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| The Artspace building has long been a place where artists have been able to reside and work in Salt Lake City on meager incomes. Housed in the building is the local coffee shop A Cup of Joe, which has been open to the artist and peace communities and other progressive groups, opening its doors to events for these groups at little or no cost.
Many of the tenants of Artspace including A Cup of Joe are facing extreme, intolerant and likely illegal action by the new management company Evergreen Management Company. Some section 8 tenants are being told they owe additional money because there is a "problem with their paperwork," but are not being told what the problem is, or how they can resolve it. Others, including A Cup of Joe, who have had trouble making their rent are not being allowed, per the terms of their leases, to make payment plans. The management company is refusing to return calls from tenants, and summarily turning accounts over for legal action.
Not only is this creating additional financial burden for the tenants, it is emptying the building of artists who form the core of the avant-garde arts community of Salt Lake City. In addition, it is threatening the existence of A Cup of Joe, the anchor of the spoken word poetry community and Salt City Slam, and an important gathering place for progressive groups. Kristy Gonzalez, the current owner, has in particular, reached out to the community and provided a performance space for music and comedy groups, avant-garde theatre, the peace sign birthday party, a memorial service for Sister Maryam Mohammed who was an active artist and musician in our community. Kristy has encouraged the collaging of the tables by community groups, is a pickup point for a Community Sustainable Agriculture farm, a member of the People's Market and Buy Local First Utah. She has provided space for People for Peace and Justice, local artists and musicians, Guardian Angels, Queer Spirit, the Nine Muses Project. While Joe's has been near and dear to our hearts for years, Kristy has done so much in the year and a half she has owned Joe's to make it truly a foundation of the community. We are in danger of losing Joe's.
What can we do? There are legal costs to be met, and possibly a rent shortfall. Kristy and the other tenants have legal and publicity help at the moment. What Kristy needs is more customers, and community awareness of the problem of losing locally-owned, community-dedicated businesses. Here's what we can do:
**Talk up Cup of Joe whenever you can.
**Eat and drink at Joe's as often as you can. Highly recommended are the crepes and the ice cream.
**If you sponsor a community group that has benefited from Joe's generosity in the past, consider a donation to help them out.
There will be a "marathon community gathering" on July 18 and 19 at Cup of Joe with poets, musicians, artists and local businesses. Details will be published here as soon as they are available.
A Cup of Joe is located at 353 West 200 South in Salt Lake City. | |
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| I recently learned that Sister Maryam has passed. She was well known in Utah and beyond for her artistry in this world. He and her husband, Jose de Bonilla, sang at Tom and my wedding. She was an inspiration and I feel blessed to have had her touch our lives. Here is Sister Maryam and Jose performing at our wedding, October 28, 2001:  A. Maryam Muhammad 1944-2008 Cultural ambassador dies at age 63
Sister Maryam, a 'cultural ambassador,' earned acclaim for her music and her lifeBy Ellen Fagg The Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated: 02/07/2008 01:24:04 AM MST Sister A. Maryam Muhammad, an African-American artist, storyteller and musician who became known as the public face of Salt Lake City's largest Kwanzaa celebration, died of cancer on Jan. 31. She was 63. | |
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| The David Rovics House Party I helped organize at Free Speech Zone was a huge success. The room was packed, the food was great, and the concert was superb. Here are some photos: | |
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| Tonight's concert at the U went well. About 50 people attended. Between David's sets the Salt Lake City Slam Poets performed. Everyone was aweseome! Here are some photos: ( Read more... )David Rovics  ( Read more... ) | |
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Saturday, September 23Outdoor PlazaTabling, music (in the amphitheater), information 4th Floor Conference Roomnoon to 5:00pm ~ Art Display 2:00 pm ~ Feminist Symposium: "Women and Men Dialogue on Building Community" Auditorium12:00 noon ~ Opening Remarks 12:10 ~ One Voice Children's Choir 12:45 ~ "Hiroshima no Pika" - 15 min animated version of a book for kids about the Hiroshima bombing 1:00 ~ "Radio Burundi" 15 min film about Burundi peace radio 1:30 ~ "Spiritual Motivations for World Peace" - panel discussion 3:00 ~ Film "Voices in Wartime" 4:30 ~ Utah Slammers - poetry Amphitheater(All artists' CD's will be available as thank you gifts at the information booth) 12noon -12:10:Opening - Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs12:15 to 1:00:Andy Monaco1:15 to 2:00: Leraine Hortsmanshoff 2:15 to 3:00:Gary Stoddard3:15pm -4:00:Adeitia4:15-4:30:Scott Fife 4:45pm -5:30:Trace Wiren5:40-5:55:Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs | |
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| Yesterday was fabulous. I got to the Gallivan Center around 1:00pm with a handful of other folks and by 1:30 had staked out my spot for the first concert in the annual Twilight Concert Series of the season, featuring artist Michael Franti & Spearhead.
The highlight for me was meeting Michael. ( Read more... ) | |
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| Thursday evening I am going to attend the Twilight Concert Series opening concert, featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead: Michael Franti & Spearheadcreate an ultra-infectious mix of classic soul, funk and hip-hop culminating in a unique and powerful blend. Frontman Michael Franti has been important in the world of music for years, fi rst emerging as a quick-tongued rapper fronting the groundbreaking hip-hop group the Beatnigs, followed by the highly critically acclaimed Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Fusing superb musicality with politically-charged lyrics, Michael Franti & Spearhead use their music as a vehicle for social conscience, maintaining a positive attitude while tackling some of today’s most complicated issues. Michael Franti has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music including Nirvana and U2.Michael Franti walks the talk. I have admired him for quite awhile. I was priveleged to hear him perform in Park City a couple of years ago. Here is what is documented in Wikipedia: ( Read more... ) | |
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| Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I'm wond'ring today
Will they sing our songs tomorrow
In this land, the U.S.A.
Oh, I know they'll sing them someday,
Those who fight for liberty.
Will our songs be sung tomorrow
In this land that they call free?
(chorus)
Now is the time
Now is the day
Now is the hour
No more delay
Let's build a peaceful world
And get it right away, not tomorrow,
But today.
( Read more... ) | |
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| I was reading Chlorophyll and clicked on the link to a Pulse of the Twin Cities article entitled One Green Moment, a post about the Green Party as a growing aned viable political party. As I was reading the article I had to blink twice when I saw a graphic that a friend of Utah Greens designed for the Green Party of Utah. We have this graphic on some merchandise items.
It's cool that this original design is being used! | |
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THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN' Words and Music by Bob Dylan1963, 1968 Warner Bros. Inc Renewed 1991 Special Rider Music Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'. ( Read more... ) | |
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deesings's journal
