Typically, there are free horse-drawn carriage rides, free collector wine glasses, sidewalk musicians, and just a dynamic social scene. It’s gratifying to see all those heads bobbing down the sidewalk; groups of friends congregating, wine glasses in hand, outside businesses to catch up on things; bars and restaurants packing ‘em in as gallery-goers settle in to make a night of it. And lots of art … all media … usually with the artists on hand to meet you or demonstrate their work.

The weather forecast looks pretty good so far. And, knock on wood, that’s usually the case for Exhibitour. It’s become a signature event for Wausau; a grassroots celebration of art. I’d like to applaud the 16 or so downtown businesses that are investing in this evening as host galleries … they’re footing the bill for food, refreshments, staffing and they’re dedicating time and floor space to put on a great show.

Thanks also to Wausau Area Events for their support in making it possible. I hope you’ll all make the scene downtown, enjoy art, buy art, be art.

Exhibitour takes place Friday, May 16 from 6- 8 pm. Go to wausauareaevents.org for a complete list of host galleries and accompanying “fringe” business venues.

For the longest time, Dino and I have been talking about the retirement of Brett Favre and how I feel about it.  I was disappointed when I heard the news and I can never underestimate the impact that Brett Favre has had on my passion as a fan.  So many times he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat (and unfortunately, vice-versa…) He is an icon and single-handedly led the renaissanceof Green Bay Packers football.

Given all that, I was…relieved.

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone, and they would always threaten to break up with you until, you were just ready for things to be over?  That’s how I was.  I was tired of the speculation every year about retirement and the veiled threats to the GM about going after the players that he wanted and so many people yelling about what the franchise “owed” him.  Enough is enough.

We all knew that day would come, when he wouldn’t be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.  I respect him for going out the way he did…on top.  He still could perform at a high level, but I also think he was a three-game losing streak away from musing that he made the wrong decision to come back.  He didn’t need that, and the team full of young players definitely didn’t need that.

I choose to remember him as he was.  He left on his own terms a hero to the fans of Green Bay.  His number will be retired the first game of the season, and there will be some tears.  People will clamor for him to reconsider, thinking he’s the path to success.

Then, Ryan Grant will run for a score and Aaron Rodgers will pass for 3 TD’s and the Packers will beat the Vikings, launching a new era…one I am ready to face.

I think we’re far too stagnant of a community. For such a city full of so many warm and vibrant personalities, it’s a shame that we wait until summer concerts to get outside and feel vital and connected to each other. It’s also a shame that so many of us are overweight and out of shape and seem unwilling to make basic changes in our lives to rid ourselves of the old, harmful patterns.
(more…)

We would like to sit down with you from 6 to 7pm. We will get an agenda to the folks who have emailed me. We hope to have that for you as soon as possible, but bear with us as we are hashing this out internally.

As we have said before, we are looking for leaders and team mates to provide direction to our venture. It is not currently a paid position - Andy and I do not get paid either.

That being said, we are looking actively for people to help. We are thinking hard about our future, and that brings with it tons of work and opportunity.

So, check the calendar to see the officials, but the meeting is Wednesday. We look forward to seeing you there.

Feel free to contact us with questions.

1. If they made a movie of your life, who would you like to play you? You cannot play yourself, for the actors in the crowd.
2. In the above mentioned movie, what would your theme song be?
3. Do you read the newspaper? The paper one. There is some talk in Rob Mentzer’s blog about going to a paperless paper. That internet penetration is substantial enough to warrant it. How does the newspaper business deal with the environmental ramifications of what it does? It’s paper, and ink, and big spinny wheels in the press rooms.
4. Do you floss everyday? I do.
5. How can you tell if a sock is worn out?
6. What is the most absurd dietary quirk you have? I for example, do not eat coconut, or tomatoes. But the tomatoes thing is this: I do not like to eat them like apples. I think apple skin is like razor blades to my gums.
7. Is there a difference between how the world sees you, and how you actually are? Are you aware of a difference in your public persona and who you are in the bathroom in the evening?
8. Do you think Wausau is an inclusive city?
9. What was the loudest sound you have ever heard?
10. Do you like airports?
11. And just to be racy: do you think you have kissed too many people? Does kissing a lot of folks diminish the act of kissing?
12. Do you chew gum? What kind? Why?
13. What are your 5 desert island CDs? Why?

Bonus Round…

A. What do you think of those folks, both men and women, who go commando? Is there a reverse thing about women going commando versus men?

34c. Do you rent or buy movies?

Triptophan: Do you hold your tongue, or do you tell people you do not like them?

After sending out a call to action in February to the area high schools, Boys and Girls Club and alternative school artists, 200 teenagers signed up to participate in SK8ART. The buzz hit a new high as each student received a free skateboard deck as a blank canvas to create their art for the SK8ART opening exhibit on May 16th in Gallery 402, located at 402 Third Street in the mezzanine at Van Dalfsen’s, downtown Wausau. Over the past months, SK8ART has allowed  local skateboarders and artists to express their creativity that has been emerging from the streets of their own community, joining their passion for art and skateboarding to showcase not only the art of the sport, but the art of the deck itself.

Teachers, parents and community members alike are supporting the local artists as their art deadline is May 2nd. Wausau East art teacher Joel Pataconi shares that SK8ART is the talk of the school, “It’s unbelievable how much excitement the skate deck project has generated. I’ve seldom seen my students this engaged and personally ‘plugged in.’ This event casts skateboarding in a positive light, reaches out to kids who are often overlooked and recognizes skate culture as a legitimate art form and sport.”

The 200 decks will be juried by a group of local artists, downtown shop owners and a Wausau police liaison. The 40-50 decks chosen by the jury will be displayed in Gallery 402. The opening night exhibit will coincide with Downtown Wausau’s gallery walk, Exhibitour, from 6pm-8pm. Gallery 402 also is sponsoring a temporary skateboard park on the 400 Block to kick off the evening’s opening exhibit. Dwellers and its owner Jason Garvey will be providing the temporary skateboard park for skateboarders to showcase their ‘art.’

Curator Tasha Tatro is expecting over 800 guests to support the local artists for the opening night exhibit. “SK8ART proves that the art of skateboarding reaches beyond the tricks of the trade. Gallery 402 is proud to create an opportunity for local artists and the community as a whole.” Efforts like this enable Wausau to continue to provide artistic venues that before now, only larger cities offered. SK8ART will be exhibited through July 18th, 2008.

Gallery 402 houses the largest private collection of Pop Surrealist Art in the Midwest. The modern genre is created by 21st Century artists making political, satirical and humorous statements through their art. Otherwise known as low-brow or underground art, the Pop Surrealist collection is all originals and the public is welcome to enjoy this phenomenal collection. The gallery also offers a library of reference material.

You are welcome to meet Curator Tasha Tatro and have your questions answered on Friday, May 2nd from 12noon until 6pm in Gallery 402. Please call Gallery 402 to let us know what time works best for you, 715.845.2300.

Discrimination Press Release

I apologize for no commentary this weekend. We finished photography for Daily Routine, a quick three minute short from Stop That Nun that was entirely fun. Unfortunately with sweeps at the station and Microcosm now heating up big time, the turn around for editing that will be a bit long. Still big thanks to Chris Leslie who acted as both the star and producer of the piece, Brett Widmann and Seth Callaway, both of whom recorded our sound on site and Katrina Shankland who acted for us as well.

Speaking of Microcosm, the last auditions where this weekend and by far our most successful. Thanks to a good time frame we were able to get in contact with UWSP Theater faculty a bit and that resulted in many talented folks making their way out to read for us. I had a director’s favorite problem: too much talent to choose from. I did cast however, and as soon as everyone accepts their roles, I will post them up here for all to see.

And speaking of sweeps, this week I had a promo made for one of my pieces. Crazy, I know. They actually touted me as “award winning photographer Erik Cieslewicz” for commercials leading up to newscasts. It’s a little silly to be happy to see something like that, especially since I’m surrounded by people who are pushed daily in promotions, but still, I have to admit it was pretty neat. So I was able to do a pair of great sweeps pieces Thursday and Friday. Those will be up on the YouTube channel tonight if all goes well.

Commentary may go on a short hiatus, but will be replaced with information about Microcosm, including a call for background artists. I really hope to get a lot of Wausau community members in the film, so I’ll be giving dates, times and locations for people to just show up to and be in a movie. Pretty sweet, huh? We’ll even feed you if you show up on set. I realize that’s way cooler to hear if you’re in college or something, but hey, free lunch is free lunch.

This Friday my producers and I have a huge meeting with the City of Wausau and we’re really hoping they will be very accommodating to us. I really, really want to shoot in Wausau, but as a low budget film production, we will go where ever it’s cheapest! But having interacted with Mayor Tipple before along with Dennis Saeger, I have faith that Wausau will be as good to us as we plan on being to the city.

Along with these firsts for me, it was also the first time Citizen Wausau attempted to live twitter anything of this sort. Shockingly (okay, maybe not shockingly, but dismayingly), the City Council chambers do not provide free wifi, so I was stuck doing it through SMS, and as a result not all of twitter bits got through. But if you are interested in the highlights, or lowlights depending on how you see things, you can check us out on Twitter at www.twitter.com/citizenwausau.

We also recorded the meeting, and have the audio available here (mp3, 43MB).

It’s almost like being there.