Prominent Iron Ranger, Robert Zimmerman, endorses Obama

And that's how the headline would have looked if Bob Dylan had stayed in Hibbing and run for the state senate.

Seriously, in an unusual move Bob Dylan endorsed Barack Obama for president during a London Times interview published Thursday. While some might have assumed that Dylan is a liberal because his fans smoke the refer and he spoke out against war during the Vietnam years, the truth is that he is generally apolitical and seldom gets involved. He's as inclined to rebel against the liberal establishment as easily as the conservative.

A better Dylan fan could probably recite every specific political figure he's ever publicly supported, but I can only think of three off the top of my head. He gave JFK a shout-out in his book "Chronicles" for having the guts to hold a rally on the Iron Range during the 1960 campaign. He dedicated a song to Paul Wellstone the day his plane crashed on the Iron Range. And today, he said that he was excited that Barack Obama was trying to change the country for the better. Here's the clinching quote from today's London Times story by Alan Jackson and David Byers:

Asked about his views on American politics, he said: "Well, you know right now America is in a state of upheaval. Poverty is demoralising. You can't expect people to have the virtue of purity when they are poor.

"But we've got this guy out there now who is redefining the nature of politics from the ground up ... Barack Obama.

"He's redefining what a politician is, so we'll have to see how things play out. Am I hopeful? Yes, I'm hopeful that things might change. Some things are going to have to."

He added: “You should always take the best from the past, leave the worst back there and go forward into the future."

Leave it to Dylan to take all the reasons I like Obama ... heck, all the reasons I'm involved in politics, and put it in one sentence.

'Tangled Up in Ore: Bob Dylan and the Iron Range'

Dylan Days starts today. There's plenty going on in Hibbing these next four days, but I'd like to point out the special Bob Dylan exhibit that opens today at Ironworld in nearby Chisholm. As Dylan Days co-chair, I played a role in the early stages of this project. But the hard work and vision came from the professional staff at Ironworld. I can't think of a better way to open Dylan Days. Open until Aug. 3, "Tangled Up in Ore: Bob Dylan and the Iron Range" offers an interactive exhibit and summer-long arts and interpretive programming. It's a must see.

Last night, Ironworld hosted a "1963"-themed preview for Ironworld members, dignitaries and people who helped with the exhibit. About 150 people gathered and the outcome of all the hard work was apparent in the quality of this exhibit. Everyone involved has a lot to be proud of. Anyway interested in how a guy like Bob Dylan could come from a place like the Iron Range should plan to see this exhibit, preferably this weekend during Dylan Days but certainly any time this summer during the exhibit's May 22-Aug. 3 run.

Tuesday's Hibbing Daily Tribune released a special Dylan Days section and ran a story yesterday profiling "Tangled Up in Ore."

Today's Duluth News-Tribune, from the front page to the "Wave" section, includes stories about Dylan Days and "Tangled Up in Ore." Ann Klefstad interviewed Mike Ricci and me about Dylan Days and the creative writing/playwright contest. It was a very nice story, though the early Dylan tapes I heard referenced in the story were of Dylan alone and not the Golden Chords; and several of my quotes might get me in trouble ... for the record I (heart) Hibbing's city fathers and really do want to stress the significance of Dylan's admission to the Hibbing Historical Society Hall of Service and Achievement. But still, it's amazing how much good press Dylan Days keeps getting each year and how many new community partners join in.

Welcome to Dylan Days! Come on down (or up) to Hibbing for good times in the heart of the Mesabi Iron Range.

Dylan Days opens Thursday, May 22

Dylan Days opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday in Bob Dylan's hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota. For those who don't remember, I am one of the organizers of Dylan Days. I use this blog, perhaps inappropriately, to promote the event to the strange collection of political operatives, computer-owning Iron Rangers and Google searchers looking for articles about moonshine and iron mining.

Dylan Days is at its core an arts event. We celebrate Bob Dylan, who was born in Duluth and grew up in Hibbing. But our group has come to recognize an even higher purpose. We seek to celebrate the achievements and possibility of the arts community on the Iron Range. I talk about the Range a lot, in my columns, commentary and upcoming book. To me, the Range is a deeply interesting place to live life. Not perfect, but complex and full of all the literary elements you'd ever need.

So Dylan Days this year celebrates the connection between the legend of Bob Dylan and the reality of the Iron Range that deeply influenced the young Bobby Zimmerman. Ironworld in nearby Chisholm opens "Tangled Up in Ore: Bob Dylan and the Iron Range" on Thursday to kick of Dylan Days. (I'll be hob-nobbing at the VIP preview tonight). This home-grown exhibit, built in partnership between the professional staff at Ironworld and Dylan Days, will explore that connection and show you a side of Dylan's background you've never seen. The exhibit remains open throughout Dylan Days and most of the summer, with additional programming throughout the peak tourism season.

Friday brings the keystone event of Dylan Days, the singer/songwriter contest at Zimmy's in downtown Hibbing. Twenty-four people are signed up to sing one Dylan song and one original song. The winner opens the Saturday contest and gets other prizes as well. Also Friday are the creative writing workshop, the Toby Thompson signing of his re-released classic "Positively Main Street" and the North Country Jam Session at the Hibbing Memorial Building Little Theater.

Saturday has three biggies: The Bobby Zimmerman bus tour (an interactive, story-telling event that continues to receive the best reviews from Dylan Days visitors), the Literary Showcase (I emcee, featuring poets and fiction writers reading their work, and the world premiere of the first ever winner of the one act playwright contest play), and finally, the Saturday night Dylan Days Benefit Concert with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and others.

Sunday has the farewell brunch and an encore presentation of the winning Dylan Days one act play. (Seriously, check it out ... Sunday is a fundraiser for the HCC Theatre which went to great lengths to make this play happen.)

Information on all of this -- indeed, exquisite detail -- is at the Dylan Days website. I've only talked about half of this event, which also includes arts events every day and live music every night. This isn't just an event for Dylan fans, it's an event that honors the people of the Iron Range and the possibility that great art provides.

Dylan changed the world; so can we

This is my weekly column for the Sunday, May 18, 2008 Hibbing Daily Tribune. I archive my columns at my writing site.

Dylan changed the world; so can we

When I tell people I’m one of the co-chairs of Dylan Days I usually get a look. It’s a look that says, “You? You’re too young to understand Dylan or what the 1960s were really like. Go back to your MTV and YouPods.”

While I did not experience the ‘60s and would contend that no one fully understands Dylan, I happen to feel right at home with Dylan Days. I am one of millions around the world who was inspired and challenged by the musical literature of this Hibbing kid who grew up just down the block from my grandfather. People of all ages and walks of life find something special in Dylan’s work, not just because of who Dylan is but because of what he sings about. Dylan writes about being human, about hard times, change, love and loss. And those are things that defy borders, both on maps and between the generations.

For me, an Iron Range kid myself who grew up writing in a place known for mining, Dylan also represents possibility. I once talked to a Chinese reporter who told me that there are people in China who learn English from Bob Dylan’s songs. While on one level troubling, it is also amazing that such a far-reaching voice can be developed first on the Iron Range.

All of us on the Iron Range know that people have come here from all over the world because of our mines and forests, but fewer know that people come every year from the same places to learn about Bob Dylan’s hometown. Europeans, Asians, South Americans and more want to know what it is about Hibbing and the Iron Range that made Bobby Zimmerman into Bob Dylan. I don’t think it’s some random coincidence.

Anyone who follows literature knows that it takes conflict, contrast, action and heartbreak to make a work of art. Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range is so full of these elements that we often don’t even realize they’re right under our noses. Whether its workers organizing, mines shutting down, people fighting because of ethnic differences, or social classes colliding, the elements of Bob Dylan’s work can be traced to this place as easily as steel to our iron ore.

And if Bobby Zimmerman could take those elements, add a refined guitar style, a deep reading of the classics and the tinder box of history on the march to become Bob Dylan, well, what can we do? Indeed there will be only one Bob Dylan, but he need not be the only Iron Range artist to change the world. We’ve learned that greatness can and does come from this place. So why can’t we keep it coming? Great musicians, visual artists, actors, writers and poets are all around us, waiting to be awoken like the sleeping giant called Mesaba.

Ultimately, that’s why I am involved in Dylan Days. Ultimately, that’s why there is a Dylan Days. This isn’t just about celebrating a great musician named Bob Dylan; it’s about all the great works of arts yet to be created from places like this.

Therefore, on behalf of my fellow co-chairs Linda Stroback Hocking and Joe Keyes, I want to wish a hearty welcome to everyone who plans to take part in Dylan Days this year, whether you come from up the street, down the road or around the world. We’ve got a lot to see and do this week in Hibbing, heart of the Iron Range and home of Bob Dylan.

Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Contact him or read more at his blog, www.minnesotabrown.com.

Taking requests: Bob Dylan Fudge Bars

Over the next few days I'll be responding to questions or requests that I've been getting via e-mail. The next few days will include idle speculation on local retail developments and the Minnesota Steel project.

Today I'll clear out an old request, the posting of the recipe for the Bob Dylan Fudge Bars that I baked on "WDSE Cooks" several weeks ago. This recipe was billed as "Bob Dylan Fudge Bars" even though the more accurate name is for Dylan's mother "Beatty Zimmerman." She had contributed the recipe to an old community cookbook where the folks at Dylan Days found it. As I said on the show, these are the bars that we presume a young Bobby Zimmerman would have enjoyed while growing up in Hibbing. I'd describe them as denser than cake but more like cake than fudge. Is that confusing enough for you? I may have baked these as a promotional ploy for Dylan Days, but they're good, too. Enjoy!

Beatty Zimmerman's Fudge Bars

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 c. butter
1c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 t.
vanilla
1/4 t. salt
6T. cocoa or 2 pkgs. cocoa bake
1 c. cake flour
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. chopped nuts, optional
Chocolate frosting

DIRECTIONS
Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt until fluffy. Add chocolate to well-creamed mixture. Hand mix the flour, baking powder and milk to cream mixture. Pour mixture in a greased and floured 9" by 9" or 8' by 10" pan. Place in 350 degree pre-heated oven. When shrunk from sides of pan remove from oven. When cool, frost with your favorite chocolate frosting. SERVES 20

Dylan Days stokes literary flames on the Iron Range

As some of you know, I am one of the organizers of Dylan Days, an annual event celebrating Hibbing's own Bob Dylan and the arts community of northern Minnesota's Iron Range. This week we're releasing the results of the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest.

The contest takes on even deeper meaning this year in the aftermath of Bob Dylan's special citation Pulitzer Prize for 2008. On Monday, Jeff Warner of the Hibbing Daily Tribune wrote a story about local reaction to Dylan's Pulitzer. The theme I see emerging as I prepare materials for this year's event is that Bob Dylan is much more than just a rock 'n' roll star and Hibbing is much more than just a small town.


Dylan Days 2008 will celebrate Dylan's prize, but also some terrific up and coming artists, writers and musicians who are competing for prizes at this year's event. It's a pretty good time to experience the Iron Range. Come on up May 22-25 in Hibbing.

Dylan's Pulitzer montage

City Pages has a post about the Iron Range's own Bob Dylan and his recent special citation Pulitzer Prize. The post includes a unique collection of You Tube clips showing Dylan's increasingly unusual career path.

Dylan's Pulitzer is going to be mentioned often as we continue to promote Dylan Days, May 22-25, in Hibbing.

Iron Ranger wins Pulitzer Prize

OK, so he hasn't considered himself an Iron Ranger for a long time (if he ever really did) but Bob Dylan won a special Pulitzer Prize today "for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."

What better way to celebrate Dylan's Pulitzer than by making plans to attend Dylan Days in Hibbing! (Shameless, I know).

Check out all the 2008 Pulitzer winners. You know, I've always had the dream of winning a Pulitzer for fiction but notice each year that the winning novel is always unknown to me. I hope that means I'm doing the right thing by remaining obscure. Yes, my plan is working ....

Dylan Days wins grant for Iron Range Bob Dylan exhibit

One of my pet projects is Dylan Days, an annual arts event in Hibbing run by an initiative called "Dylan Arts Celebration," which I co-chair. Kelly Grinsteinner of the Hibbing Daily Tribune reported Sunday about our recent $10,000 grant from Iron Range Resources' Culture and Tourism program to create exhibit material for an upcoming Bob Dylan/Iron Range showcase at Ironworld. We plan to use that same exhibit material to create a permenant tribute to Dylan in his hometown of Hibbing within the next few years.

For more information: www.dylandays.com

From the Tribune:

The Hibbing Arts Council will receive $10,000 to create permanent pieces of a Bob Dylan exhibit in conjunction with an upcoming Ironworld showcase and the annual Dylan Days celebration.

Aaron Brown of the Dylan Arts Celebration explained that new pieces would be preserved following the exhibit at Ironworld with the intent to someday make them part of a permanent place in Hibbing.

“Our organization’s long-range goal is to establish a permanent Dylan site, we’re hoping, in Hibbing over the next couple of years,” he said, while noting that the group’s short-term goal of establishing a successful celebration has already been achieved.

Exhibit items could include local memorabilia of Dylan’s time in Hibbing, items on loan from personal collections and audio and visual productions.

“Dylan tourism is an underappreciated thing on the Iron Range,” said Brown. “The Ironworld exhibit will allow us to gauge interest and give us insight to what a permanent exhibit may look like. This hasn’t been done on the Range before, so it should be a big draw.”

This year’s Dylan Days will be celebrated May 22-25. The exhibit at Ironworld is slated to open May 22.

Tangled up in puns

I've been involved with Dylan Days in Hibbing since 2001. One of the interesting things about Bob Dylan's effect on the American psyche is how newspaper writers don't really need a good reason to write about the things he does or says. Hence today's DNT editorial. I am just about done hearing the phrase "Tangled up in ..." used with every noun on Earth.

Our view: Highway 61 revisited, this time in an Escalade
Duluth News Tribune - 12/11/2007

Bob Dylan shilling for Cadillac? Before we get into the predictable is-nothing-sacred discussion, know that the big bucks ad deal isn’t the first time the Duluth-born, Hibbing-raised icon of counterculture has memorialized the symbol of quality, if not excess, in song.

Take this from the 1963 dream-sequence ballad, cheerfully titled “Talkin’ World War III Blues”: “Well, I seen a Cadillac window uptown And there was nobody aroun’, I got into the driver’s seat And I drove 42nd Street In my Cadillac. Good car to drive after a war…”

Not much there to indicate the song’s protagonist actually purchased the car, though it really wouldn’t matter since it’s supposed to take place at the end of the world. Or something like that. Obligatory Dylanesque obscurity aside, the Highway 61 troubadour better known for counting how many roads a man must walk down is unambiguously endorsing a more refined, if expensive, form of transportation today.

“This week, we’re living large and climbin’ into a Cadillac,” he said in a two-minute excerpt from his XM satellite radio show, “Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour,” doubling as a long-form Escalade commercial.

“Cadillacs. They roll (or did he say roam?). They cruise. They make you feel like a million bucks. Nothing goes better with a Cadillac than a long ride to nowhere full of (or fooling with?) the right music.”

That’s positively Dylan cruising up Fourth Street, and why shouldn’t it be? It’s a little late for anyone to lose sleep over rock ’n’ roll getting a second life hawking the institutions it once criticized. It’s been five years since Minnesota filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen used the Beatles’ “Taxman” to push H & R Block. And that was a decade after the very late Janis Joplin’s anti-materialistic anthem, “Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes Benz” became the background track in a C-Class commercial.

Maybe Dylan has sold out, but if so, keep in mind he’s been riding in limos ever since his first concert sold out. As for Cadillac, General Motors had better be careful which songs it appropriates from the man who wrote “They’ll stone you when you’re driving in your car” and “We drove that car as far as we could, abandoned it out West ...”

Think they want to get tangled up in that?