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Be Wowed By “Artpreneur” Kris Manning And Her Lion Made Of Pop-Tops

August 2020

WRITER: Helen Mitternight, CHARLESTON MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter Finger Photo

Kris Manning wasn’t supposed to be living with a lion, but she is. It’s not real, of course. This big cat is made of 24,628 pop-tops, yet it demands just as much awe as any real-life king of beasts would. The creature was commissioned by an admirer of this artist and musician before the pandemic changed everything, and the lion found himself looking for a home. For now, Manning has added him to the growing “menagerie” of mythical creatures she’s creating, including a mule deer made from thousands of toothpicks.

Manning, who calls herself an “artpreneur,” has made her mark in both music and art. As “that girl drummer,” she’s appeared all over the country, as well as Vienna and Russia, playing with John Beck and other Percussive Arts Society delegates and, in Charleston, for the traveling Broadway hit, Beautiful: the Carole King Musical. As an instructor, she’s imparted her love of rhythm to children through The Black Tie Music Academy, which she co-owns with Braeden Kershner, and the nonprofit, The Music Battery. As a visual artist, she’s a founding member and past president of the Art Guild of Daniel Island, and since 2013, she has provided both music and art during the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Being an artist sometimes requires a sense of humor, as demonstrated by a paper mâché dragon, made of the hundreds of rejection letters she’s received over the years, that hung in the Charleston Music Hall for a while. But for Manning, the work fuels her and not even a pandemic can stop her from creating.

Her Own Beat: In seventh grade, I wanted to be in band, and they said, "Here’s a flute." I saw 30 girls with flutes, and I said, “I’d like to play something louder please!” I played the xylophone, but no one let me near a drum set until I graduated from college. It took me a while to learn how to play it properly. But I love rocking out with an amazing bass player, guitarist, and singer. I can’t do that now, so it’s really tough. My family doesn’t want to hear me banging away on the drum set by myself!

Charleston’s Draw: There was a massive snowstorm in Connecticut. It was snowing for two weeks, and I had little kids at home. I looked at my husband and said, “Enjoy this. This is our last New England winter.” It happened to be at the end of the Wine + Food festival here, and I was producing a wine festival in Connecticut, so I bought a ticket. It was magical and exciting and powerful. The three things that light me up are food, art, and music, and this was the mecca of all that. I told my husband, “Well, I am going to move there. I hope you come with me!”

Artful Life: When I graduated with a percussion degree, I realized there were not a lot of jobs for female percussionists, so I migrated into the corporate world, and I learned all kinds of interesting things about marketing and business that I use. But when I arrived here 10 years ago, I thought, “Nobody knows I am a serious businesswoman with heels and hose. I could be anyone I want to be. It’s like I’m in the witness relocation program.” I thought I could be a cool musician again. And then with the creative energy of the music, I thought I could do anything. I could be an artist. My husband thought I was going through a midlife crisis when I bought canvas and paint.

Music Teacher: This is kind of a devastating time. If we had talked in March, I would have told you the Black Tie Music Academy had 10 locations, and we offer music and art lessons for anyone. But now, with COVID-19, I have to announce that we are closing all 10 locations. As cases rise in the state, we realize it doesn’t make sense for children to be gathered en masse for the next six to 12 months. 

Drum Major: The Music Battery is a nonprofit after-school program. We have kids who are at risk, and they come and participate in a drum line that is 100 percent free to them. It builds camaraderie and skills, where the kids understand they are part of something bigger than themselves. They do homework and calisthenics and then they drum. If they misbehave, they have to play a bucket instead, and they have to earn their drum back. Right now, the program is on hold because of the pandemic.

Surviving the Pandemic: I have some whimsical animal paintings in the Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan’s, and I made some pillows with my pen-and-ink drawings that included 18 places of worship for Charleston’s 350th anniversary. I’ve been spending the time on collaborations. I participated in a fundraiser for Feed the Need, which raised more than $66,000, and worked on a [theatrical] project with Jonathan Green called Osceola’s Museabout the Seminoles on Sullivan’s Island. I just finished a project doing miniature murals with local artist Ken Hamilton. And, with my love of food, I’m working with watercolor artist Barbara Meierhusby to create a cookbook, mainly for my boys so they have something to preserve our recipes. Braeden and I have moved to consulting, and we’re speaking with the State Department of Education to offer support in fine arts—online or in person. It will be like the phoenix rising from the ashes.

Not Your Mother’s Cookbook

BY:HEATHER MACQUEEN JONES, The Daniel Island News, Wed, 09/29/2021

Simultaneously funny, stunning and informative is not a review most folks can offer a book. But just as Kris Manning is no ordinary artist, musician and now author, “The Field Guide to Fabulous Food” is not your ordinary cookbook. It had me chuckling on the couch, calling my daughter to come look at the gorgeous artwork and whimsical handwriting. And then, like magic, it had me spending the evening in the kitchen making homemade soup.

When I first interviewed expert watercolorist Barbara Meierhusby some time ago, she shared with me the collaboration that was in the works to “paint her passion” for this cookbook Manning was creating. Knowing Manning as the co-creator of Black Tie Music Academy and Art school that lived and was loved on Daniel Island for years, I knew it would be an aesthetic treat, but the food! Now I am convinced she should open a restaurant specifically tailored to teach families not only how to cook and eat together, but how to be together. Written as a dedication to her boys as a mom with a now empty nest, there are words of wisdom for the kitchen that transcend into life: “Your patience will pay off. If you screw it up, so what. Learn from the mistake. You can do anything you set your mind to. Be kind to yourself.”

The cookbook reads well for those new to the kitchen, giving advice like “whenever you use canned goods wash the top of the can before opening it. It used to be in a dirty warehouse." Then there are tips that even a self-described advanced baker such as myself did not know, including the difference between dry and wet measurement cups and four reasons for wooden spoons over metal.

Perfectly placed throughout the witty, handwritten text are Meierhusby’s beautiful watercolor illustrations that compliment the feel of the field guide. There are 132 glorious pages that are so beautiful you overlook how many hand cramps Manning must have suffered or how many times they both must have had to start all over because real handwriting has no spell check and anyone who’s tried their hand at watercolors knows this medium is not forgiving.

Like all great recipes that use fresh ingredients, Barbara’s watercolor work used only fresh, ripe fruits, vegetables, herbs as source materials noting “painting a live crab was no small feat. Especially when he began to revive” in the lovely art process chapter of the book which shares, “I begin painting with a meditation on the actual subject. The zucchini flower required watching a plant grow and capturing the short life of a blossom.”

The only thing traditional about “The Field Guide to Fabulous Food” is the table of contents which covers categories of your favorite cookbook: savor the sauces, browse through the breads, simmer through the soups, enjoy every imaginable entrée, scour the sides, and delight over the desserts. The book includes a family tale behind each recipe. This nontraditional element is the essence that makes it so special.

“Many of the recipes grew out of my Italian heritage and spending time in the kitchen with family. So many memories came rushing back to me over the last year and a half as I put the cookbook together,” Manning said. “And I channeled those cherished memories during the pandemic to bring to life all of these recipes that will teach you how to be a good cook. Heck, if you make them enough times, you’ll be a great cook.”

This creative cookbook is a unique work of art curated over COVID and will be bound in field guide fashion with leather cover, a perfect gift of love now available for pre-order at KrisManning.com. Follow Kris_Manning on Instagram and look for the book soon on the shelves at Island Expressions and Coastal Cupboard.

Heather MacQueen Jones is a Daniel Island artist. Follow her stories on Instagram @heARTpalette, on Facebook or online at MacQueenJones.com.

Section: News

Local Artists Collaborate On ‘Fabulous’ Cookbook

BY:HEATHER MACQUEEN JONES, The Daniel Island News, Wed, 08/19/2020

Many of us took to planting seedlings while quarantined and reaped the benefit of bountiful harvest all summer long at our family table. Sweltering hot days are seeing the sweet summer crops dry up, but the vibrant images of bright green cilantro, plump purple eggplant and ripe red round tomatoes can stick with us for a lifetime, along with the family recipes we created together in quarantine.

Resident artists Kris Manning and Barbara Meierhusby started talking about an artistic endeavor to create a cookbook about a year ago to preserve Manning’s family recipes. Regular visits at a distance over quarantine helped the ideas stir, along with some great tomato sauces!

Manning, the mother of two sons suggested, “What if we do a field guide? We could call it ‘The Field Guide to Fabulous Food!’ because a field guide is kind of like a map – it contains all of the elements you would encounter on a great adventure.”

As many moms launching kids off to college can attest, these last few months have been ripe with cram sessions on life lessons. “The Field Guide to Fabulous Food,” she said, “is really for the guys – because you know they are young men now. They are just beginning their adventures going off into the world and it would be great if they could take the field guide with them on their journeys.”

Manning loves to cook, so this time in close quarters during quarantine has given her a chance to enjoy getting her sons’ input on their favorite recipes to “include the pesto!”

Manning’s decision to ask Meierhusby to collaborate with her came out of great admiration for her talent as a watercolorist.

“To include her work is so special because I think everyone should know Barbara Meierhusby and her watercolors. She is a true treasure! I’m really excited about the work she’s doing,” Manning said.

Each page in the field guide will feature Manning’s family recipes, filled with interesting facts, helpful tips and antidotes and several watercolor images carefully created by Meierhusby.

The field guide format really appealed to Meierhusby because of its similarity to the artist’s sketchbook.

“Artist’s Sketchbooks contain minute observations and personal annotations along with the vitality of the images,” she said.

Since the age of 4, Meierhusby has been fascinated by watercolors, a love that was fostered by her mother.

“I was fortunate enough to have been introduced to watercolors on frequent visits to the Art Museums in Washington, D.C. We explored the Asian Art Collections of the Freer/ Sackler Museum, the Phillips’s Collection and the National Gallery. The artists’ sketchbooks were especially intriguing to me.”

Meierhusby’s mother was a nurse, featured on the cover of the April 26th, 1943, issue of Life Magazine for her work helping with the nursing shortage during the war.

“She pursued nursing as a profession but her passion was art. She kept amazing sketchbooks and would show them to me, so early on I had this experience firsthand of watercolors.” Meierhusby still has her mother’s sketchbooks.

This idea of passing down wonderful memories is at the heart of the field guide. Food is so many people’s love language. Art is a language everyone can understand. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we can all use comfort food and beautiful art.

Follow Manning on Facebook for images and updates on The Field Guide to Fabulous Food where nibbles of Meierhusby’s watercolor work can be found and details on the book release will be announced.

Heather MacQueen Jones is a Daniel Island artist journaling life’s journey through oil painting. Visit MacQueenJones.com, Instagram @heARTpalette.

Section:News

Black Tie Music Academy's Closure Strikes A Sad Chord

BY:MARIE ROCHA-TYGH, The Daniel Island News, Wed, 07/08/2020

From the Mardi Gras parades to the sounds of their Kabuki Love Machine band, Black Tie Music Academy (BTMA) was not your typical music school. For over 10 years co-owners Braeden Kershner and Kris Manning hit all the right notes with Lowcountry locals. Last week the owners announced they would be permanently closing July 1.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved too powerful for the beloved island institution.

“We refuse to put a single person in a potentially life-threatening situation. Unfortunately, that means we have to close all nine of our successful music and art teaching locations. It’s devastating, this virus wiped us out,” stated Manning.

BTMA was the largest private music school in South Carolina. BTMA’s line-up included music therapy, musical theater, musical camps, art instruction, and much more. It was a musical high note on Daniel Island and throughout the Lowcountry.

When BTMA announced it was closing, social media pages filled up with heartfelt messages. Cathy Wylly Leeke was one of the many residents to express their feelings on BTMA’s Facebook page: “Thank you for everything you’ve done to improve our community. Well beyond music lessons and camps, you and your team have brightened the day and given hope to everyone you’ve come in contact with. BTMA will surely be missed!”

Manning said both she and Kershner are forging ahead with new ideas to support the community. “Have no fear! Music and art will still be here! Braeden and I will always champion the fine arts and the opportunity to provide joy, relief and growth through music and art. We are hip-deep in what we are referring to as ‘Plan S’ — yes, we’ve burned through that many contingency plans since March — and we feel it’s got staying power. At this time, that’s all I can reveal about it,” she said.

While locals wait for the duo’s next release, many reminisced with cherished memories. Daniel Island resident Jerri Pogue has many to share. “My husband Ben and I feel as though we could write a book about BTMA ... Over the six years we have been here on the island, perhaps the most amazing accomplishment was the unique ways they integrated their support for people and programs through their musical and artistic and educational expertise and presence in so many different aspects of community life.”

Pogue was deeply touched by BTMA’s generosity when working with community nonprofits. “For over five years they offered after school homework support and music lessons for children from low-income families in North Charleston through a nonprofit organization they founded. Their policy was never to deny children opportunities to be involved in any facet of education in the arts,” explained Pogue.

When Kristen Ness Ayers moved to Daniel Island in 2013, one of the first things she did was take music lessons with Kershner. The weekly lessons boosted her confidence to the point where she started to perform in public at BTMA’s popular open mic nights.

“Our DI community feels ‘less than’ it was before. Music uplifts. Music changes people’s moods and communicates across all differences. Now more than ever we need music. Without BTMA, we are without our greatest source and inspiration for music and art on our island. And I feel a sadness that I think will be shared by anyone who stepped through the doors of BTMA,” Ayers said.

Ayers started a GoFundMe page (gf.me/u/ycbm28) to help support Manning and Kershner’s future endeavors in music and art education.

“Braeden and Kris are two of the most determined, passionate, and talented people I know…I have no doubt that they already have plans in the works and I don’t want a lack of money to stop them,” she said.

Daniel Island resident Valary Anderson Dreyer was inspired by BTMA and enjoyed their open mics nights and recitals.

“BTMA’s presence, love, and generosity … have been the most amazing and creative I’ve ever seen. They’ve truly touched and inspired thousands,” said Dreyer.

Manning has some hopeful words for the community: “We love you! We may be down right now, but we’re not out. Stay safe, stay strong and keep creating. We’re in this together and it will get better.”

Section: News