CricketToes

Tweakin' In The New Year!

Public Art Gets 800,000 Reasons To Live

Leaving aside the now-squelched massive blowout over at the Skylight Opera Theatre, the closing of several art-related businesses and the general uproar over arts funding, there was no other artistic subject in and around Miltown that garnered more attention in 2009 than public art. Surely you recall the boisterous battle to save the Janet Zweig project--with some members of the Common Council menacingly thrusting their voting switchblades at it, threatening, "I cut you!"--and the positively outstanding Park East Corridor (PEC) Project organized by IN:SITE.

It's no surprise then that we should find public art standing pigeon-toed and squinting in the glare of the spotlight one final time before we say goodbye and a merciful good riddance to this manic, mainly depressive year--don't let the government corporate bailout hit ya in the ass on the way out! Nor, for that matter, is it a shock that our news source is local artsy leader Pegi Christiansen, IN:SITE chair/project manager and member of the Milwaukee County Public Art Committee, as she fulfills her duties as a contributing writer to the Art City blog.

As we quickly glean from her post, this recession/depression nightmare has actually created an opportunity for Milwaukee County to receive a stimulus that, through the one percent for art program, will result in a whopping $800,000 to be used for public art. Hey, hey, that's a whole lotta kablingy, kids, and we're extremely pleased to have it, no? Yes!

Christiansen defines the question of what should be done with this ginormous pile of dough as the classic spend-it-all-in-one-place vs divide-it-evenly debate. Steeped up to my noodle in ignorant bliss of the bureaucratic folderol that exists in governmental goings-on, I naively asked, "Um, why not spend half on a project and use the other half to create a public art educational fund that would have long-term impact and help us all learn how to manage and possibly avoid the type of conflict and controversy that swirled around not only the Zweig project but others, too?"

Reality promptly delivered unto me a vigorous and mighty dope slap. Seems ya can't do that kind of no-brainer stuff. As Christiansen very patiently explained to me:

"There are ALL SORTS of restrictions. For example, with the current guidelines, there is no way to attract added funding, spend money on education, or do temporary projects."

Clearly, my 40 years on this planet have not afforded me enough education and/or experience in the loony bin to comprehend such maddening shortsightedness. It's sick, I tell ya, sick!

Anyhoo, insane or not, these are the parameters we must follow. So, what's it gonna be, good people, one or two projects? And furthermore, should the qualified artist proposals be narrowed to only those who work in Milwaukee County and perhaps Wisconsin or should it be open to national/international artisans as well? For my part, I think a collaboration between Wisco and national/international artists would yield the most interesting work and would double as a sign to the rest of the world that we can produce and attract stellar talent simultaneously.

Those who wish to voice their opinion about the fate of this welcome windfall should do so on Christiansen's post, then come back here to reiterate their stance. Also, if your boozing schedule allows, go to the next meeting of the Milwaukee County Public Art Committee at Quorum Architects, 3112 W. Highland Boulevard, on January 22, 2010. All the fun begins at 10 in the AM so you should be fairly sober, right?

(Thanks, Pegi!)

Related:
Public Art: Winner of the 2009 Most Talked About Topic Award
Lunacy Quickly Dimming Skylight's Stage Lamps
Glimpse Some IN:SITE This Weekend
Miltown Proves Its Artsy Love

Art Images As Big As Africa Itself

Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing's high priestess of the hipster geek collective, scored a major digital journalism win eight days ago by securing a nearly-impossible-to-obtain publisher permission to post an exclusive selection of wide-format images from the recently released Contemporary African Art Since 1980. While Jardin did have the power of nepotism on her side--her mom was the copy editor--we care not for it is a thing of beauty we all can enjoy!

Dating back to a time before some of y'all were even born--shudder--and packed with full-color images of work by Yinka Shonibare MBE--who, by the way, was featured in this season's Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century episode "Transformation"--Samuel Fosso, Chéri Samba (a.k.a. Samba wa Mbimba N’zingo Nuni Masi Ndo Mbasi), Lalla Essaydi, and others, this 4.8 pound paperback monster appears to be just the collection of late 20th through very early 21st Century African art we've been waiting for.

Now, if we could only get some decent books focused on regional artists maybe we could finally convince our geographically challenged and/or stubborn fellow Americans--and there are shamefully many--that Africa is not a country it's a continent. Sheesh!

Link

Painful HIlarity Ensues with Clients From Hell

For all you brave men and women who have chosen commercial illustration, graphic design, web design and/or copywriting as your honorable stock and trade, we point you to Clients From Hell, an ongoing assemblage of frighteningly funny little anecdotes from the trenches.

My favorite so far:

"We are calling to inform you that we have decided to go with the other design firm. The board felt your work and studio were too creatve [sic]."

Haha! That's so ridiculously absurd I feel close to vomiting.

Link (via Drawn!)

Still In Limbo: America's Black Holocaust Museum

WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio reported this morning that America's Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) continues its search for financial help while looking for a new building to house its unparalleled collection documenting the struggles and achievements of African descendants in the United States. ABHM was forced to close its doors last year due to economic hardship and its website is now defunct.

As the only institution of its kind, ABHM is a invaluable cultural, historical and educational resource for Milwaukee, the nation and the world. Here's hoping that the board and the city can find a way to reinstate the museum. Should it fail to reopen, we shall all share in that failure and be guilty of robbing current and future generations of a truth that must be told.

Link

Related:
America's Black Holocaust Museum on the Brink
America's Black Holocaust Museum Needs Your Help

Leave the Dishes in the Sink Ma--It's Time for Radio WHT!

Despite the negative prattle of naysayers and poo-pooers, sometimes good things really do happen to good people. In just the latest example of such miraculous occurrences, one of Cricky's favoritest pals, WMSE 91.7FM in Milwaukee, reached out the fine and funny thespians at Wisconsin Hybrid Theater (WHT), saying, "Let's put on a show! Our uncle's got, er, we've got a radio station and lots of devoted listeners!" To which WHT replied, "Say, that'd be swell and keen!" And with that, they vigorously shook hands, stepped into a studio and produced a totally unique version of A Christmas Carol that will have Chuck Dickens himself tuning in tomorrow at 3PM Central & Haunted Standard Times.

With an original script written by WHT founder/director Charles Sommers, seven highly talented actors gave it everything they've got and then some at the recording session this past week, all in an epic creative effort to bring WMSE's radio and on-line audience the very best in audio-only dramedy. Reinforced and enhanced by wacky sound effects and must-hear tunes crafted by Indie accordion master Pezzettino, the airwaves and The Internets™ won't know what hit 'em!

WHT has been producing and staging its "radio" shows live since 2007 but this is the first time one of its plays will actually be broadcast to the peeps, so those who make the oh-so right decision to listen in will automatically become members of an elite group known as the Official WHT/WMSE First & Best Fan Club. DIY decoders rings for everyone!

Tune to 91.7FM or go to wmse.org at 1500 hours--that's 3PM for you isolationists--Saturday, December 19, to show your support for good people making good radio!

Link (Thanks, Charles & Ryan!)

Related:
Wisconsin Hybrid Theater Mashup: Very Old-Timey + Old-Timey + New-Timey
Pezzettino's Latest Shoppa de Cover

Super Genius Secret Revealed: Shop The Urban Garage Sale!

My parents were but wee babes at the start of the 20th Century's global Great Depression (1929-c.1939), the depths of which make our current crisis look deathrocker-pale by comparison. As a consequence, they spent nearly all of their developmental years living through that dark time and it had a powerful and deep impact on their psyches, becoming the fundamental basis to their life philosophies.

As all children born of and raised by GD parents can attest, there are four main guiding principals that were handed down to us--how well each of us has actually put these into practice is up for debate:
1. Always help those who have even less than you.
2. Reuse, recycle and repurpose.
3. Never expect anything to be handed to you.
4. Don't be cheap, be smart.

In our household, the practical incarnation of principals #3 and #4 was the Good Junk Sale, an occasional event at which we would sell stuff we no longer wanted to other siblings who did. These were not so much sales as fierce barter sessions on a par with those found in the hurly-burly open markets of Morocco and Bangkok, with the exception of the rare and reasoned mediation of Mom. It was Economics 101, home style, baby, and it was down right fun!

Tomorrow everyone within hiking distance of Miltown can experience a thrill and excitement similar to what we got by being übersmart with money at the Urban Garage Sale. With 25 locally owned shops and artisans displaying their wares within the hallowed and historic walls of Turner Hall Ballroom, discount shopping has never been classier!

The first Urban Garage Sale was held last March with resounding success, so the good folks at Heavy Rotation--organizer and host of the event--decided that a second go-around was just what the public ordered, and right in time for Christmas, Hanukkah--which starts today at sundown--Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year), Kwanzaa, and Yule! Unfortunately they missed Rohatsu (Bodhi Day), but you Buddhists are all blissfully free of materialism so we'll just wish you a belated, meditative and centered Rohatsu.

Now, who, you may ask, will be hawking their goods for your perusal? Well, we can't list 'em all here, but we'll be happy to plug a few of our favorites: Boswell Book Store, Dragonfly, Rishi Tea, Stonecreek Coffee, Jimbot, Zewing Girl, and of course, our nutjob in arms, Dwellephant!

Sponsored by the ever-generous WMSE 91.7FM--they need your help, by the way, so donate now!--and hipster's choice Pabst Blue Ribbon, the Urban Garage Sale is only $3 to get in the door and just $2 if ya download the flyer from their site and remember to bring it with ya. Word has it that the best of the best of WMSE DJs will be spinning tunes and PBR will be doling out free beer to the first 200 of-age shopping peeps--mmm, free beer.

Go to the Urban Garage Sale on Saturday, December 12, at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1034 N. 4th Street in Milwaukee, from 10:30AM-5:30PM. When you tell everyone how much you saved on gifts, they'll crown you Holiday Gifter Super Genius!

(Thanks, Dwelle!)

Dean Jensen Does the Big Bang

So yesterday evening, Kevin--my equal half and king of the I'll-bike-in-anything-Mother-Nature-can-dish-out crowd--brought home not only his wonderful self but a very interesting story. Seemed he had occasion to pass by the Dean Jensen Gallery and decided to pop in for a look-see. Upon entering, Mr. Jensen himself approached, saying, "We're just putting up a new show." As my hubby is all kinds of kind, he asked if he should come back later. Jensen would hear none of it, heartily encouraging him to take a look around and chatting easily with him as if they were old pals.

The topic of discussion centered on the gallery's upcoming exhibit Big Bangs, Small Bucks 2: An Exhibition for the Post-Bust Economy, which opens tomorrow night. As the number 2 in the title would imply, this is the second time Jensen has presented a budgetary sensitive exhibition of this type, the first having been held last year at this same time. In this year's show, no work is priced over $900, with some sporting asking prices of a mere $100 and $200.

Presenting the established and the emerging side by side, Big Bangs, Small Bucks 2 includes works crafted by local art celebs Santiago Cucullu, Keith Nelson, Sonja Thomsen, and Jason S. Yi, as well as a few Madison-based artisans. Those with national and international reputations are also represented.

Jensen happened to mention to Kev that twelve pieces have already been sold, and that's for a show that hasn't even opened yet, so if you've suddenly found yourself with a little extra moolah and you'd like to spend it on something other than booze--gods save us!--traipse on over to the Dean Jensen Gallery, 759 N. Water Street in Milwaukee, for the opening reception on Friday from 6-9PM. Who knows, you may end up with just enough left over to buy a celebratory bottle of your favorite to enjoy while you admire your new acquisition.

Not sure if you've got the stones to head out on a night that's predicted to be a nippily 7 degrees? Just read Jensen's thoroughly engaging exhibit description, which is filled with witty quips and jabs usually found only in the writings of highfalutin art critics. It's HIlarious!

Big Bangs, Small Bucks 2: An Exhibition for the Post-Bust Economy runs through January 30, 2010.

Submit Your Proposal to Own the Road

The Wormfarm Institute, nestled deep in the heart of beautiful Reedsburg, Wisconsin, has put out the call to artisans--you're one of those, right?--to submit proposals for its newly hatched Roadside Culture Stand Project. Artists, architects and all other peeps handy not only with their hands but also with their noggins are invited to apply. Don't know how many mechanics, farmers, wood workers, or aerospace engineers read this here bloggity blog, but if you're out there let me just say, "Hey, nice to have ya here!" and furthermore "You're welcome to apply, too!"

So what's a Roadside Culture Stand? It's a mobile unit used to display, sell and barter over fresh produce and artistic/crafty works. 'Nough said? No? Well, maybe some visualization will help. Remember that time when your parents hauled you outta bed, bleary-eyed and dazed, on a crisp autumn Sunday morning, cheerily stating, "We're going for a drive in the country, kid!" And so you all did. During that ride your mother suddenly pointed to the side of the road, exclaiming, "Look! Corn!" or "Look! Quilts!" or "Look! Rutabagas!" and there was a stand with friendly folks selling fresh stuff to eat and/or nice stuff they made, and your mother was overjoyed. Also, you had rutabagas for dinner every night for the next month.

Okay, now that we're all on at least a vaguely similar page, the first thing ya need to know to get your design and construction juices is flowing is that, if you're proposal is selected by the world renowned Roadside Culture Stand judges, you will receive a whopping $3,500 to cover all design, fabrication expenses and your artist fee. Whoot! Not only that but a flatbed trailer will be provided at no cost. Double Whoot!

The second through six things you need to know are these:
• Your proposed stand must meet the specifications of being built on the 5x10 foot steel flatbed trailer provided.

• The design of the stand should be visually compelling when open and in use as well as when closed, and it must be visible at night.

• Your proposed stand must be roadworthy as it will be pulled on a frequent basis by pick-up truck.

• The stand must be easy for one person to set up and a built-in shade/weather shelter canopy is highly recommended.

• Materials must be durable and low maintenance--the use of recycled material is encouraged.

• Your proposed stand must have good security and information signage should be visible both when open and closed.

And, finally, the seventh thing--Submission Guidelines:
• One page cover letter, including contact information and your preference for rural or urban stand. Also, address why this project interests you. If applying as a team, list all team members and designate one as lead applicant.

• At least two drawings of proposed Culture Stand design, including one view of stand closed and empty of produce, and one view of stand open for business. The words "Home Grown" should be featured prominently.

• A statement, not to exceed one page, describing Culture Stand and its function in detail--you have Cricky's permission to use my visualization technique, but don't blame me if they say you're just too much of wackjob, 'kay?

• Current resume, not to exceed 2 pages with 3 professional references who can address your capacity to bring such a project to fruition.

• Up to 10 images of past work. Preferred format CD or DVD. Each image must be jpg not to exceed 1MB. Your name must be on CD. High quality photos or slides are also acceptable. Images must be sent through regular mail and will be returned only with self-addressed stamped mailer. DO NOT email images--they'll be headed straight for the virtual trash.

• Deadline is December 31, 2009.

Mail your submission to:
Selection Committee
Wormfarm Institute
E7904 Briar Bluff Rd
Reedsburg WI 53959

Phew! Now, I've go it on ultimate authority that a total of three stands will be selected for 2010--two rural and one for our inner city Milwaukee--and they plan on more in 2011, so if ya don't get in this time, just try, try again!

To see an example of a Roadside Culture Stand, click here. Questions? Email Donna Neuwirth wormfarm at jvlnet dot com.

If you do get selected, you'll be able to visit your stand whenever ya want, where you can put your hands on your hips, gaze out proudly and say, "I know this road. This is my road."

(Thanks, Spoon & Donna!)

Related:
Artistic, Soft-Bodied Forum Seeking New Members

Green Online Holiday Auction Puts the Price Back in Priceless

A couple of days back, Miltown-based photog Troy Freund alerted me to a shopping event that y'all will likely have a keen interest in: Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility's--that's right, the "A" is capitalized--Green Online Holiday Auction. Organized to benefit some worthy causes in South Central Wisconsin, including Dane County TimeBank, WYOU--mmm, nutty community access TV--and Community Groundworks at Troy Gardens, the auction is running right this minute and will remain open until the evening of December 6, 2009, exclusively on The Mighty Internets™.

They've got twenty-eight items up for bid in the Arts/Crafts category currently. One of the few listed as having the highly sought after, MasterCard tagline value of "Priceless" is Arnold Wood's Hamlet, proving once again that slapping a price on art is completely and totally subjective. Harlequin/Shakespeare/thespian art lovers, however, may well fall into a swoon by this assessment, making their mouse hand shake uncontrollably with excitement and adding many more zeros to their bid inadvertently. Do I hear a kagillion dollars? Sold!

There's lots of other categories--like food, coffee, jewelry, etc.--chock-full o' stuff and services donated by Wisco-owned businesses and companies, such as Troy's bid item of One Day of Commercial Photography, which, by the way, is also listed with a value of "Priceless", but we'll easily go along with that one.

Click here to find holiday gifts for your loved and liked ones. It's all for the good!

(Thanks, Troy!)