Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2003)
BY ARIA SELIGMANN Film and video artists Vanessa Renwick and Bill Daniel will share their work at the My House celebration Sunday in Washington- Jefferson Park. Traditional Greek & Indian Food 992 Willamette • Eugene, OR 97401 • 343-9661 Th a i Cu i si ne by Owner and Chef Pismai Activist Art Do it yourself venue goes out with a bang . $1.OO OFF ANY BURGER 302-6444 OR OMELETTE 80 E. 29th & Willamette M ONDAY - F RIDAY 11 am - 9:30 pm Mon - Fri • 4 pm - 9:30 pm Sat 12 pm - 9:30 pm Sun 393-0164 VEGAN & VEGETARIAN MENU Not good on children or senior items. Not good with any other offer. Expires September 30, 2003 FOR LUNCH & DINNER 2079 River Rd. • Eugene WEEKLY SPECIALS DINER FOOD WITH A FLARE T r a d i ti on a l • Award winning burgers & omelettes • Open 7 days a week for BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER If you liked us at 5th St. Market, you’ll LOVE us on River Road. T a st y T ha i Ki t ch e n RED BARN N AT U R A L G R O C E RY E S T. 1 9 8 2 Whole foods, for whole people . . . Fresh from the farm to you! organically grown produce • organic beer & wine organic bulk foods • vitamins & supplements organic herbs & spices • special orders / case discounts natural body care products LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED 4 TH & BLAIR • 342-7503 • M-Sa. 8 AM -10 PM • Su. 10 AM -9 PM 22 JULY 24, 2003 M y House, the basement venue opened a year and a half ago in a house on West 5th Avenue to give performance space to underrepresented art, is closing down. But not without a bang. This Sunday, under the Washington Jefferson Bridge, “ASUPERHAPPYFUN- DAYINTHEPARK” is planned from 3 to 11 pm to showcase the art, artists, poetry, music and film — especially film — that has sprung up outside the Northwest’s main- stream arts culture. “Our space is about community,” says My House co-founder Marc Moscato, who’s just wrapped up his masters degree in arts admin- istration, and, like other My House founders, is moving on. Although people in the collective have come and gone, a few artists and events con- nected with the group are well known. Sean Mediaclast, curator for the Museum of Unfine Art, has performed music for some of the avant-garde film shown at the basement space, and My House organized the No War Art Show, which drew more than 600 atten- dees in March. “We live in a unique community, and we wanted to celebrate the creativity of it,” says Moscato. When he moved here a few years ago, Moscato was dismayed at the lack of venues for self-expressive art. So he turned his base- ment into one. My House held self-published zine read- ings, film screenings, music, scratch anima- tion workshops, punk rock shows and many other types of activities. Never once did neighbors complain of noise or did organiz- ers have any trouble with police, says Moscato. The space was about creating art. Period. “The unifying characteristic of all the artists we have worked with is that they are interested in doing things outside the realm of capital,” says Moscato. For example, some musicians would rather perform in the park for free than support the commercial enter- prise of a venue. In addition, many clubs are for ages 21 and over, which imposes limits on the performers’ audience. “There aren’t many places people can congregate free of crass commercialism,” says Moscato, “not a lot of places where peo- ple can come together and talk or share. We do a lot of folk art and sharing stories; it’s a new form of uncensored self-expression.” But now that My House is closing, Moscato hopes that others will pick up the baton and run with it. He hopes the mission has encouraged other young people to “take control over their lives and their art” and to realize they have the power to achieve what- ever they want. “It doesn’t have to happen in an institution,” he insists. “We did this with no budget, no government grants, and no memberships, but we supported this vibrant community of well-recognized artists who have had shows in big centers.” Some of those artists include musicians and poets. Seattle’s the Urban Hermitt will perform on Sunday, along with folk singer Dennis Driscoll, art rockers Old Relijun and many others. Others in attendance will be some of the many filmmakers who’ve held screenings at My House and the Sunday show will conclude with a mini-film fest of sorts. Beginning at 9:30 pm, hand-cranked film by Lee Krist with live music by Mediaclast will be shown, followed by a slideshow and film shorts from Olympia Film Ranch and the evening will conclude with a My House film retrospective beginning at 10:30 pm with works by Sandra Lea Gibson, Paolo Davanzo, Jim Finn and others. ew A full schedule of events can be found at www.notmyhouse.com
