Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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10 UCW October 25 - 31, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Cape Fear Studios, on 148 Maxwell St., is hosting its annual Alpha Romeo Tango exhibit Oct. 27 through Nov. 21. "Many of our deployed soldiers, sail- ors, airmen and Marines return home suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many of these persons find healing and comfort in creating works of art," explained Steve Opet, the Cape Fear Studios Board President. e Alpha Romeo Tango exhibit has been running for almost a decade, highlighting and supporting the local military community. "is is the ninth year for the show, and it was started to honor and high- light the artistic abilities of our local military-affiliated artists," said Opet. e Alpha Romeo Tango exhibit features a People's Choice award with cash prizes. Award winners are chosen by popular vote. Visitors can vote for their favorite art piece until Nov. 17 at the Cape Fear Studios. e exhibition's goal is to provide a safe space, promote healing, and raise awareness within the community. It is not limited to service members. "Alpha Romeo Tango is open to family members. People are often unaware of the sacrifices and anxiety military families face when their loved ones are deployed to dangerous duties and missions. Artistic abilities and tal- ents help them cope with the stress," Opet said. Sculptor ea Cinnamon is one of the featured artists in the exhibit, and is a military family member, with multiple generations of family having served in the Armed Forces. "Alpha Romeo Tango is an im- portant show because we are mul- tidimensional human beings," she explained. "We are not just veterans or military beings. We are so much more. Enjoying creativity is neces- sary for healing the soul. It is a warm, inviting, unpretentious environment where veterans and military families can share with the world that we have found ways to flourish." Cinnamon's grandfather and father's service have made an impres- sion on her. "I have family members who served in the military. My grandfather, John Pols, came from Germany to fight against Hilter. He realized that he could not change what was not whole- some within his native country. He had to come to America and join the Army in World War II," she said. "My father, Robert Roy Cinnamon, was in the Army during the Korean conflict. He lost a limb in service to his country. His aspirations were to be a singer and a dancer," Cinnamon said. Instead, the Veteran's Administra- tion retrained him as a Jeweler. "As a Jeweler, he sculpted minia- ture objects. e mermaid ring was a prototype for Tippi Hedren's earrings. Tippi Hedren was a fashion model and American actor that starred in Alfred Hitchcock's movie 'e Birds' and 'Marnie,'" Cinnamon explained. Cinnamon studied sculpture with the late Richard McDermott Miller and Philipe Faraut at PCF Studios in Honeoye, New York. She has created an exhibit of masks entitled "Finding Your Joy." "Giddy" and "Surprised" are featured in her exhibit. e masks represent all ethnicities engaged and empowered by true brotherhood. Cinnamon is featuring a sculpture "George Reeves, Superman, an Ameri- can Hero" in the Alpha Tango Romeo Exhibit. Reeves, an American actor who played Superman, was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps in WWll, Cinna- mon said. "I chose an older veteran because of the seventy-fifth-year anniversary of the Air Force. I hope to either sell the sculpture to generate funds for the Air Force Ball or donate the piece to the Air Force as a symbol of my heart to those who have served in the military." ere will be a reception to kick off the exhibit on Oct. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. e art exhibit will be open from Oct. 27 to Nov. 21. For more information call 910-433-2986. EVENTS LENA SIMMONS, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200 Military artists shine at Alpha Romeo Tango exhibit by LENA SIMMONS Blues is Alright Tour arrives at the Crown Theatre by KATRINA WILSON Blues and southern soul fans should mark their calendars for Nov.4 when the Crown eatre will host e Ville City Blues Festival, where e Blues Is Alright Tour will make a stop. When people think of blues and southern soul music, they might think of Mel Waiters, Johnnie Taylor or Mar- vin Sease. A new generation of artists is providing the musical storytelling synonymous with blues and south- ern soul, a genre of music known for turning heartache into music to feed the soul. J-Wonn, slated to appear at the Crown eatre, pronounces his name "Jay-One." He is from Jackson, Missis- sippi, and began creating blues and southern soul music in 2014. Since then, he has won awards, and his music is available for streaming on all music platforms. J-Wonn has high praise for his blues and southern soul tour experience. "e tour is amazing. I've had the privilege to watch the tour ever since I came into the game of blues and southern soul. Now that I'm a part of it, being one of the acts on the tour — it's an amazing experience," he said. J-Wonn has only good things to say about the tour. He described the pro- duction as the best of the best — best sound, best lighting and best promot- ers to be working for the best fans. "When we're talking about blues and southern soul, it doesn't get no bigger than the Blues is Alright Tour," he explained. "e thing about be- ing on this tour — now I have higher expectations ... because the Blues is Alright Tour set the bar so high," J- Wonn said. J-Wonn began singing around the age of 10. He was a member of mul- tiple choirs in his youth. As a teenager, he was the lead vocalist in a hip-hop group. is role led J-Wonn to Tracy Way, the father of Soulja Boy. Soulja Boy is a rap artist and record producer who gained recognition after releasing his debut album in 2007. J-Wonn signed an artist develop- ment deal with Way in 2008. J-Wonn explains that this was significant be- cause the music business was chang- ing so much due to online resources like Myspace and YouTube. "I was able to learn so much, being locked in with a guy who was the first artist to blow up from You- Tube. I learned so much being around him," J-Wonn said. He feels blues is still a rel- evant genre. Blues is the birth of a lot of music — like rap. A rap beat is where people can hear a blues bass line, explained J-Wonn. When he first started in the blues and southern soul genre, mentors guided J- Wonn. Tours were a learning experience; they all learned from one another. Being aware of other artists within the indus- try allows for teachable moments and growth. "If you don't stay aware of the next person, you'll get scooted over," he said. "Stay up on your game because the sounds are changing. Change your producers. You have to be more creative nowadays." One of the people J-Wonn looked up to when he first got into blues and southern soul was Mel Waiters, who coached J-Wonn on how to make ef- fective deals in the industry. ey even created music together. "When I came in, there were no young faces. Just me," he said. Many musicians were at least a decade older than him. Now, more young artists, including King George and Jay Morris, have embraced the genre. e Blues is Alright Tour will be at the Crown eatre on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Performers will include King George, Tucka, Calvin Richardson, Pokey Bear, eodis Ealey and J-Wonn. KATRINA WILSON, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200 Blues and southern soul artist J-Wonn will perform as part of the Blues Is Alright Tour at the Crown eatre on Nov. 4. (Photo courtesy J-Wonn) Artist ea Cinnamon poses with her sculpture "George Reeves, Superman, an American Hero." (Photo courtesy Cape Fear Studios)