

$7 All Night. Free Drinks All Night and Music Designed to Make Your Ass Move All Night Long…

AND JUST ADDED TO A NIGHT OF INNOVATION…
RedBull will be flowing!
Musical Mindplay/Monsters of Hip Hop will be grooving
DJ Witnesse will also be spinning
this list keeps growing…

Facebook Event Link

http://www.facebook.com/russell.wild?v=feed&story_fbid=122503934651#/event.php?eid=139312003326&ref=ts