THE PAINTER AND THE POET

Artistic expression and a shared sense of faith brought the painter Tami Curtis and the poet Perry Guy together in 2015. The couple’s new project with the National Audubon Society combines their love of art and poetry and gives back to the Gulf Coast region they now call home. The artists also take pride in creating books together that highlight natural and cultural aspects of the Gulf Coast and give back to the community. Tami paints the illustrations, and Perry creates the narrative. Together, they give voice and visualization to the coastline for locals and visitors alike. The duo’s artistic footprint is expanding beyond Bay St. Louis, where they currently live, and they hope to bring more attention and representation to the Gulf Coast through the passions they have transformed into noteworthy professions.

MEREDITH MCKINNIE KELLY MOORE CLARK

father taught her to always look again, to notice what others might miss, to see the depth right in front of her own eyes and give the colors time to show themselves. Ray painted signs while in college to support the family. He was meticulous, and the craft required specific attention to detail as he painted billboards, business signs, and local menus. Night after night, Tami would watch her father work on the porch. She learned the skill necessary for the old-fashioned craft before the possibility of modern digital creations. Ray demonstrated how to handle the brush, how to control it to form borderlines or perfect circles. Their relationship blossomed in the presence of making art, the teacher educating his daughter, the pupil. Tami’s fascination with art continued in college as she majored in art education and graphic design while attending Louisiana Tech University. After graduation, Tami moved to Monroe and took a job at Robert E. Lee Junior High School as an art educator, just like her father. She realized quickly that the kids deserved more and started an art club. The group raised money and traveled to Dallas on a field trip to visit art galleries. Many of the kids had never left their own neighborhoods, and many students rode in an elevator for the very first time. Growing up, Tami’s family lived on the two teachers’ modest income, but she was always shown the importance of seeing art in spaces dedicated to its appreciation. After a few years, Tami transferred to Ruston High School and then Fontainebleau High School in Covington, Louisiana. She served as Education Coordinator for the New Orleans Museum of Art, creating a curriculum called Artworks, which teaches reading, writing, and arithmetic by starting with an art lesson and working back to core subjects. While living in Covington, Tami spent her summers creating her own art and started selling paintings. She eventually devoted all her time to her artwork and now focuses on fine art paintings and illustrations. She loves to draw, sketch, and get her hands in clay, The National Audubon Society commissioned the couple to create twelve but she makes a living from the paintings placards for the highway running along the Mississippi Gulf Coast beach, and illustrations for featuring Tami’s bird paintings and Perry’s poems. The placards will come out children’s books. in just a few weeks, hopefully endearing the people to the birds. Raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Perry Guy grew up Tami Curtis grew up in Springhill, Louisiana with her on a dairy farm. He knew hard work up close, waking up parents Ray and Jackie Curtis who were both educators. at daylight, milking cows, repairing fences, and breaking When Tami was in middle school, her father attended college heifers. In junior high, Perry discovered poetry. He fell in and received his degree in art education. The family then love with Dickinson and Frost and tried his best to emulate moved to Leesville, where Ray became Tami’s art teacher at the American greats between daily chores. He had a choice Leesville High School, and Jackie taught special education at of continuing to work on the farm or going to college. He the schools. Ray was Tami’s art mentor. Raised in the rural attended Southeastern University in Hammond, Louisiana, town of Hornbeck in central Louisiana, Ray created realistic majoring in sociology and minoring in English. Upon art with an impressionistic flair. He adored rural life and graduation, the difficult economy moved Perry into the the outdoors, and most of his art depicted natural settings automobile industry. He trained with Royal Oldsmobile Group reflective of the land he loved. When Tami was about eight to become a dealer and eventually opened several small car years old, she remembers visiting the family’s farmland in dealerships, a profession he stuck with for twenty years. He Hornbeck, walking through her mamaw’s cornstalk patch then became a real estate broker, working in Florida and with her father. He said, “T-Baby, what color is that crow?” Alabama, and opened Island Life Kayaks and Paddle Boards in Puzzled, Tami insisted the crow was black. “Look again,” Gulf Shores in 2010, a business he still maintains today. Ray said. “Watch what happens when the sun hits the bird’s As a poet, Perry was naturally drawn to music. He played wings.” Tami noticed the blues and purples that she had the guitar, and wrote and performed several of his own songs. missed before. Ray taught his daughter that no true black One song entitled Gulf Coast Christmas debuted on the charts, exists in nature, that an artist must see colors beyond the and Perry briefly tried to make it in Nashville. He made two obvious. An artist must pay attention to what the light can albums: Heart of Leather and Island Life in his mid-twenties. do and how it reflects. He instilled in her an artist must push The music brought him back to the poetry, and he started beyond the flat and expected in one’s own expression. Her writing books. His first book Treasures in the Sand features

10 short story beach poems and is all about the Gulf Coast. Before Covid, Perry frequented local schools, playing the guitar and talking to the children about books. He insists kids ask the best questions. He wrote his second book A Gulf Coast Christmas before he met Tami. The couple wrote the last three books together. Perry was thankful for his in-house illustrator and being able to collaborate with his life partner. The Mardi Gras Boat Parade, The Great Gulf Coast Seafood Festival, and Fine Feathered Friends are the couple’s most recent publications. Tami and Perry work alongside organizations such as the New Orleans Children’s Hospital and the Make a Wish Foundation to promote their books. Langenstein grocery stores, popular in the New Orleans area, sell their books, and the couple donates one book for every copy purchased. Tami and Parry are happy to be representing their community and working to promote the region. The family books are also sold in Tacky Jack’s and Souvenir City in Gulf Shores, and over seventy other shops in the southern region.

Tami met Perry the way many couples do now on Facebook. They frequented the same online circles and after casually commenting on each other’s posts, Tami finally reached out via messenger. They initially went to a friend’s film screening at UNO and identified long term potential. Both Tami and Perry value their faith, and they recognized Christian values and artistic expression in one another. Less than a year later, the two married and have four adult children between them. Jessica Odell Anderson lives in Indiana with her husband and their three children Soleil, Bruce, and Penelope. They operate a full-time flower farm along with raising pumpkins and Indian corn. Christopher Odell and his wife have a music venue service called Red Stick Music in Baton Rouge. Julie Odell is a full-time musician and artist and lives in New Orleans with her partner and their five year old daughter, Lilou. Chantal Marie Dale lives in Denham Springs with her husband, and works for Amazon, and cares for Perry’s three-year-old beloved grandson Alaric.

The Audubon Project was a blessing for Tami and Perry during Covid. Perry was approached by a woman at a small Christmas boutique show in 2019. She was familiar with the couple’s work and just happened to be the former director of the National Audubon Society. Through her recommendation, Tami and Perry feel privileged to work with the National Audubon Society to recognize the coastal wildlife. Tami also works with Legendary Blues Cruises, creating the designs for their posters, which features notable blues musicians during their sails. She acts as an artist-in-residence on the ship, taking photos for future paintings and selling her artwork to fellow cruisers. Perry is working on more books with his favorite in-house illustrator Tami. An upcoming favorite is entitled “The Farmer’s Market” and encourages locals to support local farmers. You can see and purchase the work of Tami Curtis and Perry Guy at The Painter and the Poet online or at the Tami Curtis Gallery gallery on 112 S Second St in Bay St Louis, MS.

image courtesy of Robert Wright Photography

MADISON NICOLE DAVIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF PATRICK and Janet Davis. Madison is 17 years old and a 12th grade student at Ouachita Parish High School. She will be a graduate of the class of 2021. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, AKA Cinderella Guidance Clinic, Model 10/18, and the Top Teens of America. She is a member of New Tabernacle Baptist Church where Roosevelt Wright, Jr. is her pastor.

Madison is a Senior Elite Dancer with Carolyn’s Danceland, Inc. She has danced many lead roles in CDL’s recital productions. Madison and four other dancers were invited to Atlanta, Ga last year to perform at an award program saluting Jermaine Dupree. She recently earned the title “2021 Brown Girls Do Ballet Brand Ambassador,” which is 1 of 24 girls from all over the United States, and she is the only one in Louisiana.

The Brown Girls Do Ballet Brand Ambassador program is designed to create opportunities for young dancers in training to be seen as leaders and eventually become mentors to others. They spread positivity about the role that diversity plays in the realm of classical ballet. They are the defensive line as it relates to combating negative stereotypes about dancers of color, and therefore will serve as role models for dancers around them. They are responsible for sharing the mission behind Brown Girls Do Ballet®. Our Youth Ambassadors, having more experience, take their role a step further by speaking at regional Brown Girls Do Ballet® functions, hosting and/or attending Brown Ballerina gatherings in their town or community, and personally committing to mentoring, via letters, emails, or in person “dates”, one or more younger Brown Ballerinas. For more information visit their website www.browngirlsdoballet.com.

We salute and congratulate ballerina Madison Nicole Davis for creating positive change in the dance community.

BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a passion for helping others find peace and a common but under-diagnosed empowerment through healing and personal mental health condition experienced growth. She is a clinician at Finding Solace across different age groups and where she treats individuals (10 and up), cultures. Social anxiety disorder can couples, and families. have an effect on your ability to attend school and work at a job. Starting in a new place, Q: What are some of the most important making friends, giving presentations, eating things parents and youth need to know with others—these and other aspects of school about social anxiety? and work are all triggers for those with social A: Anyone can experience social anxiety anxiety. If you or someone you like when your palms get know has been diagnosed with sweaty right before a handshake SAD or you think you may be or that feeling of tripping experiencing symptoms of the over words when speaking disorder, learning more about in front of people. However, what to expect can help. when these symptoms become Anne Newman is too much to handle, social a Licensed Professional anxiety disorder (SAD) could Counselor and a Licensed be the reason. SAD is the third Marriage and Family Therapist. most common mental health She has practiced therapy, disorder which is surprising counseling, and social work for some people to hear. While for 14 years in many different prevalent, not many people are settings with a variety of familiar with the distinguishing populations. After some time ANNE NEWMAN characteristics of this disorder. performing social work and Those who suffer from SAD exploring other states, she returned to her often possess an intense, unreasonable fear hometown of Monroe to pursue her master’s or phobia of situations which involve being degree from the University of Louisiana at social or performing in some way. Since Monroe. It was important for Anne to give young people and their brains are not yet fully back to the community that helped to shape developed and they are busy navigating the her in so many important ways. Anne has twists and turns of adolescence, they often are not equipped to determine whether their fear is unreasonable or the natural, predictable nervousness that everyone experiences from time to time. This is why it is so important for parents and other people who interact with children on a regular basis to be aware of the signs and symptoms of SAD.

A: There is no clear, concise answer to what causes social anxiety. Instead, it has been determined that many factors can lead to the development of SAD. These include environmental, societal, genetic, and biological/neurological factors. While it may be common for parents to blame themselves or parenting choices, it is crucial to realize that SAD is more likely caused by an unknown combination of the aforementioned factors. Please note that a child who is being bullied may also exhibit similar symptoms (i.e., fear of attending school). However, the difference is that the anxiety will likely only be present when the bully is present or potentially present. These children will not exhibit symptoms without the threat of being bullied.

A: For someone with SAD, life comes

with many obstacles, and they are truly at a disadvantage. Their fear of being in and performing in the classroom may cause them to perform poorly in school, skip classes, or sometimes even drop out of school. On a more social level, SAD can make it extremely difficult to make/ keep friends or participate in extracurricular activities. When SAD is present, a child is more “If SAD goes untreated likely to suffer from physical manifestations of the in teen years, there disorder such as headaches, stomach aches, nausea, is a higher risk of rapid heartbeat, muscle developing other tension, lightheadedness, or an inability to catch breath. mental health issues If SAD goes untreated in teen years, there is a higher such as substance risk of developing other abuse, eating disorders, mental health issues such as substance abuse, eating depression, and even disorders, depression, and even suicidal ideation. suicidal ideation.” These long-term possible outcomes become slightly more concerning when it is known that the symptoms of SAD are often simply mislabeled as shyness. This oversight and its potential to impact life in such negative ways is the reason why parents should be aware of how to detect this problem early and intervene.

A: It is important to know that not all anxiety is abnormal. The difference between a teen experiencing a normal amount of anxiety and someone with SAD is the level of fear and the impact it has on daily living. In someone with SAD, the fear felt is noticeably out of proportion to the situation inducing that fear. If you suspect your child may be suffering from SAD, it is likely that you noticed symptoms from a rather early age. Pre-school aged children who are later diagnosed with social anxiety disorder often display a fear of new things, refuse to speak, and freeze or cling when nervous. They also exhibit an intense degree of irritability, crying, or whining that does not necessarily match the degree of discomfort. Parents of school-aged children who are later diagnosed with SAD typically witness their child have a fear of some of the following situations: reading aloud, answering questions out loud, talking to other kids, being in front of the class, speaking to adults, musical or athletic performance activities, ordering food in a restaurant, attending birthday parties, or having a friend over. These young children also commonly worry that other people are judging them, and sometimes they refuse to participate in activities or attend school in a traditional setting. Teens with SAD have a wider variety of symptoms, and they include hesitant, passive, withdrawn, overly concerned about negative evaluation, fear of being embarrassed, few facial expressions, fidgeting, keeps head down, does not raise hand in class, fear of speaking in front of others, often sits alone, afraid to walk into class late, avoids classmates, discomfort in group settings, few friends, avoids eye contact, mumbles, and more. The experience varies from person to person.

A: When a parent suspects their child may be suffering from SAD, they should seek help from a licensed professional who is trained to assess whether the symptoms could be a possible medical condition or other situation-specific anxiety such as bullying or abuse. If the diagnosis of SAD is confirmed, the focus of treatment will aim to alleviate the anxiety and develop coping skills to assist with daily living. Cognitivebehavioral therapy has been proven to be effective towards these goals. In addition, family therapy could benefit the entire family by providing important education on the subject and finding ways family members can be supportive or helpful. In some cases, medications can assist in lessening the impact of symptoms. Treatment can also be implemented in the school setting with the assistance of interventions led by school psychologists or counselors. As a parent, it is important to provide your child with confidence-building experiences and show support rather than sheltering the child from the anxiety-producing situation. Exposing a child to social situations in a gradual manner can help to build social skills slowly and comfortably. A trained therapist can assist parents in this exit of the comfort zone in a way that will lessen the possibility of trauma and regression. Overall, parents can help their child by setting realistic goals, providing a place for effective decompression after anxiety-provoking situations, and being a good, compassionate listener who can assure the child that this can be conquered.

Child Mind Institute

Child Mind Institute (https://childmind.org) is a free website dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families. They work to provide the ability to support children when they need it the most. There is information provided for parents, children, and educators to help improve the lives of children and families.

Jan Daniels, Youth Development Director at the Children’s Coalition, works with middle schools in Northeast Louisiana to provide the suicide prevention program Signs of Suicide (SOS) and the abstinence-plus program Rights, Respect and Responsibility. Call Jan at (318) 323-8775 or go to www.childrenscoalition.org to learn more about how you can get these programs at your child’s school.