CricketToes

Breaking: Green Lives In Winter

In conjunction with its Green Furniture exhibition, Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) and Chipstone Foundation will be presenting its first Green Fair, an all-day get-down-to-eco-business event, tomorrow, January 30, 2010. Attendees should expect to be stunned and flabbergasted that anything containing chlorophyll--whether literally or metaphorically--can live during a Wisco winter and fainting couches made of recycled material will be strategically placed throughout the facility for your soft-landing convenience.

The day kicks off at 10AM with a green marketplace in the Baumgartner Galleria, featuring local producers and sellers of sustainable goods. Also, one of Cricky's most favoritest non-profs, Growing Power, will be on-hand. Whoot!

At the same time, Madison-based artist and Green Furniture guest curator Hongtao Zhou will brave the digit-numbing cold and wind on the Museum's lakefront lawn to create examples of his snow furniture. Since this is scheduled to take place over six whole hours, please show your appreciation to this courageous, slightly kooky artisan by bringing him a cup of his preferred hot beverage at regular intervals.

Those not totally entranced by Zhou's magic show should head on over for a Q&A with the folks whose work is featured in the Green Furniture exhibition from 10:30–11:30AM in the Decorative Arts Gallery. Bring a list of questions tailor-made to stump 'em, 'kay? Also, from 11:45AM to 4:40PM, there'll be a number demonstrations and chats by some of these artists in Windhover Hall.

Or how 'bout meeting at admissions at 10:30AM to listen to a reading of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss--it's not just for ankle biters! Seriously, I would not be shocked at all to see a gaggle of slim jean wearin' hipsters warming themselves 'round the story time glow, lying on their stomachs, chins in hand, and iPhones bulgin' in their back pockets, would you? Course you wouldn't. But I digress.

Lubar Auditorium is the designated the space to gather for the main attraction: The Green Symposium. To the din of mighty cheers, Ken Dunn of Chicago City Farm, James Godsil of Sweet Water Organics, Milwaukee Alderman Nik Kovac, and Cedarburg architects Tom Kubala and Vince Micha will enter at precisely 1PM. For two hours they will hold the crowd utterly captivated as they discuss what "green means" in their respective fields.

Finally, the co-curators of the Green Furniture exhibition, Ethan Lasser of Chipstone Foundation and Hongtao Zhou, will conduct an interactive conference in the Decorative Arts Gallery from 3:30–4:30PM. Lasser may need a bit of assistance in ushering Zhou in from Mother Nature's freezer, so give him a helping hand if ya can.

It all sounds like a ton o' eco friendly fun, don't it? And it's free with admission. Let's all green up, people!

Link (Thanks, Claudia!)

Related:
Imagine a Greener Art World

RIP J.D. Salinger

News has come today that literary giant, wordsmith extraordinaire and reclusive author J.D. Salinger has died at the age of 91 at his home in New Hampshire.

Though it is his novel The Catcher in the Rye that receives the most accolades, it was Salinger's brutally funny and unfathomably deep Franny and Zooey, published in 1961 as one novella, that made the biggest impression on me and many others. Focused on the two youngest members of the Glass family--the much storied and beloved group of geniuses, quick-wits and troubled souls--it is a tale of intellectual and artistic crisis that manifests itself as a spiritual quest.

Franny is a twenty year old college student with aspirations of becoming an actor. Her brief experience thus far has taught her that theatre can often be corrupt and fake--a realization that sends her into a tailspin and she returns to the family's home in New York a nervous wreck. Her brother Zooey tries to snap her out of her despair using his usual caustic and sardonic style, but to no avail. He is then left with no other choice but to seek guidance from his two older yet wholly absent brothers, Buddy and Seymour, in order to help her.

In the end, Zooey councils Franny on what it means to be an artist and it is a revelation that bridges all mediums:

"Did you know we saw you in 'Playboy of the Western World' one night? One god-awful hot night...

And I'll tell you, buddy. You were good. And when I say good, I mean good. You held that goddam mess up. Even all those sunburned lobsters in the audience knew it. And now I hear you're finished with the theatre forever--I hear things, I hear things. And I remember the spiel you came back with when the season was over. Oh, you irritate me, Franny! I'm sorry, you do. You've made the great startling goddam discovery that the acting profession's loaded with mercenaries and butchers. As I remember, you even looked like somebody who'd just been shattered because all the ushers hadn't been geniuses. What's the matter with you, buddy? Where are your brains? If you've had a freakish education, at least use it, use it...

But the thing is, you raved and you bitched when you came home about the stupidity of audiences. The goddam 'unskilled laughter' coming from the fifth row. And that's right, that's right--God knows it's depressing. I'm not saying it isn't. But that's none of your business, Franny. An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's. You have no right to think about those things, I swear to you. Not in any real sense, anyway. You know what I mean?"

Indeed I do, Mr. Glass/Salinger, indeed I do.

In a closing comment for the story aired on NPR's All Things Considered this evening, Robert Siegel made the observation that, because he refused to give interviews for the last 50 years of his life, Salinger didn't tell us much. I couldn't disagree more. Through his work, he told us everything we need to know.

Join The Happening To Raise Funds For Injured Actors

The Youngblood Theatre Company has announced the details of the fundraiser to assist injured co-founder/ensemble actor Andrew Edwin Voss and his fellow thespian Jason Waszak cover medical costs as they recover from a senseless stabbing attack that occurred on Milwaukee's Eastside early Sunday morning.

The event, complete with music and a comedy show by Meanwhile Improv, will be held at The Alchemist Theatre Friday, January 29, starting at 7PM. $5 will get ya in, but we encourage all to dig a little deeper to show their solidarity.

With the announcement came word that Andrew's condition has been upgraded from critical to satisfactory after having undergone surgery at Froedtert Hospital, and thank the healing arts for that. Jason is recovering at home from less serious wounds.

If ya can't come to the happening tomorrow night, you can donate at The Alchemist website. All funds raised will be deposited in a single-purpose account called "Actor Aid" in the name of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) theatre faculty member and mentor Raeleen McMillion.

Please give what you can to help these actors and their families diminish financial worry and ease what we know to be an extremely difficult physical and emotional burden.

Related:
Urgent Help Needed For A Fallen Artist
Youngblood Theatre Is Shakin' The Tree

Happy Co-Working At The Green Room

Technology is a brilliant and wondrous thing, offering up newfangled ways to communicate, work and play. But alongside the ginormous checklist of pros exists a number of cons that are tough to ignore. One of those not so awesome aspects is the desolate isolation that occurs when we find ourselves sweating over a creative conundrum with no one around to give us an in-person boost. This, of course, inevitably leads us to taking video of ourselves warbling a pathetically mournful rendition of "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry" in the middle of an empty room, which, once posted, is guaranteed to elicit cruel laughter/comments from YouTubers worldwide.

Just such a state did Milwaukee-based artist/graphic designer Jeff Redmon find himself in not too long ago--okay, I have no actual proof that he crooned à la Hank Williams, but let's just enjoy that sweetly melancholy thought for a moment, eh? Spending hours and hours alone in his home studio with nary a flesh-n-blood peep to share ideas or commiserate with was draining him of the all-important motivation he craved.

Being thus stricken and believing that others were suffering in a similar quarantine, Redmon decided that he should open a facility where creative type folks like him could gather, discuss ideas, develop and work on projects, and generally lift their spirits together in an actual physical space. And so he did.

Called The Green Room, the co-work space is housed near the end of a private gravel road in a nondescript building at 300 E. Ward Street in the Bay View neighborhood. Upon entering, one immediately understands why Redmon and his partner Josh Fraundorf, president of Sweet Water Organics--which, by the way, is located just adjacent--chose this humble yet easily modifiable abode.

In the main room, old-school industrial windows let in plenty of natural light and a high ceiling provides an airy atmosphere, creating an inviting environment to take your brain out for a jog. There are six dedicated desks situated in prime spots and available to full-time residents. An additional bar-like workspace is positioned on the wall opposite the windows, ready for use by drop-in guests.

The big seller in this room is the huge white cyc studio area. For those unfamiliar with that term and genteelly asking, "WTF is that?" white cyc--or cyclorama--is a background used in photography and film that has three sides--wall + wall + floor--with no visible seams or corners, making it easy to insert virtual backdrops or images in place of it. It's an illusion, not really there! Anyhoo, photogs and filmmakers love it and The Green Room's got it.

The open ceiling above the white cyc background can accommodate lighting rigs and they've got a bay door that any reasonably-sized equipment truck could use for unloading/loading. Redmon told me that they're tossing around the notion of installing a green screen in the future, so that's somethin' for the all shooters to hope for.

In addition to the main room, the facilities include a small conference room, several chat-n-relax spots, a darkroom for black & white film development, a screen-printing room, a fine art workspace--a.k.a. get your mess on room--and a kitchen area. Oh, did I forget the tech stuff? Silly me. Yes, Wi-Fi and networked printers, too.

Full-time Green Room residents get their own key to the place, allowing 24/7 access, and unlimited use of everything and every willing mind in the joint. The monthly rent is $300 per month and any equipment brought in and left there must be insured.

Drop-ins are welcome and are currently charged $10 per day. It's suggested that you email info at greenroommilwaukee dot com or call 414-403-3465 first to make sure there's room for you.

As is the case whenever you're sharin' space, some rules must be implemented and they've outlined 'em here. Pretty standard stuff, really, but I do loves me the last one: No jackassery. Well said and right on!

Besides co-working, The Green Room rents its facilities for meetings, screenings, art events, what have you. Also, they rent the photo/film studio area to design agencies and professional photographers on an hourly basis.

The space is a bit rough around the edges, but it's got an honest, comfortable feel that's sure to help inspire some fantastic work and maybe even cheery sing-alongs. Who's up for a rousing "Whistle While You Work" round? Anyone?

Link (Thanks, Jeff!)

Urgent Help Needed For A Fallen Artist

It was with great distress that we received an email from Michael Cotey, founding artistic director of Milwaukee's Youngblood Theatre Company, Monday evening informing us that Andrew Edwin Voss, company co-founder and ensemble actor, was the victim of violence early Sunday morning. Though we are not privy to the details of the incident, we do know that Andrew is currently in critical condition at a local hospital.

Andrew was appearing in the role of Davis in Youngblood's staging of Red Light Winter, which opened last Thursday. The play's run has been canceled due to this tragic turn of events.

The company has stated that those "who purchased tickets for the remainder of the run will be offered the opportunity to have their money refunded or donated towards Andrew’s costly medical expenses. The staff of the Alchemist Theatre will contact patrons individually regarding their tickets."

In a show of great compassion, The Alchemist is accepting donations for Andrew’s family at its website and will also host a fundraising event on Friday, January 29, beginning at 7:00PM.

Please give to help a young and talented artist in need.

To Andrew, may your recovery be swift and absolute.

UPDATE: It appears another actor, Jason Waszak, was also injured in the incident. He was treated at an urgent care facility and is recovering at home.

Related:
Youngblood Theatre Is Shakin' The Tree

Music Brings Blog Back From The Brink Of Boring

For some months and with only a singular exception, I've been feeling kinda meh about the postings over at Boing Boing, one of The Internets™ biggest hangouts for the geekishly hip. Equally unimpressive is its relatively new design that squashes some previous posts into a dull, micro-sized list of headlines that wouldn't attract the attention of a detail obsessed researcher. Give me somethin' to whoot about, people!

Thank the virtual gods that help has arrived in the form of guestblogger Stephen Worth, director of the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive, and his Adventures In Music series posted this past Saturday. Of the fifteen posts, #13 is my ultimate fav with a fantastic video of Duke Ellington--along with super talented cool cats John Lamb on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums--improvising a swingin' jazz piece in reaction to the many sculptures of Joan Miró at the Marguerite and Aimé Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul, France:

Magnifique!

Filmed and produced by Norman Granz, the video is available for purchase as a part of a compilation DVD entitled Improvisation. From the rundown of artists highlighted--including Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson--it appears to be well worth the $18.

Also, if you happen to be in and around the Côte d'Azur on the French Riviera this spring--and who won't be?--the Maeght Foundation will be reopening after having undergone a renovation. Stop on in and get a gander of Miró's work in person, and be sure to look us up at our fancy and exclusive vacation address: A sprawling, spacious pup tent on the beach!

Youngblood Theatre Is Shakin' The Tree

It's no secret that the art world regularly operates in a contradictory, nearly schizophrenic manner when it comes to offering opportunities to the young and/or largely unproved. Theatre manifests this nutty tendency in a particularly pernicious way, sapping the vast energy and drive of emerging actors, playwrights, directors, et al by placing them in glorified, dead-end gopher positions and blowing off their ideas, saying, "We'd love to see what you've got, kid, but come back when you've paid your dues."  So the only way for rosy-cheeked yougins and others without a ton of experience to crawl their way into the spotlight is to simply ignore the establishment and get crackin' on the work themselves.

As evidence that this can be done, I give you Milwaukee's Youngblood Theatre Company. Not only have these whippersnappers made the artistic independent leap, but at just six months old they've skipped the crawling and walking stages entirely and are running full tilt toward a promising future, bringing contemporary theatre to our old burg and shakin' the tree with gusto!

Last week I had the inimitable pleasure of sitting down with Youngblood's co-founder/ensemble actor/resident playwright/sometimes director Benjamin James Wilson, co-founders/ensemble actors Andrew Edwin Voss and Tess Cinpinski, and thespian David Rothrock. We met at the always drool-inducing Transfer Pizzeria in Bay View to discuss the company's production of Red Light Winter, opening tonight at The Alchemist Theatre.

Penned by jack-of-virtually-all-writerly-trades Adam Rapp (Nocturne, Essential Self-Defense) and directed for Youngblood by Wilson, Red Light Winter is the tale of two former college pals--Matt (Rothrock) and Davis (Voss)--who couldn't be more different from each other, their encounter in Amsterdam with a prostitute named Christina (Cinpinski) and its lasting effects. Sounds like a real hoot, right? Eh, not so much.

Seems the play actually wants to say something about how we humans--especially youngish humans--are so adept at finding ways to avoid what's really missing and messed up in ourselves that we'll do just about anything to redirect our attention. If it isn't boozing, self-medicating and/or sleeping around with strangers willy-nilly, it's cowering in corner, tormenting ourselves with negative thoughts, obsessing about someone we barely or don't even know, and/or pretending to be someone/something we're not. Now that's entertainment!

Chatting 'round a plate of antipasti, the director and actors had nothing but praise for Red Light Winter, relating their first impression of it as "scary good." Boy, I gotta tell ya, it's pretty damn hard to get four people to a place of complete agreement on anything, let alone on the quality of a play, so I'm gonna take their word for it. Also, I trust anyone who insists that I try a share of good eats, especially when they're holdin' down a day job to support their currently non-paying artistic life.

All four studied acting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and Wilson explained that having past working relationships meant that he could read the characters with actors in mind and not have to send out a casting call. It also meant that he could imagine a specific actor in a type of role he knew they'd never played before, adding an element of challenge and the excitement of exploration. Let's give a shout-out for breaking the curse of typecasting before it's got a chance to set, shall we? Whoot!

For their part, Cinpinski, Voss and Rothrock agreed that the knowledge they'd gained by working with each other in the past made it much easier and quicker to get a handle on the complexities and nuances of the characters and how they relate to one another. Both Voss and Rothrock expressed their belief that Cinpinski's role was the most formidable to develop as the text gave her less hints to the real motivations behind the actions of Christina than the two male characters. Leave the heavy lifting to the one woman amongst you, fellas, and all shall be well and right.

Red Light Winter opens tonight and runs through February 6, 2010, at The Alchemist Theatre, 2569 S. Kinnickinnic. Tickets are just $12 a pop and can be ordered online here.

Warning/Enticement: This is an adult play, people! There is nudity and rather explicit sexual situations, so leave the kiddies and your tween giggles at home, and enjoy the show!

Link (Thanks, Michael, Ben, Andrew, Tess, and David!)

Coco vs The Chin? No Contest.

No doubt you've probably heard and read way too much about the battle between comedians/talk show hosts Conan "Coco" O'Brien and Jay "The Chin" Leno spurred by haven't-got-a-clue NBC execs screaming, "Undo! Undo!" while attempting to fix their HIlariously ridiculous epic fail of scheduling The Chin five nights a week in prime-time.

Coco very rightly and eloquently said, "Later, suckas!" last week when NBC informed him that, after seven measly months on the job, it would be moving The Tonight Show to 12:05 AM EST to accommodate a predictably unfunny half-hour Jay Leno Show--I feel icky linking to it, but fair is fair. As proof of the seriousness of his decision, Coco's posted an offer to sell the show on Craigslist--4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW – MAKE ME AN OFFER!!! (Universal Studios)--and is auctioning off a Collector's Edition Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Carry-On Bag on ebay. Those who dare to mess with The Jester are themselves made fools.

Rumor has it that Coco will likely round out his gig as host this Friday, January 22. It may also mark the end of The Tonight Show of itself, dealing a fatal blow to the 60 year old pitch-your-project weeknight chat-n-bull session.

Because no fight is of any worth if it ain't got powerful images and slogans, artist Mike Mitchell created this iconic, Faireyesque poster so the peeps can show the world just whose side they're on.

While anyone with a working brain can astutely claim that there are far more important issues deserving of one's limited attention and energy, the folks at Comix, a New York comedy nightclub, are holding The "I'm with CoCo" Benefit For Haiti on January 28, so those able to attend can proudly say they care about entertainment fluff and people in need.

UPDATE: Word has come over The Internets™ that NBC will pay Coco $33 million to pack up his jokes and get the eff out after hosting his last Tonight show this Friday. His loyal staff will split $12 million to live on until a new home can be found. And The Chin? Well, he'll return to run the show into the ground at 11:35 PM EST, beginning March 1, as NBC execs have decided he's the perfect poison to deliver a slow and painfully uncomfortable death to its late-night schedule, joining the rest of the network in Broadcasting Without An Audience Land.

Terrific job, guys! ABC, CBS and Fox will be sending you an overpriced gift basket shortly. Even PBS wants to show its appreciation--it's got a tote bag with your name on it!

(via NPR's two-way news blog)

Helping Haiti Now & Later

In honor of this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Cricky would like to encourage all to give what they can to help the people of Haiti as they struggle to survive the aftermath of last week's devastating earthquake. As well you know, Dr. King not only worked tirelessly for the cause of civil rights but was also the main architect of the Poor People's Campaign to eliminate poverty worldwide.

The level of destruction visited upon Haiti by the quake cannot be overstated. As one of the poorest nations in the world, it has struggled mightily with political strife, disease, malnutrition and starvation throughout its history. Financial mismanagement and outright thievery conducted by dictators and elected presidents alike left the country's infrastructure dangerously weak--the cost of which is now being paid by a massive loss of human life.

Please help by donating to UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and/or the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. We know times are tough, so if you cannot give money right now please consider donating a percentage of your tax refund when you receive it. Even a modest amount can do a lot and Haiti will need our help well into the future.

Thank you!

Argh! It's The Dreaded Gallery Night & Day List

Those of you who regularly follow the musings, intel-sharings and look-over-heres on CricketToes know that we are loath to post lists of any sort. Our reason for this is painfully obvious to anyone who's suffered the mind-numbingly tedious Events Calendar menu of a print newspaper or online equivalent. Sure it's free for peeps to get their thing in there, but it's got no substance, no pizzazz, no pop!

Unfortunately, the sheer number of laudable happenings, er, happening during this weekend's Gallery Night & Day--a.k.a. Quarterly Miltownwide Art Competition--has forced us to adopt a very temporary moratorium on our list ban.

Okay, you ready? Here we go in no particular order:

• 2nd Annual Art In The Neighborhood
Friday, January 15, 2010, 5-8PM
King Drive Commons Gallery & Studio
2775 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee
Organized by ArtWorks for Milwaukee, this is a one-night only event, featuring work created by youth apprentices who participated in two fall 2009 ArtWorks programs: Identity Map Portrait Project & Anti-Gang Violence T-Shirt Campaign. Also on view will be the work of emerging artists with strong ties to the Harambee neighborhood. Food, drink, a silent auction and raffle. Live Gypsy swing music performed by 4th Street Elevator--those cats are hot!

• Transitional/Transcultural: New Paradigms for a New Century
Opening Reception: Friday, January 15, 2010, 5-9PM
Exhibition Run: January 15-February 27, 2010
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)
273 E. Erie Street, Milwaukee
The fifth installment of MIAD's Culture in Transition series highlights the work of eight artists grappling with the complexity and beauty of multiculturalism.

• Michael Coates at Caggio: An Art Experiment
Opening Reception: Friday, January 15, 2010, 5-10PM
918 East Brady Street, Milwaukee
Painter Michael Coates invades the intimate space of Caggio with twelve works on view. Also for your perusal, the photography of Ed Sahagian-Allsopp and Richard Bublitz.

• New and Emerging Artists at Tool Shed
Opening Reception: Friday, January 15, 2010, 5-9PM
2427 N. Murray Avenue, Milwaukee
Friend and confidant to every human with an interest in sex--so, yeah, everyone--Tool Shed offers up an exhibit featuring works by four emerging artists: Michele Parliament, Balthazar, Steve Somers and Bankky.

• Armoury @ The Cedar Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday, January 15, 2010, 5-10PM
Exhibition Run: January 15-March 13, 2010
326 North Water Street, Milwaukee
Artists/curators Jessica Steeber and Cassandra Smith of the deceased Armoury Gallery rise from the ashes as they present works by Ginger Lukas, Sophia Flood, Kevin Giese, Katie Kraft, and a collaboration between Karin Haas and James LaLonde. It's 2-2-2 galleries in 1!

• Pfister Hotel 2010 Artist in Residence Finalist Show
Friday, January 15, 5-9PM & all day Saturday, January 16, 2010
Gallerie M at the Intercontinental Milwaukee
139 E. Kilbourn, Milwaukee
Work by the six finalists contending for the honor to become the next Artist in Residence at the Pfister Hotel will be on view and you can vote for your favoritest one! Finalist are: Bridget Griffith Evans, Mutope J. Johnson, Sara Mulloy, Katie Musolff, Kristopher Pollard, and Aries Tjhin. The winner will be announced on February 15.

• Bunny Gumbo's Combat Theatre + Dwellephant
Friday, January 15, and Saturday, January 16, 2010, 8PM
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W. Walnut Street, Milwaukee
After so many years of writing, rehearsing and staging 16 plays in 48 hours, you'd think the kids at Bunny Gumbo would be all tuckered out. You'd be wrong. Joining the crew this year as a sideshow attraction is Dwellephant. Watch as he creates art on the fly in response to each play with only the help of his ears--no visual cues allowed!

So that's The Dreaded Gallery Night & Day List, people. Like it, love it, lump it. Now get out there!