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Critical Northwest: a week-long, summer camping festival featuring music, performance, theme camps and art installations. Critical Northwest is produced by-and-for the members of the Pacific Northwest community. It is sponsored by Ignition Northwest, a Washington State nonprofit.
Critical Northwest 2014: Coalesce
1 : to grow together.
2 a : to unite into a whole : fuse b : to unite for a common end : join forces 3 : to arise from the combination of distinct elements.
As a culture we often gather in the spirit of connection, revelry, communion and a bit of escapism. We seek out diminutive pockets of freedom in order to break free from the mundane, the "norm." We dress up as pirates and pixies, or metal heads and robots and we play. As children do. We let down our guards for a time and get into our playful garb and laugh, party, dance, express and make new connections. New friends who introduce us to endless veins of new ideas and paths. Loves, trials and lives. Often times these moments of surrender to our playful child side induce vastly meaningful influences and directions. New possibilities, inspirations and worlds. We coalesce.
Intrinsically bound to coalescence is fusion. New things grow out of the fusion of two or more differing ideas. Ray Charles in essence took the Devils music (blues) and the Lords music (gospel) and fused them together. Changing the landscape of music and what was believed possible forever. I believe we are at a pivotal point in human history. This idea is more crucial than ever. At a time when we as a species is overwhelmingly polarized it is imperative to set aside those differences and embrace each other in that one thing that makes us all the same. Our diversity.
Attendees are encouraged to participate in radical new ideas. Try a workshop in something you have always wanted to learn or even that you never knew existed. Strive for connections with those you may not have thought to engage. Bring someone along who has never participated in a festival. Be inclusion. It is up to us to open the doors and not only allow any and all to enter and participate but also to engage and participate ourselves. It's an energy that is infectious.
This year Ignition Northwest reached out with this very same spirit to find its producer. Now we will carry that torch and come together. Laugh, play, dance, revel and of course, COALESCE.
A story of Ubuntu:
An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. So he decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get fruit from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket at the foot of a tree.
Then he called the children and suggested they play the game. When the anthropologist said "now", the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the fruit to him/herself.
So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said "now", all of the children took each other by the hand ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time divided up the fruit, sat down and began to happily munch away.
The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the fruit all to themselves.
The children responded: "Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?"
Ubuntu is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as "I am what I am because of who we all are."
Critical Northwest 2014 runs from July 14 - 20 at Lake Associates Recreation Club in scenic Mt. Vernon, WA, a leisurely hour and a half drive north from Seattle.
This year we are setting up a donation section to help with getting low-income and artists/performers to critical at a reduced ticket price. The minimum donation is ten dollars (set by BPT) but you are of course able to donate more if you would like or are able. We encourage people who buy tickets to, Critical but do not go (so that they can support the community they love so much) to donate here instead of purchasing a ticket and not going. Reason being is, that doesn't reduce ticket availability for people who want to go but your contribution still gets to us. WIN WIN!!! Thank You for all of your donations and love! This community would not be what it is without, YOU!!!
Note: Children 12 years or younger with proof of age and when accompanied by a ticket carrying parent or legal guardian are admitted free.
By purchasing a ticket you agree to the Code of Conduct and Rules and that you have read and understand the Critical Northwest FAQ. These items are vital to everyone having the best possible experience so please make sure you are familiar with these items prior to attending Critical Northwest, even if you've been before.
CANADIANS (and others purchasing from outside the USA): We HIGHLY recommend you utilize the print-at-home option when purchasing tickets. Cross-border mail is not always reliable and we want to make sure you receive your tickets.
Refund Policy
All Sales Are Final. If you find yourself no longer able to attend Critical Northwest, we encourage you to resell your tickets to another participant. Ignition Northwest/ Critical Northwest is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. No refunds will be issued as a result of lost or stolen tickets.
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LocationLake Associates Recreation Club (LARC)
21700 State Route 9
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
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