Scenic Roots

His name is “Artifice” - and his job is “mentalist.”

“Artifice the Mentalist” is the stage name of Chase Ellsworth.

You may have seen Artifice perform here in Chattanooga - and having met him, I can tell you that seeing is believing.

Artifice - and his wife, Lela - stopped by “Scenic Roots”...

Color Chattanooga Pink! starts tomorrow - a week of events that lead up to next Saturday’s Pink! Gala, which raises funds for the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial.

Mark Hite is co-chair of Color Chattanooga Pink! - and Dr. Betsy Washburn is a breast oncology surgeon at the Locher Breast Center...

All the world’s a stage - and now, Shakespeare has a new champion here in Chattanooga.

Scenic City Shakespeare aims to make the works of The Bard accessible to all with theatre and educational programs.

The group is planning to produce its inaugural season this fall - and it is already hosting monthly discussion groups, as part of The Shakespeare 2020 Project.

Ryan Laskowski is artistic director of Scenic City Shakespeare.

He and actor Douglas May dropped by “Scenic Roots”...

Next week, the Chattanooga Supply Chain Symposium will bring together professionals to network and share ideas on how to build supply chains that more efficient and effective.

The symposium takes place at Kenco Logistics on Wednesday, from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

John Freeze is director of the Center for Professional Education here on on this campus, the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga.

He stopped by “Scenic Roots” for a conversation - and joining us by phone:  Chris Barnes, a supply chain consultant who will be the symposium’s emcee...

In the valley of the Little Tennessee River, near the Appalachian Mountains, sits the 1,200 acres of Fort Loudoun State Historic Park.

The British built the fort in the 1750’s, as they struggled with France and Spain for control of North America - and as the native people of Overhill Cherokee country strove to protect their homes and their way of life.

Tomorrow at the park, starting at 1 PM, Ranger Lauren Baghetti will talk about the environment impacts on that landscape, from colonial times to modern examples...

It’s that time of year for sandhill cranes.

The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival runs tomorrow and Sunday, from 8 AM to 4 PM, in Birchwood - celebrating the thousands of sandhill cranes that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge.

Mime Barnes is with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which presents the festival...

Kreneshia Whiteside is passionate about art - and as a curator, she showcases the works of fellow artists.

A Chattanooga native, she is now the chief curator at AVA - The Association for Visual Arts.

Tomorrow, starting at 11 AM, Kreneshia will appear at The Chattery as part of its new monthly “Coffee Talk” series - sharing her perspective as a black woman in the art world, with a dialogue open to all on diversity in the creative field...

Ray Bassett is the host of "Scenic Roots" - produced by Haley Solomon, Karley Dodson and Will Davis.

The other night, Carolina Shrewsbury taught a winter workshop at Outdoor Chattanooga on speleoart, the art of caving.

Tomorrow, she and the Chattanooga Grotto will lead a guided speleoart caving trip in the area for people at the workshop to put their skills into practice.

Carolina stopped by “Scenic Roots” to share her story...

Improv Chattanooga recently closed its location on Rossville Avenue - but, the comedy troupe continues with shows and classes as its searches for a new venue.

Steve Disbrow is co-founder of Improv Chattanooga...