OS at the core of arts/sustainability gathering in May '09?

Matilda Leyser mleyser at mac.com
Thu Aug 7 17:33:37 PDT 2008 

Harrison,

Yes, yes and YES! In response to your question as to my and Phelim's  
whereabouts, we are in the process of trying to do just what you  
describe -  at the paradoxical, unifying rock face of open space - an  
extraordinary climb. in Phelim's case this involves opening space in  
the middle of a Broadway rehearsal room! I am sure he will tell his  
own stories of this in time.....

Matilda x

On 6 Aug 2008, at 21:23, Harrison Owen wrote:

> Wonderful! The secret I think -- is don't make it too complicated,  
> don't try
> and explain it -- just open a lot of space/time for wonderful art.  
> There is
> a lot of tradition about this, starting more than 10 years ago when  
> a good
> friend conducted an Open Space for the Arts Councils of America (a  
> project
> of the Pew Foundation) -- 2 days in Open Space with a theme  
> something like
> Bringing Art to America. When people announced their sessions at the  
> opening
> they often did it in their own art form. Dancers danced it --  
> singers sang
> it, and musicians made the music. There were no "special  
> performances" --
> everything was performance. And it truly rocked! And it was also very
> substantive with careful attention the sorts of things that Art's  
> Councils
> need to pay attention to -- but there was no distinction between art  
> and
> life. It was all one glorious unity -- which is what true art is all  
> about,
> I think. Lots of details and connections if you want. Phelim and  
> Matilda --
> where are you???
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 189 Beaucaire Ave
> Camden, ME 04843
> 207-763-3261 (Summer)
> 301-365-2093 (Winter)
> Website www.openspaceworld.com
> Personal Website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of  
> Patricia
> Haines
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 2:05 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: OS at the core of arts/sustainability gathering in May '09?
>
> ARTS AT THE HEART OF A SUSTAINABLE WORLD, a global initiative  
> grounded by
> the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and Earth  
> Charter
> USA, is starting to plan for a three-day gathering in New York City  
> in early
> May, 2009.
>
> The purpose of this event will be for participants - artists,  
> educators,
> sustainability activists - to share information, energy and  
> inspiration
> about how they are calling on the ARTS as a catalyst for addressing  
> the UN
> Millennium Goals and Earth Charter ethical/action agendas.
>
> Arts at the Heart grew out of an Open Space in Raleigh, NC in March  
> '06,
> hosted by the US Partnership for the UN Decade - facilitated by Steve
> Cochran and Chris Weaver, who was amazing and remains a vibrant  
> inspiration
> for all this project is doing now and growing toward.
>
> I want the May '09 gathering to have another Open Space at its core  
> - though
> we'll invite participants to offer performances, poetry readings,
> exhibitions of their art work, hands-on workshops, collective music  
> and
> dancing too.
>
> My organization (the Level Green Institute - which has guest rooms  
> if anyone
> ever wants to visit Ithaca, ny) will be organizing the event, but it  
> will be
> co-hosted by Earth Charter USA and the Youth Caucus of the UN  
> Environmental
> Program. We're in conversation about possibilities for space at the UN
> itself, as part of UNEP's 3-week meetings in May.
>
> We're also working with the Danish Consulate in NYC to call on the  
> Danish
> Folk School heritage as another frame for our goal to mobilize the  
> arts as a
> catalyst for building a sustainable world. Little is known about the  
> Folk
> School in the US, but the movement started in the 1840s as part of the
> grassroots democracy movement that enthralled all of Europe at that  
> time -
> and everything began with singing, music and embracing the richness of
> distinct cultural identities. No matter what the particular focus,  
> and each
> School had its own unique approach, there were intentional  
> connections with
> host communities, and music and dancing woven in with the most-often
> action-oriented curriculum. By 1900 it had spread around the globe,  
> very
> quietly providing a framework for community-based, non-credit,
> non-degree-related interdisciplinary, residential explorations of what
> experiencing full humanity - in the context of responsibility to  
> community -
> can mean for active
> democratic citizenship. The past 20 years or so have seen a  
> resurgence of
> folk school activity everywhere in the world - including in the US -  
> but US
> initiatives haven't been included in the growing world network.
>
> I'll be starting funding searches in early September - anyone  
> interested in
> working with me to organize this Open Space? we'll need an experienced
> facilitator (or two), who will be written into the budget.
>
> I didn't do well with the Open Space I myself facilitated in April, at
> Ithaca's symposium on Greening the Arts - there weren't enough   
> people, and
> none of them knew about or were prepared for the challenge that Open  
> Space
> offers.
>
> I really need your help to make this work - and I'd love to hear  
> your ideas
> of how we can make this gathering as effective and heart-inspiring  
> as the
> March '06 Open Space that sparked the vision in the first place.
>
> Thank you - Patricia Haines, Ithaca, NY (607) 339-9472
>
> PS: does anyone have contact information for Chris Weaver? the email  
> I had
> is no longer working, and the phone on the only web presence is cut  
> off.
> Thanks -
>
>
> LEVEL GREEN - fostering sustainable community through collaborative
> initiatives in hospitality, education and the arts, in the 150 year- 
> old
> democratic  spirit of the Danish Folk School
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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