Prom

We’re going out, high-school style with a formal dance and party in the basement.

Please join us for BBQ and circus performers in the parking lot, dance music by Platonic DJ and cover band Beach Boyz II Men (with Nora Hughes, Peter Woiwod, Kristin Allen-Zito, David Ney, more – I can’t keep track!) and punchy punch in the basement, extra Alterna-Prom in the back-corner lounge, hand-made corsages by Aireekah Laudert, prom photos by Morgan Ellis, and maybe a repeat performance by Zach Zinn and His Tent. It’s going to be a freak-show, in fancy dress.

Please, put on your prom gear (even if it’s just a hoody with a flower pinned to it), grab a date (or find one there), and give us some love.

Thanks for the memories, have a nice summer, and don’t do anything we wouldn’t do. xo-Michelle and Django

Jinx Art Space is owned and operated by local artists and business owners Michelle Schutte and Django Bohren, and located at 306 Flora Street. Jinx is an artist collective in the heart of the Bellingham Arts District. The art and music venue has become a nexus for local artists and musicians since opening nearly three years ago when it quickly filled an important void in the Bellingham music and arts scene. The space has provided 14 work studios for visual artists and 3 practice spaces for artists and musicians with a broad spectrum of experience, a gallery to showcase monthly art shows, and an all-ages music venue for over 100 shows and around 300 bands in the last few years. Since opening, Jinx has received the Mayor’s Arts Award (nominated by the Bellingham Arts Commission), as well as Best Gallery from the Cascadia Weekly and an Appreciation Award from What’s Up Magazine for support of the arts.

Make.Shift is a Bellingham-based nonprofit established in 2008 that supports independent musicians through innovative and environmentally friendly programs. With programs such as bicycle-powered generators (used to power amplified music), and the Magic Van (available to local bands for touring throughout the PNW), Make.Shift has worked steadily towards their goal of supporting musicians while keeping the environment in mind. For some time, the non-profit has searched for a physical home from which to base these operations as well as provide additional arts and music resources to the community. The plan for a new space to provide affordable band practice space, a community silkscreening studio, a local art gallery, and a resource library, in addition to other prospective ideas such as a rentable darkroom, has been forming since the non-profit first worked towards a prospective lease agreement for a different address. Volunteers were forced to continue their search for a commercial space in downtown Bellingham when those negotiations fell through in February.
“We had checked out virtually any vacant space on the market that even vaguely resembled what we were looking for.” (Make.Shift Director Cat Sieh)

After hearing for several months of the non-profit’s struggle to find a space, Michelle Schutte contacted Cat Sieh and made a proposal. The resulting agreement means that Make.Shift will absorb the existing Jinx space, while expanding the business to incorporate the new projects and programs.

“Owning Jinx has been an extraordinary experience, but recently we have found ourselves wishing for more time and energy to devote to the project. We hadn’t even considered selling Jinx before I had a sort of epiphany. I realized that Make.Shift was looking for a space to do much of the same thing we’ve been doing at Jinx for years, but on a bigger scale, and that handing the business over to them may be the perfect solution to both of our problems.” (Jinx Co-founder Michelle Schutte)

“Jinx has earned a deep respect in our music and arts communities. We want to keep the programs that have made Jinx such a unique place, and to expand to create even more opportunities for artists and musicians.”
 (Make.Shift Director Cat Sieh)

The group plans to devote additional studio space for musicians, while encouraging current tenants to keep their studios.
Schutte said she is confident that Make.Shift will work to retain the character of the space, and continue to provide a home for her current tenants.

“Jinx has a personality of its own in our community and selling it means handing over not only the physical space, but also all of our artists, renters, and supporters. The real value of our business can be found in our people. It’s a special situation, and I trust that Make.Shift understands that. I know that they will take what we’ve created, add their own ideas, energy, and volunteer-power, and make it even better.” (Jinx Co-founder Michelle Schutte)

At this point, Jinx and Make.Shift management hope to include Whatcom All-ages Arts and Music (WhAAM!) in the new space, but final arrangements to combine efforts have been put on hold pending negotiations.

“Jinx, Make.Shift, and WhAAM! have each operated separately for years, and the best case scenario will find us all in the same building. I’m certain that collecting all three organizations under one roof will create a force to be reckoned with. I’m just really excited to see what happens next.”

Schutte will continue to run the space through June 30, when Make.Shift will take over operations. The space will reopen with few changes by September 2011. Make.Shift will retain and incorporate the name Jinx Art Space.

LAST JINX EVENT:
During their tenure as Jinx managers, co-founders Django Bohren and Michelle Schutte have organized and orchestrated several events beyond their standard Art Walk reception, including Halloween parties, Christmas Pageants, a charity army wrestling competition, a water-balloon fight, art auctions, and Band Lotteries. Before they’re through, they will host one more party for Jinx artists and supporters. The Jinx Formal (Final) Dance, July 2nd, is chance for all of us to get dressed in our Prom Best (even if that may be a hoody with a corsage pinned to it!), dance (or not) to some live music and DJs, and maybe make out in a corner with someone else’s date. Expect treats, punch, and a Prom Photographer…because it wouldn’t be a Jinx party without a chance to have a stupid amount of fun and get your picture taken in the process.

http://www.jinxartspace.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jinx-Art-Space/149908468396570
http://www.makeshiftproject.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MakeShift/83909532568?ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/whaam?sk=info

Facebook event.

Show cost is $5

Cat From Hue (tour kick off!)

Livingston Seagull (tour kick off! 7″ release!)

Bowlcut (tour kick off! demo release!)

Tearamanapart (party boiz)

Darto (featuring Andrew Nickelback for a few songs)

Doors at 7! Show at 8!! (seriously there’s 5 bands come on… show will start on time)

This is also Graduation night for many people! Come celebrate it with your friends! Also Casey’s mom is bringing HELLA pizza for those who show up on time… incentive? sure!

June 3, 2011 - Brad Lockhart Poster and Fine Art Show opening

The show will feature a “greatest hits” collection of posters Brad Lockhart has designed over the last 8ish years for bands and venues around the Northwest.

The show will also feature a small collection of Brad’s fine art including sculpture, photography, paintings and some surprises!

live music by

LONEBIRD

Moons & Goochers

and a NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL cover set by Brad Lockhart and a handful of others.

Facebook event

May 14, 2011 - Broken Water, Mary Mary and OSA

Broken Water

Broken Water is my favorite band in the world right now. There’s a mix of My Bloody Valentine style shoegaze and Sonic Youth craziness all filtered through a punk filter that I just can’t say no to. Sooo excited. If you don’t believe me, here’s another letter of recommendation.

Bandcamp page
EP review

Brace (formerly Mary Mary (with Geoff Traeger))

Here we go again. Featuring one Geoff Traeger for a few songs and playing dual guitar style in the way that we did for 2 shows last summer. It’s gonna be fun as all heck.

Osa

I saw these guys once and they blew me away. Kind of Sebadoh like. I mean that in the best possible way.

Platonic DJ aka Chris Rithcie will spin whatever the hell he wants between sets. Dance party? Just maybe.

This all corresponds with a show at The Bunker. I’ll give you more details as they come up.

Facebook event page

Paintings by Isaac Holden.

Art walk 6-midnight.

Music at 10.

Free!

BEAF free show. [ Official site for BEAF (Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival) ]

April 21

Empty Space Orchestra [ FaceBook page ]
White Orange [ MySpace page ]
Mission Orange [ MySpace page ]

$5
door at 8
music at 9

April 21, 2011 - Lesbian, Grayceon, Dog Shredder and Fight Amp

May 5, 2011
Lesbian [ Bandcamp page ]
Grayceon (SF) [ Bandcamp page ]
Dog Shredder [ Bandcamp page ]
Fight Amp (NJ) [ Bandcamp page ]

Starbird Booking Showcase
$6, door at 7, music at 8

April 17, 2011 - Yellingham

4/17 Yellingham $5 donation

All-ages, no booze, no drugs, no violence

SUNDAY 7:30 PM
Jason Clackley
Karl Blau
Yr Heart Breaks
The Mission Orange
Bright Weapons

Official Yellingham site

Yellingham article in the Stranger

Art by Jessica Bonin and James Reisen.
Recent work (One a Day) and an installation created for Jinx!
Music by Sweaty Sweaters. FREE SHOW!
It’s April Fools Day, but I AM SERIOUS… and so excited.
Reception starts at 6, music starts at 8… open until all night long.

Here’s Jessica’s blog and photos of her work. If you’ve never read or seen what she does, you’ve got to check it out. Beautiful beauty.