March/April 2001 Featured Stories
The 2001 Procession
of the Species
Saturday,
April 28th
Celebrate Earth Day
As urban dwellers, many of us regularly search for ways to maintain
a strong connection with nature. We have strong, passionate feelings
about an old growth tree, an eagle and an otter. We care about what
happens to the salmon that travel thousands of miles back to their
home, and ours, in the Pacific Northwest because that connection
makes us feel alive. Why are these things important to us? Because
nature vibrates back to us the miracle of life. On this tiny planet,
third from the sun in a system dwarfed by the infinite universe,
are untold millions of diverse beings. That is a mystery and a miracle,
and we're a part of it. So how do we keep this sense of awe and
connection while living in our urban landscape?
The Procession of the Species is our cultural reef.
Just as an ocean reef is a magnet for the wonderful diversity of
sea creatures that feed and sustain each other, we can't prosper
without a reef to which we can gravitate, create, and share ideas.
The Procession offers us all unique opportunities to give expression
to our own creativity and to share it with everyone. Through Procession
arts activities where we begin to convert our image of an animal
or plant to a mask, hat, or banner, our connection with that species
grows stronger. When we play a drum, dance to the beat, or fashion
giant whale and sun puppets out of recycled materials, our imagination
rules and we're compelled to share our creation. As Eli Sterling,
the creator of the Procession of the Species in Olympia, Washington
says, "We are far more willing to protect that which we create
than that which we consume, and the highest form of protection is
sharing." Through this process, the Procession gives expression
to creative energy while fostering a stronger connection to our
shared world, and it builds a greater sense of community for all
involved.
You're Invited to Join the Procession of the Species
There are four major components of the 2001 Procession of the Species
project - Portland's largest Earth Day event:
- An In-School Education Program For K-12 Students
The Procession School Education Program works in partnership with
area educators, artists, and community volunteers to link classroom
instruction in science, environmental education, and the arts
with Procession-related activities that give students valuable
opportunities to share their creativity and environmental learning
with their larger community. Student projects are highlighted
on this website and will also be featured at the Natural Living
Fair. For more information about the School Education Program,
please contact Merry Wingfield at watrshed@pacifier.com.
- Community Arts Workshops
Create costumes, streamers, musical instruments, and dance
at one of the Procession's Community Arts Workshops, which are
open to the general public in late March and April at various
locations around the metro area. Regional artists teach community
Arts Workshops, and they range from half-day large-scale projects
such as building sculptural puppets, to one-hour drumming sessions
or mask making. Most materials used for the Procession's arts
projects are reused or recycled, and workshop participants are
not required to have prior arts experience to sign up for a workshop.
We also offer "open studio" time for people who want
a place to create their own projects. For the most current information,
be sure to check out the Arts Workshop schedule online at www.earthandspirit.org.
- The 2001 Procession of the Species
The Procession of the Species brings the streets of Portland alive
on Saturday, April 28. Once you've seen the Procession live, you'll
know why in just two years, it has become one of Portland's favorite
annual events. The Procession activities begin at 10 AM at Oregon
Square near Lloyd Center, and at 11 AM participants will wind,
gallop, slither, and hop their way across the Burnside Bridge
and down SW Broadway, past Pioneer Square to the South Park Blocks
near Portland State University, where the Natural Living Fair
takes place. There are just three rules for the Procession: no
live pets, no written words, and no motorized vehicles. Other
than those, imagination rules! Pre-registration is suggested to
this year's event. To register, please see the registration paragraph
below, or call (503) 203-5381 for more information.
- Natural Living Fair
The Natural Living Fair features ideas, products, and services
that people can use in their daily lives to live more earth-friendly.
This festive urban country fair combines live music, food, interactive
activities, and family fun to celebrate environmental leaders
and innovators. The Natural Living Fair is designed as an educational
forum to highlight organizations and businesses that are on the
forefront of sustainability. The Fair is organized into several
categories that include: food, energy, transportation, conservation,
health, home & garden, clothing, and recycled products. For
more information about the Natural Living Fair, please contact
Susan Laarman at slaar@imagina.com.
Register For The Procession
Planning to participate in this year's Procession of the Species?
We need to know who you are. Please e-mail us at earthandspirit@juno.com with your name,
address (with zip code), phone number, and the number of people
in your group. Also tell us which element you will march under in
the Procession: EARTH (plants and mammals), AIR (species that fly),
FIRE (endangered species and fantasy animals), or WATER (aquatic
species).
Finally, we ask that participants also send a suggested $5 minimum
donation per person, which helps make this event possible. Thanks.
Donations can be mailed directly to: Procession Registration, Earth
& Spirit Council, 6200 SW Virginia St., Suite 210, Portland,
OR 97201.
We look forward to seeing you on the streets! If you have questions
about registration, or would like more details about the Procession,
please visit the Procession of the Species web pages at www.earthandspirit.org, or call (503)
203-5381.
Volunteer & Get Involved!
The Procession of the Species is a totally unique and rewarding
event, and there are many opportunities to volunteer and get involved.
To receive more information about volunteering, and for our next
volunteer meeting date and place, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator
Sandy Hise at shise@coho.net,
or call (503) 4203-5381.
Community Support & Sponsors
The Procession of the Species is produced by the Earth & Spirit
Council with the collaboration of a diverse group of nonprofit organizations,
government agencies, and businesses.
Funding for the 2001 Procession of the Species project (as of
2/01) has been committed from the following sources: Metro's Greenspaces
Education Program, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC),
US Fish & Wildlife, US Forest Service, the Collins Foundation,
and Hoover Family Foundation. In-kind contributions will be supplied
by a growing list of community partners, including: Multnomah County
Libraries, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland
Parks & Recreation Dept., the City of Portland's Bureau of Environmental
Services (BES), Portland Public Schools, Oregon Zoo, the School
and Community Reuse Action Project (SCRAP), Ashforth Pacific, Portland
Farmer's Market, Celilo Group LLC, and New Connexion, among others.