Quick notes Friday

I’m still a little groggy from the midnight showing of “Quantum of Solace” last night, so I’m kicking off a new occassional short-attention-span feature here that I’m calling Quick Notes Friday. Welcome aboard.

–This was actually my second time seeing the new James Bond film. The first was a press screening. It actually worked better the second time (I can be slow keeping track of who’s doing what to whom in thrillers and mysteries). I think it’s a smarter, more character-driven film than its being given credit for. Still, couldn’t the cars in the pre-credit chase at least be different colors? Did you catch it? Let us know what you thought. 

–This week, the Miami Book Fair is off and running. The huge event features a huge range of authors including Cornel West, Will Eisner, Jon Scieszka, Anthony Bourdain, Gore Vidal, Nikki Giovanni, Russell Banks, Dave Barry, Billie Collins and on and on. Does anyone else miss the Indianapolis Wordstruck fest? Can anyone tell me why it disappeared?

–The promised neurosurgeon was a no-show on the panel at last week’s Spirit & Place event focusing on creativity and madness. A shame, since that perspective would have made the evening more compelling. And tighter moderation might have kept the audience from squirming (and some leaving) during an audience member’s lengthy monologue. Still, insight from DK’s David Hochoy, Butler Theatre’s John Green and composer Frank Felice kept the evening from being a loss.

—Modern Arts Notes blogger Tyler Green (sorry about the extra e in my e-mail blast) gave this blog a shout out during his “10 Things I Hate About Contemporary Art” talk at the Central Library last night. The Spirit and Place event drew a large crowd, which seemed to have mixed reactions to Green’s often offhand commentary and slide show. Yet only one audience member seemed willing to vocally express her disagreement or challenge Green’s notions about the art world. Come on Hoosiers. Get confrontational. Green seemed open to it, so why not engage?

–Minnesota passed its Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, raising the state’s sales tax by 3/8 of one percent. That may not sound like much, but it’s estimated that it will mean $270-$300 million for clean water, natural resources, parks, trails…and arts projects. While I’m a believer in arts funding, I have to wonder if the amendment would have passed if it had been truthfully called the Water, Land, and Arts Amendment. What does it say that culture has to be hidden in order to be funded?

Your thoughts?