I've done a lot of talking about "someplace else" and "other places" and even the world. And, you know what? This past Thursday, we brought intelligent and well versed people into our little part of the world for some widespread education and inspiration. The Historical Society sponsored an event "The Arts Mean Business", teaming with Marjorie Maas from Nebraskans for the Arts, Local teacher/artist Greg Holdren, Twyla Witt from the NE Tourism Commission, Sarah Imus, UNL Theater prof and actress, and Kristy Hayek from the NE Humanities Council. The theme of the evening was to impress upon the crowd that supporting the Arts... of all kinds... brings dollars to rural communities. The added plus was that each had toured our gem of an Opera House, and they all were able to tie their messages to show the audience how this project will benefit Friend and surrounding towns as well. Regardless if it's a theater performance, a musical event, opening the Mary Mary for an art show, filming a movie, or giving historical tours, tax dollars and recreational spending that creates tax dollars will follow our agenda! And those visitors will shop, eat, buy gas, drink wine... you get the idea. It was clear from the expression on each face that, well, some did get it, and they were the folks that want to pursue closer working relationships between communities to promote the arts and this project. Others looked to be unimpressed. Indifferent, I suppose. Frustrating, to say the least. BUT, for those from Friend, Beaver Crossing, Milford, Exeter, Wilber, Lincoln, Geneva, York and Seward who were all right there in the "zone" with us, it was fulfilling. And, having a new "super" that believes in the project, sees the reasoning behind restoration and is driven to show his new students how taking ownership can result in great things, was the icing on the cake.
It reminded me of a quote that the late Steve Jobs used... something about creative people being able to take in their surroundings and add their life experiences to connect the dots. And once the dots are connected a vision is created. And, those creative people sometimes feel badly because this just happens. Easily. It's a part of their fabric. Others just don't even realize that dots are out there waiting to be connected. Cest la vie! This Warren building holds every dot/opportunity there is. We've got the world by the tail.
And, on to the next opportunity for our beautiful building... today at 3PM they are casting for "Butch & Sundance- a Ghostly Tale"! My little short screenplay is going to have real people as Butch & Sundance... the girlfriend, our creepy lady and the shadow and boots of Frog Winslow! Looks like, right now, it will be filmed upstairs in the Historic Warren Opera House, sometime over Christmas break so we can accommodate the young actors who are in school now. As I told the Producer, Susan Engel... it's gonna be "colder than Billy shxx up there" but it's still going to be fun! So, today I can report that we indeed do have "THE WORLD BY THE TAIL / TALE"!
I leave you with a thought from Mr. Albert Einstein... "Logic will get you from A to B. Creativity will take you everywhere!" Cheers to that!
So, last week I talked about the lady from Lincoln who felt like she was "somewhere else" when she was at the Pour House, and in the Warren Building, in general. This week we stepped it up a notch. We went from feeling like we are "somewhere else" to bringing "somewhere else" to Friend- somehwere else, and the World!
We started our work weekend on Thursday with the fantastic, amazing, eclectic, dynamic, touch of Bohemian group The Haunted Windchimes. Yes, if you passed by that evening you saw a well-used and charming orange Winnebago kinda vehicle. Traveling in that motor coach are five of the most interesting and talented people I have ever met. And that's saying something. The harmonizing, musical genius that is The Haunted Windchimes comes from somewhere else... Pueblo, CO. They had been somewhere else... Minneapolis, and were headed somewhere else... Wichita. I was lucky enough to snag them, mid-route and to entice them with a little gas money, some wonderful food, a beverage or two, and the opportunity to perform not only for an enthusiastic crowd at PHouse, but to take a few photo ops and record a few songs on stage in the Historic Warren Opera House. Aside from just a few "SHHHSSS" in the room, this group, without sound system, captivated the entire audience. People wanted to listen. They didn't know the songs, but that didn't matter. The Haunted Windchimes came from somewhere else and their performance was out of this world, almost literally.
And, in watching their facebook page, I saw a post from Kimmee, who indicated she was coming to Friend for their show. I tried to contact her to let her know we had no seats left, but didn't reach her. Then, as the show neared, and I was crossing Second Street, I was almost literally wiped out by this black and red Vega kinda pick-up. "Remarkable", I thought. Not that I almost was run over, but that that thing actually ran. And, yes, you guessed it... it was Kimmee and her boyfriend and their 3 dogs. Where are they from? Portland, OR. Yes, enroute from Indianna, to Portland, they took a side trip to the PHouse to see the Haunted Windchimes. More of the world was sitting right there on bar stools 3 and 4. Locals in the room wondered about them. "From Portland", we said. "Yes, really." We had the same situation when Barnaby Bright was in town. We had guests from Minneapolis, Des Moines and Kansas City who came to PHouse for the show. And, not only do we have people from somewhere else in the USA, we've had people from Germany and Scottland in in the past week.
So, Tina and I ventured out of our little comfort zone called PHouse, and into the world on Friday. We did a tasting for Julie at Stagecoach Antiques in Fairbury. It was a fun event, and we met a lot of new friends, all of whom we are sure to see at the PHouse sooner than later. As I stood there, behind the tasting bar (which was as tall as Tina) the world was, literally, sending me a message. An amazing antique globe was perched on a table, staring at me. I tried to ignore it, because I really didn't need to spend $95, but it just kept whispering to me. I visited it. Spun it around. Watched the axis points spinning. The continents aren't labeled, which is nifty, because that way it can never be wrong, no matter what war, or who conquors whom. I took a photo of it. It was totally distorted. When I zoomed in, all we could see was stars. The World was showing me the world! It also fried my camera! Tina freaked out. Julie was a little stunned. I took it as a symbol that this World had to come with me. Yes, you guessed it. We loaded up the possessed World and brought it to PHouse. On the way home, it beckoned every coon there was and a couple of strolling deer between Fairbury and Saline Center. It was as if we were talking to the animals and they were coming out to watch the World pass by. We now have the World on display. And it looks fantastic. It's big and bold and inspiring. I think it's just perfect for PHouse, and for the building. We transport people to somewhere else, and we bring the world to Friend, Nebraska. Indeed...very cool.
And, not only is the World waiting to greet visitors, but even more 7-degrees of Kevin Bacon syndrome continues. Yesterday, a super nice couple from Lincoln visited us. We toured the building, and OHouse. They were amazed. I invited them to come on Thursday, Oct 11, as we welcome Nebraskan's for the Arts, the Tourism Commission, the Humanities, UNL Theater, Film Associaition representatives and our talented Greg Holdren to enlighten us on "why supporting the arts, all arts, is important". We've gotten RSVPs from many, you guessed it, from somewhere else. Only two from here. But, that's OK. I remain hopeful that people will decide at the last minute to stop in and learn something. Do you know the saying, "The World Is Your (one's) Oyster"? Did you know Shakespeare wrote that, first, in his "Merry Wives of Windsor" circa 1600? It's certainly appropriate for all of us, here in Friend, and especially those who are helping the Society with this project. Literally, the World is our oyster. The world (and project) is what we make of it. And we're making a merry, bloody, beautiful experience for everyone... from here, from everywhere else.
So, from me to you all, on this sunny crisp Sunday, have a good day. Stop in to PHouse. See the World. Take a little trip to somewhere else, with people from everywhere else. Very cool! That just makes me smile.
