One of the more interesting art events this spring is bound to be an exhibition in Madison called Art in Protest, scheduled for March 29-31, which will display works in various media "inspired" by (if that is the right word) Governor Scott Walker's policies in Wisconsin.
While not rallying in the streets to shout their displeasure over the show, Wisconsin Republicans are, nonetheless, not amused. They may not know art but they know what they don't like
Reports the Cap Times in Madison:
[W]hen Rep. Steve Nass, R-Town of La Grange, got wind of the event -- which was being sponsored by UW-Extension's School for Workers -- his office strongly suggested it be called off. "It's an arts festival designed to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Wisconsin uprising," says Nass spokesman Mike Mikalsen. "Well, maybe here in Madison that's a great thing. But there are lots of Republicans and conservatives around the state who are still very angry about that whole thing. We just suggested that now, with all the tensions that still exist, this may not be the appropriate time for this arts festival."
So, try again when Republicans are less…tense? Mr. Mikalsen met with organizers from the UW-Extension's School for Workers who announced yesterday that the show is off.
It gets worse:
"Two people with knowledge of the situation contacted the Cap Times indicating they had been told Mikalsen threatened to have funding pulled from the School for Workers unless the arts festival was called off."
Could the ongoing push to recall Governor Walker have anything to do with this?
Said Mikalsen told the paper:
"March 29 to 31 is going to be right in the heat of the recall situation, and things are going to be very tense. The state is divided. There are a lot of people who pay taxes who don't support the protests. There are a lot of them that do, but is this something that UW-Extension wants to be sponsoring? We just said, 'Look, you can't be running events celebrating the protests, which were heavily aimed at Republicans, and then expect that Republicans are going to smile nicely and sit down and try and work issues out with the university.' "
Would now be the wrong time to bring up the First Amendment? Meanwhile, put down that paint brush and no one will get hurt.
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Typical bullies, turn into whiny bitches when called out.
One thing rethugnikans have learned is if bullying doesn't work, extortion/lying/whining behavior will......
This is exactly what happens when you "spare the rod on children" (even grown ones), they become selfish to the point of bullying, they become over-bearing, obtuse, lying little miscreants!! It's time that democrats and people of good conscious - start smacking them down!!
Zora, the "rod" is a metaphor used to tell the story of how a sheperd used it to guide his sheep not beat them into submission but gently move them along the right path. Unfortunately it's been twisted by christian fundamentalists into the meaning you suggest here. Violence is never an appropriate solution EVER.
In this case, and with this crowd - I beg to differ.....See logic, analysis, thoughtful contemplation, common sense, compassion, human decency, Christ's message of "love and compassion for others" - these NO LONGER NEED APPLY in the evangelical/conservative brain - even the economy running off the cliff, millions without healthcare - nothing - a smack-down won't do any harm......
Another prime example of non-government involvement in our daily lives.
Actually Dogjudge, you could look at it from the other side - pulling the funding from the school WOULD be non-government involvement. In other words the state government should not be funding an art exhibit. I am being the devil's advocate here, but by pulling the funding it would be a prime example. It all depends on which side of the fence you're on. A lot of fiscal conservatives are trying to stop funding of the arts and similar "non-essential" programs on the local, state and federal level. Unfortunately, in todays world with the nation and states in debt, it is becoming a choice between programs that help people directly (food stamps, affordable housing) - which I would call a NEED - and progams like the arts - more of a WANT. I wish we could have it all, but nowadays the $$ just doesn't add up for everything.
That said, I don't see any reason that would stop private funding (donations) from sponsoring the project. I mean does it have to go through the UW - Extensions School for the workers?
Just needed to say: Arts =/= "Non-essential"
Jeff I do love the arts too, but if you have to decide between say feeding or housing a family or funding an art exhibit, I guess you could have different levels of essentiality (is that a word?). It would be great to pay for everything - the arts, totally free college for everyone, etc., but it ain't gonna happen.
Skip - "state government should not be funding an art exhibit"?? Why not?? First, whiny bullies should not get to decide funds only get spent where they want.
Secondly, and more importantly - no Republican is in any position to complain about funding anywhere after what they have done with the surplus Clinton left us with, not to mention the obscene choices Republicans have been making for spending public funds.
Walker especially - taking Wisoncin's surplus and giving it all to his business buddies and donors.
I say it would have been better spent on art - especially art that exposes Walker's extreme corruption and dishonesty. Of course conservatives will be outraged - they always are when they don't get every single thing they demand. Nothing new there.
But he wasn't threatening to pull the funding for the art show...he was threatening to pull ALL funding from the school.
skip
The arts were funded through out the entire Depression. Ever hear of the WPA? Many great artists and art came from the WPA. Governments have fund art since the beginning of governments. I am sorry I have never understood the Conservative objection to government funding of the arts.
Maria,
I am all for the arts. Two points lost here on my comments:
1. I was playing the devil's advocate here a stating the conservative Republican Representative's view - that a state funded school would sponsor a art exhibit protesting the same state that funds it. I didn't say I supported their stance - just trying to figure out what his angle was.
2. I would love to fund the arts, pay for everyone's college and do a lot of other things that would make this country a better place to live. But we owe 16 Trillion dollars - 16,000 Billion. I know I will not get much support on this, but folks, that is a whopping amount of debt. We can't keep thowing money at everything. Do you understand that to pay this down we would need a Biblically sized miracle of 16 1 Trillion suplus years. Not one surplus year of 1 Trillion...16. Or to be more "conservative", 32 $500 Billion suplus years. THIRTY TWO. Neither of those are going to happen. When....when are we going to confront the fact that we have dug a hole for ouselves all the way the the earth's core to China (no pun intended). But...if we didn't owe sooooo much I would be all for many, many worthwhile projects.
By the way I AM fically conservative, but very very liberal socially (in the Libertarian area I guess). So if there are a few xtra bucks, lets pay the artists. But can anyone honestly say that we should fund the arts at our kids expense (and their kids and probably their kids,etc)?
Knowing Madison somewhat, I suspect that with a few phone calls the art event organizers would be able to find some businesses or private restaurants and cafes along State St. near the campus to host all or parts of Art In Protest. Thus, "tense" Republicans won't have to fret and hand-wring about university money being used to expose truth. Wait! Isn't exposing truth a main purpose of a university?
That's really bright. Tell a bunch of artists that they can't display their art.
A couple days ago in Virginia a group of citizens wanted to protest but the rules said they couldn't, so they just showed up and stood there. Pretty creative huh?
Now consider the possible response of a group of people whose lives revolve around creative expression will respond to suppression of their art.
I eagerly await the next "Bat Signal" version 2.0 coming soon to an undisclosed Wisconsim location. Artists are powerful people. Piss them off at your own risk.
You should explain "art" to them. The only art they understand is those velvet Elvi(plural for Elvis) and Dogs playing poker. Well that and the camo job on their truck.
The only "art" that radical republican fascists (I refuse to call them conservatives) understand is Art Linkletter.
Of course, Art Linkletter was Canadian born, abandoned after birth and then adopted. His family moved to San Diego when he was five...then..." In 1943, Linkletter pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship; he was fined $500 and permitted to apply for citizenship." Don't think they'll claim him now.
Mitt Romney is an illegal alien. His dad left the country, then came back illegaly - from Mexico - where they went so they could still be polygamists.
The Right loves to make a big deal out of Obama's dad being from somewhere else - and since his dad is foreign, Obama must not only also be foreign, he must be the predominant religion of his father's natural country.
You know what that means? Mitt's really a Mexican. And a Catholic.
""March 29 to 31 is going to be right in the heat of the recall situation, and things are going to be very tense. The state is divided. There are a lot of people who pay taxes who don't support the protests."
This is a "so what." People shouldn't exercise their First Amendment rights because other peoples feelings are going to be hurt. Did they tell the Tea Party the same things?
Of course not. IOKIYAR. As far as I'm concerned, we should hurt their feelings as much as possible, if only to find out if they really have any or if it's all tactical. And if it turns out they do have real feelings, then I guess you'd get to have some idea what it's like to be a scanner.
We just said, 'Look, you can't be running events celebrating the protests, which were heavily aimed at Republicans, and then expect that Republicans are going to smile nicely and sit down and try and work issues out with the university.'
Not that I agree with the Wisconsin Republicans on this subject, but the above statement gets to the point in their minds. I mean a publicly funded school that want to express their protest (through art) against the body that funds them is a little ironic - you know the old "don't bite the hand that feeds you. As I stated above - as others have too - this exhibit will probably still go on with private sponsorship.
Actually, the "body" that funds them would be the tax-paying public, not the neo-fascist Republican politicians who have bought their way into elected office.
Then you are assuming that all the tax-paying public are in agreement with the art exhibit. That was the point they were making:
But there are lots of Republicans and conservatives around the state who are still very angry about that whole thing.
I am not agreeing with them, but since they are the majority party in Wisconsin for now, I would think that a good number of the tax payers may agree with them.
doesn't the First Amendment trump the State's "hide your art" stance? Wisconsonites shouldn't be playing nice-guy with the Walker administration any more.....shutting down freedom of speech and expression makes THEM look bad....so protest the shut down, and include the art.
Skip, you really are straining here. The WI Republicans entered into the art business when Walker removed a mural because he didn't like it - because - God, help us all - it celebrated American workers. Can't have workers shown any respect when you're busy trying to decimate them - which Walker was doing at the time.
You really think he didn't misuse state funds for that?
Now, the Republicans want it both ways - they want to say when art should not be allowed and when it should - just like everything else, Republicans want to be the ONLY ones who have any say - about ANYthing.
And we're all supposed to be "reasonable" because if we stand up for ourselves, the same Republicans who want to run roughshod over everyone else might be upset? Wow.
Republicans NEED to be upset right now. They NEED to be upset right out of office.
Any other day of the week the same Wisconsin Republicans have no problem with the publicly funded schools supporting art events or any other events. I don't think private funding should be necessary. The weak little man who had an issue on behalf of the Republicans, needs to put on his man pants and suck it up. I as a taxpayer of this state do expect the Republicans to sit back and take any criticism that comes their way, especially over what they created. It wasn't an ordinary taxpayer having an issue here, it was a state representative. Notice the state representative wasn't making his objection on behalf of a taxpayer, but rather a man who is trying to keep his job that we call Governor. For Mikalsen to tell the paper what he did just proves how weak and pathetic these Republican representatives are. If this art event was a protest about Democrats they would have no problem supporting this. We all know that you can't please all the people all the time. However, the First Amendment guarantees the that those who do disagree will have there speech protected, not bullied away.
Ruth
It was Governor LePage of Maine who ordered a mural removed of Maine's workers in the Department of Labor
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/24/maine-governors-decision-remove-labor-mural-letter_n_840282.html
Though I'd bet that Gov Walker is no connisor of art.
No talented "conservative" artists to paint a different viewpoint? Invite them in and hold the event!
What is a conservative artist? Artists by their very nature have to be subversive to create great art.
I think I see your point but it is a small part of the whole. "Great Art" is that which speaks to our universal human experience.
Subversive art is that which expresses a minority viewpoint in a way that makes it more accessible to the mainstream.
Every power structure uses art for propaganda. From ancient times right thru the French Revolution, Nazi Germany, the Catholic Church, Soviet Russia - in fact, Soviet Russia had some very interesting art used specifically to promote the Communist ideals.
Soviet Artists who would not produce acceptable art were relegated to Siberia, or non-personhood. Their art could not be shown, they had to work in secret. But there were plenty of conservative artists who were willing to work within the constraints imposed on them.
I live in an artist's community - we have a few very right-wing artists. I don't agree with them - but, so what? they have the right to make their art. And, if someone buys it - good for them.
Walker should have used the show to find artists who agreed with his position. Instead, as usual, Republicans knee-jerk to oppression whenever anything they don't like comes up.
And, if someone buys it - good for them.
And if not Ruth, the government will buy it, right? I do support the arts on a very regular basis mainly through music venues, but also visiting many of the fine large and small artist venues (theaters, art studios, etc) in this fine city of Chicago. AND if we had the $$ available I would even like to have some govenment support, but ....well see my post above (#2.7)
Republicans who sew the wind, shall reap the whirlwind.
I used that phrase in the same way yesterday. Great minds think alike :)
I just love using religion based comments to refute the Party of 'God'
see comment 60.0
http://smd12364.newsvine.com/_news/2012/02/22/10475536-awooogah-conservatives-start-to-sound-the-alarm-over-rick-santorums-extremism?commentId=62724445#c62724445
How appropriate... and at the "Pyle Center" no less! Bring your shovels everybody!
Republican men should undergo a state anal probe mandate.
"But there are lots of Republicans and conservatives around the state who are still very angry about that whole thing." Well, as a resident of Wisconsin, I am still very angry about the necessity to go-through the whole thing! I am angry that an elected official in our state would scheme to "Drop a bomb" on the electorate at the behest of the Koch brothers. I'm angry that our progressive state has been overrun with money from anti-progress forces in order to win elections. I'm angry that our governor thinks he should be immune from protest. I'm angry that state workers who are the backbone of the administration of our government have been scape-goated in a bid for control fed by greed and avarice. I'm angry that unions which have contributed so much to the advancement of our state have been scape-goated by corporate forces with no interest in the welfare of the state beyond their own bottom-line. I'm angry that teachers have been targeted by a governor who's personal axe-to-grind includes his own inability to attain a college degree. I'm angry that our governor is now involved in an investigation into his own campaign practices; that he didn't learn his lesson in college when he was found to be in flagrant violation of campaign rules even back. I'm afraid I could go on-and-on here, but I think I made my point. I know Madison well enough to know that if the art show is canceled by the UW, private sources will see to it that it goes-on anyway. Universities have been centers of protest for decades and part of the reason for their very existence is to provide students with the knowledge and tools to critically examine ideas. This art-based protest is an example of that, but I wouldn't expect any of the elected Republicans in Wisconsin to understand that. They would need to start from the beginning with 'civics 101.'
really well said
Ya know Rache, In the upper midwest, there are 100+ degree weather swings. People die in our weather quite often. When it comes to "Issues" and you see an upper midwesterner carrying a sign... we are pretty F#*king serious about it, as the majority of our life revolves around survival. So to have someone's cheesy art try and represent an "issue" that we were willing to carry our own art into the public eye to represent, well... you should get the picture. Try to remember that it may not only be republicans that might be insulted by the "art".
I LOVE IT! and I love the response from the GOP...just shut up and let us spend our billionaires out-of-state money to convince you you're wrong...
So ... What is Art? I suppose one could say it is an expression of one's feelings. Everything from the spoken and written word to music to cave paintings, etc. Some could say that the statements from the Rep. Nass is art. Saying some art is acceptable and some is not is very dangerous ground. You are going against freedoms guarenteed by the 1st Amendment.
Hey - Rachel said it - the Herman Cain Performance Art Project.
Update it - it's the GOP Performance Art Project. It's a deconstruction of our country. Like it?
We love our "Steve Nasty", aka Steve Nass. It's so much fun right now to have to run for cover when you try to speak freely in Wisconsin. Soon the State Senate will flip to Democratic control (after the recalls this Spring) and he won't head this Educational Committee anymore.
We love our "Steve Nasty", aka Steve Nass in Wisconsin. Full of bluster, sound and fury signifying nothing but power blackmail. Soon the Democrats will retake control of the state senate via the spring recall process, and he will go back to being a committee member, and not the chair of this Educational Committee.
Awesome!
With all of the money that these republican bullies have to keep Walker in office, I wouldn't be counting my recall chickens before they were hatched if I were a Wisconsinite. After all, you can bet that 100% of the 1%ers are registered to vote--I wonder what percentage of the 99%ers are?
Just in case you need to update your voter registration status:
http://www.vote411.org/registertovote.php
Also, just in case you might not be able to make it to the polls on election day, several states offer "no escuse" voting by mail:
http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx
The website may be a litte out of date because I know RI just changed their law to accept no excuse mail ballots but they are not on the list yet. So if your state is not listed, you might want to double check with your state's Secretary of State's website.
Thanks for posting the info joeaverage3, might make it easier for folks on here to vote and run these corrupt imbeciles out of office, permanently I hope.
Pluck the chickens and warm up the tar, the government is about to take care of us again.
Who do you think wrote the above post?
I recall seeing a young man putting a beautiful chalk mandela on the side walk next to the capitol during the protest. The sun was bright, it was cold, the crowd marching was polite, serious but pleasant. I was proud to be part of the protest. The art show may be cancelled as a University Extension project, but I doubt that any of the Republicans stop the spirit of that sidewalk/chalk artist or of the marchers. I do hope someone will undertake to get this art work displayed in Madison. I'll be eager to see it...and to remember the wonderful conviction of the marchers.
Open Letter to Wisconsin Labor,
Union boss Gooch McGowan of Wisconsin's local 139, Operating Engineers, supports Gov Walker. But take a look at the way boss McGowan is repeating the same bad decisions that local 150 (N. IL, N. IN, parts of IA) Operating Engineer union bosses have made.
Rachel Maddow recently had a local 150 "leader" on her terrific show, telling her audience how terrible it was that IN Gov Daniels was supporting a Right to Work for Less in Indiana. PLEASE READ FURTHER.
Local 150, Operating Engineers "leaders" stand out as hypocrites and anti-union, union decision makers. Why do they stand out? Because they began supporting anti-union Republican Mitch Daniels for Gov of Indiana in 2005 and continued to support Daniels as Gov. until very recently.
And when did the "leadership" of local 150 get outraged and stop supporting Gov Daniels? When their stupidity was exposed. When Daniels could finally follow thru on his anti-union beliefs and pay back his radical right supporters by signing an Right to Work for Less law as he prepares to walk out the door of the governor's mansion for the last time.
By the way they describe events, Daniels’ R to W support was inconceivable to Local 150's union’s 2 successive bosses. Their unfaltering, myopic, self-serving support of a self described anti-union Republican, could NOT posssibly go bad. What are the odds.....that it wouldn't be a train wreck? Of course this thinking is NOT atypical for an Operating Engineer's local "leadership". Just look at local 139, just across the Illinois border.
Local 139's (all of Wisconsin) union boss and 20 year politician, Gooch McGowan, is repeating this psychotic pattern of supporting an anti-union Republican governor expecting different results, with one minor exception. Local 150 bosses - the former Bus Mgr Dugan, Ret. and convicted felon (for stealing from the members) and current Bus Mgr Sweeney - have a SIGNED LETTER from anti-union career politician Daniels, PROMISING no Right to Work laws.
Local 150 recently paraded that letter out to the media while acting surprised and angry saying that they were betrayed ... by an avowed anti-union Republican "truth" telling politician no less. No one could have known that this politician would ever lie to them. They had it in writing Damn it. From a former W Bush staff politican Damn it.
And the minor exception between local 150 and 139- Local 139's self-serving Bus Mgr Gooch McGowan. McGowan has confidently informed his union members and media, that he has a VERBAL PROMISE from WI Gov Walker of no Right to Work laws.
That's much, much, more better than a signed letter, right? And there is no reason to doubt Walker even after Walker signed a Right to Work law for PUBLIC UNIONS just as Gov Daniels had done his first year in office.
No reason to doubt Walker even as 6 more Republican governor controlled states are taking up Koch bros. Right to Work for Less laws, right? No reason to doubt Walker as one after another of his former and current staff plead guilty, and or, are granted immunity to inform on other Walker staff member's lawbreaking, during the current Milw County John Doe investigation of at the very least, illegal Walker campaigning ... for Gov, right?
And for this kind of political head up somebodys' ass savvy, McGowan takes about $250,000 A YEAR as compensation from the union dues of rank-and-file members of local 139.
Raise your hand if you think that Republicans and the most powerful anti-union lobby in the US, the Chamber of Commerce, do NOT have a good read on self-serving union bosses. All those with your hands raised, step to the front to get sworn in as union "leaders". Grab as much as you can as fast as you can "leaders", cause when the rank-and-file stop paying the union member tax, aka dues, you'll have to retire to one of your homes and try to live off your 2 pensions, 401k, and fully pre-paid health care benefits.
tellfred
I call Scott Walker "Wisconsin's very own Moammar Qaddafi".
Run the show on the internet - run it on Facebook!
GAS PRICES
It is amazing to me that gasoline prices at sky high yet oil companies are exporting 600,000 barrels of gasoline everyday to foreign countries. Why is this story not being told.