Artomatic 419

The rise of Toledo's creative class

by Ryan Bunch

published August 30th 2006

When you walk into the Artomatic 419 building at 1717 Adams Street, you'll find a space filled with fashion, film, sculpture, woodwork, photographs, paintings, installations, graffiti, live music, theatre, performance, technology and everything in between. Artomatic 419 is the vibrant buzz of a city tapping into its creative roots.

With the kickoff of Artomatic 419 on September 2, Toledo's Uptown District has coordinated a party of their own, Arti Gras, that aims to stress the same mission – Community.

Artomatic 419 isn't about artists stroking egos, or some organization trying to make a buck (it's free); it is about giving life to an area and its people.

Welcome to Artomatic 419, a creative community

Presented by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and the area's creative community, Artomatic 419 relies as much on its participants as its organizers for definition. It is the largest collaborative work ever put together by area artists. More than just an art show, the event is a living, breathing art piece made whole by each of its 100-plus participants.

"It has been interesting to see this evolve as a community art project," says Kickstart Toledo Co-founder and Artomatic Executive Committee member Kelly McGilvery, "The artistic crossbreeding that has happened is amazing, things like introducing graffiti writers to symphony musicians."

Executive Director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Marc Folk, agrees. "What makes this event unique is the melding of styles. Around every corner there will be something completely different." Artist, Kickstart Toledo co-founder, and Artomatic Executive Committee member Dustin Hostetler says the fresh faces of this event have made the most difference. "The most exciting thing about it is that people have really come out of the woodwork, which is exactly what we hoped to have happen. A lot of talented people have been drawn to this event that we would have never been able to track down — people without Web sites, who aren't in art clubs or have never shown their work. We're getting a nice mix of people who have been around and are established and people who are relatively new."

The back story

The seeds of Artomatic 419 began to sprout more than three years ago when McGilvery and Hostetler approached Marc Folk with a plan to "create a climate that was conducive to creativity." Founding Kickstart Toledo in early 2003, McGilvery and Hostetler wanted to continue a wave of enthusiasm spawned by a visit from speaker/author, Richard Florida, who penned the book 'The Rise of the Creative Class: And how it's transforming work, leisure, community and everyday life' (more at www.creativeclass.org). "As City of Toledo Arts Consultant under the Ford Administra-tion, Susan Reams brought Florida in to speak about how the 'creative class' of a city could help transform its economy," says Folk. While the visit did much to raise awareness of the potential of Toledo's creative community, Hostetler says that nothing much came of it. "People were really excited, and there was a lot of talking going on, but not much happening."

Kickstart pitched a plan to Folk at the Arts Commission for an event that would mix the divided artists of the city.

"We held the first 'Meet & Greet' in 2004, and had about 250 people show up with very little promotion." said Hostetler. "People were a little suspicious at first, but by the time everyone left, it was clear that this event was a good thing. It was trying to help build a community." Because the first event was so successful, it was decided that Meet & Greets would be held every six months, to "encourage a consistent dialogue amongst Toledo's creatives."

So why the silly name?

The same time that planning was going on for Meet & Greet II, Folk met Bowling Green State University alum George Koch, who was part of the original Artomatic event in Washington DC. Originally held at an abandoned Laundromat entitled Laundr-o-matic, the DC folks tweaked the name and held the first in a series of hugely successful, widely anticipated artist-based art events in that city. "We were influenced by the Guerrilla Galleries (a multi-media arts showcase put on by former Toledoan Mark Lamie in Downtown Toledo in 1999 and 2003, often credited with reviving Toledo's disconnected arts scene) and saw some similarities between what we wanted to do and what Artomatic was doing," says Folk. In an effort to provide an event that would show the wide range of talent in Toledo's creative community, and to help the DC folks establish their event name as a solid brand, Artomatic 419, was born.

Folk insists, however, this event is not big city mimicry. "We used the DC model to help answer sticky questions and get ideas for process and procedure, but this is still a Toledo event. Our community that made this happen."

As planning for the event continued, the Uptown District, recently dubbed Toledo's arts and entertainment district, became an obvious destination. 'There were a lot of people working hard there already, on murals and things,' said Folk, 'Though, the deciding factor was when Manos Paschalis (owner of Manos Greek Restau-rant) offered to let us use his building at 1717 Adams.'

Hostetler says once the location was set, the Uptown community was hugely supporive of the event. 'Chris Buerger (proprietor of Pub St. George, above Manos) stepped up and offered to supply a beer garden to accent Artomatic 419, and committed to sharing the profits so that it can continue for years to come. Plus a lot of sponsors stepped up and recognized the value of the event, ultimately making it possible. The support has been amazing,' he said.

While the organization has been humble about its doings, McGilvery applauded the ACGT for encouraging all this support and raising awareness for local artists. 'It's great that they're working on a project this bold,' she said, 'It says a lot about their commitment to the arts community. It's a real step forward.'

Schedule of Events

Saturday, September 2nd

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
DARYNYCK
Music - Acoustic
Sylvania's DARYNYCK is beginning to bob heads and twitch legs. The group is comprised of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists: DARYN and NYCK.

4:00 p.m.
Visual Arts Portfolio Basics
Workshop With Lou Krueger of BGSU.

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Speak This! Poetry
Speak This! Poetry Slam/Readings with poets from all over Toledo area with styles reminiscent of everything from Dickinson to Mos Def.

5:00 p.m.
Writing Portfolio Basics
Workshop With Michael Kocinski of the Glass House Writing Project.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
ALMA Dance
Presenting original modern choreography from the Movement of the Urban Village Dance Company, Brooklyn, NY, along with some new traditional afro-Caribbean stuff they've been working on.

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Elevator Music - Musicians from the Toledo Symphony
Joined by friends from throughout the region in a celebration of vibrant and wacky music from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
The Antivillains
Music - Indie-jazz pop-rock
The former band Drive!! in its new guise, the Antivillains, playing indie-jazz pop-rock. The sweet sounds of these local, lovable, implied musical super heroes are irresistible and nearly impossible not to like.

10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
BenFlowz & Friends
Music - DJ
Benjamin Rush AKA BenFlowz & Friends perform conscious, underground, elevated hip-hop, funk, soul, and R&B music.

10:30 p.m. -12:00 am
Glass City Hip Hop & Graffiti Explosion
Multi-media - Urban
Hosted by Monique Ward, Christina Sarich, and Jerry Grey. An all out party with rappers, dancers, deejays, live graffiti art, hip-hoppers, spoken word, and a few surprises!

Evenings in the Beer Garden
DJs, Jeff Stewart, Shane Piaseki
Graffiti and music
Courtesy Pub St. George.

Saturday, September 9th

3:30 p.m.
Harvest Theatre's Play Festival
Theatre
Presents a series of one act plays in an open rehearsal for plays submitted from around the world specifically for Harvest Theatre's Play Festival.

The Wheat Kings
Music — Rock/Punk
The Wheat Kings combine both original material with an eclectic mix of covers, offering an energetic, unpretentious, and uplifting rock sound. Not your ordinary band.

5:30 p.m.
Shumann's Leider
Music — Classical
Performing Shumann's Leider in honor of the composer's 150th anniversary.

7:00 p.m.
Poetry on the Spot
Poetic Commentary on Artomatic Works. Poets include: Becca Woods, Madge Weaver, Caroline Gauger, Matt Sradeja & Michael Kocinski.

7:30 p.m.
Rob Storm
Music — Acoustic Rock
Rob Storm, Singer/Songwriter from Toledo performs contemporary acoustic rock.

Harvest Theater One
Act Play
Theatre

9:00 p.m.
The Drawers
Music — Rock
The Drawers bring originality back to rock with deep, sensual, moody music that is intense and surprising.

Finster Boogie
Music — DJ
Finster Boogie DJ and producer hailing from Detroit spins Hip Hop, Indie, Alternative Music.

Tinfoil
Music — Alternative Rock
Tinfoil is an alternative rock band with a unique south of Detroit sound, currently supporting their latest release.

Evenings in the Beer Garden
Chris Shutters & Chris Knopp and the Quickness Music — DJ
Courtesy Pub St. George.

Saturday, September 16th

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Ambient Noise by Eric Uncertain
Music — Experimental Electronica
Local noise musician Eric Nedrow has played with an assortment of groups and is currently making live appearances accompanied by visual artist Kelly Cousins.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Harvest Theater One Act Play
Open Rehearsal
Theatre

4:00 p.m.
The Business Side of Being an Artist
Workshop With business coach Linda Fayerweather of Changing Lanes.

5:00 p.m.
The Law Side of Being an Artist
Workshop With artist law expert Arnold Gottleib

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Toledo Ballet
Dance

6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet 4
The event that started everything. Shuttle buses on a continuous loop between Artomatic 419, Leslie Adams Gallery, Paula Brown Gallery and Space 237 – this is an evening not to miss. Brought to you by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and Kick Start Toledo.

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Harvest Theatre One Act Plays
Theatre
"One Page International Play Festival" created especially for Artomatic419! From over 200 submissions worldwide, 40 plays have been chosen covering all genres of plays. $10 admission fee – all proceeds benefiting Artomatic419!

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Bianca Marcia
Demonstration — Special FX makeup
Bianca Marcia is a 23 year old Toledo native and resident artist at the Collingwood Arts Center. She will be doing live demonstrations of Special FX makeup ranging from bloody noses to gunshot wounds.

8:45 p.m. - 10:1 5 p.m.
Sideways Smile
Music — Acoustic Jazz
Sideways Smile is a jazz-influenced acoustic band of smooth, deep, and warm sounds.

10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Phantasmagoria
Music — Rock, Metal
Oft seen with magicians and jugglers, this band takes elements from death metal, melodic metal, and a 60's psychedelic strum.

Evenings in the Beer Garden:
DJs, Johnny Reed and The House Rockers
Courtesy Pub St. George.

Saturday, September 23rd

12:30 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Rumblin' Rhythm Cloggers with Barb Davenport and friends
Dance - Clogging
Clogging is a dance form with the combined elements of American tap dancing and Irish Step dancing. Rumblin' Rhythm will perform to such tunes as 'The Sign,' 'Hungarian,' 'Real Good Feel Good,' and 'Rocky.'

1 :00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lyndsay Stiles & Dan Greunke
Music — Ambient/Shoegazer Rock
'Lyndsay's voice exhales a certain sense of tranquility and serenity. . . just like a hypnotic stoic dream in an unearthly mindset." (Ventrilicution Zine/05)

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Gabe Beam
Music — Experimental Electronic
Gabe Beam Act

4:00 p.m. — 5 p.m.
Community Development Through Arts
Workshop – With George Koch of Artomatic

5:00 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Community Development Through Arts: Local Initiatives
Workshop

5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Toledo Suzuki Kids
Music — Violin Recital
Toledo Suzuki Kids - violin recital ages 4-13 with Toledo Symphony violinist Cheryl A. Trace

7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
King Wamba Festival Parade Performers
Dance and Performance
Lapis Lazuli Belly Dancing, Fire Fabulon Fire Eating/Dance

8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
School Daze All-City Pep Rally & GUNMUZIK Fashion Show
Fashion Show and Performance
Featuring a "who's who" of Toledo's burgeoning Hip-Hop and R&B scene, Gunmuzik's Fall/Winter line of Couture show will also feature wearable art that incorporates the talents of local visual artists as well. The "School Daze All-City Pep Rally" pays homage to Spike Lee's movie "School Daze" which depicts a fictional Historically Black College.

Evenings in the Beer Garden ($8 cover will be required for the beergarden on this day, from 6:00 p.m. and on)
8:30 p.m. — Dave Carpenter and the Jaeglers Music
10:30 p.m. — Soul System Music

Melodies for the Mission

With all the proceeds going to benefit Cherry Street Mission Ministries, Melodies for the Mission isn't just a great concert, it's a good cause! Featuring a line up of some of the best bands in the city, in a variety of genres, as well as food, beer, and an awesome raffle (including paintings by an elephant and $1,000 in furniture from Banner Mattress, this event is a pure blast. Melodies for the Mission runs from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Toledo City Paper, 1120 Adams St.

Entertainment:
3:00 p.m.: The Drawers
4:00 p.m.: Extra Stout
5:00 p.m.: Los Caballeros
6:00 p.m.: Voodoo Libido
7:00 p.m.: Fast Piece of Furniture
8:00 p.m.: Three-Headed Monster
9:00 p.m.: Sangsara

Arti Gras

Musicians — Main Stage: (12:30 pm — 12:30 AM)

Music throughout the day on the main stage will include:
12:30-2 p.m.: Jamie Quillen, female country vocalist
2:15-3:45 p.m.: Short Bus
4-5 p.m.: Three Headed Monster
5:30-8 p.m.: Cake Walking Jass Band
9:30 p.m. — 12:30 a.m.: ROCKSTAR, 80's concert

Childrens Area: (Noon — 6 pm)

Kids sidewalk chalk area
Open to kids and adults to paint on mural walls
Elizabeth Cottle and a small group of clowns
Flappy The Clown (4:00-6:00)
Silly Sam: face painting, balloons, hair paint
Santa Vacationing in Toledo, Ohio

Other attractions

Parade (Noon-12:30)
Poets Corner (Noon-6 pm)
Sidewalk Chalk Artists: (Noon-6 pm): Barbara Richardson, Chris Curran, Ann Petlow, Victor Miller, Evan Wayton, Tootie Detrick, Rebecca Harris
Firetruck & 5 decorated artcars (Noon — 6 pm)
Sweetheart Balloons (Noon-6 pm): Hair braiding, balloon twisting, face painting
Wonda Sanders (Noon-6 pm): Spiritual Adviser and Reader
Keith Hazenbelge (Noon-6 pm)
Mural Artists at work (mural in process)
Bianca Marcia Naves (Noon-6 pm): special effects make-up artist
Drag Queen performers (Noon-6 pm)
Ann Arbor Jugglers (Noon-6pm)
Leyla (Noon-6 pm): Belly Dancer

Food Vendors will be throughout the 7 block event as well as a hospitality area (Noon-6pm)