FIRSTLY & FOREMOST
Welcome to the first issue of The Double Scoop, a freeform newsletter where artists use words and pictures to report on the world around them — art, life, ice cream, and all the delicious stuff in between.
This issue, being our very first, is an edition all about firsts!
Anel Jean Baptiste, Jr. serves up his first ever interview with video artist Makiko Wholey. We hear from Melanie Martin about how to celebrate first birthdays. And Jimmy Tucker goes behind the scenes with first-time founders Anna Schechter and Sophia Cosmadopoulos.
We've worked hard to preserve the writers' voices; however, some pieces have been condensed and copy edited for clarity.
Over the next few issues you'll get to know us, The Double Scoop reporting team, in a variety of ways. Firstly and foremost, we’re starting with what’s most important to us!
THE DOUBLE SCOOP TEAM
Everette Ball — Firstly and foremost, I like to draw buildings.
Anel Jean Baptiste, Jr. — Firstly and foremost, I am an animator and like drawing things from the 1980s and drawings that would have existed in the 1980s.
Mary T. Bevlock — Firstly and foremost, I have pizzazz and inspiration.
Heydi De Los Santos — Firstly and foremost, I like drawing, embroidery and photography. I love to be an advocate for people with disabilities that has to do with transportation.
Priscilla Frank — Firstly and foremost, I like grapes, frogs, and fuzz.
Russell Janzen — Firstly and foremost, I want to grow and learn.
Melanie Martin — Firstly and foremost, I have many talents and am a mixed media queen!
Anna Schechter — Firstly and foremost, I'll admit that I love soft serve best.
Jimmy Tucker — Firstly and foremost, I am me.
Larry Willoughby, Jr. — Firstly and foremost, I am an artist and architect. I draw buildings and transportation.
PROFESSIONALLY FANTASTIC
Anel Jean Baptiste, Jr. interviews Makiko Wholey about their shared love of Prince, how art is a place for freedom and what it's like to be "an eighties guy."
Anel: Great to see you!
Makiko: How’s it going?
Anel: Everything’s fine. Everything’s fine Makiko. How’s everything in California?
Makiko: It’s really hot. It’s like 95 degrees.
Anel: Wow. New York might have that probably by next month.
Makiko: Wow!
Anel: Makiko, are you ready for the 5 interview questions about art?
Makiko: I think I am. I hope I am. I hope I have good answers.
Anel: I pray for that too. Should we start with the five questions I’m about to ask you?
Makiko: I’m ready.
Anel: Question number one — what interests you about art?
Makiko: I think what interests me about art is that it’s not something that’s easily categorized, you know? It’s not like science where it’s fact based. I like that it’s subjective. It’s really your vision. Your animations are your vision and what’s more interesting than that, you know? I like expression and I’m really into freedom and I feel as though art is a place for freedom.
Anel: Yup, I may feel the same way too besides that.
Makiko: I think art can capture a certain time really well.
Anel: Yup, any time warp. Like for example different decades and all that stuff.
Makiko: Exactly, you can look at the art from a certain decade and kind of know what was happening then in that decade.
Anel: Yes, exactly. I think that would be enough answer for number 1. Anyways, question number 2 — have you ever been a fan of the 1980s pop culture decade?
Makiko: Yes. (laughs) I love Whitney Houston. I love Prince.
Anel: You bet, Prince is my idol!
Makiko: I’m obsessed with Prince as well.
Anel: In a way he helped me learn how to style my hair just how he does his. Sometimes, he’s my inspiration. He gives me almost an inspirational look, in a way.
Makiko: That’s cool. He didn’t care what people thought about his expression, I guess. He dressed pretty crazy.
Anel: Yeah, but doesn’t he look handsome?
Makiko: Oh yes. He always looked hot.
Anel: Exactly.
Makiko: Have you seen the video where he throws his guitar into the air after he does a solo and it never comes down?
Anel: Yeah (laughs), especially I saw the 1984 movie Purple Rain. It was my favorite in a Press Your Luck era.
Anel: Anyway, have you ever been on art trips before?
Makiko: What do you mean by art trips?
Anel: Like trips mostly about arts and crafts or music or museums?
Makiko: Oh yeah, actually Anna and I went on one before to Maine. We went on a really good art trip together which was really just about traveling and seeing good art, which I do a lot. I like doing that.
Anel: The trip that I want to plan to go is to Gulliver’s Gate. It’s like a building miniature museum in New York.
Makiko: Woah, I love miniatures.
Anel: It’s in Time Square.
Anna: Does Makiko know about your miniature version of the 1980s gas station?
Anel: It’s Texaco and Amico.
Makiko: So it’s from that era and what those gas stations looked like at that time?
Anel: Exactly, around Canarsie. On Remsen Avenue between Ditmas Avenue and Avenue D.
Makiko: How did you find out what it looked like at that time?
Anel: Because I looked at a website based on Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Makiko: That’s really cool. I’d love to see it. I love that kind of research.
Anel: Yeah, I really want to finish it. The sooner I can finish it, the sooner I can earn some (snaps) bucks. I will be filled with praise and I achieved my dream. For example, I almost created my own toy, my building miniature.
Makiko: Yeah, you really want to get back to it.
Anel: Exactly. It’s like imagining myself working at a toy factory trying to make those buildings. (Laughs) Oh yeah, number four. How do you feel when it comes to the gallery called Summertime?
Makiko: How do I feel? Well, I feel very excited about it firstly and foremost. I think it’s awesome. I, of course, love Anna and Sophia a lot. I’m just sad that I haven’t seen it yet. I just really want to see it. I was supposed to come to New York in April or this month and now I still can't’ but I think probably as soon as I can I’m gonna come.
Anel: That’d be nice. And I’d love to see you. I’d be glad to see you.
Makiko: For sure, this year. I’m super excited about it. It’s something that’s been in the works for a really long time and it’s exciting.
Anel: The fifth and last question — do you ever collaborate with other artists before?
Makiko: I have. I make videos sometimes and I collaborate a lot with my friend, her name is Anna also, Anastasia, a different Anna. She’s an animator and we’ve made some videos together. It’s pretty fun. I have ideas but I’m kind of bad of editing on a computer so I need someone who gets what I want to do. That’s what’s cool about collaborating because if you feel like someone understands what your vision is and what you want to do that’s pretty rare so it’s pretty fun to collaborate. Or even me and Anna and Sophia. When you find people who creatively you're talking the same language you can do a lot of cool stuff together.
Anel: Exactly. And maybe if I could join Anna along with you and Sophia that would be, we could do it together. I like to animate, too.
Makiko: Right, it’s like you’re stronger together. You can make something bigger, you can make your bigger dreams come true when you collaborate. Let’s [collaborate]! That would be awesome.
Anel: I can make things move and voice them at the same time and make everything happen.
Makiko: You like to do the voice overs, like different voices?
Anel: For example, I like to do some voices from actors and actresses who I know and some people who I’m with in person sometimes.
Makiko: Oh that’s awesome. You can impersonate them?
Anel: And some cartoon characters as well too.
Makiko: Wow, that’s a good skill.
Anel: For example, the late Michael Vale who used to do the Dunkin Donuts commercial, “Time to make the donuts. Time to make the donuts.” Or maybe Crazy Eddie, who used to say, “It’s Crazy Eddie’s final sale now. Get a new TV or stereo cassette save on Crazy Eddie’s now. Crazy Edie his prices are insaaaaane.” Get it?
Makiko: Totally laughs. I feel like you could do a whole animation off of just that. I like Bloopers shows. Do you like American’s Funniest Video?
Anel: Yeah.
Makiko: It’s post eighties? You’re an eighties guy.
Anel: Yeah exactly.
Makiko: You like the eighties shows which I respect.
Anna: Anel, how did Makiko do?
Anel: She did professionally fantastic.
Makiko: Oh man, thank you. I wish I had more 80s knowledge. I do have artists from the 80s I like a lot.
Anel: It was good to have you with us Makiko. And may god bless you.
Makiko: Thank you Anel, I’m so flattered.
🎉🎂🌈 POPCORN AND CHEESE CURLS: SUMMERTIME TURNS ONE 🍿😎♥️
Melanie Martin gives advice to Anna Schechter over Zoom about Summertime's very first birthday and how to celebrate best.
From Anna to Melanie: (10:11 AM)
Summertime turns one this month. And you Melanie are great at celebrations! What’s your advice for how to best celebrate the artists we work with and Summertime’s first birthday?
From Melanie to Anna: (10:13 AM)
I would say, “look how far you guys have come...and keep doing what you love as talented artists at any age!”❤️😇🎇🙏🏼 I would also say, “let’s take a look back at how the summertime gallery first started back last year!”❤️💛💚💙💜 and it’s not about the corns!
From Melanie to Anna: (10:19 AM)
I would also say, “have another virtual birthday party in celebration!”💝🌈⭐️ think about the foods that you’re gonna eat, and since I like to dance...think about the kind of party music that you’ll be listening to!🎨
From Melanie to Anna: (10:26 AM)
I would recommend having potato chips, pretzels, popcorn and cheese curls...and not to mention some sodas to go along with them!🏖🍟☺💟 I love the lays brands! choose the genre! 🐳🐳 think about the theme, with regards to drawing and writing stories!😎🍭🎀
From Melanie to Anna: (10:35 AM)
my advice is, “to celebrate and to enjoy every day of life...because it goes by very fast!”🎉🤓💙⏳ 😘😘 also, write some well-wishing notes in celebration!🌈☀️💕
From Melanie to Anna: (10:41 AM)
as artists, think about how the future would look like...by writing and drawing about it!✍🏽😀🎇 are we looking forward to many years together?❤️💕
I would hope so, too!🏝🤗💚🎂
🍿🍫🍪🍝
From Melanie Martin to Everyone: (10:47 AM)
as gifted artists...keep dreaming!🙏🏼😉💜⭐️⭐️🍦🍦🍨🍨
IT ALL STARTED WITH A FRENCH FRY
Jimmy Tucker interviews Anna Schechter and Sophia Cosmadopoulos on the beginnings of Summertime, how an artist is an artist and, of course, their love of french fries.
Anna Schechter and Sophia Cosmadopoulos are two nice people. These two people's journey in the art world and passion for helping others would one day lead them into co-founding an art gallery of their own called Summertime. Pretty cool, right? But how did this gallery come to be?
Let's take a trip back to the beginning. Sophia was born in London, England and attended Oberlin College in Ohio. Anna was born in Hartford, Connecticut and attended Bates College in Maine. While in college Sophia began interning at an art studio that supported people with disabilities out in California. This art studio was called Creativity Explored. This internship was perfect for Sophia because she had a passion for art ever since she was a kid.
In 2006, Sophia decided to move to New York City but little did she know that five years later her future art buddie and co-founder of Summertime would arrive on the scene. While still in Maine, Anna, who also as a child had a passion for art, decided to work at an art studio for artists with disabilities. In 2011, Anna moved to New York city to study to obtain her Master's degree. While studying in graduate school Anna was also interning at YAI Young Adult Institute for people with disabilities in the Hankering For More program which supports adults in making friends. Even though Anna was so busy with school and her internship she began to once again crave the imagination that art has to offer.
Anna wanted to get back in the art world so she decided to reach out to art studios in New York. By Google searching Anna came across an art studio called Pure Vision Arts, a program that supports adults with disabilities in Manhattan. While getting more information on Pure Vision, Anna was put in touch with then none other than Sophia who at the time was working at Pure Vision Arts. After meeting each other these two’s chemistry was strong from the start.
Anna and Sophia decided to work together on two art exhibitions that would feature artists from various art studios. The first exhibition was called Any Color You Like which was shown in 2014 and featured artists from Pure Vision and was curated by Anna, Sophia, and Makiko Wholey. The second exhibition was featured in 2016 also curated by Anna and Sophia and featured artists from Land Gallery, Center for Creative Works, and YAI Arts. By 2015, Anna had been fully employed at YAI in the Hankering For More program and that same year decided to join YAI Arts as an Artist Mentor. Having established a bond with Sophia, Anna called up Sophia and asked if she would like to be an Artist Mentor too at YAI Arts which she happily accepted. Sophia's addition to YAI Arts was awesome because not only is she cool to be around but her experiences working in numerous art studios throughout the country was very interesting.
At the time Sophia was not only working at YAI Arts but she was working full time as an Artist Mentor with Land Gallery out in Brooklyn. For the next two years Anna and Sophia along with other YAI Arts mentors, Eva Nikolva and Izzy Garcia Citron, helped YAI artists by providing helpful feedback on their art, providing art workshops, trips to art museums, and helping to put together many art exhibitions such as American Cheese at Sothebys in 2017 and Dear Mr President at MoMA also in 2017. These two women had a deep passion for the arts and supporting artists with their art and yet Sophia said to herself, "how can I contribute more in the art community and how can I support adults with disabilities more with their art?" These ideas Sophia had would eventually become Summertime.
The idea of Summertime came about over a plate of french fries. In 2014, while eating said fries with Anna and their old friend Makiko, Sophia told them how she always wanted to start her own art studio and how there needed to be more art studios that provided space for people with and without disabilities. A neutral space where an artist is an artist. Anna and Sophia were very excited about this idea coming into the light. This idea would eventually come into the light in the beginning of 2019 when Sophia said it was time to pursue her dream and started the steps to get the art studio. She said it was time to do the damn thing! Anna was all on board for this project and Makiko moved to Los Angeles, California but still remains in touch with Anna and Sophia. To pursue their dream Anna and Sophia started the paperwork process to become an official non profit organization. May of 2019 Summertime was born.
Upon getting Summertime Gallery Sophia says, "It felt exciting. It was something I talked about for so long and finally it was happening." Anna says she “was thrilled and a healthy amount of terrified.” She also says, “It was a pinch me moment where I couldn't believe it was happening."
Summertime is thriving even during these tragic scary times and they are making the best of it in this scary world today. Anna and Sophia finished out 2019 with an exhibition called Footnote and in 2020 was able to raise enough money to turn Summertime into an artist program and residence that would support artists with and without disabilities in a united group and provide day to day studio space for artists who want it. Just recently Becca Blackwell became Summertime’s first artist to use the art studio as a day to day residence to pursue their artwork.
Even though Anna and Sophia are busy with Summertime many of us who had the honor and pleasure to spend time with them will mention Anna's bubbly cheerful smiling personality and Sophia's cool upbeat mellow.
As an artist with YAI Arts who knows Anna and Sophia well I can honestly say these two ladies are truly nice cool people. These two will always be a part of the art studios they spent so much time at and helped to contribute so much support for artists with disabilities.
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DRAWING CREDITS
The Double Scoop Logo, Everette Ball
Anel Interivews Makiko, Anel Jean Baptiste, Jr.
Prince's Purple Rain's Rock Trio, Anel Jean Baptiste, Jr.
Birthday Cake, Mary T. Bevlock
Celebrating, Larry Willoughby
Popcorn, Melanie Martin
Becca Blackwell, Mary T. Bevlock
Ice Cream Cone, Everette Ball