http://fremontabbey.org/blog/ non-profit community arts center in North Seattle providing educational arts experiences, workshops, events, etc. for at-risk youth and the general public en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://fremontabbey.org/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://fremontabbey.org/blog/ http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=14
www.fremontabbey.org]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=14 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:24:48 -0700 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=13 Victor Ramirez, 19, (via Urban Artworks)

The Round, in it's 22nd straight month, was a beautifully diverse night of music, poetry, and live painting. We welcomed a new young painter, Victor, who did a great job expressing himself in an intricate piece that contrasted wonderfully... ...with the piece by Skye Graves. And that night audience members bought both paintings from the artists!

Music collaboration by Robert Deeble, John Vehciarrelli, and Justin Ringle from Horse Feathers was fantastic and cellist Esther Shin joined them on a number of songs. Poets Hollis & Madeline from Youth Speaks blew away the crowd of approximately 100 with a number or rousing pieces, including 2 poems together (one of which included accapella singing).

Check back April 23 for Round 23, May 14 for Round 24, and June 18 for the 25th anniversary of The Round. ]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=13 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 08:33:19 -0700 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=12
Also a big thanks to: Tim Seely, Smoosh, Gabriel Teodros, Shorthand for Epic, Optimus Rhyme, and Man Plus
| The Highdive (Greg, Eric, et al.) | Seattle Sound Magazine (Kirk, Chris, et al.) | 3 Imaginary Girls | New Belgium Brewing

And our volunteers who helped with the event: Liz L, Melisa G, Caroline M, etc.
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS (& arts education for youth!)
-Nathan Marion, Director



]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=12 Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:23:25 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=11 The evening will include installations (anyone willing to let us borrow a giant puppet or two for ambience? We really want to illustrate the ART focus of the event), a 5-10 minute overview (presented at each half-hour), music (thanks, Ricky!), projected images from past parades/ celebrations (thanks, Eli!), and brainstorming/ idea-sharing. Members from the Sustainable Solstice committee will be on hand to answer questions and help facilitate conversations.
If we can generate the people-power, we’d also like to have a batiking station set up for people to make green leaf banners to use at the NW Biodiesel forum (May) as well as the Sust Sol- give them a peek into things to come (here, hold this!)" - Denise, Fremont Arts Council]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=11 Sun, 4 Mar 2007 11:14:55 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=10 -Nathan]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=10 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:17:52 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=9
(R)EVOLUTION: THE ANNUAL ALL-CITY YOUTH POETRY SLAM SERIES 2007 presented by youth speaks seattle

Seattle is home to some of the top young poets in the nation. Last year's team placed 4th nationwide, and performed on the stage of the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. Whether you're young or grown, a poet, writer, lover of words, parent, educator, or other supporter of youth, you will not want to miss these incredible poetry events happening in our area...

Preliminary 1: Wed, Feb 28 @ Richard Hugo House | Preliminary 2: Wed, Mar 21 @ Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center | Preliminary 3: Fri, April 6 @ Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Rules:
1) Open to youth ages 13-19.
2) Bring 3 original poems, 3 minutes or under in length.
3) No props or costumes.
4) HAVE FUN!
SIGNUPS START AT 6PM - arrive early to slam!
ALL SHOWS BEGIN AT 7PM

Preliminary 2: Wed, Mar 21
@ Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
104 17th Ave S Seattle 98144

Preliminary 3: Fri, April 6
@ Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SW Seattle 98106

Top 4 poets from each preliminary will move on to the final slam, on Fri, May 4
@ Seattle University's Piggott Auditorium, 7pm.

The winners of the final slam will comprise the 2007 Seattle Youth
Poetry Slam Team representing at the national slam, to be held in July
in San Jose!!!!!

For more information or to pre-register please contact yssinfo@gmail.com
or Angel at 206 661 2036]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=9 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:13:08 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=8
Thanks KEXP for supporting us this month! (special thanks to Melissa, Mel, John, and all the volunteers)
kexp]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=8 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:32:16 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=6 [bold] through the article. Thanks again to everyone who's actually been to our events and has shown such great support these past few weeks! cheers,
-Nathan Marion, Director

Original article link (and public comments): http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/301285_apostles26.html?source=mypi
--------------------------------------------------------------
What's going on in that Fremont Abbey?
Neighbors worry it's more hot spot than art spot
By KATHY MULADY
P-I REPORTER
On nights when the garage-band beat [The Round on January 15th, 2007 which Kathy Mulady attended actually included no garage bands, no drums, no bass, no electronic beats. The musicians played acoustic guitars and one keyboard along with a tamoborine or two.] pours through the basement walls [sound leakage is actually quite low and when standing on the street it is not audible above cars passing and is not discernible when standing near the closest condo or house] and poets pound out gut-wrenching verses from a small stage, the 1914 building in Fremont seems more like a nightclub than a church. [see definition of "nightclub": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightclub A nightclub is generally a dance oriented venue serving alcohol (and generally no food) until 1 or 2am and is open a good portion of the week. Since the Abbey does not serve alcohol and has a monthly all-ages music/poetry/painting event that ends at 10pm, this opening statement is clearly misleading and innacurate. As all the support letters from attendees & artists will attest to, the 1914 building in Fremont seems more like an Arts Center than a church. ]

That worries neighbors of the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, who want to know what, exactly, is going on at the former St. Paul Lutheran Church.


Is it a house of worship or a nighttime hot spot, they ask?
[continued below...]...
And, they wonder, what do leaders of the self-styled Church of the Apostles, which moved into the building 16 months ago, have planned for the future?

The Church of the Apostles, a fledgling congregation with Lutheran and Episcopal roots, meets on the main floor of Fremont Abbey Arts Center each Saturday night. Services are designed to appeal to young adults seeking a church community without the trappings of organized religion, says Karen Ward, pastor of the church.

Hymns are more rocking than lulling. Folding chairs, armchairs and a couch replace pews. They recite biblical passages projected on a screen PowerPoint-style and take turns slipping inside the Coleman camping tents pitched around the sanctuary for private contemplation.

The arts group gathers in the basement. [Though cozy & intimate, our primary use space is actually the Ground Level and the entrance is essentially at street grade not a basement.]

Ward, who calls herself the abbess at Fremont Abbey [Karen Ward is the Abbess/pastor of Church of the Apostles that meets in the building], started both the church and the arts center. She declined an interview but responded to questions by e-mail.

"I founded a non-profit arts organization four years ago with the idea of supporting Fremont community and arts, separate from the church, and now that is taking shape," she said. [Ward & Church of the Apostles are supportive of the Arts Center organization but it is a separate non-profit 501(c)3 with a director who is not a member of the church. It also has a diverse board of directors with only 2 church members, a diverse volunteer base, and a new Neighborhood Advisory Council that does not include church members.]

The non-profit arts group and church moved into the brick building on the corner of Fremont Avenue North and North 43rd Street about 16 months ago. Now the arts group wants to expand into an all-ages, arts-oriented community center with a recording studio and cafe in the building. [The recording studio upstairs is generally run by the church and is not a commercial studio. Plans are to use it on occasion for the Fremont Abbey Arts classes & workshops. The cafe may start sometime in 2008 and would be a non-profit community/neighborhood style cafe with simple yet high quality healthy soups, breads, salads, cheeses and possibly featuring guest chefs from time to time serving special dinners.]

But neighbors, weary of the burgeoning nightlife in other parts of Fremont, are worried that the expansion will mean bigger and louder late-night events in their neighborhood, drawing crowds, traffic, trash and drinking. [The Fremont Abbey already has a great reputation for cleaning up the surrounding area and has recently began the process of adopting 43rd Street & the nearby bus stop with Seattle's Adopt a Street & Adopt a Stop program.]

They say events already held at the Abbey, especially The Rounds -- monthly music, poetry and painting gatherings, are loud and disruptive. [Neighbors have never contacted the Fremont Abbey Arts Center about The Round to express concern about any Round or other event being too loud or disruptive. There are zero validated complaints on file with the City. We have security/door people who make sure attendees leave quietly and respect the neighborhood.]

"You can call it whatever you want, but at 10 at night when 200 people who have had a few drinks walk out onto the street, it doesn't matter what you call it. It is a nightclub," said Paul Fellows, longtime Fremont resident. [The Round generally draws 70-100 people and there is no alcohol served. The most people ever in the building since becoming the Fremont Abbey in 2005 was about 140 for an all-ages benefit talent show for developmentally disabled folks (Creative Living Services operated this event). No complaints were ever registered about this event and no alcohol was served.]

"I am very supportive of the arts -- Fremont is the center of the universe for that -- but I am against them being disingenuous." [We would be more than happy to speak with this gentleman about his concerns regarding someone being disingenuous, but unfortunately he has not contacted us. If our slow development & slowly growing connections with the community have appeared to be hiding some 'other agenda', we certainly apologize and underscore that this is a new volunteer-powered arts organization that simply wants to help North Seattle.]

Organizers at the Abbey say that no alcohol is served and that it doesn't have a liquor license. At a Round last week, there was no sign of anything stronger than herbal tea. However, until last week, the city business license for Fremont Abbey characterized it for several years as a drinking establishment. Nathan Marion, the Abbey's program director, said that is wrong, too, and he had the license changed. [We are still unsure why this classification was in the online database as our City business licenses do not state that SIC code.] Neighbors were originally told that community-oriented classes and after-school programs were going to be offered at the Abbey, said Silvia Ceravolo, who lives next door to the church. [The recent grant from City of Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods is for precisely that and these are being scheduled for March-May of this year. Offering workshops & classes of course costs money, especially when offered for free to youth & low-income families. The Round has been self-supportive to date and is run by volunteers. It does have an educational element and is a diverse arts experience where all are welcome.]

She said it seems the new plans are designed to bring in people from throughout the city. [Our primary focus is of course Fremont but we also feel it's important to help low-income folks from North Seattle & beyond.]

"We feel that these uses are very different from a congregation using the church, and we are concerned about the potential negative impacts to our quality of life, said a petition signed by 30 residents."I liked it better when it was a homeless shelter, if that tells you something," Ceravolo said. [We have had at least three open neighborhood meetings to hear the fears about future parking problems and so we have an agreement with Zundel to use their large parking lot for our events. We also heard fears about noise, littering, and crowds and have addressed those concerns as well. There are zero validated complaints on file with the city of Seattle.]

St. Paul Lutheran occupied the classic brick church until about 10 year ago. It stood vacant until after the Nisqually Quake in February 2001, when the building was used temporarily as a homeless shelter.

The 93-year-old building is owned by the Mission Investment Fund, an arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which helps member congregations buy land or build new churches.

Phil Roe, who manages property for the investment fund, said he is under the impression that the church and arts group are intertwined.

"I think of the two as the same entity," he said. "When the ministry started, I think having the arts center was a definite part of their planned way of serving the community.

"I think it is integral to this congregation; it is a way to reach out and appeal to new people."

To that end, Mission Investment Fund is paying for renovations to the brick building, including a restaurant and recording studio.

But in recent weeks Fremont Abbey leaders have worked to draw a clear line separating the arts organization and the church. [It is correct that the church supports the concept of their building being used by the community for a variety of non-religious activities. Fremont Abbey Arts curates these activities & has a diverse governing board & neighborhood advisory council. The church & Fremont Abbey Arts are not intertwined however.]

In December, the city awarded a "Small and Simple" matching grant of $14,900 to the Fremont Abbey Arts Center. Ward applied for the grant, raising questions about whether the city was giving money to a church.

Peter McGraw, a spokesman for the city Department of Neighborhoods, which oversees the grants, met earlier this month with Ward and Fremont Abbey organizers to clarify their relationship.

"We expressed our concern about the church and state mingling, and we made it clear to them that no tax dollars can be used for the church," McGraw said.

He said the department has set up partnerships with churches before, on activities such as feeding programs, but it is more comfortable if there is a clear separation.

McGraw said as long as the funds are used for the project the group applied for, and it includes the neighbors, he considers the matter settled for now.

Marion, who has produced events at the Abbey, including The Round series, is the program director -- an unpaid position so far. He said the city money will be used to survey the neighborhood about community programs and events it would like to see offered at the Abbey. [The grant is also for test programming after the survey, during March through May, to see what types of arts programs are successful.]

"There isn't much up here. We want to pull kids in from Fremont and Green Lake. We are understanding more and more what the needs are."

Last week, the audience, most in their 20s and 30s [average age is around 29 & college educated], sipped herbal tea and bottled water, while musicians including The Hope, a Seattle indie group, and Drew Grow, a Portland musician playing pop and garage rock [This is an incorrect statement. Drew Grow was performing with an acoustic guitar & tamborine. See definition of 'garage rock' = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garage_rock ], performed on the small stage framed by a strings of white lights.

Admission was a suggested $5 or $10 donation. As the evening ended, the crowd moved outside in small groups.

Regulars at The Round say the intimate setting keeps them coming back.

"It is rare, it is very authentic and the audience is very supportive," said Curtis Romjue, a local musician who plays with Jubilee, a tropical jazz and reggae group.
"So many people know each other, it is totally a community."

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More headlines and info from Fremont/Phinney Ridge.]]> NEWS http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=6 Fri, 2 Feb 2007 08:32:00 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=7 CLICK HERE for our photo album
abbey sign

]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=7 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:40:06 -0800 http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=5 -------------------------
support
6 pages worth - http://www.fremontabbey.org/support/]]> General http://fremontabbey.org/blog/index.php?itemid=5 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:28:00 -0800