By All Means, Let's Be Reasonable

Today, for the umpteenth time, I saw somebody comment, in mocking tones, that religion is wholly irrational, and I've finally reached a tipping point.

No, I'm not suddenly converted to some secure faith, comfortable that I have a place in the immortal realm. In fact, I'm probably less sure of my future than ever. But I will say, as a reasoning human being, that I find reality seems a mighty irrational, unreasoning thing.

Where is the logic, where is the reason in any life? From the moment life begins, it is doomed to end, likely to feed another doomed life. The merest cell, though, does everything it can to survive. It pushes itself through chaos, consuming others to become itself, sometimes to exist for only a few short minutes, sometimes for days, sometimes even longer, perhaps to transform itself into part of something even larger. Does it reason its existence? Does something else provide its reason? Reason, such as it is, tells us we are incapable of knowing the answer to the latter.

Life, itself, is without any apparent logic.

Out of seeming chaos, despite all logic, we live. Despite all reason, through that chaos, we choose to continue to live. Despite all reason, we find ways to enjoy the random nature of our existences. We find joy in our lives. We find laughter, or we make it. We make music. We make art. We make love. None of these things has even the remotest basis in logic, and yet, it is logical to pursue it all, because without it, there truly is no reason continue a life.

And so it is, for those who have faith. There is no logic behind the choice but that which says that to believe in an unseen force, a higher power, is to enhance one's existence in some way that defies reasoned language. This is not necessarily a bad thing in a human being. After all, it was those who believed in a Higher power who set themselves to the task of proving His laws. Those ambitious few established scientific method of inquiry, by which reason may be supported. And that scientific inquiry is what made modern technology possible, bringing joy  by way of advanced medicine, travel, communication, diet, and so on, to many more who otherwise would have lived and died in misery.

Without the illogical mind, this would not exist

Neither would this

let alone this

and this.



So, believing in the unlikely has long had its place in society. A little lack of logic is not to be mocked. It's only reasonable.

Hats off to Stan Lee: Nat'l Medal of Arts recipient

Excelsior! Stan Lee is finally recognized for his influence on the arts.

It couldn't have happened to a better guy.

Happy Birthday to Eva Zeisel!

There are lots of folks out in the world who have never heard of Eva Zeisel -- in fact, I hadn't, until only a few years ago. In the art world, the name is often everything. Today, Chihuly and Picasso and other successes have become practically household names, for their revolutionizing their media. But in the world of ceramics, the hand is all. Eva Zeisel has one heck of a hand.

There are plenty of sources for her biography, but too often they skip over the brief time, in the early 1950s, she spent here in Monmouth, IL (except when they're trying to buy or sell pieces she designed/crafted while here, at Western Stoneware).

There's a fellow who comes the the local auctions, now and again (he used to come every week, but his health is fragile... he's probably only about 10 years younger than Zeisel, after all), who worked pretty much all his adult life at the Monmouth Pottery, primarily making cups and mugs. One day, when the auction house had about a dozen locally-made Zeisel pieces up for sale, the gentleman commented that he had worked with her, and had never been impressed by her and never much liked her stuff -- it just didn't look strong enough, or words to that effect.

I have to admit, I look at them and think of fluids, of motion, of laughter and whimsy, and the gent at the auction didn't strike me as one who had a sense of humor about dishes. He likes the chunky, clunky, almost purely utilitarian stuff with the horrid green glazes, and the drip-glaze pieces.

If it weren't for Eva Zeisel's works, I suspect tableware would still be serious, stiff, and depressingly formal -- or worse, permanently 1970s-avocado-green-ugly. Certainly stoneware -- and Western Stoneware -- took on new light when she first cast clay.

I raise a glass in honor of her birth, one century and one year ago, today.

This week is Illinois Arts Week

This is Illinois Arts Week. It started on Sunday, and ends this coming Saturday at whatever time we go to sleep.

I just learned of this, today, while reading about some of the goings-on in Galesburg. I realize that a large part of the reason Monmouth isn't in on this stuff hugely is because our arts community just suffered a sudden, shocking loss, but I can't help but wonder how I missed it.

I, who used to live by the paintbrush, did not know that there was a state-tax-dollars-supported week, and a Federally-promoted month of art. Further, I didn't have a clue that this had been going on in my home state since I was finishing high school!


I should be ashamed.

But I've marked it in my calendar for next year, and I'll be discussing with the new director of the Buchanan Center for the Arts, pursuing ambitions for next year's events. We can't let Galesburg get the upper hand in the arts, darn them! ;-)


And now, to atone for my sin, I include a fine example of Illinois art, from my postcard collection, including the description from its back:

"Big Daddy," the tallest totem pole east of the Rockies, stands on North Main Street in Abingdon, Ill. Designed and hand-carved by Steve Greenquist, it has a 17' wingspan on the upper wings. Its 10 carved figures reflect Abingdon's history.

Mike DiFuccia, R.I.P.

My mother & I received an e-mail yesterday from our former neighbor and associate, Jim DeYoung. The message read thusly:

Mr. Mike Difuccia, the executive director of the Buchanan Center for the past nine years, suffered a massive heart attack over the weekend and passed away. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but I will get you information as soon as I have any more details.

Mike was a good man, and a very good administrator for the Buchanan Center for the Arts, here in Monmouth. He will be sorely missed.


Update, Wednesday, 26 September: Services are this evening, up in Port Byron, IL. For further information, see here.

Blago thinks arts & language are unimportant

I knew the man was a twit, but this just takes the cake. I just received an e-mail from our small-town art center's head of operations, letting us know that the blow-dried one is planning to cut 35% of an already tight arts program budget -- plus, Blago's of the opinion that we don't need to fund a grant for Arts and Foreign Language studies. The contents of the message are as follows:

Dear Friend in the Arts,

We must act now to send a powerful message to Governor Rod Blagojevich, Senate President Emil Jones, House Speaker Michael Madigan, and other state lawmakers that the arts are not pork!

The Governor’s FY08 spending plan calls for a dramatic 35% cut (over $7 million) to the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) budget. This decrease in funding will undoubtedly have a devastating impact to the arts statewide and significantly reduce the funds available for IAC grant programs. Furthermore, the Governor completely eliminated the Arts and Foreign Language grant program through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

This dangerous decision will have very negative implications for all the people of Illinois. Support from the Illinois Arts Council is crucial to the success of artists, arts organizations, and entities providing arts programming throughout the state. Strategic investments made by the Illinois Arts Council to community theaters, dance studios, schools, local festivals, libraries, museums, and park districts enhance our overall quality of life and have a significant impact on the economic health and vitality of the state - creating jobs, boosting tourism, and revitalizing downtowns.

The budget approved by the legislature on August 10, 2007 would have increased the Illinois Arts Council's budget by $3.6 million from last year’s budget level and brought us very close to our goal: a budget of $24 million for the Illinois Arts Council, or $2 per person, per year in Illinois. The budget also would have increased the Arts and Foreign Language grant program at ISBE to over $6 million in FY08 to assist school districts in providing valuable arts and foreign language programming.

The Illinois Arts Alliance is moving forward with an aggressive campaign to restore full funding for the Illinois Arts Council and arts and foreign language education funding at the Illinois State Board of Education. We NEED your help now more than ever before!

Please tell Governor Blagojevich, senate and house leadership, and your state lawmakers TODAY how essential the arts are to you and your community. We have made it extremely easy for you to effectively advocate for the arts. Here is what we are asking you to do:

1) Write two letters to lawmakers using the talking points provided in the links below
a. One requesting that funding for the Illinois Arts Council be restored to $23.2 million as proposed by the General Assembly on August 10, 2007
Click Here: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/il/issues/alert/?alertid=10235401&type=ML&show_alert=1
b. The other urging lawmakers to restore funding to the Arts and Foreign Language grant program through the Illinois State Board of Education. Click Here: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/il/issues/alert/?alertid=10235931&type=ML&show_alert=1

2) Make two phone calls to the numbers listed below expressing your concern with the proposed budget cuts to the arts and urging that funding be fully restored for the Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Arts and Foreign Language grant program.
a) Ginger Ostro
Budget Director for Governors Office of Management and Budget
Ginger.ostro@illinois.gov
312-814-0023

b) Governor Rod Blagojevich
312-814-2121 (Chicago) OR 217-558-0880 (Springfield)

While the road ahead is rocky, together we can restore full funding for the arts in Illinois! Should you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 312-855-3105 ext 14 or email joy@artsalliance.org

Sincerely,
Ra Joy
Executive Director
Illinois Arts Alliance

To be honest, I can't read the original docs well enough to figure out whether the cut is to the proposed budget (to eliminate the increase, that is), or if the cut is to the old budget before the approved increase. Either way, Blago has his little pet projects which will get funded, but everything else in this state seems to be, in his opinion, flat-out waste to be eliminated.

Look, we've already seen the feds cut arts, leaving in the responsibility of state and local offices. The only way some of the smaller communities can even pretend to demonstrate an interest in something more than simple survival is if somebody gives us a hand-up. Small-town colleges have seen their budgets rearranged (often very stupidly, I'll grant) to the point where they can no longer support town/gown cooperation on anything, let alone arts. Without state funding, little towns like Monmouth, and even mid-sized ones like Galesburg, Kewanee, Pekin and such are likely to suffer, intellectually and artistically.

If Blago is going to cut funding for this, he'd damn well better cut funding for every other bit of cultural spending the state does. I don't want to hear that, this year, some community theatre in Chicago or Springfield gets a facelift at the taxpayers' expense, or that the State Fair Grounds got an extra coat of paint, or even that Rod's office was equipped with a new, more attractive and comfortable chair.

The arts are part of NCLB, Blowdriedevich, babe. Fund 'em or we all lose even more federal bucks. And you don't want to know what that will do to your political future. You're Rod, not God.

Why is Pontiac's face red?

Hood Ornaments and Details from Cruise Night 2007

Pontiac is blushing beneath that silvery arc. Why? Because the owner of that car has put some

unusual covers over the headlamps and bumper.

He's a little embarrassed. Look the other way.

Now, he's just a little blue.

Making a few bird calls

Red-eye flights

Flying hound?

I could have had a V-8!

The speed round

and Round and Round

and then on to next year...

What are you doing this Wednesday morning?

I'm talking about 11 July, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, if you're anywhere within a reasonable drive -- or walk -- of Monmouth, IL.

Tomorrow morning, Mom and I will be taking lemon bars and lime bars, as well as the singularly appropriate mixed nuts, to the July meeting of OFTA (mentioned in the lower half of the linked article). There also will be free coffee, as well as the presentation on "the Soul of the Potter," by Linda Sickmon and Carol Tenold.

Plus, if you come to the Buchanan Center while I'm there, you can meet me in front of my prize-winning photograph. (Did I forget to mention I received an honorable mention for my first time ever entering in a photo show?)

Gratuitous postcard: Arty Party on a Friday evening!

If you're going to be anywhere near Monmouth, IL, tomorrow, (Friday), please come to the Buchanan Center for the Arts between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. They're hosting a reception for the artists whose works are on exhibit for the Security Savings Bank 26th Annual Amateur Photography Contest. This is the first year I've entered anything (having only recently taken up photography) -- and I expect, of course, to take Best of Show, wink wink -- but even were I not an entrant, I'd hope attendance will be great. There's a lot of real talent and marked skill in this sleepy little hamlet. The world deserves to see it.

Oh-- and as a follow up suggestion, in case I forget amid all the fuss of the coming week, Old Friends Talk Arts (OFTA) will be meeting at the Buchanan Center, next Wednesday morning at 10:00. According to the e-mail from Jim De Young (our faithful OFTA guy):

For your enjoyment and edification, the Ms’s Linda Sickmon and Carol Tenold, the proprietors of Smithcreek Pottery will address the “Soul of the Potter” on Wednesday, July 11th at 10:00 AM at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in good
Old downtown Monmouth USA

They’ll bring some pots and you should bring your questions.
Hope to see you all there.

He also wisely mentions that my mom will be bringing the treats. Just thinking about Mom's culinary skills causes some people to put on twenty pounds or so, making it appropriate that we should be surrounded by camera art...

The meeting, as always, will be open to the public and free of charge.

Y'all come!

I hang my head in abject shame as I ask...

I realize that certain thoughts are beneath me, are, in fact, very, very wrong, but, in light of recent weather reports, I still caught myself wondering this:

All the towns in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other points Middle-American only a couple of years ago made room for evacuees from New Orleans, and now they're getting deluged. Is there a message in all of this flood water?

I should give credit where due: this painting is by Edward
Hicks, and the image was sticky-fingered into my p-shop,
from Wikipedia

Once more, the show must go on

I've been bullying the Bat all day about getting up and getting out. Mostly it's because she has spent the week recovering slowly, she's a little reluctant to attempt to thrust herself into a crowd. But tonight, the Buchanan Center for the Arts is hosting a reception for all us amateur artists who entered our works in the 4th Annual Adult Amateur Show.

After much fuss, I think I've persuaded the Bat to at least make an appearance for a short while. We've dug out her walking stick, so she can tripod her way around, and in case the room spins again, I know where the BCA stores its extra chairs.

If you're going to be anywhere near Monmouth, IL, this evening, come downtown to the Public Square and see what's up, and maybe I'll even keep a civil tongue...


nah. not that. but I promise not to bite.

Context isn't everything -- but it is a lot

The other day I read a lovely, long long long piece in the Washington Post, which Ace at AoSHQ recommended (and so, I discovered later, did half the blogosphere), about renowned violinist Joshua Bell playing at the subway station near where my seester works... and about his having been heartily ignored by the cubicle drones.

The conclusion made was that American workers (or, perhaps he implied all us proles) wouldn't know art if it bit 'em on the a...nkle, were it not in its proper place, time, and frame. Context, it seems, is everything.

Except that it's not always that way. For starters, there is the basic fact of life that there are people going out of their way to bring fine art to mundane settings, as David Shribman points out (HT: Scott Johnson @ Power Line). Second, there are people willing to stop everything, even in the middle of the morning crush, to absorb the experience -- and others finding beauty in the oddest places (why else would Charles Sheeler have been so successful photographing and painting industrial scenes?).

Sometimes, we just sits and thinks, and sometimes we just sits. But we're not all oblivious to rainbows and windsong. I've seen farmers stop their tractors just to stare at the way the late afternoon sun shines through rough clouds onto a lone tree, or to smile over the voluptuous deep-brown corduroy hills of spring. I've known a trucker or two to pull off to the side of the road to take in a field of rudbeckia hirta, and they grin as they retell of the gold-black-and-green vistas. I, myself, have been late to jobs where I was expected to punch a timecard, purely because there was a person playing a flute at the end of a pedestrian underpass, and I had to stop next to the end of the urine-soaked tunnel to hear him finish his excessively whimsical take on Humoresque. It was art -- deliberately absurd art, but art nonetheless, and I could not pass it by unnoticed.

Context is not about time-and-place, about venue and frame. Sometimes, the real context lies in the person's willingness to take a moment's breath and see, hear, feel the beauty, even at the top of an escalator in a subway station.