Welcome to Dem Bones
Hello — Stella Cretek here. You’ve landed at Dem Bones. Don’t let my upswept blonde ‘do and drooping cig fool you. It’s only a jpeg of a painting by a friend who is an exceptionally bad painter. Because this blog will attend primarily to art, I figured I’d start off with an example of what art isn’t. Look around and you’ll see plenty of it in our town. Milwaukee is filled with artists tagged as “emerging,” “mature,” “promising,” “interesting,” etc. They paint, sculpt, exhibit their photography, produce assemblages, dabble in metal and clay, and generally vie for attention of local art critics who are also vying for attention. There is some hope out there however. Tom Bamberger, a local writer/photographer, enlivens Milwaukee Magazine, along with art historian Deb Brehmer, who manages to teach at MIAD and maintain the Portrait Gallery in the Third Ward, plus runSusceptible to Images. Over at the Shepherd Express, Aisha Motlani is developing attitude about reviewing art and architecture. Attitude is a good thing, and thinking persons need not fear it. Non-thinkers are the ones who need to worry.
Apr 22nd, 2008 by Stella Cretek
Ald. Bohl Pushes Commission To Deny Density
A land division request to create twelve lots for single-family housing on the South Side of W. Bobolink Ave and West of W Appleton Ave met criticisms of being to dense and not being consistent with the neighborhood. Although this development is not indicative of the urban development happening throughout the City of Milwaukee it points out the divide between the urban and suburban parts of the city. Throughout the vast majority of the city you’ll find density numbers far in excess of 2.9 households per acre where in this part of the city local Alderman Jim Bohl argued that 2.9 households per acre was too dense for the neighborhood and therefore undesirable. Despite these tremendously low density numbers and evidence presented showing that there are developments in the area with similar density numbers it was apparent Bohl would push for less housing to be built on the site. The commission held this resolution to allow the developer to work with Bohl and the neighborhood on a reworked plan.
Apr 22nd, 2008 by Dave Reid
Talley’s Folly
Originally staged in 1979, Talley’s Folly is a romantic theatrical waltz for two written by Lanford Wilson. Milwaukee Chamber Theatre closes its season with a production of the play starring Laura Gray and Jonathan West. In 90 minutes without intermission we see an unlikely romance develop between an older man and a younger woman on July 4th, 1944. Jonathan West plays Matt Friedman, a sharp Jewish gentleman who is smitten with Sally Talley, a strong-willed, highly articulate southern woman. Matt meets Sally at a decaying gazebo-like boathouse in twilight. In no uncertain terms, Sally tries to tell Matt that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with him, but Matt is persistent. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where the plot will ultimately end up, but it does get there in a refreshing way. Cast in the glow of Jason Fassl’s lighting design, R.H. Graham’s well-designed set establishes a pleasant mood. Still, the play starts off on the wrong foot; when it begins, there is Jonathan West, bearded, speaking in an accent that is difficult to place. That’s intentional, but West’s voice doesn’t sound natural, even if the emotions behind it seem to be. West tries his best to be charming at the outset, but he falls considerably short for at least the first quarter hour, coming off as that guy you meet at the bus stop whose conversation you tolerate for the sole purpose of being polite. Laura Gray as Sally makes it apparent that she wants to get rid of Matt as quickly as possible, but, though it is easy to identify with her need to get away from this guy, sympathy doesn’t go far enough to make her seem all that pleasant either. But the awkward first third of the play is worth sitting through, particularly for those who pay attention. Somewhere after the first half hour, the dynamic between Sally, Matt and the audience becomes a lot more comfortable. There’s an emotional gravity between Sally and Matt that keeps them orbiting each other in conversation, careful to keep their distance for fear of crashing into each other too soon. Gray and West portray the intricacies of human emotional traction with admirable subtlety. As the story of Matt and Sally becomes increasingly interesting, the production builds momentum, and somewhere around the last quarter hour of the play, Matt Friedman becomes irresistibly charming, and Sally’s strength becomes unspeakably beautiful. The audience had to sit though 75 minutes worth of less-than-satisfying theatre, but everything ends almost perfectly. Right on time. And without the relative discomfort of much of the rest of the play, those last 15 minutes wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good as they end up being. As it is, this is one of the most satisfying productions of the season, even though so much of it is rather unpleasant. VS Talley’s Folly runs through May 4 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at […]
Apr 21st, 2008 by Russ Bickerstaff
Fan Belt Milwaukee
Apr 21st, 2008 by Vital Archives
Weekly Milwaukee Development Bookmarks
Articles from the past week covering development in Milwaukee. OnMilwaukee.com Dining: New Third Ward Fratellos blends waterfront concept with urban chic St. Luke’s installs huge hyperbaric chamber – Small Business Times Donations add new capabilities for UWM – Small Business Times Shining light on region’s transportation gridlock – Small Business Times JS Online: Urban businesses get a boost City urges UWM to expand downtown – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: JS Online: City could gain in Great Lakes plan Real Estate Weekly for Wednesday, April 16, 2008 – Small Business Times JS Online: Black apprentice ranks grow Marcus Center hires CB Richard Ellis to assist parking structure site development – Small Business Times Park Lafayette progressing – Small Business Times Milwaukee’s tourism industry will be strong in 2008 – Small Business Times JS Online: State foreclosures relatively low
Apr 21st, 2008 by Dave Reid
BOZA Approves 2040 Lofts Variance
Scion Group‘s $16 million expansion of 2040 Lofts went before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA) to obtain a dimensional variance allowing for less parking spots than required by current zoning. Having received conditional approval and support of the local Alderman previously this project has begun construction on the foundation work and is scheduled to be completed in 2009. Despite one neighboring property owner’s concerns regarding parking the board recognized that this is a student housing development and that the demand for parking would be lower than a typical development of this size. In a further attempt to alleviate parking concerns and allow students from Marquette University, MSOE, MIAD and UWM to live within the development, the Scion Group has plans for shuttle buses to run from 2040 Lofts to various destinations throughout the city. Finally it was pointed out during the meeting that if this project was zoned as an apartment building, instead of a rooming house, it would already meet the zoning requirements. The board followed the local Alderman’s recommendation and approved this variance.
Apr 21st, 2008 by Dave Reid
The Alterra Story
What makes urban Milwaukee special? One of those things is certainly committed local businesses. Alterra Coffee Roasters is certainly one of those companies. Recently the Small Business Times sat down with Alterra’s founders Ward Fowler, Paul Miller, Lincoln Fowler to discuss where the company is headed and how the new Riverwest location on Humboldt fits into that.
Apr 19th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Green Vendor in Wisconsin?
If you have a “green” product or service in Wisconsin, now may be your time to shine. Walmart as part of their sustainability program is looking for Wisconsin-based green products or services including things like organic produce, landscaping services, or recycling services. Definitely worth your time to check out if you’re a producer of any product you can sell as “green”. Let me know if you have any success. I’m curious if I can sell “urban advocacy” in a bottle.
Apr 19th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
