Not Dark Yet

Yesterday I heard someone mention that the police had used an unmanned predator drone in a police sting of some sort. It took twenty seconds last night to find a story about the event on Google.

I often hear said that you have nothing to worry about if you're not a bad guy. But what if someone somewhere inadvertently, or even vindictively out of malice, paints you as a bad guy? In the name of fighting terror, it's my understanding that a lot of our rights are quietly being removed including the right to privacy and the right to a free trial.

Do we have too much government encroachment on our freedoms? Have government regulations gone too far? Are there reasons why the U.S. economy has been sputtering while China's economy has been racing? Yes, yes and yes. There's just too much red tape.

After reading a few articles about the drones I stumbled upon a website called Red Laws, dedicated to exposing the loss of freedoms in America. The site offers some interesting and even entertaining stories. Today's current top story is about a man in Winona, MN, who was not permitted to rent out his house when he went back to the Middle East as an advisor. Another story is about a woman who was hounded by the USDA over a lemon tree, which they ultimately removed from her possession. Another tells the story of a Memphis woman who was told she had to remove the American flag she had installed in front of her optometry business.

As I pondered these things, the opening stanza from a Bob Dylan song came to mind.

Not Dark Yet

Shadows are falling and I’ve been here all day
It’s too hot to sleep, time is running away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I’ve still got the scars that the sun didn’t heal
There’s not even room enough to be anywhere
It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there

Copyright © 1997 by Special Rider Music

In the meantime, zippity-doo-dah... and have a good day.

Rocky Balboa: A Critical Review

"Rocky Balboa is without a doubt the best sequel in the Rocky series. It is touching, exciting, well-acted, well filmed and well written." ~Comment at imdb.com

So, I finally caved in and watched Rocky Balboa last week, the sixth and final episode of the Rocky series conceive by and starring Sylvester Stallone. Sly owes a lot to Rocky because he was the character that opened all the doors for his career in Hollywood, against all odds.

If anyone remembers, Rocky V was a bomb. Whatever it aspired to be, it was not a fitting end to the story of a fighter who never gives up, always willing to take it on the chin to go another round. Stallone evidently believed the Rocky series should end on a high note, and here we are with Rocky Balboa.

An astonishing number of people commented on this film at imdb.com, the place I go to see what the public thinks about movies. The critics are hit and miss, sometimes unreliable because of a built-in bias against certain directors or Hollywood of Indie films, or they're stroking someone whose career they want to see take off. In this case, the lavish praise for Rocky Balboa appeared as over-the-top as the character himself.

~Stallone proves he's more than a stereotype.
~A Mature Rocky, still packs a Punch!
~A fitting end to an iconic series
~The final round of the greatest hero in the history of Cinema
~Now, this is how it ought to end!
~Incredibly Inspiring - even after seeing them all many times.
~Bring a box of Tissues to this one!!!
~Do not listen to the critics!!!!!!!
~Sly Floors The Rest!
~Yo! Adrian... Rocky's Back

There is ample evidence that the Rocky story has connected to the hearts of the masses. He's the iconic symbol of an underdog, and his films repeatedly grossed millions of dollars. But to be honest, it was painful watching this film. Not only is everything here predictable, it's filled with lame dialog and a tiresome Stallone whose manner of speech begins to really grate on your nerves after a while. (OK, if you love da guy, you love da face and d'way he he tawks.)

Here's the definition of the word cliché: A cliché is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel.

The story line here involves a young heavyweight champ who has been undefeated in 33 fights, mostly knockouts. Mason "The Dixon" Line is king of the hill, but now boxing is all spectacle and losing its fans. What can be done to bring boxing back to a more respectable, and profitable, level? The sports network creates a fantasy match between Mason Dixon and Rocky Balboa, allowing computers to reproduce the fight. Of course one thing leads to another and the former champ agrees to "an exhibition match" with the reigning champ.

Rocky is in the neighborhood of sixty and, well, all he does all day is walk around mumbling, so he's really not in shape. Yet, when all is said an done it's "here we go again" with the Rocky theme park music.

Adriane is in her grave but Paulie is still here, and a grown son... and a new love interest. It's Hollywood and that love thing has to be there.

No spoiler here. Despite the insipid lines throughout, there is a measure of surprise and class in the tight finish.

You might enjoy this film, but if you squirm a little with the slow pace for the first half, don't say I didn't warn ya.

After The Ball

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.” ~Martha Graham

A nice feature of Facebook is the ability to create albums of photos as a means of organizing ones pictures. Here's a link to a Facebook album with a few of the pictures from last night's show at Goin' Postal.

The picture here was taken down the street at Mr. Lucky's the billiard hall. I am sure that those who did not know there would be a pottery show in the space were exceedingly surprised when they walked in and saw this. Dusty Keliin is the potter who found a way to bring his art to the public.

Jack London once said,“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” It may be that this applies to finding an audience for one's art as well.... and may well be the impetus behind some of the art in public spaces movement we've seen emerge in the past number of years, such as the Kamikaze art events by the Limbo Gallery, and the more recent Phantom Galleries in Superior.

A tip of the hat to all the people involved in making these things happen.

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” ~Henry David Thoreau

PRØVE Is Proven

If there was ever any doubt after the first show, last night’s Second at the PRØVE Gallery here in Duluth erased all of it. Duluth’s newest venue for the arts is generating excitement, buzz and a lot of attention.

The Second show features work by a variety of artists, nine in all, all working in different mediums and with no seeming relationship until you step back and begin to build the connections. Like art from all ages, it is the viewer’s choice whether to engage or not, whether to mentally interact with what has been placed before them. The abstract movement of the 20th century took the public in directions they had never considered before. Some said, “Pshaw!” Others said, “Wow.”

Art is another language, and sometimes a little background helps make the engagement experience more profitable. In my case, one of the artists gave me a tour of the show, shared some of the thinking that went into the various explorations in this exhibition. For example, Zach Gorr’s "A Study" looks simple enough -- electrical tape on a wall -- until you have been asked to adjust the angle at which you perceive the space. It's aim was to transform the 3-D space into a 2-D perception, which as a painter I found especially intriguing because much of my work toys with ways to give the appearance of three-dimensionality to two dimensional surfaces.

Intersections

It is, when you give it any thought at all, quite startling how many lives we intersect with in the course of a lifetime, especially as you move outside the comfort zone of your customary circles. Anthony Zappa’s "Second Space" (Monofilament, Steel & Light) carries my thoughts into the realm of seen and unseen as the splay of filaments stretch out from a corner of the room into the seen yet not readily perceived space of the gallery. Rays of laser-like energy pulse out from a hidden source. What’s behind the wall? I want to go there, but it’s forbidden. The window into the soul of the piece is inaccessible without a ladder, and the draped doorway to that space behind the wall has a scrawled warning, no admittance. So, too, the people we meet in public spaces like this. There is the seen, the unseen, with windows to glimpse in and doors that invite or restrict exploration.

So it is that the PRØVE was alive with fascinated viewers, many whom I’ve been intersecting with in various spaces and places these past couple years. A publisher, a professor, a poet, a photographer, a film maker, a curator, a spokesperson for the down and out, gallery owners, potters, friends of the artists, and the curious... all gathered to interface with the new and intersect with the arts. Music by The Crunchy Bunch permeated the atmosphere in the gallery space, contributing to the energy.

All in all, I sense a level of confidence here that is promising for the PRØVE and good for Duluth. It will be interesting to see where it all goes.

Twin Ports Art Beat, December 9

A lot happening again this weekend in the Twin Ports art scene. Just gonna take a minute to make a suggest a few places and spaces to take in if you're out and about this weekend.

Tonight is the opening/reception at the PRØVE that I wrote about early yesterday. If you missed their first show last month, don't miss this one, aptly titled Second. 7-11 p.m. at 21 North Lake Avenue, on the left side as you're driving up the hill from the Canal Park District.

Tomorrow evening is a a dual event in Superior featuring art in atypical spaces, Lucky's Billiard Hall and two blocks north, Goin' Postal, both on Tower Avenue. The Goin' Postal event runs from 6-9 p.m. featuring work by Jeredt Runions, Tara Stone, Andrew Perfetti, Gustave Campanini, John Heino, Bonnie Grittner, Eric Horn, Amanda Christine, James Campbell, Kelly Thompson, Jeredt Runions, Sharon Rogers, Tal Lindblad, Amanda Mead and Ed Newman, among others. Mark Anderson will be on hand with his jazz guitar. 816 Tower Avenue, just across the tracks.

The impetus behind the Lucky's event up the street was Dusty Keliin's desire to share some of his own creative work with friends. Sometimes the best way to share one's art when you can't bring the public to your space is to bring the contents of your space to the public. The Superior Telegram featured these two events in a front page story yesterday by Maria Lockwood titled Mixing art and business.

Back on the Duluth side of the bridge there are at least two goings-on at the Depot. The 2011 Holiday Pottery Sale will certainly be fun because in addition to exceptional art and holiday treats there will be jug band music by Dave Lynas and the Procrastinators. Artists include Jan Andler, Tim Riley, resident stone sculptor Sean McManus and many others, including the hearth-warming work of Lynas himself. (Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Near simultaneously there will be a Depot Winter Arts Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. According to an announcement in the Trib, the Depot Winter Arts Festival includes free tours of the Depot’s museums, Santa and elves and performances by local artists including Arrowhead Chorale, Playhouse Children’s Theatre, On-Call Cabaret and a reading of “The Polar Express” by the super-animated and good-hearted local actor Cheryl Skafte.

The notice asks that guests bring mittens to decorate the mitten tree, mittens that will be donated to a local shelter.

The festival is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and is free and open to the public. Santa visits from noon-4 p.m.

While downtown, don't neglect Lizzard's Gallery on Superior Street, the Ochre Ghost art sale (hours posted on the window) or the month long show of Kamikaze artists' work at Jitters.

To paraphrase Bob Dylan, "Meantime art goes on all around you." Have a great weekend.

Pearl Harbor Day Reflections

When the Twin Towers were struck and fell on my birthday ten years ago, 9/11 was immediately being compared to another Day of Infamy sixty years earlier. What’s striking about the two events is how differently the news reached us. In 2001 Americans across the land were glued to their TV sets seeing replays of the horror and hearing commentaries of related unfolding events as they happened, with varying degrees of accuracy but instantly. With Internet access we could also watch reactions from around the world. Information about the 1941 attack came home to us in a far different manner, as this book excerpt shows.

During World War II my father-in-law Wilmer A. "Bud" Wagner kept a diary which years later he assembled into a book, with the help of his son Lloyd. And There Shall Be Wars is 536 pages in length with 178 original photos and illustrations. In many ways it is a remarkable document by the second man from this region of the country to enter the army, serving for the duration in North Africa, Italy and all points in between. The diary entries were made throughout, but the book’s additional value comes from the commentary added nearly fifty years later. Here is the excerpt from Pearl Harbor Day through the ninth. The italicized portion is commentary from the book.

Sunday, December 7, 1941
Slept until 9:00. Made my own breakfast, which was fried eggs, bacon, and toast.
Went to church in the Service Club. Good service by Chaplain Walker.
By the time church was out, so was the news of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Probably this will affect my life very much in the future.
Will go to the Service Club and to church again. Nice today.
Chaplain Walker gave a real good sermon tonight as well. There were only 8 of us there. I got both of the Lucas brothers to go, and Sheppard.
Undoubtedly, we will be on the alert or affected in some way. Some discharged fellows are to report back to their local boards.
Off today. Talked and listened to a lot of the fellows' ideas as to how this will affect us in the future. There haven't been any specific radio reports on Pearl Harbor attack that I've heard, but some information comes now and then.
Our first quesion is, "Just where is it?" Of course, in the Hawaiians, and from all accounts so far, it was bad. It puts all of us in a much more sober mood.

Monday, December 8, 1941
The United States declares war on Japan. We hear the news on noon. I am on duty with Ceno.
We have an alert tonight at 5:00. The 125th Field Artillery of our Division is starting to pull out of Claiborne. I'm wondering what the folks at home are thinking. I bought another diary book tonight.
I'm still the newest cook in the kitchen, but Tarman likes me pretty well. I do my job and somewhat more, so there are no complaints.
I don't care too much for the Philippino cook.
He seems he might be a bit tricky, but then it might just be a strong desire for a drink. All our bottles of extract are taken care of by the Mess Sergeant, but the Philippino seems to find something to drink.
An alert is always a lot of work, but Tarman told me later that he caught the Captain's wink, and only loaded a few things on the kitchen, formed a convoy, drove a few miles, then came back to camp.
The Philippino will drink lemon extract as readily as Otto did.

Tuesday, December 9, 1941
Another alert at 12:30 a.m. Hard to get up, but off-duty cooks always
have to help load. Most of our personal things go along as well, except for our foot lockers.
Had a bad headache. My things are in a mess. We left at 1:30. Got somewhere around Leesville to the firing range at 4:00.
Tarman and I put up our tent together. The situation is non-tactical, so we built a big bon-fire tonight.

As we gathered together around our fire, and after, we had an arousing talk by Captain Genung. Some of the things he said were, "This is it, men. We go for the duration. You will learn to bayonet the Japs and Germans as they sleep in their tents. It's all-out war now. Be prepared to go and do what you are told."

After that, we wondered if the Germans could see our big fire, and maybe come and bayonet us.

The United States and Great Britain had both declared war on Japan. In his address to Congress, President Roosevelt described the events at Pearl Harbor as the forming part of a "date that will live in infamy." Roosevelt did not ask Congress to declare war on Germany or Italy. Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, The Free French, Yugoslavia, and several South American countries all declared war on Japan. Also, China declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Some sobering facts had come in since Sunday's attack on Pearl Harbor. At 07:55 local time, Japanese carrier aircraft attacked the main base of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. There was complete tactical and strategic surprise.

Six Jap carriers were sent with a total of 423 planes. Two waves of attacks were sent in. All eight U.S. battleships in port were damaged, five of them were sunk. Also, three cruisers and three destroyers were sunk. We lost 188 aircraft to the Japs' 29.

Words and accusations were flying. The Admiral in charge of the Pacific Fleet would be dismissed because of having all Anti-Aircraft (A.A.) guns locked in peace-time. Then it was Sunday, and many officers and crews from ships were ashore.

We had a lot to talk about, and wondered at how many more mistakes we would be going through for the "duration?" There were some. And those who made the mistakes were sure to try to cover them.

All in all we were able to say, as we could many times in the future, that "Error is Error, and Truth is Truth."

If you or a loved on has an ongoing interest in World War II history, this book would make a great addition to any library and a nice Christmas present. It is still available at Savage Press.

Preview of Friday Night's Opening: PRØVE Gallery Second

Last night I met with Justin Iverson, Anthony Zappa and Stephen Read, three of the five principals of the new PRØVE Gallery in Downtown Duluth. When I arrived I found the young men immersed in preparations for Friday evenings opening of PRØVE Gallery Second. The reception will run from 7 pm to 11 pm. I encourage Twin Ports arts followers to stop in at 21 North Lake Ave to catch some of the most progressive art action in the upper Midwest. Despite the looming deadline Iverson, Zappa and Read allowed me to interrupt, offering up chairs so we could chat in more depth about the vision and story behind PRØVE.

Several of the artists involved with the collective had been UMD art students involved with the two shows last year at the former European Bakery on First Street. Nearly all of them had other plans after graduation, but for some those plans fell through. As they discussed the year ahead the notion emerged of creating an art space independent of the commercial aims other galleries must grapple with in order to remain solvent. Their focus would be on extending the boundaries that restrict other galleries in the region.

While some of their peers moved away, this group was not about to sit idly by waiting for the next bus to somewhere. They set about to bloom where they were already planted. “We saw this as an opportunity to get experience and to build our portfolios,” said Iverson.

“We’re learning how to run a gallery,” said Read. Features of the gallery include having a space that is large and offering a gallery without some of the rules that restrict artists in other spaces. Zappa noted, for example, that the Duluth Art Institute doesn’t allow students to have shows. "We also want to create opportunities for emerging artists.”

As for positioning, the men indicated that they were inspired by the Ochre Ghost, which has limited space but has established itself as a venue for new creative work. The size of their space at the PRØVE allows them to take this to another level, but with a different ambiance than the Tweed. It’s neither a salon gallery or a commercial gallery, but it is definitely a serious endeavor.

“We’re all trying to get into grad school,” Zappa said. “This gives us something that we can build on. We’re not just looking for ‘anything.’”

Rick Hansen of Sound Unseen and Nickolas Monson are the fourth and fifth members of gallery team. The former student artists were introduced to Hansen through UMD grad Leon Nyarecha, a film maker now in Santa Monica. One of the men here said, “Rick made this all possible.”

I was impressed at the respect the students had for what was happening in the arts here in the Twin Ports, even if they were defining a somewhat different path for themselves. Read stated that most of the galleries were focused on tourism instead of being art galleries per se. They were selling art products as a business venture, hence the prevalence of paintings of the aerial lift bridge and the lake. “We’re all influenced by the lake but we’re not trying to make art just to sell,” he explained.

I asked what each was trying to achieve with his work. Iverson indicated that he was intrigued by kinetics, striving to incorporate that interest into his process. One of the others affirmed that he was indeed very process oriented. Iverson liked working with mixed materials.

Zappa’s interests led him to deal with issues surrounding perceptions of space. “I like to force people to acknowledge their presence” and to cause them to have more awareness of space and movement.

The best part of the collective, Read said, was the sharing of ideas. This second show would include more works by friends, volunteers and supporters. "Without them we wouldn’t be here. The first show was an introduction to the gallery with this show intended to be the beginning of a conversation after the introduction." Ten more shows will follow.

When I got home afterwards I realized I’d neglected to ask where the name of the gallery came from and contacted Hansen who replied that PRØVE was “a Norwegian word that means about the same as the word prove in English. It seemed to match what we were trying to accomplish with the gallery. Plus we really liked the O with the / as a symbol.”

Friday night’s event will feature art by Alexander Hanson, Nikki Burger, Michael Beachy, Brittany Sanford, Zach Gorr, Anthony Zappa, Justin Iverson, Nickolas Monson and Steven J. Read. It is free and open to the public.

Local sponsors of PRØVE Gallery Second include Sons of Norway, Carmody Irish Pub, Clyde Iron Works, Sherwin Williams, The Crunchy Bunch and Sound Unseen.