— from Maria Bullock —
On March 30th & 31st, the final Island Aerial Acrobatics performance, called “Connected,” is scheduled at the Orcas Center. Community support is needed to make this performance a reality.
The Island Aerial Acrobatics program, also known as “silks class,” is in its 9th year of teaching students balance, coordination, self confidence, and aerial routines. Maria Bullock heads up the program with close to 120 students, ages 1 & up, attending classes each week.
“It feels like we have created a safe place for all ages to come and play, grow, and be active together, ” says Maria. “This upcoming performance will be a celebration of almost a decade of classes taught.”
Additionally, the silks program needs to find a new home. The space that is required must have the infrastructure to safely hold the weight of the students and equipment, as well as be heated, and reasonably priced.
Here are a few ways you can support this community arts program:
• Come to the show
• Bring your friends to the show
• Make a donation to help produce the show
• Help the program find a permanent home
Please go to islandaerialacrobatics.com to hear testimonials from students, donate, or to find out more information about this program.
It is quite unfortunate that this fabulous community program is no longer able to be supported and located at the Orcas Center, OUR Community Performing Arts Center. The founding vision, mission and donations that created Orcas Center years ago are no longer respected and represented in the current leadership.
The Orcas Center is a LOCAL treasure and I hope that there will sonehow be an epiphany as to who the users of this facility are, and what is possible to “ bring it home” again.
What is the amount of money needed in order to support this group ?
Gretchen – Maria’s piece does not tell you that Orcas Center has not even received a proposal from Ms Bullock for Silks for the next year. Further, no one in leadership has told her she must find a different location for the Silks program. We have told her that Orcas Center cannot provide her with long term exclusive use of the black box, which is high demand rehearsal/performance space. I have personally stood before the “Silks parents” and assured them Orcas Center values and supports this program, as we have for 9 years. It is totally unfair and incorrect to take any position that Orcas Center has not and does not support the Silks. If you care about the facts, I am prepared to speak to you about it. Tom Fiscus, President, Orcas Center Board of Trustees
Let’s talk soon, Tom. There is much that I need to learn, and share, about the OC.
Thank you, Tom. Facts still matter. The divisive, ill-informed rhetorical barbs that spark comments for the sake of who knows what (on any number of important topics on island) have got to be called out.
Pierrette Guimond— Island Aerial Acrobatics has a website with more information about the program and ways to support it. Here is the link:
https://islandaerialacrobatics.com
To all who are discussing whether Ms. Bullock has been in communication with OC about continuing IAA at OC, I’d like to reiterate an earlier comment that facts do matter.
FACT: IAA was told months ago that to stay at OC, the rent would have to raised significantly.
FACT: IAA has specifically expressed to Board members the wish to continue IAA at OC. In fact, the matter was discussed last Monday at the Board meeting.
FACT: IAA has repeatedly asked about pricing for continued rental and not received an answer.
IAA, and other organizations who have used OUR Orcas Center as practice and performspace have been struggling with the current leadership’s engagement and communications. Granted, resourcing a facility like tge OC requires astute business practices AND a level of engaged community support. Over the past 25 years, the Orcas Center has hit highs and lows. My experience of how our longtime OC artists, musicians, and programs have been alienated and put-off is disheartening.
As a board, how ready, willing and able are you to listen deeply to the feedback of your fellow islanders?
OUR Orcas Center? How is it OUR Orcas Center?
For me, it’s OUR Orcas Center most personally in that for 17 years I have rehearsed every Tuesday night except in summers with the Orcas Choral Society. I have performed on stage with the Choral Society twice a year, and with Orcas A Capella several times before it disbanded. I have been a Villager 3 times in “Christmas Carol” with music written by OUR Jim Bredouw and directed by OUR Deborah Sparks and OUR Melinda Milligan. I have portrayed a member of the mob in “Jesus Christ Superstar”
I have been engaged with MY neighbors at the following events that took place at Orcas Center:
Community talent shows/fundraisers like “Whale of a Show” “North Pacific” “Orcas Idol” and “Orcas Has Talent”
Community theatrical/musical productions like “Spamalot” “Enchanted April” “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” “Across the Universe” “Beauty and the Beast” “Gypsy!” “Rock of Orcas” “Great Expectations” “Miracle Worker” “Galileo” “True West” Enchanted Forest “Cabarets” “The Fantasticks”and “Dead Man Cell Phone.” Also the concerts of Islands Sinfonia and the Community Band.
I have enjoyed the live streaming from the Bolshoi Ballet, England’s National Theatre and the NY Metropolitan Opera, brought to us by request from OUR audiences who have SPONSORED these filmings at Orcas Center so WE can enjoy them.
I have been informed about scientific, cultural and governmental affairs by national figures as well as by OUR islanders Kevin Ranker, Sarah Stillman, Hedrick Smith, Jens Kruse, Adam Farish and Bruce Pavitt.
I have attended receptions honoring islanders like Catherine Pederson, Marilyn Anderson, Patty Monaco, Ted Grossman and Rachel Adams.
I have been embarrassed at dance classes with Sara Thompson even as I enjoyed her grace
I have luxuriated in the music and good humor of the Chamber Music Festival, in the films of the Orcas Film Fest and the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, in “One World” benefits and the Jazz Festival, and I look forward to the inaugural LitFest this April
I have marveled in the artwork displayed by the Visual Arts Committee, which changes monthly.
That’s just some of what I’ve gotten from Orcas Center in the last 17 years.
and here’s some of what I’ve given as a volunteer to OUR Center:
annual memberships (at the minimum level)
business sponsorships (mostly in-kind)
event sponsorships
volunteer at Galas and receptions
postering
worked on clean-up committees
So please consider what you have done to help OUR community/performance center as you also consider your dissatisfactions with how OUR Orcas Center has served US.
We can all do better. As my mentor and Community leader Pat Pomeroy said when I was railing about a member of OUR team, “There’s no future in neighbor fighting neighbor.”
Thanks for considering,
Margie Doyle
Amen, Margie. One can wring one’s hands or roll up one’s sleeves, but not both at the same time.
As both a member of the IAA family as well as someone who grew up here I feel the need to point out several things. Number 1 the Orcas center has, ( not necessarily intentionally) alienated many local artists, both performance artists as well as others. Number two. It is OUR ORCAS CENTER, it is a community facility and should be willing and able to work with all of our local artists, from dance to theatre to aerial to visual. Number three the center is NOT what it used to be, I think we can all agree on that point! I have and am still willing to volunteer time and energy to creating a FRESH START AT ORCAS CENTER, an all inclusive facility where the many exceptionally talented artists in our community have a facility to house their creativity and inspire our community.