O+ ARTIST: Arielle Falk, Brooklyn

Just named Best in Show in the Village Voice, Arielle Falk is a Brooklyn-based artist working in video, performance, and sculpture. She has exhibited her work both internationally and nationally in galleries and festivals in London, Zurich, Seoul, Greece, Canada, New Zealand, New York City, and soon, Kingston, NY. 

O+ looks forward to screening the piece ALEGRIAS (film still at left).

A Statement from the Artist

"I put ski masks on my head, one on top of another, until I am unable to breathe, at which point I pause for a minute and then proceed to take them off one by one. 

ALEGRIAS describes a simultaneous desire to be both seen and unseen and questions the ways society encourages us to discover and classify ourselves according to “identity.” In this nervous, ritualistic act, I challenge my own endurance as well as the viewer’s and address the suffocating never-ending presence of the self."

See you at the Kirkland.

Thanks to RUPCO, the historic Kirkland Hotel at the corner of Clinton and Main streets in Uptown Kingston will be the doctors' headquarters for giving on-site care to O+ participating musicians and artists over the festival weekend.

The Kirkland's basement Rathskellar bar is the hopeful site of an O+ Benefit Gala on Friday, the glamorous details of which are yet to be announced...

On Wall Street, the Woolworth's building (thanks to the Spada family for its use) will be the site of our public health convivium, open not just to the artists but all O+ festival attendees. Stay tuned for a list of participating organizations!

More information about the Kirkland's history and about RUPCO's restoration of the building is here.

O+ ARTIST: Henning Lederer, filmmaker, Germany

Der Mensch als Industriepalast [Man as Industrial Palace] from Henning Lederer on Vimeo.

The intertwining of science, art and technology: An animated and interactive installation based on the poster of the same title by Fritz Kahn from 1927. For more information about the project go to: industriepalast.com

Concept & Animation: Henning M. Lederer
Sound-Design: David Indge

Volunteers needed!

Just had an immensely productive gathering at Maxwell's Patio. Pulling all the zillion loose ends of O+ into a very effective bundle, strand by strand. Stay tuned for updates, and if you know anyone who'd like to get involved and volunteer during the festival weekend —there are big perks! — send them our way: o.positive.festival@gmail.com. We're looking for folks to man the registration/ticket sales tables, facilitate band check-in, tidy up the Woolworth's Building, provide guidance to lost or confused fest guests, schmooze with our musicians and artists (in an official hospitality-related capacity), stage manage venues, direct parking, et. al. You name it, we need it. Get in touch and get on board!

xoxO+

O+ ARTIST: John Bridges, Upstate NY

"Proxovive"
4' x 6' Mixed Media on Canvas
2008

www.johnbridges.net

O+ BAND: Common Prayer profiled in ROLL

Upstate culture mag Roll published a smashing profile of one of O+'s bands, Common Prayer. Re: their freshly released debut:

"[T]he album has a charmingly unhinged feel, a rural psychedelic folk vibe running throughout, with the odd sample, electronic rhythm or backwards loop adding texture to the whole. It’s a party, one of love and celebration, and if that sounds a little corny it’s unintended. Even a cynic with a cold, barely beating heart in his chest would be hard pressed to not get a rush of warmth from the shuffling rhythm, subtle harmonies and glorious organ in “Of Saints.” And even when things get a little weird (“Moneyspider”) or comparatively noisy (“Hopewell”), it’s absolutely comfortable and worth every bit of attention one is willing to give it. Never mind the local connection; There is a Mountain is one of the universal albums of the year, period." 

Read the full profile here.

We're not the first ones to think of giving away health care

A relevant bit from Huffington Post — "According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, D.C. has more than 57,200 residents who are uninsured -- about 10.4 percent of its population. The purpose of the clinic is to connect some of these uninsured people with community resources and safety net providers so they can receive ongoing care." 

Free Medical Clinic for Uninsured People Draws Thousands

Meet Us.

The schemers and dreamers behind O+ will gather again tonight at the bar at Maxwells at 6pm, and Dominick's at 6:30 - 6:45 for another festival planning meeting. Topics to cover: financials (the Confounding Annals of the Non-Profit Application Saga by Peter Del Rio), venue logistics, press/promotion, and a recent exciting band confirmation!

See you there!
O+

Great meeting last night!

BIG THANKS! to all who attended, to our hosts Community Gourmet/Maxwell's & Dominick's, to Dr. Rissman of Maverick Family Health and Dr. Art Chandler for leading a stimulating discussion about how this festival will thrive at providing access to health resources to benefit everyone involved.

Anyone interested in participating or learning more about O+, we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting, next Wednesday in Uptown Kingston, location TBA.

Stay Positive,
Us

Relevant News Clip from the Freeman

Click to read: "Uninsured can save in Ulster County" from the Daily Freeman... The comments are particularly interesting...