It is always very reassuring to hear about alums having
real, successful “lives after Lawrence.” I was very impressed by how much
Lawton has done already and how put together he is. It seems counterintuitive
to me to try making an artist’s life for yourself in a place like Wisconsin,
which just seems like a cultural pit of despair (except for the few big cities –
and Wisconsin is far from the worst state). But it would seem you could make
that kind of life for yourself just about anywhere if you try hard enough and
hold onto your connections in those places. And there are many more
opportunities in Wisconsin than I had previous realized. (That is not to say I
wish to live in Wisconsin any longer than I have to.)
One of the opportunities for artists in Wisconsin
I got more interested in Lawton’s work as he went, and I
think that is how he planned his presentation. Cyclic History/This Place is No
Place were amazing to me, not because of the “music” of the projectors, but
because it was very aesthetically pleasing. My favorite pieces of his that he
showed, however, were All Your Thens for Now and the Holy Sheboygan! pieces.
The latter were so intricate and experimental, but in a way that kept me
engaged rather than overwhelming me. I would love to see the band live. All
Your Thens for Now was so unique and drew inspirations from such unexpected
sources. I really loved the use of voice as a percussion instrument.
Holy Sheboygan!
Once again, I am given hope that Life After Lawrence is not
necessarily a black hole.
I have to say, I was also impressed with the connections he was able to form here, and I definitely get your trepidation about living and staying in Wisconsin. Where would you like to locate yourself after Lawrence since Wisconsin doesn't appeal to you?
ReplyDeleteI'm going home to the Chicago area at first but I'd like to spend my time there figuring out the answer to that question! Somewhere outside the Midwest would be ideal. :)
DeleteI'm also from the Chicago area and I feel like I have a lot more connections back there than I do here in Wisconsin. That's why I find his networking in Appleton impressive. Outside of Lawrence, I have no connections here. Your comments about Wisconsin are pretty funny. You said Wisconsin is "far from the worst state." Just curious, which do you think IS the worst state?
ReplyDeleteIndiana, without a doubt. It doesn't even have any pretty landscapes to counter its terrible politics. All-around terrible state...
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