2012 Seattle Pride Parade

Sunday, June 24, 2012, Seattle hosted the annual Pride Parade where a plethora of people gathered in celebration of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gay rights.  Although many parts in the United States is still very far from what we call an "Equal Opportunities" country, gay and straight Americans can still enjoy the freedom to express openly in this annual event of self-love here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Earlier this year, February 13, 2012,  Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed a bill legalizing gay marriage. It was a momentous day in Washington paralleling the gay marriage bill in New York last year. You can read about it on the Seattle PI website (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Make-History-Gregoire-signs-same-sex-marriage-3312315.php).

Last month President Barack Obama openly admitted that he endorsed gay marriage and supported it.  Seems as though the push for equal rights and opportunities might not be so distant in the future after all.

Peace, love and good vibes to all the fellow dreamers out there

J.

Endfair

On May 12th, 2012, Western Washington University hosted its annual Endfair Music Festival where a variety of local students and Bellingham-mers perform a plethora of sounds.  It is truly the cultivation of youth and the illumination of creativity.

Learning Team kicks off in the mid-day sun with some Indie tunes. (Left to right: Matt Ogle, Emile Panerio, Lincoln Lute, Alex Vlahosotiros)

http://learningteam.bandcamp.com/

a beautiful bunch :D

 

Eclecticity lights up the stage with some jamfunk.

http://eclecticitymusic.com/

 Seattle hip-hop artist, Sol, makes a guest performance.  As you can see, the crowd was more than ecstatic. http://solsays.com/

 And as with always, ending the night with some trip-hop and dubstep, The Root System, sent a multi-sensory-orgasmic experience. (DJ Vice Versa, Cassius, and Apollo)

http://www.therootsystem.org/

Peace, love and good vibes to all the fellow dreamers out there

J

A System of Roots

On Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 the Bellingham's performance group, The Root System, gave an eclectic multi-sensory pantomime involving lights, sounds, and dance at "Bass and Lasers" in The Wild Buffalo in Downtown Bellingham.

 Casey Scalf's Projections light up the art installation on the wall.

 Tate Peterson (left) and Brynne Flydais (right) perform an interpretive dance.

 Rob Capeluto (left) creates electronic trip-hop beats as Casey Scalf (right) controls visuals displayed behind the stage and throughout the bar.

For more information check out their website http://www.therootsystem.org/ or "like" their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheRootSystem

Peace, love and good vibes to all the fellow dreamers out there,

J.

 

May Day

Yesterday was the annual immigration right's assembly in Seattle.  The march started at Judkin's park in the Rainier Ave area and migrated through the Asian districts of downtown Seattle and ended at the intersection of 2nd Ave and Marion St.  Usually it is a pretty calm assembly but because of the OccupyWallStreet movement, National Laborer's Day has gained a new level of popularity.  Despite the incessant drone of the infamous "black bloc terrorizing the streets" by the media, it turned out to be an extremely peaceful protest.  Nothing is more powerful than the congregation of people in the march for solidarity.  Whether you are an advocate of immigration reforms or not, you cannot possibly be unfazed by the sheer number of people and energy of the crowd.  Even despite of the few anarchists, who seem to use the Occupy movement as an excuse to riot, the cause for civil justice in the much-flawed American legal system of homeland security is stronger now than ever.

At one point during the march, another march converged with ours and it became a cauldron of confusion and excitement.  Although it seems as the OWS movement has not successfully changed policies or extracted money from the corporations that have doomed us, the movement has definitely created an awareness and a paradigm shift in the American sentiment.  And that is beautiful.

Love, peace and good vibes to all the fellow dreamers out there,
J.

Worthy Fest, 2012

This weekend was the ear-gasmic weekend of a small music and arts festival commemorating 4/20, pure talent, and a lucky turtle's birthday.  Over 50 local artists and bands from around Whatcom County (mainly Bellingham) gathered in the woods of Glacier to enjoy great company, great vibes, and an all-around great time.

Riko giving a fire show

 Locals rockin out at 4:20 pm

 The entrance of the dance tent (left)
Beautiful Medhi (right)

 stream next to the dance tent before the show

 Walking Stick for the Giant perform (jam/funk)

 free graffiti wall

 Snug Harbor, a rockin' jam-funk band (left)
AJ lookin' ready to rock (right)

 a miniscule portion of the campsite

What would a festival be without a juggler?

1 stick, some burnt markings, a bunch of people: Foogle Stick

Peace, love, and good vibes to all the fellow dreamers out there

J.