the first spiderweb workshop & arts + crafts

i'm gonna be honest. we had a less than successful workshop today, for a number of reasons, nearly all out of our control. firstly, the rain seemed to squander the desire to attend the event for most of the folks who wanted to come originally. i don’t blame them, quite honestly, it was nice being able to hang out in my own house this rainy afternoon. some folks did come though, and we got a little work done. i personally succeeded in working on my mask for the salon, chatting about the story i will probably be reading, and writing some poems for matt, who will be making and illustrating a little zine for the next show! (also, happy birthday matt!)

it turns out there was also a TON of stuff going on in town today, including, but not limited to: the beast feast at the fairgrounds, octoberfest of fry street, and a house show at a place on hillcrest, which sounded kind of cool but i didn't have much info about.

 

our other major roadblock for the day: halfway through the afternoon i realized one of my beautiful kitties, cleo, had disappeared entirely. she had escaped my house! needless to say, i had to take a break from participating in the workshop to search the neighborhood, check the animal shelter, and sound a general alarm on facebook in hopes something would turn up. we ended very relieved after a relentless search party consisting of myself and some very dedicated friends found her cold and wet but safe earlier this evening. she got a bath and lots of food and love and she is napping happily in my bedroom as we speak.

(this picture is of my other kitty, dexter, who was very much present at the workshop today. he loves attention.)

however awkwardly we proceeded with the workshop today, we have hopes that it can be more successful in the future. the lack of rain and personal crises would certainly help. i think i have a pretty neat space that lends to creative endeavors and inspiration. i want to share my home and the passion i have for beautiful people, spiderweb salon, and artistic expression to better our community. 

and, you know, today wasn’t a total failure either. i got to spend time with some wonderful people, work on projects i may not have today, had i not been stimulated by the presence of other creative people, and it was really helpful to have such incredible support on-hand when i was terrified my beloved cat would be lost forever. in retrospect, it was a heartwarming day, and i hope we can do it again.

you are here.

video montage for september salon

Though we were scantily organized and had some technical difficulties with our camera, we still managed to scrounge up some decent footage of the salon from last weekend. Check out this rad little montage featuring all the artists, poets, and musicians who participated. The song is "Bootstraps (Shit Happens)" by Forever & Everest. That's our friend Jacob rapping. He's a cool dude.

more spiderweb news

the show this weekend was wonderful! what a beautiful group of people. the salon is growing, which means more questions, which led us to do a little write-up for the curious or confused. Next show will be in a month. A masquerade!

SPIDERWEB FAQ

• what is spiderweb salon?

spiderweb salon is a new creative community based out of denton, texas and you are invited to be a part. it is an opportunity open to all artists and musicians and performers: writers, singers, actors, poets, installation artists, songwriters, playwrights, film makers, painters, sculptors, brewmasters, comedians, culinary artists, photographers, etc.

spiderweb salon hosts an outdoor art show roughly once a month. however, spiderweb is not just about the show, but the time in-between, when we are thinking and singing and writing and creating and doing what we love and what we want to share with others while supporting and encouraging others to do the same.

• where did spiderweb salon come from?

spiderweb salon was established early in the summer of 2012, when the collaborative duo, {we, bees}, suddenly found themselves unemployed, creatively frustrated, and bored, with perhaps too much time on their hands. eager for something inspiring to do, and brimming with a great love for different artistic expressions, they came up with the idea to host an intimate and friendly art show that would encourage themselves and their friends to explore their talents and share their music, writing, and art with each other. the first show took place on june 23, 2012, and was christened the “testdrive session”, because everyone was still figuring out exactly what spiderweb was meant to be. since then the salon has grown, attracting new friends and evolving with every showcase. {we, bees} desires to continue to share their vision, focusing on the importance of endless creativity and self-expression and the invaluable benefits of art, honesty, love, and friendship.

• what is the salon like?

come to the next show and find out!

• is there a cover for the show?

there is a $5 suggested donation per guest. any money we receive goes straight to the cost of lights, chairs, cords, camera and camcorder gear, music equipment, bug spray, ice, art materials, and other miscellaneous costs we are faced with when preparing and putting on the salon shows. as the saying goes, every bit counts.

• may i bring alcoholic beverages to the show?

you may. we ask that you keep it classy and please drink responsibly at the shows. we provide plastic cups and coolers with ice to stash drinks. we do not allow people to utilize the kitchen in the house as it is out of our domain, so plan accordingly if you need a bottle opener or wine key.

• can my band play at a spiderweb salon show?

that depends. we recommend that you first attend a show before requesting that your band play. recognize that the salon is not your average venue for shows. there are between 10-15 performances, and each is ideally 6 minutes long. the salon is for showcasing personal projects of individuals or small groups and ongoing collaborations between different artists. it’s a place to try new things. it’s not a bar or a house show or a party. it is an art show, and must be approached as such. if you have been to a show and you think your project may be a good fit and you can prepare to showcase your art (poetry, prose, music, comedy, drama, essay, or other performance art) in the allowed 6 minute time-slot, please contact spiderweb salon to let them know you are interested. see next FAQ for more details.

• who do i talk to if i would like to participate?

you can contact {we, bees} through spiderweb salon via facebook message (please p.m. instead of posting on the wall) or p.m. either courtney marie or conor wallace. however, there’s a good chance conor will just tell you to talk to courtney, as she handles most of the organizing and booking for the shows. you can also e-mail us at spiderwebsalon@gmail.com.

when you message us, please include a brief description of what you would like to do for your performance, and if you can, include examples of your work, such as sample writings, blogs, pictures, or videos.

• who gets to perform?

at each salon, we want to give as many artists that we can the opportunity to participate. right now we are operating on a first-come-first-serve type basis. so far we have only had to turn down very last-minute requests to perform.

the salon is quickly growing and we anticipate that we may not always have room for everyone, but we will work with artists looking for an outlet and if we cannot get you on the current bill, we will give you precedence for the next show.

• what do i do after i have received confirmation that i have a time-slot at the next salon show?

plan and practice your set! each set is to be six minutes maximum. as soon as you can, message or e-mail spiderweb the specifics of you performance. we produce a program for each show that will include your name and the title(s) or nature of your piece(s) / song(s) / act. it is best if you let us know at least a week before the day of the show so we can organize the event.

let us know if there is any extra equipment you need or will be bringing. we provide a PA, at least one amp, and at least two mics.

we will make a private facebook event for the performers. here you can meet each other and communicate any questions or concerns to the group in the weeks before the show. if you do not have facebook, we will communicate with you via email or text to keep you in the loop.

feel free to let your friends know about the show. make sure the people you invite are aware that it is an art show, not a house party. we expect the audience to be as much a part of the evening as you are. we seek to attract an audience of fellow artists, critics, appreciators, and dreamers, and we would love for you to help us cultivate that atmosphere!

one of your jobs is to be a good example. please show up no later than 8 p.m. the show starts at 9. kindly be respectful and stay the duration of the show to support your fellow artists. encourage your friends to do so as well.

if you are bringing extra equipment or gear, please let us know, and be prepared to come early to help set-up. there is minimal space on the stage, so please understand if we ask you to consolidate. if you would like to come early and help us set up the yard before people begin arriving, we welcome that also!

• what’s the point?

we want to branch out to other artists and art appreciators (who are also artists). we want to make new friends and bring artists together in a friendly and open environment. the show is meant to encourage collaboration and creative cross pollination and help denton build a strong, supportive, inclusive artistic community. we want the show to inspire artists to inspire each other.

the point is to have fun, learn from each other, share, and experience new ideas. this is not about being perfect at what you do, not by a long shot. there is no room for show-boating or pretentious attitudes. we value people over things and new ideas over old conventions.

• who is {we, bees}?

any creative collaboration between artists conor wallace and courtney marie. they are the creators of spiderweb salon, and under their guidance and direction future shows are made possible. they support you!