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01/02/12

Former Dixon Gallery and Gardens Director John Buchanan Dies at 58

John E. Buchanan, Jr., the charismatic director of art museums from Peoria to San Francisco, but best known to Memphians as the former head of The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, died Friday from pancreatic cancer. He was 58. Buchanan served as director of the Dixon from 1986 to 1994, and it's safe to say that he played a major role in transforming the Dixon from a little-known private gallery into one of the South's — if not the country's — premier art centers, with a special focus on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. During his tenure, the Dixon hosted national exhibitions showcasing important works by Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, van Gogh, Manet, Cezanne, Renoir, and others. He greatly expanded the museum's collection, and oversaw a dramatic...

Posted at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments

12/22/11

Hearing Postponed in Fisher Murder

The sister of murder victim Emily Fisher has been informed that the next court date for Alfred Turner has been reset from December 15th to January 6th. Turner was convicted of facilitation of felony murder in 2007, but that conviction was overturned in 2010 and Turner was granted a new trial. However, defense attorneys are trying to negotiate a plea bargain. If Turner pleads guilty, he will walk free, having already served eight years of a 25-year sentence. Katherine Klyce, who lives in Delaware and has been fighting 17 years for justice on behalf of her sister, says the attorney general's office told her that Turner needs more time to consider the offer. "His initial response," says Klyce, "is that he doesn't want to take the deal [which...

Posted at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

12/15/11

A Welcome Guest

I’ve come to relish surprises this time of year. Something unforeseen, unexpected, even unintended. And this has nothing to do with objects wrapped in shiny, multicolored paper. Or an overstuffed stocking near my fireplace on December 25th. There’s a formula to the holidays, of course, especially if you’re among those who celebrate Christmas. The traditions and pastimes that fuel the formula tend to comfort, in part, because of their familiarity. We live in an uncertain world, with unintended surprises too often the kind that shake us: the illness of a family member, a lost job, a missing pet. When December arrives and the formula starts to unfold, we find the accustomed joys as warm as the blanket Linus van Pelt totes around in A Charlie Brown Christmas....

Posted at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

12/14/11

Deal Being Negotiated in Fisher Murder Trial

It's been a long, hard road to justice — forget closure — for the family of Emily Klyce Fisher, who was murdered in her Central Gardens home in February 1995. And the one person sent to prison for his involvement in the crime could soon walk free. Alfred Turner — whose DNA was found at the horrific scene of the crime — was convicted in 2007 of facilitation of felony murder. In June 2010, a judge overturned that verdict and granted him a new trial, and in October the Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld that decision. The reason: Jurors in the 2007 trial were told that two men first accused of the homicide — Rodney Blades and George Tate — were acquitted in 1996. Defense attorneys claim that the prosecution could have...

Posted at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

12/13/11

Memphis Cat Gets New Lease on Life

If you've never owned a pet, stop reading right now because you probably won't understand why a Memphis woman recently took her 12-year-old cat to Pennsylvania for a kidney transplant. But if you are an animal lover, chances are you can identify with Catherine Addy-Bernstein and her husband, Howard, paying about $16,000 to keep their beloved feline alive. Opie, a male Siamese with opalescent blue eyes, was nearing the end stages of kidney failure when the couple brought him to Memphis Veterinary Specialists in Cordova. There they met Dr. Ai Takeuchi, who told them the only way to save Opie would be to find a kidney donor. He only had about two months left to live. Finding a donor, however, isn't all that common and only a handful of places in the U.S. offer such a...

Posted at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2

12/06/11

WinterArts a Winner

Don't miss the stunning array of original work in various media brought to us by the ArtWorks Foundation, which encourages public awareness of the area's active arts community. Staged at The Shops of Saddle Creek South in Germantown, WinterArts features creations by such artists as Scott Hode of Franklin, Tennesee, whose glass blown pieces (seen here) range from bathroom sinks to chandeliers at the Governor's Mansion, along with his tumblers,, bowls, vases, and his signature cactus-rose goblets. Another participating glass blower is Missy Smitheal of Dyersburg, whose art-glass ornaments will light up any Christmas tree or make fine Hannukah gifts. Other works for sale — or simply for admiration — include Angela Goza's paintings, Lisa...

Posted at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments

11/29/11

The Music of Andrew VanWyngarden, Part One: "Oracular Spectacular" and Before

In the December Memphis magazine cover story "The Future is Now," we take an up-close-and-personal look at Andrew VanWyngarden, the world-famous musician who hails from Memphis. As lead singer of the indie rock band MGMT, VanWyngarden's career has led him to platinum records, Grammy nominations, and the world's biggest stages. Who is Andrew VanWyngarden and how did he become one of the hottest musicians on the planet? Read the full story to find out. You can buy it here. As a web-only supplement to the story, Memphis magazine examines "The Music of Andrew VanWyngarden," in two parts. Part one looks at VanWyngarden's musical outpout during his time at White Station High School, in the bands Glitter Penis and Accidental Mersh. It also examines...

Posted at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments: 5

11/18/11

Help Out Friends, Family With Extreme Makeover Nomination

You know you've seen her -- the pretty girl with the goofy outfits, or, conversely, the not-so-pretty girl whose fashion gaffes make her situation worse. She might even be your mom or your sister. Well, if you're of a mind to help out either of these unfortunate fellow beings, now's the time. Through the second week of December, TLC will be casting in Memphis for its hit makeover show, What Not to Wear. The show's casting directors are looking for the craziest dressers they can find, or, in their own words, "an EXTREME fashion disaster." The plan is to whisk a group of fashionably challenged women to New York for a serious intervention and the chance at a $5,000 shopping spree for a new (and blessedly improved) wardrobe. TLC is looking for ladies...

Posted at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments

11/10/11

Driving Tour Will Tell World War II Story of Japanese-Americans in Arkansas

Tucked amid cotton fields and grain silos of Desha County, Arkansas, you'll find an unusual nod to the past: a small cemetery that honors Japanese Americans who died during World War II. The site is associated with the Rohwer Relocation Center, which from 1942 to 1945 was one of 10 concentration camps built by the U.S. government to house Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Only two such camps were built in the South, at Rohwer and Jerome, Arkansas. There, 16,000 Japanese Americans, many second-generation Americans, remained incarcerated for the duration of the war. Their story went largely untold, until now. Next spring, visitors to this corner of the Arkansas Delta will be able to take a one-mile driving tour around the perimeter of the camp and learn what life was...

Posted at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments: 2

11/08/11

New Books Feature Memphis War Hero Lt. Col. Bill Leftwich. His Former Battalion Comes Here for Reunion / Tribute This Weekend.

More than 20 years ago, Michael Dan Kellum, a Marine First Lieutenant living in Texas, decided to compile his experiences — and those of some two dozen fellow soldiers who fought beside him in Vietnam — into a book. As he encountered other men with stories to tell, the project became a labor of love. He eventually interviewed more than 1,100 Marines, helicopter pilots, medical staff, and others who served our country during the Vietnam War. The book became so large that Kellum decided to publish it in two volumes — based on a recommendation from Ross Perot (yes, that Ross Perot), who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Memphian, Bill Leftwich. Book 1 is Grunts, Pilots & Docs: Building Hard Men: U.S. Marines Vietnam Stories, 1966-1971. Book 2...

Posted at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

	01/02/12 Former Dixon Gallery and Gardens Director John Buchanan Dies at 58 John E. Buchanan, Jr., the charismatic director of art museums from Peoria to San Francisco, but best known to Memphians as the former head of The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, died Friday from pancreatic cancer. He was 58. Buchanan served as director of the Dixon from 1986 to 1994, and it's safe to say that he played a major role in transforming the Dixon from a little-known private gallery into one of the South's — if not the country's — premier art centers, with a special focus on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. During his tenure, the Dixon hosted national exhibitions showcasing important works by Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, van Gogh, Manet, Cezanne, Renoir, and others. He greatly expanded the museum's collection, and oversaw a dramatic... Posted at 09:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	12/22/11 Hearing Postponed in Fisher Murder The sister of murder victim Emily Fisher has been informed that the next court date for Alfred Turner has been reset from December 15th to January 6th. Turner was convicted of facilitation of felony murder in 2007, but that conviction was overturned in 2010 and Turner was granted a new trial. However, defense attorneys are trying to negotiate a plea bargain. If Turner pleads guilty, he will walk free, having already served eight years of a 25-year sentence. Katherine Klyce, who lives in Delaware and has been fighting 17 years for justice on behalf of her sister, says the attorney general's office told her that Turner needs more time to consider the offer. "His initial response," says Klyce, "is that he doesn't want to take the deal [which... Posted at 02:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	12/15/11 A Welcome Guest I’ve come to relish surprises this time of year. Something unforeseen, unexpected, even unintended. And this has nothing to do with objects wrapped in shiny, multicolored paper. Or an overstuffed stocking near my fireplace on December 25th. There’s a formula to the holidays, of course, especially if you’re among those who celebrate Christmas. The traditions and pastimes that fuel the formula tend to comfort, in part, because of their familiarity. We live in an uncertain world, with unintended surprises too often the kind that shake us: the illness of a family member, a lost job, a missing pet. When December arrives and the formula starts to unfold, we find the accustomed joys as warm as the blanket Linus van Pelt totes around in A Charlie Brown Christmas.... Posted at 03:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	12/14/11 Deal Being Negotiated in Fisher Murder Trial It's been a long, hard road to justice — forget closure — for the family of Emily Klyce Fisher, who was murdered in her Central Gardens home in February 1995. And the one person sent to prison for his involvement in the crime could soon walk free. Alfred Turner — whose DNA was found at the horrific scene of the crime — was convicted in 2007 of facilitation of felony murder. In June 2010, a judge overturned that verdict and granted him a new trial, and in October the Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld that decision. The reason: Jurors in the 2007 trial were told that two men first accused of the homicide — Rodney Blades and George Tate — were acquitted in 1996. Defense attorneys claim that the prosecution could have... Posted at 11:59 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	12/13/11 Memphis Cat Gets New Lease on Life If you've never owned a pet, stop reading right now because you probably won't understand why a Memphis woman recently took her 12-year-old cat to Pennsylvania for a kidney transplant. But if you are an animal lover, chances are you can identify with Catherine Addy-Bernstein and her husband, Howard, paying about $16,000 to keep their beloved feline alive. Opie, a male Siamese with opalescent blue eyes, was nearing the end stages of kidney failure when the couple brought him to Memphis Veterinary Specialists in Cordova. There they met Dr. Ai Takeuchi, who told them the only way to save Opie would be to find a kidney donor. He only had about two months left to live. Finding a donor, however, isn't all that common and only a handful of places in the U.S. offer such a... Posted at 03:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 2
	12/06/11 WinterArts a Winner Don't miss the stunning array of original work in various media brought to us by the ArtWorks Foundation, which encourages public awareness of the area's active arts community. Staged at The Shops of Saddle Creek South in Germantown, WinterArts features creations by such artists as Scott Hode of Franklin, Tennesee, whose glass blown pieces (seen here) range from bathroom sinks to chandeliers at the Governor's Mansion, along with his tumblers,, bowls, vases, and his signature cactus-rose goblets. Another participating glass blower is Missy Smitheal of Dyersburg, whose art-glass ornaments will light up any Christmas tree or make fine Hannukah gifts. Other works for sale — or simply for admiration — include Angela Goza's paintings, Lisa... Posted at 09:52 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	11/29/11 The Music of Andrew VanWyngarden, Part One: "Oracular Spectacular" and Before In the December Memphis magazine cover story "The Future is Now," we take an up-close-and-personal look at Andrew VanWyngarden, the world-famous musician who hails from Memphis. As lead singer of the indie rock band MGMT, VanWyngarden's career has led him to platinum records, Grammy nominations, and the world's biggest stages. Who is Andrew VanWyngarden and how did he become one of the hottest musicians on the planet? Read the full story to find out. You can buy it here. As a web-only supplement to the story, Memphis magazine examines "The Music of Andrew VanWyngarden," in two parts. Part one looks at VanWyngarden's musical outpout during his time at White Station High School, in the bands Glitter Penis and Accidental Mersh. It also examines... Posted at 03:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 5
	11/18/11 Help Out Friends, Family With Extreme Makeover Nomination You know you've seen her -- the pretty girl with the goofy outfits, or, conversely, the not-so-pretty girl whose fashion gaffes make her situation worse. She might even be your mom or your sister. Well, if you're of a mind to help out either of these unfortunate fellow beings, now's the time. Through the second week of December, TLC will be casting in Memphis for its hit makeover show, What Not to Wear. The show's casting directors are looking for the craziest dressers they can find, or, in their own words, "an EXTREME fashion disaster." The plan is to whisk a group of fashionably challenged women to New York for a serious intervention and the chance at a $5,000 shopping spree for a new (and blessedly improved) wardrobe. TLC is looking for ladies... Posted at 11:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	11/10/11 Driving Tour Will Tell World War II Story of Japanese-Americans in Arkansas Tucked amid cotton fields and grain silos of Desha County, Arkansas, you'll find an unusual nod to the past: a small cemetery that honors Japanese Americans who died during World War II. The site is associated with the Rohwer Relocation Center, which from 1942 to 1945 was one of 10 concentration camps built by the U.S. government to house Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Only two such camps were built in the South, at Rohwer and Jerome, Arkansas. There, 16,000 Japanese Americans, many second-generation Americans, remained incarcerated for the duration of the war. Their story went largely untold, until now. Next spring, visitors to this corner of the Arkansas Delta will be able to take a one-mile driving tour around the perimeter of the camp and learn what life was... Posted at 10:18 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 2
	11/08/11 New Books Feature Memphis War Hero Lt. Col. Bill Leftwich. His Former Battalion Comes Here for Reunion / Tribute This Weekend. More than 20 years ago, Michael Dan Kellum, a Marine First Lieutenant living in Texas, decided to compile his experiences — and those of some two dozen fellow soldiers who fought beside him in Vietnam — into a book. As he encountered other men with stories to tell, the project became a labor of love. He eventually interviewed more than 1,100 Marines, helicopter pilots, medical staff, and others who served our country during the Vietnam War. The book became so large that Kellum decided to publish it in two volumes — based on a recommendation from Ross Perot (yes, that Ross Perot), who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Memphian, Bill Leftwich. Book 1 is Grunts, Pilots & Docs: Building Hard Men: U.S. Marines Vietnam Stories, 1966-1971. Book 2... Posted at 07:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments