This message was forwarded to me and I thought it might be of interest to the
list. A very inspiring community art space in Minneapolis was just recenly
lost to fire. Please contact Meg if you have ideas for funds and other support
so that a new space can rise up soon!
Bruce Shoemaker
Holland neighborhood/writing from Siem Riep, Cambodia
FORWARDED MESSAGE:
Babylon Art and Culutral Center 612.722.5438 www.thebabylon.org
Dear Friends,
As many of you may have heard, the Gustavus Adolphus Hall in which the
Babylon is located was consumed by fire on Friday, January 17. The cause of
the fire is , as of yet unknown. Fire department officials are currently
determining whether or not the building will need to be demolished. No one
has been allowed into the building to retrieve any possessions, and the fire
department has charecterized the damage to all four of the businsesses in
the building as a �total loss.�
This loss has been devastating for all of us invovled in the Babylon. It
is till hard for me to believe that the Babylon no longer exists- one night
we were there working on our projects, and the next morning I spent the day
in the restaurant across the street watching the dream that so many people
had worked so hard to build burn to the ground.
The losses- beyond just the space, and what it has come to mean in our
community, as well as in the greater Twin Cities art and performance
community, are extensive. Iraqi artist Haider Al- Amery lost his entire
collection of artwork, literally nearly every piece of work that he has
created since coming to the United States. His uncle, Sabri, also lost many
of his paintings. The La-Tia artists collective, which had just gone into a
partnership with Babylon, lost an extensive amont of artwork, including the
majority of the work for an exhibit that was supposed to open that very
night. Patricia Mendoza, an artist who rented space at the Babylon, lost
alomost her entire collection of artwork as well. Luckily, the Art Across
Borders exhibit of Iraqi and Palestinian art work is currently on tour in
Iowa, and wasn�t damaged, although all records and information about the
artists and their artwork, as well as irreplacable information collected in
Iraq and Palestine are gone.
On top of these material losses, I am saddened beyond words by the loss of
the work, energy and dedication so many inspiartional and incredible people
have poured into the Babylon since it�s humble beginning. The growth of
the Babylon as a political art space, with no grant funding and no wealthy
backers, has proven to me that anything is possible when people are
dedicated to their dream and willing to work for it.
Next week the Babylon collective will be meeting to decide our next steps.
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support we have already
recieved- it has given me the strength to get through what have been an
extremely difficult couple of days. While our course of action is yet to be
determined, all indications from those involved is that we would like to
re-open the Babylon in the next few months. I am, personally, dedicated to
re-opening the Babylon in South Minneapolis, and continuing to build on the
incredible relationships we have developed with our neighbors, colleagues
and supporters in the past two and a half years.
If you have ever thought about getting invovled with the Babylon, or making
a financial doantion, NOW IS THE TIME. Checks can be made out to the
Babylon Collective, and mailed to me at 1522 Carroal Ave. St. Paul MN. If
you are interested in organizing a benefit, or otherwise helping out in the
re-grouping and rebuilding process, please don�t hesitate to e-mail me at
[EMAIL PROTECTED], or call me at 612.251.1746.
Thank you again for your support-
Meg Novak
Babylon Art and Cultural Center
Art Across Borders
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
before continuing it on the list.
2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
