April/May 2003

Waging Peace Through Global Conversation
Lynne Twist

Confronting Empire
James Twyman

The Empire Needs New Clothes
Thom Hartman

Sharing the Spirit of Peace
Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Confronting Fears So We Can Contront the Empire
Robert Jensen

War Dances and Media Complaints
Danny Schecter

Sharing the Air Waves
Suzi Aufderheide

Wild Grace: Nature as a Spiritual Path
Eric Alan

Recognizing the Voice of Healing in the Twenty First Century
Dr. Darryl Pokea

Walk In Peace
John Darling

A World To Be Born Under your Footsteps
Debi Smith

You Just Can't Imagine It Unless You See It
Rachel Corrie

A War Without Balance
Steve Niva

The Shining Stars Festival
Annette Rasch

School of Interbeing
John Darling

Ayurvedic Cleansing and Rejuvenation Practices
Myrica Morningstar

The Movie Mystic
Stephen Simon

The Yearly Round
Richard Moeschl

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

A Citizen's Response to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America
Wendell Berry

BACK TO TOP

The Shining Stars Festival

June 7 & 8, 2003

By Annette McGee Rasch

Few places on the planet are as wild and unspoiled as the Illinois Valley in SW Oregon. Less than one percent of fresh water on Earth’s surface is as clean and clear as creeks and rivers flowing through the Illinois Valley. Surrounded by mountains, in a region unspoiled by industrialization, the air is also remarkably clean. The sheer diversity of intact populations of rare and endemic plants and tree species make this area a biological hotspot of global concern. Hanging onto survival are some of the last native salmon runs in the world and the region is like a living museum—representing what was once natural and true all across our dear Mother Earth. People come here to re-charge their vital batteries.

While the youth here are vastly rich in nature, they also feel the crunch of the Illinois Valley’s financial problems. One of the poorest places in Oregon, the local economy is in transition from reliance on logging to a more tourist/service based economy. Illinois Valley schools and youth programs are badly under-funded.

Under the universal umbrella of music and love of children, the Shining Stars, a not-for-profit organization that benefits youth, has organized a festival which generates the social benefit of bringing people together from many different religions, cultures, political viewpoints and economic backgrounds to raise much needed funds. What started as a small, grassroots effort quickly expanded into a major music festival that has the added bonus of bringing much needed cultural enrichment to the remote area. The Shining Stars Board of Directors includes parents, musicians, writers, artists, farmers, contractors, puppeteers and activists—good friends who came together with the common goal of producing an annual music festival to raise money to help bridge financial and social gaps affecting youth in the impoverished Illinois Valley.

With local folks meeting festival attendees from all over the world, and personal contact helping to soften the hearts of more conservative residents from the area, the laughter, love, music, children, art and good food help people in the community recognize their common humanity. Times indeed are a changing, and this huge celebration endeavors to help the Illinois Valley move toward a more sane and sustainable future—a future that will empower the children.

Festival proceeds support causes that youth directly benefit from, including after-school programs, music and art enrichment programs, and safe, up-to-date playground equipment. The Shining Stars is committed to easing the way for the youth, to demonstrate to them that the stars are within their reach.

The annual Shining Stars Festival also brings a significant boost to the local economy, as the event attracts hundreds of people to the valley including new visitors who invariably shop at local businesses. Visitors from outside the area are quick to recognize that there is indeed something beautiful and extraordinary about the festival, and the community.

Created with the Illinois Valley’s strong base of artists and craftspeople in mind, the event, which is made possible by donations of goods and services from the Illinois Valley and regional businesses, is staffed by an army of volunteers. Over 100 artists also contributed time and talent at last year’s festival to create a rich, colorful, intriguing atmosphere of love, light and hospitality. The huge volunteer effort is another strategy to facilitate contact within a diverse community that might not otherwise discover their common ground.

Everyone involved in the Festival is blended into a giant family for the weekend, and the atmosphere is equally enjoyed by band members, artists, vendors, festival attendees and volunteers.

“We loved the Shining Stars Festival,” said Denise Gilbertson, of Troop Americanistan. “The organization was superb and done with such loving spirit. A fabulous sense of community prevailed throughout the weekend. The musical acts were talented and diverse, and the stage, sound system and sound guys were all first rate— equal to those we have experienced at big festivals such as Bumbershoot and WOMAD. The setting is so beautiful—wildflowers, trees, and mountains. Performing at Shining Stars was an incredible high. This festival is all about community and music. It’s pure at heart, and the love just shines through.”

Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Doran emphasizes that, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Shining Stars Festival and we can use more volunteers for posting flyers, painting signs, set-up, parking, security, Kid’s Village helpers, and bike messengers. Folks who care about keeping our Mother Earth clean can join the highly revered Recycling/Sanitation Team. Anyone with first aid or other healing knowledge can be a part of our First Aid Station. Finally, we are looking for more artists or musicians who’d like to present a kids workshop or performance.”

The Shining Stars Festival is held at “Mountain Meadows,” a 150-acre site four miles from Cave Junction. A kind community member charitably donates use of this land to the festival, allowing volunteers to create a complete village for the week-end. The festival features great camping accommodations, huge trees, inspiring views and wildflower meadows. Centrally located is the magical Kids Village which hosts a symphony of opportunities for youthful tastes and is a safe place for children to explore and create.

The Shining Stars Festival 2003 takes place the weekend of June 7 & 8. There will be an eclectic blend of music, socially conscious workshops and activities for both children and adults, as well as a mix of arts, crafts, goods and food booths. This years Shining Stars Festival is sure to satisfy many musical tastes with bands that include Troop Americanistan, Jupiter Hollow, Love Scene Clear, Crazy is the Medicine and Earth Tone. A folk stage will also present regional and local talent, with everything from first rate marimba music to African drumming. Workshops will include didgeridoo, belly dancing, yoga, Qigong, star gazing, drumming, and more. Last years festival raised over $6,000 for the Dome School, a small, unique learning environment located in the heart of the thirty-year-old alternative community of Takilma.

For more festival information or volunteer opportunities, please call (541) 592-5460 or (541) 596-2695; email shiningstars@cavenet.com; or visit www.Shiningstarsfestival.com

Annette McGee Rasch makes her home in the Illinois Valley. She is a Shining Stars board member, a dog trainer, Qigong teacher, writer, and a committed environmental activist and wildlife re-habilitator.

Dance in the shade of old trees, play in a string quartet with an audience of cumulus clouds overhead, walk the eleven circuit labyrinth in the Big Sky Meadow and then write reflective poetry, enact the peace and magic of deep woods or the adventure of huge boulders, practice African drumming with your friends around a crackling fire under the summer night sky, and play high energy challenge course games in the warm Cascade mountain grasses. This is EarthTeach Forest Park, a new Southern Oregon youth camp sponsored by The Way Foundation, a non profit organization.

You are invited to play and learn at a Fine Arts Day Camp for children aged 6-16 located at EarthTeach Forest Park in Ashland, Oregon. EarthTeach Park, located 9 miles Southeast of Ashland on D. Indian Memorial Road, has 1680 acres of open meadows, forests, maple and oak glens, cliffs, boulders, clear springs, and small lakes which offer the perfect setting for the creativity, inspiration, and magic of the artist’s way.

Students will select classes from four disciplines: Music—Instrumental and Vocal; Dance and Movement; Theatre; and Visual Arts. Children will be placed in four classes to participate fully in their Fine Arts at EarthTeach experience. It will be a play full, wonder full, and learning rich week! In addition to daily initiative games and team building experience each morning, classes will focus on learning new techniques and styles of music, theatre, and the visual arts. Each day will also include snacks, a show time for the entire group, and opportunities for extended (3-5 PM) adventures on site.

Fine Arts at EarthTeach’s professional staff taps Southern Oregon’s rich pool of artists, performers, and teachers. If “all the world’s a stage,” then the Fine Arts Camp at EarthTeach Forest Park is the perfect entry to that stage! It is a natural studio, amphitheatre, laboratory, workshop, and a very big sand box. We are particularly excited about and grateful to the talented staff we have lined up for this first year of Fine Arts at EarthTeach. Folks like Tish McFadden, Martha Phelps Cotton, Tom Doty, Kendra Law, Marie Foley, Michael Mish, Tina Clark, Kathleen Dunn, Stephanie Mall, Bill Ritch, Josh Sadler, Dana Yearsley and Patricia Aulik are among the accomplished professionals who are choosing to spend their artistic time and energies working with young dancers, musicians, actors, and artists. It feels significant that such a high caliber staff wants to get involved with this brand new project. Clearly, they are committed to helping kids receive education in the fine arts, a commitment that has suffered greatly in our schools as funding has dwindled and teachers have been cut. And clearly they see the multiple benefits of teaching the arts in combination with nature.

Join us to learn, to experiment, to work, and to play! Tuition for 9am-3pm for the week will be $250 ($50 discount per additional family members). After camp fees for 3-5pm will be $20 per day or $75 for the week.

For more information, brochures with course offerings, scholarship applications, and any other questions, please contact: Martha Phelps Cotton c/o Fine Arts at EarthTeach 76 Dewey Street, Ashland, OR 97520; call (541) 482-4572; or email phelps@mind.net, or rumtum@mind.net.