Amanda Palmer, Spirit Family Reunion to Play O+ Kingston

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Amanda Palmer and “new old-timey” band Spirit Family Reunion have joined the already stellar lineup of 60 bands for the eighth annual O+ Kingston festival of art, music and wellness.

Preorder all-access wristbands here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/o-kingston-tickets-36246496246

Palmer tweeted to her fans today: “come, enjoy awesome art and music while supporting a great org….i’ll bring my uke and my dad, he’ll bring his guitar.” O+ audiences are in for an intimate treat of performance and conversation Friday, Oct. 6 in the back room of BSP Kingston.

O+ alumni Spirit Family Reunion will play the festival on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10:45 p.m. at Keegan Ales.

They join previously announced San Francisco-based rock band Deerhoof, songwriter/guitarist Steve Gunn of Brooklyn, New York’s White Hills (psychedelic rock), Baltimore rap artist Abdu Ali and local favorites The Mammals (Americana/folk) and The Big Takeover (“Jamaica meets Motown”).

The festival also features 20 visual, installation and performance artists. Get to know the full lineup here.

O+ Kingston is a full weekend of art, music and wellness, including the much-loved kickoff parade, EXPLO+RE classes in yoga, dance, meditation and more, cycling events for all skill levels, Wellness EXPO+ and Literary SALO+N. New this year: O+ has teamed up with the Good Work Institute to present a conference on building regenerative local communities.

 

 

 

O+ Poughkeepsie Invigorates City With Art, Music, Wellness

The inaugural O+ Poughkeepsie took place in August and drew 1,029 attendees to revitalizing blocks of the city’s Main Street. The 2-day festival included 21 bands, 5 mural artists, and was produced by a league of 35 volunteers.

The O+ Artists’ Clinic in the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory had 12 health providers who provided 159 health and wellness visits for 53 patients. O+ curated five large-scale murals made by artists from Poughkeepsie, Ulster County and Rochester, and a sixth mural by a collective of Poughkeepsie-based artists. The festival also featured an informative and fun health and wellness EXPO+ curated by WMC Health/Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

 

Hip Hop Artist Decora Plays Sept. 23 O+ Benefit Show at BSP Kingston

O+ alumnus Decora is playing an O+ benefit show Saturday, Sept. 23 at BSP Kingston, 323 Wall St.

Invite your friends to experience the multi-faceted hip hop artist and poet — who counts the late Pete Seeger among his mentors — and help raise much-needed funds to support the O+ mission!

Tickets for the 18+ benefit show are $10 in advance, $12 at the door: http://bit.ly/2vYKN9S

Think of it as a little checkup before our eighth annual festival. Thanks to BSP for hosting!

O+ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects underinsured artists and musicians with health and wellness care while uplifting the entire community through the healing power of art.

O+ Seeks Development Coordinator

The nonprofit O+ is seeking a part-time Development Coordinator to join our Kingston, N.Y.-based national team. The Development Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing and managing the fundraising efforts of O+, including individual and major donor development, grant-writing efforts and special events. As part of O+’s leadership team, the Development Coordinator works closely with the Executive Director, Director of Operations and the Board in all development and fundraising plans and efforts.

About the Position: Part-Time (approximately 20 hours per week)
The position of Development Coordinator is new within O+, having been identified as a
key priority for the organization during the development of its 2016 strategic plan. Through this position, O+ seeks to continue its efforts to raise the organization’s profile
and leverage greater awareness of its mission and impact to cultivate the financial resources that will support continued growth. We see the Development Coordinator as an integral part of the O+ leadership team, and a key resource in the implementation of our ambitious plans for the future.

QUALIFICATIONS:
● Understand and embody the mission and vision of O+
● Exhibit strong interpersonal and writing skills and ability to complete large grant-writing projects
● Demonstrated experience in fundraising, particularly major gift fundraising
● Possess the skills to work with and motivate staff, board members and other volunteers
● Be motivated to initiate donor visits and build external relationships
● Be organized and exhibit ability to complete tasks and goals on time
● Comfortable working with a creative community
● Understand non-profit financial concepts and be able to create budgets and reports
● Positive interpersonal skills and a high level of discretion
● Ability to take initiative, proactively solve problems and assess priorities, and effectively manage a variety of tasks
● At a minimum, Bachelors Degree and direct fundraising experience at a leadership level is required with a proven ability to design, develop, oversee and lead all aspects of an organization’s fundraising activities

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Development Planning and Reporting
● Work closely with Executive Director to establish goals and milestones
● Oversee prospect research
Donor Management
● Establish a major gifts program including identification, cultivation and solicitation
of major donors
● Meet prospective donors and supporters on a continual basis to establish
on-going and established relationships
● Work closely with Executive Director and Board to identify contacts and plan
outreach efforts
Grant Writing
● Oversee grant seeking including research, proposal writing, and reporting
requirements
Fundraising Events
● Work with Communications Director to create publications for fundraising
activities, including Annual Report
● Direct campaigns and other major fundraising drives
● Establish year-round calendar of fundraising
● Develop set of fundraising reports; annual, monthly, and per-project
● Coordinate fundraising events
○ Direct the annual fund program, including mailings and annual fundraising drives
○ Create fundraising reports and tracking systems
○ Maintain volunteer and in-kind giving recognition programs
● With input and guidance from the Executive Director and the Board of Directors,
prepare an annual development plan that identifies and prioritizes funding
targets, to include grants, major gifts, fundraising events and other methods, in
order to support achievement of strategic goals
General
● Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings
● Make public appearances/accept speaking engagements to share information about the O+ Festival with the community
● Perform other related duties as requested

O+ offers a salary commensurate with experience. O+ is an equal opportunity employer
and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Please contact aimee@opositivefestival.org with a statement of interest and your resume if you are interested in applying.

O+ Kingston (Oct. 6-8) Reveals Additions of Deerhoof, Steve Gunn, White Hills

San Francisco-based rock band Deerhoof, songwriter/guitarist Steve Gunn of Brooklyn and New York’s White Hills (psychedelic rock) join the already amazing lineup that includes Baltimore rap artist Abdu Ali, Brooklyn’s Air Waves and local favorites The Mammals (Americana/folk) and The Big Takeover (“Jamaica meets Motown”) for the eighth annual O+ Kingston Oct. 6-8.

White Hills opens the festival on Friday, Oct. 6, Steve Gunn plays Saturday, Oct. 7and Deerhoof closes O+ Kingston on Sunday, Oct. 8.

The weekend of art, music, wellness and community features more than 50 bandsand 20 visual, installation and performance artists. It also includes the much-loved kickoff parade, EXPLO+RE classes in yoga, dance, meditation and more,cycling events for all skill levels, Wellness EXPO+ and Literary SALO+N. New this year: O+ has teamed up with the Good Work Institute to present the HO+ME Economics conference at O+.

What makes O+ unique? The underinsured artists, musicians and dedicated volunteers who donate their time and talent to the festival weekend receive complimentary health and wellness care from volunteer providers in our Artists’ Clinic. We call this exchange “The Art of Medicine for the Medicine of Art.”

O+ works yearround to build long-term relationships between creatives and providers to help strengthen local communities. And the Kingston festival is the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser. This year’s goal is an ambitious, but achievable $100K.

Advance donations for all-access weekend wristbands come with exclusive thank you gifts including a “You Can’t Buy CO+MMUNITY” tote bag and 1240+1 T-shirts, racerback tank tops and sweatshirts.

And to get you in the O+ mood, check out “I Will Spit Survive,” the latest single from Deerhoof. NPR’s Robin Hilton called it “a restless rallying cry to stay vigilant in an age of political and cultural upheaval.” We can’t think of a better fit for the O+ ethos.

Inspired? Get your all-access wristbands now and help us Apply Pressure and Elevate!

 

All-Access Wristbands Available Now for Eighth Annual O+ Kingston Oct. 6-8

Brooklyn’s Dead Leaf Echo (nouveau wave), Washington, D.C.’s Paperhaus (psychedelic) and Baltimore rap artist Abdu Ali join local favorites The Mammals (Americana/folk), The Big Takeover (“Jamaica meets Motown”) and Upgrade (hip hop) for the eighth annual O+ Kingston Oct. 6-8.

The weekend of art, music, wellness and community features more than 50 bands and 20 visual, installation and performance artists. It also includes the much-loved kickoff parade, EXPLO+RE classes in yoga, dance, meditation and more, cycling events for all skill levels, Wellness EXPO+ and Literary SALO+N. New this year: O+ has teamed up with the Good Work Institute to present the HO+ME Economics conference at O+.

What makes O+ unique? The underinsured artists, musicians and dedicated volunteers who donate their time and talent to the festival weekend receive complimentary health and wellness care from volunteer providers in our Artists’ Clinic. We call this exchange “The Art of Medicine for the Medicine of Art.”

Advance donations for all-access weekend wristbands come with exclusive thank you gifts including a “You Can’t Buy CO+MMUNITY” tote bag and 1240+1 T-shirts, racerback tank tops and sweatshirts.

LINEUP DETAILS

Seven artists will make seven murals that respond to the theme of “Home” throughout the neighborhoods of uptown, midtown and, for the first time, Rondout, where Kingston native and O+ alumnus Matthew Pleva will create a large-scale work at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Other mural locations will be announced in the weeks ahead.

O+ Kingston will welcome Albuquerque, N.M.-based mural artist Nanibah “Nani” Chacon, part of the “Honor the Treaties” collective, and Brooklyn-based mural artist Vince Ballentine, who made the Tribe Called Quest tribute mural in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens.

Brooklyn-based painter and illustrator Jia Sung, who assisted Jess X. Snow on 2016’s “O Wind Take Me to My Country” mural at ARTBAR Gallery on Broadway, returns to Kingston to make her first large-scale mural project as the lead artist.

The eighth annual O+ Kingston’s diverse musical lineup ranges from folk jazz (Keys to the Moon) to hip hop/funk/soul (Cross Culture) to indie rock (Graveyard Lovers) to ambient psych rock (The Stargazer Lilies) to fever-pop (Home Body) to swamp rock (Viva Le Vox) and swamp blues (ROEBUCK) — even hockey rock with The Zambonis!

There are also exciting musical collaborations between Ambrosia Parsley (Shivaree) and Chris Maxwell and Mimi Goese (Hugo Largo) and Ben Neill.

The art lineup includes: Vince Ballentine (mural), Jane Bloodgood-Abrams (mural), Cave Dogs / Suzanne Stokes(performance), Nanibah Chacon (mural), Erika deVries & Jonah Meyer (installation and performance), Enz (mural), Matthew Goldpaugh (installation), Guerilla Haiku Movement (installation and performance), Melissa Halvorson (projection), Rik Lopes (installation and performance), Melissa officinalis (installation), Matthew Pleva (mural), Amy Poux (performance), Valerie Sharp (performance), Justin Suarez (mural), Jia Sung (mural) and The Wayfinder Experience (interactive scavenger hunt).

The initial music lineup includes Abdu Ali, Adir L.C., Air Waves, Ambrosia Parsley and Chris Maxwell, Amity, Baltic, The Big Takeover, Bob Fleming & the Drunk Girl Chorus, Br’er, Buffalo Sex Change, Candy Ambulance, Chernobyl’s Children, Cross Culture, Dead Leaf Echo, Dusted, Gong Supreme, Graveyard Lovers, Hammydown, Hardc0re, Home Body, Jouska, Justin Tracy, Keys to the Moon, Kortnee Simmons, Locofreeq, Mail the Horse, The Mammals, Mimi Goese and Ben Neill, Miss Velvet and The Blue Wolf, Mister Roper, MSL, NCM, Oshwa, Paperhaus, The Pauses, Payne’s Grey Sky, Porcelain Helmet, Purple kniF, Ratboy Jr., ROEBUCK, The Rough Shapes, Ryan Egan, The Stargazer Lilies, Surmiser, Ten Pound Chicken, Upgrade, Viva Le Vox, The Zambonis and Zero Mean.

The Kingston festival weekend is O+’s largest fundraiser. Advance wristband donations power the yearround work of the national nonprofit while allowing organizers to make the festival weekend accessible to all through a “pay what you can/what’s it worth to you” model at HO+ME Base.

All-Access Wristbands Available Now for O+ Poughkeepsie

YO+U’RE invited to the first O+ Poughkeepsie festival of art, music, wellness and community Friday-Saturday, Aug. 4-5 throughout Main Street between Market and Cherry streets in downtown Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Festival wristbands are available now for a $20 suggested donation. The wristband is your all-access pass to hear 25 bands (including Holly Miranda, Continental, The Funk Junkies and Monogold), watch artists make large-scale murals, participate in EXPLO+RE classes in dance, yoga and more and attend a Wellness EXPO+. Check out the full lineup here.

What makes O+ (pronounced O Positive) unique? The underinsured artists and musicians who donate their talent and performance to the festival weekend receive complimentary health and wellness care in an Artists’ Clinic staffed by volunteer providers. We call this exchange “The Art of Medicine for the Medicine of Art.” The lead sponsor of the inaugural weekend is Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

O+ Poughkeepsie kicks off Aug. 4 with programming to coincide with the FIRST FRIDAY MUSIC STREET FAIR from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Main Street from Academy to Market streets. O+ Poughkeepsie bands Bright Dog Red and Poet Gold & the Evolving Wordsmiths will perform.

On Aug. 4 and 5 watch large-scale murals being made at the Up To Date Wall (288 Main St.) by Poughkeepsie’s own Boogie and John Breiner plus High Falls-based artist Eugene Stetz. Mr. Prvrt of Rochester will make a mural on a wall at Pancho Villa, 550 Main St.

Then on Aug. 5 experience a Wellness EXPO+ featuring health- and wellness-related nonprofits, services and businesses. Take unlimited EXPLO+RE classes at Mural Square Park. And check out 25 O+ Poughkeepsie bands playing the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center, My Place Pizza and Main Street Pizza.

Make a suggested donation of $20 and receive an all-access festival wristband and a T-shirt as a thank you.

Your advance donation allows O+ Poughkeepsie to be accessible to the entire community with a “what’s it worth to you/pay what you can” option at check in. Donations also power the yearround work of the nonprofit O+ to empower communities to take control of their collective wellbeing.

The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center aka HO+ME Base (317 Main St.) will open at noon on Aug. 5 for attendees to pick up their festival wristbands, programs, T-shirts and O+ Poughkeepsie swag.

Check out the full O+ Poughkeepsie lineup and plan YO+UR itinerary!

Third Annual Auction Raises More Than $19K

The third annual O+ auction at the pop-up gallery at 37 North Front St. (future home of bluecashew) was a smashing success thanks to the generosity of artists, bidders, volunteers, board members, our hosts bluecashew and Kovo Rotisserie, and, of course, our auctioneer “Cassius Bullworth” (last-minute replacement for Owen O’Connor).

More than $19K was raised (just shy of our goal of $20K), including $1,250 to specifically fund O+ mural tours for local kids.

If you know someone who missed the auction, but would still like to contribute to the work of O+ please share this donation link with them.

Benefit Art Auction Takes Place June 6

Reserve your bid paddle and a coveted spot at 37 North Front St. (future home of bluecashew) for the third annual auction of art, vintage art and art objects to benefit O+. The auction takes place Tuesday, June 6 and will feature both silent and live auction items.

O+ supporters have the opportunity to take home outstanding work donated by O+ alumni and friends of the nonprofit, including:

  • Maxfield Bala, Micah Blumenthal, Jacinta Bunnell/Leela Corman, Joe Concra, Luba Donskoj, Brent Felker, John Fischer
  • Lorraine B. Furtick, Gaia, Jan Harrison, Margaret Hartford, Chip Thomas aka jetsonorama, Jessie and Katey
  • Dina Kravtsov, Leonie Lacouette, Ruth Lancer, Polly Law, Norm Magnusson, Linda Mary Montano, MTT, Sean Andrew Murray
  • Ken Nystrom, Denise Orzo, Geddes Jones Paulsen, Matthew Pleva, Giselle Potter, Hilary Price, the late James Rizzi
  • Carla Rozman, Ernest Shaw, Jess X. Snow, Eugene Stetz, Genevieve Kara Tefft, Will Lytle aka Thorneater Comics, Chris Victor, Sarah Vogwill and John Walter (True Mirror).

Lots can be viewed here. Preview the art in person at a pop-up gallery at 37 North Front St. (future home of bluecashew) Saturday, June 3. Doors will open at noon as a convenience to those shopping the Kingston Farmer’s Market and strolling uptown Kingston; a First Saturdays party will take place from 6-9 p.m.

The June 6 auction is O+’s largest fundraising event (other than the annual Kingston festival weekend) and supports the yearround work of the national nonprofit, headquartered in Kingston.

This year’s auction goal is $20K. Reserve a paddle/spot on the deck (space is very limited), plan your bidding strategy, and help O+ reach it!

Those who cannot make it to the live event can email an absentee bid for a favorite work to: aimee@opositivefestival.org

The O+ board and staff wish to thank the owners of outdated: an antique cafe for launching this beautiful community event in 2015 and helping O+ raise much needed funds.

Submissions Open for Oct. 6-8 O+ Kingston

Art and music submissions are now open for the eighth annual O+ Kingston, which takes place Oct. 6-8. The theme of this year’s festival is “Home.”

Creatives who are chosen to install artwork or play a concert during the festival will have access to our complimentary health and wellness clinic, staffed by art-loving volunteer providers.

We are also seeking volunteer providers, EXPLO+RE teachers and general festival volunteers.

Do you own/operate a gallery, bar, restaurant or raw space that you would like to offer as a potential venue space? Submit here. Building owners who have a wall that would be the perfect canvas for an O+ mural should submit here.

Submissions for artists and musicians close on the evening of June 6. The O+ Kingston curatorial teams look forward to reviewing them!