[via omjp]

The Olympia-Rafah Mural Art Project presents...
Up Against the Wall—from Palestine to Mexico

Friday, January 25th, St. John’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 7 p.m.

Carlos Marentes of Comité Pro-Amnistía General y Justicia Social in Seattle and Susan Greene of Break the Silence Mural Project in the Bay Area will present Up Against the Wall—from Palestine to Mexico, Friday, January 25th, 7 p.m., in the Parish Hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave SE in Olympia.

[via omjp]

With Guest Mural Artists: Susan Greene and Lisa Nessan
The Olympia Center, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 26th, The Olympia-Rafah Mural Project presents a full day of workshops led by a team of artists and community members for Olympia residents and artists. Workshops will focus on developing themes and design ideas for a mural to be painted in downtown Olympia later this year honoring connections between Olympia and the town of Rafah in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The mural will be an expression of a people’s recognition of the Olympia-Rafah Sister City connection. It will honor that relationship and, also, the common struggles for justice and the hidden histories that impact members of this community. Saturday’s workshops will be from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, in downtown Olympia. A light lunch will be provided.

I realize that there are sites like etsy and ebay for people to showcase their creative work, but I think it'd be neat for people here to show off their creative talent, whether it be drawings, paintings, knittings, or whatever. The local creative scene is really interesting to me.

Here's my latest work: a clockwork bird

See more images.

Create New Year dragons from recycled materials with Ruby Re-Usable at Whirligig on Sunday, January 27, 1 pm - 3 pm, $15 advance, $18 at door, ages 8 - 108.

Ruby will share some of her secrets and supplies (polar fleece scraps, telephone wire, mylar cookie packaging, lite brites, x-mas lights, plastic bread tags, aluminum pop tops, twisty ties), you should bring some stuff, too, there will be low temp glue guns.  Seating is limited so sign up now for this fun workshop! 

Free art reception at the Capitol Theater on Saturday, January 26, 2008, 4 pm - 6 pm.

“Remember/Do Not Forget,” an art installation by Diane Kurzyna in the theater’s garden alcoves, and a photography exhibit by Rachael Meredith Lang and Rodrigo Valenzuela.

Kurzyna’s installation is all about shoes and their place in history, culture and language. “What do shoes mean to you?” asks the exhibit. The works will be on display through Feb. 2 at the theater, 206 Fifth Ave SE, Olympia. For theater information, call (360) 754- 5378 or go to Olympia Film Society.

You have something you believe in,

something you treasure, like this flower

(which could = hamburger / vitamins / gun / hot cocoa / gummi bears / libertarianism / peace / war / etc.).

• Some people will be allergic to it
• Some people will love it and want to share their own flowers with you too
• Some people will hate it and berate you for even growing it
• Some people will be indifferent

• fight with the people who are allergic and rub the flower all over their faces
• join a flower loving group
• berate those who hate flowers
• ignore the indifferent
• force flowers on the indifferent

• develop high blood pressure and ulcers from all the fighting you participate in
• secretly or not so secretly enjoy waving your flower around in front of those who are allergic
• educate those who are interested about your flower
• respect the boundaries of those who aren't interested, or are allergic

You can have your flower. You can enjoy it. You can find like minded flower loving folks to hang out with. You can find groups of people that in general like your flower.

Life isn't fair and everyone won't like your flower all the time. There are no guarantees.

You can survive this.

Yes, your flower is beautiful and it is yours.

And you can respect the preferences, choices, and boundaries of others.

Respecting the choices of others does not threaten you or your flower.

You can have your flower.

I am pre-empting my usual show format today to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pacifica Radio has produced an excellent show featuring original speeches of Dr. King and of the memorial for him, held in Central Park, New York, immediately after his murder.

Please tune in from 5-6pm today on KAOS for No Talking Heads

Thurston County Republican Precinct Caucuses will be held on Saturday, February 9th, at 1:00 pm.

See this site for the caucus location for your precinct.

If you need to identify your precinct, see this site and you can determine your precinct.