Sherika Norris (sheunorr@mars.utm.edu) from 10.100.5.53 at 10/31/01 12:42AM
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    How The South Festival Exhibit Compares to Living in the South The paintings from the South Festival Exhibit correspond well with the tradional lives of most Southerns. Majority of the paintings illustrated the South’s spirituality, social gatherings, and soul cooking. I have been living in the South my entire, and I quote Alice in Wonderland when I say, ‘’There is no place like home.’’ I was brought up in an environment where the entire neighborhood raised a child. Many Southerns can relate to when you did something bad and your mom wasn’t around, whatever adult saw you told her or worst spanked your behind and then told on you. Thus, these actions kept you disciplined and respectful. The Southern Festival Exhibit ties all these upbringing and morals into developing some realistic and relative paintings. For example, Church reminded me of the times when your parents made you attend church for choir rehearsals, bible study, pray meetings, then Sunday services. Then I started to visualize my preacher at the altar with his microphone preaching about the goodness of God, and the church worshiping the Lord by giving their praises. Also, the church was shaped like a home, and I believe that symbolizes the comparison between a Southern home with a church. Many of the painting showed Southern families working and uniting together. One of the most important means of relating with each other was to communicate. For example, a gang of people would sit out on their porches from sunrise to sunfall holding friendly conversations, playing dominos, and drinking kool-aid. This typically brings the neighborhoods more closer and affectionate with each other. There’s nothing better than some good, old soul food-cooking. They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so if you’re in search for a husband you might want to develop some good southern cooking techniques. During my childhood, I really didn’t have many luxurious things to look forward to, but when it came to eating some delicious home-cooking food I felt like a million dollars. Living in the South has been a pleasure for me. It taught me how to become independence, responsible, and mandible. If anyone observes the painting from the Southern Festival Exhibit should comprehend with its history, or if you are Southern this should remind you of its influential affect on your life.