Val Cavalheri - Centreville Spy

Mid-Shore Arts: Something a Little Off the Menu at OOTF

August 16, 2023 by Val Cavalheri Leave a Comment

Gail Patterson is not a typical doctor, just as Out of the Fire is not your typical local restaurant. What these two have in common, though, is what makes them so unique. And it’s a pairing worth exploring.

First, the doctor: Patterson is a year away from retirement after a long and distinguished career as an anesthesiologist. Beyond her regular responsibilities, Patterson devoted more than two decades to volunteering in low- and middle-income countries, providing anesthesia and medical relief. Her global travels, undertaken alongside her profound commitment to her profession, led her to amass an impressive art collection, primarily focusing on Haitian and African pieces.

Gail Patterson

“There was war, poverty, and degradation all over the world,” she said. ‘But the opposite of that was not peace and contentment. It was creation. Art seemed to be the most hopeful and powerful – the opposite of soul-crushing.”

It became something Patterson knew she wanted to share with others.

Holly Jackson

In 2012, Patterson established her online gallery, Spiralis, and was accepted into prestigious art fairs such as Art Basel in Miami and the Outsider Art Fair in New York City (‘the’ premier fair dedicated to self-taught art). “I was very lucky,” she said about being selected so early on in her new endeavor. But running an art gallery while working 80+ hours a week in ORs soon became an overwhelming challenge. Although she continued to collect art, she temporarily put her gallery idea aside until it could be a full-time pursuit.

With her retirement around the corner, Patterson is now ready.

As before, Spiralis focuses on Afro-Caribbean works and ‘outsider’ self-taught artists. “I’ve always felt that there’s something special about self-taught, honest art, without the confines and conventions of classical art teaching. It is just something that comes out of an artist’s soul and has to go into the world,” said Patterson.

Enter Out of the Fire, known for its wood-fired cuisine, fresh ingredients, curated wine list, and welcoming atmosphere. Its walls have also served as a canvas for local artists to exhibit their artwork and for diners to experience while enjoying their food. Patterson, a long-time customer of the establishment, had always appreciated the ever-changing art, which brought “new and vibrant energy to the restaurant.”

It was restaurant owner Amy Haines who suggested a collaboration—given that Spiralis Gallery didn’t yet have space in Easton, how about doing something at Out of the Fire? Patterson invited Hines to view her collection, and that made it happen for both. “When I saw her art work, I was immediately taken by it and thought this could be really powerful,” Hines said, adding: “This is the first time I’ve hosted a gallery and have had art done by other than local artists.”

The collaboration works. “Amy has been lovely and incredibly kind. She’s deeply supportive,” said Patterson.” And that support has extended to patrons of both art and the restaurant. Patterson was gratified and surprised at the sizable crowd attending the opening night of the Out of the Fire Spiralis exhibition, titled Things Fall Together. Word-of-mouth has further fueled interest since then.

Running through October 1st, the exhibition features works by Haitian artist Mireille Delice who incorporates sequins and beads in his designs; Haitian impressionist Desarmes; oil painter Gerard; Liberian artist Leslie Lumeh; ONEL (aka Lionel Paul), whose work is highlighted on the postcard; and others.

The display also showcases pieces by local creators represented by Patterson, including Holly Jackson, a young fiber artist who uses centuries-old embroidery techniques to address modern issues such as climate change and women’s rights. Their partnership surprised Jackson: “When you are self-taught and make something really different, the gallery route usually seems reserved for those with formal art school education. But with Gail’s selection of artists, there is a shared commonality that I can’t name, but it’s there. There is also a message that she wants to make it easier for me to continue to do exactly what I’ve been doing and it feels right.”

But it is not only the artist whose lives Patterson wants to touch or change through the works she chooses for her gallery. “I want to be able to spark meaningful conversations through story-driven art,” she says. “You can love, hate, understand, or not get it at all, just so it starts a human conversation.” She also hopes to build connections with underserved groups in Easton, including the local Haitian population, by teaming up with Chesapeake Multicultural Center. “I would like to create some community where maybe none exists.” Lastly, she hopes the gallery can be a spiritual experience, echoing the sentiments expressed in a quote by Haitian artist Denis Smith (translated from Creole): “It’s not really me that travels the world. It’s my spirit through my artwork.”

For now, these and other spirits can be seen either at Out of the Fire or on the Spiralis website. There you will also find some helpful features, including ‘View it in a Room,’ where you can visualize a piece you’re interested in above a bed or bench or an augmented reality function that allows you to project the art onto a wall in your home. And that’s important for Patterson, who emphasizes the sensory and organic nature of art appreciation: “Art is an experience that should bring joy and connection.”

Patterson is grateful that Easton, including the art community, has been receptive and welcoming, and she looks forward to bringing some new voices into the Easton art scene. She may be retiring from medicine, but her next chapter is just beginning.

Spiralis Gallery: https://spiralisgallery.com

Out of the Fire: 111 South Washington St., Easton, MD. https://www.outofthefire.com

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Dream to Reality: How Daniel Meeks Built a Gaming Haven in Centreville

August 8, 2023 by Val Cavalheri Leave a Comment

Since he was a child, Daniel Meeks was positive he’d one day own a game store. In fact, that’s what he told his parents the first time he stepped into one when he was only seven years old. ‘Don’t worry,’ they told him, ‘you’ll have plenty of time to find something better.’ But Meeks never let go of the dream, and gaming continued to be important to him as he grew up. “It helped me communicate, make friends, and gave me an outlet to learn and grow,” he said. Besides, there were no gaming stores around Centreville, and Meeks figured they could use one.

Daniel Meeks – Owner Central Gaming Corps

And so it came to pass that Central Gaming Corps (CGC) became a reality for this 20-something-year-old entrepreneur. But it happened at an inopportune time–28 days before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread shutdowns. Meeks recalled, “It was definitely a blow to be told, ‘Hey, go ahead and close down’ right after starting.” Luckily, he still had some funds left from his business loan, which provided a small safety net.

The mandatory closure was difficult, but the unanticipated challenge also brought Meeks an unexpected benefit as he watched the community rallying around his store, supporting the new business. “We got phone calls every day,” he said, “asking if I had puzzles or games they could buy. I would happily take their order and drive to their homes to drop them off.”

The store is everything Meeks, now 31 years old, wanted and yet totally different from what one expects from a gaming shop. That’s because, In a refreshing twist, they don’t sell anything electronic. “When people hear game stores, they immediately think of video games. But we literally encourage people to come and get unplugged.”

To help achieve that, CGC offers an extensive selection of traditional tabletop games, all set in an inviting retail space. So, whether someone is looking for board games, card games, party games, roleplaying, or war games, they will likely find it here. “We encourage people to come in, hang out, and discover something new that they’ve never seen or played before,” Meeks said.”

In a move to lure gaming enthusiasts to his store, Meeks organizes frequent gaming events. He’s even hosted acclaimed voice actors, Steve Blum and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. During her visit, McGlynn hailed CGC as ‘the best game store on the Eastern Shore.’ The Eastern Shore probably agrees. At a 24-hour sale event, he held last year, he had almost 200 people in line. This year he anticipates doubling that number.

With globenewswire.com estimating that the “global tabletop gaming industry will reach $12 billion by the end of 2023,” it is not surprising that CGC is seeing such a positive response. The popularity of gaming bars and cafes is a phenomenon being seen worldwide. Not only do they provide a platform for connection by both adults and children, but they also offer customers the chance to discover new games.

All of this is precisely what Meeks had intended: making gaming a hobby accessible to all ages and interests. “I want to prove that anybody can game. I don’t care if you’re four years old and just learning to read or 90 years old and want something to bond over with your grandchildren or great-grandchildren. I genuinely want everyone to realize that this is something everyone can enjoy.” To ensure that commitment, he stocks a selection of games that are incredibly user-friendly. “I have games I can teach you to play in under 30 seconds, and where you’ll be a master in 60 seconds. Some of them don’t even require the ability to read,” he said.

As for customer favorites, Meeks says, “We sell a lot of trading card games such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. Board game bestsellers include Catch the Moon, a stacking game appropriate for all ages, and Avalon, a strategy game he says, ‘is as complicated as chess, but easier to learn than checkers.” One of Meeks’ favorites is Monolyth, a puzzle game where players draft pieces to build a three-dimensional cube.

In addition to the wide selection of games, CGC is known for its commitment to the community. Beyond the store’s day-to-day operations, CGC actively engages with various local events and organizations. From sponsoring family game nights to supporting school fundraisers, Meeks is prominent in the town’s community-oriented initiatives.

There is a good reason for this wholehearted engagement: his roots on the Eastern Shore are long, dating back 14 generations. It even includes a relative who was a signer of the Charter of the Town of Chestertown. Meeks grew up, studied, spent time on the water, and worked around the area. It’s no surprise that he wants to give back to a town that has been supportive and enthusiastic about him and now his store. “Centreville is amazing, and there are so many opportunities here,” he said, crediting the town’s representatives and Carol D’Agostino, who is in charge of Centreville Main Street, for their assistance. “Carol pulled me aside when we first met and advised me how the town could help. Anytime I’ve had a crazy idea for an event, she’s been 100% behind me, guiding me.”

A regular customer of the store, Noah Farris, said: “Daniel’s success in building his business lies mostly in his drive to create a place for people to enjoy and find an outlet for their passions coupled with his desire to give back to the town in which he grew up.”

That sentiment is exactly what Meeks hopes to convey to others. Because to him, Central Gaming Corps is more than just a business; it expresses the positive impact gaming has had on his life. “Gaming literally saved my life,” he said. “It gave me a support system and taught me how to make compromises and be a better human in everything from sportsmanship to humility. It helped me analyze my decisions and lose my impulsivity.” He attributes his business acumen to the insights he accumulated from his gaming experiences. “This knowledge reinforces my belief that I’m on the right path, even in moments of self-doubt,” he said.

Despite this occasional doubt, he is a role model for others. Jackie Marie Royer, a Chemistry Account Manager who has known Meeks since they were teens, said, “On the Eastern Shore, new businesses are popping up every day, but most of the time, they’re attached to well-established groups or by people who have a lot of money. Seeing someone I grew up with, someone I know wasn’t from a wealthy family, accomplish it and thrive was inspiring. As a millennial, it always feels like our options are limited in what we can do, but Daniel was determined and just went out there and accomplished the dream!”

So, for now, Meeks is content to pay off any debt he has acquired from starting the business. After that, he’s open to exploring expansion possibilities. This could mean moving to a larger location in Centreville, opening a second store, or hiring employees to help manage the growing demands.

But even if he never expands, Meeks is already making a difference in Centreville. He provides a space for people of all ages to come together and enjoy gaming while fostering community ties. That’s quite an impact for a young entrepreneur who never gave up on his dreams.

Central Gaming Corps is located at 2478 Centreville Rd # C, Centreville, MD 21617. For hours, events, and game availability go to: https://centralgamingcorps.com/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Dream to Reality: How Daniel Meeks Built a Gaming Haven in Centreville

August 7, 2023 by Val Cavalheri 2 Comments

Daniel Meeks – Owner Central Gaming Corps

Central Gaming Corps is located at 2478 Centreville Rd # C, Centreville, MD 21617. For hours, events, and game availability go to: https://centralgamingcorps.com/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy Profile: Behind the Brussel Sprouts with Lynn Sanchez

May 24, 2023 by Val Cavalheri Leave a Comment

“Trust the journey and enjoy the detours.” That’s not the typical advice associated with parenting, but it’s one that Lynn Sanchez preaches. Author of the light-hearted and practical guide for parents (and grandparents) Behind the Brussel Sprouts: Why YOU Have What It Takes to Be the Best Parent for Your Child, Sanchez draws on her 50 years of experience as both a parent and as an early childhood educator to help guide mothers and fathers through the challenging, messy, often scary, and rewarding experiences of child-rearing.

Based on 30 years of notes Sanchez kept while raising her three boys, the book was written, she said, to help parents relax and enjoy the experience of parenting, something she had not always been able to do. “In the book, I described myself as more than just a helicopter parent; I was a hovercraft! Since I majored in child development and worked in that field, I considered myself a professional parent and put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself. But there were also a lot of lessons I learned along the way that I wanted to share.”

Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, Sanchez moved 11 times by the time she became a teen. As an only child, her parents were committed to not raising a spoiled child. “They were very, very, very strict,” she said. Despite all that, by the time Sanchez started college, children were her focus, and she earned a degree in Child Development and then a Master’s in Education. She worked in the psychiatric and educational field for some years before moving to the Eastern Shore, where she taught preschool and was an assistant professor at Chesapeake College. However, her association with noted author and pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and his ‘Touchpoint’ theory of child development helped cultivate and solidify her ideas as she created this parental guide.

The 127-page book contains twelve chapters (and two fun appendices), real-life memories, and quotable quotes that cover a variety of innovative solutions to challenging parenting situations, being also mindful that a one-size-fits-all approach may not necessarily work. Sanchez, however, is quick to point out that this is not a ‘how-to’ but a ‘what-if’ book. What if, she says, you acknowledge instead of praise, guide instead of discipline, or create logical consequences.

Some solutions, Sanchez reflects, are simpler than others. For instance, the value of how changing one word in a sentence turns a bribe or a threat into an agreement., “A bribe goes like this,” she says, “‘If you eat your dinner, you get dessert,’ Instead say, ‘When dinner is finished, dessert will be served.’ That’s an agreement. That helps a child make a choice.”

As her children grew, these choices became written and signed contracts in the Sanchez family. Did it work? “My children never broke a contract,” she said. “And trust me, I had kids who could work a system like you’ve never seen. The contract helped me remember what I had asked of them, and they remembered what they agreed to. It was right there in black and white on the refrigerator door.”

Sanchez also discusses the importance of parental collaboration. Raising three boys born within a four-and-a-half-year span and supporting husband, Rob Sanchez, through the challenges of med school, the couple instituted ‘catch-up calls.’ “It was important that Rob did not walk in the door being bombarded by three humans,” she said. “So I would call him before he came home and tell him what was going on with the kids—from who was spending the night somewhere else to who didn’t do well in math. When he walked in, he already knew the lay of the land.”

The end of the evening after the kids were in bed was ‘we time’ an opportunity to nurture the grown-up relationship between the couple. “He didn’t talk about work, and I didn’t complain about the children.” (Although their children are grown and work is no longer as intrusive, the Sanchez’, after 53 years of marriage, still keep up with this tradition.)

That same one-on-one connection was also established between Rob and the children. Calling it their ‘monthly adventure,’ Rob would pick one Saturday a month to spend individually with each child. Explained Sanchez, “The boys could choose to do whatever they wanted on their ‘date’ with Dad. No matter how long he was gone, when he was with them, he was there 100%.”

These parenting insights have been transmitted into another one of Sanchez’s talents, her deep involvement in the Tred Avon Players (TAP) theater scene. Here she can be seen bringing her characters to life on stage by integrating her unique perspective on empathy, communication, and creative problem-solving.

Sanchez continues to work on getting her message across. She is on the board at Critchlow Adkins, works with For All Seasons ‘whenever she is needed,’ and she and Rob are an integral part of Talbot Hospice Child Loss Support Group, an organization they helped start after the death of their son, Rion. Her current emphasis is creating collaborative efforts with her connections to deal with the rise in children’s mental health issues.

That is why Easton’s For All Seasons partnered with Sanchez to launch and make available her book to the community (and beyond). President and CEO Beth Anne (Langrell) Dorman has written a forward to the book praising Sanchez for her ‘moments of wisdom, ’remembering how she, too, had relied on Sanchez’s advice in raising her children.

The book, of course, is more than just advice; it’s a refreshing perspective for parents who are uneasy or overwhelmed in their role. It’s also an assurance and constant reminder that although they may not be aware of it, parents have what it takes to guide their children to joy and strength.

“Trust the journey and enjoy the detours,” Sanchez will tell you. It’s the time together on the trip, not the destination, that makes lasting memories.

As to why it’s named, Behind the Brussel Sprouts, you’ll just have to read the book and find out.

For information about Behind the Brussels Sprouts, contact Lynn Sanchez at [email protected]. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

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