Meet Sharon Carelock: Creator and Administrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharon Carelock and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sharon, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I think the knee-jerk answer is keep going. Socially, we’re conditioned to let a profession or practice go if we’re not seeing success after a certain amount of time. Though, there are a lot of examples where people made it big fairly late in their lives or careers. I think the time to give something up is when it’s not serving you, the mission, or the person/people with whom you’re involved. It’s maybe easy to keep a thing going just because it’s ritual, but habit isn’t a reason to continue. Every skill that I’ve acquired took time to develop, and every aspect of growth in my life took time to manifest. It takes a constant check in with myself and my life activities to make sure what I’m doing and how I’m living serves a purpose.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I recently did a webinar with DanceATL to talk about my experience as a stage manager, and in that session, my co-host, Angelina Pellini – an eminent stage manager, and I brought up this letter that the Steppenwolf Production Manager, Al Franklin wrote to this student about how stage managers are artists. I personally thought of myself as an artist in that role and other production roles, and this letter confirmed management as an art form. I find I use a caring and administrative approach that I learned as a production manager, stage manager, and production designer in my work as a performer, director, and choreographer. This means that I am one artist with different expressions of the same art, and not a person constantly changing roles or identities. That’s the most important lesson that I’ve learned on this journey. I am not what I do. I am a nurturing and intelligent creator, and my work, which is vital for me to continue, is the manifestation of my self expression. It’s hard for me to answer the question, “Was it easy?” I’m not finished yet, and I don’t feel like I’ve arrived. It definitely wasn’t easy up to this point. Each challenge seemed intentional, curated with the purpose of shaping who I am. Maybe that’s a weird way of looking at my challenges, like I’m grateful. I’m just content with what I’ve experienced, and I’m hungry for more. I had a lot of help to get to where I am. Another great two-part lesson is learning that I need help and learning how to ask for help. That realization and my skills work in tandem. I don’t think any person can achieve anything without help.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A week long trip with a friend, flying in: I’d start with a drive up 75 north to the Battery. First, I love the drive on highway 75 through Downtown Atlanta. It is extremely picturesque. it’s a view of the city and all it could promise without leaving your car. Second, the Battery is a nice area. Some of the shops opened this year, so a lot of people don’t know about the area. It is where the new baseball stadium is, so don’t count on it being void of people. However, when there’s not a game, the shops and restaurants have a lot to offer. I love walking inside and around Sugarboo. It’s a shop filled with throw pillows, blankets, tee shirts, journals, and paperweights with quotes from notable people. I’ve bought some thoughtful presents there, and I keep going back to look around. The layout is soothing. We’d eat dinner at either Terrapin Taproom (great BBQ) or Ph’east, which is this market or food hall concept. It’s really cool. You buy food and drinks from different stalls and sit in a large dining hall. From there, we’d go to River Street Sweets. It’s this large candy and gourmet sweet shop. It’s so huge. They make most of the sweets in the store, from pralines to candy apples, ice cream, rice crispy treats, chocolate covered strawberries, and custom fudge. They just made eggnog fudge for Christmas. Day two, would be the High Museum of Art and Atlantic Station. We could spend all day in the High just taking in the compelling exhibits. I appreciate that there are so many dance performances there on the lawn and inside. I’ve performed at the High in 2016. With Atlantic Station being so close, we’d go there, if nothing but to wander around IKEA for 2 hours, but it’s such a nice shopping and walking area. It’s also not too far from the Westside Cultural Arts Center, which means we’d catch a Terminus performance. I’ve had the pleasure of running projections for them for one of the performances there, Extasis, and I was impressed by the innovation, grit, and talent of the company. I’m a fan. I’ve spent a lot of my life in Downtown Decatur, mainly because of my work at Core Dance. That area has a vibrant energy, and people are attracted to that energy. It’s also interesting to watch a TV show like CW’s Vampire Diaries and HBO’s The Watchmen, and go, “Wait, I’ve been there.” (Sidenote: Regina King walked by me one time on the Decatur Square. Super random.) We would spend day three there. Breakfast at Sweet Melissa’s, shopping at Square Foot and/or Wild Oats and Billy Goats, lunch at Chai Pani, and then a walk. I’ve enjoyed so many walks in that area and had the best conversations. Yes, we’d eventually end up in a coffee shop (RIP Java Monkey), but dinner would be at the Brick Store Pub. The drink menu alone is worth it. The next day would be spent on Moreland Ave, hitting up Little Five Points, Edgewood Shopping Center and East Atlanta. I really go to Little Five Points for Ragaroma and the sheer volume of clothing in that store and 7Stages. Even if there isn’t a show, I still go to the coffee shop. Maybe it’s the smell or knowing that I’m going to run into someone I know or it’s just the memories. I’ve done a lot of shows at 7Stages, on and behind the stage. Also, I’ve never seen a performance there that made me say, “Meh.” I’ve had so many endearing moments with the artistic director, Heidi Howard. Her spirit agrees with my spirit. Anytime we are in Little Five, my husband wants to go to Vortex for the burgers. I like Front Page News. I’ve taken many friends there, even friends with kids, which you can’t do at Vortex. Edgewood Shopping Center is the one stop shop for “OMG, I forgot to bring (fill in the blank).” Also, lunch at FIGO or Ru Sans. I’ve had the best drinking and partying memories while in East Atlanta. I once went to a punk concert at the EAV and while I was capturing the performer on my phone, we ended up on the floor with her draped across my leg, and it felt normal there. I only have warm and fuzzy feelings for Mary’s. I think it’s because of my friendship with Corian Ellisor. I can hear him say, “Come on, we’re doing a show,” and some of those shows were at Mary’s, a place where anyone can just be. I and my out-of-town friend would definitely bring cash for the drag show, though. There probably should be at least a day or morning of rest, but we’d probably end up at Trader Joe’s on Monroe for snacks, with a stroll in Piedmont Park, and we’d inevitably end up in Virginia Highlands. I remember spending a lot of time there as a student at Emory and right after graduating, especially at the Highland Tap. We’d have to walk the Beltline for sure. I like the entrance at Ponce City Market. The market is cool on its own. I like the mall flavor that it has, without it being enclosed. If the trip is timed right, we could walk the Beltline during the Lantern Parade. That was an experience I’d never forget, just the sheer creativity of the lantern designs alone. Everyone was so nice and getting drunk off of the wonderment in the air. I’d definitely want to share that with my out-of-town friend. I’d tell my friend to get to the airport 1- 2 hours before their flight, one, to get through security, and two, to walk around the airport. The setup is kinda dope, better than a lot of malls in America. I’ve had some fine dining experiences in the Atlanta airport. Out-of-town friend would have to walk the concourses by themself, but it’s still worth it. I think my friend would sleep on the plane from the number of places and things to do that I just listed, but at least I’d have a plan.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout my husband Bryan Carelock. I appreciate his support in my artistic and life endeavors. I am in awe of his commitment to my growth as a human being. As I recall my psychological and spiritual journey, I notice that he has been right beside me with comfort and encouragement while I continue to grow. It’s like he’s saying, “I love you, and I’ll hold your hand while you face your demons.” I’ll use this as an example, we play video games together, mostly RPGs, and I often outfit my character with the biggest sword and shield, and all of the armor. My husband’s character is usually a mage equipped with the best potions and healing spells. It’s a bit like how we approach life. I have a tendency to launch headlong into a project, charging full tilt, and my husband is there, helping me navigate and keeping me strong.
Instagram: @seecarelock
Linkedin: Sharon C Carelock
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Image Credits
Main Headshot: Emily Iva Photography Group Photos: 1 – BobbiJo Brooks 2 – Lori Teague 3 – Jennifer Scully-Thurston 4 – Forrest Hershey 5 – Malina Jo Rodriguez 6 – Malina Jo Rodriguez 7 – Charne’ Furcron