Celebrating 50 Years

 

It was 50 years ago when the class of 1974 at Lakewood High School graduated the Cleveland west-side suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. We had over 800 in our class. We attended classes in a factory with a population over 3,000 when you add students and staff for the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior class. 

The reunion committee pulled out all the stops and contracted with a venue, The Music Box, that allowed for food, drink, conversation and live music on the Cuyahoga River in the Cleveland flats. Alum Christopher Galloway focused his band on a music mix that was ideal for all to dance and sometimes sing along. The Mommas and the Pappas (California Dreaming), Neal Diamond (Sweet Caroline), The Rolling Stones and more. It was perfect for our generation to travel back in time.

 

  

Summer 2024

I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep... Or so says Robert Frost upon Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. It is hard to imaging snowfall in Saint Louis in June and July this year. We've had record high temperatures and humidity that has made some days hard to tolerate. Nevertheless, I've been most fortunate in the use of my of my time off after my first year as Art Teacher at Confluence Academies' Old North Academy campus. 

Just a quick review of my calendar shows a pretty fortunate series of events:

May - UMSL Purina visit (5/1); SLAM Jaune Quick to See Smith (5/4); Education Plus PD (5/6); Laumeier Art Fair (5/9-12); 5/18-20 Janie comes to St. Louis (Laumeier, MO History, Rain at Fox); Hillsboro Cox fun (5/26); U City Brittany Woods Middle meeting re: Art (5/28).

  

June 1 - Lindsey and Lawton (in town to see Andrew Morstein as Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville). We filled this Saturday with trips to MO History Museum in Forest Park, Central Print in Old North neighborhood, and Pizza place in Maplewood. 

June 4 - Ozark Amphitheater with Dave and Linda Shogren, Al Funk and Tom N. We saw Robert Plant and Allison Kraus show with opening act Tiny Moose (Chris Galloway's band).

June 6 - AMA gathering at Global Brew. Good to see Kathy McGuire and AMA board members preparing for a new administration under incoming President, Webster University's Eric Rhiney. 

June 7 - A special visit inside Andy Goldsworthy's Stone Sea sculpture at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

June 8 - Dave Shogren's OMG band at Jack's Joint upstairs at O'Connells.

June 15-17 - Father's Day trip to NJ. Purple Glaze Donuts, Brooklyn Graffiti, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Grounds for Sculpture visit.

June 27 - visit with Tim Brinks in St.Ann.

June 28 - The AMA "Wes Morgan Classic" golf at CCGC.

July 4 - Music and Fireworks at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex.

July 5 - Docent interview at SLAM

July 6 - Early morning double red Blood Donation 

July 8 - Meeting/interview with Principal Twana Moore at Northwest Middle School (Hazelwood School District). 

July 10 - Sarah Lorentz artist phone call re: Old North Art

July 11 - HBE league at CCGC

July 13 - Pageant Show - OK Go, Mirthquake, Winona Forever courtesy Integrity Web Solutions company/Lisa Grimm

July 15 RIP Janet Shaughnessy at Schrader Funeral Home

July 16 RIP Janet Ascension Catholic Church, Mass in Chesterfield

July 18 - Confluence Golf event at Forest Park - shotgun start with Anthony on Redbud #9

July 19 - St Louis Artis Guild Show - Sarah Lorentz

July 20 - ON caucus: Kathy and Marty McCaslin, Kelly Hock, Tammy Slater at MO History Museum

July 21 - Meeting of Old North Restoration Group at Dave's business but led by Linda Shogren because Dave was stuck in Newark due to airline IT global issue. Juan William Chavez, Aimee Dunlap, Stacey Cline, Gloria Bratkowsko, Jessica Payne, Linda Shogren, Wes Morgan, Robin Lovings Brown, Matt Fernandez. 

July 25 - RED at New Jewish Theater

July 26-28 - Cleveland LHS 50th reunion

July 31 to August 5 - NJ - Asbury Park Boardwalk, Sunset Diner (x2), Colonial Terrace (two walks but booked), Elberon Bathing Club (x3) beach and pool.

August 7 UMSL foursome at CCGC

August 8 - Back to School Bash, HBE league night (Thurs)

August 9 - Kidsmart at Ballpark Village

August 10-12 - Tampa Six Flags Roller Coaster

August 19 - School Resumes

 

Interviews and Learning

 

ART STILL HAS TRUTH TAKE REFUGE THERE are the words inscribed in the back entrance of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Since that entrance is adjacent to the sculpture garden, I find myself standing there and appreciating that very thought. The following are some highlights of my interview situations, which I believe to be excellent opportunities to explore self knowledge with regard to my habitual pursuit of art as TRUTH. 

I have completed service as Art Teacher for Confluence Academies Old North Campus this past 2023-2024 School Year. Now, in light of maximizing my Summer hiatus I've take the liberty to participate in a couple of art teacher interviews (University City Brittany Woods Middle School 5/28, and Hazelwood's Northwest Middle School on July 8, 2024). Both meetings were taken as I feel compelled to get some other reference points on teaching art in a Middle School. Both meetings were in response to the schools contacting me after noting my certification/qualifications on the MOREAP website. 

I am a frequent visitor to the Saint Louis Art Museum. Bill Sitzer is a respected veteran of their docent corps. He encouraged me to throw my hat in the ring at they gear up for the first new crop of docents since 2014. So I arranged to meet Karla Aguilar, the director of customer engagement and two others (Monica the docent coordinator and her co chair) on July 5th. (I was able to again visit the Andy Goldsworthy Stone Sea up close and personal that very afternoon).

Next week I will be meeting a collection of colleagues from Old North at the Missouri History Museum. The meeting is social but includes staffers who will or will NOT be returning to Old North. 

The following is a collection of some of my learning from three art related meetings:

It's a small world - I bumped into a former colleague form Westview Middle School (a 6th grade teacher) at Brittany Woods. The meeting was with a 6th grade principal and the Arts coordinator. 

Planning might work with some coordination - Hindsight is 20/20. I wish I had been more questioning about how that coordination of curriculum happens. I have no idea how buttoned up the Arts program will be at Brittany Woods.

Principal is your PAL - I truly enjoyed the pleasant meeting with the brand new principal, Ms. Twana Moore. She admits to learning a new set of state expectations - coming from Nashville, TN and Fort Worth, TX. She's looking for TWO art teachers. The school has over 800 students (6th, 7th, 8th graders). She was kind enough to show me two art classrooms and advise me that they also have access to a kiln foe ceramics (somewhere in the building). 

Art is part of an academic puzzle - I shared with Principal Moore that Old North had 5 different art teachers the year before I arrived. She's faced with filling two such positions. 

The Saint Louis Art Museum is an amazing place - they are taking steps to be relevant and attract members of the community. It remains to be seen how they will marshal this new band of docents. Clearly the exhibitions have been tailored for education and engagement. 

     

   

Rats and Roses

 

Dishes on the table, crumbs on the floor;

Oliver impromptu scene triggered - someone wanted more!

Hamburger Helper, Tuna Casserole, Sloppy Joes,

Running through a sprinkler or drinking from a hose.

 

Dutch Cleanser on all the table tops;

Frosted Flakes, cinnamon toast, Sugar Pops.

Cockroaches, those big bugs - eww they disgust;

Birthday Cake, May through August. In God We Trust.

 

Beauty in the blooms, but every rose has its thorn;

This is the Camelot into which we were born.

Rats will find their way into the side yard trash;

Murphy will give chase, but they’re gone in a flash.

 

In spite of dead fish washing up onto the beach,

Make way for our water rafts, we beseech.

Leprechaun jacket will keep us dry and warm;

On the flying bridge, the chicken of the sea watches out for the storm.

 

Flies around dog manure and potato salad;

Picnic lunches and s’mores not so bad.

Viet Nam body count on the nightly news.

Parochial or Public School - Do we get to choose?

 

With a disposable razor, don’t cut yourself shaving;

Gone are the newspaper clippings you were saving;

Gemini orbit and man on the moon;

It will happen, maybe not now, but soon.

 

Dad keeps replacing screws in the kitchen table chairs.

The squall line we see coming in from our picture-window upstairs.

Plain Dealer money in the front hall.

Rotary dial and just one more call.

 

Where is the party tonight? What are we gonna do?

Funny, that’s exactly what I was about to ask you.

Keep it on the down low. Be as quiet as a mouse.

The party tonight, dude? Tonight it’s at your house.

 

6-22

 

6-22, It’s all about you.

As a matter of fact, dear brother, you are like no other.

You show up, with boys in tow at at a time that could have been an all-time low

A twin headache, make no mistake, you show up and step up. You are no flake.

Rocking Chair becomes clean fill. On to the next place - to just chill.

Safety Patrolman, Alter Boy, in the Choir and Crusader at St. Luke.

Your good eye (in High School) caught an instant moment of puke.

Mahoney Hall overhang takes the collision of your bus.

“Valdosta incident” proved that you belong at the wheel, when it’s the two of us.

Have a cup of coffee with the Cosmic Wheel;

You will quickly feel, the little things, that are so very real

Another spectacular catch on an imagined highlight reel is just fine;

Underhand free throw wins with the confident intramural on the line.

Abieshire Circle, the ice at Lakewood Park, or grade school recess;

You believe you can and take command at best.

You give me props and praise my way;

The information dirt road and so many laughs along the way.

Here’s to the memories. May there be many more coming your way.

I remember things and so will you. Lord knows, more than a few. 

Count Almaviva Andrew comes to Saint Louis

 

Andrew Morstein is a phenomenal talent. In part, because of my remarkable daughter Lindsey. I've known him since he was a youth group congregant at Shaare Emeth in Saint Louis maybe 20 years ago. Lindsey was an advisor and early fan of Andrew. They enjoy a bond of friendship that endures. 

I won't do Andrew's resume justice but I've enjoyed his performances at the Pageant when he was part of an acapella group. I saw him at a University of Indiana production of Candide and now he is performing as Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. (I saw him last night, 5/25/24, at the Loretta Hilton Performing Arts theater in Webster Groves. Lindsey has kept me posted on his international performances and marriage (which was originally planned for Chicago but life happens and circumstances change). 

Lindsey and her nearly 8 year old will be in Saint Louis next week. Having seen The Barber of Seville on opening night in Saint Louis, I'm thrilled at the prospect of seeing it again with my daughter and through the eyes of her amazing 8 year old boy, Lawton.

P.S. And oh yeah, the rest of the cast, orchestra and crew have produced a wonderful and entertaining comic opera. Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! 

 

 

Give Peace a Chance

Janie was able to clear her schedule of babysitting, nursing shifts, and various other chores at home to make a return trip to Saint Louis. (Janie part 8)

She arrives via Southwest Airlines from Cleveland on Friday afternoon with just enough time to catch John Salozzo along with a showing of his work at I Need That Art! at 7735 Clayton Road. A very pleasant and artful stop before going to Laumeier Sculpture Park.

Laumeier Sculpture Park, on an incredibly beautiful day standing in front of the newly renovated Way (sculpture by Alexander Liberman b. 1912- d. 1999) was a spectacular moment in time. The brilliant red of that newly renovated piece wonderfully offsets the green landscape and the blue sky.

We lingered at The Country Club bar and grill until dusk. We talked and hung out in the parking too. We could have been anywhere, but it was so fun just being together.

Gracious accomodations at LaDue Estates in Chesterfield for the first night Saturday. We laughed at the hourly alarm chimes of the Grandfather Clock.  

Sunday's itinerary started with a mass at the incredible Cathedral Basilica on Pentacost Sunday. 

We visited the Saint Louis Art Museum to further enjoy the sights in Forest Park. I am compelled to point out some highlights of some of my favorite works (Mother 1901 by Picasso, Monet Water Lillies, Max Beckmann paintings, William Merritt Chase - 10th Street Studio, Norman Rockwell, Thomas Hart Benton and more.) 

We made our way to the other side of Forest Park to glance at the amazing Aircraft replica of the Spirit of Saint Louis and the newly installed exhibit of the 1904 World's Fair. We enjoyed a bite to eat with a view of the park and enjoyed the early afternoon before returning to Creve Coeur for a break.

On to the Fabulous Fox for the 7:00 p.m. showtime - RAIN, a Beatles tribute. We were among the enthusiastic fans thrilled to travel back in time to Yesterday,  All we are saying is give peace a chance... Hey Jude... 

Thanks to Confluence Academies teacher retention efforts I won a the tickets to the Fabulous Fox to see RAIN on Sunday Night May 19, 2024. I Won the tickets in April and that was enough time to plant the seed of a return visit to Saint Louis. She was able to clear the decks of babysitting, working nursing shifts and various chores.

    

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, don't be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey Jude, don't let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.

And he heard, he heard, hey Jude…
(repeat X number of times, fade)

Source: LyricFind

Text Me 5/24: As I reflect on your trip to Saint Louis. I remember. 1. That lingering time at the Country Club Bar & Grill along with the lingering in the parking lot 2. The chimes that rang all night from Perry's grandfather clock downstairs 3. The final two Beatles tunes Give Peace a Chance and Hey Jude. I really did enjoy every moment with you...

Text Janie: It was a great weekend. It is easy to be with you. And the concert was good.

     

 

Friends Named Dave

Friends Named Dave - It just so happens that I must have an affinity for guys named Dave. It could be a chance thing but ya gotta wonder when the guy that I end up with in key parts of my episodic life goes by the name Dave.

Dave Brunner In high school - arguable my closest friend was a CYO football rival (his dad was coach of St. Clement while I was co-captain of St. Luke). Dave was always fun to have a 3.2 Stroh’s Beer with growing up in Lakewood. I was honored when he asked me to be his best man when he married Dianne in October of 1980. (Just a few days after I married Lynn on October 8. He and Dianne married on 10-11-1980. Above is photo of Dave and Dianne from Facebook.) In hindsight, I wish I had crafted a more thorough speech for that wedding as his dad, coach Brunner even gave me a jab for being less the wordsmith than I might have been capable of being. I could have mentioned: going to parties when parents weren’t home; finding ways to buy alcohol while being underage; Playing Ice Hockey on that random Ice Hockey Club at Lakewood High School (They allowed us to count early morning practice at Winterhurst as our Gym class); Riding in McNea’s car over the speed limit on Detroit Avenue; and more.

Dave Drimer lived at the end of the Hall at Mahoney Residence Hall Dorm at the University of Miami. (That's Dave in the t-shirt with my brother Greg and another Mahoney Hall classmate, Steve Manzi). As a college Freshman, I recall giving the kid some shit about that Black Shirt he insisted on wearing all too often. Initially, he was a closer friend to my roommate and brother Greg. (We were in room #234). But as time moved ahead, Dave was a partner in crime who convinced me to take classes with Professor Lester Goran and consider Creative Writing (which became my second major along with art). He also convinced me of the value of pursuing an MBA of which I had only a marginal interest or academic qualifications for…and Dave and I became admissions counsellors for the University of Miami which came with a stipend, an American Express Card and tuition remission. So the MBA was paid for, in spite of struggling to convince at least one professor I understood the logic of Accounting.

Dave Drimer continued to be my go-to-Dave as I launched my career in the Advertising Capital of the World – New York City. Fortunately Dave shared my passion for great art and often tolerated my totler daughter Lindsey when she insisted we go where they served drinks with pretty umbrellas and/or stir sticks shaped like zoo animals (before/after a trip to an art museum). 

Dave Dassenbrock was the media director at the agency in Raleigh, North Carolina. He gave me meaningful insights into the business and the partners at Rockett Burkhead Lewis and Winslow. He also encouraged my inclination to be creative in my approach to account management at the agency for the likes of Skybox trading cards, Rich Seapak, Campbell Soup Foodservice and new business pitches.

Dave Cox emerged as a go-to-Dave when I arrived in St. Louis. (He's wearing SIU Carbondale maroon polo shirt in this pic with golfers of our Thursday Night league). His firm Sandbox Creative served me well as I became a client in roles as  VP Marketing, Corporate Communications Director, Global Communications Director and  Director of Communications (and even as founder of my own company for a time). Oh, and I leaned on Dave for help with my annual holiday family photo. With Dave's help I published three books (a novel, a book of poetry, a series of career experiences in advertising and marketing).

Dave Shogren became an acquaintance as a colleague on the board of the St Louis Chaper of the American Marketing Association. When Dave stepped up to be chapter President I learned something of his skill and became something of a groupie or his multiple band affiliations.  (That's Dave on base with Richie on keyboards and Al on harmonica). 

New Priest

 

Patrick becomes a priest;

His parents are so proud.

They never doubted in the least;

The avocation and vocation he did not shroud.

So many parochial lessons learned;

So much time to think.

Spiritual guidance and blessings earned.

Body and Blood. The bread we break. The wine we drink. 

Pain and suffering will still abound;

Death and Dying unexplained.

Good father we are grateful that you are around. 

Heavenly Father, your kingdom and your reign.

Earthly limitations, 

hurdles and obstacles - down and out.

Optimistic celebration; 

Rising above inherent doubt.

Though it seems, we walk our path alone.

In God we trust,

Finding the simple mortal joy;

Undying faith is a must.

The mature young man was once a little boy.

Heart to heart. Day by day. 

Believe it's a start. Let us pray.

Triple Play - Young

 

The radio station in my car is playing three songs with an idea or theme that ties them together. I don't recall the station but I do remember the idea. They played three songs with reference to Cowboy in them. 

The last song of their triple play was Bon Jovi's Wanted: Dead or Alive "I'm a cowboy, wanted dead or alive..." 

As I pull into my parking lot, the disc jockey challenges listeners to suggest their own triple play. I almost immediately thought of two songs that have moved me recently. Both songs are about being young. Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens was on my car radio on the evening of my High School Graduation in 1974. The song struck me then as infinately better than the sweet but sappy We May Never Pass This Way Again by Seals & Crofts (The song our senior class selected as our class theme song). The other song I thought of was reintroduced to my recent memory because it was featured in a play Girl from the North Country - Deluth, MN 1934 written by Bob Dylan. I saw the play as a guest of Janie at Cleveland's Playhouse Square. The Dylan song "May You Stay Forever Young" (It turns out that Bob Dylan wrote that song in 1974). "May you build a latter to the stars and climb on every rung. May you stay forever young."

I wondered if my memory bank could think of another appeal to my YOUNG triple play, when is struck me that a song I remember from my son's wedding day in 2012 was a perfect fit for the thematic triptich. We Are Young by Fun featuring Janelle Monea says "we are young, so let's set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun..." but is closes with the sweetest visualization of "...when the bar closes and your feel like falling down...I'll carry you home tonight..."

I doubt if I will get the radio station to play my triple play. But it was fun to recall the special meaning of those three tunes. 

After all, I'm a cowboy wanted dead or alive...We may never pass this way again...You're only dancin' on this earth for a short while... May you stay forever young...We are young ... so let's set the world on fire... we can burn brighter than the sun... (even as we are in the path of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024). 

Photos: the moon at the Moonrise Hotel rooftop in University City and the Spring daffodils adjacent to the Saint Louis Art Museum sculpture garden. 

Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi

https://youtu.be/sUd2KoJkjWw?si=ZS_Wcb5yx6AptQG-

We may never Past this Way Again – Seals & Crofts

https://youtu.be/6gdkpzLJlA4?si=Ol9iV-njGYE0xI5w

Oh Very Young – Cat Stevens

https://youtu.be/EiwBAkOx1fQ?si=bdcKvCJIvYVViheU

Foever Young – Bob Dylan

https://youtu.be/eHms_-Ja-wY?si=vx7MKtbJZ_4gmzxp

We Are Young - Fun.: ft. Janelle Monáe [Lyrics/Vietsub]

https://youtu.be/SNssSYVZuIw?si=3mgQohNZulPVtDXR

  

    

  

Three New Operas

Saint Louis hosted an opera collective in which the company produces and promotes new works. I decided to check it out last night (3/15/24) when three such productions were presented at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. 

The evening was a delightful ride through emotional life experiences that were entertaining and thought provoking. Unbroken: A family manages the loss and birth (circle of life), Mechanisms: another family revolves around a child that is struggling in school and finally On My Mind:  two womnen of color connect at a conference (through micro-aggression and comic drama around "networking" and friendship). 

Bravo to Crew, Orchestra, Opera Theatre Leadership, New Works Collective Leadership. A special shout out to Libretto by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and Music by Jasmine Barnes. (That choreography, music and performance around NETWORKING was something special.)

As a bonus, The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center featured art by Daven Anderson and others.