Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Gentry.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I, Mike Gentry, was born in Charleston, SC in 1986 at the Roper Hospital. My mother, Glinda, worked in dialysis in that hospital. My father, James or Jim as we often call him, was previously an engineer at the Navy Shipyard but resigned from that to purchase and manage rental property in North Charleston. I have one sister, Bobbi, who is 5 years older and is now a Ph.D. in political science and currently teaches at Bridgewater College in Virginia. At a young age, my parents divorced. My mother remarried to Charles Stricklin; at the time he was a tire salesman. Charles, or Charlie as we call him, was an important influence growing up. My mother was a very hard worker and often struggled to keep the house over our heads.
Early in life, I was put into many activities, including Baseball, Soccer, Karate, and Boy Scouts. These activities kept me very busy after school and during the summer. In my pre-teen years, my father, Jim, took me on weekends where we enjoyed things like fishing, bowling, and working on his various rental properties or construction jobs. He also taught me how to play the card game bridge. Between the age of 13 and 17, my father and I spent many weekends traveling the southeast for tournaments. This became a very serious hobby and bonding activity with him.
After High School, I followed my sister to Winthrop University. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living or career, but after visiting my sister a handful of times in Rock Hill, Winthrop University felt like a good place to go. I had no real interest in going to my mother and father’s alma mater, Clemson University, or my stepfather’s USC. Sports were not a high priority on my list, and in my last few years of high school I had a fondness for my art teacher, Mr. O’Brien. That lead me to start at Winthrop as an Art Education Student.
After my first few art classes at Winthrop University, I became fascinated with contemporary art. After a few classes in education, I decided that was not the path for me. I continued to study under Shaun Cassidy and Paul Martyka. Two of the most inspiring artists I have ever met. My personal work started to involve installation, video, and audience participation. I became very interested in offering interactive experiences to viewers. In my senior year, I studied abroad in Imatra, Finland. This was probably the most wonderful, eye-opening experience my college career offered me. In December of 2008, I finished my BFA in Sculpture.
After that, I continued with part-time work delivering pizza and soon began installing exhibits at the Arts Council of York County. Now that I was free from classes and studying, I began a practice of collages fueled by marketing material from my delivery job, and I began to play music in a band with other art students. This started the journey of my work in visual and performing arts in Rock Hill, SC.
During 2009 I was very invested in installing exhibits for the ACYC, playing DIY shows with my band, and creating my series of collages. In 2010 I hosted my first show in a space known as the Courtroom. The Courtroom is located in the Tom S. Gettys Center, which is owned by the City of Rock Hill but managed by the ACYC. The building is a historic courthouse and post office built in the 30s. The ACYC has managed the building and rented studios to artists since the 70s. Also, during this time 2009 – 2012, I was very involved in the local DIY music scene where we hosted many house shows and brought many touring musicians to play for an intimate audience. Looking back, it’s amazing to think of how many nights of unique musical and performative experiences were shared here.
My passion for performing, creating original music, and providing unique experiences for people lead me to host over 200 concerts and performances in the historic courtroom space. I always had the thought that if I wanted something like this in Rock Hill, I would have to build it. This town is large enough for culture to thrive here but small enough to make a difference. Starting in 2011, I began a local festival called Don’t Sweat It FEST. The first year was free, had 10 bands, and bike activities, and took place on Father’s Day. After that, I started hosting some other creative events, such as Band From A Hat. A project where locals are randomly paired up with other musicians of all skill levels to write 10-15 minutes of original music and perform it a few months later. This led to the creation of many local bands that sculpted the Rock Hill DIY music scene.
During the pandemic in 2020, things came to an immediate halt with concerts. At the time, it was a much-needed break but one I didn’t anticipate lasting two years. In the summer of 2020, I became anxious about not producing anything and started a video series called Sidebar Sessions. I produced 7 videos of local bands performing at the Courtroom. It was something to feel some sense of community in a time when it was unsafe to gather for events.
In 2021 I began filing documents to make my music booking project into a standalone non-profit called DON’T SWEAT IT INC. This year I started back hosting concerts and am already working on the 9th iteration of Don’t Sweat It FEST.
During these past 12 years of hosting concerts I have also participated in many performance projects and bands with tons of stories and information and history. Motel Glory, Mall Goth, and Telepathetics are just a few of the projects I have been a part of. My work at the ACYC has also expanded from contracted labor to part-time, and my title is now Gallery & Facilities Manager. My work in the visual arts and music scene are both separate and intertwined. In some ways, I wouldn’t have one without the other. I find that my work with music has become more of my passion because of my autonomy in the project. Although the visual arts is how I got my start in the creative career field.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say that my work has been an easy road. I understand that I’ve had the benefit of privilege and lack of student debt. Without those two things, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Financially I wouldn’t recommend putting so much time into creative projects and scraping by with part-time work.
What I’ve traded for more money are experiences. There were years I lived without heat in my house to save money. In a small city like Rock Hill there isn’t always money for the arts and valuing yourself and your time can be difficult to translate to others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a visual artist, performing artist, musician, producer, gallery exhibit installer, and all-around proliferator of creativity in the Rock Hill area. I specialize in and am known for producing performance events and installing exhibits.
I am most proud of the events I’ve hosted since 2010 in the Courtroom and the non-profit I began last year. What sets me apart from others is my commitment to the artists and events. I strive to make the best experience possible for both the performer and the viewer.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I’ve learned that the local arts depend on the community. Without community, there is no one to speak about, share, purchase, or experience the arts. Building community is a top priority when creating a space for the arts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecourtroomrockhill/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecourtroomrockhill/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQC4jXXURFgmwn8Tk7D6n7g/featured
Image Credits
Jeff Howlett
