WS2MS: Communique from Co-organizer Fawn Potash

Bravo everybody!  My sincerest gratitude for making Wall Street to Main Street into this most amazing constellation of exhibits, workshops, seminars, performances, tours and cool stuff.  I intend to write each one of you a personal thank-you note with copies of our press clippings, but until then, I want you to know what a meaningful experience this has been for me in meeting and getting to know your work and passions.  It has been a personal and community-wide education.  Like many Occupy events, it has demonstrated many of the principles of the movement in action.  

There are many intangible results.  At the most basic level, WS2MS supports the idea that we, along with people all over the world can speak and act on our own behalf.   If we have not changed any minds, we have at least provoked conversation and offered opportunities for engagement and education at every level and sensibility.  We have worked well with all of Catskill's community stakeholders giving us a successful track record and deeper connection to our neighbors.  Plus Catskill has buzz.  Even if people didn't make it to Main Street in person, there's no way they missed the PR storm.   People know we are here now. 

The tangible results have great import for Catskill too.  This project played a major role in attracting several paying residential and storefront tenants.  The long dormant Civil War era factory building, Union Mills has found a buyer, who sees the historic value of this property and its potential as a cultural linchpin on Main Street.  There's much more, but we can go into more detail as we put together the project archive.  

Your gift to Catskill and the audiences we have engaged is unquantifiably valuable.  I hope we will be able to come up with some creative way to publicly acknowledge your contribution in a lasting way.

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Radical Ice Cream Social

Benefit: OCCUPY TRIBES NOW

[From BB]

Dear Artists,

I would like to invite you to participate in the OCCUPY TRIBES NOW show at A Gathering of the Tribes gallery from February 17th to February 26th. A Gathering of the Tribes, a multi-cultural arts organization, was created in 1991 and has been a source of inspiration for a large and diverse group of young artists, musicians, and writers. Steve Cannon, the executive director who is blind, founded Tribes as a place to help emerging talents and display the diverse community of the Lower East Side. As some of you know, Steve Cannon is currently being threatened with eviction from his apartment at 285 E. 3rd Street, 2nd Fl. New York City, New York. As Steve and his lawyers fight to save Steve’s home and A Gathering of the Tribes, it is important that Tribes Gallery maintain its position in the community showcasing visual art in its gallery.

OCCUPY TRIBES NOW will present 2-D or 3-D work that relates to housing and human rights issues. All work should be priced to sell for between $50 and $100. The money from the sale of the work will be a donation made by the artist to help Steve Cannon and A Gathering of the Tribes with legal bills.

Note: There is no budget to cover shipping and handling costs at this time. Participating artists will be responsible for the delivery and pickup of their work.

Note: Participating artists will be asked to volunteer for gallery sitting hours.

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