On October 13th, the Fremont Arts Council (FAC) held its monthly meeting, nicknamed the ‘COW’, and discussed several of its arts events, past and future.
The meeting began with a presentation of a donation to the FAC by members of the Solstice Cyclists. The Cyclists collect money donations from members who gather for body painting, and a ride, before the FAC Solstice Parade. The Solstice Cyclists will be working with members of the FAC on how they could collect credit card donations, in 2016, by those who didn’t think to carry cash during this understandably pockets-free ride…
In September, the FAC held its annual Luminata Lantern Walk at Green Lake and, according to organizer Peter Toms, “the feel was different,” from the past, he decided, because they’d held the event on September 19th instead of on the Fall Equinox, which Luminata honors. This led the FAC Board of Directors to decide that the Feast of the Winter Solstice, another annual celebration, will take place on the solstice, December 21st, rather than on the Saturday before, an idea previously under consideration.
Toms said that Luminata did well, and they once again sold nearly every lantern they had available. They tried a new route around the lake, which may have been a little too long but provided great sight lines. Next year, Toms suggested, they will need more musical acts.
Lanterns were made at the FAC Powerhouse workshop, and according to the new workshop coordinator Norma Baum, “we had so many people coming in to the Luminata workshops that they almost didn’t fit in. It felt like the night before the Parade,” in the energy created, and the numbers. Baum is at work on cleaning out and organizing the space and Angela Parisi is scheduling users. Check the on-line calendar for upcoming public workshops.
Workshops are planned for the upcoming 25th Trolloween. Trolloween will be a theatrical experience, ‘Don Juan Goes To Hell’, entirely set at the Fremont Troll, starting at 7p. After the show, the neighborhood haunt will proceed down the hill and across on N 34th St, ending at Doric Lodge #92. Original plans for a street party and beer garden had to be reconsidered due to costs. The costume party and fundraiser, called Troll-A-Go-Go, will now take place from 8p – 11p. The event will be 21+ only and charge a $5 entry.
Finally, Jen Bay presented the Petit Troll, a small, sweet and sprightly event she’s produced for the last two years. Petit Troll features small versions of parade floats, pulled in procession, along with workshops to make these miniaturized works of art. The parade takes place just before Mardi Gras, and Bay has already booked the Mighty Tiny Band for the 2016 event on February 7th. She asked if the FAC wants to take this under their umbrella as an official event and those at the COW gave a vote of approval.
The meeting wrapped after a little over an hour, to give the floor to the first-ever FAC Show & Tell. Baum curated this presentation – this month on Halloween celebrations and associated art – providing discussion and information on art and expression.
To find out about future Show & Tell presentations, and the next COW (both on November 10th, starting at 7:10p,) visit the FAC website or contact the Operations Manager at parade@fremontartscouncil.org – especially if you want to volunteer to help with any FAC events to come!