A look at who's been writing to us

It's been almost two months since we started "Flyover." Looking back, I feel it's important to express how very very pleased I am by the number of people who have joined the conversation and who have told us that a blog devoted to the arts, arts issues and arts journalism beyond America's major metropolitan areas is important and vital.

While we have a long way to go in terms of readership, we have made incredible strides in terms of the quality of writing that has gone into the many responses we get. For whatever reason, just in the past couple of weeks, I have seen so much thinking in these responses.

I am so glad to see this happening. I am so proud to be part of a vibrant community of thinkers and writers. I hope to see continue to grow. Who knows where it will go?

This week I start by offering expressions of gratitude and formal acknolowedgement of the people who've put all that thought and energy into writing us and who also strive to expand the arts discussion. Many of you are no doubt already familiar with these names. If not, please do yourself a favor and get to know these writers. They have not only a lot to say, but a lot of good things to say. Much respect.

Scott Walters of the blog "Theatre Ideas: Tirades, manifestoes, and musings on the role of theatre in American society"

Gary Panetta, who writes the "Bach & Lemon Shakeups" blog for the Peoria Journal Star

David Sokolec of the blog "Border Art Dialogue"

Mary Scriver aka Prairie Mary of the blog Robert Macfie Scriver Art

Nick (we don't know his last name) of the blog Rat Sass

Tony Reynolds of the blog Tony Reynolds: Making Objects

Joe (we don't know his last name either) from the blog Butts In The Seats:
Musings on Practical Solutions For Arts Management.

Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald-Leader and the blog Copious Notes

Glenn Weiss of the Artsjournal blog Aesthetic Grounds

Claude Rallins of the blog Gallery Guide TV: the Visual Guide to Visual Arts

Drew McManus of the Artsjournal blog Adaptistration

David Burke, a fellow at the 2007 NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater, an editor at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, and the keeper of the blog The Burke Show

Howard Mandel, the venerable jazz critic and host of howardmandel.com

And Mike Boehm, arts staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. We don't know if he has a blog, but you can read his brilliant work at latimes.com and calendarlive.com