The O+ Festival art and music curatorial teams in Chicago and Kingston, N.Y., are now accepting submissions for the 2015 festival weekends. Make history as part of the inaugural festival in the art-rich Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, which takes place Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 3-5, or join the ranks of both high-profile and emerging musicians and artists who have gifted the Hudson River city of Kingston, N.Y. with concerts, murals and performance art Friday-Sunday, Oct. 9-11, 2015. This year’s festival theme is: “The Other”. Submissions will be accepted through June 30.
Selected 2015 O+ Festival artists and musicians will have access to complimentary health and wellness care from doctors, dentists, chiropractors, homeopaths, massage therapists, psychotherapists and many more outstanding providers during the September and October weekends.
Apply here for the first Chicago festival. Apply here for the sixth Kingston, N.Y. festival.
Submissions for our November festival in Petaluma, Calif., will be announced soon.
About the O+ Festival: The non-profit O+ Festival connects musicians, artists, and health & wellness providers for weekend-long celebrations featuring concerts and performances, art making, and wellness offerings for the entire community.
Well, it all began with my 2014 vision board. I make one every year to help me manifest my dreams and goals. Sitting, pen in hand, I wrote, “I want to collaborate with artists and the community to create a project larger than myself.”
It was one month later that I came across “Building Community Through Art, Music, and Wellness,” a TEDTalk presented by O+ co-founder Joe Concra. How perfect, I thought. I was immediately interested. Joe spoke about O+ Festival and its mission of bringing artists, musicians, and health and wellness providers together to help provoke positive change within his community of Kingston, N.Y. He spoke of a Playbook, a how-to manual to bring O+ to your town. It wasn’t until hearing this, that it all became clear to me.
I Immediately emailed and Joe responded. It was a month later that Joe and I had our first phone conversation. Ironically, this day happened to be the same day I found out I was pregnant. Speaking with Joe, I began to doubt whether or not I would be able to commit. A couple bubble baths later, I decided I had nothing to lose. I received the Playbook in June and reached out to my artist friends in July. Josh, Jody and Cheryl jumped on board and O+ Chicago was conceived.
As a life grew inside of me, so did the idea of this festival. As it continues to grow, I nourish it and excitedly await the birth of O+ Chicago, September 3-5, 2015.
Make history as part of Chicago’s first O+ Festival, which will take over the art-rich Pilsen neighborhood Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 3-5. Musicians and artists are invited to gift the Windy City with concerts, murals and performance art.
Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2015 and reviewed by our art and music curatorial teams. Artists should apply here. Musicians should apply here.
We are asking all artists apart of Chicago’s first O+ Festival, to consider but not limit themselves to this year’s theme: “The Other”
Selected 2015 O+ Festival artists and musicians will have access to complimentary health and wellness care from doctors, dentists, chiropractors, homeopaths, massage therapists, psychotherapists and many more outstanding providers during the September weekend.
O+ Festival connects musicians, artists, and health & wellness providers for weekend-long celebrations featuring concerts and performances, art making, and wellness offerings for the entire community.
Interested in volunteering? Sponsoring this year’s festival?, Hosting an artist or musician in your home? Please e-mail: chicago@opositivefestival.org
KINGSTON, N.Y.—Outdated: An Antique Café hosts “Art for Art’s Sake”, a live auction of artworks and vintage art on Saturday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at 314 Wall St. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit the non-profit O+ Festival, which connects musicians, artists, and health & wellness providers for weekend-long celebrations featuring concerts and performances, art making, and wellness offerings for the entire community.
Artists, many of whom are O+ Festival alumni, have donated original works to the auction. Highlights include drawings by Chris Gonyea, Sean Andrew Murray, and The New Yorker cartoonist Michael Crawford, three-dimensional typographic art by Keith Carollo, mixed media on paper by Kimberly Kae, mixed media doll portrait by Polly M. Law, and original paintings by Jane Bloodgood-Abrams, Scott Michael Ackerman, Theresa Drapkin, Kara Eletto, Denise Orzo, Giselle Potter and Joe Concra, executive director of O+.
Matthew Pleva, who created the cross-hatched mural at Peace Park during the 2014 Kingston festival, donated a print of a drawing of the mural that he embellished with gold leaf. The family of the late Martin Josefski has donated prints of his photographs, including 2014 festival photos of musician Tony Levin, his band Stick Men and musician Cassandra Jenkins.
Collectors and artists who are friends of the festival and outdated have also donated artworks, including outstanding prints by Ric Dragon, Karl Fortress, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, O+ alumnus Norm Magnusson and The New Yorker cartoonist Carolita Johnson,and a 1924 etching by Erich Heckel. Many are signed. A vintage Catskills cat poster signed by renowned graphic designer Milton Glaser and posters signed by longtime O+ volunteer Kevin Paulsen will be auctioned as well.
And Jonah Meyer of Sawkille Co. donated a handcrafted wood stool designed in his signature “farmhouse modern” aesthetic.
A preview night at the café kicks things off on Friday, March 20 from 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Those who cannot attend the March 21 auction can still bid! There are two options: 1.) Absentee bids – Call 845-331-0030 or e-mail with your desired artwork and top bidding price. The staff will execute the bid during the live auction. 2.) Phone bids – call or e-mail to establish bidding by phone.
For bidding information, e-mail outdatedcafe@gmail.com or ask for Gabriel and Tarah at the café.
ChicagO+ Team live paints with national sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Company in Minneapolis during its cross-country CouchTrippin’ event!
What an amazing night filled with non-stop entertainment, smiling faces, and did I mention the endless supply of Lagunitas beer? After six grueling hours in the car from Chicago, this was exactly what we needed. Jody, Josh and I pulled up in our rented grey Nissan, feasting our eyes on Aria, a truly one-of-a-kind event space, located near downtown Minneapolis in the heart of the Warehouse District. Walking eagerly inside, the original brick walls, cavernous ceilings, crystal chandeliers, whimsical art work, and decadent furniture was buzzing with anticipation of the event. T minus 3 hours until the fireworks! We set up our easels, paints, and suited up to raise money and awareness about O+. Marked 1, 2 and 3, our paintings where painted live for all to see and to be taken home by the lucky raffle ticket holder. Surrounding us were hundreds of people, a beer circus, amazing music and the support of our amazing national sponsor.
To conclude the event, we were brought up on stage and were given the spotlight. Eager supporters were waiving their tickets in the air as we pulled the winning tickets! We felt the love and acknowledgment that O+ was positively received! We raised $500!
We felt proud to be representing Chicago O+, along with Kingston, N.Y. and Petaluma, Calif., on this CouchTrippin’ journey!
The O+ Festival is once again crashing on the couch of national sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Company during its winter CouchTrippin’ tour to Austin. The city-to-city party, which features O+ artists doing live painting, launches Feb. 21 in Philadelphia in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Additional stops take place in Los Angeles, Seattle and Minneapolis before ending in Austin on March 18.
Hear music from some killer bands, enjoy some “freaktacular” entertainment from the Lagunitas Beer Circus, taste Lagunitas brews, and mug for the camera in the CouchTrippin’ VideoBooth. The tour will also feature O+ Festival information, cO+ol merchandise and opportunities to make donations to the non-profit organization.
“Lagunitas has once again invited O+ to crash on their couches, and this time we are bringing along for the ride visual artists from our festivals in Kingston, NY; Petaluma, Calif; and Chicago,” said Joe Concra, executive director of the O+ Festival. “We lO+ve the opportunity to spread the word about our art, music and wellness celebrations that enhance entire communities.”
Parties are 21+ over only. First come first served. Learn more and find out how to RSVP here. See you on the road!
Saturday, Feb. 21 — Skybox Events Center in Philadelphia. — Music by Heartless Bastards and Son Little — Live art by Nils Westergard in collaboration with O+ and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Friday, Feb. 27 — Mark Sennett Studios in Los Angeles — Music by King Tuff with Sonny and the Sunsets — Live art by Raudiel Sañudo
Friday, March 6 — Emerald City Trapeze in Seattle — Music by Charles Bradley and The Tontons — Live art by Ethan Harrington
Thursday, March 12 — Aria in Minneapolis — Music by Delta Spirit and Hippo Campus — Live art by Josh Reisz
Wednesday, March 18 — Container Bar in Austin — Music by Charles Bradley, Delta Spirit, King Tuff, Heartless Bastards, the winner of the NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest, and Tony Magee — Live painting by Sorne
Maxfield Bala made “Grade A Chicken” during the 2014 O+ Festival in Petaluma, Calif.
The works of the street artists who donated their time and talent during the 2014 O+ Festival in Petaluma, Calif., will be auctioned online to benefit the Bay Area festival. View the works and bid here beginning 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 until 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.
A reception, which presents an opportunity to view the art in person, takes place Jan. 23 from 7-10 p.m. at Prince Gallery, 122 American Alley in Petaluma. Complimentary beer from national festival sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Company will be served.
Visionary artist Xavi Panneton participated in the 2014 O+ Festival in Petaluma, Calif.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” says Aimee Gardner, who oversees the Bay Area festivals. “Our 2014 weekend clinic welcomed 22 artists, 106 musicians and 78 volunteers, who received more than 400 visits with dentists, doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other wellness practitioners. Help make this happen again through your purchase of art.”
Auction organizers will extend the auction if the reserve is not met. To stay informed about the auction and reception, please “like” O+ Festival — Petaluma’s Facebook page.
The O+ Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing community well-being by connecting musicians, artists and health & wellness providers in weekend-long celebrations.
The 2015 festivals will take place in Chicago in September, Kingston, N.Y. in October, and Petaluma, Calif., in November.
Festival earns non-profit status while adding mO+re cities, mO+re programming, mO+re care
Kingston, N.Y.-based artist Micah Blumenthal brought his “109 Lines of Communication” to the O+ Festival in Petaluma, Calif.
It’s finally time to exhale. 2014 was an extraordinary year for the non-profit O+ Festival, which is dedicated to enhancing community well-being by connecting musicians, artists and health & wellness providers in weekend-long celebrations.
“O+ had a amazing year and so many compelling stories of wellness and connection have been told and will continue to be told,” says Executive Director Joe Concra. “We are all volunteers in this experiment in the gifting of art and music for wellness services.”
In late spring, the IRS granted non-profit 501(c)(3) status to the organization, thanks to the work of Pro Bono Partnership. The designation means donations are now tax deductible and will provide the foundation for the Festival’s future growth and expansion. And 2014 was a year of tremendous growth for O+, which celebrated its fifth year in Kingston, N.Y., and second year in the Bay Area, this time in Petaluma, Calif.
“We have had thousands of clinic visits since we began 5 years ago, but beyond that we have made real human connections between artists, musicians, providers, neighbors and businesses, and we look forward to creating a space for that to happen across the country in 2015,” Concra says. “O+ is everyone’s festival and we are honored to help guide it and help it grO+w!”
Kingston during its Festival hosted a team of artists and musicians from Chicago, who will be launching an O+ Festival in their city (around 18th Street and Ashland) in September of 2015.
The 2014 Kingston O+ Festival hosted Chicago-based artists Amy Jo Arndt, Cheryl Casden, Jody Casden & Josh Reisz, who will launch a Festival in the Windy City in 2015.
O+ volunteer Micah Blumenthal, a Kingston-based artist, graphic designer, percussionist and yoga instructor, participated in both Kingston and Petaluma festivals with his “109 Lines of Communication” public art.
“There were plenty of differences, but it’s the similarities that say more — both are strong communities committed to solving their problems,” Blumenthal says. “My work was about communication, about fun and exploration, and this seemed to matter to any who were willing to take the time. It was amazing to see so many interact so positively with my work, and the occasional destruction was cool to see too.”
Blumenthal last year received much-needed and long overdue dental care during O+.
“This year I saw a doctor and got a physical for the first time in 17 years and my first massage ever,” he says. “It (O+) not only provided me with care, but there is a presence surrounding the Festival and all of those who give, that made me take the opportunity and the care I have ignored for years.”
This year 20 artists and 55 musicians as well as 44 volunteers received health and wellness care at the O+ clinic in Kingston over the 3-day festival, which drew a crowd of about 2,200. Among the practitioners were nurses, primary care doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, energy workers, a psychiatrist, a naturopath as well as a team from the Institute for Family Health.
Visionary artist Xavi Panneton participated in the 2014 O+ Festival in Petaluma, Calif.
Eli Morales, ND, was among those who donated time and talent Oct. 10-13.
“This is a great opportunity to give back and to help artists be healthy,” Morales says. “It’s kind of my mission as a naturopathic doctor is to help people feel free and achieve a sense of wholeness again. Singers are often on the road; it’s hard for them to be healthy, and so I’m doing my best to support them on their journeys.”
Sarah Tae L.Ac., C.M.T., who provided acupuncture services to artists and musicians at the 2014 festival in Petaluma, came away from the weekend with a true feeling of kinship.
“It helps us to connect deeper with ourselves when we learn to connect with others,” Tae says. “Everybody is a mirror and we remind each other of our own humanity.”
Tae was among the providers who donated their time and expertise to the 22 artists, 106 musicians and 78 volunteers at the Petaluma festival. Nearly 400 clinic visits took place during the Nov. 7-9 weekend, which drew about 600 visitors and participants. Services offered included massage, energy work, primary care, acupuncture, podiatry, chiropractic care, dental, optometry, mental health, audiology, light therapy and nutrition. An additional 16 vouchers for dental care were distributed to artists based in nearby San Francisco and Oakland.
Dental hygienist Katie Schiller treated O+ Festival volunteer Elissa Jane Mastel during the 2014 Festival in Kingston, N.Y.
Petaluma headliner musician and performer Morgan Sorne received wellness care at this year’s Bay Area Festival.
“To have these practitioners appreciate what I do and offer their services, it makes you feel like what you’re doing has value,” he says.
Petaluma is the home of national sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Company, which continues to increase its financial and marketing support for the Festival’s mission. During the fall, O+ Festival went CouchTrippin’ with Lagunitas to New Orleans.
“There was O+ presence everywhere,”says David Green, who heads up national marketing and events for the Festival. “I think we created some awesome connections along the way.”
KINGSTON, N.Y.–A new video produced during the fifth annual O+ Festival in Kingston focuses on the health and wellness care that is donated by art-loving providers.
“I can’t think of any better way to trade services than to play music for medical care,” says musician Burnell Pines, whose concert at Keegan Ales is featured throughout the video. “Massages, Reiki, acupuncture, dental work … it’s a real pleasure.”
Videographer Liz Paradise of Topricin, which donated “care packages” of Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream to 2014 festival participants, interviewed a number of wellness clinic volunteers as well as artists and musicians. Click here to watch the video.
Eli Morales, ND, was among those who donated time and talent Oct. 10-13.
“This is a great opportunity to give back and to help artists be healthy,” Morales says. “It’s kind of my mission as a naturopathic doctor is to help people feel free and achieve a sense of wholeness again. Singers are often on the road; it’s hard for them to be healthy, and so I’m doing my best to support them on their journeys.”
It’s the spirit of community caring for itself that makes the festival stand out, says Billy Murphy, MD, who describes his participation as “one of the coolest things I do all year.”
“You have people there when you need them, and that’s really what O+ is all about,” he says.
Brittany Gavin, RN, who has volunteered for three festivals, says the weekend gives her an opportunity to work with patients she doesn’t often get to see — the uninsured or underinsured.
“A lot of artists and musicians are working so much and they’re so rough on their bodies, but then there’s nobody there to take care of them,” she says.
Artist Geddes Jones, who made a mural during the festival, sums up the spirit of the festival in this way: “I think it’s great for artists – people giving to people and helping out.”
Want to see more of O+ Festival in action? Subscribe to the festival’s YouTube channel.
“These four different events put cycling front and center as a vital part of the wellness of this community we live in,” said cycling enthusiast Joe Concra, co-founder and executive director of O+ Festival.
The fitness and fun kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with 18- and 28-mile rail trail rides, and a 50-mile road ride. Meet at the parking lot facing Schwenk Drive and corner of Fair Street, where one of this year’s artists, Kevin Freligh, has created a fantastic mural.
At noon, the whole family is invited to get on their bikes, trikes or Big Wheels for a guided 4.5 mile Mural-to-Mural RecO+very Ride that begins at the parking lot and stops at murals throughout Uptown Kingston as well as the YMCA in Midtown. Many O+ artists will be on hand to give talks in front of their murals. At the YMCA, riders are encouraged to stop and visit the recovering artists exhibit in the YMCA lobby.
At 1 p.m., as an optional 6-mile extension of the mural-to-mural ride, the Kingston Land Trust will lead a tour of the future Kingston Greenline. The tour route, which follows the planned system of trails, bike lanes and complete streets, will stop at the Trolley Museum of New York, on the Rondout Creek, and in Midtown near the hub of Ulster County’s once-vital railroad system. Tour guides will be on hand to share recent progress updates on the design and construction of the Kingston Greenline.
A map of the planned Mural-to-Mural and Kingston Greenline tour routes is available here. Note that these rides are guided, with volunteers serving as leaders and sweepers for the duration of the ride. Routes are subject to change.
Helmets are mandatory for all four rides.
The celebration continues with a complimentary barbecue at Keegan Ales from 1-3 p.m.
