Terrain an Overwhelming Success

Many people dismiss blogs as “echo chambers” that endlessly circulate tired complaints or grand ideas that never gain traction in the real world. But at Spovangelist we take brakes from typing to roll up our sleeves and implement a few of our more attainable concepts. The first of these, a Young Artist Symposia & Music Show, was a wild success.

Variously called a “multi-medium exhibit” and a “party to end all parties” people were curious about Spokane’s first all-ages grassroots art and music event right up until the big night on Oct. 3rd.

The project benefited greatly from the attention of local media outlets, including a cover article in the Spokane 7.

• “A Focus on Art” by Isamu Jordan. The Spokane 7, Sept. 26, 2008 Pg. 12
• “Terraforming Terrain” by Daniel Walters. The Inlander, Oct. 2 2008, Pg. 23
• “Spokane arts scene undergoing economic, generational shift” by Amanda Loder. KPBX, Sept. 2008
• “Terrain 2008” Spokane Society of Young Professionals

Here are our three main take home observations about Terrain:

1. Throughout the event, everyone wanted to know if the building was going to open as a club. Another common question was “So is this going to be at every First Friday now?” As an organizer, I was a little taken aback. Didn’t people realize what it meant to be a grassroots event? There is no way these things just plop out of the sky and keep on coming. Many seemed to assume Terrain was produced by salaried professionals, or backed by a corporate group with big money to throw around. Of course neither was the case. I was surprised at my desire to take people aside and explain that Terrain only happened because regular people pooled their time and talent to make it work. Without the investment of the five core organizers and countless others, Terrain would remain on the drawing board. Strangely it was the success of the event that caused some to misunderstand what it took to get there.
2. The diversity of the audience was staggering for Spokane. There were Plaza rats and Whitworth students, long time Art Walk Tour patrons and street people. We combined parents and co-workers, bosses and city officials, scenesters, recluses, high school kids and volunteers – all in one big steamy cauldron of creativity. And they were talking to each other. The fourth floor gallery was far from silent. The whole event was blanketed over with a constant hum of conversation. And the touching! People hugging and shaking hands and brushing past one another WAY more than usual. People happy to put their arms around me that I barely even knew. Where was I?
3. The constant motion of the crowd accelerated the feel of the event. Usually when you go into a bar people have staked out a perch and bodies are clustered into stationary groups. Not so at Terrain. Standing by the entrance passing out programs I was nearly swept away by a constant stream of people. Walking here, rushing there. “Oh let’s go see THAT!” as they lunged to catch the elevator. Some would walk the perimeter of a room, then decide to dance, then transition to another space and circulate there for a while. In such a small venue it was weird to observe everyone going somewhere all at once. An eight hour event felt more like three or four. The adrenaline was palpable, and the people were high on it.

Pre-opening picture by Vanessa Hadford

You can stay in touch with developments and find more information about Terrain on:

• Official Event Website
• Facebook Event
• Facebook Group
• MySpace