NIMBY

Whats going on this week at NIMBY

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:45:50 +0000

The Steampunk Treehouse is having a little cosmetic surgery. Sean has been pounding, grinding and welding on the treehouse all week. Stop on by to see what it looks like in pieces, many, many pieces.

Along with the Steampunk treehouse there are several other projects happening,

Mark Grieve and Ilana Spector are building a 60 foot tall obelisk for the City of Santa Rosa. Made out of concrete, steel and bicycle parts the obelisk will stand watch over Santa Rosa Avenue.

Marks website is www.markgrieve.com

Hanging from the ceiling any day now will be rings, rings and more rings. Markand Ilana are also working on a San Francisco Arts Commission piece for the new Visitacion Valley Public Library. Somehow Mark and Ilana will be working on both projects at once, they may have clones.

Work continues inside the shop while a movie is shot out back, this is a post apocalyptic movie several years in the making. Here’s the teaser http://www.trashandprogress.com

This was last month when we had an electric roadster testing out its steering and brakes.

Do It for Haiti will be streamed starting today at 2 pm

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:43:54 +0000

DO IT FOR HAITI, a monumetal benefit and clothing drive, Saturday February 20th, 2pm - midnight

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:37:01 +0000

Unprecedented art and sculpture. Activities for children of all ages.

http://pressroom.prlog.org/NIMBYevents/

If you are unable to attend - please donate to the NIMBY Haiti Fund. All proceeds will go to the participating organizations doing work on the ground in Haiti.

Non-monetary donations we can accept:

Clothing (light-weight summer, all sizes)
Shoes, all sizes
Medical Supplies: Gauze, Tape, Neosporin, Tylenol/Advil (Generics OK)
Kotex and Cloth Diapers
Towels and Sheets
Water-proof tents
Plastic Storage Boxes (Large) for packing, shipping and giving Haitians something to store their personal effects in. If you can bring nothing else, bring these!

DO IT FOR HAITI

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:50:42 +0000

DO IT FOR HAITI - A Monumental Benefit and Clothing Drive

Bay Area artists, musicians and performers donate their talents to support local organizations working in Haiti.

Date: Saturday, February 20, from 2:00 p.m. to midnight

Venue: NIMBY - 8410 Amelia Street, Oakland CA 94621

BART accessible, bicycle and car parking available.

Admission: $10 (children under 12 free) Donations of summer weight clothing for children and adults will be accepted on site.

Website: http://www.nimbyspace.org

Phone: 510-633-0506

“DO IT FOR HAITI” offers a staggering roster of performers and a unique opportunity to support Haiti relief efforts, learn first hand about local organizations working in Haiti and get involved with organizations making a difference on the ground. Events will feature performances and live music including socially relevant theater, Afro-Haitian music and dance, monumental sculpture and art events for children.

Events begin at 2:00 p.m., with children’s activities and performances, indoor and outdoor art installations, music and dance.

LEARN from relief workers returning from Haiti and get involved with organizations making a difference.

Architecture for Humanity, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, FONHEP, Kledèv, SOIL, Sirona Cares, What If Foundation, Zanmi Lakay

EXPERIENCE

Live Music and Performance: From Haiti: Kalbass Kreyol, and Rosemond Jolissaint, From the Bay Area: Sila, The Bodice Rippers, Joe Rut and the Ironic Mustache, Fat Chance Belly Dance with NeferTem, Funky Beulah, Diva Marisa, Naima Shalhoub, The Society, Chicken John & Dr. Hal

Childrens Theater and Events: Sustainable Living Road Show, The Life Sized Mouse Trap, Plastic Bag Wallet Making, Face Painting

Art Installations: Flaming Lotus Girls, Omega Recoil – Tesla Coil, The Museum of Unnatural Selection, Life Size Mouse Trap, Therm / Exxotherm, The Department of Spontaneous Combustion, The Disgusting Spectacle

DO D.I.Y / D.I.F.H. projects for all ages

Partnering Organizations:

Architecture for Humanity - San Francisco, CA / Haiti: http://www.architectureforhumanity.org

CARE - San Francisco, CA / Haiti : http://www.care.org

Catholic Relief Services - San Francisco, CA /Haiti :http://www.crs.org/

Fonhep- Haiti http://www.fonhep.ht

Kledèv - San Francisco, CA / Haiti: http://www.kledev.org/

SOIL - San Francisco, CA / Haiti: http://www.oursoil.org/

Sirona Cares - San Francisco, CA /Haiti : http://www.sironacaresblog.com

What If Foundation - San Francisco, CA / Haiti : http://www.whatiffoundation.org/

Zanmi Lakay – Pacifica, CA / Haiti : http://www.zanmilakay.org

Featured Speakers Include:

Jennifer Benorden- Board Member: SOIL, Haiti.

Joe Dacany - EMT: CA–11 Disaster Medical Assistance Team member currently working in Haiti.

Marc D’Silva – CRS : Senior Development Officer for Catholic Relief Services which has been working in Haiti since 1954.

Dana Fischer- Retired USAID education officer in Haiti

Michelle Lacourciere - Sirona Cares: Director: Heading Northern California Haiti Relief Effort with U.S. Coast Guard.

Hilda Oropeza- CARE: Director of Community Partnerships at CARE USA which has been working in Haiti since 1954.

Jen & Guy Panteleon - Zanmi Lakay: Founders who have been working with orphaned children in Haiti since 1997. Currently in Haiti and will be returning for the event.

Margaret Trost - What If Foundation: Founder providing food and education programs to impoverished children in Haiti since 2000.

“DO IT FOR HAITI” Artists and Performers:

From Haiti:

Rosemond Jolissaint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC4qqieq6EY

Seventeen year old Rosemond Jolissaint is one of Haiti’s youngest rising stars. In 2007 he was voted to victory in Haiti’s first annual Digicel Stars competition (the equivalent of American Idol). Since then Rosemond has been attending high school, writing music and performing his music in Haiti and the US to promote social change.

Kalbass Kreyol: http://kalbasskreyol.com/

Led by Haitian-born frontman Sophis, Kalbas Kreyol, is a high-energy Afro-Caribbean band that is best known in the Bay Area for its electrifying and uplifting live performances.

From the Bay Area:

Sila: http://www.victorsila.com/

The Bodice Rippers: http://www.myspace.com/thebodicerippers/

Joe Rutt and the Ironic Mustache: http://www.joerut.com/

Fat Chance Belly Dance with NeferTem: http://www.fcbd.com/

Funky Beulah: http://www.myspace.com/funkybeulah/

Diva Marisa: http://divamarisa.com/

Naima Shalhoub: http://www.myspace.com/naimashalhoub

The Society: http://www.thesocietyrocks.com/

Chicken John & Dr. Hal: http://www.chickenjohn.com/ and http://www.askdrhal.com/

Flaming Lotus Girls: http://www.flaminglotus.com/

Omega Recoil – Tesla Coil: http://www.omegarecoil.com/

The Museum of Unnatural Selection: http://www.themuseumofunnaturalselection.com/

Life Size Mouse Trap: http://www.lifesizemousetrap.org/

Therm / Exxotherm: http://www.therm.biz/

The Department of Spontaneous Combustion: http://www.spontaneousfire.com/

The Disgusting Spectacle” http://www.laughingsquid.com/the-disgusting-spectacle/

Sustainable Living Road Show: http://www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/

Donations of Clothing and Food

During the “DO IT FOR HAITI” benefit on February 20th from 2 pm - midnight, NIMBY will be accepting donations of food and clothing items to send with second-wave relief efforts to Haiti. NIMBY is partnering with Sirona Cares for this drive. All goods will be delivered by the U.S. Coast Guard. For a list of acceptable items visit: http://www.sironacaresblog.com . Contributions will be distributed throughout Haiti to specific locations (schools, churches and orphanages) in the Sirona Cares network. All proceeds from the event will be donated to organizations working directly with Haiti relief efforts.

This event is organized by NIMBY.

DO IT FOR HAITI - February 20th from 2 pm - midnight

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:07:16 +0000

“DO IT FOR HAITI” offers a staggering roster of performers and a unique opportunity to support Haiti relief efforts, learn first hand about local organizations working in Haiti and get involved with organizations making a difference on the ground. Events will feature performances and live music including socially relevant theater, Afro-Haitian music and dance, monumental sculpture and art events for children.

DO IT FOR HAITI on Facebook

Events begin at 2:00 p.m., with children’s activities and performances, indoor and outdoor art installations, music and dance.

Partnering Organizations Include:
Bellot Idovia Foundation-Oakland, CA/ Haiti: http://www.bellotidovia.org
CARE - San Francisco, CA / Haiti : http://www.care.org
Catholic Relief Services - San Francisco, CA /Haiti :http://www.crs.org/
Sirona Cares - San Francisco, CA /Haiti : http://www.sironacaresblog.com
What If Foundation - San Francisco, CA / Haiti : http://www.whatiffoundation.org/
Zanmi Lakay – Pacifica, CA / Haiti : http://www.zanmilakay.org

Live Music and Performance: SF Mime Troupe, Kalbass Kreyol, The Bodice Rippers, The Joe Rut Band, Funky Bula, Marisa Lenhardt, The Society, Chicken John & Dr. Hal and more…
Childrens Theater and Events: Sustainable Living Road Show, The Life Sized Mouse Trap, Plastic Bag Wallet Making, Face Painting
Art Installations: The Flaming Lotus Girls, Robots – Justin Gray, Tesla Coil – Jon Behrens, The Museum of Unnatural Selection by Jen Forbes, Goat Man Dan, Therm / Exxotherm, Thermocracken, Jamie Vaida, The Disgusting Spectacle, Feng Jin, Robot by Adam Ebel
Plus D.I.Y / D.I.F.H. projects for all ages

Featured Speakers Include:
Joe Dacany - EMT: CA–11 Disaster Medical Assistance Team member currently working in Haiti.
Marc D’Silva – CRS : Senior Development Officer for Catholic Relief Services which has been working in Haiti since 1954.
Dana Fischer- Retired USAID education officer in Haiti
Michelle Lacourciere - Sirona Cares: Director: Heading Northern California Haiti Relief Effort with U.S. Coast Guard.
Hilda Oropeza- CARE: Director of Community Partnerships at CARE USA which has been working in Haiti since 1954.
Jen & Guy Panteleon - Zanmi Lakay: Founders who have been working with orphaned children in Haiti since 1997. Currently in Haiti and will be returning for the event.
Margaret Trost - What If Foundation: Founder providing food and education programs to impoverished children in Haiti since 2000.

This event is sponsored by NIMBY. http://www.nimbyspace.org
During the DO IT FOR HAITI benefit on February 20th from 2 pm - midnight, NIMBY will be accepting donations of food and clothing items to send with second-wave relief efforts to Haiti. NIMBY is partnering with Sirona Cares for this drive. All goods will be delivered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Contributions will be distributed throughout Haiti to specific locations (schools, churches and orphanages) in the Sirona Cares network. All proceeds from the event will be donated to organizations working directly with Haiti relief efforts.

Members of the media are welcome.

“DO IT FOR HAITI” Artists and Performers:
Sf Mime Troupe: http://www.sfmt.org
Kalbass Kreyol: http://kalbasskreyol.com/
The Bodice Rippers:http://www.myspace.com/thebodicerippers/
The Joe Rutt Band: http://www.joerut.com/
Marisa Lenhardt: http://www.marisalenhardt.com/
The San Francisco Early Music Society: http://www.sfems.org/
Chicken John & Dr. Hal: http://www.chickenjohn.com/ and http://www.askdrhal.com/
Sustainable Living Road Show: http://www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/
Life Size Mouse Trap: http://www.lifesizemousetrap.org/
Flaming Lotus Girls: http://www.flaminglotus.com/
Robots – Justin Gray: http://www.graywrxfabblog.blogspot.com/
The Museum of Unnatural Selection by Jen Forbes: http://www.themuseumofunnaturalselection.com/
Omega Recoil – Jon Behrens: http://www.omegarecoil.com/
Goat Man Dan: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jay_que/3865397373/
Therm / Exxotherm: http://www.therm.biz/
Jamie Vaida: http://www.artacrossamerica.org/
The Disgusting Spectacle” http://www.laughingsquid.com/the-disgusting-spectacle/
Feng Jin: http://www.dreamcatcherarts.com/
Robot by Adam Ebel: http://www.adamebel.com/

Food and Clothing Drive - February 20th

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:00:39 +0000

During the DO IT FOR HAITI benefit on February 20th from 2 pm - midnight we will be accepting donations of food and clothing items to send with second-wave relief efforts to Haiti. NIMBY is partnering with Sirona Cares to send these items to Haiti. All goods will be delivered by the Coast Guard once second wave relief efforts begin. They will be distributed throughout Haiti to specific locations (schools, churches and orphanages) by the Sirona Cares network in Haiti.

Items we accept:

* Clothing, including new or used underwear, for all ages. It would be incredibly helpful if these donations could be separated (babies, small children, large children, women & men’s clothes).
* Shoes, all sizes
* Food items: non-perishable, ready to eat items
* Medical Supplies: Gauze, Tape, Neosporin, Tylenol/Advil (Generics OK)
* Kotex and Cloth Diapers
* Towels and Sheets
* Plastic Storage Boxes (Large) for packing, shipping and giving Haitians something to store their personal effects in. If you can bring nothing else, bring these!

DO IT FOR HAITI - February 20, 2010

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:37:02 +0000

NIMBY has submitted permit applications to host a relief benefit from which 100% of the proceeds will go to supporting relief efforts in Haiti. Championing this effort are Claire Davis Fischer who grew up in Port-au-Prince while her parents were working with aid organizations and Elizabeth Scott who served in Haiti as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

NIMBY as an organization exists to serve the community. Through this event we hope to do our part to help a nation of people in great crisis. During this event we will have speakers from organizations working on the ground in Haiti, Haitian food and cultural activities, and interactive art and building workshops for children.

An incredible cast of artists and performers have already stepped up to volunteer their time to this important cause. The Life Sized Mouse Trap, Justin Grey’s Robot’s, The Flaming Lotus Girls, The Sustainable Living Road Show, Chicken John and Dr. Hal, John Behren’s Tesla Coil, and many, many others have volunteered to provide art. Musical volunteers include Sila and the Afrofunk Experience, The Bodice Rippers, The Joe Rutt Band, Marissa Lehnhardt, and more.

While some members of our community are able to travel to Haiti to volunteer with aid organizations those of us that are here can do our part as well.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event please email – volunteer@nimbyspace.org

Some Quick Facts about the NIMBY Story

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:36:52 +0000

In today’s issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, Councilman Reid raised a number of concerns with the presence of NIMBY in District 7. Reid is acting in what he believes is the best interest for his district. NIMBY, as a community many thousands strong, has much to offer. NIMBY can bring much to East Oakland. To date, Councilman Reid has not met with us directly. We are confident that we will find many common goals and interests once we meet. Our door is always open.

Here are some facts that may help you to better understand NIMBY’s story.

Prior to NIMBY’s January 2009 relocation to East Oakland the zoning department granted clearance for the operation of light and general artistic industrial production activities at the Amelia Street location. This permit was obtained November 20, 2008 – prior to the finalization of a 10-year lease.

NIMBY filed a pre-application on February 11, 2009 for a minor variance for group assembly for cultural activities. This pre-application was approved March 13, 2009. The full scope and scale of what NIMBY was requesting was presented to Oakland CEDA and we were encouraged to proceed. This process has since been halted by bureaucracy.

Today, Councilman Reid is quoted as saying “They wouldn’t try this in San Ramon or Alameda,” Councilman Larry Reid said. “They perceive this as a poor community so they think it’s OK to pull this kind of insanity. These folks don’t give a crap about my constituents.”

We are Councilman Reid’s constituents. When the Oakland Arts Budget was threatened by budget cuts these very people, the ones Reid chooses to now call “These folks… who don’t give a crap” were right there to support the council’s efforts to keep funding for the arts in Oakland. NIMBY has worked closely with the Oakland Cultural Arts & Marketing Department to bring fantastic artwork to numerous city functions including Uptown Unveiled. Most NIMBY artists live, shop, and work in Oakland. We support local business, volunteer in youth art education programs, teach in schools, and are leaders in repurposing found materials, turning them into inspiring artwork.

Reid has been lobbying city staff to withhold NIMBY’s permits. “The art is not the problem,” he said. “It’s the parties.”

“They’re going to be down here with motorcycles blasting up and down the streets, drinking, throwing trash,” he said. “I’m not going to allow that in my district.”

NIMBY is composed of metal workers, electronics experimenters, craftspeople, artists, tinkerers, glassblowers and so much more. Several people at NIMBY do own motorcycles, none of them blast up and down the street. Ours is a dead end street where Oakland police officers can often be found completing their paperwork.

NIMBY keeps its surroundings neat and tidy. Frequently we collect trash dumped in our neighborhood by other people. Our day-to-day efforts have greatly reduced the amount of litter on our block to almost zero.

Before moving to the new East Oakland location our proximity to the Tassafaronga housing project was discussed in numerous meetings with city officials. Oakland CEDA took the position that NIMBY’s light use in an area zoned for heavy industry would make a good buffer between the residential and industrial zones.

The artists who work at NIMBY in no way represent the financial elite, trust fund kids, or other moneyed interests. As you can see from our fundraising efforts, we are a group of people who have dedicated our lives to art. Those who are lucky enough to make a living solely from their efforts at NIMBY are in the minority. Most are blue collar working men and women who apply their skills to create a more beautiful and astonishing Oakland.

We hope these facts have helped you to understand more of our story. We encourage you to make your voice heard, whether it happens though comments on a newspaper page, voicing ones opinion at a city hall meeting or writing your representatives.

There are three types of people in this world - those who have dealt with the issues NIMBY is dealing with, those who are dealing with the issues NIMBY is dealing with and those who will be dealing with the issues in the future. Which one are you?

Volunteering…

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:07:10 +0000

Interested in volunteering for future events, general clerical and staff support?

We can use you. Badkitty is taking on the volunteering coordination efforts here, and we are excited about what is on our horizon. If you are interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@nimbyspace.org. In your message please include the following information.

Name:
Email:
Phone:
Location:
How you would like to contribute:

You will be contacted with upcoming opportunities.

Thanks and much appreciation.

A Big NIMBY Thank You

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:21:54 +0000

Our Kickstarter campaign was successfully completed 1 day ago. A big thanks to the 314 supporters who stepped up to support NIMBY via Kickstarter. Many have also donated to NIMBY via tax-deductible donations - we could not do this without your support. This goes a long way to helping us continue serving the community.

Gifts and thank you’s are coming soon.