Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1987)
Creating Our Own Culture THE OPEN DOOR N EW AGE CENTER Last issue Mark wrote about our small rural community grow ing together and creating our own culture in the woods. I am a part o f that cultural force through my own concert production business Jemma Crae Productions. This is my story o f how came to be a special part o f our community culture. , Harmonic Convergence Meditation Sunday, August 16 7:30 p. m. / Meditation With Ishvara Wednesdays 7:30 p.m . and Sundays 10 a. m. Private Sessions Available — Graham. B Y J E M M A C R A E By 1985 the calls were coming in fairly hen the Roseburg Gay & Lesbian steady and I decided to form my own pro duction company, Jem Productions, and Alliance was formed in 1980 we go it alone. In that year I produced nine created an organization that satisfies our concerts, three of them in the month of need for social, political and educational February. It was an exhausting year. I was outlets. At first, the main purpose of doing all the work myself and was not GALA was to organize and maintain the satisfied with the halls available to me 24 hour Gay & Lesbian switchboard because of funding rules, rental prices and (672-4126), which is still going strong. homophobic attitudes. I would guarantee But over the years GALA has become an artist $100 for a concert. Usually 20-40 much more. We have business meetings people would attend at $5.00 sliding scale. I would encourage those that couldn’t af ford the concert to come free. Also I had begun to improve my media contacts by sending press releases to the radio stations KSOR and KLCC, the Roseburg paper. The News Review, as well as putting up my own flyers around town. Muscians that came in were Linda Allen, Betsy Rose, Musica Femina, Holly Graham, Geof Morgan and Judy Fjell. In one of the pro ductions Lee Lynch read excerpts from her novel. The Swashbuckler and Tee Corinne showed her slide show. The Lesbian Fam ily Tree. I produced two events on my land that summer, Rys, a Eugene guitarist/ comedian, and Hannah Blue Heron and Pear Times Child who read from their writings. Both of these concerts were located in a cool wooded area complete with a potluck feast and lots of socializing. for political action, speakers bureau, I slowed down in 1986 and produced library and newsletter for information and only four concerts, Romanovsky and Phil education, parties and dances for fundrais lips, Judy Fjell, Musica Femina, Criona, a ers and fun, switchboard theater for video Celtic music group from Ashland with Pat movies, and concerts to see and hear O ’Scannell and Susan Carney. I needed to feminist and gay musicians, actors, artists and writers. produce fewer concerts in order to stave off burnout. Also I was fortunate to find a I got involved in producing events quite “ home” for my concerts with a local arts by accident. In the spring of 1982 I was center devoted to performing, as well as contacted through the switchboard by a woman from the Boston Lesbian and Gay visual arts. In 1987 my production company became History Project wanting to come to Rose Jemma Crae Productions. I designed my burg to present the slide show, “ Our own logo for a business card that I had Boston Heritage.’'I said “ Yes! Come!” I printed to take with me to an Artist and then became very busy finding a place to Producers Conference in Seattle, where I have the show, making flyers, writing learned that I really liked producing con newsletter articles, and standing up in certs in a small town. So far this year I’ve front of groups making announcements. produced two slide shows by Max Dashi at I remember meeting her at the bus sta a friend’s house in town, two story-telling tion, smiling, hugging and consciously programs by Jay Goldspinner, an herbal making her visit full of Southern Oregon workshop by Ariel Waterwoman at a neigh hospitality. The program was a big success boring woman’s land, and two concerts, and I knew then that our community was Criona and Akia, a southern Oregon ready for more events. I was, too. And I singer/guitarist/pianist, Linda Allen; and also knew that if I wanted to see good Sunny McHale Sky Dancer, a singer/ talent in Roseburg, I would have to create guitarist from Corvallis in a wooded con the opportunities for it to be publicly cert on my land, Saturday, August 29. expressed. The highlight of my career was produc Nine months later, Geof Morgan, ing Akia, not only because of her music singer/songwriter of the mens’ movement, but also because three local women artists, came to Roseburg on his first stop of his Madrone, Annie Ocean and I, displayed spring tour in March, 1983. Geof was so our photographs and watercolor paintings. overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response There was an artist’s reception and concert to his music that our reputation for being a all in one evening. We were celebrating lively, receptive audience was spread far ourselves and I felt high. and wide. Billy Russo and I co-produced Producing concerts, like any endeavor, this event and we began getting calls from has its highs and lows but my commitment other entertainers. During the next year to producing quality entertainment in an and a half we collaborated in producing enthusiastic intimate setting remains my other artists, notably Eliot Pilshaw and true g o al. from which the community can Loren Sklamberg, PatO ’Scannell, Charlie only benefit and enjoy. • Murphy and Jamie Sieber, and Holly W Books • New Age Music 1644 N.E. Hwy 101 Lincoln City, Oregon 97367 994-2488 'an. Odessa, and Kate are a lesbian family in Seattle. Gay men and lesbians have a right to keep and raise their own cl Idren. Governmental bi». eaucracy. courts and oi er agencies should keep their hands off our children. The Roseburg Report A^Tarch for this family and all our families so we can continue to live and love together. Oct . 11th ASSEMBLE: 9:00 am at the Ellipse, 17th St. A Constitution Ave. [Behind the White House] March starts 12 o'clock pm. Rally at the Capitol, West Terrace! Kate Sullivan, Odessa. Jan Denali National March on Washington for nnnnmnn' Lesbian and Gay Rights Just Out is marching for Harvey. Join **to ^ ^ ^ Round trip air plus 4 nights at the Capitol Hilton. Quad double and single packages available. Quad packages start at $397°° , Call Wayne Boulette at Vista Travel and tell him you want to join Just Out on the March on Washington. 224-5000 For Information, Checks Payable to M ARCH ON W A SH IN Q TO N , INC., P O Box 7781, Washington D C 20044 I/we donate, endorse, etc: Please check Organization n *250 □ *100 □ Individual/Contact Person *50 □ *20 Other _________________________ □ Host a Fundraiser □ Endorse the event □ Please send information on how I can get Involved Address City State Zip Phone Love A+J- Fm Lifo, Net QoU~fi l>Ack !} Just Out. 27 , August, 1987
