Event + Design + Organizations

What’s Starkville D.I.Y?

A D.I.Y. music + art scene is a subculture that involves smaller artists performing in unconventional spaces and doing everything themselves.
My friends Lishman Heathcock, Max Hyche, and Josh Whitfield nurtured our local scene a few years ago, turning it into a real-deal non-profit.

I’ve helped pour into it through art, planning events, and generally enjoying the space.

Starkville D.I.Y. isn’t just us, though. It’s a living organism that involves the community.

Fliers for Events, Organizations, and Shows

Mock Up Poster
Cover Art by Neely Jenkins
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Improvisation Night
On September 29, 2023 - Josh Whitfield of Starkville D.I.Y. at the time, organized Improv Night. It was a night that featured multiple Improv acts, from an unusual yet intriguing comedy set at the beginning by Ryan Bergman and David Hintz, which was followed by live audio and visual coding from Aubrey Pohl alongside the band Parrot Weather. I closed the night off by live painting for something like an hour, though we were all subjected to the time-warp. I was able to collaborate alongside one of my favorite local artists, Cicadas, which are a duo that plays original instrumental music.

After watching the other acts, I was getting ready for my set. I had a blank canvas, and I was planning to wing it. I started by taking off my shoes, a way to ground myself and set the stage for an open, collaborative, and creative experience. It was an exercise in social guidance, in being on the edge of the moment with a group of people. The goal was to highlight the act of creation in the moment, the thinking.

Halfway through, I hadn’t turned around, trying to keep pace with the time. I thought most of the audience would have left by then, but to my surprise, there were still maybe 50 people watching. Some were sitting crisscross on the floor, staring up at my piece and the band. With little to no distractions, everyone was experiencing this moment with me—and with us. It was one of my best experiences with DIY, and one of my best performances. Creating the scene in the moment contributed to a simple yet profound human experience: sharing an innocent moment of curiosity and connection with others.

Poetry Night

Poetry Night was an event I booked alongside Max Hyche that celebrated the works of local poets. We set the chairs up in a giant circle, decorating the space Arts Council space like a living room. Lamps, mismatched and colored chairs surrounded a center circle where the artist could stand and perform their work if they chose. Some opted to stay seated, to perform from inside the crowd. I enjoy hearing from artists and writers who we don’t frequently hear from, and we tried to showcase as many of these as we could. We were also fortunate to hear from our regularly sharing poets.
To this very day, we can not seem to locate a single photo from this night, which might speak to its sanctity, earnesty, and epicness that transpired. You will have to take my word for it, that it was quite wonderful to experience the words of these writers.

But, if you do possess a photo, pleaaseee email me.

Vending
I have had countless vending experiences over the past 5 years, both related to Starkville D.I.Y. and not. My vending experience began at the Missisippi Maker’s Fest, when I was invited subsequently due to my work on the official festival poster.

This experience introduced me to the world of vending just as I was beginning my freshman year in Starkville. When I first moved here, I was nervous but eager to find a way to officially join the art scene. The Midnight Bizarre, an event organized by Lily and Taylor, was the first event I got involved with. I offered to design a t-shirt that captured the essence of the bizarre experience. I ended up attending two Midnight Bizarres before they graduated and took their passion project with them! Those events proved yet again that students had a significant impact in Starkville, as they drew huge crowds for the music and art, and the experience was a major boost for my personal art as well. Since then, I’ve vended at countless venues and have loved sharing my work with the people of Mississippi.

Live Painting

Live Painting photos are being uploaded.

Michael Cera Palin

Michael Cera Palin We had a turnout of 300 attendees that night at the Starkville Arts Council + Proof Bakery. At the same time, we also hosted an Art Market in the front of the building, featuring approximately 20 vendors, which I primarily oversaw.

Neuroscience Club at Mississippi State University

As a sophomore at Mississippi State University, I founded the Neuroscience Club organization. Upon arriving at MSU, I had limited knowledge of both academia and the intricacies of neuroscience. When I searched for terms like 'brain' or 'neuroscience' on the university’s platforms, I found little information. Eventually, I discovered that neuroscience was present, though not always labeled as such. This realization inspired me to establish the club, and through this process, I was able to deepen my understanding of the field. The club quickly grew to over 200 members and hosted a range of events, most notably two brain dissections. We also organized numerous outreach activities and provided opportunities to examine genuine neurons under the microscope. The club has become a unifying force for all neuroscience-related initiatives on campus, fostering growth in the field and playing a key role in the establishment of the university’s first official neuroscience minor.

As the president, I placed a priority in making our advertisement interesting. Myself and Gabriella Sutherland, Artist and President of Arts & Letters, work on creating all the club graphics ourselves.

Myself with fellow Executive officers, Emma and James.

Neurons Under the Microscope

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