A wide range of Riverwest musicians are featured on the new, independently released Love Live Music Collective’s album “Stringzology MKE.” Featured artists include Salt Creek’s Colin O’Brien, DJ Marcus Garvey, The Lovelies’ drummer Billy Backes, members of One Drum, and more. The project was put out by Milwaukee musician Thacher Schmid. The CD has 14 tracks that feature singing, spoken word, and rapping. Schmid describes it as a “protest record” that includes elements of various music genres as well as samples of protests from Milwaukee and Washington D.C. “Stringzology MKE” is available at cdbaby.com and at local record stores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milwaukee’s first International Film Festival will be held November 6-16. Films will screen at the Oriental, Downer, Times and Union Theaters. A full listing of the festival’s schedule can be found at www.milwaukeefilmfest.org or by calling 414/831-1776. A program book can also be found in the October 30 issue of the Shepherd Express. The Wearable Sculpture Fashion Show, now in its fifth season, is being held in conjunction with the film festival. It will take place November 14 in Turner Hall’s historic ballroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Brenner, who runs the Milwauke Artist Resource Network (MARN) (www.marnonline.com), is opening up a new gallery in Riverwest with girlfriend and fellow artist Sue Kriofsky. Hotcakes Gallery, a 1500-square-foot space on the southwest corner of Pierce and Townsend, is scheduled to open at the end of the month and will hold its grand opening December 5. “We’re shooting for really well executed contemporary fine art,” Brenner says. “One of our main goals is to have art that’s affordable to everybody… we’re hoping to work with artists that can give us a good amount of artwork that’s in the $30 to $150 range.” And the name? “We’re hoping to have art that will sell like hotcakes!” Their website is under construction, but you can sign up for updates at www.hotcakesgallery.com. The gallery can be reached at 961-7714. Another relatively new gallery in the area is holding figure drawing classes in November. The Academy of Unconventional Art is offering an introduction to figure drawing workshop that will consist of ten classes and will have two instructors. Classes will be on Tuesday and Thursday; a morning and a night class is offered, they will be two and a half hours long, and we will be drawing a nude model. The cost is $100 and supplies for the class will be about $20. For more information or to sign up, email Shawn Gurath at gurath@aol.com or call 372-1829. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clarke Street’s Flying Fish Gallery has closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Another neighborhood bar? In Riverwest? If the response at last month’s RNA meeting was any indication, there seems to be support for neighborhood resident Dan Krause’s proposal for a new “Art Bar” Cafe on Burleigh Street in the old Lava Java / Sweet Black Coffee space between Hop Back Inn and West Bank Cafe. Dan and his partnerJohn Tomlinson made an extended presentation to neighbors who attended the meeting. The Art Bar would be a “welcoming place” intended to provide a comfortable space where diverse people could gather. Food (including possibly breakfast!) would also be offered, an idea that was heartily welcomed by neighbors at the meeting. If near neighbors approve of the project, it could be open as early as spring after receiving a liquor license and fulfilling city code requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . There’s a new cafe on the East Side opened by a group of artist and musician friends. It is a grass-roots, collaborative, profit sharing operation called The Green Dragon Cafe, located at 2010 N Farwell Ave. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-Midnight, Tuesday-Sunday. They offer coffee, tea, and international soups, sandwiches, and sweets in a clear, smoke-free environment. “Come sit and plan your revolution,” says one of the group’s organizers, Jenny Plevin. The group is looking for art for future shows, and hosts an international movie night every Sunday at 8 p.m. Secret Green Dragon Discounts: any group of four or more progressive political or artistic activists planning a revolution get 10% off. Send an e-mail to greendragoncafe@hotmail.com if you would like to be kept up to date with film, art, music, or political happenings at the GD. The cafe has pledged to donate 10 percent of its profits to economic and artistic charities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bucketworks, a local non-profit organization, has launched the first in a monthly series of art and education shows entitled “Chronology.” Each month, a local artist will display all of their work from childhood to the present arranged in chronological order. The featured artist will be available to offer a timeline tour of the installation to school art classes. This month’s featured artist, Lisa Eder, will display over 130 paintings, 150 drawings, 50 pieces from her childhood, dozens of sketchbooks and journals, and other artifacts that encouraged and fueled the development of her artistic vision. This show is the first in a series of shows designed to explore the development of local artists, and is designed to encourage greater participation in the artistic process from our community’s youth and student population. Recent budget cuts in public education have drastically affected school art programs, mostly at the elementary school level. Since 2002, 27 elementary schools out of 120 within the MPS system have had to reduce art programs. “Chronology” is one attempt to keep these young students engaged in the creative process outside of school. “Chronology” can be viewed from October 31 to November 1 from 7 p.m. to midnight. During weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 27-31, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 3-6 the show will open for class groups and school viewing by appointment. Bucketworks is located at 1319 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. For more information, visit Bucketworks online at www.bucketworks.org or call 414/305-1324. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music will “show off” its talented, diverse guitar faculty this November with two concerts in its long-running Faculty Artist Series. Guitarists of any level and genre — as well as fans of classical, folk, and jazz — will appreciate this masterful exhibition of the many facets of this universally popular instrument. November 9: Matthew Schroeder and his fingerstyle guitar work will showcase pieces by Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke, as well as original compositions. November 23: seven members of the Guitar Faculty will take the stage. Scheduled to appear are Peter Baime (flamenco), Colin O’Brien (fingerstyle folk), Christopher Laughlin (classical), George Lindquist (classical), Don Linke (jazz), Paul Silbergleit (jazz), and innovative electric guitarist John Tamburello, who will be premiering a new piece. All concerts in the series are Sundays at 3 p.m. Individual tickets are $12 (general admission) and $10 (students and seniors) and are available at the door or by calling 414/276-5760. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don’t miss the Premiere Performance of A Black Woman’s Burden: Her Journey from Pain to Freedom, written, directed, and produced by Linetta Alexander. Alexander is a member of the Midwest poetry community and a public school educator. She recently wrote a book of poetry on women’s struggle entitled The Blues. Her debut play is a powerful message that portrays the Black Woman’s experience and allows her to ring clearly in our ears. This performance examines the travails of four women — women we all know and have met: broken woman (Hakimah Williams), activist (Patrice Downey), church lady (Aisha Ware), and blues woman (LaToya Farsee). The show is Friday, November 14, at Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th Street. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Kujichagulia Center, 3908 W. Capitol Dr. or contact: Rebirth Inc. Productions at 414/264-1336. Special group rates are available for interested parties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Once the smoke clears who will be left standing?” In Prophecy’s debut album, “Visions of Destruction,” Prophecy ponders this and other thought-provoking questions with an intriguing flow and word play. His style strays away from the R&B thug image, which too many other artists portray. Raised on Milwaukee’s south side in a Puerto Rican household, Prophecy hits the listener with real life situations and spiritual conflicts that many people can relate to. Along with his vivid storytelling, Prophecy delivers lyrical bombardments that display his ability to blast opponents in the field arena of verbal combat. The CD is available at Exclusive’s East Side and 76th street locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industry Fridays Part II @ Riverwest Commons November 21st, 9 p.m. until bar close. Check out Milwaukee’s hottest up & coming hip hop artists. The night will feature local talent of various flavaz and persuasionz… The last one was off the chain! For more info or booking contact: gorillapromo@yahoo.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midwest TADEF…November 26 @ The 8th Note, UWM Student Union. Join Host ADEBISI for a night of lyrical grooves. In-the Flesh Hip Hop Acts, Spoken Word, & Live DJ. Doors open @ 7 p.m. Stay tuned to the Currents for Lip Service’s December date.