by Kirby Lindsay, posted 19 March 2014
The Fremont Arts Council (FAC) Committee Of The Whole (COW) meeting for March 2014 contained a lot of information – more than can be fully reported here. Here you will find specific details about current FAC events and projects, and opportunities to participate in Fremont art.
Troll Update
Thanks to the generosity of visitors to the Fremont Troll donation box, the FAC has been able to pay Wayne Richards to regularly maintain the popular sculpture. Richards reported that over the last month he repaired a bullet hole (a through and through) to the Troll, and Seattle Police removed an encampment from behind the site. New graffiti has appeared, but one FAC Board Member noted how free of trash the area has become. Donations have slacked off, slightly, during the winter but the Board is considering a modification to the box to allow more space for money during the high tourist season.
Matching Fund For A Luminous Event?
FAC Board Member Susan Harper asked for volunteers to an exploratory committee on an application for a Department of Neighborhoods Matching Funds grant. She wants to discuss funding artists to create lighted art installations. She mentioned the September FAC Luminata lantern walk, which caused some confusion. She’d like to create something similar to Luminata but, she described, “a new event, around that time of year, also with lights.” The committee can decide what this will look like, but Harper explained, “I hope to create something that can be recreated without the grant money next year.”
The Sustainable Funding Initiative
FAC Board Member Ricky Gene Powell has continued to work to find ways to fund, and fundraise, for the FAC and the upcoming Solstice Parade. Costs to put on the parade continue to increase, and a sustainable source of funding needs to be discovered. The FAC has signed a Memo Of Understanding with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. As Powell described it, “we are all going to play together,” in collaboration on finding support for the Parade.
Powell also introduced Linda Hanlon, a consultant working with Fremonster Jon Hegeman, on an ambitious, far-reaching fundraising plan intended to support art throughout our community. “To keep Fremont artsy and freaky forever!,” Hanlon explained. They plan to build a table of community advisors, to discuss and fund art in our area, through regular donations from area businesses including those in the tech industry. They want to raise $60,000 this first year, and $200,000 a year after that for three years. Hegeman, Hanlon explained, has kicked-off the fund with a $3,000 donation, and he hopes the fund can go, in part, toward purchasing a permanent art workshop facility.
Petite Troll Wrap-Up
Jen Bay and Norma Baum paraded into the COW with some mini-floats from the Petite Troll parade held in early March during the Fremont Sunday Market. Inspired by the New Orleans ‘Tit Rex parade, the floats are the size of large shoeboxes, towed by a string. “You can’t imagine how fun these were to make,” Bay said. Powell described the building of mini-floats as “a gateway drug,” and posited, “What’s better than building a full size float, is building a tiny one!”
The 2014 Petite Troll had a 3-person band accompaniment, and “the vendors were thrilled with us,” Baum reported. If anyone has photos, Bay would love to get copies. Bay also mused about walking a Petite Troll parade through the Sunday of the Fremont Fair – and making a request to McKay Grant recipients for mini-versions of their ensembles to participate. Floats can be illuminated (the ‘Tit Rex is a nighttime parade,) and they can be built anywhere – three of the Petite Troll floats were built at ‘a school library in the ‘burbs’ according to a participant. Finally, it was observed, these portable works of art could be auctioned off after a parade as a fundraiser.
Solstice Parade Approaches
Leslie Zenz, Solstice Parade Director for the FAC, reported that parade building season is already underway. They’ve already received sign-ups for ensembles. The poster/t-shirt art has been chosen. A few parade staff positions remain to be filled, although all staff will be available for consultation at weekly, open-to-the-public parade meetings at 7p on Mondays, through June, at the FAC Powerhouse (3940 Fremont Ave N.)
Zenz did share a disturbing development. The City of Seattle Special Events Committee has issued new safety guidelines, and they require the FAC to increase from 30 parade monitors to, possibly, 120. This will require more volunteers, but Zenz saw several benefits from the decision including more help with pacing the parade, and crowd safety. “It would solve untold numbers of problems for us,” she said.
Zenz also reported a number of upcoming dates for parade followers (and potential participants):
- April 29th, at 7p – the McKay Grant Artist’s Reception at Fremont Abbey Arts Center (meet the artists receiving grants from the FAC to build an ensemble, and sign-up to help your favorite.)
- May 10th, Noon – Float Move (help shift float bases from winter storage to the workshop space, and get first dibs on a base for your ensemble.)
- May 17th, Noon – Open Studio (an open house/blessing for the parade building workshop space.)
From the form of the announcements, it was clear that hope is still held for finding an alternative workshop space to The Powerhouse. Zenz also noted that the Powerhouse workshop already has some parade work going on (Jen Bay already had some items hung from the rafters during this meeting for her Farm Float, but the FAC cannot afford to staff the space until after May 17th, running up to the Parade on June 21st.
Advanced May Day Planning
The FAC will, once again, celebrate the 1st of May at Lower Woodland Park, near the bocce ball courts. Rodman Miller volunteered to lead the effort again this year, although he asked for help organizing the Beltane fire. Norma Baum volunteered to organize a headdress making workshop. More details were promised for the next COW meeting on April 8th.
A Leader for the Rummage Sale
After a lot of hand-wringing, and hemming-and-hawing, Jeff Pierce agreed to take up organizing the 2014 FAC Rummage Sale. Held as a fundraiser for the Solstice Parade, this event also may clear out extra items from the Powerhouse, and other FAC storage. Discussion settled on May 3rd & 4th as the best days for the sale, although Pierce will figure out if that will work. He will announce dates for donation drop off times.
Volunteers will be needed, before the sale to help with sorting and pricing and after the sale for a quick clean-up before the parade workshop opens (if it does) at the Powerhouse! Find out more about the Rummage Sale, May Day and all the business of the FAC at the next COW meeting at 7p on Tuesday, April 8th. The meetings are open-to-the-public, and are still the best way to learn, directly, about what it going on!
See you there?
Related Articles
- FAC Highlight Reel: Parades Big & Small
- by Kirby Lindsay, February 17, 2014
- The FAC Weave A May Day Celebration
- by Kirby Lindsay, April 23, 2012
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