Whacko Yard Art: Stickin’ It To The Man Edition.
Now, I don’t know if this counts, because I took these pictures back in September and I don’t know if it’s still standing (it looks like parts of it were made out of papier-mâché, so I’m not sure how it would’ve fared through the winter months), but it was definitely in a yard and it was definitely art.
And yeah, definitely a little whacko, too.
(East Superior Street, near the Northland Country Club, 9/21/08.)
Whacko Yard Art: Here Comes Santa Claus Edition.
I love Christmas trim! The more, the merrier, I always say. Fortunately, that’s not an uncommon sentiment in the Ashland area, so around Christmastime there’s plenty to enjoy.
One shining jewel in the Garland City’s crown? This fabulous yard display on the east end of town:
I love it! There’s so much, it’s hard to find an angle to get it all in the frame at once!
Now, heaps of Christmas trim alone don’t make this whacko yard art. I get that. The devil’s in the details on this one:
1. This picture was taken on Tuesday. This week.
2. The people who own this house are known around town as “The Cowboy and Mrs. Cowboy.” (They run the local Subway franchise, and like all local fast food franchise operators, they are local celebrities.) Also: The Cowboy sidelines as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator every February.
3. While the majority of this display is store-bought and/or inflatable, there are some fabulous homespun touches throughout that really shouldn’t be missed. My favorite: the Santas up front…especially Patriot Santa.
Oh, yeah, and they squeezed a little Jesus in there, too.
Petus Rockus
Petus Rockus. This rock was found in Keene Creek, left here by the Wisconsin Glacier 23,648 years ago. Placed on this stand May 1985 by Ken Seehus.
Earth Hour March 28th
Earth Hour is something that is going on March 28th. They just ask you to turn off the lights to your house from 8:30-9:30 p.m. as a way to ‘Vote Earth.’
I think this is a really cool initiative because last year about 50 million households/businesses participated in Earth Hour by shutting off their lights, and this year they hope to have 1 billion people participate!
I hope you all will join me for Earth Hour on 3/28/2009.
Do you all have any ideas on how to bring Earth Hour to Duluth. Sarah’s table is already serving candlelit dinners for the hour, so if you would like a romantic dinner. 😉 But if you all have any other ideas let me know!
Tough day in the O.R.?
Loiselle Liquor understands, and is there to fill your needs.
I think it’s actually the word “daily” that I find most alarming.
Thrills, Spills and Chills: Chester Bowl Wipeouts
I shot this on Sunday, the last day at Chester Bowl for skiing/snowboarding. I’m still trying to dry out my kid’s snowboard boots.
This is mostly the crashing and burning, and to be fair, most of the skiers made it across just fine. But really, who wants to watch that? Success is boring.
Summer or winter, Chester Bowl is the best.
The Full Monty opens Thursday
The Full Monty at the Duluth Playhouse
I saw a preview of the Duluth Playhouse production of “The Full Monty” tonight. It’s really funny! It’s a musical with some interaction with the audience. How naked are they? I’ll never tell, but I will say that I saw Pat Kelly as I’ve never seen him before. Call 733-7555 for ticket information or visit www.duluthplayhouse.org. Shows are Thursday, March 19th to Sunday, April 5th, Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Our world, encapsulated
This weekend I’ll be hanging drywall in my humble home, and there is a little compartment upstairs that will be sealed up for good (or, at least until the house is remodeled again or demolished. It was closed up for about 40 years before I got to it).
I’m going to get a shoebox-sized plastic container and create a time capsule to place in that little compartment.
Already slated for the capsule: a newspaper, a few coins, and some photos of the house and neighborhood.
Any suggestions on some small things to add that would be cool to find a few decades from now?
Starving artists, this is for you…
Please come out and enjoy a Perfect Duluth Day sale this Saturday, March21st at Bohemia Arts from 10am to 3pm.
ALL ART SUPPLIES and GIFTS 50% OFF for PDD perusers!! Just mention this post to receive your discount.
There is still much to be had, but supplies are limited!
BOHEMIA ARTS- 22 N. 1st Ave W Downtown Duluth 722.2919
*and though gasping it’s last, dying breaths, it’s not dead yet. there is open studio figure drawing every saturday from 10-Noon for $8 and upcoming art shows and music.
Progressive Action Fundraiser April 17
Progressive Action Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser!
Great food! Live music by Mad About Jane!
Silent Auction with lots of cool stuff and experiences!
Children’s activities table!
AND keynote speech by Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak!
MC is Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson!
Tickets $15 each, children 10 and under free
Available at the door or in advance at Green Mercantile
For more information, see www.prog-action.org
Or call Barb Olsen at 218-349-6681
Better Late Than Never? You Be the Judge.
So, I finally got around to releasing that EP.
The one that I said that I’d have done for my art opening at Beaner’s last month.
Well, it’s online. And free. For a while, I’m sure.
Bone Black: Improvisations on Amplified Harmonica
It’s raw, warty, and immediate.
Check it out.
Sammy Macon.
P.S. I’m playing at Bob’s sale on Sunday, 3/22. When do I play, Bob?
Vandalism, Art, or Insanity?
Taking advantage of the nice weather today, I went for a walk in Leif Erickson Park, where I found several of these “installations” for lack of a better word. If you can’t quite make it out, these are eggs stuffed into pantyhose and thrown up into a tree.
Final Weekend for “QED”
“QED”, starring Brian Matuszak & Cheryl Skafte, and directed by Minden Anderson.
March 20-22 at the Shack
Good food, great show!
Call (715) 392-3463 and reserve your spot soon!
Really Really Free Market?
Has anyone in Duluth ever held a Really Really Free Market? If so, has it worked?
I’ve always found the concept interesting and exciting, and with many people being affected by job loss and economy woes, it might be helpful for a lot of people. Plus I think Duluth has enough of the sort of DYI population to be able to host a fairly successful one. Are there people who would be at all interested in putting one on? I obviously couldn’t do it myself, I don’t know much about organizing big events in Duluth, but if there were people who did I would definitely be into doing it.
For those who don’t know a RRFM is basically what it sounds like – an open air market where everything is free for the taking. People bring usable things that they don’t want/need anymore and would love to get out of their house/apartment, set up a little area on a table or a blanket or just the grass, and then anyone who comes to the market can take whatever they want–no bartering, trading, or money allowed. Other things that people integrate into it are free food (giant potluck!), free groceries, free entertainment (drum circles, musicians, storytellers, dancers), free games, free plants (spider plants anyone?), free services (haircuts, bike repair by a collective, etc), free art made on the spot, etc. It’s basically just a big fun market day.
Info on How to Hold a RRFM
Awesome Photos & Article of a RRFM
(more…)
Earth Hour
I am a UMD student and RA on campus and recently I have been working night and day to bring ‘Earth Hour’ to UMD and Duluth Minnesota! If you don’t know about ‘Earth Hour,’ basically it is a global initiative that asks citizens to turn off the lights of their homes/businesses from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on March 28th as a way to vote ‘Earth’. If you would like to learn more about ‘Earth Hour’ the official website is earthhour.org. (more…)
Happy Pi Day!
Today is Pi Day (3.14) – now recognized by the US government!
Chris Monroe on National TV
OK, well, I am too, but if you’ll notice around the 50-second mark (and many other times) you should see a Monroe print in the background. So when you mention her name, be sure to say “Chris Monroe, an artist who’s work was featured on national television” … although I’m sure her work has appeared on TV many a time.
(And why can’t I embed Facebook videos?)
Spooky Menards
I ventured out to the brand-spanking-new Menards in Hermantown today. I wandered through about half the store, and around every corner the same thought crossed my mind: Holy cow, this is so spookily identical to the West Duluth Menards, I’m expecting to see the I-35 viaduct in front of me when I walk out the door.
Now, I know big chains have cookie-cutter stores, but if you go from, say, one Target to another, there generally are some pretty significant differences in layout, displays, etc. The big, new Menards in my Wisconsin hometown is very different from the West Duluth store. But that’s not the case in Hermantown. It’s eerie. Everything I saw – pet supplies, seeds, insulation, garage-door openers, checkout lanes – was in exactly the same proximity to each other as in the West Duluth store. There are a few cosmetic differences – but not much.
What makes this even more odd is that – correct me if I’m wrong – the West Duluth store was adapted to fit the old Shoppers City structure, so conceivably that should have been kind of a unique setup in the Menards chain. Maybe the company really liked it and wanted to duplicate it. In any case, go see the identical twin Menards for yourself.
Not sure if it Means Austin Only
—–Original Message—–
To: Austin area Web Professionals
From: Bill Cullifer, Executive Director – World Organization of Webmasters
(WOW)
Re: Call for Participation: Web Professional Interviews
The eleven year non-profit professional association WOW
(https://www.webprofessionals.org) is seeking to interview a handful of area Web professionals for its series of blogs and websites. We are interested in knowing how life is today and how you manage your day. If you can spare 5-10 minutes please contact me at bill@joinwow.org
Also, if you’re in need with staying current on Web trends check out the Web Professional Minute podcast at https://www.webprominute.org
In return for your time we will send you a new Web book.
Bill
Best,
Bill Cullifer
Executive Director
World Organization of Webmasters (WOW)
www.joinwow.org
bill@joinwow.org