Blog

Twinkling lights hung from the half disassembled drop ceiling in the kindergarten room as crowds gathered this past Friday and Saturday evening to enjoy Huss Stories: A Play. Christina, a *cino intern and theatre major at Calvin College, spent her summer interviewing, transcribing and organizing for the reader's theatre-style production, which explored stories from the school's history as well as ideas about its future as a community center and off-campus program.

Between the two evenings, about 50 people showed up to be part of the audience and stuck around afterwards for tours, conversation and refreshments. Audience reactions were encouraging, from those who saw their own story in the story of Huss and its rural community, to those who fell in love with Three Rivers, flaws and all, as a result of the production's compelling stories.

Ever since *cino purchased the historic Huss School in 2009, we've talked about wanting to put some kind of public production together based on the many, many stories of the school that people were sharing with us. So in some sense, the culmination of Christina's work this summer and Liz and Jared's work last summer was a dream come true! Even though the play is a workshop production that will continue to evolve, it contributes to the school's growing identity as a place of storytelling, creativity, memory and theatre. Thank you to Christina and all of the actors, interviewers, transcribers, bakers and other contributors who put their time and effort into this event! We look forward to continuing to collect and steward the rich stories associated with this beautiful building.

Local news coverage

• Bruce Snook's story about Christina's project
• Front page photo by Elena Hines for the Three Rivers Commercial News
• A between-production plug from River Country Journal

In 2010, the day of the first annual Huss Future Festival dawned with a downpour, but this year, a warm, orange glow greeted our waking and last-minute preparations on Saturday morning. While Adam put up the art tent, Kate got the coffee on. Artists from Three Rivers to South Africa set up their wares while Deborah and Christina put out the street signs, Emily did some last-minute stitching, Julie got volunteers to their assigned destinations and Kelly sorted more donations for the clothing sale.

The clear morning did not lie: Future Festival 2011 was a great success, thanks in large part to our wonderful committee members and interns who each picked up pieces of the collaborative event. While we're already talking about things we might do differently next year, we're still basking in the glow of an event that brought delighted smiles to about 300 faces.

New this year was a full slate of intergenerational activities that included art and craft projects, a community mural, lawn games and bike tune-ups. Twelve-year-old Alex led the kickball game and Kelly took a break from the clothing sale to become the star pitcher (she's no belly itcher). In the meantime, Alex's dad Doug worked on people's bikes and his mom Julianna coordinated the Triple Ripple Community Garden's sale of baked goods, produce and locally made sausages. It was a family affair for the Saubers!

In addition to the deliciously fresh goodies from the garden group, the Three Rivers Area Faith Community organized a fish fry to benefit the annual Back to School Celebration, a family event that provides 650 backpacks with school supplies to local children. Rounding the parking lot next to the fish fry was our neighbor David and his amazing homemade apple barrel train. We heard from more than one parent that their kiddos loved the train ride so much, they didn't want to leave!

Another new feature this year was the Imagining Space photo booth, which featured a hand-painted cloud backdrop and hand-sewn cloud pillows, along with a number of props. Keeping tabs on the photo booth were our featured artists, as well as the coordinators of the upcoming Culture Make Sale, an online sale of goods and services to benefit the preservation and renovation of Huss School as a creative community space.

Live music floated down the hallway all day from the coffee house room, where an array of amazing, donated baked goods joined fair trade coffee and tea in perfect synergy...in addition to a huge cooler full of fresh basil from Bluebird Farm! Bluegrass, folk, rock, indie--there was quite a variety of music and a ton of talent. Folks who wanted a quieter experience could wander the self-guided tour on the second floor, viewing displays like a sample apartment and service group photos, while contributing their own ideas for Huss School and Three Rivers.

While we didn't do a gigantic rummage sale again this year, we did hold a used clothing sale and we invited the Three Rivers Artists Guild to take over the gym where they sold their own garage sale items and deeply discounted original artwork. Some of the shirts from the clothing sale made their way out onto the side patio to be spray painted with a special handmade Huss Future Festival 2011 design.

As you can tell, some of the themes that grew out of this year's event were participation and creativity. People from across a wide range of ages, colors, backgrounds and abilities came together to play, create, listen, talk and contribute. It feels really good to see that, even though the Huss School property is waiting on a lot of resources in order to be fully developed (heated, even), it's still possible to live into the vision for a space where all are welcome and challenged to use their imaginations in all sorts of ways. Thank you to ALL of the people who made this wonderful event possible, from those who had official roles to those who simply wandered in because they saw a sign on the corner. If this festival represents the school's future, I'm so glad you'll be there with us!

Christina Binder, one of our summer 2011 interns, is working on an oral history play that will gather and tell some of the stories of the historic Huss School. Local journalist Bruce Snook recently published a great story and interview about her project in the River Country Journal.

Christina is a theatre student at Calvin College who's been influenced and encouraged by her professor Stephanie Sandberg's ethnographic play projects. You can read more about Christina's story and experiences on the intern blog. We're looking forward to seeing the fruits of her theatrical labor at the end of the summer!

Once upon a time in a land not so far from here, a FOR SALE sign appeared. Now, this FOR SALE sign wasn't just any old FOR SALE sign. It was planted deep in the frozen ground in front of Huss School, a 27,000 square foot building built in 1918 on four acres of land in Three Rivers, Michigan. Though the city lay quiet under a blanket of snow, this sign disturbed a seed. Now, this seed wasn't just any old seed, but an imagination seed that, under just the right conditions, could yield a harvest of dreams for the little town and all the people in it.

$20,000

The first condition for the seed to sprout was a $20,000 down payment. This was no small sum of money and *culture is not optional, the organization that wanted to buy the old school, had emptied its piggy bank to the very last penny for the $1,000 ESCROW payment when it made the offer. A miracle would be required. And so people all over the world prayed and sent e-mails and made donations large and small until, 40 days later, *culture is not optional (which we'll call *cino for short) had raised $25,000 to buy the school.

Now what, you might ask, would a small non-profit organization like *cino do with a big old school? Well, the folks at *cino had been hard at work for several years already, publishing an online magazine every other week, printing a quarterly journal, hosting conferences and camping events and speaking all over the eastern United States. They had heard the good news that Christianity, the religion they'd grown up in, wasn't just a stifling list of beliefs, but a beautiful way of life with implications for all things: for neighborhoods, for families, for architecture, for food systems, and so, so much more. They wanted to spread this good news and tell stories about how people everywhere were putting their faith into practice creatively in very ordinary, everyday things.

For these folks at *cino, Huss School and the land around it represented a vast, magical, wide-open space where nearly anything could happen! Maybe kids in the neighborhood could make art and grow vegetables as ways of learning responsibility and self-esteem. Maybe adults could learn skills like woodworking and cooking that would give them joy, but also equip them to support their families. Maybe village elders could find a place where their skills and memories could be passed on to younger generations. Maybe college students could come for a semester to live together, study together and serve in the local community through volunteer positions and internships. Maybe everyone who came could get just a little bit more imagination to see the infinite possibilities beyond their current circumstances.

So, after the $25,000 miracle, *cino and its board of directors suddenly owned a big old school. The first several months were spent figuring out logistics like mowing the lawn and replacing broken windows. The folks at *cino did fret about money. They knew they had done the right thing in buying the school; they and so many others were very excited about the possibilities. But time just seemed to stand stock still at 8th and Broadway.

Exciting connections

Then, in January 2010, the whole project started to break wide open. In a sprawling old building with no heat or running water, a college film class saw a rare opportunity. They braved the cold for three days to learn about lighting and production while creating a ten-minute suspense film. Catered dinners by a local budding chef kept them warm and well-fed. In March, when spring had just begun to poke its head out of the ground, another group of five college students decided to spend their spring break in Three Rivers. They began each morning with prayer at The Hermitage Community west of town, where they were staying, and then spent every morning working at Huss School. Oh, they scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed until the old food came off the walls in the gym and they raked and raked and raked until every last leaf on the lawn was in the compost pile. Along the way, they were joined by several other volunteers who helped trim bare branches, cut down dead trees and consolidate all the leftover stuff in the school for a rummage sale.

The spring break group was just the beginning. In May, another group came up from Indianapolis to volunteer--nine adults and nine kids. They stayed overnight at a local church and then, the next morning, mapped trees on the property, weeded the parking lot, painted over some nasty graffiti and, most importantly, caught the frog that was hiding in the mud puddle. They celebrated their accomplishments with food from Uncle Rhemus at the Scidmore Park Petting Zoo before heading back home. And June brought what was probably the biggest surprise so far: three of the college students who came for spring break decided that they wanted to come back to Three Rivers after graduation to live and help work toward the big dreams for Huss School. Five more followed, for a total of eight college graduates so far. All in all, over a hundred volunteers have served around 1,500 hours at the school.

And it hasn't all just been maintenance (though the neighbors have said they appreciate the good care *cino is taking of the place). The *cino interns have taken a big bite of imagination and they've started dreaming, too! They've researched dozens of grants and are just beginning to write them. They've begun relationships with some of the neighborhood kids and played games with them. They've invited their friends and family members (about 20 of them on 4th of July weekend alone) to come see what's happening here in our small town. They've settled in to the rectory at Trinity Episcopal church and started volunteering at the soup pot, working downtown, inviting new friends over for dinner, going to movies at the Riviera. Some of them are pondering staying for a whole year. Oh, AND: they planned and organized the Future Festival--let's not forget about that!

2010 Huss Future Festival

The Future Festival took place on July 24, 2010 and featured a rummage sale, live music, a bake sale, a coffee house, a ping pong challenge, art vendors, a Huss history room and an interactive art exhibit. Planned by the interns with the help of a committee of community members, the Future Festival was a chance to invite people in once again to a place that holds so many memories of the past and so many possibilities for the future. Visitors from five states showed up along with a whole bunch of local folks and by the end of the day, about 350 people came to share their stories and become part of the school's future. It was a lovely party, even for those who lost a game of ping pong to Grandpa Duke or emptied their pockets.

Triple Ripple Community Garden

The Future Festival was a highlight of the summer season at the school, but we can't forget the community garden! Way back in February, a case of right-place-right-time put *cino folks in touch with Julianna Sauber and Brenda McGowan. Around a humble kitchen table in the middle of a hard freeze, an idea sprouted into a mission, which grew into a glorious garden! With land at the school and water donated by the city of Three Rivers and seeds and gloves and tools and plants from all over God's creation, Triple Ripple Community Gardens grew and donated over 1,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to families in need throughout the area, including some who helped work the garden themselves. Kids and adults alike put plants in the ground; faithfully weeded and watered and harvested; and then celebrated at the end of the season with a potluck dinner.

Demolition

While summer was yet warming the soil and the school at 8th and Broadway, two more groups of volunteers made the pilgrimage from Grand Rapids, Michigan to begin a new phase of work: demolition! Get that old carpeting out of there, *cino folks said. We want to see the maple floors again! Get that old drop ceiling down; we want to see the history of the space. Get those piles of junk out of the boiler room so the old elevator can breathe! It was a dusty job, but somebody had to do it. And 35 students and staff members from Calvin College came through, filling a 30-yard dumpster in just 7 hours of work spread over two weekends. Visitors on the workdays were especially eager to see evidence of a key memory from their kindergarten days: the circle on the floor.

Next steps

Nowadays, the garden folks are packing it in for the winter and *cino is seeking energy for the future. 2010 has been a good, full year so far at Huss School, with many people from near and far stopping the school by for all sorts of reasons--tours, sales, work, memories, and of course, fresh cucumbers. Each and every one of them has been invited to see not just what is, but what could be. If these bold and creative *cino people can do what they've done so far without any sort of working budget, imagine what they can do when there's a community kitchen at the school turning produce from the local land into old fashioned canned goods for sale and distribution! Imagine what they can do when there's a pay-what-you-can restaurant at the old Huss School serving people of all economic levels with fresh, healthy, gourmet food! Imagine how local teen-agers might change their perception of Three Rivers when there's a youth-run space for film and live music that engages them in event planning and promotion for amazing artistic activities right in their hometown! Imagine the ripple effects when there are 12 college students coming to study and serve in Three Rivers every semester, planting the seed of a lifelong connection with this community!

The seed of imagination has sprouted at Huss School and it stands to grow as infinitely tall as Jack's beanstalk, but it won't happen overnight and it won't happen without your help. If all the parents and grandparents and Woman's Club members and church members and business owners and artists and teen-agers and trades people and neighbors can dream big dreams and then get to work together--why, who knows what might happen at 8th and Broadway. The small things that have already sprouted there have encouraged dozens of folks throughout the community and put Three Rivers on the map for hundreds of folks around the world. What can you give to keep the dream growing up and up and up?

This is not THE END of the story; it's just the beginning. And may we all live happily, creatively ever after...

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #31: Because today's the last day!

Dear friends of *cino,

December has been a busy month for us as we've focused on getting people to vote for our application for a $50,000 through the Refresh Everything project. Even though we didn't get in the top 10 to receive a grant, we are still very encouraged and hopeful!

We are encouraged that so many people -- both local and around the world, from old friends to people we've never met -- were willing to show support for the future projects at Huss School by voting each day (and sometimes more than once a day).

We are encouraged that, even though we're a tiny organization in a very small town, we finished as high as we did in a group of nearly 400 other projects!

We are hopeful that, even without a magical influx of $50,000, we will find ways to work together and resurrect the Huss School building as a thriving hub of service and imagination for college students and the local community.

A wise friend has told us that there's no such thing as failure when we dream such big, ridiculous dreams -- just changes of direction and opportunities for creativity. In that spirit, watch for news of other opportunities to get involved and support the project that are in the works for 2011, including a chili cook-off and and online art auction.

Another wise friend has said he's learned that believing in God's providence means trusting that we already have just what we need. We are grateful that our list of gifts includes you! Thank you for the many ways you've contributed to the work of *culture is not optional, on location in Three Rivers and around the world!

Peace,
Rob & Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

To make a financial gift before (or after!) the year turns to 2011, click here. Or go here to send us an update or word of encouragement.

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #30: *culture is not optional has made good progress in the renovation work at Huss and building credibility in the community, but needs your help to continue moving forward.

At this point in the voting cycle, we're well aware that $50,000 from Pepsi is not in the cards for *cino at this time, but we're not discouraged! So many people have "showed up" to vote and we're proud that we've finished as well as we have. Since we purchased the building in June 2009, we've been working hard on a shoestring budget and a lot of prayers, and we'll continue to do so. The community garden will re-plant in the spring with renewed energy and new ideas. Service groups will continue to chip away at demolition and renovation as resources are available. The property at Broadway and 8th will continue to develop as a gathering space for neighborhood kids. And we'll continue to network with neighbors and other local organizations to see how our space can be of service. But we need YOU to keep moving forward. Please cast your vote today, but also consider making a financial gift or sending us a word of encouragement. Thank you for your faithful support of *cino's work!

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #29: A small, professional quality venue can put Three Rivers on the map for national touring artists seeking grassroots house shows, with mutual benefits to the artist and the city.

As the music industry has been changing significantly over the past decade, some artists have been adapting by forming more personal relationships with their listeners. They're doing house shows or raising money to record through donations and pre-sales. In return for our response as listeners, they give us the gift of good art. We make it possible for them to do what they were created to do and they, in turn, change us with beauty.

Every once in a while, I get an e-mail from amazing musicians we know who are looking for spaces to put on small shows and every time, I wish we already had a place to accommodate them. I picture the film by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros, who took a break from world tours to embrace their own small country, playing wherever they could find space to rural, intergenerational audiences. It's easy to go after the major markets, but for artists and audiences who are longing for something more than just a commercial transaction, smaller is better and local has more heart. We hope that Huss School can provide a space for some of these kinds of interactions to take place, with a mutual benefit to the artist and to our small city.

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #28: Collaborating on artistic events can cultivate skills to improve academic achievement, teaching Three Rivers youth about commitment, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving and conflict resolution.

Consider this scenario: a 16-year-old boy goes to school every day, but only because it's better than being at home. Pre-occupied with his family issues and jittery from too much soda and not enough calories at home, he can't focus on his classes and his grades show it. Music is the only thing that gives him a sense of escape and he starts a band with his friends, mostly performing for the array of tools in someone's garage. But after playing a song at the school talent show, the get booked by one of their classmates to play at the old Huss School. Intrigued by what's happening with the venue at the school, he starts showing up for weekly after-school planning meetings. As he gets to know the adult mentors who run the program, he begins to talk about how he's not sure he'll pass the year. He's encouraged to start showing up for the after-school tutoring sessions that happen in the same building and matched up with a mentor who keeps up with his progress, including making sure he's eating properly. By June, he's brought his grades up to a passing level and, with the skills he's learned by helping out with the music venue, his band goes on a mini-tour of ten Michigan towns. He even earns some studio time at the school by working shows and the band is able to sell 50 copies of their debut EP on the tour.

Sure, this is just a made-up story, but we don't think it's too far-fetched. Do you?

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #27: Compared to urban areas, rural areas are often underserved in the areas of the arts and community gathering spaces.

One of our favorite stories lately has been that of a restaurant in a Maine tourist town that, when everything else in town shuts down for the winter, stays open on Fridays for soup lunches and live music. Locals make their way through the snow to share conversation and good food and for many, Friday becomes a bright spot in a long and lonely season. Customers can even take soup to-go for those who can't make it out of their homes. And the best part? It's all pay-what-you-can.

Like the folks who started this restaurant, we recognize that there's often a lack of third places (except bars) in rural areas, particularly late at night and in the winter. We hope the school can provide a place where there are intergenerational arts activities taking place at many times of day year-round, with special attention paid to filling the gaps. We also hope the school can be a place where our wonderful local established artists and organizations can collaborate to bring arts opportunities to the school's walkable, diverse neighborhood. Whether we're welcoming a senior citizen at risk for depression in the winter or a middle school kid who's dangerously bored in the summer, we hope the school can become a place that defies rural stereotypes and statistics.

*cino needs YOU to vote each day in December to help us win a $50,000 grant to renovate the old kindergarten room at Huss School! Why vote? Read on...

Reason #26: Three Rivers churches can collaborate to serve beyond the walls of their buildings through artistic expression.

We'll just say it: churches should not exist only for the benefit of those within their four walls. Sure, those are the folks who pay the bills to keep the lights on and a preacher in the pulpit, but the church is called to so much more than just maintaining an in-the-black institution with a nice building.

Imagine what might happen if a church decided to go where the needs are and serve, not out of an ulterior motive to put butts in their upholstered seats, but out of a genuine desire to be the love of Christ to others. What if the hand bells came out of their air-conditioned closet and became one of the activities that engaged middle-schoolers during the summer. Or what if the puppet stage the Sunday school program uses once a week started making an appearance on Saturday afternoons at the community garden to teach pre-schoolers and their parents about good nutrition. What if, in addition to learning about the philosophical connections between faith and popular music, a high school youth group learned the hands-on skills needed to produce a concert. Maybe you know a place where this is happening already. In fact, we hope you do! And may Huss School provide just one more venue for such missional, creative activity.