is there something you want to propose for our parade?
along the Santa Clara River / a CalArts studio project / Valencia, California / Sunday, May 14th
Proposals welcome from anyone that wants to march along the river with us, including, but not limited to / dancers & musicians / performers & magicians / acrobats & contortionists / animals & children / activists & pacifists / artists & designers / runners & walkers / hobbyists & enthusiasts / bikers & hikers / students & protesters / individuals & organizations / storytellers & mimes...
This event will celebrate and attract attention to one of the United States 10 most endangered rivers which happens to flow through Valencia. The Santa Clara River at times runs underground and is often only visible after it has rained. It is the only natural river system remaining in Southern California, flowing approximately 100 miles from its headwaters near Acton, California, to the Pacific Ocean. Students from Fritz Haeg’s CalArts spring studio will be producing, curating and organizing this ephemeral community event involving participants from Valencia, Los Angeles and beyond.
The parade will begin at 3:30pm at the Pavillions parking lot on McBean Parkway (north of Magic Mountain Parkway) where it crosses the river. Paraders will first head west on the biking/walking path along the river for about 1/2 mile where one may view its more natural state. The route will then turn around headed east, past the beginning point, under the McBean Parkway bridge, and a 1 mile further east. In this area one may see the river become a concrete channel lined by terraced hillsides soon to be filled with housing developments. The marching will conclude back where it began at around 5:30, with events and performances to continue until the sun sets at 7pm.
Since the parade route is a relatively narrow biking and walking path with no other points of access, those arriving to view the event will also enter at the Pavillions parking lot. Spectators will become part of the parade as they move along the river, watching another part of the parade pass them in the opposite direction. There will also be the opportunity to stage performances at gathering areas along the 3 mile route.
A
few practical points:
- The event will be ‘unplugged’ and ‘engine-free’, the
path will only accommodate, people or animals on foot or bicycle (or similarly
sized human powered vehicle).
- We will be designing and producing a poster to be distributed throughout Los
Angeles and Valencia area to promote the event.
- The website www.ourparade.org
now contains information on the river, and later include detailed information
about all of the participants and projects & will ultimately have documentation
of the event.
- Each participant will be entirely responsible for any resources they need
for their project.
- There is no budget to support projects, but we suggest contacting local Valencia
and Newhall businesses for financial support or donations in kind. Depending
on your needs, we may be able to locate a local business that would be interested
in supporting or sponsoring your project.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be proposing a project for the parade, so that we may include you in the press release. Initial proposals for the parade will be due on Monday, April 3rd. The website will be constantly updated with information on the participants and their projects. Participants are encouraged to schedule visits to our studio at CalArts, to present projects, find out more about the parade and to visit the river and parade route. The meetings will take place Tuesdays from 9am-noon in room c202 at CalArts on April 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, May 2nd and 9th. Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to schedule a meeting time.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Ken
Christianson
Kristen English
Sam Graham
Fritz Haeg
Emily Lacy
Dashiell Manley
Nikhil Murthy
Ingrid Von Sydow
Curtis Winter
More
information on the parade and the river can be found at www.ourparade.org
Inquiries and responses should be directed to info@ourparade.org