Page 37 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2019

Local Artist Expresses Himself
THROUGH CULINARY AND VISUAL ARTS
story by Susan Ruddiman photos by Ashley Vaughn and Jacob Cumberland
C ody Richardson of Gulfport has only lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for three years, but he’s already made an impact in the professional kitchen
as well as public art.
At the age of 24, he likes to describe his assent as “snowballing” because many opportunities have come his way that he’s embraced.
“Cody is pretty new in the culinary field and art world, but he’s steadily been working on both, and it’s
great that he’s picked it up so fast. He’s very creative and has a lot of potential,” said Ethan Boutwell of Ocean Springs, a friend of Cody who runs the wood fire grill at White Pillars.
Richardson went to work at White Pillars in Biloxi as a dishwasher. During breaks at the sink, he said he would ask questions and help in other places in the kitchen.
“I worked my way up from washing dishes to being a prep cook, and when we started serving lunch, I worked during the lunch shift. I eventually
got put on the night shift working the garde manger station where I make salads and such,” he said.
He prepares the eggs for
Sunday brunch, makes the palate teasers and pickles the vegetables for the charcuterie boards.
“In the kitchen, there’s a different language,” Richardson said. “What Chef Austin Sumrall (White Pillars owner) serves is farm to table, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
“Cody and I agree that if you have a medium that’s top notch, then it inspires you to do better. You will try harder and care more to create
a better looking product,” Boutwell said. “You can’t help but put your spirit into it.”
Richardson likes to balance colors, shadings, textures and flavors together when plating a dish so when the customer is served it, he wants to take a photo of the presentation.
When Richardson is not working at White Pillars, he is pursuing his other interests such as playing the guitar, writing and, of course, painting. He took up a sketch pad and pens as a child and has been working at his
art since. After friends suggested he meet Jacob
Cumberland of Gulfport because he was also an artist, Richardson made a point of reaching out to him through social media. The two clicked, and spent their first meeting not painting but playing guitars.
“Cody is so open-minded in how
he accepts new ideas. He has the sharpest memory of anyone I’ve ever met. He’s a very excitable person and can so easily get hyped up,” Cumberland said.
Cumberland introduced Caitlyn Myrick to Richardson, and the two are now dating. Myrick works for a property management company that owns El Agave Mexican Restaurant at 2108 25th Ave. and other buildings in downtown Gulfport.
“She suggested to her boss that a mural would bring new excitement and attention to the restaurant next door,” Cumberland said.
So Richardson and Cumberland had their first public art collaboration by painting the mural of Frida Kahlo next to El Agave.
“We kept singing the song ‘Freedom’ and sometimes worked on it until
3 in the morning. That was my first professional painting job,” Richardson said.
Richardson on his own has painted the Wings and Diego murals on 25th Avenue as well as a Mandala mural on Pass Road. He has two more mural consignments in the works.
He describes his smaller paintings as scribbles that are random, wild and chaotic, but actually look structured when completed.
“Cody has that raw talent you rarely see today. It gives him an advantage in both the culinary and art world,” Boutwell said. “He will probably surpass us all in a couple of years.”
Working at White Pillars
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December 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 37