Shepherd Express - August 2021 by Shepherd Express

AUGUST 2021

AMERICANS IN SPAIN AT THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

AUGUST 2021 | 3

NEWS 08 "Moving Toward a Shared Vision" 12 This Modern World 14 Republicans Keep Reliving Their Party's Worst Demagoguery — Taking Liberties

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16 What's Next for Wisconsin After State Budget is Enacted? — Issue of the Month

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (ext. 3802)

18 Jim Godsil, Integral to Our City — Hero of the Month

GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin Gardner (ext. 3825)

20 Making Milwaukee Music History — Off the Cuff

MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (ext. 3804)

FOOD & DRINK

STAFF WRITER: Blaine Schultz (ext. 3813)

22 La Merenda, A Walker's Point Gem That Still Shines Bright 24 Ma's Chicken Congee — Flash in the Pan 26 Classic Styles of Sour Beer — Beverages

SPECIAL SECTION

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Bridgette Ard (ext. 3811) Andy Roncke (ext. 3806)

28 What’s on the Wisconsin State Fair’s Main Stage?

SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (ext. 3814)

42 You Can Achieve your Financial Goals

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Chuck Hill (ext. 3822)

SPONSORED BY

62 A Different Kind of Threesome — Dear Ruthie 64 Dairyland Classic Returns to Milwaukee — My LGBTQ POV

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

Distribution: Shepherd Express is available free of charge. The Shepherd Express may be distributed only by authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of the Shepherd Express, take more than one copy of each monthly issue. Mail subscriptions are available. No refunds for early cancellations. One year (12 issues) via First Class mail: $100.00

207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 410, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: 414/276-2222 Fax: 414/276-3312

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Cover: Mary Cassatt, Spanish Girl Leaning on a Window Sill, ca. 1872. Oil on canvas, 24 3/8 × 19 in. (61.9 × 38.26 cm). Collection of Manuel Piñanes García-Olías, Madrid. Photo, Cuauhtli Gutierrez.

AUGUST 2021 | 5

PUBLISHER'S LETTER

Wisconsin Can Do Better

overnor Evers recently signed his second and last state budget before the November 2022 gubernatorial election. After some strategic vetoes and some additional monies from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 passed in March, the governor was able to improve it enough to make it an acceptable document for him to sign. In Wisconsin, we have an “executive budget,” meaning the governor, who manages the entire state government, works with all the state agencies to discuss their priorities and then crafts a balanced budget as mandated before sending it to the state legislature. The legislature’s job is to analyze the budget, modify it as it deems appropriate, negotiate with the governor, and eventually pass a budget. Currently we have split government where one party controls the governor’s office and the other party controls at least one chamber of the legislature. Currently the Republican party controls both chambers of the legislature in what a three judge federal judicial panel (two judges appointed by a Republican President) declared an unconstitutionally gerrymandered legislative map.

WHY BOTHER TO COMPROMISE? With gerrymandered districts, most incumbents are in safe partisan districts which means that their only realistic chance of losing an election is from a primary. As a result, Republicans worry about primary challenges from the right and Democrats worry about challenges from the left. There is no incentive to try to compromise with the other party or any need to pay attention to the polls or any advisory referenda that show what the voters want. Unfortunately, those unconstitutional districts still exist, so legislators in the majority continue to focus on legislating from the extreme right to avoid a primary and to keep their rightwing check writers happy. With the census now completed, the new legislative districts will be drawn before the November 2022 elections. Hopefully we can have honest and fair district boundaries.

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Political parties have different philosophies and have different policies and priorities. That’s why the political parties exist. In a functioning democracy, there should be negotiations, give-and-take, and compromise with the focus on what is good for the citizenry. Unfortunately, that process has essentially broken down in Wisconsin, and the legislature has made the process into a very nasty fight. We, the citizens, are the ones who end up suffering. Wisconsin used to be a leader among states for its forward-looking policies that not only were copied by other states but also by our federal government. Now after the elections of 2010, the legislature has passed bills that have changed the character of our state, so we are now grouped with states like Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia. That is not what the majority of Wisconsinites want.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY I served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the late 1980s and early 1990s when we also had split government. At that time, the Democrats controlled both houses of the legislature and the Governor was Republican Tommy Thompson. We pushed our agendas hard and so did the governor and the Republican minority in the legislature. We won some; and we lost some, and in the end, I strongly believe the citizens of the state of Wisconsin came out the winners. As difficult it is to believe today, we actually had a number of friends on the other side of the aisle. The legislative districts at that time were drawn with a lot of competitive districts, so either party could have ended up in the majority. There was also respect on both sides of the aisle for the process and the institution. Occasionally when a procedural question would come up where one had to choose between what was best for the institution in the long term or a short-term win for their party, the integrity of the institution often won. That was inspiring. Unfortunately, those days are over. t is now win at all costs and stay in power no matter what you must do to our Democracy.

ADOPTING THE SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL PLAYBOOK Right now, the only agenda the Republican leadership in the legislature appears to have is to do whatever they can to make Governor Evers a one-term governor. This comes directly out of the playbook of Mitch McConnell. We citizens pay a price for this political gamesmanship. For example, when Governor Evers followed the consensus of medical experts at the height of the pandemic regarding mandating masks to save lives, the Republican leadership orchestrated lawsuits to block his mask mandates. As a result, infection rates rose and deaths rose, in the Republican’s efforts to hurt the Governor politically for not protecting Wisconsinites from COVID. Unfortunately, innocent people unnecessarily died in Wisconsin over this political game playing. With such actions by the Republican leadership as mentioned above, along with the refusal by somewhere between 25% and 30% of the population to accept losing an election—and the proposed legislation in some states that lets state legislatures discard the votes of its citizens if they don’t like the results—this is the first time in my life when I began to feel our democracy is truly under attack. Many democracies have not survived, starting with Ancient Greece. Like a relationship, you must work at it if you want it to survive. I do believe that we will survive this current challenge to our democratic system, if we pay attention to what is happening throughout our country and get more involved. The usual question is then, so what can I do? The most important issue facing us politically in our state is the need to ensure that when we redraw the legislative district boundaries between now and next summer, they are as fair and as honest as possible. If we can accomplish that, it would eventually improve virtually every aspect of our political environment and begin to heal our cultural divide. Louis Fortis Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

AUGUST 2021 | 7

NEWS

“Moving Toward a Shared Vision” AN INTERVIEW WITH COUNTY BOARD CHAIR MARCELIA NICHOLSON BY LOUIS FORTIS

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee County.

What led you to run for County Board Chairperson in 2020? What changes or new directions did you want to pursue? What were your goals for your first year?

Please tell us about your background.

Milwaukee County has suffered in reputation over the years from policy and oversight issues to internal and public conflict. And with differing constituencies and priorities, building consensus was sometimes a challenge. Despite our different districts however, we all share a common goal. That is to make Milwaukee County a place where people can live well and thrive in. We have a real opportunity to move towards a shared vision, and I wanted to be a part of moving us in that direction.

arcelia Nicholson was elected in 2016 as County Supervisor for the 5th District, which includes parts of Downtown and the North Side. Last year she became the first Black woman to serve as chairperson of the County Board of Supervisors. In addition, Nicholson continues to serve on the Milwaukee Public Library and Milwaukee Art Museum boards along with the board of Local Progress, a national network that supports, connects and unites progressive local elected officials and allied organizations. I was born and raised right here in Milwaukee. I grew up in the 53206 ZIP code, which most of us know is one of the poorest and most incarcerated in the nation. My upbringing here and my being a product of Milwaukee Public Schools has really informed my work and is a reason why I advocate so hard for issues such as racial equity, public education, and community-led economic development. After high school I went to UW-Milwaukee, and after that I became a 4th grade teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools. This is where I began to get more involved in activism as a member of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. I worked to organize our members for better working conditions. It wasn’t long after this that I decided to run for the County Board. 8 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

I ran for County Board Chairwoman because I believe in the ability of local government to improve our communities. In order to do that, you need public engagement and public trust.

My goals for my first year were to support constituent services, provide robust staff training and engagement, more collaboration with the county executive, county clerk and other departments, as well as an inclusive and participatory budget and a streamlined policy adoption process that focuses on equity and sustainability. I am proud to share that despite an international pandemic, I have accomplished many of my goals and more.

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NEWS

MILWAUKEE COUNTY HAS SUFFERED IN REPUTATION OVER THE YEARS FROM POLICY AND OVERSIGHT ISSUES TO INTERNAL AND PUBLIC CONFLICT. AND WITH DIFFERING CONSTITUENCIES AND PRIORITIES, BUILDING CONSENSUS WAS SOMETIMES A CHALLENGE. What are your longer-term goals for the county? I have made achieving racial equity my number one priority. In 2019, I sponsored a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in Milwaukee County. We were the first local government in the nation to do that. Since then, well over 100 others have taken our lead. Last year we took that a step further by creating an ordinance committing all departments to addressing structures and practices that contribute to racial health disparities. An example of this would be the racial equity budget tool that all departments are asked to use when completing their budget requests. I’ve sponsored several other pieces of legislation that seek to address racial disparities including the creation and expansion of two committees to provide oversight of our strategic plan, and a resolution requesting reports from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Transportation, and Circuit Court about what they can do to achieve our racial equity goals.

Additionally, I have received threats from members of the public and invective around my policies and efforts to advance equity, eradicate racism, and protect our democracy.

The county board is a non-partisan body unlike the state legislature or Congress, what advantages do you see leading a non-partisan legislative body versus a partisan one? I think that when you have a non-partisan body it can be easier to find common ground with other members, even if you may not agree on a particular issue. It makes it easier to see every member as an individual, and not just the letter next to their name.

In the past with the previous Milwaukee County Executive, who was in a constant fight with the county board, you and County Executive Crowley seem to have developed an excellent working relationship where you are both pulling in the same direction of trying to deliver for your constituents. What’s the trick to working together without acrimony? County Executive Crowley and I have a great relationship. We have been friends since before either of us had run for any elected office. One of the reasons I ran for the board chair is I wanted to improve this friction between the legislative and executive branches. At the beginning of each of our terms, the county executive and I would meet for about an hour every week. We don’t get to meet quite as often anymore, but we still regularly communicate with each other. That communication really is key. Even if the county executive and I do disagree on any particular issue, we agreed that we would do it respectfully.

You were elected Chairwoman by your peers in April 2020, just a few weeks into pandemic lockdown. How did the pandemic change your job? Most obvious is the fact that we have held every county board and committee meeting virtually. We have a full third of the county board who have never participated in an in-person meeting. Thankfully we are on track to be able to return to a hybrid model in September. I couldn’t be more excited, especially for those who have not had the incredible opportunity to be in the board room and feel that special energy. The board has adjusted very well to working remotely. I successfully onboarded numerous staff members virtually and reorganized the department to better assist the supervisors and serve the public. I am also proud that we were able to create a system for the public to virtually provide live comment during committee meetings. Public participation is so important to our work as legislators and receiving that same level of feedback as when we were in-person is so beneficial.

Beside the pandemic, what’s been your greatest challenge as chairwoman? Besides the pandemic, one of my greatest challenges is navigating erasure, racism, sexism and the challenges of working in a predominately male field. I’ve often been left out of media coverage or community narratives surrounding my leadership or initiatives that I created or lead. My policies and decisions receive an additional level of scrutiny, and mansplaining is usually an added layer. This is not often the case for my male colleagues.

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AN ADDITIONAL .5% SALES TAX WOULD GENERATE AROUND $80 MILLION ANNUALLY. THIS IS MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT ON THE BACKLOG OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN OUR PARKS OR BRINGING BACK THE MANY BUS ROUTES WE’VE HAD TO CUT OVER THE YEARS.

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee County.

AUGUST 2021 | 11

NEWS

On the policy front the main issue appears to be the fact that Milwaukee County has been saddled with a structural deficit that forces significant budget cuts every year. What can be done about this seemingly intractable problem? The budget continues to be an incredible challenge year after year. Balancing the last nine county budgets has required a cumulative cut of $280 million. And the cost of state-mandated services continues to grow as shared revenue remains stagnant. Without additional revenue we will have no local funds to invest in local priorities by 2027. This is why we continue to advocate at the state level for the ability to generate local revenue to properly invest in the services we all enjoy. An additional .5% sales tax would generate around $80 million annually. This is money that can be spent on the backlog of deferred maintenance in our parks or bringing back the many

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bus routes we’ve had to cut over the years. Our ability to invest in these priorities enables the entire region to remain competitive.

Is there anything you want to add that I didn’t bring up? Public service is a sacrifice and as a young leader in this community, it has been an honor to serve and give back to Milwaukee. While I love and thrive on this work, I also have many hobbies and interests. I am a baker, a plant mom, a painter, and I love to travel in my free time. When I am in my community, I like to show up genuinely and authentically, and when I inevitably end my tenure on the board, I want people to know that our humanity means more than a title to me. Like your readers, I want the best for Milwaukee and every resident that lives here.

Louis Fortis is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Shepherd Express.

AUGUST 2021 | 13

NEWS TAKING LIBERTIES

Republicans Keep Reliving Their Party’s Worst Demagoguery BY JOEL MCNALLY

fter living as shut-ins during the disastrous Trump presidency that killed 600,000 Americans in a pandemic and brought the nation’s economy to a halt for a year, most of us are eager to rebuild our country again instead of living in the past. The problem is far too many Republicans don’t want to live anywhere but the past. Donald Trump’s gone, but no one has replaced him in the party. Violent, hateful Trump supporters might not be the majority, but their attack on Congress January 6 inspired other Republicans to continue their assault on democracy to make it harder for a Democratic majority to vote. It’s tempting to think of Trump as a unique figure in politics, but his dishonest Republican demagoguery wasn’t all that original. Folks in Wisconsin know that better than anyone. Historian Jon Meacham identified the model for Trump’s toxic presidency immediately after his election. Meacham said the U.S. had elected Wisconsin’s 1950s Republican demagogue Sen. Joe McCarthy as president.

DISTORTING REALITY That comparison took a familiar turn recently. Republican politicians and the entire rightwing Fox News disinformation network that distorts reality for Republicans began viciously attacking Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the military education of American soldiers at West Point. Anyone surprised a once conservative party would attack the military

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isn’t old enough to remember the most notorious televised Republican assault on the American military in history. It was the Army-McCarthy Hearings in 1954. That was the first televised reality show even though McCarthy’s totally fabricated public accusations, like Trump’s, never bore any resemblance to reality. McCarthy spewed wildly irresponsible charges about communists subverting the U.S. government (under Republican war hero president Dwight Eisenhower yet!), the military, the teaching profession and the entertainment industry. His reckless, anti-communist crusade jailed hundreds who refused to testify before the rightwing House Un-American Activities Committee about their political beliefs. Tens of thousands more were fired or blacklisted as actors, screenwriters, playwrights, government employees, educators and military professionals. Suspected subversives were anyone holding left-of-center views on civil rights, racial equality, unions and voting rights. The parallels between the McCarthy Era and the Trump Era are obvious and there’s also a direct connection. McCarthy’s chief counsel was a sleazy, later disbarred attorney named Roy Cohn. Cohn represented Fred Trump and his 27-year-old son Donald in 1973 when Richard Nixon’s Justice Department charged them with housing discrimination. Trump credits Cohn with shaping his vicious, bare-knuckled attack politics. Donald blasted the charges as “outrageous lies” for two years before settling by agreeing to stop coding African American rental applications “C” for “colored” to be automatically rejected.

Solder photo by OSTILL/Getty Images. Elephant photo by vencavolrab/Getty Images.

ATTACKING THE MILITARY The current attacks on the military reflect Trump’s disdain for the generals he denounced as “dopes and babies” who don’t know how to win wars and the fallen troops he denigrated as “losers” and “suckers.” It’s intertwined with raucous Republican disruptions of local school board meetings over allowing history courses to reveal the existence of racism in America. Spoiler alert: Their kids already know all about it. The attacks on Gen. Milley began with House Republicans demanding to know why the U.S Military Academy taught a course on political extremism. Milley explained the purpose of a university education and hit much too close to home. “I do think it’s important actually for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read,” Milley said. “I want to understand white rage. I’m white and I want to understand it. So what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused that? I want to find that out.” Milley’s shocking revelations continued: “I’ve read Mao Tse-Tung. I’ve read Karl Marx. I’ve read Lenin. That doesn’t make me a communist. So what is wrong with . . . having some situational understanding about the country for which we are here to defend?”

THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE MCCARTHY ERA AND THE TRUMP ERA ARE OBVIOUS AND THERE’S ALSO A DIRECT CONNECTION … A SLEAZY, LATER DISBARRED ATTORNEY NAMED ROY COHN.

FOX IS FLABBERGASTED Fox News was flabbergasted the chairman of the Joint Chiefs would defend a well-educated, intelligent military. Tucker Carlson sputtered: “He didn’t get that job because he’s brilliant or because he’s brave or because the people who know him respect him. He is not and they definitely don’t . . . He’s not just a pig, he’s stupid.” Actually, Milley got that job because Trump appointed him. Fox sweetheart Laura Ingraham proposed that Republicans defund the military to put a stop to its offensive education. “Why is Congress not saying, ‘We’re not going to give you a penny until all of this is eradicated from the military budget. Nothing.’” As a potential candidate, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz attempted to act presidential by the standards of his party. He combined his attack on the military with homophobic hatred. Cruz tweeted Democrats and the media were trying to turn the military “into pansies” raised by two moms.

Joel McNally was a critic and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal for 27 years. He has written the weekly Taking Liberties column for the Shepherd Express since 1996. AUGUST 2021 | 15

NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

What’s Next for Wisconsin After State Budget is Enacted?

BY EVAN GOYKE

n Thursday, July 8, Governor Evers signed the next biennial state budget. He did so after issuing 50 partial vetoes. The spending plan includes nearly $85 billion for state programs over the next two years. Here’s what happened and what didn’t happen in the budget debate, as well as what happens next for Wisconsin. The Governor began planning this state budget back in 2020 when COVID-19 cases were surging. The bill was introduced on February 16, 2021, and even then, the economic outlook was much different. As Republicans opposed federal rescue legislation and continued litigating state efforts to mitigate COVID, it was the competent leadership of our Governor administering vaccine distribution paired with historic federal relief from President Biden that catapulted Wisconsin’s economic recovery forward. The decisions and leadership of the Evers and Biden Administrations resulted in an unprecedented $4.4 billion in projected additional revenue for our state over the next two years. We had a generational opportunity to provide necessary funding to critical programs and provide tax relief. Whether increasing affordable housing, improving healthcare, protecting our environment, or reforming the criminal legal system, the Governor’s original proposed budget tackled challenges head on and the additional revenue made these priorities possible without raising taxes. In the Joint Finance Budget debates, there were many, many missed opportunities, but the area that fell short the most was public education.

ARE THEY CHEATING OUR CHILDREN OUT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES? Clouded by one-time, pandemic-related federal aid to schools, Republican legislators refused to provide the state resources our school districts need. Governor Evers proposed nearly $1.5 billion in new spending for schools. Democrats on the committee, including myself, supported this initiative. Republicans approved just $128 million, less than 10% of the Governor’s original proposal.

The federal resources our schools are receiving have limitations. First, the funding has guidelines for what schools can use it on, meaning it cannot be spent for any purpose the district chooses. Second, many districts have already spent large portions of what they will receive in order to safely provide in-person instruction. Finally, not every district received equal federal funding and some districts received a very small amount. In short, federal aid cannot replace our state’s commitment to fund schools. Republicans will cite a much larger number for their education spending plan. Don’t let them get away with it. Only $128 million of new spending within the budget can actually be spent in the classroom. Way in the weeds of how school funding works is something called a “revenue limit.” These are spending limits set by the State Legislature and prescribe how much state aid a district may spend per student. The budget failed to increase revenue limits, meaning the big numbers in education spending you see Republicans trumpet won’t actually reach the classroom. This is property tax relief only, and while tax relief is important, so too is funding schools in a way that reaches our kids. The Governor faced a difficult decision with this budget. Spending cannot be increased with the Governor’s veto pen—it can only be reduced. If the Governor vetoed the entire budget, it is likely that Republican legislators would have walked away and not reconvened. No new budget could result in unforeseen consequences, like the loss of federal aid. Through a creative and strategic use of his veto authority, the Governor has kept roughly $550 million in state tax revenue on the table. His vetoes to reserve this funding are a signal to the Legislature that more needs to be done, especially in education. The Legislature must now act to supplement the budget with these additional dollars. The target should be public education and the future of students in Wisconsin impacted by this pandemic depends upon it.

Evan Goyke is a member of the Wisconsin Legislature representing the 18th Assembly District. 16 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Photo by Sean Pavone/Getty Images.

AUGUST 2021 | 17

NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

Jim Godsil, Integral to Our City BY ERIN BLOODGOOD

n a quiet overcast morning, I sat next to James Godsil on a bench overlooking Lake Michigan—this was his office, he told me. Full of life and humor, he had plenty to say, often looking off at the lake and speaking about philosophical ideas and future possibilities. Many know Godsil as a community connector, a co-founder of Sweet Water Organics, a civil rights advocate, or a long-time community roofer. One could say he is a part of this city – a man who has put his heart and soul into helping Milwaukee grow and flourish since he moved here in 1969. Reflecting back on his early years in Milwaukee, Godsil remembered the booming working class and industrial jobs that paid for the giant beautiful houses we can still see in the central city. But in the ‘80s and ‘90s those industrial jobs began leaving the city and left many people in ruin. In that time working as a roofer, Godsil would drive around neighborhoods looking at the large percentage of old roofs—the broken and decrepit pieces showing the obvious disinvestment. Early on, he began to dream about developing neighborhoods and creating what he called a Milwaukee Renaissance. What started as an idea eventually manifested itself into a website where he would

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tell the stories of extraordinary everyday people around Milwaukee or the “Olympian mensch” as he would say. This led to community organizing with the help of key partners who worked to development group emails as a way to reach people on a larger scale. “Demonstrating one of the things my life has underscored profoundly,” said Godsil. “A small number of people with an idea that’s in the grain of history who can play in the sandbox together… can accomplish huge mounds of things.”

At the age of 76, Godsil is reluctantly slowing down, but not by much as he continues to connect people across the city and lend his support to the Sweet Water group in Chicago and the Norris Academy just outside of Milwaukee. Diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, he is making sure to spend every valuable moment with his children and grandchildren.

STILL HAPPENING TODAY His Milwaukee Renaissance is still happening today, and he knows that to be true because, as he says, there’s a part of the population that has fallen in love with Milwaukee and will use the resources they have to “dig in” and make the city better place to live. Now after being in Milwaukee for 52 years, Godsil sees the changes and the vibrant welcoming city Milwaukee has become. Streets like Locust, Center and Capitol have lively store fronts and are cultural hubs. Unlike in the ‘70s, roofs on the East Side are new and well-maintained. And even though Milwaukee has come a long way, he knows there is still work to be done, communities to bring together and roofs to be replaced.

Photos by Erin Bloodgood.

When I asked him what his hopes for Milwaukee were, he said this: “I think it’s good that people among us dream big dreams. Like Dr. King had a dream where ‘little Black boys and girls can join hands with little white boys and girls, and they will be judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.’ And I witnessed that dream manifesting. A crucial thing is patience. Oh, it’s not the intensity, but the duration of passion that interests me. My vision, my dream, my hope, is that Milwaukee continues (and it will, I imagine) fighting the good fight like I’ve witnessed.” Godsil stressed the importance of grandiosity and “stretching one’s mind and imagination to utopian levels” because in order for a renaissance to happen, we have to dream impossible ideas for our city.

Read Godsil’s Milwaukee Renaissance website at www.milwaukeerenaissance.com. Erin Bloodgood is a Milwaukee photographer and storyteller. For more of her work, visit bloodgoodfoto.com.

AUGUST 2021 | 19

NEWS OFF THE CUFF

Photo courtesy of Thallis Drake.

Making Milwaukee Music History OFF THE CUFF WITH EARLY MUSIC NOW’S THALLIS DRAKE BY PAUL MASTERSON

handful of individuals have created Milwaukee’s cultural landscape. With a mission to edify and ennoble, they have shared their passion for the arts with the population at large. Among them is Frederick Layton who founded the Layton Art Gallery in 1888, which evolved into the Milwaukee Art Museum. In 1933, John-David Anello established the Florentine Opera. And, 35 years ago, in 1986, Thallis Drake created Early Music Now (EMN), an organization dedicated to presenting world class musicians playing Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music in historically informed performance, a discipline seeking to produce the music’s original sound and sensitivity as it would have been experienced centuries ago.

HOW DID YOU BECOME CONVERTED TO EARLY MUSIC AND HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE? I returned to Milwaukee in the late 1960s after receiving a degree in violin from Eastman School of Music and joined the McDowell Club, an organization dedicated to classical music. I met Gertrude Stillman, an organist and harpsichordist and became a member of her early music band, the Medieval Consort. I made a gown to join them. We gave concerts in libraries, women’s clubs and high schools. They wanted a deeper sound, so I decided to get a viola da gamba [the cello’s six-stringed and fretted older cousin]. I found one in Utah of all places and had it shipped to me.

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With no teacher available, I taught myself to play it. Then I went to a workshop in Chicago and discovered I was doing it all wrong. But I was smitten and fell in love with the instrument. We’d perform a concert at the end of the workshop. I decided we had to have something like this in Milwaukee.

AND THAT SOMETHING BECAME EARLY MUSIC NOW? In the years leading up to EMN, I found my role in presenting. It’s been my joy to present to people all these years. In the 1970s it was bands like Les Jongleurs and The Medieval Consort. At the time of the Artist Series at the Pabst Theater, I suggested an early music series and the idea took off. In 1986, I raised $500 to launch Early Music Now. Its first concert took place at the Milwaukee Public Library’s Centennial Hall. It featured Chicago’s Newberry Consort. We soon outgrew Centennial Hall and moved to the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center, then to other venues to accommodate not only the expanding audience numbers but also the demands of the music’s acoustics and ambiance.

The best place of all is St. Joseph’s Chapel. That location remains the traditional site for EMN’s December holiday concerts. In fact, this year, for our 35th Anniversary, the Newberry Consort returns to perform a Mexican Christmas themed concert there.

IT SEEMS YOU WERE NOT ONLY PROMOTING THE GENRE BUT ALSO ITS VALUE AS AN INTANGIBLE ASSET FOR THE CITY. A friend of mine, city librarian Donald Sager, once told me, “Milwaukee was like a library missing a book.” We are a city with a capital “C” and not to have early music was unimaginable. It wasn’t only a matter of sharing a passion, but also one of providing an immersive experience. One event in 1993 centered on the Old English epic Beowulf. We required guests to bring a knife and napkin for a banquet served by costumed high school volunteers.

Photo by Peshkova/Getty Images.

During our 2019-20 season, Tibetan monks created a sand mandala at City Hall and performed at the Tripoli Shrine Center.

so much to experience to show how music connects us and it’s important to know where it comes from.

TODAY MILWAUKEE IS RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING CENTER OF EARLY MUSIC IN AMERICA. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO ACHIEVE THAT?

The good will we established has earned us a good reputation. People from all over the world are begging to come to Milwaukee as part of our series.

It’s a matter of intellectual curiosity. We wanted to do something others don’t do or compete with anyone and we’re very frank about what we embrace: Medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque music. We’ve educated people. We go into the schools and even if it reaches just one or two kids, to enrich one person’s life is success. We’ve brought in musicians from across the nation and from over a dozen countries representing Western and Eastern Europe as well as India, Japan and Tibet. I think it’s important to embrace all backgrounds. Each one has given something to the other. It opens one’s ears. There is

SUCCESS IS ALSO A MATTER OF MANAGEMENT. I started from scratch. You have to have a dream and then you have to give it away. The first board embraced the dream. After a dozen years, I approached Charles Sullivan to lead the organization. He was our salvation. He built up EMN far more than I ever could. Sullivan stayed on as director for two decades before handing over the reins to his successor, Charles Grosz.

WHAT IS EMN’S LEGACY? I’m astounded how it’s evolved. There are people who have been coming to our concerts from the very first years. Many

are subscribers. They’ve invested in us one way or another. They enjoy our concerts and keep coming back. We’ve never had the same thing twice, from dance concerts to commedia dell’arte. We’ve also contributed greatly to the world of early music. Now you can get a degree in early music performance which was unheard of when I was in college. It’s important the EMN mission be maintained.

AND YOUR PERSONAL LEGACY? It was my life. Presenting people I admired and loved to Milwaukee was my greatest joy. I had to share it. Many people caught it and understood where I was coming from. It’s a maternal necessity to nurture. I’m like a mother hen. I just cluck “I’m so proud.”

Paul Masterson served on the board of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center and is a columnist for the Shepherd Express and shepherdexpress.com.

AUGUST 2021 | 21

FOOD & DRINK

La Merenda, A Walker’s Point Gem

That Still Shines Bright

BY SUSAN HARPT GRIMES Simple tables and big wooden chairs bring an informal air to the space. On a recent visit, COVID restrictions meant fewer, and more spread out tables, as well as plastic dividers between tables that couldn’t be spaced further apart. It actually added a feeling of extra privacy, which was perfectly acceptable.

or nearly 15 years, La Merenda has been a Walker’s Point go-to for excellent world cuisine. Everything is creatively prepared from locally sourced food and presented in a bite-sized way that has charmed diners from the beginning. Midwesterners are generally known for their love of large portions, even if it means taking home a “doggie bag” at the end of the meal. A restaurant like La Merenda, serving small plates or tapas portions may have been considered a bit odd in a big appetite city back in 2007. Clearly, it turned out to be a recipe for success as La Merenda is already a treasured local favorite and seems destined to become a vaunted Milwaukee icon.

ALFRESCO EXPERIENCE

The cozy front bar room is an agreeable space to enjoy a beverage before dinner, or to just have a quick drink. A solid wine and beer list, as well as delightful cocktails, means everyone will find something to imbibe. Special note should be made that La Merenda makes a particularly delicious Old Fashioned, of course sweet and made with brandy. The bright and comfortable dining room hasn’t changed much since the early days.

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When the weather is agreeable, don’t pass up an opportunity to sit outside. La Merenda doesn’t just offer patio seating, instead they have created an alfresco dining experience. Soft lighting from a multitude of string lights, planters filled with gorgeous flowers, an impressive outdoor stone fireplace—just an overall lovely space for relaxing over tasty drinks and sharing delicious food. La Merenda also will not disappoint when it comes to service. While you will have one main server, dishes are brought to the table as they are ready, so any number of pleasant staff members may interact with you. Because everything is served as small plates, you’ll have the opportunity to try many different dishes and share a few

Photos by Michael Burmesch. Texture illustration by LizaLutik/Getty Images.

bites with everyone at the table. Also, as the meal is progressing, you may choose to add extra dishes if you find that one particular dish was so good that another is needed. Typically, three to four dishes work well for two people.

CLASSIC ITEMS There are a few classic items that longtime La Merenda fans typically feel the need to order on every visit. One can’tmiss item is the Indonesian Sambal Goreng Udang ($13), featuring several large shrimp served on top of a bed of tomatoes and coconut mashed potatoes, with a mildly spicy, creamy coconut sauce. Another long-time favorite is the Indian Butter Chicken ($11), a creamy chicken curry with tomatoes and cashews packing a nice kick and served with rice. No visit to La Merenda would quite be complete without the Spanish Patatas Bravas y Chorizo ($9.50), made with perfectly cooked potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce, garlic aioli and a zippy chorizo sausage. Several newer additions to the menu are also worth highlighting. The lovely Moroccan Spiced Grilled Parsnips ($9) are served with a saffron-carrot puree, crispy kale, a cool cilantro yogurt sauce, topped with toasted almonds. Or try the Canadian Duck Confit Poutine ($14), crisp hand cut fries, topped with tender duck leg confit, goat cheese curds, and incredibly flavorful duck gravy. Another winner is the deceptively simple sounding Truffled Potato Skins ($6.50), which consists of a generous portion of crisped up potato skin peelings topped with shaved parmesan and rich truffle oil. If you haven’t been to La Merenda lately, or if you’ve never been, do yourself a favor and go as soon as you are able.

LA MERENDA 125 E. National Ave. | (414) 389-0125 www.lamerenda125.com | $$-$$$ Handicap Accessible: Yes Reservations: Yes

Susan Harpt Grimes is a longtime restaurant and features writer for the Shepherd Express.

AUGUST 2021 | 23

FOOD & DRINK FLASH IN THE PAN

Ma’s Chicken Congee

BY ARI LEVAUX

hard rain assaulted the farmers market in my town last week. It was the kind of prolonged squall that has to make a farmer—more of whom showed up than shoppers— question his or her career choices. The only thing that sold out was coffee, because everyone’s hands were cold. A vat of steaming congee, on special at the Vietnamese sandwich stall, would have sold out too, but they ran out of bowls. I was lucky enough to nab a serving of that thick brew. I squirted on some hoisin sauce and began enjoying my morning, in a better position to appreciate the weather. People eat congee virtually anywhere they eat rice. It’s many names translate into the likes of “white porridge,” “dilute rice” and “wet rice.” Whatever you call it, the process of making it always simmers down to the same basic idea: Cook a little rice in a lot of water, until you have a thick, warm cloud. Simply add flavor and serve. The Vietnamese sandwich seller, Le Ma, is of Chinese and Vietnamese ancestry. Where he comes from, congee is regarded as having especially nourishing and medicinal properties, akin to chicken soup in the West. “When you weren’t feeling well, that’s what people would make you,” he told me. “It’s easy to eat and easy to digest.” It also doesn’t fill you up too much, he added. “A few hours later you’re hungry again. It’s a good breakfast food because it gets you going but won’t slow you down. And it’s also popular as a late-night meal, because it’s a light comfort food you can eat before bed.”

SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD While congee preparation is simple and straightforward, there is, nonetheless, an endless array of ways that you can

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Photos by Ari LeVaux.

cook, garnish and serve it. It’s like the Zen concept of meditating on the same bowl of rice every morning until it becomes a different bowl of rice each morning— except mushier. In Bhutan, congee is used to celebrate the Blessed Rainy Day, a holiday that marks the start of the annual monsoon season. In Thailand, ultra-bland congee is often served alongside extra-flavorful side dishes that you daintily add, a procedure that a Thai friend of mine described as combining “flavor” and “not flavor.” When congee is served as a one-bowl meal, on the other hand, it’s customized toward the end of cooking, like the congee that showed up in my mom’s hospital room last week in Denver. I’d stopped at a dim sum place to grab her some dumplings, and decided to order wonton soup as well, which is basically dumpling soup. But my double dumpling delivery was derailed, as the kitchen mistakenly swapped the wonton soup for congee with flounder. It was pillowy and ethereal in texture, and flavored exquisitely with ginger and scallion, and mom slurped it down. The next morning, I reheated the congee with leftover broccoli with oyster sauce. Mom’s congee, once again, was perfect. Two days after the hospital dim sum session, I showed up at the aforementioned stormy farmers market in time to buy a bowl of Ma’s Chicken Congee. It was garnished with cilantro and scallion from a neighboring stall and contained quinoa. I must admit I thought quinoa congee sounded a bit crunchy, but I know enough about congee to not tell a Southeast Asian how to make congee. It turns out Ma knew best. My kids couldn’t stop eating it, undaunted by all of the extra nutrients.

MA’S CHICKEN CONGEE • 1 cup quinoa • 2/3 cups basmati rice • 2 quarts water • 2 quarts chicken stock • 2 tablespoons oil • 1 cup diced chicken • 1 heavy cup chopped celery • 1 heavy cup chopped carrots • 1/2 cup finely chopped ginger • 1 tablespoon salt • 1 teaspoon black pepper • Garnish: cilantro, green onion, lime hoisin sauce Serves 10, but the recipe can easily be cut in half if that’s too much.

Rinse and drain the rice and the quinoa. Cook them together in a rice cooker with the water and stock. If you don’t have a rice cooker, use a pot with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for an hour at a light simmer. At home I used a pressure cooker, which made the result mushier and more authentically congee-like. Interestingly, my kids preferred Ma’s, which had a little more thickness. Meanwhile, sauté the chicken, celery, carrots and ginger with the salt and pepper. Add it to the congee pot and cook for an additional hour or so, until it’s a consistency you like. Garnish with chopped cilantro and green onion, a squeeze of lime and a squirt of hoisin.

Ari LeVaux has written about food for The Atlantic Online, Outside Online and Alternet.

AUGUST 2021 | 25

FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES

Classic Styles of Sour Beer BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

Photo by AlexRaths/Getty Images.

aste in beer is subject to fashion, which is subject to where we are as a society. What was new yesterday is old today. What was old then is as new now as a classic style of sour beer. Before refrigerators, before Louis Pasteur, before biochemistry solved the enigma of fermentation, all beer was sour. Beer begins as barley or wheat, which is germinated into malt and soaked in warm water to derive a wort, which renders the carbohydrates of glucose and maltose. Yeast ferments those carbohydrates into alcohol. For the thousands of years before brewers knew what yeast was, they depended on wild yeasts to spontaneously ferment their beer. Brewers also depended on bacteria like lactobacillus, pediococcus, acetobacter, and brettanomyces for the aromas and flavors of their beer. These microorganisms were thriving in their fields of barley and wheat, in the oak trees they used for barrels to age their beer, and all around

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them in the air where they were. These microorganisms the brewers depended on were native to their geography. Where they were defined their styles of beer. After the discovery of yeast in the 19th century, a majority of brewers adopted single strains of proprietary, factory yeast to make as much identical beer as possible. The practice yields brewers mass market advantages but strips their beers of the complexity wild yeasts and bacteria provide. The minority of brewers who stuck with the practice of fermenting beers spontaneously saw their sours fade into shadows of factory ales and lagers. Now sour beers are new again. The famous classic styles are lambic and gueuze, Flanders Red Ale, Oud Bruin Ale, Gose and Berliner Weisse. They’re refreshing by themselves and ideal companions for food. They’re pleasing and mysterious, complex, dynamic, and engaging.

LAMBIC AND GEUZE Lambics are native to southwest Flanders, which is the Dutch region in the north of Belgium. The grain bill of lambics is made up of unmalted wheat and malted barley.

The wort for the beer cools overnight in the open air, where it collects wild yeasts and bacteria. The beer then ferments and ages in large oak barrels for at least a year. Lambics are funky, bright, and can be used to make related styles of beer. Older and lambics are mixed to make a style called gueuze made by adding whole fruit, fruit pulp, or fruit juice to a lambic as it ages in its oak cask. Which lambic to look for: Brewery Cantillon Gueuze Lambic

FLANDERS RED ALE The tart quality of Flanders Red Ale owes to the bacteria thriving in oak barrels. These microflora define the Flanders Red style by introducing themselves into the beer while it’s aging. The beer has a medium body, bracing acidity and layers of complexity, with characteristic flavors of cherries and currants. The style is commonly referred to as the pinot noir or Burgundy of beer.

Which Flanders Red Ale to look for: Duchesse de Bourgogne

OUD BRUIN ALE Oud Bruin is a Belgian sour from East Flanders. Brown ale is aged in oak casks for as long as two years to ferment, mature, and develop its acidity. Older batches are then mixed with younger beer. Fruity, malty aromas and flavors characterize the style. Which Oud Bruin Ale to look for: De Brabandere Petrus Oud Bruin

GOSE Gose is an unfiltered sour wheat beer from the Lower Saxony region of Germany. The style hadn’t been made for the better part of a century until a brewery located an old factory worker who happened to remember the recipe. The malt bill of Gose consists of at least half malted wheat, along with malted barley. Coriander and salt are added. Gose is a low alcohol, lemony beer, with bright acidity and earthy spice.

Which gose to look for: Gasthaus & Gosebrauerei Bayerischer Bahnhof Leipziger Gose (the brewery which revived the style).

BERLINER WEISSE The malt bill of classic Berliner Weiss is divided between malted wheat and malted barley. The style is mildly sour, with a light, fruity character and less than 2.5% alcohol. Berliners commonly flavor the beer with extracts of raspberry or Woodruff, a sweet, earthy, hay-like herb. Which Berliner Weisse to look for: Professor. Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse

Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was the managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa.

AUGUST 2021 | 27

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

There are many reasons to go to the State Fair: the cream puffs, the animals, the hundreds of vendors—and the music. This year’s State Fair Main Stage lineup spans new wave to Christian pop, hard rock to country.

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Illustration by Sophie Yufa.

AUGUST 2021 | 29

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

AUGUST 5 SKILLET WITH COLTON DIXON & LEDGER BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

Booking Skillet for the Wisconsin State Fair Main Stage checks off multiple boxes to bring in a diverse audience. Hard rock radio listeners know the quartet from their consistent presence in the format for over a decade with a sound that negotiates metal and electronic elements with accessible melodies and anthemic choruses. Fairgoers wanting to support Wisconsin music should appreciate that three Skillet members call the state home—lead singer John Cooper married his wife and current band mate from Kenosha, Korey.

And many seats will likely be taken up by some of the band’s fellow Christians. It’s within the evangelical pop market that Skillet released their earliest music in the mid-‘90s in a grungier, borderline indie sound before Cooper incorporated synthesizers. The group’s messaging isn’t didactic enough to prevent it from it being used for placements in rough and tumble sports like pro wrestling. Perhaps surprisingly to some, Cooper has also become in recent months an incisive, impassioned voice on socio-political issues affecting believers.

AUGUST 6 CHRIS YOUNG BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair. Photo by Matthew Berinato.

Though only 15 years since his debut on country radio, it’s as if Chis Young came from a wholly different world. It was one where television singing competitions not only won ratings, but their winners could sustain lengthy runs of national success. Young numbered among those champions, besting the competition on the 2006 season of the USA Network’s Nashville Star. His debut album introduced a cowboy hat-wearing neo-traditionalist steeping his songs in peals of pedal steel guitar and fiddle. Many of Young’s best early singles prefigured the current vogue of “boyfriend country.” But instead of being obsequiously 30 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

worshipful of the woman in his life, he more realistically sang of how romance helped to made him a better person who wanted to please his lady love. Young’s aesthetic angled sharply into the ‘10s, as his lyrics started mirroring the hearty partying sentiments of proto-bro’ country proponents such as Luke Bryan and Brantley Gilbert. Concurrently electronic R&B percussion and crunching arena rock guitars entered his production values. As Young prepares to release his eighth long-player, he sounds to be using his rich baritone on material hewing closer to country orthodoxy.

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AUGUST 2021 | 31

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

AUGUST 8 BILLY IDOL BY DAVID LUHRSSEN

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

“White Wedding” was outstanding on commercial radio in the early ‘80s, an example of the briefly rising tide of new wave hits. Singer Billy Idol delivered an unforgettable story about an unhappy wedding day with gruffly understated menace and irony. And he followed “White Wedding’s” success with the furiously upbeat “Dancing with Myself” and the haunting “Eyes without a Face,” among other hits. Idol brought punk credibility into his pop music career. He had been lead vocalist for one of the U.K.’s early punk rock bands,

Generation X, formed at a time when the generational cohort that later adopted that label were only toddlers. In late ‘70s punk circles, “Generation X” referred to the coming of age of Late Boomers, old enough to watch the ‘60s on TV but too young to take part. From 1993 to 2005, Idol largely disappeared from view and cleaned up a drug problem. He reemerged this century with a couple of albums of new material, occasional guest appearances with other acts, and resumed touring.

AUGUST 9 CASTING CROWS WITH WE THE KINGDOM BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

Casting Crowns make contemporary Christian music (CCM) look easy, in good ways. At heart of their genre is striking a balance between the spiritual and the commercial. The primary intention may be to inspire, encourage and challenge fellow saints and listeners they want to evangelize; but CCM artists' call to musical ministry is subject to the necessity of bringing in enough revenue to keep themselves and the infrastructure supporting them solvent. In a scene some acts use as a launchpad to worldly success, the Crowns inhabit it with motives purer than many, but sales and 32 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

airplay enough to earn respect from the music business at large. Lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall comes from a Baptist youth pastor background, and the group remain accountable to their home congregation in suburban Atlanta. None of that would matter if substantive artistry didn’t come with their circumspection. And for hooky pop rock with Americana undercurrents, they need not play second fiddle to anyone in the secular realm. The band likewise merit kudos for pushing evangelical musical expression’s decades of U2 pastiche aside for some brighter Coldplay influence on its sonic color palette.

AUGUST 2021 | 33

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

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AUGUST 2021 | 35

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

AUGUST 10 FOREIGNER BY MICHAEL POPKE For some music fans, an outdoor concert at the Wisconsin State Fair’s Main Stage might be the perfect way to ease back into live music. And hearing Foreigner’s timeless classic rock anthems —“Hot Blooded,” “Head Games,” “Urgent,” “Feels Like the First Time” and the ubiquitous ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is,” among them—will be sonic comfort food for listeners of a certain age.

1976—76-year-old guitarist and chief songwriter Mick Jones—but Foreigner still boasts a robust lineup that includes vocalist Kelly Hansen (Hurricane) and bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken). Both joined in the mid-2000s and brought new spirit and energy. Pilson, 62, still rocks with contagious enthusiasm, and Hanson, 60, honors original singer Lou Gramm’s legacy while also making the songs his own. Opening for Foreigner will be another band with longevity. ASIA featuring John Payne is an offshoot of the original ASIA supergroup, in which Payne handled lead vocals and played bass from 1991 to 2006.

It’s no surprise the band is calling its first post-pandemic trek across America “The Greatest Hits of Foreigner Tour.” (Incidentally, Milwaukee was Foreigner’s final pre-pandemic stop before coming off the road in March 2020). With 10 multiplatinum albums and 16 U.S. Top 30 singles released between 1977 and 1987, expect plenty of nostalgia. Bur Foreigner has not rested entirely on its laurels, touring consistently and releasing a 2009 studio album titled Can’t Slow Down, which debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard 200. Only one original member remains from the band that formed in Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

AUGUST 11 BROTHERS OSBORNE BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

For a genre with the populist roots country music has, it may be unusual for an act to brand themselves as “Not for Everyone.” But the Brothers Osborne are for enough people to have maintained a major label country career for since 2013 with a fair share of critical acclaim and industry awards. Credit Maryland siblings John (the hirsute lead guitar-player) and T.J. (the clean-shaven lead singer) Osborne with maintaining the favor they do by consistently balancing the demands of commercial radio gatekeepers, including the occasional au courant incursion of electronic production elements, with plenty of instru36 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

mental rootsiness and lyrical intelligence. Being smart doesn’t mean the Osbornes can’t be silly, though, as borne out by one of their biggest hits, “Shoot Me Straight,” as well as the deadpan comedic schtick they can deliver in their music videos. The Osbornes likewise deliver the superior iterations of the kind of odes of inspiration and redemption historically associated with country as well, such as “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You).” Canadian newcomer Tenille Townes will open their State Fair show.

AUGUST 2021 | 37

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

AUGUST 12 GABRIEL IGLESIAS BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

Gabriel Iglesias may be big as he ever has been. But he’s also glad to not be as large as he once was. The comedian’s ascent in popularity in the ‘00s can be attributed to in part to his ability to kid on himself, like saying that he wasn’t overweight but merely fluffy. Dropping 100 pounds in recent years, however, has coincided with the kind of popularity that has allowed him to play the world with his fairly family-friendly brand of stand up. That breadth of global travel, becoming a father and other life-changing experiences, have enriched his humor. Where he was once reliant on self-referential asides and anecdotes, he

has matured into a deft storyteller who gets an exceptionally high rate of laughs per minute. The progression in Iglesias’ depth hasn’t overshadowed his gifts for impersonations, mimicry of accents, sound effects and the continuing spectacle of someone who’s still rather physically imposing being manically animated. The culmination of his act is like having a hyper, well-traveled friend who happens to be a gut-busting raconteur. He has translated his relatability into voice acting in cartoon movies and anchoring a Netflix sitcom.

AUGUST 13 BOYZ II MEN BY JAMIE LEE RAKE

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

Boyz II Men’s 1991 debut, Cooleyhighharmony, not only began the vocal group's ascent to becoming the most successful pop ensemble of the decade and best-selling R&B group ever; it also signaled what is so far the last surge of male harmony singing in secular African American vernacular music. The boom of such sounds sparked by the then-quartet's first hit, "Motownphilly," didn't survive long in popularly into the current millennium. But the best of Boyz II Men transcends nostalgic appeal to remain examples of a kind of lush, tender artistry absent 38 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

from current mainstream R&B and in short supply in its complementary radio format geared to adults. By melding doo wop and influences from ‘60s and ‘70s soul vocal groups with touches of scat singing into a fresh, youthful sound, Boyz II Men made a more wholesome alternative to the increasingly dark sonic and lyrical paths hip-hop was taking at the time. For anyone forgetting just how omnipresent Boyz II Men were in their commercial prime, their four biggest singles spent a whopping 50 weeks atop Billboard's Hot 100 in a span of five years.

AUGUST 2021 | 39

SPECIAL STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE PREVIEW

AUGUST 14 BEACH BOYS BY DAVID LUHRSSEN

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair.

Dick Dale and the instrumental bands of the early ‘60s played surf music, their reverberating guitars catching the rise and swell of the ocean. But ask most people about surf music and they’ll answer: The Beach Boys. They sang about surfing as well as teenage car culture and the sunny side of the California Dream, dominating the Top-40 in the early through mid-‘60s. Brian Wilson, the genius of the band, wasn’t content to rest on his early hits. His melodies and production grew more sophisticated, resulting in “Good Vibrations” and The Beach Boys’ superb 1966 album Pet Sounds. The Beatles felt the creative challenge and

AUGUST 15 HANK WILLIAMS JR. BY BLAINE SCHULTZ Hank Williams Jr. was just three years old when his father died on New Year’s Eve 1953. Nicknamed “Bocephus” by his dad, Hank Jr. made his first television appearance in 1964 and his career was off and running. Moving from his father’s shadow, his 1975 album Hank Williams Jr. and Friends planted him firmly in the popular Southern Rock genre.

responded with Sgt. Pepper. Wilson planned to top himself but his follow-up album, Smile, disintegrated and waited until 2004 before the pieces were assembled and released. Drugs and madness were part of the story. And yet, for 50 years since their creative peak, The Beach Boys have been nostalgic brand name for the endless summers of youth. In whatever lineup is assembled, they continue to deliver a rack of cheery hit from their early years, including “California Girls” and “Surfin’ Safari.”

returned to performing, the beard, sunglasses and cowboy hat became his trademark look. In 1989 Monday Night Football began using a new version of his “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” as “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night.” (The song was ultimately pulled because of political comment Williams made.) His son Shelton Williams, known as Hank III, performs rough-hewn country music as well as hardcore punk and speed metal continuing the family tradition.

Last year, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. “It’s a bright spot during a difficult year,” he said. “I have been making top 10 records for 56 years. I fell off a mountain and tried to reinvent myself as a truly individual artist and one who stepped out of the shadows of a very famous man … one of the greatest. I’ve got to thank all those rowdy friends who, year after year, still show up for me. It’s an honor to carry on this family tradition. It is much appreciated.” He was referring to a 1973, near-fatal, mountain climbing accident that left Williams seriously injured and scarred. When he Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair. Photo by David McClister.

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Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Fair. Photo by JMKE Photography.

AUGUST 2021 | 41

SPECIAL "YOU CAN" SERIES

You Can Achieve your Financial Goals NORTH SHORE BANK’S “YOU CAN” SERIES IS ABOUT YOU.

WHAT IS THE 50/30/20 RULE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING?

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR USING CREDIT CARDS WISELY?

Your hopes. Your plans. Your slice of the American Dream. And we understand that the goals you set don’t have to match anyone else’s. This is your life to live. Let us help you live it.

With the 50/30/20 rule, put about 50 percent of your monthly income towards necessities like your home/rent, groceries, medical expenses, daycare, etc. The next 30 percent should go to things you want, like coffee in the morning, eating out for lunch or dinner, or getting new clothes. The final 20 percent is what you should ideally save.

The first thing I recommend is picking how you are going to use your credit card, and sticking to it. If you are getting a rewards card to earn points, ensure that you keep up with paying it off to avoid late payments and accruing more interest than what you can handle. If you are picking a card to pay down debt or make a big purchase, use the card for that and don’t utilize it again until you have this goal accomplished.

Remember: No matter where you’re starting out, you CAN move forward and achieve your financial goals. Our team is here to help you at every step along the way!

Saving 20 percent can seem like a lot, but it’s manageable by taking it little by little – and often people are already starting off on the right foot by putting money into their retirement accounts through their employer.

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE HAVE IN THEIR EMERGENCY SAVINGS FUND?

WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH NORTH SHORE BANK? My name is Ray Guardiola. I am the branch manager at North Shore Bank’s new North End office, located on the East Side, and I have been with the bank about six years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FIRST STEP SOMEONE CAN TAKE TOWARD THEIR FINANCIAL WELLNESS? The first step is to understand where you are now. How are you currently spending? Have you been able to save? Then, identify your short term and long term goals. I believe when you can truly define these things, you begin to get serious about making plans to confidently manage your money on your terms.

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When I meet with customers, I typically recommend saving for six months’ worth of expenses. I like to highlight that six months’ worth of expenses covers you if you were to temporarily lose your income or need to make an unexpected repair to your home or car. Of course, more is great, but maintaining six months’ worth will serve you well.

HOW CAN SOMEONE START BUILDING THEIR CREDIT? If someone is brand new to building credit, and has never had anything in their name, I normally recommend a secured credit card. With this type of card, we take a deposit and issue a credit card with a credit limit that matches your deposited amount. This still undergoes a credit inquiry, and it is a very good option to help introduce you to credit card use because of the lower limit associated with the card.

IF SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING WITH DEBT, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO AND HOW CAN THEY GET HELP? When someone is struggling with debt, the first thing I recommend they do is understand where they are spending money each month and what things could be limited. I also recommend people look at their debt and see if they have an option to consolidate anything for a lower interest rate. We’re happy to help them develop a plan that can get them where they want to be.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN INVESTING BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START – DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO HELP THEM GET STARTED? I’d ask those people if they are already taking advantage of employer programs like a 401k and, if so, help them to realize that they are already investing. If not, I’d encourage them to ask their employer about their options. Then, I would remind them we are here to help and that North Shore Bank has the resources to get them started.

You Can...

achieve your financial goals, and I will be here to assist you along the way!

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AUGUST 2021 | 43

CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

"AMERICANS IN SPAIN: PAINTING AND TRAVEL 1820-1920." AT THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM THROUGH OCTOBER 3, 2021 BY SHANE MCADAMS

espite the Iberian Peninsula reaching further west than any other part of Europe, Spain’s relationship to Eastern thought and culture through its connections to North Africa have peppered it with distinct non-Western flavors. Additional royalist, Roman Catholic and revolutionary traditions have folded its past into a history unparalleled in Europe. These characteristics made it an irresistible destination for artists with an appetite for exotic, diverse, and still reachable touchstones for modern art. The American take on this fascinating story of migration and inspiration is on gorgeous display at the Milwaukee Art Museum, in a broad and comprehensive exhibition, “Americans in Spain: Painting and Travel 1820–1920,” through October 3. Co-organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum, the exhibit features over 100 individual works– paintings, photographs and prints–drawn from institutions as renowned as the Prado and the Musée d’Orsay, as well as Top: Robert Henri, El Matador, 1906. Oil on canvas, 78 × 38 in. (198.1 × 96.5 cm). Milwaukee Art Museum, Purchase, the Mr. and Mrs. Donald B. Abert and Barbara Abert Tooman Fund with funds in memory of Betty Croasdaile and John E. Julien, M2019.1. Photo, John R. Glembin. Bottom: Robert Henri, Betalo Rubino, Dramatic Dancer, 1916. Oil on canvas, 77 1⁄4 × 37 1⁄4 in. (196.2 × 94.6 cm). Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum Purchase, 841:1920.

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dozens of other lenders from around the world. There’s even a recently discovered portrait by Mary Cassatt from a private collection in Spain. Co-curators Brandon Ruud and Corey Piper avoid an airtight categorical articulation of this sprawling subject, choosing to break up the story into a number of sub-sections that highlight its most compelling and colorful individual chapters.

PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN The exhibition begins with a peek behind the curtain of the royal court in Madrid and copies of famous works by masters such as Édouard Manet, James McNeill Whistler and Robert Henri from the Prado museum. Established after the Napoleonic wars to showcase Spain’s cultural treasures, the Prado quickly became an artistic pilgrimage spot for Americans, offering the best examples of Spanish masters to be copied. The official copy register of the Prado as a result is a who’s-who of the modern canon. One of the copies on display is a full-scale replica of Diego Velasquez’s Queen Consort Mariana by Henri. Its loose treatment predicts the American Ashcan painter’s later loose brushwork and validates the value of what might seem a less-than-

Background photo by littleclie/Getty Images.

Above: Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, Hall of the Ambassadors, Alhambra, Granada, 1909. Oil on canvas, 41 × 32 in. (104.1 × 81.3 cm). The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 79.PA.154. Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.

creative endeavor. An adjacent portrait of Mariana by Juan Bautista Martinez del Mazo mirrors Henri’s skills of replication, and the tandem works finally illustrate the famously inbred Hapsburg facial deformities, most pronounced in the Consort’s son, Charles. It’s said to have left him unable to eat or speak properly. The visual tour at MAM eventually departs the Royal Court in Madrid and glides casually into sunlit Mediterranean gardens and Muslim-inspired architecture of Andalusia, including the Alhambra Palace in Grenada and the Great Mosque in Cordoba. If the royal courts in Madrid endowed Spain with its canonical body, its Jewish, Roma and Islamic traditions provided it with its mystery, eccentricity and romantic spirit. The show includes several paintings and lithographs of the Alhambra, where many of those spirits still lurk. The show also pro-

Above: Childe Hassam, Plaza de la Merced, Ronda, 1910. Oil on panel, 25 1⁄2 × 20 1⁄2 in. (64.6 × 52 cm). © Carmen Thyssen- Bornemisza Collection on loan at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.

vides dozens of more intimate views into sun-dappled Byzantine courtyards and verdant patios by artists such as Robert Frederick Blum and Joaquín Sorolla. These outdoor scenes build on each other. Each luminous brush stroke from the muzzle of a donkey in John Singer Sargent’s Moorish Courtyard, and sun-raked step in Child Hassam Church Procession, immerses us further into the glorious and enveloping atmosphere of southern Spain.

SUNNY SPAIN By the time we encounter William Merritt Chase’s Sunny Spain we can almost feel the sun baking the backs of our necks. The composition depicts two women carrying water jugs through the thirsty, putty-colored outskirts of mid-19th century Madrid. We see smokestacks in the distance, suggesting the industrial transformation on the horizon. Like Monet’s many sketches

of Argenteuil, we watch modern and rural traditions square off. Still, Spain remained more rural and agrarian than France or the States, and as a result offered unique views into the lives of its working class. Galleries dedicated to “Spanish People, Spanish Characters” and “Spanish Labor and American Art,” take us deeper into those lives. A fascinating painting by Mary Cassatt, After the Bullfight, squeezes labor and performance into a single portrait, featuring a dashing Spanish toreador coolly lighting a triumphal cigarette. Where Cassatt’s painting revels in the color and eccentricity of Spain’s romantic traditions, Walter Gay’s Cigarette Girls, Seville tiptoes the line between past and future. It does this by providing a POV look into an expansive workshop where traditionally dressed women hand-roll cigarettes. Such workshops live some-

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CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

where between the cottage industries of pre-industrial Europe and the specialized mega-factories poised to redefine modern labor. Even with its focus on prosaic laboring, its focal point of a dazzling red rose pinned to the hair of a woman in the foreground evokes the heroine of Bizet’s 1875 opera, “Carmen,” which endures as perhaps the single most seductive symbol of color, costume and movement in the 19thth century Spanish repertoire.

THE ALLURE OF CARMEN Set in 1830, first performed in 1875 and popularized after early resistance by the late 1800’s, Carmen centers on the exotic effervescence of the working-class Gypsy protagonist and her tragic love affair with a Spanish soldier. The allure of her image inspired John Singer Sargent’s El Jaleo, and The Spanish Dancer, a brilliant

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study of which is included in the exhibition. Also indebted to Carmen, if indirectly, are portraits of the Spanish performer Carmencita, by Sargent and William Merritt Chase, each offering lively action shots of the famed dancer in full costume after a set of performances in New York City in 1890. Each work embodies the height of academic painting traditions offered in a distinctly Spanish manner, pairing bursts of warm color against dark sooty backgrounds. As entrancing and informative as this artistic travelogue at MAM is, it begs some questions. A painting by William Merritt Chase, Antiquary Shop, urges one to consider the nature of its “Eastern-ness.” The scene depicts a man in a turban holding a sword in an outdoor market

that we know from Chase’s own notes are based on sketches from Venice as well as Spain. Both sites were on the Grand Tour of Europe, readily available for the sufficiently endowed art student. Like many of Chase’s and others’ works, this exoticized scene is a hybrid of various moments and cultures, compiled finally in a studio far from any bazaar. To some unknowable degree, Chase’s vocabulary reflects a very real and creeping late 19th century Orientalism. How much is food for endless thought, and one of the joys and responsibilities of processing a show such as this. The story at MAM finds leaves those questions behind as it flirts with the beginnings of high modernism, a movement that traded exotic content for exotic forms, abandoning the naturalism of Sargent, Henri,

Above: José Jiménez Aranda, Figaro’s Shop, 1875. Oil on canvas, 17 5⁄16 × 22 5⁄8 in. (44 × 57.4 cm). The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland. © The Walters Art Museum.

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CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

Above: Édouard Manet, The Little Cavaliers, ca. 1860. Oil on canvas, 18 × 29 3⁄4 in. (45.7 × 75.6 cm). Chrysler Museum of Art, gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., 71.679. Photo by Ed Pollard, Chrysler Museum of Art.

Chase, and other stars of this exhibition. “Americans in Spain” sends us off with a gallery of painters once marginalized by the academic world. The works of El Greco and Francisco de Zurbarán emerged as standards as their idiosyncratic, individualized treatment of subject matter proved to be fertile alternatives to the high academic tradition. El Greco’s powdery, contrasty mannerism in particular reflects a turn toward expression and interiority. His portrait of Saint Catherine in the exhibition is a fine example of his eccentric style. As Velázquez did a generation before, El Greco would serve as an example to expressionists as diverse as Matisse, Malevich and Pollock in search of pre-modern examples for their modern aims. Paris was the undisputed center of the art world during most of the period covered 48 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

by this exhibition. Picasso was Spanish, born in Malaga in 1881, but he’s associated with Paris more than any other place. It’s telling that it’s “Paris,” though, and not “France.” France centralized over the course of the 19th century. And culturally Paris was The Center. And New York waited on deck. Meanwhile, Spain bathed silently for a century in the diffuse religious, ethnic, geographical, and cultural mysteries that’s always made it difficult to pin down. Over time it continued to be an enigmatic alternative to the orthodox art centers—more witchdoctor than doctor, more seductress than debutante. One thinks of the line in the Jane’s Addiction song that “Jane says she’s going away to Spain, when she gets her money saved.” A hundred years since the birth of modern alternative culture, Perry Farrell would never have had Jane going to Paris or Hamburg, whether it rhymed or not.

When seeking romantic consummation, one chooses Iberia over Central Europe instinctively. The reasons for this are impossibly complex, but “Americans in Spain: Painting and Travel 1820–1920” provides a fascinatingly thorough attempt to locate those reasons, revealing the time and subject in all its artistic paradoxes: old and new, near and far, East and West.

Shane McAdams is an artist whose work has been exhibited in New York, Portland and elsewhere. He has written for the Daily Beast and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and was an adjunct professor at the Rhode Island School of Art and Design.

Background photo by littleclie/Getty Images.

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CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

Sculpture Milwaukee’s

Best Summer BY JOHN SCHNEIDER

culpture Milwaukee’s fifth annual public exhibition in Downtown Milwaukee has doubled in size this summer. Since pandemic-related challenges delayed last summer’s installation, and drastically curtailed most Downtown activity, the board and participating artists chose to leave the 2020 show in place through the winter. Fifteen of those works will remain until autumn, joined by this year’s new arrivals, most of which are now installed. It’s a total, by my count, of 31 timely, thought-provoking, entertaining artworks. The new works will be here until autumn of 2022. Most of the pieces are placed along Wisconsin Avenue from the Milwaukee Art Museum to the Central Library. A few speak their minds in the Third Ward. The site and positioning of each piece is determined in collaboration with its artist-maker and for maximum impact. The works change the environment. The settings add meaning. Sometimes the works seem to play off each other. They draw you on. You look for the next one. Sometimes you want to go back. You can, of course. There’s no hours or charge. This year’s works were chosen by guest curators Michelle Grabner and Theaster Gates. Both are artists with remarkable resumes. Oshkosh born and Milwaukee based, Grabner is a well-known nationally. Her work was part of the inaugural Sculpture Milwaukee exhibition in 2017.That piece now lives on the Riverwalk south of Wisconsin Avenue. She’s served on the board of the organization and in various committees. Although she’s curated major national exhibitions, this is her first for Sculpture Milwaukee. She brought in Gates as her creative partner. Chicago born and based, and a member of the University of Chicago’s visual arts faculty, he’s won international renown as a social practice installation artist. That means his assemblages are meant to foster understanding and inspire needed change.

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MOMENTS OF CONNECTION For the first time, the exhibition has a title: “there is this We.” The words are taken from a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks (2017-2000), who in 1950 became the first Black poet to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. The poem, “An Aspect of Love, Alive in the Ice and Fire,” describes our too-brief moments of complete connection with another human being. It can perhaps apply as well to the connection of an artwork and its viewer; and more idealistically, to a city and its art. In Grabner’s words, the title “honors a belief in social change through the provocations of the artistic imagination.” Current board chair Wayne Morgan offers this: “Theaster and Michelle are inviting us to consider some incredibly challenging questions and give thought to how we intend to move forward as a community and as a country.” A plaque near each work gives viewers helpful information and good thoughts about that piece. Guided walking tours and open-air bus tours are available with a Sculpture Milwaukee membership, as are audio tours in which you’ll hear directly from the artist on your cell phone. Visit sculpturemilwaukee.com for information.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Or just enjoy your own thoughts, as Meg Strobel, the organization’s new marketing and community engagement director, emphasizes: “I think what’s great about our exhibition is we offer something for everyone, whether you’re an art aficionado or just want to get out and explore the city in a new way. Art always reflects the moment in which it was created, and we’ve just come through a pretty serious moment. And artists are able to get to the crux of some of these issues and explore them in really unique ways.” In a digital tour of the exhibition (I’ve since visited in person), Strobel points as an example to Alison Janae Hamilton’s 16’ tall

Photos courtesy of Sculpture Milwaukee.

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CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

stacks of hand painted tambourines. They stand in the small park overlooking the Calatrava at the east end of Wisconsin Avenue, where Mark di Suvero’s orange metal star still stands. Inspired by a Florida hurricane that proved disastrous for immigrant workers, the title of Hamilton’s sculpture is The peo-ple cried mer-cy in the storm. The rattling of the work’s 400+ tambourines during strong windstorms is a cry for attention to climate change. The same little park includes Richard Wood’s humble Holiday House, on hold from the 2020 exhibition. It faces the grand Northwest Mutual plaza where another hold over, Roxy Paine’s haunting, twisting, leafless silver tree dominates a grove of real trees.

And that’s just for starters. This is the best summer ever for public art in a city increasingly famous for it.

John Schneider is an actor, theater director and playwright whose work with Milwaukee’s Theatre X gained international attention. He lectures in Marquette University’s Digital Media and Performing Arts program.

Nearby, the large, classically crafted head of the artist Jim Dine watches all this and more. Sculpted tree branches become bars around his aged face, trapping him, holding his gaze. If that’s too sobering, look across the street to the west. Julian Opie’s Natalie Walking is there at the stop light; a tall LED sign of a woman walking in a looped cycle. The lines are simple but perfect. It’s unexpected and completely charming. A bit further west, you’ll find Geometric Plateau by Thaddeus Mosley, a 90-year-old sculptor from Pittsburgh. It has three intricately chiseled, nicely balanced shapes for you to read as you will. Then, on an elevated section of the corner building, a beautifully sculpted young Black man stands in casual dress with a hoodie and sneakers. The artist is Thomas J. Price, a young Black sculptor from London. This is the first time his work has appeared in America. It’s called Within the Folds (Dialogue 1). It matters. 52 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Photos courtesy of Sculpture Milwaukee.

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CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

This Month in Milwaukee 10 Things to do in August BY ALLEN HALAS, DAVID LUHRSSEN AND MICHAEL MUCKIAN

THURSDAYS IN AUGUST “Tacos and Tunes with Jack and Jill” Daily Taco and Cantina, Thiensville Aside from delicious Mexican food whose recipes originate in Guadalajara (and great margaritas), the Daily Taco offers a weekly concert by the Milwaukee duo of Jack Grassel and Jill Jensen. They perform from an eclectic knapsack of songs, Jensen singing and Grassel playing his patented triple-neck guitar, a single instrument that can play the role of electric guitar, bass and mandolin as his hand goes freely between instruments. Performances take place on the Daily Taco’s patio, weather permitting, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays. THROUGH OCTOBER 17 “Carey Watters—Tiny Cuts” Museum of Wisconsin Art Most artists bridle when their masterpieces are referred to as “craft,” while craftspeople shrug and smile when their work is called “art.” Carey Watters stands at the crossroads of both disciplines, embracing the art references while knowing that her technique draws equally from the school of craft. Watters, an associate professor of art at the UW-Parkside, specializes in cut-paper art and mixed-media collages, a blend rare among contemporary creators.

AUGUST 13

AUGUST 21

Sleepersound Idle Voices Release X-Ray Arcade The return of live music to Cudahy’s X-Ray Arcade is a welcome sight for all, and three components of Milwaukee’s next indie rock generation will take their (very famous) stage on Friday, August 13. Post-rock quartet Sleepersound headlines the night, celebrating the release of their new album, Idle Voices, and the band will be supported by shoegazers Shamewave and atmospheric rockers Cassini Echoes.

Ayre in the Square at Catalano Square The Friends of Catalano Square present a truncated version of their Ayre in the Square concert series this summer, with two dates instead of their usual four. The August edition will take place 4-8 p.m. Saturday August 21, featuring Caley Conway, Weird Storm, Fellow Kinsman and more. These events are free to attend. Take in a great afternoon of music in the heart of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.

AUGUST 20-22 Milwaukee Irish Fest Henry Maier Festival Grounds Milwaukee, one of many cities in the U.S. that attracted Irish immigrants, has been home since 1981 to Irish Fest, the largest Irish music and cultural festival outside of Ireland and, perhaps, the world. The annual event was cancelled last year due to COVID but returns in 2021 with the theme “The Spirit of Irish America,” showcasing the music and traditions brought to the U.S. from Ireland and other Celtic nations. Among the acts at this year’s festival are Gaelic Storm, JigJam, Runa and The Murphy Beds. Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Irish Fest.

AUGUST 7 Home Fashion Day: Culture-Identity-Fashion Lynden Sculpture Garden This year’s Home series is a sequence of dispersed events spanning the summer. They remain smaller than in past years to allow for social distancing and will take place outdoors on Lynden’s grounds. “Home Fashion Day” is a fashion show featuring traditional cultural wear, contemporary wear and high fashion from refugee designers. As MC, Biak Hlawn will present and share the individual and cultural meanings behind each garment worn and the diversity of refugee communities in Milwaukee.

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AUGUST 29 El Shirota & Oginalii Cactus Club A pair of touring acts will make a stop in Bay View as Mexico City’s El Shirota and Nashville alternative rockers Oginalii play Cactus Club for a 6 p.m. show. With a ‘90s-inspired sound, El Shirota is touring behind their debut record, Tiempos Raros, while Oginalii is supporting their 2020 release, Pendulum. The Sunday evening show features an earlier-than-usual start time for those looking to close out their weekend with live music. AUGUST 30

MILWAUKEE IRISH FEST

Bully with Pom Pom Squad The Back Room @ Colectivo Buzzing Nashville indie rock act Bully are no strangers to Milwaukee, having repeatedly sold-out club events around the city in the past. The band is quickly ascending to indie rock stardom, and their August 30 Colectivo date may be one of their last shows in a venue of that capacity. There’s a bright future for Bully, who are touring behind Sugaregg, their latest record. Catch them while you can at the East Side venue.

Taco illustration by robuart/Getty Images. Boom box illustration by Alex_Bond/Getty Images. Background pattern by nazlisart/Getty Images.

AUGUST 31 King Crimson Miller High Life Theater In 1969, “21st Century Schizoid Man” was like nothing heard before. And yet, the mastermind of that manic-paced recording, guitarist Robert Fripp, wasn’t content to break ground only once. Whether as a soloist or with King Crimson, Fripp continued to move forward, reinventing himself as the decades scrolled past. Regrouping King Crimson in the ‘90s, he continues to record and tour with a morphing lineup of top musicians. The current incarnation includes Tony Levin, Jakko Jakszyk, Mel Collins, Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto and Jeremy Stacey. Several have been with Fripp for decades. Their set list will encompass King Crimson recordings from across the band’s half century. THROUGH JANUARY 16, 2022 “American Memory: Commemoration, Nostalgia, and Revision” Milwaukee Art Museum Spanning the 19th century through the present, “American Memory: Commemoration, Nostalgia, and Revision” explores the selective editing of American history through drawings, prints, and paintings from the museum’s collection with an emphasis on overlooked events that have impacted women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ people. “American Memory” spans the 19th century through the present day and will be rolled out in three “chapters” (Chapter I, July 15Oct. 31; Chapter II, July 15-Dec. 5; Chapter III, Oct. 1-Jan. 16). “This exhibition series embraces the call for institutions to be held accountable for what they put on the walls and returns agency to community members to unpack, expand, and reclaim their cultural histories,” says curator Phoenix Brown.

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LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND

When Does Positiviły Become Toxic? BY PHILIP CHARD

n the optimism continuum, those I call the “positivity police” represent the lunatic fringe. These are folks who insist on painting a silver lining around any cloud, no matter how dark and stormy. And while their intentions are not to hurt, they often end up doing just that. It is ironic that these folks create a negative by applying a positive. Jean’s situation was a case in point.

Beset by a life-threatening health condition and unable to continue in her muchloved profession, she quickly found herself surrounded by well-meaning family and friends who repeatedly exposed her to their brands of toxic positivity. “One told me I was going to be fine, that I’d come out of this stronger, and I just need to put my faith in the Lord,” she explained. “Another gave me a pep talk about how if I just fought hard enough and kept my hopes up, all would be well.” As one might expect, that made Jean feel negated or, as she put, “invisible.”

EMPTY SYMPATHY “There you are hurting in so many ways, and someone tries to override your fear and anger with their empty sympathy. It’s easy for these people to paint a rosy picture. They aren’t staring death in the face,” she continued. Sympathy is a common interpersonal instrument in the positivity police’s toolkit. They fail to recognize that “there-there” attitudes and “everything will be alright” platitudes are not helpful or healing. They are, in fact, abjectly hurtful. What’s more, as wise psychotherapist Brené Brown tells 56 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

us, sympathy drives disconnection. The person who is hurting is left feeling even more alone. “It would be better if they said nothing at all,” Jean concluded.

GENUINE EMPATHY What does heal, of course, is genuine empathy, which is feeling with the person in distress. Being empathic involves far more emotional risk than dishing out sympathy. Why? Well, to connect with that person’s pain, I must access some of my own. I must get in touch with something in my own experience that is analogous to the other person’s situation and distress. And, often enough, that hurts. However, the benefit to the other person is tangible. Empathy creates a felt-understanding that affirms the afflicted individual’s reality. They feel less alone. But sympathy is not the only tool the positivity police employ. Many use what I call “impositional speech.” This occurs when someone tries to put words in your mouth and your mind in an effort to impose their emotional tone on what you experienced. For example, if I say, “You enjoyed the party, didn’t you?” or “I’ll bet you had a great time,” the message is clear . . . you Illustration by Benjavisa/Getty Images.

should have enjoyed the party. Rather than openly inquiring about what you experienced (“How did you feel about the party?”), they try to whitewash it with their “ain’t-life-wonderful”bias. Meaning you should be positive about it, even if you had a rotten time. Which explains, in part, what drives some positivity police. They are uncomfortable with that which is uncomfortable, harboring a palpable disquiet with negative events and feelings. In some, this is driven by an acute sensitivity to emotions in general combined with an aversion to those that are negative. As such, it is a kind of psychological defense mechanism, one intended to protect that person from the distress they experience when exposed to suffering, emotional distress, conflict and gloom.

LET’S BE REAL A dysfunctional brew of aphorisms underpins this over-the-top positivity movement. You’ve heard and perhaps been a victim of these stock phrases, such as “Time

heals all wounds” and “What doesn’t destroy you makes you stronger” and “This too shall pass” and “God never gives us more than we can handle” . . . I could go on. Well-intended as these utterances might be, they miss an essential element; hearing and validating the suffering of the afflicted person. Is there a place for optimism, positive encouragement and a hopeful mindset? You bet. But not when someone is writhing in the throes of suffering, sadness or angst. At such times, that individual does not need us to fix how they feel. They need us to table the positivity for another time and simply feel how they feel. It’s more helpful to be real than to be positive.

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges.

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LIFESTYLE CANNABIS

The Tax and Budgeł Benefiłs of Legal Mariju ana Sales BY JEAN-GABRIEL FERNANDEZ

egalizing marijuana can save hundreds of thousands of lives from being destroyed by the War on Drugs every year; it helps disadvantaged communities heal; it helps achieve equity; it is safer and better controlled than street pot; it defangs organized crime; it provides an alternative to addictive opioids … But one argument rises over the rest in the land of unfettered capitalism: It is incredibly profitable. In a large-scale study led by the Marijuana Policy Project, the organization compiled information from all 19 states that legalized recreational marijuana, as well as Washington D.C. Due to the quickly increasing pace of legalization across the nation, nine of these states reformed their cannabis laws in 2020 or 2021, and in eight of those states, tax collections have not yet begun.

CANNABIS REVENUE OUTPACES ALCOHOL In 2018, alcohol brought in less than $7.5 billion in tax revenue in all 50 states, amounting to 0.2% of the general revenue of $3.3 trillion. Despite the wide-ranging popularity of alcohol and its ubiquitous nature in the U.S., it is less profitable than legal cannabis, the study reveals. In just 11 states and a few years at most—as cannabis sales began in 2014 in Colorado and Washington for the first time in the U.S.—legal cannabis brought states an additional $7.9 billion in additional tax revenue from recreational sales alone. This does not include local taxes, revenue from medical marijuana, application and licensing fees paid by cannabis businesses, corporate taxes paid to the federal government or income taxes paid by workers in the cannabis industry, all of which also bolster the American economy. In Washington in 2018, all state-level alcohol taxes amounted to $370 million in revenue. That same year, the much less established recreational marijuana industry brought in $437 million. While Colorado received $47 million from alcohol, the state earned $243 million from legal pot that year. Not only does cannabis outpace alcohol despite alcohol being the more popular psychoactive substance, but the populari-

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ty of legal pot is quickly increasing, as can be seen in the two states where it has been commercialized the longest, Colorado and Washington. In the first year of retail sales, Washington State generated only $22 million in cannabis revenue, while Colorado got $46 million. In 2020, these two states earned $614 million and $362 million respectively. The gap in revenue between Washington and Colorado, despite being the only two states on the starting blocks in 2014, can be explained in part by Washington’s larger population, as well as a different approach to taxation. Initially, legal recreational pot was taxed at 25% thrice, making it impossible to compete with the illegal market, explaining the slower start of the industry until the tax was simplified into a 37% retail tax in 2015—cannabis revenue doubled suddenly when taxation was reformed, from $159 to $302 million in one year. Colorado, which taxes cannabis 15% twice, when sold wholesale and again at retail, saw a much slower growth. In terms of sudden growth, no state can compete with the two heavyweights of the competition, California and Illinois. California, which benefits from a large population but a relatively light tax burden, has almost doubled its cannabis revenue each year: $397 million in 2018, $638 million in 2019, and more than $1 billion in 2020 alone. Illinois started with comparable brio, with $174 million in cannabis revenue during the first year of legal sales, a number which was nearly met in just the first few quarter of 2021, a year on pace to blow 2020’s pot revenue out of the water.

WHAT THIS MONEY IS USED FOR So far, Washington is the state that benefited most from legal cannabis, with nearly $2.6 billion in cannabis revenue. “For every $1 billion in revenue collected from the cannabis sales tax, nearly $600 million is funneled into public health initiatives, including a fund that provides health insurance for low-income families,” the study explains. A portion of the remainder is dedicated to funding education, research and local budgets, in particular with the objective to support the state’s low-income population.

California, second biggest winner in dollar amounts with more than $2 billion in cannabis revenue, directs most of it to childcare services, environmental programs, public safety and to fund local nonprofit programs.

and support our budget with just one move—or we could use this money for infrastructure or reinvestment in state-delivered services. But, as long as we refuse to end Prohibition, this money remains out of reach.

Colorado, third biggest winner, focuses the bulk of its $1.5 billion cannabis dollars on education. The money is divided between improving the state’s public school system, offering cannabis scholarships, and a marijuana fund dedicated to public health, environment, public safety and human services.

Jean-Gabriel Fernandez is a journalist and Sorbonne graduate living in Milwaukee.

Then, in order, comes Oregon, with half a billion dollars in revenue. “Of the cannabis-related tax revenue it collects, the state distributes 40% to public schools, 15% to law enforcement, and 25% to mental health and treatment programs,” says the Marijuana Policy Project. Illinois, coming in fifth place with nearly $300 million collected in just one year and one quarter, has been a beacon of social justice by reinvesting cannabis revenue into the state’s “Recover, Reinvest and Renew” program, which supports a large-scale effort to right the wrongs of the War on Drugs and reinvest in local communities. Illinois established the model for all social justice-minded cannabis legalization efforts in the future. Each state has chosen a stance that fits it specifically—not only are the tax systems varying wildly from one state to another, but the use reserved for cannabis revenue is tailored to each community. Beyond the examples displayed above, we can cite Arizona investing a third of this revenue in community colleges, Montana dedicating it to public health and taking care of veterans, or even New Jersey, which requires reinvesting 70% of cannabis revenue into economic assistance and services in communities most hurt by Prohibition. So what could Wisconsin generate in tax revenue with legalization and a reasonable tax structure? We can compare our state with Colorado, which has a nearly identical population as Wisconsin. Colorado earned $362 million from taxing recreational marijuana in 2020. Wisconsin could walk in Colorado’s footsteps

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LIFESTYLE DOMICILE

When You Wish Upon a Słar...

MEET THE WEST ALLIS COUPLE WHO TURNED THEIR TINY BACKYARD INTO A MAGIC KINGDOM. BY MARK HAGEN When Kevin Erdman and Dan Szczepanski purchased their quaint West Allis home three years ago, they wondered what to do with the plain backyard that came with it. Small, rectangular and lacking in character, the yard was truly a blank canvas...a canvas the couple quickly colored with their love of all things Disney. “I grew up loving the art of Disney movies which continues to inspire me,” says Szczepanski, a freelance artist. “We’ve always incorporated Disney themes into the places we’ve lived. When we moved into this house, having a yard expanded those opportunities to take that art outdoors.” Szczepanski and Erdman began by carving out an area in the backyard they call The Royal Rose Garden, planting roses that complement each Disney princess. “Once this first section was done, we were so happy,” says Erdman, “we were inspired to plan additional themed areas.”

WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK Step into the yard today and you’ll find multiple gardens offering nods to Disney films including Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Bambi and others. A colorful tribute to the ride “It’s A Small World” wraps around the back deck via raised floral beds; impressive garden accents (items from secondhand stores and flea markets the couple repurposed) pay homage to scenes from The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. The wonderland of a yard currently spotlights 70 different Disney characters, 35 of which are captured in large plywood cutouts created by Szczepanski. “It takes about 10 hours, start to finish, to make one of the cutouts,” he explains. “I begin by drawing the character onto plywood. I use a jigsaw to cut it out, and then sand the edges. Next, I apply multiple layers of base coats of paint, and then detail the character by adding outlines and highlights. The final step is to apply several coats of polyurethane to protect it from sun damage and weather.” The impressive displays don’t stop with the cutouts, however. Look closely, and you’ll discover sculpted pieces as well. “The birds in the Alice Garden started out with store-bought flamin-

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Photos by Dan Szczepanski. Flourishes by Yulia_Malinovskaya/Getty Images.

backyard lights go up. “Dan is the ‘art guy,’ and I am the ‘lighting guy,’” laughs Erdman. “We feel that the lighting is important to the overall landscape’s design, and we were inspired by the lighting used at Disney parks. “One of our goals was to use lights to create a colorful backdrop, while also highlighting the characters in the gardens. We easily added interest to our fence with spotlights and flood lights.” It’s this concept of layering various lighting elements and colors that truly bring the couple’s garden to life at night—much like a Disney Park after dark.

Disney enthusiasts Kevin Erdman (left) and Dan Szczepanski (right) transformed their backyard into a truly magical spot.

gos,” Szczepanski says. “I added layers of air-dry clay to sculpt the cartoonish features of the faces. Once dry, I completed them with outdoor spray paint and outdoor acrylic paints.” And what would a Disney-themed yard be without a nod to Mickey himself? You’ll find the big cheese represented by the large Fantasia sorcerer’s hat nestled in the corner of a garden. “The hat began with an orange traffic cone from Amazon that we sprayed with outdoor paint,” says Szczepanski. “The stars and moon are made of outdoor self-adhesive vinyl.”

“We both feel like Disney is our second home,” adds Erdman. “Vacationing to Disney theme parks offers a chance to escape and be surrounded by that Disney magic.” Thanks to their hard work, talent and imagination, the couple can now surround themselves with that enchanting Disney charm every time they step into their very magical backyard.

Mark Hagen is an award-winning gardener whose home has been featured in numerous national publications. His work has appeared in Birds & Blooms, Fresh Home and Your Family magazines.

The eye-fetching artwork is balanced with a wide variety of flowers, plants and other foliage. “We incorporate a mix of perennials for a foundation with annuals for pops of color,” Erdman says. “We also look for a diverse selection of plants based on the area we need them,” adds Szczepanski. “For example, the Neverland Garden has a tropical theme, so Kevin and I planted hibiscus, tiger lily and Russian cypress that’s in the shape of a palm tree.”

A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES As whimsical, colorful and delightful as the fairytale gardens are, things take a dramatic turn when the sun goes down and the

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HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

A DIFFERENT KIND OF THREESOME DEAR RUTHIE, My husband wants to get a dog; I do not. I don’t want to disappoint him, but I’m so not a dog person. Any thoughts on how to handle the situation?

THANKS,

Man's Besł Friend(less) DEAR FRIEND(LESS), What the frick? Not a dog person? Is that even a thing? How can anyone resist the unconditional lovin’ that only comes from a four-legged friend? Apparently you can. Thanks, OK, sugar. I get it. Not everyone gets a warm cozy feeling from fur babies, and that’s alright. Although I’m surprised this didn’t come up before the two of you tied the knot, I’d suggest you each give a little. Are cats out of the question? A kitty might bridge the gap you’re experiencing and, besides, everyone likes a little pussy. You might also want to consider fostering a dog for a little while. You may discover you’re more of a dog person than you thought; or he might realize he doesn’t want the responsibilities of dog ownership as badly as he thought he did. Give it a shot, and let me know how things work out, honey. XXOO

Ruthie Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com. Follow her on social media, too! Facebook: Dear Ruthie | Instagram: RuthieKeester | Twitter: @DearRuthie

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DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Social Calendar AUGUST 5 2021 LGBTQ+ PROGRESS AWARD AT SAINT KATE, THE ARTS HOTEL (139 E. KILBOURN AVE.): The legendary B.J. Daniels and I host this annual dinner and award presentation, honoring those making a difference in Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community. See www.shepherdtickets.com for tickets, starting at $65. The cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and the award ceremony at 7 p.m. See you there! AUGUST 6 THROUGH AUGUST 8 NORTHALSTED MARKET DAYS (NORTH HALSTED ST. AND WEST BELMONT AVE., CHICAGO): The Windy City cranks up the heat with the return of this half-mile-long street bash. Considered one of the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ+ events, the 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. party includes 6 stages of entertainment, 250 vendors, food, dancing and more. Stop by www.northalsted.com for info on the uber-popular Pride fest. AUGUST 13 OPENING NIGHT “THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS” AT 6TH STREET THEATRE (318 SIXTH ST., RACINE): If you’re reading “Dear Ruthie,” you’re likely a fan of advice columns, so why not take in a show about Ann Landers, one of the greatest advice columnists of all time? Written by David Rambo and directed by Rich Smith this one-woman show demonstrates how the no-nonsense writer struck a chord with America. See www.overourheadplayers.org for tickets to the show running through August 28. AUGUST 14 SISTER WATER BEER GARDEN AT ST. JOSEPH CENTER (AT 29TH AND ORCHARD ST.): Enjoy a brewski with the School Sisters of Saint Francis. Their grab-and-go beer boxes offer craft beers (or root beer), glasses, pretzels and more. You’ll find live music on site during the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. pickup but be sure to preorder your boxed set at www.sssf.org first. AUGUST 19 MAROON 5 CONCERT AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD (1 BREWERS WAY): Adam Levine and the boys strut their sexy stuff into Cream City with this 7 p.m. concert. Got the moves like Jagger? Find out when you buy yourself a ticket via www.ticket4concert.com. AUGUST 22 KENOSHA PRIDE AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK (625 52ND ST., KENOSHA): Keep the Pride flame alive with this rainbow filled day. The fest starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes two entertainment stages, a beer tent, food stands, over 40 vendors, a children’s area and more. AUGUST 26 MAYHEM MILLER AT THIS IS IT (418 E. WELLS ST.): RuPaul favorite Mayhem Miller stops at This Is It for a good time. Watch the latest episode of “Drag Race” with the star at 7 p.m., enjoy a meet-and-greet at 8:30 p.m., then settle in for a drag show at 10:30 p.m. Get your $20 meet-andgreet ticket at www.thisisitbar.ticketleap.com. AUGUST 29 BRUNCH WITH THE BRUNCHETTES AT HAMBURGER MARY’S (730 S. FIFTH ST.): Eat, drink and be Mary with me and the Brunchettes—Tempest Heat and Miss Birdie! Mary’s midday menu, bottomless mimosas and sassy drag shows make this one of the busiest brunches in town, so reserve a spot at www.hamburgermarys.com/mke for the noon or 2 p.m. seating. AUGUST 2021 | 63

HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Dairyland Classic Returns to Milwaukee

BY PAUL MASTERSON

fter its 2020 cancelation due to COVID-19, Milwaukee’s LGBTQ softball league, SSBL (Saturday Softball Beer League), announced the return of its annual softball tournament, the Dairyland Classic (DLC) on August 7 and 8. Cream City’s long standing gay softball tradition dates back to 1978, when it began as the Wreck Room Classic, played on Memorial Day Weekend. The tournament has since evolved and expanded from its humble beginnings when a handful of gay teams met for an opening summer weekend of jockish camaraderie. In 1986 it became the Milwaukee Classic and in 2002, the Dairyland Classic with ever more national and international teams competing. The 1992 tournament was marked by a game played with players enduring wind chills in the teens. That may have helped convince SSBL to hold the tournament at the end of the season, over Labor Day weekend. Since then, to accommodate other tournaments or the Gay Softball World sSries, it has shifted dates, sometimes drifting into October, or, like this year, earlier in August. The event traditionally culminated in either an old-fashioned awards banquet or, in later years, a street bash or send-off brunch.

MILWAUKEE HOSPITALITY Whenever held, the DLC has always maintained consistency as a showcase of both Milwaukee’s unique hospitality and its historic participation in national LGBTQ athletics. A founding city of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA), Milwaukee hosted, the Gay Softball World Series in 1979 with eight teams attending, again in 1985 including a women’s division, and, most recently, the spectacular NAGAAA-Fest in 2009. That event brought 127 teams and 2500 players to Milwaukee. NAGAAA-Fest’s success has been largely attributed to the many years of organizational experience gained from producing the DLC.

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Beyond the LGBTQ community, with local business sponsorships and recognition not only by local city leaders but also of state and federal ones, SSBL tournaments (this year’s DLC will be the 42nd) have become an integral part of Milwaukee’s summer festscape. They also provide a financial boost to the city (NAGAAA-Fest brought in an estimated $4 million) while raising the city’s reputation as an event destination for all. It’s a win-win for all, in fact, with SSBL volunteers staffing a concession stand at American Family Park during Milwaukee Brewers home games to raise money for league operating costs. SSBL Commissioner Kurt Baldwin noted the challenges of scheduling DLC 2021 while negotiating these uncertain pandemic times. “We started our regular season later than usual due to COVID-19. Now, especially with fears of the Delta variant, everyone is trying to squeeze in a lot. We still have some regular games after the DLC and Chicago is wrapping up their season. State Fair is on the same weekend. Then the Gay Softball World Series takes place August 29 through September 4 in Columbus Ohio,” Baldwin said. Still, the DLC expects to host 22 teams from across the country. Games will be played at Brookfield’s Wirth Park and at VFW Park in New Berlin. Because capacity restrictions were still in place for the bars during the early stages of DLC planning, Baldwin noted no bar-sponsored parties were officially organized and trophy presentation will take place at the fields rather than in an indoor venue. However, the DoubleTree, DLC’s host hotel, will hold the traditional tournament registration party on its rooftop deck on August 7. For more Dairyland Classic 2021 details and volunteer opportunities visit http://www.ssblmilwaukee.com/

Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.

Illustrations by Ali Bachmann.

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ART FOR ART'S SAKE

Photo by max-kegfire/Getty Images. Background by Dave Bunger/Getty Images.

From The Ciły That Always Sweeps

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? And good lord, pandemic-schmandemic, finally after too long of a year, it’s again that time of year to be able to make summertime plans, and so I tell you’s that I just got off the phone with my pal Little Jimmy Iodine and now I need to take off in a couple, three minutes to head up over by the Uptowner tavern/charm school where me and the fellas shall gather to make our plans for getting out to the greatest focking spectacle on Earth—the Wisconsin State Fair; so it looks like I’ll need to make muy breve of this month’s essay, I kid you not. I love the Fair, as we all do. And after a year of absence, I look forward to healthfully chowing down on all kind of fried matter served on a stick, and then me and the guys to commence our gravitation to the Midway, where the amusement rides are guaranteed to be well-maintained and operated by the finest staff of tattooed, toothless safety experts this side of a halfway house for Nazi bikers from hell. And you just can’t beat those games of skill the Midway offers, can you—where the 120-pound guy of short stature wearing the frayed, used-to-be-green tanktop blows 50 focking bucks in the attempt to topple the tripod of bottom-weighted faux milk jugs, so’s to win the buck twoeighty stuffed Garfield for his 400-pound lady friend. Of course, there’s always the sharpster who tries to guess your age and weight for a small stipend, your reward for his failure being a cracked Whiffle ball or listless goldfish. Me and my gang like to play our own game of skill, which is to try to guess which carny/associate/ technician looks to be the responsible party for the most bodies buried in shallow graves to be found in remote locations above and

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BY ART KUMBALEK

below the Mason-Dixon Line, east to west. Don’t forget, nearly all these crackerjacks spend the off-season in Florida, which just happens to be Spanish for “serial killer” by-the-by, so what the fock, ain’a? And Little Jimmy said he’s really looking forward to the Fair big-time this year, on account of him feeling a little blue lately. Seems this lady he’s been seeing heard a show on the National Public Radio about diversity so she gave him the heave-ho ’cause she said that their relationship had to be ferkakta, since it skewed too heavily white-European male with 50% representation. What the fock? I tried to cheer Little Jimmy up and suggested that a guy in a situation like his just can’t win. I said that when I think back to each and every of the nearly less-than-several relationships I’ve sustained over the due course of a lifetime, I remember always being sensitive to gender issues and strongly maintaining the notion that more females get involved. Heck, when it comes to a glass ceiling, I don’t mind being on the bottom as long as

I can look up. And the only thing this belief ever got me was a pink slip—and not in a good way. No sir, seems to me that the trials and travails of relationship maintenance is no bed of roses. And come ’tis to think of it, did you ever wonder how good a night’s sleep a guy or gal would actually get if spent on a bed of focking roses, anyways? I’m guessing none too swell. Besides the obvious thorn situation, you’d have a firmness issue to boot. Yeah, it sounds like a great thing but I’ll bet you a buck twoeighty that one night on a bed like that and you’re going to have an aching back for at least a good goddamn week, and who needs that kind of aggravation? Hey, you tell me. And then I’ll tell you in case you didn’t know, that it was the English dramatist and poet Christopher Marlowe (who some suspect was the true author of the Shakespeare oeuvre—Chris wrote the plays while Bill the Bard took the tickets at the door) who first dreamt the notion of a “bed of roses”—And I will make thee beds of roses—(yeah, thanks for nothing, pal) in The Passionate Shepherd to His Love, his poem all about how badly he’d like to nail an unidentified Brit bimbo back in the days of yore some four-focking-hundred years ago. And I’ll also tell you that it wasn’t exactly “merry olde” England nor a bed of roses for this Marlowe character, no sir. He got his ass kicked bloody dead before the age of 30 back in 1593 during an argument over a tavern bill. (Shocked, shocked I am—a focking poet not being able to hold his liquor.) But before I go, let me ask you’s if you got any idea what’s better than roses on your piano? Hey, how ’bout those tulips on your organ, oh yeah. Ba-ding! ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Shepherd Express - August 2021

Articles inside

From the City that Always Sweeps

Dairyland Classic Returns to Milwaukee

When You Wish Upon a Star... — Domicile

The Tax and Budget Benefits of Legal Marijuana Sales — Cannabis

When Does Positivity Become Toxic?

Sculpture Milwaukee's Best Summer

“Americans in Spain: Painting and Travel 1820–1920.” At the Milwaukee Art Museum through October 3, 2021

This Month in Milwaukee

You Can Achieve your Financial Goals

What’s on the Wisconsin State Fair’s Main Stage?

Classic Styles of Sour Beer — Beverages

Ma's Chicken Congee — Flash in the Pan

La Merenda, A Walker's Point Gem That Still Shines Bright

Jim Godsil, Integral to Our City

What's Next for Wisconsin After State Budget is Enacted? — Issue of the Month

Republicans Keep Reliving Their Party's Worst Demagoguery — Taking Liberties

"Moving Toward a Shared Vision"

Making Milwaukee Music History

This Modern World