We continue our look back at ’13 with a list of the people in North Texas arts and culture who helped define the year
Every year, we start thinking not only about the things and events, but the people who helped define the year for us. For good or bad, we will forever equate 2013 with what these North Texans brought to the table.
Mikey Nguyen, cocktail craftsman
The TMC bartender had a banner year — first he won our Readers Voice Award for sexiest bartender, then months later took home the honor as best mixologist in the country for a cocktail conjured for the national competition in Palm Springs. He should celebrate with a drink … We know a good bartender.
Walter Cunningham, the Voice of Oak Lawn
Cunningham has competed often in the Voice of Pride competition, but 2013 was not only his year for that — he won the title in August — but he also stirred theater audiences with a powerful number in the Uptown Players production Songs for a New World and entertains clubgoers weekly as the host (as Jada Foxx) of a karaoke night every Thursday at Woody’s.
Wayne Davis and the Dallas Bears, fur-lanthropists
Under Davis’ leadership, the Dallas Bears continue to break records of community donations thanks to their flagship event, Texas Bear Round Up, including the signature dance party BearDance ($69,000 in 2013, plus another $4K from August’s Teddy Bear Auction). Davis and his gang’s charitable contributions to gay programs even earned them recognition from the 5 Factor in the fall.
Antionett Thomas and Amanda Robinson, role models
A couple who have faced their own hurdles in life, they decided to lead by example with their inaugural Teen Pride event last September, part of the organization Real Live Connection they founded in 2012 to help at-risk youth from across all backgrounds to work together and convince them “It gets better.”
Charles Santos, cat-herder
It’s not enough that Santos’ day job as head of TITAS keeps him traveling the world looking for interesting dance groups to introduce (or bring back) to North Texas, but for the second time in less than two years, he again mounted the AIDS fundraiser called A Gathering, engineering the cooperation of a dozen arts groups with entirely volunteer assistance. The one-night-only event was magical, powerful and technically dazzling.
Blair High, GEAR head
Clocking countless hours at the LGBT community center heading the GEAR program, Blair High spends most of her time making things better for members of the trans community, such as putting together programs like the new legal clinic and scholarships that will offer free hormone treatment to recipients for a year.
Jurni Rayne, noise maker
2013 is the year it Rayne’d. After working the local music scene for years, she found her groove over the last 12 months with new singles, a commission for a movie soundtrack (“What Happens When” for the BET telefilm The Last Fall) and consistent gigs that put her in front of a lot of eyes, including one during Dallas Pride. And she even found time to co-found a new lesbian-run nonprofit The Felicity Project, promoting volunteerism.
Emmanuel Villaume, baton twirler, right
Villaume was already set to conduct Dallas Opera’s season opener of Carmen when it was announced he’d be taking over as only the third music director in the DO’s 50-plus year history. We haven’t seen yet where he’ll lead the group, but if his masterful leading of the orchestra for the Bizet opera is any indication, he’ll set a high bar.
Jeffrey Grove, Dallas Museum of Art’s not-so-secret weapon
2013 was a banner year for Grove: a job change (he’s now senior curator of special projects and research) and co-curated one of the DMA’s most exceptional exhibits in years: The Jim Hodges mid-career retrospective (he even co-authored the insightful and exhaustive catalog accompanying it).
Jim Mitulski, healer-in-chief
After the Rev. Jo Hudson’s controversial departure as senior pastor of Cathedral of Hope, the church’s board undertook a nationwide search for an interim pastor who would help the congregation heal. No matter how people felt about what led up to the resignation, everyone was in agreement that the Rev. Mitulski was a brilliant choice to move the congregation forward in 2013 and restore the faith community to its mission.
Cece Cox, grandest of marshals
The Resource Center stalwart is one of the community’s most visible advocates, so it was not too surprising when she was elected the female Grand Marshal of 2013’s Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. What made it memorable is that the title came a full 18 years over the last time she was named Grand Marshal — and the first person ever to serve in the role twice.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 3, 2014.
