Culture - Weather & the Single Big RedBall.

SUBTITLE: AFTER THOUGHTS ON HURRICANE IKE

Numb in Shades of Red...Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project picks up speed Tomorrow...

Chicago, IL USA: The Nation is numb after The Ravage of Hurricane Ike devastated not only Texas but took 4 Lives that were lost in Cook County (900 miles north of the Eye of the Storm) and 3,600 People became displaced- in the Chicago Area on Saturday & Sunday when late Summer Weekend Festivities of many Cultural Varieties were disappointingly cancelled.

FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Imagine the rampant Fear of the Ancient Pompeiians and Herculaneans when Mt. Vesuvius erupted and spread its lavash (lava + ash = lavash in Pure Koopersmithese) on to those innocent townsfolk in 79 AD? Unfortunately, they were like the Galvestonians (who just a Century before) lost their City to another powerful Storm. The Reverse of Nature gone wild. The Effects of both Studies have the the same horrifying results, although the Causes are totally different. One is Geothermal. The other is Wind + Water Power.

Those who suffered were merely at the wrong geographic location at the wrong decisive Time. The Wrath of Mother Nature cannot be stopped. "If the Terrorists don't get us, Mother Nature will," I have often thought.

At both earlier historical Times and in both Instances, Volcano & Hurricane Evacuations were non-existent. The Technological Knowledge or physical Manpower was simply not there, yet. Only Horses and Mules were tamed or domesticated to save The Masses in those earlier Roman Days. 'Evacuation by Pony-back' would have made for a sadly sullen Cartoon Strip. 'Stripped' of all Worldly Goods is what happened to these People with no Justification of its own. Furthermore, no Autos or other Transport Vehicles existed. And, even if so, Disasters of these Magnitudes happen so quickly, there just isn't enough time to heed an Escape. It's the same Problem that haunts Modern Day Man today when it comes to Saving Precious Lives.

Besides, who can outrun Lava, Tidal Waves or Flood Waters? Broadcasts were also non-existent. We've come an exceedingly long Ways since Civilization was in its Infancy. Devastation still hurts and destroys, affecting The Mental, Physical, Spiritual & Economic Realms of a Society with Repercussions that will not be felt until the Backwaters subside and Lives partially restored.

As Alan Abelson of Barrons states on Page 3: Stuff Happens.

"Although Nature can be the Source of Inspiration, at times, it stifles, destroys or postpones Creativity which is The Foundation of Modern Man. Recreating Creativity is yet another Creative Process that then must be undertaken."

Quote of: ASK
Monday, September 15, 2008 - 8:20 AM CST

More 'Stuff' (of a braver Aspect) happens on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 as Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project recontinues its Role and Roll at the Rescheduled:

North & Damen Avenue Stop from 11 AM - 6 PM.

Set-up (of course) is earlier and for those curious, rise and shine by 8 AM to see how Kurt & Krew (Tony - Rebeccah - Monica) inflate the(ir) Ball.

PART 2: HAVE BALL WILL TRAVEL:

PREVIOUS PLANS IF HURRICANE IKE HAD NOT STRUCK:

The Stage: Wicker Park/Bucktown Fall Art Festival - smARTshow! was scheduled for Friday - Sunday, September 12-14. The RedBall Project was scheduled to accompany smARTshow! on North Avenue & Damen, but cancelled due to excessive Rain. Undoubtedly, it would have drawn more Visitors to the FlatIron Building, in The Heart of Wicker Park (an Area where no Target Stores are found, although the Residents could use one) but that was not its Fate.

In lieu of seeing The RedBall Project, I opted for this Show (as it was enclosed and lively) because I was one of the leading Curators of the First 'Around The Coyote' Show in 1993 with my Presentation of my Group, Cartoonists Against Crime Cartoons (C)1991 which opened many Doors with its unique Concepts in the Art & Medium of Comic Art. The neighborhood has gentrified significantly the last 15 years. The Art is just as colorful. It was a good place to be, no matter what Medium you chose and how awful The Weather was.

Zsofia Otvos (Studio 213), 'One of the top Hungarian Painters in North America,' whose Studio is located in the FlatIron Building summed it up beautifully when I asked her if she would miss her 7 lifesize Cinderella Paintings. She explained that selling a Piece (or Pieces) was/were the Final Step in a Painting's Creative Development and capped the Project off.

Did Leonardo feel the same way when he turned 'The Mona' over to his local neighborhood art museum? Not that any of us really know how that came about, but it does raise an eyebrow and paint brush stroke, if not both. No one knows.

Evidently, either sell a piece; donate it to a good cause; be an ingenue heiress or live life in abject poverty. Getting to The Bank may be exceedingly slim for most Artists (without the appropriate funding) let alone a lackluster Economy that's based on either Eating or being artified. These Days, Artists are finding it difficult to find practical Work, let alone become a Success in their Artistic Pursuits.

But Zsofia does have the incredible Talent to deliver, inspire and place her Work, ahead of 'The Crowd.'

And such would have been the case had the Weather cooperated on Saturday (as well as Sunday) for the Premier of the smARTshow! presented in the landmark, FlatIron Building by the FlatIron Artist's Association.

Likewise, Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project got rained out. As an OSI: Outdoor Sculptural Installation, it didn't have a Snowball's Chance of being inflated as Art's Two greatest Enemies:

Humidity (jumped)
and
the Rain (dropped continuously all Weekend long).

Was it time to man the Ark?
Are there 38 Days to go like it was in Biblical Days?

Had Conditions been different with the Artist's Converging there along with their Followers who stopped in (regardless of the prevailing conditions), that added Population would have gotten The Chance and Opportunity to see this Red-Roving Display that's been entertaining Chicago Residents for 2 solid Weeks, as they straddle the Sidewalks and Streets in September.

Tuesday, The RedBall will be inflated once again and seen on North & Damen Avenues for the neighborhood folks. Then, Resident Artists can center their Day on this 'Target' Store sponsored and welcome it into 'The Hood.' And life will return to its usual awesome Chicago Self.

FAVORITISM: It's called Nepotism in City Politics

Since Favoritism has always ran amok in my Family Tree, so it goes in my Artistic Decision to eek out (as well as 'seek' out) the Top smARTshow! Contestants. In no highly prejudiced order, the Clamor to watch these 13 Chicago Finalists grow and expand (like my Art has the last 15 years since my initial, pioneering Bout in Wicker Park - Bucktown at the former Ludwig Drum Factory Cartoonists Against Crime Show) in the years ahead will be crucial to their Success or Failure in the sluggish, yet cut-throat Marketplace. You may ask about the Ludwig Drum Factory. It's now a high-rise condominium with no Drummers living in its Confines.

Those talented Artists (listed below) are the forerunners of what makes Chicago unique and stand apART as an Art Center.

Zsofia Otvos - zsofiaotvos.com
Kass Copeland - kasscopeland.com
Mindy Fisher - ornaglyphology.com
Pauline - http://www.rainbowkittyart.com/
William Eaton, MFA - Suite 232 (1579 North Milwaukee)
George Berlin - eye-of-the-hurricane.com
Bernard Colbert - colbertimages.com - featuring JoJo Baby & Sal-E
Aristeo Jaure - aristeojaure.com
Karen Jones - Soul Depth Productions (Graphic Designer)
Michelle Castaneda
Kevin Lahvic - kevinlahvic.com
Ezra & Adam Siegel - adamsiegel.com
Marketa Sivek - Studio & Galleries #222 & 232 of the FlatIron Studios

It is not WHO you know but WHO sufficiently knows enough to realize that Raw Talent takes years to polish before it reaches a Summit, an Acceptance and a Decision (to buy or promote) about carrying on.

Regardless, it's not WHO you know: It's if The Weather will cooperate. If the Weather is fair; all you need to know will arrive in due time. Hopefully, their 'Target' is to buy BIG and often. If they can't afford a great Deal, the Art Aisles at Target Stores will suffice. Indoor Art vs. Outdoor Art...when Weather (chooses to) cooperate.

The Delivery inspires no matter where The Sun is. That's Chicago...

RedBall Report by ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
Koopersmith's Global Communications
&
GORF Werks Central
Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008 - 12:17PM

UPCOMING REDBALL PROJECT DATES:

The ‘Street Treats’ Continue in Shades of Red on and at:

September 16, 11 am – 6 pm: Damen & North Avenue

September 17, 11 am – 6 pm: Union Station & Jackson (444 West Jackson)

September 19, 11 am – 6 pm: Hyde Park Art Center (5020 South Cornell Avenue)

September 20, 10 am – 5 pm: IIT’s McCormick Tribune Campus Center (3201 South State St.)

September 21, 2008 - 11am - 6pm: Chess Pavilion, North Ave at the Lakefront

September 23, 11 am – 6 pm: 19 S. LaSalle Street

September 24, 11 am – 6 pm: Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn Street)

September 25, 11 am – 6 pm: Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington Street)