An Art BOOM

The arts community has swollen recently with new stops on the gallery circuit, new life in the Esquire Theater, a new music festival and a new face at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

Each day I drive down Broadway I make sure to drop to or below the speed limit to glimpse the most recent action at the Esquire. Yes, I'm one of those people. Honk if you feel the need.

I have longed for a revival of that building since I moved to Cape Girardeau. As a transplant, I know my feelings of disdain toward the crumbling theater pale in comparison to locals. My joy is the same.

The Big Muddy Spook Heavy downtown this weekend also quickens the pulse of the community. The organizers and volunteers running it have experience with festivals and a love for music.

This inaugural plan came together rapidly. Organizers said they hope to plan another festival for next year and play with the dates and the theme.

This year, they've capitalized on the growing number of bluegrass acts in and around Southeast Missouri. These bands play original, neo-bluegrass music that's well worth the admission fee.

Off the streets and inside the arts council gallery, the newest executive director has been busy for the few weeks she's been in the job. Murielle Wyman has energy and a positive attitude. She's young -- as so many commenters pointed out on our initial story -- but I've heard plenty of people comment on how we need to shake up the stodgy, old, inflexible art collective.

Let's all stop immediately waving a flag at potential, and likely unfounded, problems and embrace all these attempts at rejuvenation.