The Starvy Awards in Nashville
by John Gosslee
 (with photos* by the author)

A crowd of four hundred attended the event at the Belcourt Theater on February 21, an increase over 2001, the first year of the awards. Out front, everyone sat anticipating Greta Gaines's compelling stage presence. Backstage, restaurant owners, musicians, and the venue performers were well provided for, and had a good time laughing, drinking, eating, and socializing.


Kim The first act up was Kim's Fable, playing a Concrete Blonde cover and an original song. Eight Piece Dulcimer (EPD) had been reduced to three dulcimers and a guitar, but the audience was not disappointed, and cheered them on through three songs. EPD


J.IvyCrew

The main act for the evening was J. Ivy and crew. They came to town for the event as did Gaines and the Roostars. Earlier this year, J. Ivy and crew played a three-day BET festival in Jamaica to sell-out crowds. Everyone at the Starvys dug their soul poet music and rap-like spoken word.




The entertainment segment finished around 8:30. Gaines and Lance Smith then took the stage and announced the award winners in thirteen categories:

Gaines

Painting: Kevin Sullivan
Fashion: Angela Keslar
Illustration: Roger Walker
Mixed Media: Torn White
Image Manipulation:
Brad Smith
Sculpture: Greg Phillipy
Writing: Lindsey Key

Poetry: Kenneth Robinson
Film: Alan McKenna
Photography: Emily Parker
Music, Female: Clare Burson
Music, Male: Justin Thompson
Music, Band:
Here Come The Mummies

Some winners were not present. It was humorous to see those who were walk out on stage and be handed an [empty] glass [plate] (with a logo on it), but some of them could be household names one day—and eat well.

Mitchell L.Smith

There was a lot of talk about having the Starvys air on television next year. "It would be great if we could pull that off. Maybe then more communities would recognize their artists," Mitchell said. Whether televised or not, the 2002 Starvys held promise for continued growth and notoriety in the years to come.

 (*Photos: Kim of Kim's Fable, EPD on stage, J. Ivy and crew, Greta Gaines,Trey Mitchell and [ ] Williams (coordinator), Lance Smith (opposite).)