Northwest 2017, photo by Kai Hayashi
Northwest Recess is happening, and it could be the last one!
August 16th - 19th
2018 has been a difficult year for Recess, one filled with conflict and hardship, but one also filled with many lessons, growth, and diving deep into relationships. While the decision to have Northwest this year was not a simple nor easy one, it feels good to be offering something so important to us and so many others in the community. We are excited to come together at Northwest this year armed with new lessons and even better at the things we care most about. Northwest, our return home, and in a year and time where "us" and "home" is so dearly needed in the Recess community.
The future of Northwest and Recess generally is unclear. After the event we will be sitting down and making broader decisions for what is to become of Recess and Northwest. Northwest Recess might be a fresh start and the beginning of something new or it could be a sweet goodbye. Be sure to make it to Northwest this year.
Northwest is and has always been our favorite Recess. As usual, the inspiring Lookout Arts Quarry plays our host: a magical setting of an 86 acre rock quarry turned circus community south of Bellingham, WA. The days will be filled with swimming and cliff-jumping in the flooded quarry and hiking in the thousands of acres of surrounding national forest! The nights will be filled with dancing in the circus warehouse, the Recess Bus, as well as the legendary floating dance floor that Recess helped custom build years ago. This, all alongside the usual hallmarks of Recess: artistically-driven parties with Fusion and Blues music bumping until well past sunrise and a radically inclusive ethic that can't help but inspire.
This year's northwest is in the wake of a inter-team conflict that resulted in members of the Recess Organizing Team leaving. If you would like more information on that conflict and/or on Recess's actions in relationship to it, we recommend you to Erin Adam's blog she is keeping in regards to the conflict. Erin is a skilled and concerned community member working with Recess as a consultant and support through needed changes and growth in the wake of the conflict. She will also be facilitating community discussion forums regarding the conflict at Northwest for those interested.
Our hopes in having Northwest are many, and even among the team there is a lack of clarity and agreement on best actions. However, for transparency of motives, we hope that having Northwest this year will provide the following:
The future of Northwest and Recess generally is unclear. After the event we will be sitting down and making broader decisions for what is to become of Recess and Northwest. Northwest Recess might be a fresh start and the beginning of something new or it could be a sweet goodbye. Be sure to make it to Northwest this year.
Northwest is and has always been our favorite Recess. As usual, the inspiring Lookout Arts Quarry plays our host: a magical setting of an 86 acre rock quarry turned circus community south of Bellingham, WA. The days will be filled with swimming and cliff-jumping in the flooded quarry and hiking in the thousands of acres of surrounding national forest! The nights will be filled with dancing in the circus warehouse, the Recess Bus, as well as the legendary floating dance floor that Recess helped custom build years ago. This, all alongside the usual hallmarks of Recess: artistically-driven parties with Fusion and Blues music bumping until well past sunrise and a radically inclusive ethic that can't help but inspire.
This year's northwest is in the wake of a inter-team conflict that resulted in members of the Recess Organizing Team leaving. If you would like more information on that conflict and/or on Recess's actions in relationship to it, we recommend you to Erin Adam's blog she is keeping in regards to the conflict. Erin is a skilled and concerned community member working with Recess as a consultant and support through needed changes and growth in the wake of the conflict. She will also be facilitating community discussion forums regarding the conflict at Northwest for those interested.
Our hopes in having Northwest are many, and even among the team there is a lack of clarity and agreement on best actions. However, for transparency of motives, we hope that having Northwest this year will provide the following:
- Provide a space for in-person participation and leaning-in for the community around this conflict: grieving, creating deliberate spaces for more voices to be heard, for one-on-one dialogue.
- This conflict has left Recess is over $17,000 in financial debt and the remaining organizers do not have the finances to service this debt. Northwest hopes to help support some of this financial liability to the remaining organizers.
- To help eliminate that myth that there are "sides" to this conflict. Conflict is not to be won, it is to be grown through.
- To provide a space to enact some of the changes we've made as an organization in response to this conflict.
- To be together when its most needed: to hold each-other and grieve together, to create and eat together, to dance and celebrate together, to be together at Northwest, one of our favorite weekends, spaces, and events we know!
Event Pricing
Can't Afford A Low-Income Ticket? Submit a scholarship form during registration!
Low Income Ticket $175
Mid-Low Income $215
Mid Income Ticket $255
Upper Income $315
Benevolent Gentry Ticket $360
Day Pass - One Day $70 (24 hrs + food)
Day Pass - Two days $140 (48 hours + food)
Recess Food Co-op Prices
$38 veggie meals for your entire time at the event
$32 (in addition to above veggie ticket) for 2 portions of meat/day with your meals
Low Income Ticket $175
Mid-Low Income $215
Mid Income Ticket $255
Upper Income $315
Benevolent Gentry Ticket $360
Day Pass - One Day $70 (24 hrs + food)
Day Pass - Two days $140 (48 hours + food)
Recess Food Co-op Prices
$38 veggie meals for your entire time at the event
$32 (in addition to above veggie ticket) for 2 portions of meat/day with your meals
Tentative Event Schedule
Thursday Event Arrival Information: Dinner and opening circle at 7pm. Feel free to arrive anytime after 5pm, but know that we'll joyfully ask (and expect) you to help us set up! Music starts at 9pm.
Daily Meal Times: (All heavy on the "ish") 12pm brunch, 7:30pm dinner, midnight late night snack.
Dancing Nightly: 9pm to when we stop. With venue changes and transitions..
Monday Noon: We miss you already, thanks for the beauty! Now let's clean up!
Daytime during skillshare slots: Community Discussions regarding the ongoing Recess conflict.
Daily Meal Times: (All heavy on the "ish") 12pm brunch, 7:30pm dinner, midnight late night snack.
Dancing Nightly: 9pm to when we stop. With venue changes and transitions..
Monday Noon: We miss you already, thanks for the beauty! Now let's clean up!
Daytime during skillshare slots: Community Discussions regarding the ongoing Recess conflict.
Venue Accessibility
We acknowledge that the venues we utilize are not accessible to all bodies. At our events we will do our best to adapt the limitations of the venue to the needs of the people who would like to attend.
Event Accessibility Details: Porta Potties (one ADA). Camping with option for parkable camper sleeping. Access to electricity only at main dance space. No stairs, but gravel and dirt roads between venues, main evening dance space, kitchen area, and camping spaces. Outdoor dancing each night. Email recessinformation@gmail.com for details or specific needs requests.
Event Accessibility Details: Porta Potties (one ADA). Camping with option for parkable camper sleeping. Access to electricity only at main dance space. No stairs, but gravel and dirt roads between venues, main evening dance space, kitchen area, and camping spaces. Outdoor dancing each night. Email recessinformation@gmail.com for details or specific needs requests.
