Houseboat and Railcar Art in Flyover Country

I realize that musing on Midwest-based art may not be the most extraordinary way to kick-start the weekend, but sometimes a hankering for tuna casseroles has to trump the seared ahi salad. Besides, events like tonight's free screening of "Who Is Bozo Texino" from artist Bill Daniel make me quite happy to eat my words about Middle America. Showing tonight at the Paper Boat Boutique in Milwaukee, the documentary focuses on hobo graffiti -- mostly around the mythical namesake of the film who has appeared in graffiti art adorning rail cars over the past 80 years.

The accompanying exhibit at the gallery—entitled “Sunset Scavengers”—showcases Daniels’ current fascination with houseboat culture (one can only hope he may have worked in a deft nod to New York’s own mucky Gowanus Canal) vis-á-vis photography, visual art, and video installations. Although “Scavengers” closes at the end of this month, one of Daniels’ pieces remains part of a show at New York’s New Museum.