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I thought it an appropriate time to share an internal letter circulated to the MP tribe regarding donations to fund current art and community-based projects. We do really appreciate the opportunity we've had to contribute and be a part of such a vibrant group of people. Thanks, All. You know who you are...
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June 26, 2008
In the spirit of renewal, Monkey Puzzle celebrates the many years of creativity, hard work, and community building that our joint efforts and playful attitude have brought together. With this joy in what we have created together there is an equally great satisfaction in letting go and giving back. As we celebrate the closing of “the tribe formerly known as Monkey Puzzle” we open ourselves to develop a fresh perspective on how we want to work together and be the world we want to see.
In the release of the culmination of our work together thus far we would like to offer a gesture of thanks and support to our larger community. There are small, yet substantial, remaining funds mainly from Threshold that we propose to gift back to projects that we acknowledge as reaching out into the larger community. MP has spoken a united interest in supporting (and developing) projects that “bridge the gap” that may exist between burners and the greater Portland community and beyond. We all have different ways of placing value in what we do, but we seem to all agree that we want to support actions and initiatives that are of service to others. In deed, that what makes our beloved Portland a better place.
This proposal is a result of the collective thoughts on the dispersal of MP as well as the discussion that took place at the recent meeting at Kevee’s, which was open to all Monkey Puzzlers. Sure, the three big projects listed below are only a half step away from how we ourselves describe “the family” in a wider context. Nonetheless, this small amount of money will go a long way to broaden the scope of our vision and tangibly increase our connection with other communities and individuals involved with each of these projects.
Gifting away all of our collective capital is not an expression of finality for the MP community. Au contraire. To be in a position of giving is an unequivocal blessing. This activity we do because we recognize our position of strength as a collaborative. Let us embrace this inclination toward philanthropic endeavors and go beyond the realm of anything that has been tried before in the post-Burn era of the Portland tribes.
SHABBAM!
__________________________________________________________________
Project 1: Water in the Desert
Category: Community-Based Performance Art and Theater
The mission of Water in the Desert is to create an annual, multi-media, participatory event that is site-specific, free to the public, and that both integrates & celebrates the power of Art, Ritual, Performance, & Ecology. We are inspired by the spectrum of expression from across the globe and the multiple ways that communities come together to share in the human experience. Our intention is to produce a festival of creations that are in dialogue with our natural resources & rhythms, highlighting revolving contemporary social and ecological topics, with a consistent emphasis on the essential element of water. This year’s themes are Ecopsychology & Climate Change. Participating artists will develop projects that address the relationships between our personal, family and cultural well-being, and the general health of our ecosystems.
Website: www.waterinthedesertfestival.org/
Project Status: 2nd Annual Festival in development (Scheduled July 26)
MP Group Affiliation: Yes (production support, performers, promotion, technical a/v)
Context: The WTID festival represents one of the finest manifestations of post-Playa creative event production in Portland. Much like Monkey Puzzle-centric events, WITD incorporates the talents of many professional artists both local and from a far. WITD is an exceptional example of community-building performance that appeals to a wide cross section of people and whose message reaches far beyond the conventional reach of the local sub-culture.
Burning Man Specific: No
Key Contact: Mizu Desierto
Recommended Grant: $…
__________________________
Project 2: Basura Sagrada - The Trash Temple
Category: Large-Scale Public Art Project
Basura Sagrada is a temple constructed entirely from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society. Meticulously detailed, the temple will be a precious space created from non-precious materials. By replacing the gold and marble surfaces of traditional temples with aluminum can adornments and cardboard spires, we hope to inspire others to see everyday trash as beautiful, to save everyday trash and use it—not because it is responsible or right or necessary to recycle (although that is certainly important), but because people are excited about the materials and medium. Our goal is to make something amazing and exotic out of materials deemed unworthy, the stuff we throw away everyday. And while it is obvious that making something beautiful out of refuse is a political act, the question we hope to answer with this project is whether it can also be a spiritual act. We believe that it can.
Website: basurasagrada.org/
Project Status: Currently under construction in Oakland, CA
MP Affiliation: Yes (model design, minor assembly, staff).
Context: A center for spiritual connection at the Burning Man Festival, the Temple has played a defining role in the Monkey Puzzle community development. In particular, the annual Sunday evening Funeral Procession to the Temple Burn, which has occurred ritually for each of the 5 years Monkey Puzzle operated together as a camp on the Playa.
Burning Man Specific: Yes
Key Contact: Shrine, TukTuk
Recommended Grant: $
___________________
Project 3: The Mobile Groove Bomb
Category: Community-Based Mobile Art Transit Project
The Groove Bomb started life serving the Portland metro area as a Tri-Met bus running up and down Burnside for some twenty years. Currently, the Mobile Groove Bomb is evolving into a double-decker 250-person capacity mobile sound stage complete with fire cannons, stage lighting, sound and more. The overreaching intention of this project is to provide a valuable performance resource for the Portland arts community. This is a community effort. The unveiling of this monolith with occur at the Burning Man arts festival this year with hopes that it will become an integral part of events and festivals throughout the Northwest.
Website: www.groovebomb.org
Project Status: Currently under construction at Forgewerks, in Portland, OR
MP Affiliation: Yes (project management, construction, fund raising and operations).
Context: The MGB has had an on-going relationship with Monkey Puzzle since its inception. Over the past three years, MP has explicitly promoted and raised funds for the Groove Bomb project through various event productions (some more successful than others…). (Monkey Noir, 2005; Monkey Odyssey, 2006; Friendly Fire, 2007; Mass Transit, 2008).
Burning Man Festival Specific: No
Key Contact: Andy Lacy
Recommended Grant: $…
_______________________
Additional Donations:
Church of Chill Sake Budget - $…
ROAR Party Fund - $…
++++++++++++++++++++
June 26, 2008
In the spirit of renewal, Monkey Puzzle celebrates the many years of creativity, hard work, and community building that our joint efforts and playful attitude have brought together. With this joy in what we have created together there is an equally great satisfaction in letting go and giving back. As we celebrate the closing of “the tribe formerly known as Monkey Puzzle” we open ourselves to develop a fresh perspective on how we want to work together and be the world we want to see.
In the release of the culmination of our work together thus far we would like to offer a gesture of thanks and support to our larger community. There are small, yet substantial, remaining funds mainly from Threshold that we propose to gift back to projects that we acknowledge as reaching out into the larger community. MP has spoken a united interest in supporting (and developing) projects that “bridge the gap” that may exist between burners and the greater Portland community and beyond. We all have different ways of placing value in what we do, but we seem to all agree that we want to support actions and initiatives that are of service to others. In deed, that what makes our beloved Portland a better place.
This proposal is a result of the collective thoughts on the dispersal of MP as well as the discussion that took place at the recent meeting at Kevee’s, which was open to all Monkey Puzzlers. Sure, the three big projects listed below are only a half step away from how we ourselves describe “the family” in a wider context. Nonetheless, this small amount of money will go a long way to broaden the scope of our vision and tangibly increase our connection with other communities and individuals involved with each of these projects.
Gifting away all of our collective capital is not an expression of finality for the MP community. Au contraire. To be in a position of giving is an unequivocal blessing. This activity we do because we recognize our position of strength as a collaborative. Let us embrace this inclination toward philanthropic endeavors and go beyond the realm of anything that has been tried before in the post-Burn era of the Portland tribes.
SHABBAM!
__________________________________________________________________
Project 1: Water in the Desert
Category: Community-Based Performance Art and Theater
The mission of Water in the Desert is to create an annual, multi-media, participatory event that is site-specific, free to the public, and that both integrates & celebrates the power of Art, Ritual, Performance, & Ecology. We are inspired by the spectrum of expression from across the globe and the multiple ways that communities come together to share in the human experience. Our intention is to produce a festival of creations that are in dialogue with our natural resources & rhythms, highlighting revolving contemporary social and ecological topics, with a consistent emphasis on the essential element of water. This year’s themes are Ecopsychology & Climate Change. Participating artists will develop projects that address the relationships between our personal, family and cultural well-being, and the general health of our ecosystems.
Website: www.waterinthedesertfestival.org/
Project Status: 2nd Annual Festival in development (Scheduled July 26)
MP Group Affiliation: Yes (production support, performers, promotion, technical a/v)
Context: The WTID festival represents one of the finest manifestations of post-Playa creative event production in Portland. Much like Monkey Puzzle-centric events, WITD incorporates the talents of many professional artists both local and from a far. WITD is an exceptional example of community-building performance that appeals to a wide cross section of people and whose message reaches far beyond the conventional reach of the local sub-culture.
Burning Man Specific: No
Key Contact: Mizu Desierto
Recommended Grant: $…
__________________________
Project 2: Basura Sagrada - The Trash Temple
Category: Large-Scale Public Art Project
Basura Sagrada is a temple constructed entirely from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society. Meticulously detailed, the temple will be a precious space created from non-precious materials. By replacing the gold and marble surfaces of traditional temples with aluminum can adornments and cardboard spires, we hope to inspire others to see everyday trash as beautiful, to save everyday trash and use it—not because it is responsible or right or necessary to recycle (although that is certainly important), but because people are excited about the materials and medium. Our goal is to make something amazing and exotic out of materials deemed unworthy, the stuff we throw away everyday. And while it is obvious that making something beautiful out of refuse is a political act, the question we hope to answer with this project is whether it can also be a spiritual act. We believe that it can.
Website: basurasagrada.org/
Project Status: Currently under construction in Oakland, CA
MP Affiliation: Yes (model design, minor assembly, staff).
Context: A center for spiritual connection at the Burning Man Festival, the Temple has played a defining role in the Monkey Puzzle community development. In particular, the annual Sunday evening Funeral Procession to the Temple Burn, which has occurred ritually for each of the 5 years Monkey Puzzle operated together as a camp on the Playa.
Burning Man Specific: Yes
Key Contact: Shrine, TukTuk
Recommended Grant: $
___________________
Project 3: The Mobile Groove Bomb
Category: Community-Based Mobile Art Transit Project
The Groove Bomb started life serving the Portland metro area as a Tri-Met bus running up and down Burnside for some twenty years. Currently, the Mobile Groove Bomb is evolving into a double-decker 250-person capacity mobile sound stage complete with fire cannons, stage lighting, sound and more. The overreaching intention of this project is to provide a valuable performance resource for the Portland arts community. This is a community effort. The unveiling of this monolith with occur at the Burning Man arts festival this year with hopes that it will become an integral part of events and festivals throughout the Northwest.
Website: www.groovebomb.org
Project Status: Currently under construction at Forgewerks, in Portland, OR
MP Affiliation: Yes (project management, construction, fund raising and operations).
Context: The MGB has had an on-going relationship with Monkey Puzzle since its inception. Over the past three years, MP has explicitly promoted and raised funds for the Groove Bomb project through various event productions (some more successful than others…). (Monkey Noir, 2005; Monkey Odyssey, 2006; Friendly Fire, 2007; Mass Transit, 2008).
Burning Man Festival Specific: No
Key Contact: Andy Lacy
Recommended Grant: $…
_______________________
Additional Donations:
Church of Chill Sake Budget - $…
ROAR Party Fund - $…
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