Stand with Tippi McCullough and her wife Barb Mariani in Little Rock--At South On Main

You may or may not be aware that recently Tippi McCullough, a long serving teacher at Little Rock's Mount St Mary Academy a Catholic girls school, lost her job over a violation of the school's morals clause.  What did she do?  She legally married her partner of 14 years, Barb Mariani, in a civil ceremony in New Mexico.  Yes, you read that correctly.  She LEGALLY married her partner of 14 YEARS.  A partner that the staff and administration of the school knew about.  To top it off she was fired in a phone call less than an hour after the ceremony that legally joined she and her partner.  What does this morals clause cover?  Marriage?  No.  It states that teachers must live a life that is in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic church.  Have their been any firings of teachers that used birth control or got a divorce?  None that I could find in a google search. 

Ok so yeah I am pretty disgusted by this whole thing.  I tend to keep posts on this blog to my love for ice cream, vintage items, locally grown food, and things related to events in SoMa.  So why this, why blog about this?  Well today there was a press conference at South On Main about the firing and Chad Griffin the president of the Human Rights Campaign was there to speak as well.  I was just going to go as a concerned citizen and support them as they go through this.  But I wanted to share the event in this way so that anyone that might read about it and was unaware could know that in October 2013 people can get fired for legally marrying the person they have been emotionally committed to for 14 years.  The place was jam packed with press, family, friends, and supporters.  It gave me warm fuzzies on top of warm fuzzies to see the community come together to support Tippi
and Barb. 

Packed house at South On Main for the press conference



left to right--Barb Mariani, Tippi McCullough, Gillian, and HRC President Chad Griffin

 

 Tippi McCullough

 

 Barb Mariani

 

 Gillian speaks of her support for her former teacher

 

Former students at the school address the news conference 

 

 Former students at the school address the news conference 

 

 

I don't like the hypocrisy of the whole thing.  She loses her job but no teachers are getting fired for using birth control.  They already knew about her partner.  They fired her on what should have been a happy and beautiful day for her, perhaps the most joyous day of her life.  People have used religion to enforce racial inequality and segregation and to support not allowing women the right to vote.  I wonder how popular Mount St Mary's would be if it fired teachers that voted or denied employment or enrollment to African Americans.  But society has seen the error of its ways on those issues. 

There are some things about today that give me faith in the human race though and encourage me that things are heading in the right direction for our society.  On the stage today a 15 year old sophomore at the school named Gillian spoke about how when she learned about the Civil Rights movement in school that she thought to herself that had she been alive then that she would have been on the right side of history and today she can be by supporting her former teacher.  This girl started a campaign at the school to support Tippi.  How completely honored I was to meet the girl and her mother who was "very proud of her."  Indeed that is a young lady to be very proud of.  See, you don't have to be an adult or gay or lesbian to see this issue as a civil rights issue.  She wasn't alone either.  Several former students spoke in their support of Tippi McCullough. 

Supporter speaks to Tippi after the press conference

 





You can show your support by making a contribution to the HRC or contacting your Congressman to voice your support of ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act which would prevent people from getting fired for their sexual orientation.  Or if you have the chance to meet either of the ladies just tell them you support them.  I shared my support with Tippi and it felt like I was able to lighten the load on their shoulders just a little bit.

All photo rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography

Local Live at South On Main by Landers Fiat--Rodney Block

 

I was looking forward to tonight's show with Rodney Block and knew time would be tight as I had a commitment at 8:00 and the shows start at 7:30.  I figured just enough time to get some images hear a few songs and get some great content to share.  Sadly by 7:41 when not a soul was on stage I knew that I wouldn't have time to cover the event and make my 8:00 commitment, so I left without as much as one note.  Maybe they were just being fashionably late?  So anyone care to tell me what I missed?

Here is hoping that next week with Amy Garland will go off without a hitch!

Local Live at South On Main by Landers Fiat--Walter Henderson Group

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday October 2nd was the second installment in the Oxford American, South on Main, Landers Fiat program Local Live.  This time around it was Little Rock trumpeter Walter Henderson and the Walter Henderson Group.  This was a night of great jazz music coming from a man who is the real deal.  Not alone on the stage he was backed up by some great local musicians joining in and putting on a great show. 

 

 

 

This is such a wonderful opportunity for people in Little Rock to see a spectrum of artists, each incredible in their own right, performing in such a wonderful venue.  If you enjoy live music in an environment where you can get a good drink, great local food, and not in a smoky bar then this is the venue for you.  I know, I know you would think the music wouldn't sound very good without cigarette smoke hanging in the air for that blues or jazz feel but ya know what that is one of the draws for me. 



 

 

Reservations for the events are encouraged but there is no cover charge.

All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography

Local Live at South On Main by Landers Fiat--Greg Spradlin

Wednesday nights in SoMa just got a dose of fun.  From now until mid December on Wednesday nights Landers Fiat, Oxford American, and South On Main will be presenting Local Live.  Free concerts at 7:30pm showcasing the talent of Little Rock and beyond as the flyer says!  These will occur during regular dinner service so please make reservations if you want a table or a lap to sit in.  If the first night was any indication these are going to be packed as more and more people get word of this great happening. 

This is exactly the kind of thing that I had been hoping for...something fun to do at night other than Midtown or the occasional event at The Bernice Garden.  I love SoMa, but the sidewalks sorta roll up around 5pm until South On Main came along!  So any of you that know me are aware that I love their food and that I can walk a short distance to get it but live music too?  Oh yeah! 

The first installment was Wednesday September 25th, Greg Spradlin.  I am a live music and local music newbie.  I know, shame shame.  But hey, I am making up for it now!  So I googled Greg Spradlin and found that he is arguably the best guitar player in Arkansas.  From what I heard with my newbie ears I would have to agree.  But the crowd, which I am assuming are more seasoned than I, seemed to agree as well.  I have been listening to his music on Spotify as I write this post and prepare the photos and I love it!  And he's just a moonlighting musician from what I can tell from reading about him.  Spradlin plays Southern rock heavy in blues and it is a kind of music that I very much enjoy.  It's great to drink, eat, and cook to.  I did two of those three, having fried green tomatoes topped with crab salad washed down with Diamond Bear pale ale of undisclosed quantity. 

So stop by next Wednesday and check out the Walter Henderson Group a jazz quintet led by Little Rock's Walter Henderson.  Best to make reservations!

All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography.

5th Annual Sculpture Party and Fall Fest

Thursday September 19th I went to the 5th Annual Sculpture Party and Fall Fest at The Bernice Garden.  I had not been to the even before and was really looking forward to it.  It was hot and muggy but was a great evening to see all of the new sculpture installations and see people.  We had great food and music for event.  Loblolly catered the food which was delicious, especially the skewers with the mushrooms on them!!  I got to meet people I didn't know and see many people that I have come to know through living in SoMa. 

That is one of the joys of this area...the feeling of community.  I guess I have just never experienced that before in any of the areas that I have lived in Little Rock.  And it's not to say that it doesn't exist in other places, but I just know that it is alive and well in SoMa. 

The new sculpture pieces are wonderful and seemed to be well received, inviting lots of conversation and individual interpretation.  People have their favorites and I have mine for sure.  One of the pieces involved locks that people had painted on at one of the farmer's market events and it made me think if the bridge in Paris that people put their locks on and make wishes. 

Steven Driver

Kerrick Hartman

Danny Campbell

David Clemmons and Mia Hall

 

John Van Horn and Erika Droke

 

David Carpenter

I encourage you to go see the pieces whether it is just to enjoy the weather and grab a coffee or an ice cream or see them at one of the other events at The Bernice Garden.  We are really fortunate to have such a nice space of art and nature coming together, now enhanced by the new sculpture pieces.

All photography rights shared by Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography