Shift Space VII: Rent Event Fundraiser, An open letter and review.

So, if you haven't recognized it, there is soap box under my feet. A very large one at that. As the event coordinator for Shift Space VII, I have a few open wounds to bandage up and some words of advice for the WSU Art and Design students as a group. This past Final Friday was an attempt to save an excellent off campus art venue; WSU Shift Space Gallery. And you know what… I did it. I raised over $6000 in 7 hours. Now that single "I" should not be as far as I am concerned. Don't get me wrong, I had help… but it was the same help that always steps up to the plate and follows through. Is this a problem? You bet it is!

The event, which took several months of extremely indepth planning and hundreds of hours, was attended by an estimated 1200 people. This number is almost three times our usual attendance. Over 450 artworks were donated by WSU students, faculty and staff and sold for the unheard of price of $20 or less. It was a raging success in my opinion and provided a continuation for Shift Space.

Now, what is my gripe with the students of the WSU Art and Design Department? Many of you are lazy, complaining, non-follow through excuses of artists. Yes, I said it. Does it piss you off? Good, it should. Many of the 450 works were donated by the same people who always follow through with events at WSU. Many of you donted over 10 pieces of work, some even 20. And several of you, put in countless hours of volunteer work for the event. Where were the rest of you? I continually hear complaints on our campus of nothing going on and nothing to get involved in. Well, I am here to tell you that you are blind as bats. Our department has countless events that happen throughout the semester that are poorly attended by the students of WSU. Not general students either, art and design students. Event planning and guild meetings are extremely difficult to have due to poor attendance as well. Overall, almost anything in the Art and Deisgn department is difficult and discouraging to have due to poor attendance and a general lack of interest from the students.

So here is my words of advice to you. Get off your butts, quit complaining and take charge. Plan an event. Participate in events. Get involved with the Art and Design Department at WSU. Finish your homework on time, attend your classes with a positive attitude and be glad you are in school and not working a dead-end job somewhere.. that will happen soon enough in your life most likely. And most of all, VOLUNTEER your time and FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THOSE TASKS. I ended up doing much of the work for this event that was deligated out to students who fell through. And this seems to be a constant at WSU. Do you think that the real world is going to put up with such things? I can tell you that it will not. You will loose jobs, miss out on opportunities and generally be thought of as a flake due to such actions. You are the only person in your life that will drive your abilities and opportunites. Take advantage of this and open your eyes. Prove me wrong and make me eat some crow. Believe me, I am hungry from it so start cooking.
Now for those of you who continually volunteer, attend events and participate… THANK YOU! You are the backbone of our department and the future success stories of our society. If it weren't for the select few at WSU that continually participate, this event would not have been possible as well as many other events. You give me some hope that people are good natured and care about other things than their own selfish ideas. Congratuations on a huge underdog win for Shift Space. We are here for another run of excellent shows and opportunites for the students of WSU.