This past summer, Fink's on Humboldt and Water, hired Filthy Freehand's Sarah Linkus to paint a sign on its long north exterior wall that read, "Couples are boring and everyone knows," in all caps.
Today, that sign reads differently after a fella in a black cap was out there this morning, in broad daylight, with a paint brush. He was painting over the "r" in "boring" – in a different color, as if to call attention to the change – and replacing it with an "n," to create what would seem to be the opposite phrase. Unless it's boring, unimaginative, ennui-producing boning, of course.
Fink's owner Scott Johnson says, "that clever graffiti artist striking again. The first time they did it, it was a perfect color match. I was totally amazed."
He notes that about six weeks ago, the same change was made and a few hours later, Fink's maintenance crew painted the sign back to "boring."
"Yeah, for about half a day," Johnson says, " before we noticed people taking photos in front of it. So hilarious and pretty awesome.
"We painted it back to 'boring' right away. Not on my orders. (We) may leave it for couple days this time. I dig the humor."
Johnson says he doesn't know the identity of what he calls the "graffiti sign alter-er," but I'm a little skeptical.
"I seriously have no idea. Gotta respect the thoughtfulness of it, though."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
