2010 McKay Grants

Dave McKay was a celebration artist who brought his master costume-design skills, thoughtful intention, and deep attention to detail and craftsmanship to all his art, especially in his work with the Fremont Solstice Parade and Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Celebration. He believed art and art-making should be a part of everyone’s life. The primary goal of the Dave McKay Parade Grant is to honor his memory by supporting artists in their efforts to bring engaging art to the parade and enhancing the spirit of creative community collaboration.

2010 McKay Grantees

McKay Grant applications were juried by a committee composed of FAC members, community members, artists, and Solstice Parade Staff.  This was a competitive process and special consideration given to:

• Creating the project in our public workshop
• Large-scale projects that use the 360 degree space of the street theater
• Use of recycled materials
• Directly engaging the audience along the parade route
• Kinetic movement
• Thought-provoking and innovative ensembles

Fremont Arts Council is proud to announce that we have awarded a total amount of $4500 in grants to the following parade artists.
Here are the grantees:

Kate Freeman: Venezia Solstizio
Kate and Mylinda Sneed have designed a grand Venetian
waltzing carnival ensemble, complete with a life-size gondola.

Allie Kerr: Stormy Weather
Allie is leading an ensemble about rainy days, real and
metaphorical. Stilt walkers and banners express the idea that if you
want sun, you should prepare for rain.

Brian Koozer: Volcano!
Brian is back this year with some over-the-top parade art.
A huge volcano will roll down the street, spurting stuffed endangered
species and cans of pineapple. A monkey will be on hand to help the
confused Tiki-headed minions open the pineapple and celebrate the
Solstice with Brian’s WTF-style we have all come to love.

Sarah Lovett: Dogody
Sarah is creating a huge, 10+ person, doggy puppet this year
to play with the parade watchers in a tail-wagging, tongue flopping good
time.

Ann Sloper: Ice Queens 2010
Ice queens are back with a crazy new “big-dress”
ensemble. Imagine the street filled with gorgeous, ethereal, sexy,
strong maidens in bigger-than-life paper dresses. Some horses (studs?)
will be on hand.

Sonia Telesco: Flying Dreams
Sonia will be creating flying silk banners, lifted on high
with helium balloons, as a glorious gateway for the parade entrance.
Unstoppable, she is also making a gateway for the end of the parade, and
at each of the three stages along the route.

Christie Wolf: Rube Goldberg Solstice
Christie and LeeZuhars and Chuck are building an outrageous
Rube Goldberg contraption (think the game: Mousetrap) to roll, spin,
pour, lurch down the street.

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .

We received many fantastic proposals.  Unfortunately we could only support a small portion of these projects.

Many more exciting ensembles are already gearing up.  We hear whispers

and giggles of a large Viking Helmut, some singing elves, and a yellow
submarine.

We will be posting a list of ensembles, materials wanted, and parade art workshops as they become available.

Check back soon & often, lots of updates will be coming your way!