It's a new year with new goals hanging above our heads. We've all got a creative side, somewhere. This is how we're indulging ours in 2010. What about you?
Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
This year, I plan to gig as much as I can with my band, Cackle, and in between shows, practice my bass, work on harmonizing, create promotional materials and screen print T-shirts. Also, five years ago, my friend Renee and I decided to create a black-and-white-photo tarot deck which has been a huge undertaking. (The tarot deck has 78 cards.) I will continue to work on this when I can -- we are more than halfway done -- but probably won't finish it for a few more years. However, the majority of my creative energy gets channeled into parenting my two young sons, so all other artistic endeavors must get squeezed in after they are tucked in their bunk beds for the night.
Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
For me, 2009 was the year of home demolition and remodel. While those projects are inevitably seeping over into 2010, I think the big stuff is behind us, which leaves a bit more free time for creativity in other areas. This year, with a kitchen full of fun and interesting new gadgets, I'm taking up cooking -- for real. It's something I've been increasingly passionate about over the past few years and now, with a lot of the proper equipment, I'm taking it to the next level. I'm starting a food blog, which will be accompanied by my husband's gorgeous photography. Then, for next year's holidays, we will have enough fodder for the cookbook we've been talking about creating and giving as gifts to friends and family.
Drew Olson
Senior Editor
Outside of the usual writing, my artistic side has needed nurturing for some time. A new year is a perfect time for rededication (notice I didn't say resolution). I hereby pledge to stoke the creative juices by practicing the guitar (with help from our upcoming online lessons from guitarinstructor.com). I'll also get in touch with my HGTV side by decorating my home office and rec room. You've got to start somewhere, right?
Maureen Post
Staff Writer
There have been a few artistic sides I've tried to entertain and after a good effort, they've fallen to the wayside. The major exception? Photography. I've always loved it and can never get enough. Since most cameras and processing went digital, I haven't developed much in the darkroom. So in 2010, I'm going to take a step back in time and head into the darkroom.
Bobby Tanzilo
Managing Editor
I always have a few projects on the burner and two are guaranteed liftoff in 2010. Although one could certainly argue that they are not art, I always approach the things I do the same way I approached making music, so they feel sorta like art to me. One is the latest installment of the annual Milwaukee Italian Film Festival, which I help coordinate with two other folks, at UWM Union Cinema (May 1-2). The other is a chapter -- just completed -- about emigration from Italy to the United States that was written for a coffee table book about a specific area in Italy. It is due to be published next year. I am also working on bringing another Italian film event to Milwaukee later in the year and I have a few other potential projects -- mostly ideas for CDs to follow one I put together in 2007 -- that I hope to bring to fruition in 2010. I regret that I'm not much of a visual artist.
Andrew Wagner
Staff Writer
My father was a craftsman. He had the most impressive collection of tools and could do anything with a piece of lumber. In the past, I've tried dabbling, but never got very far. Upon my first visit to OnMilwaukee.com's palatial North Ave. offices, I marveled at the home-built bar in the common area, especially the bartop made of bottle caps. When I first moved into my apartment nearly four years ago, my goal was to create a similar piece in my own home. Since then, we've been saving bottle caps and I currently have quite the collection.
It goes without saying that the bar has yet to be built. Living in a practically-new unit -- and being a rental -- there isn't much I can do in terms of home improvement. I have done some simple stuff, fixing door hinges, installing new shower accessories and re-caulking the bathroom (my holiday project), but I'm convinced this is the year I finally indulge my inner Tool Man and get cracking on this project. By this time next year, I hope to be sipping a cocktail while seated at my own bar, built by my own hands.
