Come help build the 2012 Solstice Parade, with the Fremont Arts Council (FAC,) at the Powerhouse (3940 Fremont Ave N.) Workshops take place frequently over the next month, with the studio open every day (6p – 9p on weeknights, 9a – 6p on weekends) and anyone can show up and lend a hand. The best way to enjoy this parade is to be in the parade – at Noon on Saturday, June 16th.
Until then, every Sunday from Noon – 4p, the Carnaval Clowns (think Rio and Mardi Gras, not Barnum & Bailey) will hold open workshops at the Powerhouse. Get help decorating a clown hat and building a costume to wear as part of this exciting ensemble. Giant puppet workshops will be led by Maque da Vis for those who want to learn the steps of constructing their own signature Solstice creation. This ensemble also has room for stilt-walking clowns. In the parade, the Carnaval Clown crew will dance along to the New Orleans-style music of the fabulous VamoLa! samba band. Look for Norma Baum for more information on this ensemble.
On Saturday, May 26th, from 1p – 3p, join the Red Butt Baboon Troupe and make a papier-mâché baboon mask. You’ll be half-way to frolicking with your baboon family. During a second workshop, on June 2nd, paint and decorate the mask – or do so at home. Also, the baboons have requested donations of clothing and bed sheets. ‘Why do baboons need clothes?’ Baboon nakedness is a common misperception, they answer, baboons need clothes, and the more colorful and sparkly the better! For more information, contact chris@featherfolio.com
Yet another exciting ensemble, the Pollination Nation, will have a second workshop at the Powerhouse on Tuesday, May 29th at 6p. They need foragers, flowers, comb builders, nurse bees, cleaner bees, guard bees, drones, and, of course, float muscle. Look for Lee Zuhars for more information on the Bee People.
Additional workshops include:
- Monday nights, 6p – 10:30p, Zero Waste Seattle needs help to build a 100’ Chinese-style dragon using 20,000 plastic water/soda bottles.
- May 25th, 6p – 9p, Giant Flower costuming Part One led by Leslie Zenz (lesliez@fremontartscouncil.org) on creating headdresses, skirts and giant flowers – geared towards adult skill levels. A $10 materials fee requested (two-day class – Part Two on May 27th)
- May 26th, 9a – Noon, Ice Queen Animal Totem Class 3 on creating large reed and papier-mâché heads of horses, jaguars, bears and owls. For more info contact Ann Sloper at aslope@televar.com
- May 27th, 6p – 9p, Giant Flower costuming Part Two, led by Leslie Zenz (lesliez@fremontartscouncil.org) on creating headdresses, skirts and giant flowers – geared towards adult skill levels with $10 materials fee requested (two-day class – Part One on May 25th)
- May 29th, 6p – 9p, Large Scale Papier-Mâché workshop – all skill levels welcome to come learn to make large-scale puppet head/masks including how to reshape cardboard, insert a tube, sculpt the features and add papier-mâché.
- May 29th, 6p – 7p, learn to stilt-walk. Kinda says it all.
- May 30th, 6p – 9p, Ice Queen Workshop for those ready to join the Ice Queenista ensemble
- May 31st, 6p – 10p, Zero Waste Seattle – come lend a hand on building a dragon and learn more about used art for social change.
Finally, this weekend the FAC will have a booth at the Northwest Folklife Festival, in the Next 50 Activity Tent near the EMP/Monorail. Zero Waste Seattle will be engaging visitors in building the water-bottle dragon. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth from Friday to Monday, from Noon – 5p, even if just for an hour. To schedule a time, contact Jake at jakemharris@yahoo.com or 206/661-7628.
Want to volunteer, but have to wash your hair this weekend? Find many other volunteer opportunities on the FAC website. Also, find out more about workshops scheduled – including last-minute additions – on the workshop section of the site.
If you just can’t get in on the fun of participating this year, give to the Green Hat and help make the parade possible. Donate on-line, and give to the Green Hat ensemble during the 2012 Solstice Parade on June 16th!