Can't retrospectus if ya don't-respect-us, you might say...

And that indirectly puts a finger
on one dilemna in the arts -
( as a way of introduction to this - my second article for the Arts section)

let's consider "Respect" and "Perspective":

two particularly vital terms in our views of the value of art
in our society. A lot of harmful vapors seem to arise amongst those wary of the artistic
and the intellectual. Whether it's a conflict of taste or of price-tag, expression or fear,
of disdain or joy, it is thus, with art, that we define ourselves and our culture, and, directly
effect the future. All the things that we use, the systems in which we operate, our educations
and entertainments, our orientation to the world, all (this and more) are rendered, determined
or represented by the artist and the intellectual...

How else ?

Whether our good works
be known as the divine product of supreme beings, of evolution or other
scientific theory, or simply by luck or by nature, still someone writes the book, someone
is struck by an apple, makes an observation, transcends... Wisdom and progress are nurtured
in our her/history by caring, curiosity and earnestness, I believe, more than by negative reaction
or selfish motivation. Respect and perspective are essential not only for artists and scholars
but for anyone who desires to improve, to learn & appreciate, and to live a fuller life.
Some good old advice - keep your eyes and ears open (indeed, all your senses) and
be a part of the process & aware of the import of creativity...

Yes, I think philosophy oughta be a more vital function of the arts than fashion.
(I'm in the minority though, apparently.)

Hey, not disheartened by the fine line twixt meaning and decoration...
It's an age-old befuddlement. So what?
What matters is that you notice at all and decide which you prefer!
And now, that said (whatever it was), a quick look at the late
arts activities here in the UMM vicinity...

(Of course, I'm exceedingly late.. I'll be skipping some things and
including others that maybe I ought not to, but...

..this isn't an advertisement, a calendar or a review
column... This is some of those things and some of whatever it'll take...)

1) At the UMM Art Galleries in Powers Hall:
A big Yes & Thanks to Bernie Vinzani for his work here... The blueberry world
photos of last summer were excellent, topical & poignant. In this regard, the
respect shown to local artists is commendable. Choices of works from other
areas, in non-downeast themes, has been fine too (tho perhaps we need more
to keep us informed?) And y'know, it's great to see (for instance, since they're
mostly "from away") the faculty's work on display here, surely, and more often.
But honestly,there's always some good stuff in there, of whatever thematics.. and
I must add, the Native American displays in the hallway are exquisite -
offsetting the opposite UMM historical units admirably...

2) The Performing Arts Center: While I'm at Powers Hall...
Well, some hearty effort has been applied hereby asfaras what-to-do with this
odd space.. But, it's a dysfunctionally-designed performance-space.. The sound,
the shape, the lighting, that wooden floor, etc., cause an audience a number
of discomforts. However... Ellen, E.J., and those before them have made great
efforts to entertain in here. The Music and Theatre departments (yes, even some
dance projects) have also done some nifty stuff on occasion... The P A C really
demonstrates that another space, half its size or so, would suit a lot of the things
that go on here. A little ingenuity (not necessarily a lot o' money) could very
likely fix the floor, walls & ceiling problems, and in the process perhaps the
sound & lighting...but, then again, without a supportive or worthy audience,
or a community that's relatively involved in the arts of the civilized world,
it hardly matters anyway. Oh, and bytheway, two acts don't make a "festival",
de-y-ar, even if they are darned good (like the Black Socks and Vassar are).

3) Other UMM Things: WUMM Radio, SUMM TV,
The Student Publishing House, Portside & Student Activities,
The Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Programs:
I beseech the Gods of whatever kind might still observe - help these things to
continue, to rise up and take wing! Please, the too few little artists are on their
knees (on dirty apartment floors or even on the cold frozen ground) to ask
preservance of what shaky cultural entities there are left hereabouts!
Or may I appeal to potential audience or student body:
pleaseread, listen, imagine, act, create, awaken....
before it's too late! This is a university - the standards
must be raised to some level of intellectual & aesthetic level above highschool
and prime-time, right? Performance, like film, radio, or literary or otherwise,
is intended for our collective human expression... If we lose the means, the
resources & materials, including our reasoning capacities, then we truly will lose
our humanity and our cultures and our ingenuity... Without sense of beauty or
appreciation of the unique stuff of existence, what've we got?
Holy cow, come on!

4) The Blueberry Festival
(sometimes with Wild and/or Machias in the title..) :

This is the premier scene in the shiretown and it is rather wild at points. And
though some may think it is a happening of social, community, and tourist
context, it is an excellent opportunity for humans of all ilks & denominations
to observe and partake of the many hearty and even-tho-largely-tacky
ahhts & crehfts of the ebbing summertime... O' course there'r gonna be
lots of charming nicknacks & giftitems, but elsewise there's a fine assortment
of painting, textiles, ceramics, literature, photography, all kinds of artwork and
even more kinds of gastronomical inticements, particularly those prepared using
the little round blue things of legend and nature abounding...
Also, you can hear the likes of the Orange River Jazz Band, the Town Band,
and, if you dare, experience a full-blown original broadway-style musical !
The best part is the folks, the family, the colorful array of humanity that fill
our humble village with a rare vitality for that one weekend.. Just down Rt. 1,
on the scenic barren before Jonesboro, other impressive spectacles are taking
shape now too - The Machias Fairgrounds - so stay tuned!
(Thought I'd add that while we're thinking of crowds.)

5) And The Machias Bay Chamber Concerts :
Some music of a high caliber happens at the Center Street Congregational
Church in Machias during the summer (with new special concerts, the season
is widening slowly into spring & fall...).. This non-profit group & series has
been part of the local culture for over 30 years, presenting classical chamber
music as well as some jazz and other fine related ethnic musics. This last season
included a South American-based guitar quartet, some ragtime & Dixieland jazz
and Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops and his wife Lucia Lin of the Boston
Symphony playing piano & violin - filling the house on the hottest nights
of the year (and the playing was hot too!)... Other excellent shows of the past
here were performances of Stravinsky's "The History of a Soldier" by a totally
bizarre Quebec group with costumes & props, a part of Walton & Sitwell's
"Facade" by Rockport's Bay Chamber "all-stars" and some fine showings by
local musicians such as Lynn Brubaker & Greg Biss. A major aspect of these
shows is the incredibly fine acoustics of this church (the room is built so that
music sounds really good, no matter where you're sitting...).

6) Other Venues in the Village ? oh, dear..
- As they say. How sad to witness the recent passings of Obadiah's Cafe,
the latest "nightclub" On The Rocks, and apparently now, The Dragonfly
Coffee Plus, and all mostly by way of misuse or take-it-for-granted-ness by
a community that sadly values gossip, TV and videos over any sort of arts
or communal recreation. Thankfully, the Woodwind Gallery, the Artists'
Cafe, and McKinney Books (and sometimes gallery) and a few other
odd parttime shops are still providing outlet for worthwhile works and r & r.
Though the "nightclubs" in our up-standing area always turn seedy and burn
down within a few years, there's rumor that one or two will rise up again
fairly soon... And perhaps, as the Center for Lifelong Learning continues to
expand in the coming tenures, something actually related to Learning (well,
besides the over-priced books & toys) might sprout there in one of its out-
buildings.

7) Meanwhile, there're some great Artists around :
Besides our dandy faculty, there are those who appreciate the downeast
resources from about every angle, and work every day (or so) to keep up
the artisans' traditions (yes, thanks Bernie, they go back to way before us
Vikings & WASPs were here!)... and Y'know, just down the road, settlements
like Lubec and Eastport (especially) are passing the shire culturally and maybe
spiritually aswell, so, we better get busy (I don't mean the "workaholic" type
either) or our tourist friends will drive thru even faster. O K, but before I go
on too far here, let's thank The Black Socks folk ensemble ?, The Joyful Noise
(folk-swing-ers), Ian Parker & his gang-of-rockers, Gillian Gatto, The Cooper
Hill jazzers, rockers & psychedelics, Kris Larson, The Orange River Band, James
O'Neil, Bruce Potterton, and many other artists of every creed & genre who call
this region a haven or a home. And I know I'm forgetting some... fine old
painters, sharp photographers, authentic musicians, unique printmakers, odd
crafters of whatever... Well, thanks to them & their supporters & their treasured
commitment to the muses, and this marvelous reality that they portray
for thepresent and future.
And for you.

No (or Yes), naturally you wish someone like me wasn't makin' a noise about this
and that artsy-fartsy stuff while you're minding-your-own-business window-shopping
the web for informational snacks ? Ha.

Perhaps you think I'm from away or have no appreciation for the non-art-like things
of life that they've hype-no-tized us into l o v i n g so dearly over the latest generations
of big-biz public-entertainment facilitations ?

Maybe you assume I'm a friggin' crackpot that read a little too much fantasy novella
back when I was in highschool and likely was a part of some leftist hippy subculture
like the janefonda-miniskirt-fetishites or that I just fell from a big tree as a child.

Whatever the case, thanx for your valuable time again,
and no, that's really how I feel after most of a life
of being born and observing it'all, here
in our nor'east paradise.