The clearest sign of an approaching spring in Madison are the five weeks every year -- from the middle of February through the middle of March -- marked by the WIAA tournaments for boys swimming & diving, individual and team wrestling, boys and girls hockey, and finally boys and girls basketball. With the tournaments come the teams, their families, and numerous other supporters of the competing high schools, many of whom take at least a little time to check out the scene on State Street.
One of the primary attractions along the city's best known public space is Art Paul Schlosser, the street busker sporting a guitar and kazoo (or sometimes a ukulele) who has made the street his stage for more than two decades. It's during the WIAA weekends that one will often see the largest crowds of listeners gathered around Art Paul, many never having seen nor heard the performer and his brand of outsider music.
For those visitors wishing to learn a little bit more about the well-known local personality, he is introduced in a short film created by Roger Bindl.
More information about Schlosser, including his entire discography and extensive online multimedia presence, can be found on his Wikipedia entry and MySpace page. Many more videos featuring the artist and busker have been created by Bindl are available for viewing from HEM Productions.
If you have a video by, of or about Madison and Madisonians, please consider adding it to the Isthmus YouTube group or send a message.
