Mississippi Embayment Art Encounter

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Mississippi Embayment Art Encounter

It was difficult to leave the comfort of the shores of the Gulf behind, but it had to be done. No time remained to linger. Eight and half hours of driving demanded attention to an early departure, with very little time afforded for distractions along the way. Indeed, the first photographic opportunity of the day occurred over 700 km away from the point of beginning, at the Tennessee Welcome Center in Memphis. Focus on reaching the intended destination before dark was that sincere. The interstate proved unavoidable in this quest, but was only offered limited interest.

Perfectly aligned to schedule, dinner at the Blue City Cafe on Beale Street followed shortly thereafter. Ribs and catfish rewarded a growing appetite that had only quieted earlier through small snacks and a couple of light meals. With time on our side, a bit of wandering Beale Street offered a welcome. Littering the district were a variety of guitar replicas from Gibson, each painted by a Memphis artist and signed by a Memphis celebrity, celebrating the unique art and music contributions in the city. It is a trend across the nation these days. The first instance of this from memory were the Kansas City cows, but there might have been some before that. Regardless, it enabled the perfect, if only momentary, distraction from the road.

Only a short hour or so from Memphis., along the southern edge of the Ozark plateau, Walnut Ridge hosted arrangements for the evening. Arrival worked out as planned, with enough remaining light to have a glance around the immediate vicinity. The litter of graffiti that welcomed our crew had peaked a certain level of curiosity, in spite of hours on the road. Eventually, that and the heat that lingered in the air encouraged plush lounging about in quarters for the remainder of the evening.

The hotel has a reputation for determinations such as that. The original purpose was to make the location famous for service and hospitality, offering hot and cold running water, steam heat, electric lights, and two water closets! Completed in 1904, Hotel Rhea became the centerpiece of the town. The original burned to the ground in 1914 and only small remnant stands today, but it continues to honor the original character of the establishment.