For what it’s worth, I wanna be your arts pa.
First, big “thanks” to the scions of www.citizenwausau.com for providing a fresh, engaging channel for community communication. I’m humbled and in awe of your energy and drive. In starting my own blog here (and how weird is that?), I’m thrilled and challenged all at once. I know CW invites all to participate, and yet, I’m sure they seek quality contributors who might represent a unique niche or ongoing cohesive topic … along the lines of Dino’s health program or the entry I read today about sustainability on a country homestead. What do I add to the mix? What can I be relied upon to discuss with any sense of authority or credibility? If you’ve peeked at my profile, you’ll learn a bit about me: my age (advancing), my profession (advertising/marketing), my checkered past (Woodstockian), my hobbies (primitive guitarist, once-a-week volunteer radio announcer), my politics (mongrelist), and a hint of my family life (husband/dad).
So, what the heck! What’s my line? I have a hard-to-control (although I try) urge to influence others in their life choices, comportment, cultural leanings … to be a mentor (unsolicited), to be an advocate (unconnected), to be a role model (unqualified), and to be a stern disciplinarian (unwelcome) when I sense that people are running amok. In short, I’m paternal. No doubt, to a fault. So, however I blog, whatever I blog about, I expect I’ll revert to my paternal instincts and be all fatherly about it. I apologize in advance for that propensity.
What will I blog about, though? I want to do my part to add to our community’s focus on, and development of, our cultural side … specifically, things relating to enjoyment, entertainment, interaction, environment. Some of you may have read my earlier CW post about beatniks; I suppose that was my first public blast to try to encourage Bohemians and other subculturalists to come out of the woodwork and be recognized … as artists, poets, musicians, rabble-rousers, entrepreneurs. I like living in a place where the arts are well represented and the populace embraces them. And not just the snooty arts (you know what I’m talking about) or just the over-represented popular arts (think: “commercial”), but also the daffy arts, dippy arts, dark arts, dead or dying arts, new arts, free arts, political arts, fly-fishing arts, old farts’ arts. I expect I’ll discuss things like the upcoming Fillmor in downtown Wausau, what we have (or lack) as a nightlife scene, emerging musical talents, opportunities, events, state of the hatch and catch on the Prairie River, and the like. I’ll look for help from pal Dino, considering his incredible background in music. And I’ll welcome help from any and all in this regard. It will be my effort to help nourish something near and dear to me. Nourish, like a parent. There’s an old artistic/cultural movement called “dadaism” … maybe this is my take on it, “dadism.”
They say you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your relatives. But here’s a chance for you to accept or reject a surrogate pa. Feel free to ask me for advice (but not money); please tolerate my dusty anecdotes and anachronistic views; rebel against my presumptions of authority; ignore me because I’m an old coot; or maybe visit me at CW once in a while, tap on my virtual head and say, “hello in there!”
anonemoose said:
Tom,
I’m so happy that the comment feature is “all better.” I’d like to address two areas of your post here.
What are the snooty arts? Why do you call them that?
What can be done about the night life here? It is really dismal. In particular, can you shed any light on places for those who are over 40, newly single, and looking to meet people?
moose
December 7th, 2007 at 7:05 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Hola moose,
“Snooty” was my flippant reference to what others might dub the fine arts … things like ballet, symphony, Broadway shows and such (not defaming them, though, I like that stuff).
I might not be a good source for advice on the meeting people subject (hey, anybody help out here?), but downtown itself is becoming more and more a varied and lively place. Malarkey’s shows promise, the City Grill seems to be quite the gathering spot, the old Wausau Club is being remodeled and will open in the spring under a new name (The 309) and it will have a bar, deli and restaurant, and Lucci’s Back When Cafe is always nice for a drink in their bar (usually, good tunes).
December 10th, 2007 at 11:31 am #
anonemoose said:
Tom,
Thank you for the input on places to go. I’ll make it a point to try one of them out soon.
I have to say, though, that I am still bothered by your reference to the fine arts as the snooty arts. Your writing seems highly informed and well thought out. What you may have meant as a flippant remark probably isn’t taken as such by the average reader who doesn’t know you.
It’s remarks such as these that perpetuate the negative image that the fine arts have. Wausau, for a town this size, has a great deal going on in the fine arts. Please consider helping them grow and flourish in this town rather than giving them a negative image, even if the comment was meant in jest.
moose
December 15th, 2007 at 8:58 am #
the wheel said:
Yup, yer right. Even as I enjoy and support what’s characterized as the “fine arts,” I’m prone to pigeon-hole them as a protected species that have an easier time thriving than the more edgy offerings. But, I’ll allow that this is likely an over-simplification and there’s plenty of ongoing struggle to keep the fine arts afloat in our current TV/sofa/internet/low-brow society.
December 17th, 2007 at 6:52 am #