contACT ARTS was formed to express new goals under a name connected with it’s vision..to offer conscious art a platform… A new direction for Xdrop (the old name) which served it’s communities faithfully for 5 years strong (2003-2008) as a company ’seldom on a mission but always on the road less traveled.’ Still under the same non profit status and commitment to providing honest service and original production, this Indie Arts Organization is gearing up to set out on advocating the Arts while strengthening communication between artists and audiences.
After touring for 5 months through the U.S. last year, and driving by a thousand gas stations, wal-marts, and fast food chains, I wanted to start working on an “Angry American Tour” to be featured at some of these locations…and funny enough, John Moran of the Sonoma Arts Council called when I relocated myself back to Northern California…he wondered if I would be interested in performing site-specifically around town for the fall Fringe Festival…I asked what he thought of gas station shows and he loved it…so with his help, much hard work and determination the Sustainable Choreography Series has started to evolve. I’ll be performing with local musician, Mike Wilson for our shows opening August 30th…along with trying not to get run over, I hope to expose people to progressive art who don’t normally get the opportunity.
In May, contACT sponsored a benefit at the World Beat Center in San Diego for Archi’s Acres (small organic farm in Escondido, CA) and their new program, Veteran Sustainable Agriculture Training which helps veterans gain jobs and experience working on their farm. Mimi Kennedy (our host), Bree Walker and Francine Busby showed up to offer their support…very cool to know that Karen and Colin Archipley of Archi’s Acres are getting up on their feet…quite the pair, those two…contACT will continue to be their fiscal sponsor and collecting donations on their behalf. The International Dance Exchange Alliance (IDEA), a project I started 10 months ago, now has over 100 members from 5 countries. I look forward to our continued progress.
I recently learned that we aren’t allowed to street perform on public property in Santa Rosa. I’ve called the City to find out what’s going on..they did return my call to say that they are working on allowing permits but cannot tell me when this will come into fruition or what is being discussed in their meetings..hmm…Tara at the City Manager’s office is whom I’ll be contacting again… Seems I missed out on a protest gathering downtown concerning Santa Rosa’s situation with denying street performers a place in their society. I’d like to hope that a town I now call my home will be able to embrace Art as a valuable part of daily life.
I’ve been thinking that we should have an Artist National Park in this country since we as Artists are an endangered species…
Big wet thanks to Julia Holland and her company, Blue Penguin Consulting for donating services to our new website…and to the musicians hard at work on the new show…of course, the Board…and to all of you who come to shows and for your support all these years. It’s been a long journey so far which now seems like just the beginning…from the fan mail to the hate mail, it’s all coming up roses somehow..
