mari’s monday musical musings
I have been asked so many times, as to why and how the Artsboretum came about. So, for anyone who’s curious – here goes:
The seeds for the Artsboretum took root many years ago at The Plant Studios in Sausalito. I had first visited the historic studio as part of a Mac user special interest group in 1988, but when I arrived there to record an album with my then band, Gregg’s Eggs, in 2000, I felt so at home there, I started pitching in – helping with events, managing the studio part time, then eventually full time after Alexa left in 2005.
My initial plan was to form a non-profit that would be the community outreach branch of The Plant, providing low cost services during down time to non-profit organizations (for more info, refer to our A/V for Change program on our website.) I got tired of watching venues close, gigs go away and creative people moving to areas with a lower cost of living. My goal was to create more job opportunities for my musician and engineer friends while giving to the community. This idea was really just a continuation of what Arne had been doing for many years through The Plant. I noticed that with the downturn in the recording industry, it became more difficult for him to continue to donate time to worthy causes and people without putting a strain on a multi-room commercial recording studio’s already overstretched resources and staff.
While engaging in community outreach and getting to know local arts education organizations such as Performing Stars of Marin and Young Performers International, YPI’s Leela Pratt expressed the need for more transportation for under served kids to music camps and events. So, A Vehicle for Change had ignition and started the Second Interval Shuttle program - We were able to accept donations as soon as we became fiscally sponsored by a 501 (c) 3 in mid 2007. (Bonnie Raitt wrote us our first donation check – thanks, Bonnie…)
We started gaining momentum, and I was encouraged by our ability to recruit a wonderful Advisory Board, who we refer to as the Sage Advisory Council – they are a group of very experienced and talented people who value our creative legacy and share the vision of a more sustainable music and arts community: Eric Christensen, Louise Glasgow, Merl Saunders Jr., Richard Idell, Steve Pennington, Hans Krueger, Chris Manning, Jim Gaines, Jerry Harrison and many more.
Our non-profit’s mission took an unexpected detour when after a series of unfortunate events, The Plant Studios had no choice but to cease operating at its long time facility in Sausalito in March of 2008. It was at that time that I realized the loss of the business known as “The Plant Studios” left a gaping hole in the resources available to training recording engineers and producers as well as to our music community. As studio manager, I was always fielding calls for “where do I find rehearsal space?” “Where do I rent a gear?” “Where can I find a vocalist for a gig?” “where do I find a good drum/amp/guitar tech?”
Around that same time, while checking out local bands on MySpace, I came across a photo of a woman in a bright pink wig. I thought, “any woman who has the guts to wear a dayglo pink wig is someone I want to get to know better.” So I sent her a friend request. That woman was Shelley Champine. We became MySpace friends and a few emails and phone calls later, we realized that we both had something in common – to support our local music and arts community. She told me about her newly launched website, MarinLocalMusic.com. I signed up on Marin Local Music that same day, about 3 weeks after launch. In September of 2008, after Shelley posted a video about my efforts to preserve the former location of The Plant Studios for use as the Artsboretum, a music arts incubator, Beth Reynolds of Sunnbolt Music contacted me and asked for me to meet her and Liz DiGiorgio. I had previously met both of these energetic and dynamic women at various blues gigs and NARAS events. So, I said “sure!”
I had a meeting with Beth and Liz, and they told me that they had been working on a plan how to improve the quality of life for musicians – health insurance, more work opportunities, etc. We found out that we had a lot in common and then and there, pledged to pool our resources and work together with Shelley to help musician’s help themselves.
So, instead of A Vehicle for Change driving the effort to build the Artsboretum, it then expanded into the Artsboretum. Our Board of Cultivators is doing just that – cultivating our creative community.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to find kindred spirits to share this vision – our Cause on facebook has over 250 members and is growing.
Artsboretum is a project of the International Humanities Center, a nonprofit public charity exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, contributions to Artsboretum are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We will remain a fiscally sponsored project of the IH Center until we have the resources to register our own 501 (c) 3.
Whether you hope to find fertile ground for your own creativity, or to just reap the joy of a more bountiful harvest -
Please join us in our grass roots effort!
Just a donation of $10 will help us to continue our work. We have no salaried employees at this time – we are just a group people working together toward the common good.
By donating, especially during this all important germination phase, you will help us to grow and continue to empower independent artists to create their best works while creating a better world.
Of course, our first choice of a physical location for the Artsboretum is an obvious one – the former address of The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA.
Until we gather the resources to call any one place our home, we will continue to work in our community through our programming, and welcome you to join us.
Until we are able to secure funding or donated space, Artsboretum has a virtual (online) and nomadic existence. So, we’ll see you around the neighborhood!
