Kareem Abdul Jablog

Whenever I think my life is way too hectic (… and fun!) to even consider keeping a robust and regularly updated blog, it pays to stumble across the blogs of giants. And by giants I mean people who have far less free time, and many more important things to do, than me. While I flirt my way around town, catching record spins at the Y-Not 3 and biking to Bradford Beach to play bocce ball, there are legendary people in very high places with estimable responsibilities turning the heavy cogs of society, attending many dignified functions, allocating finances, raising families, building important structures either tangible or conceptual, WHO STILL FIND TIME TO BLOG. Today I got a press release from the good people at the American Library Association, who want me to know that their spokesperson for September’s 2008 National Library Card Sign-Up Month is none other than … KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR! I love him. And now I’ve discovered his blog, a very thoughtful and thorough compendium of Kareem’s thoughts about basketball (mostly), the Harlem Renaissance, jazz music, Dubai, the death penalty, boycotting the Olympics, and books and records he likes. Reading it, I feel like we’re friends. I feel like he’s my smart, charming, intellectually curious and NBA all-time lead scoring uncle, and I just want to hang out with him and talk about how we feel about the world. So take it from Kareem. Go get a library card, so you can learn things, think about things, and then write blogs about them. Then go play some bocce ball.

Reasons to vote Republican

Public Not

The small Iowa town I grew up in had not one piece of public art. And still doesn’t, unless you count the town square’s small granite memorial dedicated to Veterans, and a black and white fiberglass porker standing proud on the rim of town. It’s refreshing to go back for reunions and not have public art in my sight-lines. I doubt if any local folks (population 1,000 and shrinking) have ever thought about the possibility of art that is “public.” Omaha, the home of Warren Buffet, is only 70 miles west, so if they should absolutely have to experience art, I guess that’s where they’d head. Image: Public Sculpture Winter 08 On the route west, there are plenty of stately silos to consider. Stanton, Iowa is only minutes away as the crow reckons, and they do have what I guess is a form of public sculpture: a huge elaborately painted coffee cup mounted on their water tower. Being entirely populated by Swedes who all dwell in small white houses, the town appreciates a good cup of java. Prior to the coffee cup water tower, they had a coffee pot water tower to honor one of their hometown products, Virginia Christine, a.k.a. “Mrs. Olson,” the kindly Swedish lady who became a spokesperson on teevee for Folger’s coffee. When the pot ceased functioning, the good folks shifted gears and went with the cup motif, likely because they didn’t have anyone other than Swedes to consider. When the “Blue Shirt” sculpture proposed for Mitchell International was hung out to dry a few years ago, Milwaukee reached a new low in art appreciation. Our County Executive, Scott Walker, led the charge against the work, along with other misinformed persons who claimed to “know what art is.” Is it worth noting that Walker spent his formative years in Fairfield, Iowa?

Dancing Queens

The Tuckers and the Tomaszeks have decided to learn the Cotton Eyed Joe before July 4th. We started today, dancing and laughing our tails off in the living room. To be clear, we are not good dancers. We might be weaker dancers than we are singers – and for anyone who has heard the tribe belt out Buttercup, you know that’s saying something. But we’re learning it anyway, because we think it will be a hoot to do at the annual Fourth of July cookout. If anyone wants to come practice with us, you’re welcome to do so. I promise you’ll have a good time.

Pabst Farms Now Encouraging Retail and Industrial Sprawl

Oconomowoc-based Pabst Farms, yet another development named after what the bulldozers destroy, is not limiting itself to simply encouraging commercial and residential sprawl anymore. In a move that I can only interpret as desperation (in the face of the growing trend of industrial firms relocating to the Menomonee Valley), Pabst Farms developers Developers Diversified Realty Corp of Cleveland is set to begin the construction on the first of three speculative industrial buildings.

Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!

Smoker’s Paradox: Photographs by Mike Brenner Annual Members Show June 20 — July 25 Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 911 W. National Avenue Opening reception: Friday, June 20, 6-9 pm Mike Brenner, former proprietor of Hotcakes Gallery, has emerged from that grave, and, at age 34, is busy re-inventing himself, most recently in the annual Members Show at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts (WPCA). He sent me notice and a link to his “Smoker’s Paradox” series wherein he seems to be wearing a hunk of pink fluff on his pate while smoking cigs around town. Three of his 8.5”x l1” photographic images (priced to sell @ $20 each, unframed, and $40 framed) will be available. You don’t have to be a smoker to buy them. Last year around this time, 67 artists participated in the exhibition, so Brenner won’t be flying solo. From what I saw online, Brenner’s entire series (three selected for the exhibit) fill two of my basic three rules for what art is: content and consistency. As for the craftsmanship in his photographs, Brenner emailed this to me: “Overall, I’m not super happy with the quality of the final product, but I think an important part of the process is to put ideas out there and get feedback. My camera was stolen when the gallery was robbed a few years back, so the images were taken with a cheap-ish point and shoot digital and I just printed them out on a printer at home because I’m broke right now and couldn’t afford to send them out to be done.” Brenner studied art for a year and a half at Colorado State University, then went on to study photography at MIAD before graduating in 2000 with a degree in graphic design. WPCA – housed in a building that once belonged to Mr. J.L. Burnham, creator of cream city bricks – is a good fit for him. People like to hang out on the front steps smoking cigs and soaking up the local color. Early issues of Art Muscle magazine were produced in the ballroom on the third floor, and over the years, many artists have lived in its apartment spaces. A few have continued to work in the arts. In many ways, the historic venue is like Brenner himself, who is also a gritty survivor. His “Smokers Paradox” photographs set off lyrics from Tex Ritter’s 1947 tune (written by Merle Travis) … I light up a cig and listen to this wafting through my head: “But nicotine slaves are all the same at a pettin’ party or a poker game; everything gotta stop while they have a cigarette.” This past December, Brenner sold out the photographs he exhibited at Miami Aqua. Using the alias “Samuel Baxter,” he even earned a mention on artinfo.com. “What a coup for a kid from Wisconsin to get a blurb for selling $5 photos in Miami,” Brenner says. But whoa, is Brenner really smoking cigarettes these days? He told me he […]

Summer days, summer nights with De La Buena

By Amy Elliott and Amber Herzog De La Buena is: David Wake, Cecilio Negron Jr., Andy Noble, Julio Pabon, Aaron Gardner, Eric Jacobson, Mike Pauers, Jesse Sheehan, Holly Haebig, Elladia Regina James Wake (De La Baby). Not pictured: Jeremy Kuzniar, Jamie Breiwick. Ready for festival season? We sure are, especially because it inevitably means the return of De La Buena, one of Milwaukee’s most distinctive party bands. We sat down with band leader David Wake waaaaay back in February after they played a smashing set at the City of Milwaukee Birthday Party. We thought you might like to hear more about them now, though, since it’s sunny, hot, and everyone’s ready to salsa. Viva De La Buena! And read on … Ed. Describe the sound of De La Buena. In simple terms, De La Buena is a sophisticated dance band. First and foremost, we’re a Latin Jazz band, but we are no doubt influenced by the traditions of Salsa and Samba infused by the great bands of the 1960s and ’70s coming out of New York, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Cuba. We have a big sound that includes a four-to-five-piece horn section, Hammond organ, bass, and three percussionists (one of which is a kit drummer). The instrumentation we employ stretches beyond tradition and allows us the freedom to step into other realms of musical and artistic expression. Obviously, De La Buena is a large band full of musicians from eclectic backgrounds. Where do they come from, how did they come to De La Buena, and what do they bring the project? The band shares a very strong family bond and we’re family people who take their art and their craft seriously. Most of us inherited a deeply rooted love of Latin music from our families, and have the ability to stay true to that history and those traditions without becoming predictable. We love to have fun and make music, but we also want to put out music that has integrity and taste. What’s the appeal of the music you play – for you and for your fans? We bring something for both body and mind. People come to the shows to listen, and people come to the shows to dance. Folks really seem to love a big band with a big sound and they know that when they come to a De La Buena show, it will be a culturally diverse scene, especially in a town so infamous for its segregation. For the band, our appeal lies somewhere between tradition and innovation. We learn about and share the history of Latin music, but always leave room for innovation and new ideas. How has the band grown and changed over the past five years? We started as a trio. Adding a drummer, a tenor saxophonist, and a trumpet was another, more improvisational phase of the band—a period of discovery. Our songs consisted of much less organized ideas and grooves that we would use as launch pads for improvisational explorations. Our album, […]

Half-Baked (Why presidential candidates should clean their plates)

When Barack Obama exited a Pennsylvania diner, he left behind a plate with a half-eaten waffle and a bit of sausage. Too bad he didn’t clean his plate by stuffing his face, as a waitperson snapped up the detritus and bagged the contents (including the silverware), the result being that it showed up on Ebay, alas to no avail, as it was yanked shortly thereafter. But that didn’t stop the masses calling themselves “artists.” As of late April, an enterprising type had sallied forth on Ebay with a small oil painting, “Memories of Barack Obama”, billed as a one-of-a-kind. Down in Kansas City, artist Sonja Shaffer unveiled paintings of Obama at the Unity Temple, a cozy place I’ve eaten (not waffles) at frequently. It was billed as an Obama fundraiser, with 10% of the sales going to the Obama campaign. The bad news is the Temple limited reservations to no more than twenty five. This would seem to be a losing proposition for everyone. Down in Florida, the Department of Transportation was blasted with gripes that a painting of Barack was a shill for votes, the result being that the Miami-based artist had to paint over BO’s face on the mural, which originally was to be part of a beautification project. The artist, one Serge Toussaint, used white primer in the work, and further griped he is now being accused of “whitewashing” Obama. Isn’t it amazing what artists will do for a shred of publicity? Or could it be that Obama’s people are fueling the mania for things Obama? Would they dare? For your perusal, I’ve included some suspect images by artists vying for fifteen minutes of fame. It’s only going to get worse as we grind on to November. In retrospect, the small painting of the waffle/sausage remains reminds me of the foodie paintings of Wayne Thiebaud, whose slices of eats can be seen at the Milwaukee Art Museum. At least it shows possibilities, and of all of the many Obama images to be found online, it’s only half-bad. It must be hell being a presidential candidate, or the Bronze Fonz, which is on the move again, this time to a more “visible” site on the former Tula’s patio on the Riverwalk.

Insurgent Theatre needs your old junk!

Insurgent Theatre ain’t too proud to beg cuz their commitment to re-use, re-cycling, and re-ally affordable theater is more important than their pride. Here is a list of materials needed for their ambitious summer plans (check out insurgenttheatre.org to see what those plans are): RAW MATERIALS -1 x 4 lumber, lots of it. Approx 4 ft lengths or longer -4″ diameter PVC pipe, we need 11 ten foot lengths. -4″ PVC couplers, right angles, three sides, T-bones, etc -Duct tape -electrical tape -loose pin hinges (common door hinges) -silver paint that will stick to PVC -8 to 10 yards heavy white fabric (for sewing into costumes) SET PIECES (LARGE PROPS) -a cot that folds up real small and brings the sleeper at least 12 inches off the floor. -two identically matching desks, either white, or can be painted white, with drawer -two identically matching straight back armless chairs, also white or paintable, should look okay with the desks -2 rolling office chairs PROPS -2 matching unbreakable white dinner plates -2 fake sniper rifles -How-To books about basic electrical work, demolitions, or hand to hand combat. Especially with large audience-readable titles on them. -shiny wrapping paper, to wrap a box the size of a hatbox or large shoe box -4 large heavy duty canvas sacks, no printing on them -4 inflatable pillows (to go inside the sacks and make them look full) -old paint rollers/brushes -an old, non-working cell phone COSTUMES -2 50’s style men’s suits (sizes TBA) -black button up shirts -black beret -2 identical pair white high heel shoes, size 8 and 9. -6 mother of pearl buttons -2 pair nylons -2 identical pair white button earrings – fashionable medium to small sized long raincoat, film noir-ish. If you’ve got this stuff laying around, or know how to get it cheaper than normal, please call Rex at 414.305.9832!

Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 16. June 2008

http://www.gmtoday.com/milwaukeetoday/editorials/mcbride.asp DailyReporter.com JS Online: 46,400 square feet of musical muscle Potawatomi opens new space Vegas-style – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: DailyReporter.com Mobile’s Take: A-Half Cent Sales Tax for Parks County panel proposes parks funding shift to sales tax – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: JS Online: Transit tax plan revived JS Online: Casino glitz, Fonzie cool Open houses planned for U.S. Postal Service project – Small Business Times JS Online: Building collapse crushes plans JS Online: Capturing the Harley spirit JS Online: Bank to invest in loft project Zilber’s affordable Pabst apartments will target ‘creative class’ – Small Business Times National City invests $4.8M in Brewery project – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: JS Online: Depot food plans stir tension State’s Biggest Cities Hot on Solar Power Olympics in Chicago could help Wisconsin Editorial: Our way cool lake Your thoughts on the Hill climber biker? Winning trumps image Miller Brewing, Cowboys hook up – Don Walker: Business of Sports Welcome to Walker’s Point Miller likely to maintain civic profile Regents approve two new schools for UWM UWM neighbors demand changes

Public Works Committee

City Hall 200 East Wells Street, Room 301-B Milwaukee, WI 53202 Agenda

Common Council Expands BID Board

To begin the proceedings Don Smiley the CEO of Summerfest gave a presentation regarding this year’s Summerfest during which he pointed out two items of interest. First, they have demolished the Harley Davidson Roadhouse and constructed a new stage that will open on June 26th. They’ve opened up that stage to the lakeside and created a 3,000 square foot deck so the general public at large can enjoy the lake front while enjoying the music. Secondly, Smiley made it clear that part of Summerfest’s marketing would be to tie the marketing to the City of Milwaukee. These improvements should be applauded and hopefully Summerfest will continue to improve the grounds and connection with the City of Milwaukee. The first items taken up at the Common Council meeting were to complete unfinished business from the previous cycle. Although all five appointments had been held at the encouragement of Alderman Nik Kovac specifically included in this was the appointments of Boris Gokhman and Joel Lee to BID #41. The delay provided time to expand the board from five to seven members and with the history between New Land Enterprises and Alderman Kovac it at least gives the appearance that this board expansion was done to dilute the influence that New Land Enterprises may have on BID #41. The Common Council also approved resolution 080121 which would accept funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities 2008 grant. The City of Milwaukee is one of twelve cities selected for this grant which will be used to provide training for solar panel installation and funds for educational materials to help promote solar technologies. Alderman Tony Zielinski sponsored and encouraged these efforts and it is clear this is just the beggining of his attempts to “green” the City of Milwaukee.