by Kirby Lindsay, posted 21 September 2011
With the Fremont Arts Council (FAC) Solstice Parade packed away for another year, FAC members have turned their attention to smaller, and sometimes more heartfelt, activities. These projects do not draw the tremendous crowds of the parade, and in many cases, that is part of their charm.
At the most recent FAC committee-of-the-whole (or COW) meeting, held September 13th, organizers of three activities shared their plans.
Cleaning Up
Twenty volunteers from Eagle View Technologies agreed to help the FAC as part of the United Way Day of Caring on September 16th. Mylinda Sneed had organized this effort, and planned to ask them to clean up the Powerhouse, the Fremont Troll and the Aurora Bridge Mural.
For the mural, this would be the third painting party in the last six weeks. Sneed estimated that volunteers have so far given about 125 hours to the clean-up effort. Several people confirmed that only a few areas of graffiti remain, on colors not available during the last gathering. Some discussion took place over restoration, and keeping the mural fresh, but most agreed that covering existing graffiti takes priority.
As to cleaning up the Powerhouse – official play house (and workshop) of the FAC – Board Member Peter Toms advised, “be careful of throwing out materials.” The Powerhouse provides storage of art materials for several FAC projects, and the supplies have been depleted lately.
Looking Forward To Luminata
Toms had begun sorting through supplies, as he organized workshops to build lanterns for the Luminata walk around Green Lake on Thursday, September 22nd starting at 7p. As organizer, he has sent out word of the gathering to communities beyond the FAC and he believed, “it’s going to be well attended this year!”
Toms requested specific help for the day of Luminata, including set up of the Tiki path, serving cider and cookies, helping people get going, cleaning up and selling merchandise. While people are encouraged to bring their own, this year the FAC will sell lanterns at Luminata, to raise funds for future programs – and the parade.
Celebrating The Troll’s Birthday
On October 31st, the Fremont Troll turns 21 years old. “He’s legal now,” observed Sneed. Maque da Vis has started organizing a community-based celebration that he described as, “more a pageant than a show.”
The theme will be ‘Hunting For Shakespeare,’ da Vis announced, as MacBeth, wronged by Shakespeare, goes looking for the playwright and restoration of his reputation. Even though this is not traditional Shakespeare, da Vis did promise a massive death scene finale – along with an opportunity for a full participation Thriller dance.
da Vis also seeks help. He needs clowns (for the clown melee, of course,) a bagpiper, and help making grave stones. For those interested in creating the cemetery markers for the Troll, show up at the Powerhouse (3940 Fremont Ave N) on Saturday, October 22nd and October 29th from Noon to 4p. da Vis also will need roadies to help with set up, tear down and clean-up.
“If you attend, attend in costume,” da Vis asked. The Troll’s birthday party and Luminata, which Toms described as, “very sweet”, aren’t the massive crowd draws. Instead, the FAC hopes to see their members – and friends – be able to enjoy these activities.
To find out more about the work of the FAC, attend the next COW meeting on Tuesday, October 11th, at 7:10p at the Powerhouse. Everyone is welcome – and, for the meeting, at least, costumes aren’t required. They are, however, always appreciated…
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©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.