Ka-Boom: Karol Collymore’s Art Explosion This Friday

Sunday, 02 May 2010 22:37 | Written by Byron

VOTE FOR ART: They are people in your life you may not agree with.

We call these people enemies.

But sometimes, even enemies can come together, if the cause is important enough to both of them.

For example, musician/writer Stephen Marc Beaudoin and I have never been what you could call “close.”

Our war of words with each other has lasted almost two years now. But someone has recently thawed out our friend “status.”

And that person is Karol Collymore.

Although we don’t see eye to eye on various issues Beaudoin and I do agree on one thing: we’d both like to see Karol (above at Candidates Gone Wild) fill the seat of her former boss, Jeff Cogen, and become a Multnomah County Commissioner.

In fact, Beaudoin, alongside Bryan Boyd, Caryn Brooks, Courtenay Hameister, Matthew Koren, Jimmy Radosta, and Gretchen Schackel, has gone as far as creating an arty event in support of Collymore. Here’s what he has to say about their upcoming “Art Explosion” for Collymore.

Why do you support Karol Collymore?

Stephen Marc Beaudoin: I support Karol because she's smart, she knows how the county works, she's a hard worker, she's deeply committed to this community, she's a passionate progressive, she understands the role of arts and culture in sustaining vibrant and healthy communities... should I go on? Plus she rocks it on the fashion front, and knows her way around a dance floor. She listens, and she responds. There's nobody like her in Portland.

How important is it for the creative community to get involved in local or national politics?

The creative community has GOT to get organized and get involved in politics at every level. Our work as artists, designers, musicians, writers, arts and culture organizations and on and on—it all has a major impact on this community's economic health, on education and job creation, on community development. Some politicians are good at reaching out to us and inviting us to the table (Mayor [Sam] Adams is one, much to his credit), some are not. But the time is past for artists and creatives to wait to be invited. We need to demand our place in political discourse and policy-making, in every community, with every race, speaking with every candidate.

Click on "Read more" below to find out what an "art explosion" is....

Should we expect more collaboration between the arts and political communities if this event goes well?

I'm doing what I can, with support from the amazing community of artists and creatives in this town, to support a candidate that I am deeply passionate about. I can't write Karol a check for $1,000, or even half that. I work a day job and produce arts events and perform as a musician - so many of the creative folks in this town are living check to check, that's not surprising. But if we can bring 100 or 150 or more of us all together, and each pay $15 or $25 a pop to support Karol - that's where some magic happens, right there. Karol's is truly a grassroots campaign, and this event is truly a grassroots event. And why shouldn't there be more arts meets politics events, fundraising or otherwise? I hope lots more people will jump into the fray once this event is a success.

What do you think Karol can do at the county level for the arts and culture community?

Karol and I have been talking a lot over the last few months about the role of arts and culture in the regional community here, especially at the county level. Believe it or not, there's an actual Multnomah County Cultural Plan, which was originally developed under the auspices of County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey way back in 2003. A major function of that plan is the support of and advocacy for Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, which receives funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust and awards grants to worthy County arts organizations - the plan also outlines priorities for supporting arts and culture activities and organizations throughout the County. So without getting too wonky about it, I will say this: I know Karol will work to protect our limited but hugely important cultural funding streams (RACC and the Cultural Trust among them); I know and trust that Karol will find unique and innovative ways to bring artists to the table in her work as County Commissioner. Plus she was the sole endorsement by the Oregon art-PAC (political action committee) in the race: they've recognized her vision and support of arts and culture, too.

What is an "Art Explosion"?

Well, the amazing [writer] Caryn Brooks came up with that brilliant phrase, and it just seemed so appropriate for Karol, who is herself an explosion of talent and ideas and energy and goodness, and I just loved the idea of mashing up a bunch of really unique performers and artists in one room, on one night, for a riot of energy and fundraising and fun. This art explosion features the likes of fEARnoMUSIC (a string quartet of Oregon Symphony players tearing through Elvis Costello songs, and I'm singing); the awesome sax quartet Quartette Barbette, Jimmy Radosta doing a reading from his wacky one-man show, photo-faerie Wayne Bund mixing it up with an interactive photo booth, and there's gonna be a knockout star guest (or two) that I won't reveal... yet.

And most importantly, who will be there and what will they be wearing?

It's going to be quite a scene. Our co-hosts are the inimitable Courtenay Hameister, from LiveWire, and the aptly named Glenn Goodfellow, and I've heard Ms. Hameister will be wearing Chanel couture and Mr. Goodfellow will be in Seth Aaron Henderson. OK, I really have no idea what Glenn and Courtenay will be wearing, but that would be hot. Peeps like Bryan Boyd, Aaron Ridings, Bridget Pilloud, LeAnn Locher and Jonny Shultz have RSVP'd so far, and EVERYONE is welcome! And everyone should be looking fierce and ready to party and throw down for Karol. We're also hoping for a LARGE presence at the show—and god knows what amazing gown she'll be poured in to.

"Art Explosion for Karol!" 7 pm- 10 pm Friday, May 7, FireByrd Studios, 409 SW 13th Ave., $15-$30 donation at the door. All ages.

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