Howdy. First post.

Photography is one of my hobbies. Well, not the artsy kind... I'm more into taking snapshots of interesting subject material, and anyone who's lived here for a while knows there's lots of funky stuff around Oly to photograph, to say the least.

My idea for this blog is to post a maximum of three photos per post in a series, showcasing Olympia's local graffiti, wall-art, murals, mosaics, paste-ups, stickers, and... unique artistic activism.

All photos posted are from my Flickr account and were taken by me. All rights reserved and all that noise. All photos will be posted in the default 'medium' size, and a link to access other sizes will be provided as well.

On to the first series of three... click the post title to view the whole post.


Series I - Photo I - Obama is a Cracker [Link]



Lyndon LaRouche supporters stirring the pot with the president's head on a parrot's body and some incendiary rhetoric, MLK Day, 2010.

Downtown Olympia, WA

The holiday season is upon us! Local youth and advocates are working on a project to provide emergency supplies, basic needs, and gifts to people on the streets this winter. If any of you have been outside lately you know how much of a difference it can make to have a pair of warm gloves, a pair of good socks, and a coat. It’s especially important if you spend most of your time outside.

With that in mind, take a moment to think about what you might be able to give this holiday season to those less fortunate. Maybe you bought a new jacket this winter and are ready to retire your old one. Or you’ve got an extra sleeping bag laying around you don’t need any more. Whatever it is consider the difference you might be able to make in someone’s life by donating those gently used items to Project Street Santa.



This letter was created and signed by local youth asking for your donations. Donated items will be distributed the day before xmas eve to local street youth and young adults who’ve specifically requested these items. If you can’t give any material items consider whipping something up in the kitchen to bring to our holiday gathering or make a tax deductible monetary donation to Partners in Prevention Education.

To make a donation contact Steve or Rosalinda at Partners in Prevention Education at 360-357-4472.

Partners In Prevention Education exists to engage youth, young adults, service professionals and everyday community members in changing conditions that support sexual and domestic violence that can lead to homelessness in Thurston County Washington.

For more information about PiPE visit www.youthchangeagents.org

Everyone's invited to a party celebrating EGYHOP (the Emma Goldman Youth and Homeless Outreach Project), in honor of the project's "eleventeeth" birthday.

When: Friday, Sept 25th, 3-7 pm

Where: Sylvester Park, in downtown Oly

What: enjoy some scrum-diddly-umptious grub (bringing along a potluck dish or consumable goodies to share would also be much appreciated); stomp it out to the music of local bands and performers (starting at 4 pm); meet, mingle, and make merry (surprise party games and activities are on tap).

Why: well, we felt that it was time for some fun, not just another fundraiser or benefit show... although we've never turned down $ or a camping/cold-wet-weather-gear donation (just saying). Plus, it's a great chance to meet past/present EGYHOP folks, talk, and find out more about EGYHOP. Did I mention having fun...? Plus, we tend to agree with Emma's (apocryphal) quip: "If I can not dance, I want no part in your revolution"

Who: all past and present EGYHOP folks are encouraged to stop by, as well as the many new and old friends of EGYHOP, any and all of the folks we serve, and, well, everyone.

Bread & Roses will be holding an informational meeting for the general community on Thursday, June 25th at 7:00PM.  The meeting will be held at St Michael's Parish - 1208 11th Ave SE Olympia

Come find out the details about what's happened, where we're going, and how you can pitch in!

Please see our website for more details.  Comment at our website.

The new board of Bread & Roses has made several decisions that I would like interested members of the community to know about.

Our mission to serve and love the poor, homeless, and marginalized people in our community remains the same.

The advocacy center on 4th Avenue is now closed. This was anticipated when we lost the HUD grant that funded it, but is now official.

There will not be a street outreach program. This had been proposed to partially replace the advocacy center, using some remaining HUD funds, but unfortunately we not be able to use those funds.

The women's guest house remains open and filled. All the guests will continue to have a place to stay and will receive advocacy services.

The staff of Bread & Roses have been let go. They will be able to stay free at the staff house through April or receive a severance payment to leave earlier (their choice). (They were notified before I wrote this.)

Several other agencies are picking up all of the advocacy services for women in the guest house and as many as possible of the services formerly provided at the advocacy center. Unfortunately, there will be a reduction in services, as least temporarily.

Now, the board is working on a plan to build a solid organization, raise funds, identify the highest service priorities, and provide them more effectively. To do that, we will reach out to all our donors and community members for their input.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at 360-402-5529 or matthew.olympia@gmail.com.

Also, you can visit our new website at breadandrosesolympia.com.

Matthew Green

President of the Board of Bread & Roses

http://campquixote.org is up and running. I could only afford to get a hosting package for 25.00 a year. Next year I will put it on my server, and give the Website more space and bandwidth. Thank you for visiting! More development on the way!

Come see a Great movie during the Olympia Film Festival, "Great Speeches From A Dying World", AND help support EGYHOP, a shoe-string-budget, direct-service-providing, all-volunteer-run, non-profit group serving homeless and low-income populations in downtown Olympia.

First, about the movie (quoted from the festival guide):

• "Filmmaker Linas Phillips spent nearly two years getting to know nine of Seattle’s homeless population. The result is a unique and compassionate exploration of the hard luck, wrong turns, and broken dreams that reside on the city’s streets. This film uncovers circumstances that have landed (and keep) these people lost and penniless—most involving abuse, addiction, and mental illness. But it also finds kindness and hope. Each subject was asked to recite a famous speech from history that they felt related to their lives. The words of Shakespeare, Lincoln, JFK, and others are reinvested with meaning as they’re tied to these personal stories. From atop the Space Needle high above the parking garage in which she lives, Deborah delivers a speech by former slave Sojourner Truth asking, “Ain’t I a woman?” Jose’s recitation poses a question that most in the film have pondered: whether it is nobler to suffer outrageous fortune or to die. We’re reminded that the authors of these canonized speeches, the downtrodden folks reciting them, and each of us are all part of the same human endeavor. With beautiful photography and a musical score by Lori Goldston, Great Speeches is one of the most intimate encounters with homelessness on film and a moving meditation on the fragility of life.
• Director will be in attendance for Q & A following the screening. " 

And, then, a short description of EGYHOP:

The Close the Gap Coalition is seeking volunteers to help eliminate unsheltered or “street” homelessness. The Coalition aims to boost the volunteer base for existing programs to an extent that opportunities for capacity growth open up.

Olympia made a major correct move with Quixote. I watched as an outsider evolution of Quixote from tents on grass to tarps on chips. A contribution to the local economy is only possible once exterior motives like shelter, relaxation, and food are satisfied.

Advocates for the houseless-homeless-mobil homeless (rv-car campers) continue their grassroots efforts in Lacey and Olympia, as evidenced by recent Olympian and olyblog reports.

• Olympia council to discuss RV parking rules tonight Eugene, Ore., tells how it successfully controlled problem
• Lacey ban on tent city challenged
• "We all have a part..."