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Above: Greek Lightning
AKA: Nick
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The King Lives! Elvis Presley lives or at least in the
hearts and minds of many. Mr Presley personified that cool
swagger of machismo men of his era, a vibe many present
day men wish they had. How many men out there wished they
could be half as smooth with the ladies as Elvis? The
reason I'm talking about Elvis is this he came to visit me
at Funky Art World.
No I'm not a psychic or some John Edwards “wannabe.”
Elvis took the form of Nick, better known as Greek
Lightning.
Nick's story is this: Once upon a time there was a man who
had a song in his heart. He wanted to be a singer just
like his idol Elvis. Life had other plans however.
Schoolwork and the Vietnam War all inserted themselves on
this man, pushing that inner performer way back in his
subconscious. The man never totally forgot his dream, and
he remembers many nights in the fields of Vietnam
entertaining the troops with impromptu songs to boost the
moral. After the war came a job and family. The
years went by for the man and he made an honest living.
The kids grew up and the man finally retired.
What is there left to do after fifty and retirement? Live
the life you always dreamed of.
That brings us to the year 2002 and why Elvis came to
Riverwest. For a time I never quite understood the hold
Elvis has on American culture; you don't see Vegas overrun
with my idols … a George Clinton Impersonator or two?
Maybe you have to be dead or something to get that status.
The funky art man needs to look into that. I started to
understand more of the Elvis phenomenon after seeing the
reaction of my fellow Riverwest residents upon seeing this
man dressed as Elvis. The traffic on Locust St. slowed
down and passers by started shouting greetings and people
started rubber necking out there cars. Suddenly for the
slightest moment I felt as if I was kicking it with Elvis
Presley. As far as I can tell Elvis is now a feeling of
cool. A force that makes you see life in a more simplistic
form.
Greek Lightning is obviously a Greek American. He retired
from A.O. Smith and thinks of himself as a baby boomer of
the generation that never ages. He's a grand father and an
example that it's never to late. Six months into his Elvis
life Greek Lightning has performed at Summerfest as well
as other festivals. During our interview the theme of the
conversation always revolved around it's never to late.
His favorite song is young and beautiful. As well it
should be. I guess the big question is how does he sound?
I was playing his CD listening to various Elvis songs and
I told him it was hard for me to believe that was not the
real Elvis singing. He turned to me and said in that deep
Elvis voice, “Thank you very much”. You can reach or
book Greek lightning at 527-9663.
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Standing
up for Beasties
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l 08.01.02
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The Beastie project has been in place all
summer. Personally I feel it is a great thing to
see these colorful creatures sharing our space in
this fine city. Just like the people of Milwaukee
these fiberglass critters come in various shades
tones and looks. Just like the people of Milwaukee
it depends on your personal taste. I think some
people in this city in their zeal to treat
everything artistic as if it needs to be hanging
in the finest museum in Paris has missed what is
important about this project. Yes you have the
charity these creatures will ultimately benefit,
but you also have the countless six year olds who
look and fantasize about these colorful creatures
populating down town. What about the people like
me who quietly think to himself, “that is my
favorite one” or “I wish I could have painted
that one differently”. If the beasties are
sponsored by corporations do the average person
really give a funk? A big shout out goes to DeLind
fine art on Jefferson and Dennis Pearson,
father of the Beasties. When an artist or person
envisions a project of that magnitude (and yes
there are people who spent time making these
creatures), I'm sure the artist realizes that
every one won't be pleased. I just want to stand
up for that artist whether it's a song, a blue
shirt or Beastie. You keep on doing your thing. It
takes balls to put together your project;
certainly moreso than it does to slap together
some criticism on a keyboard or cowardly vandalize
something in the middle of the night, which is
what has happened to far too many of the beasties.
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SUMMER FESTING IS IN FULL SWING HERE IN THE
MIL. On a hot July day the funky art man was out
and about checking out the happenings. First stop,
the great circus set up at the lake. Now tell me
who doesn't love a circus? Judging by the
show our county government is putting on the
circus is huge complete with elected clowns and
ringmasters! The circus by the lake however is for
a general audience and the kids were loving it.
With rides animals and the big top there was
enough there to keep any child amused for hours.
This wouldn't be funky art world if I didn't bring
up the subject of art! I was looking for a fellow
caricature artist. There were face painters and
such but what caught my eye was the sculptor
restoring the old circus wagons. Homer Daehn
is a wood carver from Baraboo Wisconsin, and he
was hard at work hand carving some intricate
ornamentation. I wanted to get in a few words with
him but two clowns came in and interrupted.
Clowns, they're always clowning around.
Above: Artist Kristelle
M. Ulrich-San Fillippo
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So I kicked it over to Bastille Days and met
artist Kristelle M. Ulrich-San Fillippo.
She, along with her brother Robert P Ulritch,
and Karen Wisniewski were hired by East Town
Association to recreate the street art of France.
Kristelle used the French artist Matisse as
inspiration for her section of the huge piece.
That added some artistic flavor to this popular
festival. Kristelle informed me that the East Town
Association wanted to do something other then the
sidewalk chalk drawings they normally would do.
Above: Artist Vicki
Chiger
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My next encounter was Artist Vicki Chiger.
Vicki has been painting full time for the last ten
years. She's takes commissioned work and is
featured nationally in some top galleries. Vicki
works in a variety of mediums although acrylic is
her tool of choice at the moment. She enjoys
working large in her S. 2nd St. studio.
The French style or feel to her art was not
necessarily part of Bastille Days. Vicki notes
that many people have told her that her work has a
French vibe to it. While doing an exhibit in a fox
point restaurant Vicki was approached by people
who asked her to do something similar for Bastille
Days. One of her pieces was donated to the East
Town Association, and she has two that are
currently for sale. Vicki feels the art scene in
Milwaukee is improving and getting fun and active.
For me getting out to meet and greet these artist
who love their work and are dedicated to their
craft is not only fun it lets me know that being
an artist is a special thing and this is a funky
good time to be creative.
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Speaking of tapping out crap The Orbit Art
“Cretek” needs Answers: Funky Art World has five white
artists showing. (b) Not all artists written about here
have been featured in the Funky Art World Gallery. I have
no problem-hyping artists in my gallery. Question: Why did
you go racial when speaking of me? Statement: In my
gallery and my column, I'm just an average person. Not an
“art cretek.” I don't even want to be that. Funky Art
World should be as diverse as the neighborhood it's in.
Personally, I pay little mind to the skin pigment of the
person doing the art. All races are welcome in my gallery,
so don't try to lock me into your little stereotype.
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