‘Arts’ Archives
POETRY: Kiziah’s Story
for Mom PART I/II By SHELIA BLAND We gave up a relativeTo the status quoNot voluntarily, of course --When you say “we” what do you mean, exactly? Well, I wasn’t there.No one was there really.We aren’t guilty in that sense. --Then what are we talking about? We are not guiltyNone the less, we are all responsible --All responsible? Yes, all responsible. --But no one can give testimony, becauseno one was there… We cannot give testimony, no.But we must bear witness… It was sometimeOne timeAnytime.In any case, it was a past event.Yesterday—Last year—Last century…. Yet, I can assure youIt happened. We were rule followersWe got alongWe got ahead This was trueYesterday—Last year—Last century. We were not of the one percentBarely of the ninety-nine percent—More like the zero percent.This was trueYesterday—Last year—Last century. We were the servantsWe were the sharecroppersWe were the enslaved We were the prep [...]
Backrooms
from the series Movie Corner... 5/5 Stars 2026Horror/Psychological Thriller/Supernatural HorrorA24 By HOWARD MCQUITTER II Howard McQuitter II One says there is no shortage of horror or psychological thriller films in recent years. Just in the last four or five weeks two very good to excellent horror films have come to theaters: Obsession and Backrooms. This review will be on the latter. Backrooms is receiving tremendous buzz and deservedly so, with its ability to put the unknown, the unfamiliar, and the uncanny into the heads of the viewers. Behind this project is 20-year-old director Kane Parsons who provides his audiences with anxiety and mystery. Backrooms is a stupendous A24 studios project. The setting is the 1990s and focuses on Clark, the owner of a furniture store who is an alcoholic going through a recent separation from his wife. To his surprise (and ours too) he enters into a strange realm of seemingly never-ending office rooms which are often empty [...]
Portrait of Paula Williamson, Longtime Phillips Resident
This portrait was recently drawn by a six-year-old Phillips neighbor while she was visiting Paula. Very apt as Paula was a photographer for the alley at one time. Remarkably, the artist drew this portrait on Paula’s phone with her finger while navigating a new-to-her app. (We are withholding the artist’s name due to her young age.) The young first grader is remarkable for other attributes as well. She writes stories, paints pictures, loves talking with people, is exceptionally polite and patient. Truly a charming neighbor! We hope she will share more art work and some of her stories with the alley.
