Comments on Artsy Schmartsy: My proposition to graciously walk away from Milwau...

The bright side of this is that ranking Alderperso...

2009-10-24T12:25:43.774-05:00

The bright side of this is that ranking Alderperson Michael Murphy is a big proponent of the arts in Milwaukee.
As for the choice whether we, as citizens, need art or fire fighting, that is what my logic teacher, Dr. Lottie Kendyzerski, would have circled in red as a "false dilemma."
Another positive is you, Artsy. Your tenacity in the face of seeming indifference is a model for all of us.
Please sign me,
#17 and Proud of It.

This "great conversation" woulda been gr...

2009-10-19T14:51:42.261-05:00

This "great conversation" woulda been great 5 years ago. Now, it's beyond overdue.

Simple solution: stop making Art. By that i mean: stop thinking of what you do as Art and therefore special, inherently valuable, and always deserving of support.

Sorry folks, nothing has inherent value, especially not the poetic expression of one's subjective experiences (and that's what art is).

If artists only made things they feel compelled to make because the work says something so pressing, or reflects something important about the way we live now, then new audiences might get interested.

If audiences don't get interested, then your expressions aren't worth expressing to anyone but yourself and your friends, which is fine, make art for them, but don't demand other people pay you for it.

Offhand, does any know how much it costs to admini...

2009-10-19T10:09:13.341-05:00

Offhand, does any know how much it costs to administer this $50,000? Is the city spending $100,000 to give away $50,000?

OK....I'll keep thinking of ways to accomplish...

2009-10-16T12:06:59.093-05:00

OK....I'll keep thinking of ways to accomplish this goal with out obliterating MAB. On a different scale and under different circumstances, I've tried a version of this approach before and my strategy was ignored. That's what I think I would happen with your suggestion to walk away from MAB. We would attempt to be the hero, martyr, sacrifical lamb, or whatever you want to call it, and the straegy would hit the ground with a big thud, and then be forgotten.

I am proud to be one of the 16 sad people who read this blog.

Sarah, I operate under the assumption that about 1...

2009-10-16T11:23:33.869-05:00

Sarah, I operate under the assumption that about 16 people read this blog, so you have not offended me in any way. I concur with your assessment, and this is my whole point. We do something out of our wheel house and it's uncomfortable to be sure, but it quickly makes us a part of a new community and we rapidly actually "listen" to conversations around us that help us take in the big picture and solve bigger problems than a piddly little grant pool.

I want to know if anyone important, meaning influe...

2009-10-16T11:16:16.550-05:00

I want to know if anyone important, meaning influential, is going to read this conversation and share it with important people who do important things. Frankly, it's not the conversation itself that has us spinning our wheels, it's with whom we are having the conversation that keeps us from moving forward. The conversation we are having amongst ourselves is a great one. Is anyone else paying attention besides the choir? My hunch is not (no offense, Jonathan).