Shari Jackson : Norman Depot
An Interview with Norman Depot’s Executive Director, Sheri Jackson
What's been going on in your world and circles lately?
The Depot just finished up Summer Breeze and IMHO, it was one of the best yet. Amazing to see the crowds, the hugs, the dancing....and the music was Count Tutu, The Contraband, HKS, Chanda Graham, Homegrown.
We installed the art of John Wolfe and are putting up a retrospective of Mistuno Reedy next week. Mitsuno has had an amazing career and her story is unusual and personal (art chat at the Depot on September 11). She's nationally recognized for her commissioned portraits of civic and government leaders, but her oils, watercolors, and pastels are also so very good.
Photo of Count TuTu by Michael Duncan
In my circles we talk a lot about how to use the arts to create a sense of community, the pandemic and a daunting political climate has us all on edge. We need joy and art and music and creativity and a chance to breathe, hug, enjoy, scream, cry, create, engage and be together.
Anything in particular you've been working on?
DEPOT CONCERTS!!!! If you've never heard a show in the Depot, it's a great space to really 'listen' to the musicianship, lyrics, and stories of local and touring artists. The intimate crowd feels like family and we can't wait to bring shows back...it's been a while. Announcements are coming SOOOOOOON!
Other projects you see happening around that are cool?
I LOVE Jaiye Farrell and Cody Giles' "Between the Spaces" show at MAINSITE right now, the new art therapy group and the Sunday Scaries Cult Cinema group at Resonator, and there are open proposals for new public art projects and I can't wait to see what new public art we get to enjoy. Creativity is flourishing here...it's why I stay.
Any stories you want to share?
The end of Summer Breeze was something special. Half the show was a dedicated tribute to former board member Neil Kingsley. He was a big part of making the Depot the place it is, the editor of the book Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (his great grandfather and namesake of our Montford Inn, now a Netflix movie), photographer of Jimi Hendrix (the sneaky bloke faked press credentials and weaseled his way backstage in Dallas spending the day photographing Jimi and the show at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium in 1970) - but most loved in Norman for his role in the band The Amazing Rhythm Chickens - a band of very talented wonderful weirdos.
Our last concert was moved inside because of the rain and we ended up at the Railhouse. Somehow the magic, festival spirit, love and community of Summer Breeze made its way indoors and we blew the roof off the place with a house band of Kyle Reid, Terry 'Buffalo' Ware, Steve Boaz, Johnny Carlton, TZ Wright and Isaac Stalling. That in and of itself was enough, but then they had guest artists Mallory Eagle, Bailey Gilbert, Caleb McGee, Erik the Viking, Jared Tyler, Sarah Kingsley (Neil's Daughter), and her son, Cole. It felt like 1986 showed up in the room at the end of the show when two original members of the Rhythm Chickens joined the band and revived their sing-along number "Chicken Necks" and a standing room only crowd began singing along.
The night was silly and irreverent, talent and passion, old and new. It's one of those moments I don't know if you can describe, but something so special you'll never forget.
the Depot
Summer Breeze - Photo by Cody Giles
Favorite bands / albums lately?
Photo by Cody Giles
Sisteria's album "Dark Matter" - JUST WOW. Katie's vocals, instrumental work by such an amazing group of musicians, Steve Boaz on drums (and producing and engineering!!), Mike Hosty, Richie Tarver of Rainbows are Free, Daniel Walker's keyboards. It's SOOOO good. Loved hearing tracks at Summer Breeze off the new The Contraband album Etoufee, Brute?, Sam Crain's "Bloomsday" single from last year remixed with OKC's Husbands band it just so fun. Outside Oklahoma, I'm OBSESSED with Wet Leg and their debut album, Oklahoma's own Bartees Strange, I could go on, we're lucky spoiled by good music here in Norman...maybe I'll make a playlist......?
Poem?
I don't have a poem for today, but I have a favorite saying I've been trying to live by in these very confusing times. I think it's a part of us moving past a binary good/bad, love/hate, yes/no world. My favorite computer hacker "The Jester" whose computer is in the international spy museum has a saying -
Everything and everyone is a mixture of good and bad. The trick is to figure out the ratio and act accordingly.
Sage advice. Everything's complicated.
Links to anything you're involved in you want to share?
www.normandepot.org/join - The Depot's programs are mostly free and open to the public. Like most things, our programs work better when those that can pitch in a few pennies to help cover those who can't. Thanks.
Anything else?
Be Kind. Be Creative. Get weird.
The Depot currently has 2 t-shirts available for preorder through our website until September 10th.
Place your order here!
