I can’t define art, but I know it when I see the price tag. It’s that cool stuff you see in other people’s houses, people who aren’t squandering their hard-earned money on food and shelter. Now, I do own some art, mostly stuff that people give to me as gifts. It’s good to have artists as friends. And certainly I know what I like and what I don’t, and to my artist friends, when I can someday buy your cool art, I will. It will go in the cool house I don’t own yet either.

I’m not an art expert. I’m not really even what you would call an avid enthusiast, but, in general, I do enjoy experiencing new exhibits and seeing what other creative people can do with their imagination and raw materials. As much as anything, I love seeing what kind of impact on the community and social opportunities our local artists are having.

In case you have not noticed, September is a HUGE month for the arts in Dubuque. While we get to take in the many great creative offerings available this month, the ones doing the creating should be dancing on the ceiling with Lionel Ritchie. In about one page, you are going to be bombarded with all things “Voices.” Last year’s off-site exhibition by the Dubuque Museum of Art was an unprecedented success, and this year looks to be the same. For all of you involved in that effort, from the artists to the corporate sponsors, thank you and congratulations.

But signs of a healthy artistic culture extend far beyond the warehouse district this month. I am particularly excited for our friends at Outside the Lines Gallery, Connie and Stormy. This month they celebrate the opening of their new store and gallery in Cable Car Square. This isn’t one of those “experiments” where a couple of artists open a store and try to make a go of it. That was the story of their first store space. This is a success story of growth. Their experiment worked where, all too often, similar efforts don’t. They are expanding to a larger space where they will begin opening real shows quarterly within their store/gallery at the corner of 4th and Bluff. Passion kept their fledgling store going, and perseverance is now seeing it blossom.

And here’s a secret for people like me (and you!). There is great art here that you and I can afford. Start your collection with local art. You can’t go wrong. Since they first opened, another great gallery has joined them in the Square, as Sue Farber’s wonderfully restored Red House features artists never before exhibited in the Dubuque area. The facility, also available for meetings and parties, is an exhibit in its own right.

Blocks away, the Art on the River exhibit of outdoor public art just opened in the past few days. It’s Dubuque’s first real organized outdoor art installation effort in, well, longer than I’ve been alive, as far as I know. (Painting the cement columns of the parking ramp doesn’t count, sorry. Neither does moving the continuum sculpture.) Five artists, all Clarke alums, open their show at Clarke’s Quigley Gallery while this issue is out, and new shows make their home at the Dubuque Museum of Art.

Don’t take this month for granted. A lot of years of hard work and passion have made a month of celebrating art this real and possible. These are the artists that have helped shape the community we now prize among all the communities of the Midwest. It would be a shame if you missed the whole thing because football season just started. Tell you what: I’ll call ahead and make sure they have chicken wings at the gallery.