Manic Frustration “If I do not write to empty my mind, I go mad.” ~Lord Byron

Tom Waits has always had an extraordinary talent for weaving the real with the surreal. The every day with the oddities of life. He's a circus midway in the middle of a swamp. A Peterbilt hauling a diner down a desert road with the Tattooed Lady from the sideshow in the passenger's seat. And blaring through jukeboxes, bullhorns and radios everywhere is Waits' new album Bad As Me. His first in seven years, Waits has delivered once again.

Right from the get go, "Chicago" sends you flying down the rails on a trip to the unknown as Waits gives you his own brand of a history lesson on the Great Migration of African Americans to northern cities beginning in 1916. Waits states, "Maybe things will be better in Chicago / well it's brave for us to stay / even braver to go", ending with an urgent "All aboard!" 


One of the things you'll notice about Bad As Me is that Waits touches upon some current sociopolitical issues in a few tracks. Something, I feel, he doesn't often do. "Talking at the Same Time" is a blatant, melancholy comment on the current state of the American economy and the contrast of poverty and wealth.

On October First Friday, there will be a gallery of my photography opening at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton, PA. This gallery will serve as a way to raise funds for the restoration of the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, PA, my home town. All of my work will be for sale and, if purchased on the first night of its showing, every penny will be donated to the Dietrich Theater. Donations other than the purchase of my photography will also be accepted up until 10p.m. Here is the information about my upcoming gallery:


WHO: The Scranton Cultural Center featuring artist Dale Wilsey Jr.

WHAT: First Friday Exhibit: to benefit the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater

WHEN: October 7th, 2011 5-8 p.m.

WHERE: The Scranton Cultural Center
420 North Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
4th Floor, Shopland Hall Lobby

TICKET PRICE: Free
FROM ONE CULTURAL CENTER TO ANOTHER: SUPPORTING ARTS IN NEPA: Scranton, PA -- Sept. 20th, 2011 -- The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will host a benefit exhibit to raise money to help restore and rebuild the Dietrich Theatre in Tunkhannock. The Dietrich Theatre (the Wyoming County Cultural Center) was recently devastated by record flooding. Estimated costs to restore and repair are close to $100,000.

The exhibit will take place Oct. 7th, in conjunction with Scranton's First Friday, as well as, the kickoff of the SCC Electric City Listen Local series. The free exhibit will begin at 5pm on the 4th floor Shopland Hall and run through 8pm. Money will be raised through individual donations, sale of artwork and a bake sale. Donations will be accepted until 10pm.

Photographs in the exhibit were taken by writer/photographer and Tunkhannock native, Dale Wilsey Jr.

All proceeds will go directly to the Dietrich Theatre.

The day after the waters had retreated, I visited the Dietrich in hopes of finding Hildy, owner of the theater and all-around sweet woman, and to see just how badly the building had been damaged. It was only the day before that muddy water surrounded and engulfed the beautiful building.

When I finally found Hildy, there was still that gleam of happiness and optimism in her eyes even though she was obviously exhausted and heart broken. An army of volunteers had already completed a massive amount of cleaning and the theater, although down, was nowhere near being out. Hildy even spoke of the upcoming (and still happening) film festival.

Somehow, I wanted to help. As I snapped a few photos of the inside of the oldest section of the theater, I told Hildy that if there were anything I could do to help, not to hesitate in calling. Only a day or so later, my opportunity would arise.

Stephanie Bush, friend and fellow Tunkhannock native, contacted me on behalf of the Scranton Cultural Center and asked if I would be interested in displaying a gallery of my photography to benefit the Dietrich. Of course I accepted the offer, though nervously, and felt that this was my chance to give something back to my hometown in a time of need.

On October 7th, during Scranton's First Friday celebrations, the Scranton Cultural Center will be hosting a gallery of my work throughout the years. It will be a mixed bag of photos ranging in content and focus. Admission will be free with a cash bar. Donations will be accepted and I have decided to put every piece shown at the gallery up for sale with all proceeds going directly to the Dietrich. I will not be collecting one single cent. This showing is for the Dietrich and all that it's given to Tunkhannock and the residents who live, work and create there.

Come out and support an incredible cause and enjoy a beautiful night out in the Electric City. Donate what you can. Every single dollar helps to bring the Dietrich back. Tell friends and family. Mention this to anyone you know. Please come out and help me make this a success.

Thank you in advance to everyone.

Cheers,
Dale Wilsey, Jr.


Look for an interview in the Electric City paper in coming weeks about the show and a little about my rambling mind.

Jack's Draft House FB page.

It's a Sunday night and all of the parking spots on the corner of Gibson and Prescott are filled. Cruising up the block, I find a space sufficient enough to harbor my pickup. Jack's Draft House sits on the corner. Unmarked, save for a neon sign and a small chalkboard in the doorway. Walking through the glass-paneled door, I see people standing about. Sitting everywhere. They're all intently listening. Some sipping dark stouts. Some with gin and tonics or a bourbon.

Jack's Draft House FB

Jack's Draft House FB

True talent always seems to burn bright and fade away quickly. Whether it finds a way to destroy itself or the world snuffs the flames that burn at both ends, it's here and gone so quickly that you almost miss it. All of the musicians, artists and true talents of the world who have met an untimely end. It's hard to understand why.

In a world that severely needs huge doses of beauty and true art, the tasteless and bland pollute it with mountains of garbage to dig through before finding the true gems. I've seen it in pop culture and I've seen it happen to personal friends. And today, another one joins the list of tragic ends.

Amy Winehouse possessed one of the most sultry and amazing voices of our time. Whether you enjoyed her music or not, her talent was undeniable. Her voice oozed the soul of yesteryears rhythm and blues with a modern twist of pop. Unfortunately, like so many others, she struggled with her own personal demons and couldn't shake the monkey from her back.

Winehouse was found dead in her London flat today. Another to join such names as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and so many others who have formed the ranks of the "27 club". Her death is not surprising to those who knew her lifestyle, but disappointing. Disappointing that such a talent was wasted. That she'll never be able to contribute her voice to music again. If there is any consolation, it's the fact that her talent was preserved in recordings. That her voice was not lost forever. That she was given a chance to share her talents with the world.

What an incredibly filled weekend. Beginning with Scranton First Friday, a bad alternator, replacing said alternator, breakfast at Sky Haven airport this morning and ending with Bluegrass fiddles and banjos at the NEPA Bluegrass Festival. I've got some writing and other, less important things to do. But first, a treat.

Chip Forelli

There is one thing that I must mention about First Friday. Chip Forelli. Some of you may already know about him. Especially those with Apple computers. Chip Forelli, a photographer who's work spans 25 years, is the featured artist at Camera Work gallery in Scranton. He produces some of the most amazing black and white photographs I've seen in a while.

My creative quest is the discovery of visual gifts - those precious instances of unrevealed beauty that  we unknowingly encounter every day.  Much is to be gained by embracing these opportunities. 

That's not your average, artistic banter either. Chip's images range from mysterious and perplexing to absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. In a medium which is becoming over-saturated with bland, cliche and overly Photoshoped work, Chip's images are a breath of fresh air. His long exposures bring an ethereal, dream-like aura into the image captured. A moment in time, seemingly captured in the stillness of the print, begins to play out right before your eyes.

Chip Forelli

Although I didn't get a chance to speak with Chip, I overheard him talking about one of the pieces on display at Camera Work. The image is a frozen, snow-covered lake. Two sets of footprints begin in the foreground together before moving apart creating separate paths to destinations unknown. When asked if he had created the prints himself, Chip commented that the scene portrayed in the photo was found that way. "Two people had a disagreement and went their separate ways," said Chip. A much more insightful and interesting answer than "I don't know".

Chip Forelli

The gallery is on display until June 29th and is free to the public. Anyone heading to the Scranton Zine Fest, where myself and a few other writer/poets will be reading, will be able to check it out.

Chip Forelli

Zines have been a staple of the DIY community, music scenes, art scenes and they've carried the voices of rebellion and free thought for decades. On June 11th, the growing art community of Scranton will converge on Center Street to celebrate this diverse, pulp-filled art form.

Zine Fest is the creation of Jessica Meoni, a fourth-year, Graphic Design student at Marywood, who has been involved with past events such as Scranton Ladyfest. Recently, she has joined the design committee of the Pages & Places Book Festival and the Scranton Reads committee.

Jessica has brought together "zinesters" from all over to participate in the event. As an added bonus, she's invited a few poets to the mix for a reading to take place in what used to be the Anthology bookstore.

The Fest is fast approaching and Saturday evening, amidst a few beers (and one delicious bowl of chili) at Jack's Draft House, I met with Jessica and the other poets who I'll be reading with the day of. Among them are Brian Fanelli, a friend and poet from the area who's chapbook Frontman contains poems which traces the journey of a liberty-spiked punk rocker, Amy Archer, who's made 80's hair poetic (it can be done), Alexis Czencz Belluzi, Rachael Goetzke and Charlotte Lewis. The reading will take place at 4 p.m. and will be hosted by Brian Fanelli.

The Fest promises to be an eclectic mix of people and ideas which Jessica has ideas of continuing as an annual event. Tables will be arranged along Center Street and will feature art work, an array of zines and arts & crafts from varying sources. Even the poets have a table (they'll be selling everything from jewelry to souls). You can check out the Zine Fest site for more information on who will be there and what the fest will entail.

For more about the poets, you can visit these sites:
The Fat Girl Skinny - Amy Archer's blog
BrianFanelli.com

...and you're already reading mine.

Over the course of the past seven years, I've come into contact with artists from all walks of life and working in various aspects of the creative world. A lot of these people that I've encountered have been forgettable. Honestly, most of them have been forgettable. People who created worthless art just so they had an excuse to say, "Hey, I'm an artist". It gave them a reason to justify their pompous, holier-than-thou attitudes. Well, those people will be forgotten by more than just myself. When you're no more interesting than the shit I step in by accident while feeding my dog but every bit as annoying, that happens.


Those people who I've met that create truly good art and not trash that makes me want to punch the nearest hipster square in the jaw have given me hope for a future filled with beautiful creations to behold. We may just have to search a little harder to find these creations. At least I've happened across a few. 


Christa Felice, a painter and now a dear friend of mine, possesses an incredible talent for turning canvas into truly moving works of art. In her own words: 

"I am a painter whose goal is to create dynamic compositions through the use of exciting visual devices. In some of my paintings I use invented figures as departure points. Other times my work is void of recognizable imagery completely as subject matter is secondary to overall form. My main focus is not to recreate images that we have all seen before but rather to strip my work of all narrative and concentrate on composition. Therefore I am able to push my boundaries by arranging shapes and colors in unexpected ways accomplishing compelling movement while maintaining a sense of balance and overall harmony."

Decide for yourself: