How much do you love your job? Jojo The Magic Clown poses with a family at Raffy’s Restaurant on Bel Air Road

***THE SIGNAL AIRS FRIDAYS AT NOON & SEVEN P.M. 88.1 WYPR***

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An exploration of the pursuit of happiness (or at least the perfect job)…

• We visit a public square in Fells Point where Jack Troutwine, the official ‘town crier,’ reads the news of the day… from 1814
• We share a radio portrait of a man who had an unusual moment of clarity some 30 years ago. He was inspired to quit his job and go into business for himself – as an entertainer named Jojo the Magic Clown
• We meet another Baltimore local who’s looking to quit his day job and get into show biz: at the ripe old age of thirty, Baltimore MC AbRock is getting set to release his new album, The Mid-Midlife Crisis
• And we profile record collector Ian Nagoski: he’s put together a CD compilation of music from rare 78 RPM records on a label called ‘Dust to Digital‘

The High Zero Festival of Experimental Improvised Music will offer a chance to explore a world of new sounds at the Current Gallery. The festival’s Sound Installation will feature the work of five local artists – they’ve been commissioned to create sound-sculptures that blur the lines between visual and audio art. This weekend’s exhibit invites visitors to not only listen to novel music, but also to create it themselves. Guests are encouraged to try playing the sculptures and even recording performances with other visitors. The High Zero Festival Sound Installation runs this weekend (09.20.07) through October 2nd. Current Gallery is at 30 South Calvert Street, and more information is online at www.highzero.org.

If you heard our show last week, you might remember meeting found-object artist Emily CD. Emily is the curator of a new group exhibition opening tomorrow night that features work made from salvaged materials, discarded objects, and just general Baltimore debris. The show is called All That Remains and it displays pieces from over a dozen artists. Saturday night’s opening reception features musical performances by the Frontier Dentists and Abu the Flutemaker. All That Remains runs through October 20th at the WHOLE Gallery, 405 West Franklin Street, and Saturday’s (09.22.07) reception begins at 7PM.

And there’ll be a little something for everyone Sunday afternoon (09.23.07) at the Abell Community Street Fair. This event features live music, a silent auction, sidewalk sales, and – for the younger crowd – face painting and a moon bounce. There certainly won’t be any shortage of food either, between an all-you-can-eat crab feast and a bake sale.

And if that’s not enough for you, there’s also going to be a grill station, with traditional burgers and dogs, as well as the less traditional, yet strangely intriguing, grilled pop-tarts. The street fair runs this Sunday from 11AM to 5PM on Abell Avenue between 31st and 32nd streets.