Aristotle, Courage and the Golden Mean

I saw this quote and it rang so true that I wanted to write about it.

Courage is the golden mean as a virtue, between too much fear which produces cowardice and too little fear which produces recklessness.

When I Googled it to see where this sentence came from, I found that I had already written about it two years ago, on Medium.

This experience brought to mind a friend who had read every Louis L'Amour Western. That would be 100, for those who might be counting. (He also wrote 250 short stories, so the guy was prolific.) What she said was that in his last books he sometimes mixed up his characters. That is, someone in book 87 might accidentally make a cameo appearance in book 98. She was certain that L'Amour's little mix-ups were unintentional. 

I have occasionally found articles or blog posts I wrote that I forgot about entirely. Occasionlly I have opened a file that I thought was really well written, but wasn't sure if I wrote it or it was copied from somewhere else. 

I'm not yet 70, so I have miles to go before I sleep, and will likely experience this more than a few times as the shadows creep in a little further down the road.

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Here's the original story on Medium. It's titled Courage: The Golden Mean Between Cowardice and Recklessness.

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The reason this Aristotle quote was on my mind was because I was thinking about our National Poet Laureate Billy Collins, who wrote a poem titled Aristotle. It happens to be one of my favorites and appears near the end of his book titled Sailing Alone Around the Room. It's a fabulous bit of writing that many writers would sacrifice an arm to be able to achieve. (You can still be a writer with one hand, right?) It might actually be enlightening to discover what it really feels like to experience the sound of one hand clapping. (Am I pushing that too far?) 

Collins was on my mind because very recently an acquaintance of mine, a poetry prof at UWS, got a phone call from Mr. Collins. The National Poet Laureate had called to notify him that his book of poems, Roze & Blud, was under consideration for a Pulitzer.  Congrats, Jayson. Your fans are all on pins and needles.

Related Links

 

Aristotle, by Billy Collins

UWS Poetry Prof's Collection Gets Pulitzer Consideration

Jayson Iwen Talks About Literature, Translation Work and Jawdat Fakhreddine's Lighthouse for the Drowning

Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

Local Art Seen: Student Show at the Kruk

Amanda Reese, Times Ticking (detail) -- Mixed Media

Student shows are always a rewarding experience for artists who were once student artists themselves. One can hardly view the work of students without thinking of the art exhibitions you were in when young. I was striving to be an art major at Ohio University, honored that a few of my instructors even remembered me year later, honored that one of my paintings had been selected to be hung in Chubb Hall, the admin building.

This was juried exhibition and students whose works passed the audition were here displayed in the Kruk Gallery. The exhibition showcases work from across a range of mediums. This year’s juror is UWS alumni and nationally recognized encaustic artist, Natalie Salminen Rude who has been working professionally in the arts since 2004. She maintains a studio, teaches encaustic workshops both locally and internationally, exhibits and facilitates discussions on spirituality and shares what it means to live as an artist within the context of commitment. Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday, 2-6:00 p.m.; Awards Reception: March 25, 12 noon; On View: March 5-26

What follows are my weak efforts to capture some of this show. I strongly encourage you to see the work in person. I once saw Michelangelo's incredible Pieta in person and I can tell you it moved me deeply in ways unexpected. Ever since, I've always felt that what you see in a book or online is just a shadow of what you will find in person.

Britta Bergstrom: "Hello, is this Jonathan?"

Sonia Fields--"Clementine"

Sonia Fields -- Krowki (Little Cows) -- Not a photo. Ballpoint pen drawing. (Must see.)

Daniel Murphy, Untitled series.

Sam Nye -- Untitled

Emily Koch -- Jester

Emily Koch -- Royalty

Jack Hanson -- Untitled

Mathew Tappe -- Ancestry

Ethan Streblow -- Acadenics (cropped)

It was through a student show that I met Ian Welshons, who illustrated my story A Remarkable Tale from the Land of Podd. And student shows bring to mind some of the instructors from my years at Ohio U, people like Gary Pettigrew, Ron Koutrel and Frank Holmes. What these students are doing is only the beginning of a much longer journey. It will be interesting to see how they develop, not only as artists but as creative people.

The show will be on display through March 26.

Related Links 
Illustrations by Ian Welshons, Remarkable Tale from the Land of Podd
Frank Holmes, an early influence
Ron Koutrel, Ohio U art prof
The Many Faces of Ennyman
The Creative Urge

Local Art Seen: UWS Faculty Show at the Kruk

ON FINDING ONE'S SELF
"The main thing now is not to paint precociously but to be, or at least become, an individual. The art of mastering life is the prerequisite for all further forms of expression, whether they are paintings, sculptures, tragedies, or musical compositions."--Paul Klee

"Journey" -- Gloria Eslinger

""Journey" (detail)

Yesterday I was able to make my way to the Kruk Gallery at UWS. It is one of the easiest things to do because there are three parking slots outside the entrance there on Catlin. Except during a major event inside you will always find parking there. It's a small gallery so you can easily finish your rumination in the 20 minutes allotted.

The current exhibition is a Faculty Show. It's a small showcase of treasures. Here is a representative collection of images. If you have never been I would encourage you to visit, if only to learn where it is so you don't miss the next opening there because you didn't know where to go.

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"The Rituals of Unexpected Death: When Your Heart Stopped."--Shannon Cousino

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"The Rituals of Unexpected Death: The New Normal" (series of woodcuts)

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"The Rituals of Unexpected Death: What Doesn't Kill You"

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Detail from Mike Maguire's "Untitled Tryptich"

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"Bubble Landscape"--Gloria Eslinger

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"Rite"--Tim Cleary

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"Vase"--Mike Maguire

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"When we're overthrown
values illuminated
please etake directions"
Natalie Salminen Rude

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Megan McGarvey and Katie Lindow Discuss Outsourced, Their Documentary Film About a Decision at UWS

Megan McGarvey with Katie Lindow

Last Friday a schedule for the upcoming Catalyst Content Festival was posted online. Having thrown my hat in the ring as a volunteer, I was eager to see what would be happening when so I could schedule accordingly. (I believe volunteer opportunities still exist if you are interested yourself.)

Two films especially interested me. One of them features Jeffrey T. Larson, founder of the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art here a few years ago. (Watch the trailer.) A second is a documentary selection titled Outsourced: The New Wisconsin Ideas.

Outsourced is a documentary about the abrupt suspension of over two dozen programs at the University of Wisconsin Superior on October 31, 2017. The film digs deeper into the aftermath and the real impact of those suspensions, from faculty, students, and the community of Superior Wisconsin. The documentary doesn't just highlight this event but it expands beyond it and looks into why these suspensions occurred in the first place. It's a deeper look into the budget cuts to higher education both in Wisconsin and across the country.

Megan and Katie in Superior.

The director and producer of the film, Megan McGarvey and Katie Lindow, are UWS alumni who say they love UW- Superior as an institution but do not condone the decisions made in secret. felt we needed to tell this story. The two submitted their film to eight film festivals before getting accepted as part of the Catalyst Festival. They considered it important that Catalyst is committed to independent and small creators in both traditional media and new media.

The interview here was originally with director Megan McGarvey. Afterwards II was interested in hearing the producer's answers to the last two questions as well.

EN: How long have you been making movies?

MM: I started making films professionally June of 2018 so just over a year now.

EN: What motivated you to your documentary Outsourced: The New Wisconsin Idea?

MM: Katie, my producer, and I were really motivated to make this film because we both care deeply about UW Superior and all of the people who were effected by the suspensions that occurred on October 31st 2017. As alumni we felt like we needed to preserve this moment in UW Superior's history, and share the voices of those people who were directly impacted by these suspensions, and to look deeper into what those suspensions meant for the entire UW System.

EN: What is it that makes movies such a potentially powerful medium?

MM: Cinema, and media in general, is such a powerful medium for story telling because it can be the most authentic piece of truth or the most beautiful illusion. Narrative filmmakers have the ability to completely construct a reality. Documentarians have the opportunity to share stories that are preserved truths.

Personally, the story we tell in Outsourced is a very complicated one, however with the power of film we were able to drop audiences into the actual experience of what it was like to be a student at UW- Superior. You get to see never before seen forum footage, and be a part of protests that only students or UW Superior Faculty knew about. You get to hear from experts and eye witnesses and that is definitely a more powerful method of story telling than me gabbing all afternoon about one event.

Scene from . film. Vigil in Superior.

Getting the angle right.

EN: You submitted this film to nine Midwest festivals. Is Catalyst the first to accept it?

MM: Yes, Catalyst will be our first festival, and my first film festival ever!

EN: What were your biggest takeaways from working on this project?

MM: The biggest take away from working on this project is that whatever you do, do it with passion and zeal. Katie and I would spend hours at her kitchen table editing on two standard laptops combing through over a hundred hours worth of interview footage every Sunday together for a year. We would meet each other at work watching cuts of the documentary in between dinner breaks. Neither of us had all of the professional equipment, and we definitely didn't have money but we put our hearts and souls into this film. It was with that passion that we were able to finish this film and we feel so blessed that we get to share this film with Catalyst!

EN: How have you been personally changed?

MM: I've been personally changed in a lot of ways. I have changed in how I approach projects now and how I would like to execute them. I also feel this deep connection towards anyone who has allowed me to be a part of their story and I take great care of that story once it is given to me. I respect my subjects so much and I am always so grateful when someone will agree to sit down with me. If everyone would have said no to me then Outsourced wouldn't exist! I really got to experience just how collaborative this medium is and it is still one of the best experiences I've ever had and I can't wait to start on my next project!

Producer Katie Lindow was also  asked these last two questions.

EN: What were your biggest takeaways from working on this project?

Katie Lindow: The biggest takeaway for me is how important it is to have passion for the project. This is a subject we both care deeply about, so it was important for us not only to complete this film but to also create something we felt could stand on its own for a larger audience. The other takeaway would be the importance of having a well-thought-out process in place to get through this film. Megan and I both work full-time careers and also hold second jobs, so we were really structured in what our goals each week were. We had the entire film mapped out with completion dates long before we really got into the editing process. Having a plan really allowed us to stay on schedule and create a beautiful end product without feeling rushed.

EN: How have you been personally changed?

KL: Since Megan and I were the only two people working on this project, we really had to become jacks-of-all-trades. In my role, I juggled fundraising, screenings, marketing, and had a hand in editing the project, while Megan became the cinematographer, director and editor. Time management became something that was incredibly important, and something that I'm happy to say I've succeeded in.

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Related Link

Catalyst Content Festival
https://www.catalystcontent.org/schedule

Quilts Are Magic: Scott Starfire Lunt @ The Kruk, UWS

11:11

Last night was the opening reception for Scott Lunt's quilt exhibition at the Kruk Gallery, UWS. Once again I will remind readers to learn where this little gallery is located in Holden Hall, home of the school's studies for Fine and Applied Arts. There is a convenient three-slot parking space on Caitlin right outside the hall entrance with the gallery directly on your right. It's convenient for stopping during a lunch hour when you can't make evening events like opening receptions.

In 2014 the artist visited McTavish Quilt Studio with his mother and came away inspired by possibilities he'd never considered before. He ended up getting hooked. Since that visit, he's made nearly a quilt a month, drawing from the fabric of Duluth, both figuratively and literally. He takes inspiration from both the quilt environment and music scene in which he is enmeshed.

Here are some of the images you will see if you go to today'a "Quilts are Magic" artist talk from noon to one.

Detail from "This Is What Four Years Looks Like"

Lunt sees the process of cutting, piecing, working with color and texture as something akin to conjuring spells. The quilts produced become evidence of his magic.

What's interesting are the stories each tells. There's a sense in which you can guess where an idea was formed and it is the problem for which each design is the solution. For example, how do you say "Quilts are magic?" There are many solutions, but Lunt chooses to say it in Morse Code, selecting a colors scheme that is also intentionally left to be decoded. His quilt "For Gram" utilizes symbols to tell his grandmother's story, her faith being a central part of this story.

"Quilts Are Magic"

"For Gram"

"Starfire"

"Mercy Now"

"Rainbow Shag" 

The "Quilts are Magic" show will be hanging through April 26. 

EdNote:

AT NOON TODAY

There will be a gallery talk by the artist

in the Kruk Gallery, UWS.

Local Art Seen: Virago @ Kruk Gallery, UWS + A Reminder About North End Days

Sarah Riley

Last Thursday I visited the Virago exhibition in Kruk Gallery, UWS and Lizzard's opening reception for Murphy & Murphy. Virago, the title of the Kruk show, means, "a domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman." Synonyms include harridan, shrew, dragon, termagant, vixen, fishwife, witch, hellcat, she-devil, tartar, martinet, spitfire and more. The archaic definition might be, "a woman of masculine strength or spirit, a female warrior." The trio of featured artists include Chelsey Rae, Jillian Dollars and Sarah Riley.

According to the accompanying handout, the word's Old English origin dates back to the Latin, "heroic woman, female warrior." The impression one gets is that it will be a show by women, featuring strength, fighters who refuse to be dominated, verified in Chelsey Rae's artist statement.

Chelsey Rae

"I knew that I wanted my body of work to focus on the idea of woman, of femininity, and of strength. I also knew that the two other Alumni that I exhibited with would have a similar theme in mind," Chelsey Rae states. "I came across the word virago in a search related to strong women. We never questioned the word and knew that it fit perfectly with our intentions of the exhibit."

Jillian Dollars pictures are about women who are courageous, powerful, resourceful, kind, smart, talented and funny as hell. "I want you to see these women," she states. "I want you to see their spirit and strength and vulnerability. I want you to see some of the many faces of this sisterhood... resilient and enduring women. I admire them and I am inspired by them, and you should be too."

Sarah Riley has found her inspiration in the human form and all its diversity and fascination. Her portraits consist of both people she's imagined and people whom she admires for their artistic endeavor and overall significance, in this life and in this world. Her aim is not simply to capture a likeness but also to capture something of the personality and demeanor of her subjects, a unique challenge every time. Rooted in the concept of "body positivity" it's her stated hope that the viewers of this series "feel empowered, validated and secure in their own unique beauty."

Jillian Dollars

The show was curated by Annie Dugan and will be on display through October 30. Kruk Gallery hours are one Google search away.

Jillian Dollars

Sarah Riley

Sarah Riley

Chelsey Rae

Chelsey Rae
See more: www.chelseymillerart.com

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THIS FRIDAY: SUPERIOR COMES ALIVE
ART, MUSIC SEVEN VENUES

MEANTIME ART GOES ON ALL AROUND YOU.GET INTO IT.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: UWS Faculty Show @ Kruk Gallery

Susan Maguire, Wolf and Hands

Mike Maguire, Portrait

Mike Maguire. Loon Valdez in foreground, Walking Birdman (pastel) on the wall.

Tim Cleary, Tracery

Susan Maguire, Untitled

Susan Maguire, Heart and Green Hand

The UWS Faculty Show held its opening reception this past Thursday. 

On display were works by

Kim Borst

Tim Cleary

Shannon Cousino

Denise DeGidio

Gloria Eslinger

Susan and Mike Maguire

Parking is easy as pie. There are three slots for cars

directly outside Holden Hall on Caitlin. During most 

visits to the gallery I've found all three vacant.

There is no cost. If you follow the arts here in the Twin Ports

you owe it to yourself to discover the Kruk.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.