SCOPE for February 4, 2004 – The Voice of the Missoula Creative Community

Today is Wednesday, February 4, and today’s “Happy Birthday Girl” is Isabel Perón, born Maria Martinez in 1931. A one-time night-club dancer, she became the third wife of Juan Perón and succeeded him as President of Argentina on his death in July 1974. She was a very different personality from wife #2, the Evita of “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” fame. She was instrumental in Juan’s return from exile to regain the presidency at the behest of — go figure! — both ”left” and “right wing” political factions, with Isabel as his VP. Alas, she was kidnapped and deposed in a bloodless coup in 1976.

General Interest items

#1a – CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT: (1) Elvis’ TV debut in 1958 was 48, not 58 years ago, as many a sharp eyed SCOPE reader reminded its math-challenged Scribe: (2) the URL link to performance artist Marina Abramovic came out defective because of a hyphenation glitch. If interested in her work and theory, a Google search of her name will fetch 12,900 references.

#1b – Don Spritzer at the Missoula Public Library gets his math right in reporting that “this February 9 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Beatles initial appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show — the highlight of the Fab Four’s first trip to the USA. Our library will commemorate the event with an exhibit in the large downstairs display case. It will feature items of Beatles memorabilia, news accounts of this historic event, plus some general stuff on the "British Invasion." of the 1960s.”

#1c – With NEA Chairman Dana Gioia at her side, First Lady Laura Bush last week announced that the President has requested an $18 million budget increase — the largest since 1984 — for the National Endowment for the Arts to fund a major new initiative, American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. This three-year program will combine arts presentations with education programming to introduce Americans to “the best of their cultural and artistic legacy.” American Masterpieces will sponsor presentations of great American works across all art forms in large and small communities in all 50 states. The new project will be implemented in partnership with a variety of public and private organizations nationwide, leveraging the NEA’s $15 million investment with additional matching funds. You can learn more at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040129-1.html or http://www.arts.gov/news/news04/AmericanMasterpieces1.html

#1d – Naturally, there were those who pooh-poohed the White House announcement, although nobody has, as yet, seen it as part of a vast far-right wing conspiracy. A New York Times editorial on Saturday merely grumped that “the White House has given the president’s wife a public opportunity to soften her husband’s image by announcing the largest increase in funds for the N.E.A. in 20 years.” On the other side of the political spectrum, Roger Kimball, managing editor of The New Criterion and author of Art’s Prospect: The Challenge of Tradition in an Age of Celebrity, rejoiced that within a matter of months Gioia “has transformed that moribund institution into a vibrant force for the preservation and transmission of artistic culture. … He has hired a number of able deputies who care about art and understand that what the public wants is more access to good art — opera, poetry, theater, literature — not greater exposure to social pathology dressed up as art.”

#1e – NEA Chairman Gioia will be in Billings for the October 22 premiere of Nosferatu, an opera for which he wrote the libretto. Your can read about his retelling of the classic vampire tale at http://www.danagioia.net/books/poetry/nos.htm and you can borrow a copy from the MCC library. The Rimrock Opera Company of Billings previews its productions at http://www.rimrockopera.org/dracula.html

#1f – If nothing else, the proposed boost in NEA funding focuses attention on the quandary of “where will the money come from” in the face of ever decreasing revenue sources for ever increasing demands. As indicated in a Missoulian article last week, too many non-profits — some of them duplicating programs — are chasing too few dollars. Capitol campaigns are sprouting everywhere in Missoula: a sports stadium, Art Museum expansion, Roxy Theater purchase, proposed performing arts center, natural history center, community center in McCormick Park, rehabbing St. Francis schools, and the list goes on. The Carousel is the latest to appeal for funding from the community. A Montana Arts Council workshop here on Friday is titled “The Art of Leadership” but it’s really all about raising money. The old admonition that “you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip” isn’t solved by bringing in more turnips. For more on this problem, see items below.

#1g – Finding and creating viable financial support for arts and culture activity in Montana communities requires creative leadership skills no less than does charting a course for a sustainable and vibrant economy that will provide that support. Montana may finally get that kind of leadership. At least that’s the goal of Leadership Montana which plans “seven sessions in seven different Montana communities, plus a two-day Retreat, a visit to the 2005 Legislature and a Board of Regents meeting. Each session will include a powerful, interactive discussion of Trusteeship, ‘The Inner Work of the Leader‘, and the opportunity to make wonderful new lifelong friends from all over Montana.” Missoulans on the Organizing Committee are Russ Fletcher (Montana Associated Technology Roundtable), Mike Kadas (Mayor), Daniel Kemmis (O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West), Dr. Gerald Evans (UM School of Business Administration), and Mark Sherouse (Montana Committee for the Humanities). Committee members from elsewhere in the state include bankers, Chamber of Commerce reps, ranchers, and labor leader, but nobody — repeat, nobody — from the “arts” sector. See #6a below.

On the Literary Landscape

#2a – The Missoula Reads program gets into full swing tonight with a 7:30 PM lecture, What About Frank? The Physician in Montana 1948, by Dr. Herbert Swick, Executive Director of the Institute of Medicine and Humanities, at St. Patrick Hospital Conference Center. He’ll discuss some of the medical and ethical issues presented in Montana 1948. Tomorrow night there’ll be a 7:00 PM informal discussion of Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 at Bernice’s Bakery. On February 10, there’ll be a 7:30 PM discussion at Liquid Planet. Various exhibits related to the novel will be shown, such as historic photographs of Montana in the 1930s and 1940s, from Hope in Hard Times by Mary Murphy, at the Catalyst, and a collection of old wanted posters and law enforcement memorabilia at the Missoula Public Library. Get the full schedule at http://www.lib.umt.edu/gen/mslareads/

#2b – Penguin Putnam’s new Gotham publishing imprint will release the US edition of Eats, Shoots & Leaves; The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation on April 12th. The book will sell for $17.50 and will contain more information than the highly promoted British edition which was a surprise best-seller. Copies can be reserved now at Fact & Fiction. An online review notes that “Through sloppy usage and low standards on the internet, in email, and now text messages, we have made proper punctuation an endangered species.” Yes, SCOPE has ordered a copy to try to keep straight its ",!, ?, and 🙂

The Art Scene

#3a – Author John Villani tells SCOPE that the new edition of his 100 Best Small Art Towns in America will be released in November. Missoula is ranked #37 in the current edition. Where will it be this time? Stay tuned.

#3b – An exhibit of paper kimonos and a collection of fine art prints are on display in the Gallery of Visual Arts on the first floor of the UM Social Science Building through February 20. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 243-2813.

#3c – On-line bidding closes at 8 PM Friday for artwork by over 80 artists from Montana and the United States to be auctioned Saturday night at the Thirty-second annual Art Museum of Missoula fundraiser.

Get all the details at http://www.artmissoula.org or call 728-0447.

Musical Notes and Stage Cues

#4a – Tickets are available now for the famed Vienna Choir Boys concert on Monday, February 16 at 7:30 PM in the University Theater. For more than five centuries, the Vienna Choir Boys have enchanted audiences with their unique singing style of sacred and secular works. Their appearance here is a fundraiser for the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale but ticket prices have been kept low in order for families to attend. The 175 "reserved" seats have been sold and the remaining $15 tickets are available at the Missoula Symphony Office, located at 225 West Front St. or by calling 721-3194.

#4b – Alice J. Spritz is a new Missoula resident who has been performing improvisation, stand-up, and sketch comedy for 18 years. Her career includes appearances at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, the Improv in Santa Monica, and a solo appearance at New York City’s International Fringe Festival, described at http://www.nytheatre.com/fringeweb/preview13.htm She was an artist/leader with Inside/Out, a Los Angeles community arts group that provides theater training for at-risk youth and hopes to start a similar program in Montana. You can contact her at 721-1022 or

#4c – Digital pics of the opening scenes of MCT’s A Chorus Line were on display on MCC’s website within a few hours of the final curtain on Sunday night. Take a look at them and other cultural happenings in Missoula at http://www.missoulacultural.org

Cultural Tourism Directions

#5a – The cultural and commercial tours to Missoula’s Sister City of Palmerston North in New Zealand are still being organized. For info on the Montana World Trade Center tour http://www.matr.net/article-9233.html call 243-6982. For information on what will be included on the Missoula Cultural Council visitation call 721-9620 or query

The Creative Community

#6a – In Michigan, where the Michigan Arts Council has earned its place at the economic development table, the state government continues to spur strong regional economies anchored by dynamic cities that attract young workers and the businesses that rely on their creative talents. Nearly 80 communities, the Governor notes, have local “commissions on cool that are uncorking the bottle of creativity and unleashing the genie of possibility planning everything from bike paths to bookstores to attract more people and new businesses.” http://www.matr.net/article-9705.html

#6b – In Montana, meanwhile, the leaders of one political party unveiled still another plan for economic revitalization which, naturally, prompted the other major political party to do the same – which, in turn, inspired political pundit George Ochenski to observe “After reading the ‘highlights’ of the (Democrat’s) ‘blueprint,‘ it became obvious why the story didn’t make the front pages — because there’s nothing there but hot air and another thick helping of confusing political rhetoric.”

#6c – Not long ago, Sedan, a town of 1,200 population about 40 miles west of Independence, seemed about to blow off the Kansas map. The bank had failed, farmers lost or sold their land, stores shut down, and people drifted away. But as the New York Times reported last week, people there believe they have found what hundreds of communities are seeking: a formula that will lead them back toward prosperity. The town’s cultural heritage and natural prairie environment are key elements in that formula. Even so, there are some residents who grouse about “growth.” You can see what’s happening there at http://pepperbay.com/sedan/

The Cultural Environment

#7a – The Missoulian last week released its annual “Best of” list and a few arts and cultural resources were deemed worthy of inclusion. For the third consecutive year, Monte Dolack won the “favorite local artist” title by a landslide, with Mary Beth Percival, his partner in business and marriage, placing second. Their Front Street gallery also got the nod in that category with the Missoula Art Museum placing second and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation art exhibit coming in third. Not content with giving heart-burn to some Missoula art critics, the Missoulian poll is sure to ruffle political feathers with its voters’ choice of Senator Conrad Burns as “favorite public official” over former Missoula city councilman John Torma and Mayor Mike Kadas. And for good measure, the Wal-Mart SuperStore was voted Missoula’s “favorite grocery” with The Good Food Store ranked #4. It’s unlikely these choices will be appealed to any Supreme Court but the upcoming “Best of” poll by Missoula’s alternative newspaper may produce some contrary opinions. Stay tuned.

#7b – Next month A Carousel for Missoula will begin to sell annual memberships to individuals and companies in hopes of making up the shortfall between $253,000 income and $278,000 expenses. That imbalance echoes a study recently conducted in Minnesota’s Twin Cities where 85% of the residents agreed that performing arts "improve the quality of life” and 92% agreed that the arts contribute to the development and education of children. The problem is that only a quarter of those who attended an arts event in 2001 made a financial contribution to an arts group that year. Less than a third of those surveyed rated government support for the arts as "very important," with another 39 percent saying it was "somewhat important." In its third year of assessing the health of the Denver arts and culture organizations, the Rocky Mountain News “State of the Arts” report found them experiencing declines in attendance and membership.

Miscellaneous Cultural Chaff

#8a – He may have lost billions in the great AOL Time Warner fiasco, but Ted Turner has at least a billion dollars left and he’s spending some of that to give big cities a taste of what he calls Montana culture. “Ted’s Montana Grill is a gathering place for family and friends, offering comfort food for the 21st century,” according to a press release from his new company. “In an authentic, Craftsman-style Montana bar and grill, the restaurant offers time-honored American favorites, hand-made with fresh ingredients.” That includes buffalo meat from Ted’s four ranches sprawling across 155,000 acres near Bozeman, a mere dribble of the two million acres he owns around the country. On the menu of the 15 Montana cafes open so far — he plans another 24 this year — are 20 buffalo burger entrées as well as roast bison strip loin, barbecued bison short ribs, roast bison prime rib and a roast bison French dip sandwich on Boudin sourdough. With 32,000 bison in his herds, Ted won’t run out of meat soon. Ted’s Montana Grill is an eco-friendly restaurant — menus on recycled paper, no plastics, and soft drinks served in recyclable glass bottles. Don’t ask for beer or whiskey, pardner, even though Ted claims his café was modeled after an old saloon in Columbus, Montana. "When you come through the door at Ted’s, you step back in time," Turner says, boasting that the art pieces adorning the restaurants’ walls are replicas of original American West landscapes by Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran that hang in his home. "I wanted to share them with the public," he says. Nice. The public, in turn, pays an average check of $14 in one of his Montana cafes. You can visit one for free at http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com

#8b –Twenty years ago, the Super Bowl TV audience was electrified by a Macintosh ad in which a shapely, but fully clothed, female athlete tossed a hammer to smash the “Big Blue“ monitor and bring Apple computers “to the rest of us.” This year the millions world-wide who watched the Boob Tube were treated to Nelly’s crotch, Janet’s knocker, and a Brit nudie streaker as tidbits of America’s sleaze culture. Can it get worse? Stay tuned.

#8c – Henry Louis Gates Jr., Harvard’s chair of Afro-American Studies, traveled around the United States to “take the temperature” of black America at the start of the new century. In four programs – the first was scheduled to air in Missoula last night – he visits the East Coast, the deep South, inner-city Chicago and Hollywood to explore the landscape, social as well as geographic, and meet the people who are defining black America, from the most famous and influential to those at the grassroots. Here’s what Gates said in a preview of the series: "If I could wave a wand, every black kid in America would understand that mastering the ABCs and reading, writing and arithmetic is the blackest thing that you could do, not slam-dunking a basketball." Or, dare we add, providing entertainment at the Super Bowl.

Academic notes

#9a – The school honor roll, a time-honored system for rewarding “A“ students, has become an apparent source of embarrassment for some underachievers. As a result, all Nashville TN schools have stopped posting honor rolls, and some are also considering a ban on hanging good work in the hallways. After a few parents complained their children might be ridiculed for not making the list, Nashville school system lawyers warned that state privacy laws forbid releasing any academic information, good or bad, without permission. Some schools have since put a stop to academic pep rallies. Others think they may have to cancel spelling bees.

Media and Web Watch

#10a – The quality of debate in the ongoing Campaign ’04 is directly connected to the quality of its press coverage according to the Columbia Journalism Review, which has launched http://www.CampaignDesk.org, a new website that monitors and critiques political reporting in real time. It is updated several times daily so you can be amused and/or alarmed by the bafflegab and outright distortions foisted on the public by the news media.

#10b – British Broadcasting Corporation reporter Andrew Gilligan finally admitted that "I attributed this (statement) to David Kelly; it was in fact an inference of mine." His editor finally confessed that "The BBC made mistakes and we have to face up to that." The BBC Chairman resigned and apologized to the government and public for having defended the reporter when BBC bigwigs knew he was in the wrong. Still, the media worldwide claimed that the independent report on the incident was a government “whitewash” and warned of “censorship.” Stay tuned.

MARK at MCC