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

Central display at my gallery.

It was a beautiful night this past Friday in Scranton for October's First Friday events and, with the help of some incredible people at the Scranton Cultural Center, my debut gallery benefiting the Dietrich theater went off without a hitch. Between the bake sale held in conjunction, personal donations and the sale of two of my pieces, the event raised approximately $500. 

Alley at Night Alongside the Dietrich, an alleyway is illuminated in a way that makes the brick and mortar come to life.  The bricks almost breathe with pulsing life in the  constant glow of a single bulb.

Steam Engine at Riverside In the morning, I wake to the hollow,  echoing sound of an iron ghost bouncing from ridge line to ridgeline. I can hear the grinding of the wheels along the snaking  tracks. Smoke billows from the stack  and hangs lightly in the air tracing its path.

This month has started out as crazy as the last and, for the most part, things have been gliding along smoothly (though somewhat overwhelmingly). Then, along comes that inevitable hurdle. As I crack open the seal to a bottle of Theraflu and fight back a cough, I look at the photos and frames strewn about my room. I'm determined to kick this cold before week's end.

Enough of the bad news, though. Some of you may have noticed by my constant Tweets and updates here on the blog that, at the end of this week on October 7th, the Scranton Cultural Center will be hosting a gallery of my photography to benefit the Dietrich theater in Tunkhannock, PA. The theater was recently damaged in the flood and is in need of over $100,000 worth of repairs.

The event and, by proxy, have been getting a bit of attention. In an earlier entry (here), I posted the interview that Electric City reporter Julie Imel conducted with me. There have been various mentions of the gallery in local papers and online, but, most recently, this blog was chosen as NEPA Blogs' "Blog of the Week". Consequently, I was also featured on the local program PA Live! during the NEPA Blogs segment where Harold Jenkins shared his thoughts on myself and my blog. He also managed to give the gallery a plug. See the footage here and the NEPA Blog entry here.

If you're a local to the northeastern region of PA, please try to stop by the Scranton Cultural Center from 5-9. All donations will be accepted and every piece of my work will be up for sale. Every penny made will go straight to the Dietrich theater.

War is Hell, but colds are just bollocks.

I'd like to thank everyone in advance for everything they've done. I will be posting after the gallery to let everyone know how it went and to give proper thanks to those who made it possible and who helped to bring attention to it.

Come this Friday, I hope to have beaten this illness which has filled my skull with fog and water and made my body ache more than usual. Off to the frontline. I come loaded with gallons of OJ and cough drops. Do white blood cells bleed if they're wounded in battle?

(Please excuse any grammatical errors. The germs are waging war against my cerebral cortex.)

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.

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

Tomorrow night, at the Vintage Theater in Scranton, Ali Pica and Lynette Thick's "Recycled Communication" Art Exhibit will be taking place with Ali Pica reading some of her poetic works. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. and Ali will be reading around 7:30. At 8, the mic opens for poetry, music or the mad ramblings of a drunken, homeless bum. Whichever comes first. However, barring any bum takeovers, I will be reading some of my work during the open mic. Brian Fanelli, who I've mentioned on this blog and have had the pleasure of reading with before, may also be joining the open mic portion. Check out Brian's chapbook "Frontman".

Whatever the outcome, it promises to be another good First Friday in Scranton.

The details for the March poetry reading, which I've been invited to, have been finalized.

On March 4th, First Friday in Scranton, PA, poet Alicia Pica will be the featured reader at the Vintage Theater. The reading starts at 6 p.m. After Alicia Pica is finished, I will be reading some of my work. Author and poet Brian Fanelli, author of "Front Man" from Big Table Publishing Company, will be following me. We'll each be reading for around 15 to 20 minutes.

This event will be free to the public, but donations of old cellphones and cellphone accessories will be collected for local battered women's centers.

Along with the poetry reading, artwork from Alicia Pica and Lynette Thick will be featured in the theater.


Event info:
------------
MARCH FIRST FRIDAY 

Readers:
Alicia Pica
Dale Wilsey Jr.
Brian Fanelli

March 4th @ 6 p.m.
The Vintage Theater in Scranton, PA
119 Penn Avenue

It's been quite a while. About nine months, to be exact. It seems as though I had forgotten this blog and left it to rot among the piles of other worthless sites. Originally, I wanted to keep this blog away from my creative writing, but that seems to be the only type of writing I really do anymore. Every once in a while I get the urge to write a commentary, but not nearly enough to fill this blog.


Since my creative writing seems to be rolling along at the moment, I've decided to make this blog more of an outlet for just about anything I do. All inclusive, if you will.
As far as my writing goes, I've finally gotten around to getting it out there for the public. Whether or not they'll like it is another story. If I can get a few people to stick around and listen, that's a few more than I would expect to.


Author and poet Brian Fanelli and I met at a Barrelhouse reading not to long ago and got to talking about readings. Through a few E-mails and a bit of "your read mine and I'll read yours", we've planned a few readings together along with a few other local writers.


No definite dates have been set, but the first one will be taking place prior to the holiday if all goes well. A date for that will manifest shortly. Two other readings have been set for the February and March during Scranton's First Friday. March's reading will be taking place at the Vintage Theater. More specifics to come.


Now, if I can keep focused, I may update this damn place every once in a while.


'Til then, cheers.
d.r. wilsey jr.