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Art & Politics

Some things in life should be done effectively, not efficiently, said Elliot Eisner, a Stanford University art and education professor, adding that making love or having a meal are not efficient activities. The crowd gathered at the Milwaukee Art Museum for an October 14 seminar loved the comment.

Posted inArts & Entertainment

Fear & Trembling

“A baby was found with its head under a rock. It’s head was lopsided and it’s eyes were masses of pus. Unfortunately, it was alive. We hoped that it would die.” (War photographer Eugene Smith. Aperture Monograph, Aperture Magazine, 1969)

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Circus Maximus

The rumbles began after the September 9 presentation by Tokyo born Kinji Akagawa, the first in a trio of public sculpture seminars titled “Open Art” and hosted by MIAD. In 2005, one of three presenters will see their work installed in the Third Ward. MIAD’s communications director, Frank Miller, estimated the Akagawa seminar was attended by approximately 250 persons, with about half being students from MIAD and other local educational venues.

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Booksellers vs. “The Bird”

I recently heard a small commotion outside of my otherwise fairly quiet bookstore, and saw a few middle-aged males standing around my sandwich board. I didn’t quite understand what was going on until I realized that one of the gentlemen (I use the term loosely) had tried to wipe off the announcement of an upcoming politically-based book signing. I looked after them as they walked off, and much to my dismay, it dawned on me I was being given the international number one sign, a.k.a., “The Bird.” Well, this is America, and everyone has a right to freedom of expression.