"hope through religion"

Here is a long overdue post to update the Stay exhibit progress. The cold winter that hasn't wanted to let go has set us back. The area that we us as a backdrop for our images is not heated and we had five or six scenes left to shoot this spring.

Here we are, half way through April, and we still have five or six left to shoot.

So, we have missed our projected opening date of May 1 in Harrisburg. Instead, we will be opening the exhibit at the Pajama Factory in Williamsport on August, 1.

The positive news is, we have been in the darkroom printing 16x20 enlargements for the exhibit and are about half way through that part of the project.

The prints are looking good and I'm excited to see the finished product coming together. 

Here we go, Thanks to you!!

self injury

Before anymore time passes, I want to say Thank You to everyone who came out to Farrington Place last Friday night. The financial support was enough to assure the exhibit will be completed as scheduled, on film, printed in the darkroom and professionally presented. Also, the moral support and encouragement is and was greatly appreciated. 

I am always afraid that I will leave out an important name when I list people in a thank you. PLEASE, let me know if I do. Nice thing about a blog is that I can always edit my mistakes. 

We had volunteer help from Sarah Andrew and friends, Stephanie Carey, Sally Cohick, Anna Henley, Brian Spies, and Dina Wascher. 

Great music by Kristin VanValin Ivers on piano provided by Robert M. Sides, Zak Johns, Doug McMinn, Mallory Scoppa and The Backwoods Experiment. 

The art auction was a huge success thanks to artists Chad Andrews, Juan Arata, Lynne Becker, Stephanie Carey, Andy Cohick, Sally Cohick, Tommy Grieco, Allison Hirsh, Joan and Stephen Hoff, Ann House and Wendi M. Wilver, Cris Knell, Kim Wachter-Lutz, Vaughn Mallery, Owen Mcdonald, Curt Miller, Tim Miller, Lauren Murray, Sue Nichols, Verra Pfaffli, Roger Shipley, Brian Spies, Deb and Dave Stabley, Terry Wild, and Patti Winters. 

Businesses also jumped in on the auction that include Blair Brothers Goldsmiths, Franco’s Lounge, Liaz Salon and Day Spa, Neville’s Flowers, Red Lobster, Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. 

None of this would have ever happened if Anna Henley and Eric Winters had not come forward in the beginning and said “What can we do?” By offering Farrington Place as a venue and helping with planning we were able to pull this off. Eric’s staff of Lance Falkowski, Richard (Ski) Falkowski, Nikki Murray, Lee Sauers, Merek Hronowski, Andrea McEntire and Steve Bailey provided the hospitality and ran their butts off serving everyone there. At the end of the night they handed us the tip jar with their thanks and support of our efforts. They are a great group of very committed people. 

The food and drink was awesome and again, Farrington Place had a part in it along with Chef Hosch and Ann, Riepstine’s Pub along with the cake by Jessica Welch. 

So, up next . . . we hit the ground running and shot another pose last Sunday. Our new order of film came yesterday and we will have at least one shoot this coming weekend. I have also ordered some sample papers to test before I choose the final look. I’m scouring eBay for an easel that will let me print 16x20 inch prints properly and we have some props to track down. 

Shooting will be done before Thanksgiving and then I will become a mushroom and live in the darkroom til spring.

We have the gallery booked in the Pajama Factory for next April and will do a preview before the exhibit heads to Harrisburg in May.

Out of all the Thank Yous I have to give, the most important ones go to all of you who have poured out your support to what we are doing. It seems like every time I discuss the project I meet someone who is personally touched by the subjects. I am proud of them for  sharing and I am proud to give a voice to the struggles that most of us have shared.

It all adds up.

journaling

It’s been a month of planning for the October 4^th fundraiser but it promises to be worth it. The Facebook event is HERE. But wait, before you go off to read about that I need a minute of your time.

As much fun as the event is going to be, it’s coming with a price tag. We aren’t selling tickets in advance or charging a cover charge. It will be a chance to create awareness of our project and generate donations from new supporters. So, how are we doing it?

 We have received generous support from Chef Hosch and Ann catering, Riepstine’s Pub and Farrington Place to make this all happen. We still have some bills to pay though.

Here is what I offer. To those of you who chip in a couple bucks towards our bills I will have a gift waiting at the door for you on the 4^th. (Spoiler alert: it will be something photographic.)

It doesn’t have to be a lot. A couple bucks here and there will bring it all together. And to make it easier, I have set up a PayPal button that lets you donate right now. Give it a test drive and see how easy it is to send us money.

Seriously though, thank you to everyone who has shown so much support to our project. It really makes it easier to keep at it. I can’t wait til the fundraising part is over and we can concentrate all our efforts on the project knowing the budget has been met.

Ralph

Here is a link to a new booklet we have put together that wraps up all the information about STAY in one spot. Barb Andreassen volunteered an entire afternoon to giving it the clean professional look it needed. Many thanks, Barb.

With the help of Robert M. Sides Music we will be graced by Kristin VanValin Ivers on piano during the art auction on October 4th at Farrington Place. I also want to thank Backwoods Experiment for sharing our event on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, please share the event and invite your friends. We really appreciate the support. Thanks

Putting the FUN in Fundraising

Stay from Ralph Wilson on Vimeo.

Here is the video we produced for a Kickstarter campaign. Although we did not meet our goal we did not loose our determination to complete the project. We are planning an evening of art and entertainment at Farrington Place, a classy new venue in Williamsport, to raise funds to meet our budget.
The owner, Eric Winters, is extremely committed to the message of our exhibit and is incredibly generous by opening his facility on October 4, 2013. Not only is he providing the space, he is providing so many things we would take for granted at an event. Tables, chairs, linen, glassware, a licensed bartender, insurance, utilities. . . It's easy to see how incredible it is to have all this handed to us.
Entertainment will begin with piano music provided by Robert M. Sides during a silent art auction from 5 to 7pm. It will be followed by an open mic session with performances by Mallory Scoppa, Doug McMinn and others. Backwoods Experiment will close out the evening playing until 11pm.
We are hammering out the details of the food and beverage providers but you won't go away thirsty or hungry.
The best part is . . .  you decide how much it's all worth by donating to the project. No advanced tickets, no cover charge, it's FREE. Let your conscience be your guide. Take it all in and consider how important the message is to be put on the public radar.
Check back as the plans are finalized. Can't wait to see you there.

You may also make tax deductible contributions to the Pajama Factory Center for Creativity earmarked for Stay.
Mail your check to:
Center for Creativity
1307 Park Ave, Box 12
Williamsport, PA 17701

Thanks
Ralph

I want to give a huge thank you to Mark and Susie Winkelman, The Pajama Factory and the Pajama Factory Center for Creativity. Without their help this project would not be possible. They ran a great write-up about the project in their newsletter this month. Check it out. http://www.pajamafactory.net/e/2013/jul_nl_web.html