By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

For Mobile artist Heather Petterson, a credo is evident. “A little paint goes a long ways,” she proclaimed.

Petterson should know as her peripatetic life is qualification for judgement. Though born in the Azalea City, she was adopted by a Mississippi couple and then ventured into the world with a childhood spent in India, Spain and South America. “I left Montevideo, Uruguay when I was 18,” she recalled. “It was beautiful there but it was time to come home.”

The stateside return was courtesy of Petterson’s secondary education and enrollment at Mississippi College. Her characteristic love of art was present but untempered. “I was an art major the first year I was there but I hated it,” she said. “I didn’t think it was creative enough. They were telling us to ‘hold this with your left hand and draw this,’ and ‘hold this with your right hand and draw that.’ I realize what they were doing now but at 18, you don’t have the most discipline.”

There was a cultural impasse as well. “Well, it’s a Baptist college, so there were no nudes allowed” Petterson said, “and I had just come from Europe and South America where you see 300-pound women topless on the beach.”

The art studies experience soured so Petterson changed her major to business and continued matriculation. She graduated in 1997, met her Norwegian husband and eventually returned to the Port City in 2004.

Petterson’s artistic drive remained but she wanted to do more. Following an epiphany, she combined it with altruistic desires and formed Alabama Art With Heart, a non-profit organization that provides artistic access and therapies to those in need.

The Mobile area has become enriched with her group’s efforts such as the United Cerebral Palsy benefit Art With Heart provided at the Fairgrounds in West Mobile. Petterson and friends stretched a variety of canvases, arranged the inclusion of over 30 professional artists who showed up to paint and held an auction even as the works were being created live. The event raised $4,500 for UCP while spreading enthusiasm for visual arts.

Art With Heart is also readying their next endeavor, Art With Heart on the Rocks at the Double Olive set for Aug. 26. The Midtown martini bar will play host to a fundraiser where attendees are asked to contribute their talents as well as indulge in the libations. A variety of projects will be present for participants and all proceeds go to Children’s Hospital.

Petterson’s work has paid dividends. Not only has a splinter group formed in Moss Point, Miss., but the fulfillment it provides is its own reward. “It’s great doing things like going to Penelope House (a shelter for abused women),” Petterson said. “You know, to go over there and give these women something that carries on, when you know you sparked something in them because they keep painting after you leave, that’s part of what makes this worth it.”

Petterson’s personal career continues to blossom as well. She recently made the cut at Fairhope’s exclusive Patina Gallery and finished a show at Mobile’s The Shadow Box that opened doors elsewhere.

“I’m going to be in the Slotin Folk Festival in Atlanta thanks to Beth Lambert over at Shadow Box,” Petterson said. “Don’t let the name fool you, the festival is for self-taught artists regardless of the genre they work in. But there’s only 90 galleries involved so I’m flattered.”

From Petterson’s viewpoint, she has little choice. “Being an artist is a calling,” she said. “It has to be because it’s certainly more important to us than the need for a 401K.”

Speaking of travelers…

Local theatrical buffs may remember Steve Evans, a Mobile thespian whose turn as the “finger-snapping-pointing-and-winking guy” on Original Oyster House television ads of the ’’90s took him to a level of notoriety almost as infamous as his long-standing gig tending tables at Michael’s Midtown Cafe.

Despite frequent turns on local stages, Evans’ ambition took him to Chicago about five years ago.

Word has reached Artifice that an Evans-authored work debuts in the Windy City when Trained Monkey Productions presents “My Life With the Shawnee,” written and performed by Steve Evans for The Abbie Hoffman Died For Your Sins Theater Festival. Though Artifice has yet to see the script, it would appear the work is a comedy based on Evans’ series of summers spent in the cast of the outdoor historical drama “Tecumseh” in Chillicothe, Ohio.

The play premieres Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mary-Arrchie Theater (731 W. Sheridan Rd.) in Chicago.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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