CricketToes

Finally, A TEDx Event Miltown-Style

If you've been reading this here bloggity blog for a while and you haven't yet guessed that we're HUGE fans of a little organization known as TED--that's Technology, Entertainment, Design--well consider yourself admitted to the loop. Why are we HUGE fans? Because every year TED organizes gatherings of ginormously smart and talented folks representing a vast array of disciplines from around the planet for one purpose: To spread a highly contagious pathogen called "ideas"--be sure to re-read that if you missed the embedded snarky tone of air quotes 'cause it makes it sooo much "funnier."

Anyhoo, since its beginning in 1984--yeah, you heard me, Big Brother--TED has expanded its offerings mightily, taking full advantage of the ever growing power of the Internets™--most notably through its now gigantic video archive of TED Talks--and encouraging discussions, collaborations and cross-pollinations of all kinds. It also licenses groups who want to organize and present a TED-like conference through a program called TEDx. And that's where our shiny town comes in.

A local band of go-getters, whose names may or may not be familiar to ya--Jerome Knapp, Brent Gohde, Matt Richardson, Chuck Watson, David Howell, and Jeff Redmon--decided that they should organize a TEDx event Miltown-style for the first time ever. They read all the rules--which are fair and numerous--decided on an event type--Standard sounded good to them--brainstormed a riveting theme--STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Music)--came up with a snappy name--TEDxHarambee, a Milwaukee neighborhood as well as a Swahili word meaning "pulling together"--and submitted an application to TED. And wouldn't ya know it they got a thumbs-up and a license. Whoot!

And so it is that on Thursday, May 9, TEDxHarambee will take place in Milwaukee, presenting itself to a full room of 100 invite-only attendees from 12-4PM.

"What?!" I hear you cry. "What about the rest of us poor, invite-excluded bastards?" First of all, don't talk about yourself like that--leave it to those who don't know ya like I do. Second of all, you too can watch the event unfold by watching the live stream here. Feel a bit better? I knew you would.

If you're more of a gotta-be-with-the-peeps type, feel free to join the viewing party at Bucketworks, 706 South 5th Street. Doors open at 11:30am. Word has it you should bring food and beverage with ya to sustain your body and brain for the full 4 hours.

Presented by Made in Milwaukee and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), info on speakers can be found on the TEDxHarambee site.

Fingers and synapses crossed that we'll get a renewal so more of us can attend in person next time!

(Thanks, Chuck!)

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TED Presents: Andrew Bird & His One-Man Music Show!
Philosophy 101: Will the Future Kill Arts Institutions?

The Hero Librarians--& 72 Year-Old Security Guard--of Timbuktu

A time does not come often when we may so obviously equate librarians with heroes, preferring to bestow that honored title most often upon those who carry swords rather than pens, but such a rare moment has come and it cannot, will not pass without note here on CricketToes.

As you may or may not have heard--and, boy, I sure hope you have--there's been some real trouble brewing in Mali--that's on the continent of Africa--since last spring, with Islamic extremists moving through the northern portion and taking control of cities along the way. By all accounts, they did not come to enjoy the generous hospitality of the people and hang out in a student hostel to take advantage of the awesome free WiFi, but rather to spread chaos and war.

No doubt spurred by other desecrations of culturally significant artifacts in recent memory, the Associated Press and others have been keeping a close eye on what's been happening to the great multitude of ancient manuscripts housed in the fabled city of Timbuktu. After initial, heartbreaking reports that it appeared that the bulk of 30,000 manuscripts--irreplaceable documents of human history dating back to the 13th century--stored at the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research had been burned, it is now fact that--wait for it--about 28,000 have been saved!! Whoot and Hooray!

At this point, you may rightly ask, "How did this happy turn of events occur? Who, I say, who could have salvaged such a ginormous reserve of words on paper from the ravages of those determined to destroy it?" Why, librarians of course, and one very, very dedicated security guard.

Overall credit of this colossal act of heroism is due to the library's acting director, Abdoulaye Cisse, who, in his wisdom and foresight, saw that the manuscripts could be in danger and began commanding a stealth operation to move the majority of the texts out of the city last August.

But one cannot accomplish such a huge task with just a small group of librarians--brave though they may be--and without the aid of those whose praises too often go unsung. Enter Abba Alhadi, a 72 year-old man and 40 year veteran of ancient manuscript care-taking. Under cover of night, night after night, this unassuming fellow concealed the works in rice and millet sacks, pushed them across town on a cart and sent them on a long 600 mile journey to the city of Bamako.

Phew! Now that, my friends, is the stuff of legend, no? Yes! And you should all read the harrowing tale in full, penned by the AP's Rukmini Callimachi, immediately, 'kay? Because this real life story powerfully relates the reason why librarians exist--to safeguard and protect history and culture, so that we may learn and share in all that has made us human. Freedom of expression and thought belongs to all of us, and no matter if it's a threat by those who hold extreme religious beliefs--let us not forget the untold damage done by those brandishing the Christian flag--or those who would seek to keep us mute as a means of control or for monetary gain, librarians are the hero sentinels who will stand firm and, in the end, help save us from lesser ourselves.

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RedLine's Runway Design Competition: That Is So RePurposed

Throughout the centuries, high fashion has suffered mightily from what can only be described as acute cases of silliness, disfunction and waste. Take the ginormous, neck-straining wigs so popular with the French royal woman in the late 1700s--twas not so much work by the time the guillotine got its way. Or the layers and layers of petticoats worn under ball gowns in the Victorian era--each set enough to clothe a small village and all its draft horses, too.

Now, the existence of these and many other atrocious examples does not mean that what we drape over our naked, vulnerable selves should simply be functional and boring, conveying a level of visual appeal about as hot as a potato sack, but isn't there some way we can make high fashion more relevant and less wasteful? Huh? Isn't there?

Funny you/me/we should ask because Milwaukee's art incubator RedLine has just put out the word that it's looking for fashion designers, artists and students to apply for its 3rd Annual RePurposed Runway Design Competition. You read that right, kids--each outfit must be made from stuff that's lived a previous life but now yearns to "find itself" in the exciting world of Fashion with a capital F!

Here's what you need to submit:
• Name, Address, Home Phone, Cell Phone and Email Address.

• 2-3 .jpg images--either on CD or free floating within the email ether--of recent samples of garments you've made, created from recycled materials or not. FYI, if you send a CD you ain't gonna get it back, so don't burn a copy of your encrypted fashion manifesto on it and cheerily delete it from your computing device, 'kay?

• Designer/Artist statement describing your work. Keep it under 500 words 'cause nobody needs to hear your "inspiration" story about when you saw Kirstie Alley in a muumuu and you knew it in your bones that you could find a way to squeeze her into a plus size, bullet cup corset with fabulous results.

• Idea for your garment for this year's competition.

The theme is Environment And Water, so ya know you'll be able to come up with something that just screams, "I'm sustainable and transparent!"

Check out full details here. Deadline is Friday, March 1, 2013.

(Thanks, Lynn!)

Related:
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Five Hours Of Music In (& For) Alternating Currents

It's that time of year again, y'all! No, not time for the Plague Of Locusts. And, no, not time for the Scary Clown Parade, though we've got some fantastic weather for that, eh? It's time for the Woodland Pattern Music Marathon to Benefit Alternating Currents Live. Whoot and Hooray!

Tomorrow--that's Saturday, August 18, for those of you lost to time and space--musicians of all kinds will gather at the cozy digs of Woodland Pattern Book Center at 720 East Locust Street in the lovely Riverwest neighborhood to play their hearts, hands, voices, and souls out all for the great good Alternating Currents Live brings to lucky us every single year.

The Alternating Currents radio show, which airs on WMSE 91.7 FM on Sundays from 6 to 9PM, and its sister live show is hosted by Miltown's very own experimental music guru Hal Rammel, and there's absotootly nothing--nothing, I tell you!--like it on this small blue planet. Each year Mr. Rammel lures artists with the best experimental chops from around the world to our humble burg so they can show us new ways of hearing and thinking about sound and music.

This year's Music Marathon at Woodland Pattern runs 4-9PM. Tickets at the door go for $6 for WP members, $7 for students & seniors and $8 for members of the always appreciated general public.

There's still room for a few more musicians to sign-up, gather a minimum of $30 in pledges and show off for a full 10 minutes in the 6PM time slot. Also, anyone wanting to offer support of the monetary kind are encouraged to call 414-263-5001 and do so.

Link (Thanks, Robert!)

Related:
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Calling All Tune Noodlers & Tune Lovers!

Now Dig This: Urban Anthropology LIVES!

Much of the work done by mega smart anthropologists entails delving into the dusty, sneeze inducing archives of humanity's past. What draws them to this discipline is the desire to understand the always complicated and twisted paths we have followed through time and the occasional heady rush they get when they're reminded that history is never static--a feeling that should not be confused with the pleasant wooziness of having ingested a tad too much allergy medication.

But anthropology is not restricted to the study of ancient peoples and cultures that stops at some random, old-timey moment--it is a vehicle that allows us to connect the dots between the way-back-then, the not-so-long-ago and the here-and-now. This, it must be noted, is a tricky business. Why? Because while it is true that the nearer we are to a specific point in the past the more we know about it, it is just as true that our close proximity often clouds our view, obscuring relevant contributions to the picture as a whole.

So what proverbial machine can effectively clear away the mist from what may have been hidden from our conscience mind? Why, art of course! And that's exactly the tool Milwaukee's own Urban Anthropology Inc. is making use of by staging the theatrical production of The March to Kosciuszko. Hooray for artsy science!

Drawing from the very real era of the Civil Rights Movement, the play is set during the moments leading up to the fair housing march of 1967, when some 200 members of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Youth Council mobilized and marched to Kosciuszko Park via what was known then as 16th Street Bridge. Long a geographic symbol of Milwaukee's racial and economic divide between the largly black North Side community and the largely white South Side community, the structure has since been renamed the James E. Groppi Unity Bridge in honor of the legendary Catholic priest who worked tirelessly for equality.

The March to Kosciuszko centers on two families whose neighborhoods, though dramatically different, have suffered the loss of available housing due to the unfettered and unwise freeway construction boom of the 1950s and 60s--a sad period for American cities across the country, the catastrophic results of which we are still trying undo. As the date of the march nears, each family grapples with their own issues. For the South Side family, it is the desire to preserve the historically Polish culture of their neighborhood. For the North Side family, it is the desire to play a role in the dismantling of systemic housing discrimination which denies blacks the freedom to live where they choose. Both are understandably wary of the violence that may be sparked by the march.

Serving as the narrator of the play is General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, for whom the Milwaukee park and its statue commemorate. Polish by birth, Kosciuszko was an engineer who served with great distinction during the American Revolutionary War against the British and then returned to Poland to win independence for his home country.

You may fairly ask, what does a Polish engineer born in 1746 have to do with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s? Turns out that Kosciuszko's belief in equality was so strong that he requested that the money from his U.S. estate be used to buy freedom for slaves, provide them with education and purchase land. Now that's what we call a forward thinker! Not only that, his character serves as the metaphoric and anthropological human "bridge" between the play's two families. Whoa, that's deep, no? Yes!

Rehearsals are now underway for The March to Kosciuszko, but they are in need of three actors, one middle aged Latina and two middle aged to elderly African Americans (male or female). Actors will receive a stipend in the form of a share of the door for each performance. If you or someone you know would be interested in auditioning, contact Jill Florence Lackey, PhD at jflanthropologist at sbcglobal dot net asap.

The March to Kosciuszko will be staged at Basilica of St. Josaphat, 2333 South Sixth Street, in November. Stayed tuned to CricketToes to find out the exact dates when you can see this fascinating and anthropologically significant work of art.

(Thanks, Jill!)

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Comix & Music: Now That's A Weekend!

Here's a little scenario I've no doubt you've suffered through before: You're standing in a gallery space, completely immersed in an awesome exhibit of finely crafted comix--only losers spell it the old-fashioned way and you, my friend, are no loser--when it suddenly dawns on you that the only way this stupendous experience could possibly be even more noodle-exploding is if there was live music. You look around, listen hard and hear only the largely non-musical jabberings of other human beings. We've all been there, people, and it hurts--it hurts bad.

Well, good news, kids! Woodland Pattern Book Center will save us from such pain and agony this weekend with two exciting events happening simultaneously: Hal Rammel's Comix & Cartoons and the 3rd Annual Music Marathon & Benefit for Alternating Currents Live--Whoot and Hooray!

First up is Mr. Rammel's exhibit Comix & Cartoons in the Woodland Pattern Gallery. "What?!" I hear you cry. "Hal Rammel draws comix and cartoons? But isn't it enough that he's the experimental music guru of all of Miltown and points beyond, creating his own compositions and sharing those of others on his Alternating Currents show that airs on WMSE 91.7 FM every Sunday from 6-9PM?" The answer to that fair if overly wordy question is "Yes, he does and, no, it is not enough." Ya see, when you've got a fantastically active brain like Hal's, you've always got to keep it moving or else. Don't know what the "or else" might be, but let's not dwell on that, 'kay? 'Kay.

While it may be news to some, Hal's been puttin' ink to paper for a mighty long time, and this exhibit will display 30 years of his work, including new drawings and cartoons. There's an artist's reception on Thursday--the night that the cool kids know actually starts the weekend--August 18, beginning at 6PM, with live music--you heard me--supplied by guitarist Chris Rosenau at 7PM. The exhibit runs to September 25, 2011.

Okay, so in that same gallery space on Saturday, August 20, the 3rd Annual Music Marathon & Benefit for Alternating Currents Live will kickoff at 1PM and continue on until you keel over in utter amazement at all the talent harbored in our fair city or 9PM, whichever comes first. So far, the line-up's looking pretty sweet, with a few of our local favs, like Steve Nelson-Raney in the 3PM slot, John Muther at 4PM and our bud Dan Schierl--a.k.a. Dan of Earth--in the 8PM hour.

There's room for more musicians, folks, so if you'd like to strut/strum/blow/pluck/tap/bang your stuff in front of a live audience--let's keep it clean, people--and help raise funds for the outstanding Alternating Currents Live series hosted by Woodland Pattern, call 414-263-5001 to sign up! Artists get 10 minutes to perform, and 5 minutes for set-up. Also, ya gotta raise at least $25.00 in pledges, but you can do that in your sleep.

Phew! It's hard to believe that these two wondrous events will be happening in the exact same place in one weekend, isn't it? And yet it is true. Should you doubt my word, I can only advise that you find out for yourself by going to 720 East Locust Street for both and, in the process, renew your faith in a weekend well spent.

(Thanks Hal!)

Haggerty Museum Takes It To The Streets

For decades, super smart folks have been telling traditional artsy institutions that they should pack up their old kitbag and take art out into the streets instead of passively waiting for the peeps to come to them. This very thoughtful advice has most often been met with the enthusiastic verbal response, "Say, that's a swell idea!" only to be quickly succeeded by a frustrating let's-just-go-ahead-and-do-nothing silence.

Thankfully not all artsy establishments remain inactive and mute, making the oh-so right decision that the effort to bring art to the world outside their walls is actually a mighty good thing for everyone. To wit, the Haggerty Museum at Marquette University, along with the Avenues West Association, is currently presenting the Crossroads exhibition at the corner of 27th and Wells Streets in Milwaukee. Whoot!

Lynne Shumow, the Haggerty's Curator of Education, informed me in a phone conversation last week that the impetus for this exhibition was sparked by a project organized a decade ago. At that time, she and Andrew Parker--then of West End Development Corp and now the co-owner of Manderley B&B at 3026 West Wells Street--partnered up to showcase the work of eleven artists in a building designated for rehab at 27th and State. The one-night exhibition drew over 1000 people, by her estimation, and stirred up genuine excitement and a we're-all-in-this-together attitude in the neighborhood.

Fast forward to the present day, and Shumow and Parker are at it again with Crossroads. Comprised of temporary window installations created by four extremely talented and diverse Wisconsin artisans--Hans Gindlesberger, Rafael Francisco Salas, Michael Velliquette, and Rina Yoon--the exhibit is up now where the Concordia and Avenues West Districts meet and will stay up through July 30.

As the Haggerty's exhibition description states, "Crossroads aims to strengthen community pride and increase the visibility and viability of the neighborhood. The themes of the window installations reflect the project’s urban location, focusing on neighborhood, reinvention and revitalization." Impressively enough, no grant money was secured for this exhibition and yet funds were still successfully raised to pay the artists, proving once again that worthy work will always receive the support it needs, you just have to ask.

Shumow told me that there are no specific plans for exhibits of this kind in the future, but I would like to heartily encourage the Haggerty to keep bringin' the awesomeness of relevant art into the community and make the suggestion to other art institutions that they do the same. People don't care about things they're unfamiliar with, so bring the best of what ya got to them and the care will follow.

As an addendum to Crossroads, there will be a group exhibition of work by the four artists at the SoHi building on the southeast corner of 27th and Wells on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30--that's Gallery Night and Day for those of you keeping track.

(Thanks Lynne!)

Express Your Support For Miltown's Artsy Youth

The desire to express oneself artistically has been well documented throughout the cosmic blip that is human history. The drive to do so emanates from the need to make sense of our specific reality and communicate it to others, therefore expanding the understanding of the vastness of human experience.

For the young among us, this hankerin' to be heard and seen through creative means is so strong it completely blows away any other urge they may have bubbling away in the volatile volcanoes of their hearts, not to mention other body parts--hehe! And don't tell me that ya don't remember those days 'cause somebody somewhere has got ample evidence of your tween and teen explosions, 'kay?

As a subset of the pre-adult crowd, at-risk youth have all the more the reason to get their art on. Why? Because, as we all know, the creative process strengthens the ability to comprehend and articulate individual circumstance and come to terms with painful experience, which is in no short supply for many. Also, they just can't help it, so why not, huh?

Express Yourself Milwaukee is acutely aware of this need in our city, working tirelessly to help the youngins release the pressures of an often mad world through artistic venting. And tonight it will present the Annual Multi-Arts Show, featuring a whole gaggle of artsy kids eager to tell the world who they are and how they roll. Best part about it is that you're all invited. Whoot!

This year's theme, PULSE, is a one-word descriptor of life and the program is set show off the visual art, music, dancing, spoken word, and video work of young talents from 8th Street School, Our Next Generation, Westside Academy, Running Rebels Community Organization, and St. Aemilian-Lakeside with representation from the Milwaukee County Juvenile Detention Center.

So get yourself on over to the Humphrey Scottish Rite Center, 790 N. Van Buren Street, at 6PM sharp tonight to witness the creative PULSE of Milwaukee's youth. It's free and open to everyone, but we encourage all to chip in at least the $10 suggested donation.

Link (Thanks, Daisy and Mary Beth!)

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RAM Boldly Announces New Fellowships

In these bleak times of diminishing financial breaks in the artsy world, the Racine Art Museum (RAM) has just announced a brand spankin' new fellowship opportunity, called--surprise!--the RAM Artist Fellowship program. Well, whoot and hooray!

Open to visual artists livin' and slavin' away in the Racine/Kenosha urban corridor--that's east of I-94 for those of you who can still afford the luxury of automobile upkeep and use its concrete pathways for geographic reference--the program will hand out four $2,500 fellowships in 2012. Beyond the much needed dough, fellows will get their work exhibited at RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts from August 31 through November 30, 2013.

According to the press release,

"These competitive fellowships will recognize artists, at all stages of their careers, who are creating outstanding work in all media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, bookmaking, sculpture, installation, film/video, fibers, glass, metals, wood and ceramics."

Gotta say, that's a rather broad and bold statement--what with the two very prominent "alls" within it. One hopes that the good folks at RAM and the generous program sponsor, the Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation, will live up to their brave words.

The fellowship prospectus will be available in July at the RAM website for all you Racine/Kenosha visual artists bold enough to apply.

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Cream City Foundation Wants To Make You A Philanthropist

When most of us come across the multisyllabic descriptor "philanthropist" in our daily info gathering we don't think, "Hey, they're talking about me!" No, what we think is, "Oh, Warren Buffett/Bill and Melinda Gates/some random member of the Top 1% Crowd is gonna give away some serious kablingy." This spontaneous response couldn't be further off the mark, however, as each and every time we dig into our tiny pockets to benefit a worthy cause we become just as fancy but nowhere near as annoying as that Richie Rich kid from the old-timey comics--youngsters should go here for intel on that geekishly obscure reference.

Truly, the opportunities for us to morph into Philanthropists with a capital "P" are as numerous as there are deserving organizations and projects, making it a definite challenge to choose which we should back with our very hard earned dough. Today, though, I'm gonna make your decision so easy your money giving puzzler won't know what hit it.

So what meritorious cause raises my confidence level so high that I'm convinced there's no possible way you can resist? Why the Cream City Foundation's Art & Philanthropy: Caribbean Style event, scheduled to take place next Thursday in Milwaukee, that's what!

Organized to benefit CCF's Arts and Culture Fund, the happening will feature a silent art auction, with work by Ron Kosok, Pete Stolowski and Elizabeth Brown up on the block. Also, dance instructor Melissa Dexter will provide free, hot salsa dance lessons to anyone brave enough to strut their stuff in public and Women's Voices Milwaukee plan to perform as well.

Tickets can be purchased for a little as $25 and ya'll got at least that sittin' idle in your penny jar. Ambitious folks aiming to make a greenback splash can ante up more and have their name officially changed to that of a famous/infamous artist, like the stunningly talented Mexican painter Frida Kahlo--patron saint of the beautiful unibrow.

CCF is an outstanding and invaluable organization that works for social change on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. From its Gay Neighbor initiative to its tireless efforts to eliminate homelessness among LGBT youth, CCF makes Miltown and Southeastern Wisconsin a better, fairer and more compassionate place to live for all us.

Okay, so get yourself over to the Art & Philanthropy: Caribbean Style event on Thursday, March 31, 2011, from 6-9PM at the home of the mighty generous Andy Nunemaker. If anyone asks what you do while you're hobnobbin' at the party, you can loudly and proudly say, "I'm a Philanthropist."

(Thanks, Maria and Charles!)

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