The Mousetrap is on its way East. Several Makers Faires and more, follow along on www.lifesizemousetrap.org
The Konan Express hitched up and ready to hit the road
Follow along with the Lifesize Mousetrap while it heads back east.
Click here to join the journey
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Leather, Drop In Repair Clinic Saturday!
Drop In Repair Clinic Saturday 6/26/2010- 10am to 4pm
Richard Lee is hosting a leather repair clinic where you can bring your Leather and Textile riding gear in for repairs “WHILE YOU WAIT” or alterations to be picked up at a later date.
A PARTIAL LIST OF REPAIRS I CAN PERFORM;
Replace zippers, linings, knit cuffs and waist band. Repair rips, holes, and busted seams. Stitch patches. Full alterations, shorten sleeves and hems, re-cut collars and lapels.
Free estimates on major repairs and alteration. Work dropped off to be picked up at a later date should be ready within 3 to 5 working day.
While you wait repairs are first come, first served and are quick and simple repairs. One or two lines of stitching to close a seam, embroidered patches, snaps & rivets, gloves, boots.
Ask about other sewing services available.
Time and Date; June 26, 2010. From 10am to 4pm
Place: Nimby (www.nimbyspace.org)
8410 Amelia Street (X-85th)
Oakland, CA 94621
E-mail Richard
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MISSING! Partially filmed at NIMBY has hit the silver screen, or LCD, Plasma… anyway…
We are happy to tell you that the film “Missing” was chosen as a finalist for the “Beyond the Still” contest headed by Vimeo/Canon. It is now open for public voting so please be kind enough to check out their film and if you feel as strong about it as we do please vote for it. They will be happy to answer any questions on it after your done viewing it ;). Here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/groups/beyondthestill/ Click on the movie missing or go right to the movie here Here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/12477897
Check out all the movies and if you think theirs is the best then vote. If you don’t and feel like voting for theirs anyways, well they will be much obliged.
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SYZYGRYD
Syzygryd is taking shape with this week. The center is looking great and the flanges are going on the big tubes this week. Check out the syzygryd website!
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MILKTROPOLIS
Check out the Milktropolis
This is under construction here at NIMBY!
The Steampunk Tree house is getting ready to
head East!
The first truck is being loaded right now and the second shortly after, almost 100 feet of space will be used to hold all the parts to the newly refurbished tree house. You can find more info about this project at the Steampunk Tree house website.
Long before ROTFL and TTYL, there was NIMBY: “Not In My Back Yard!” The acronym doesn’t always stand for a vow to fight local zoning ordinances; it’s also the name of a do-it-yourself, industrial art space in Oakland, California, that provides artists with a place to make what would be impossible to create elsewhere. One of our Open Arts Network partners, NIMBY enables projects with a high wow-factor, such as Steam Punk Tree House and Lifesize Mouse Trap (as in the board game), to be realized. Business manager Rachael Norman told me more about this hub of innovation…
Would you briefly describe NIMBY and its mission?
NIMBY is a large (64,000-square-foot) DIY space in East Oakland that serves the Bay Area’s industrial art community. Metal workers, jewelers, dreamers, musicians, engineers, plumbers, electricians, computer programmers, and tinkerers creating projects large and small can all be found working at NIMBY. Steel shipping containers are the building blocks of the NIMBY shop space, and are centered around shared common work areas. At NIMBY you can create anything from the smallest electronic device to some of the largest sculptures seen in the world.
When and how did NIMBY get started?
NIMBY began in a 28,000-square-foot warehouse in West Oakland. Michael Snook founded NIMBY, with no initial investment, in April of 2004. Steel shipping containers were purchased and brought to the space one at a time as funds allowed. Snook intended to set up a functional facility in which to work on projects, and has formed an organization that supports thousands of artists each year.
How far do artists working at NIMBY come from?
Each year, we support thousands of artists and craftspeople from far and wide who want to build a great variety of projects. Most NIMBY artists reside in the San Francisco Bay Area, but artists from as far away as New York, Europe and Australia use NIMBY to create large-scale works that will be shown in the western United States. Large-scale works built here can been found at Burning Man, Maker Faire, Coachella, and exhibitions and museums around the world.
What programs and services do you provide for artists?
NIMBY not only offers workspace to create, but supports its artists with resources, assistance in sourcing re-purposed material, storage of art pieces, logistical and technical guidance, and networking. This supportive culture, shared by all members of the NIMBY community, is at the root of the amazing art that emerges from its doors. As we have grown, programs have been developed to provide discounted trucking rates for artists and assistance in seeking grant funding for projects, as well as to coordinate paid opportunities for artists to show their artwork.
So, hosting and supporting large-scale projects, performances and artworks -– things that other spaces might not have room for — is really NIMBY’s specialty…
NIMBY is best known for supporting large-scale projects such as Colossus, the Steampunk Tree House, and Lifesize Mouse Trap. When Snook founded NIMBY he found that there was a lack of facilities that had both the space and heavy equipment needed to support such projects. While many artists work at home or in smaller shops, the space and resources needed to create large-scale works of art can quickly become overwhelming to an individual. When many artists share a much larger space, the costs can be kept much lower.
It takes an incredible amount of effort and dedication to manage a space like NIMBY. Volunteers add much to the effort of growing and sustaining us. It is no small task to make a facility like this safe, affordable, function and legal.
Do you sponsor/host events both on-site and off-site?
From time to time NIMBY does host events. Historically, these events have ranged in size from large gatherings to small performances and exhibitions. Over the years there have been robot operas, project fundraisers, and most recently, DO IT FOR HAITI, a monumental benefit and clothing drive.
As NIMBY has grown, great efforts have been made to work with the City of Oakland to be able to host a variety of events at our space. Unfortunately, the expense and time involved in this have made small events, exhibitions, and performances impossible to host in our new location at this time.
What is one fact about your organization that you wish was more widely known?
NIMBY has always been supported entirely by our community. Thousands of supporters and volunteers are the only reason NIMBY continues to thrive. We are an entirely self-supporting organization, and this is no small feat.
Have you seen an increase in demand for any of your services in particular during this recession?
During these tough economic times we have been seeing local city governments looking to increase revenue by ensuring that all businesses in their jurisdiction are fully code compliant. This trend has raised operating costs to such a level that individual artists cannot come in to compliance, a situation that is often compounded by the fact that artists frequently work in older buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Because NIMBY has gone through the process of being compliant with fire and building department regulations, we have seen an increase in artists interested in working in our space.
When and how do you know that you are succeeding in your mission?
When NIMBY is bustling with activity and brimming over with projects, new ideas and creativity. It is inspiring to be a part of workdays during which hundreds of people are working together and making the impossible possible before our eyes.
How people can get involved with NIMBY?
To get involved, email volunteer@nimbyspace.org.
Wherever you find Joe Rut you’ll find a fifth!
Joe Rut is celebrating the release of his 5th CD, “Injured While Faking own Death” with a very special show at the Great American Music Hall, Friday, April 30. If you see him once this year, please come to this one!!
Wonderful and surreal comedian Will Franken is opening the show, and Joe’s gonna be joined by an amazing band including fiddler Jason Kleinberg, pedal steeler Joe Goldmark, drummer John Hanes, bassist Dave Jess, Guitarist Danny Allen, Steve Lucky on piano and Hammond B3 organ, and singer Val Esway, as well as other special guests! Joe will be playing songs from the new CD as well as tunes from his first 4 albums. Help spread the word!
Joe Rut w/ special guest Will Franken
Friday April 30
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
Doors 8/show 9
$14
Tickets on sale beginning Sunday, Feb 28th.
www.gamhtickets.com
12 Minutes
Thats how far we are from the old NIMBY, only 12 minutes, 93.2% of the time and the rest of the time it rarely goes more than 16 minutes.
DIY Yurt Workshop:
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The Burning Man Special Events Team is supporting a number of free, interactive workshops — by Burners for Burners — designed to share the skills and expertise of our community. These workshops are intended to further the principles of gifting and radical self-reliance using tools that are readily available. Our 3rd workshop this year is off-site at NIMBY in glorious E. Oakland – check it out!
DIY Yurt Workshop: How To Build and Set Up a Yurt.
Sun 4/25
2pm – 4pm presentation & hands-on demo led by (boy)blondie
at NIMBYspace, 8410 Amelia St., Oakland CA
directions: http://www.nimbyspace.org/contact/
Amelia is a small dead-end street off 85th Ave w/good parking!
This workshop will cover:
- A brief history of the Mongolian yurt, including advantages over teepees and other similar structures.
- A review of the different yurt materials and why I chose the ones I did.
- Basic tools you’ll need.
- Construction tips and techniques.
- Making jigs for cutting slats and drilling holes.
and some experienced-burner advice:
- How to set a yurt up and keep it from flying away!
We’ll be outside in the sun, or in the warehouse if it rains.
Please dress accordingly.
RSVP to hold your spot to Terry <helpishere@sbcglobal.net>
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Norville Parchment, Open Studios>
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SOMA ARTISTS STUDIOS. A DYNAMIC WORKPLACE FOR ARTISTS OF MANY DISCIPLINES.
Coome see Norville Parchment in his new studio and check out his new set of paintings. Please join him for some wine and treats and to see the new paintings.
30+ artists will be displaying their work in an incredible variety of media, including ceramics, collage, glass, drawing, furniture, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and more.
Date:
Friday, April 16, 2010
Time:
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:
SOMA Artists Studios
Street:
689 Bryant st
City/Town:
San Francisco, CA
UPDATE ON ARTS ACTION:
Many thanks to all of you who took time to contact the City Council and to those who came to the meeting at City Hall. This made a difference! You were heard and the results were good.
Margo Dunlap wrote:
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The Oakland City Council responded optimistically to the Arts Action. Kernighan is on record for stating her support for a mitigated cut at 15%. De La Fuente stated he will not support the cuts to the Arts. Nadel stated that the Arts are an economic development tool and that the Arts bring people together. Brooks and Kaplan stated their support for maintaining the Arts.
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This is not over, you can still send letters and emails to the Oakland City Council. Those of you from out of town can express how much you spend in Oakland/Alameda County when you come here to see performances, art exhibits, etc. The Council will be voting on this in the next few weeks, lets keep up the momentum and see that we are heard.
B. Council Contacts:
District 1, Jane Brunner, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7001;
District 2, Pat Kernighan,pkernighan@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7002;
District 3, Nancy Nadel, nnadel@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7003;
District 4, Jean Quan, jquan@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7004;
District 5, Ignacio de la Fuente. idelafuente@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7005;
District 6, Desley Brooks, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7006;
District 7, Larry Reid, lreid@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7007
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan, rkaplan@oaklandnet.com (510) 238-7008
Not sure who your council member is? Click here to find out:
Additional Resources and References available online: Click here for more info
Happy Easter from all of us at NIMBY
Wednesday March 31, 2010
Email Councilman Larry Reid >
As many of you have probably already heard The Oakland City Council is having a meeting this Thursday, April 1st. Item #8 is to cut the Cultural Arts Trust budget 50%, yes, fifty percent!
Oakland has one of the highest, if not the highest, number of people per capita who list their occupation Artist. What good are the arts? The arts span all ages, cross all boundaries and open our imagination to possibilities. Art challenges our intellect, temps our emotions and creates a vehicle for social interactions that may otherwise never materialize. Art can range from wildly abstract to extremely concrete, pleasant to disturbing, peaceful to riotous, art affects us individually and as a group but the bottom line is without art there will be a very, very large void.
The Oakland City Council needs to hear from you today! This is not something you can let slide or try to get to later, you need to act and act now. Oakland is a leader in the arts and to let the budget be cut will just be the first ripple through the entire arts community. Cities throughout the United States pay attention to what other cities are doing. When we take a stand and let the government know what we want they will listen. In 2008 we stood up and were heard, the budget was saved, we can do it again! Take the time to write the Oakland City Council. We have made it very easy, our website at NIMBY is all set up for you to just copy our sample letter, click the email address, paste the letter and put your name on it. Yes, it would be better if you would take a few minutes to write a letter but at the very least copy and paste one today.
Check history, it is full of nations and empires that disappeared when its citizens no longer held their core beliefs and values, one person can make a difference.
As of Tuesday we understand Councilman Reid had only received twenty letters defending the Arts budget, lets bump that number up! Be heard now, there is no second chance.
*****SAMPLE LETTER**** Copy the following letter:
Dear Councilperson Reid,
As a patron of the arts I am opposed to any reduction of the Oakland Cultural Arts Budget. When you cut the arts you kill imagination, imagination that could lead to the next great scientific breakthrough, discovery of a more efficient source of energy or the conversation that makes friends out of enemies.
The arts play a very important role in society, one that must not be sacrificed. The arts are the fertile grounds that breed musicians, sculptors, doctors, scientists, engineers and on and on. The arts keep history alive. Think of one aspect of your life not affected by art; your family, your home, the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, the books you read. Art affects virtually every aspect of your life, and my life. Mr. Reid, I implore you to keep the budget intact and to preserve the arts.
Respectfully,
Once you have copied this letter click this link and it will open your email and address it to Councilman Larry Reid, District 7, Oakland.
Email Councilman Larry Reid One Click Letter >
lreid@oaklandnet.com
