Welcome

A Short Intro to Grape Eater

Hi everyone. Thanks for checking out Grape Eater!

Since moving back to Milwaukee last year, my wheels have been turning toward a project like this. A platform to talk about art in Milwaukee.

I think part of what took me so long was working up my belief in the idea, until I got to the point where I could take it seriously enough to start. The tipping point for me was spring. There’s something about this time of year, all the snow melting and the roofs dripping. It makes it hard to sit still. I’ve been trying to channel all this melty energy into the April newsletter, which should be ready in a week or two. For now, I thought I could write something a bit informal and a little personal.

Before returning here, I had been living in Chicago for six years. During that time, I got married, read a bunch, and had a tooth pulled. If you’ve never returned to your old neighborhoods for more than just a visit, you should. It’s a unique experience because it gives you the chance to stack your memories against reality and see how they match up. It gives you a pretty stark picture of all the ways you’ve changed.

For me, there have been a ton of changes. I tend to seek out quieter places these days, and so city looks more like a constellation of small forests interspersed by streets and houses.

Another big change is that I think more about how other people see the city. How everyone sees it differently. For you, maybe it’s not forests but big, loud motorcycles. Every time you see one, you say, a little too loudly, “Woah! Look at that great motorcycle!” And that’s great, because everyone needs a hobby.

But of course, the city really has changed. The skyline looks different. There’s that big sports complex. For me, one of the biggest changes is that the flood of little independent art spaces has dried up and been replaced with bigger, more grown-up ones. That’s actually what the April newsletter is about. So I should probably wait to talk about it.

In general though, this is the kind of stuff that’s fueling my interest.  I’m acquainting myself with this brand new place that looks so much like the one I left. In that sense, Grape Eater isn’t about Milwaukee but about exploring new places and meeting new people. After April, I hope to write about the secret downstairs bathroom at Woodland Pattern, or my ongoing feud with the founder of the Milwaukee Air and Water show. The sky’s the limit. Ha. Get it?

Grape Eater is ultimately about art. But if it’s not already clear, my definition of art is pretty broad. Really, I’m interested in anything that people do, and care a little too much about. To some people, Milwaukee might seem like a weird starting point. We tend to think that our templates for painting, writing, music, dance, and entertainment come from New York or Los Angeles. But if you think about it, most people making art don’t live in those places. One fact that I often repeated (to others, but more often as a consolation to myself) is that 99 (point nine nine nine) percent of artists have never made a living or gained widespread recognition for their work. It’s not something artists talk very much about, but it’s worth recognizing because it explains something about why people make art in the first place.

Which is why Milwaukee is the perfect place for a project like this. Because I’m not a journalist. And I’m not a critic. I have no interest in interviewing celebrities or art world royalty. I’d rather just talk, honestly and maybe a little too loudly, and invite you to talk with me.

Subscriptions are free. Did I mention that? Subscribing would mean a lot because knowing that I have an audience, even a small one, will make it easier to feel like this isn’t just an idea I had one day, but something that matters. Most of the entries won’t be like this one. They’ll be more focused. And better written. And hopefully more interesting. You’ll see. 

If you want to support Grape Eater, you can also pledge $5 a month for the postcard. These will accompany the monthly posts and feature a photo on the front and a bit of extra content on the back, mailed to your address. It’s something extra to stay connected with Milwaukee, and the money will go a long way toward keeping Grape Eater alive.

So again, thanks! I’m crazy excited about all of this, and I hope you are too.

Brad