Creative Retreat

3/10  The most recent occurrence regarding the Spiritual Retreat/Theatrical Development Centre is that I accidentally washed my notebook with the designs in it and it has disintegrated into pulp. Therefore I will need to reconstitute the drawings and designs onto more practical medium and I intend, as I always had, to construct a model of the community. 

The Creative Retreat is a long time and long term project in which I am striving to develop an environment where Creative Persons and Artists can come together to work towards implementing common goals of Creative Expression.

Naturally, the form of expression must be based in freedom, and as much as I'd like my projects to manifest, I am certain that others are seeking to have their projects manifest as well. The point of the retreat is for the "residents" to help each other manifest their dreams of creative expression. Mostly, I am interested in the theatrical experience, but I understand that there are may other forms of expression in need of association and interaction which need to be taken into account.

The interesting thing about such a community is that, although the focus is on creative expression (in the form of artistic implementation in numerous mediums) creative expression is not limited stricktly to the artist's life. All elements within human society require creative expression and so The Creative Retreat, in it's need to service all aspect of human associations, must thereby include all other crafts trades and talents, not just those relative to the Artist's Life. The point of the Creative Retreat is to focus on the artist's life as the primary apex of the community's purpose. All other service oriented functions will exist to serve the artistic expression and manifestation of that expression in countless ways.

Theatre only happens to be my interest. There is Architecture, Landscaping & Botany, Zoology, and Business Management. In fact, there are as many forms of Creative expression as there are people who can express them and all these forms must be honored and given a place for expression within the Creative Retreat.

The retreat aspect of it is a retreat from the greed, dishonesty, corruption & exploitation. A retreat from the abuses we are beset with in modern day society. It is a goal of creating a harmonious sphere in which the point of living is the free expression of creative vision in life, not that of acquiring more stuff or money, or control over other people, for one's own personal engrandizement. So, in short, that is the vision of the Creative Retreat. There is much more to it and I hope to post that information here as much as possible. If I do nothing else before I expire, I want to leave this vision to the world. In the hope that we can encourage harmony and refuse discord. AG

An Essay on the Improvement of the Community

An Essay on the Improvement of the Community

Southampton, Pennsylvania

Further discussions are present under my notes section on Facebook.

11/1/09 Introduction

Being a resident of Southampton is more a result of circumstances than it is of choice for me. Of course, I made the choice to accept my circumstances and therefore being a resident of Southampton is a matter of choice. But if I were looking at the things that Southampton has to offer from the outside, I must honestly say that I would most likely not choose to live here. I have yet to find the place which best suits my essential nature and I believe that it is virtually impossible to do so while living in this world, being that we are all exposed to circumstances that are not of our own making and are forced to adapt.

I grew up in Southampton, left here and now I'm back. I go to church in Bryn Athyn and spent many years living in Doylestown, New Hope, Quakertown, & Bethlehem. I've lived & worked in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as an itinerant theatre artist & filmmaker. I've traveled around the country and visited most of the continental United States.

So after relocating countless times and having reached an age where wandering around is no longer desirable to me, I live here in Southampton, back where I started.

My introduction into the world of theaticality

When I was eight years old, I was in the Southampton Independence Day Parade in 1962. Here is proof of this as I stand in my Indian Chief costume on the float for Indian Guides on the front cover of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

I consider this my debut into theatre, not counting elementary school. I didn't do theatre in high school, although I did hang around the stage. I did do film-making in high school and then in college, where I got a degree in Mass Media/Cinema.

I've been employed by a number of High Schools, Colleges, & Universities, to work in technical theatre and A/V, both as a subcontractor and in supervisory roles. I've worked as a producer/director/designer/writer/actor/filmmaker on over 350 productions in my career. I've been trained as a machinist and have abilities in fabricating which have served me well as a Technical Director/Lighting & Set Designer on numerous productions, including my work for the New Hope Art Commission during my nine-year tenure with the New Hope Performing Arts Festival. I began my volitional journey into theatre at the age of 23 by producing concerts at The County Theatre in Doylestown as a result of which, I suggested to the Bucks County Commissioners that they turn the Old Prison into an Art Centre & Library, years before the prison was moved or that actually occurred.

I re-designed The County Theatre into a Performing Arts Centre and began to propose that for Doylestown, when I suddenly moved to Boston. Years later, after returning from California I proposed to the New Hope Planning Commission that they consider a movie studio compound when considering permits for a particular parcel of land, which led the Planning Commission to request that I consider the The Union Bag Works for that purpose. Years later, I designed a Performing Arts Centre for New Hope, while working for the New Hope Arts Commission, which was well considered for construction.

I've maintained nine studio or shop locations over the years, including; Doylestown, Stony Run, Dublin, New Hope, Solebury, and Southampton in Pennsylvania, as well as offices in Boston & Hollywood. I was offered offices on Warner Brother's lot. The current and longest office being in Southampton and the last scene shop being on a ten-acre farm in Solebury for three and a half years, prior to the illness & death of my wife.

And so, this is the background from which I derive my perceptions of what might be possible in Southampton and do hereby put forth as suggestions for the improvement of the community.

• The essays below where written with the intent of initiating dialogue on the subject, which has happened and has led to numerous other points of discussion. I may re-order these essays into separate blog postings with the appropriate links where the subjects can easily be updated. If so, you will find these links being inserted below.

Part I - The Aesthetics of the Centre of Town

It is my feeling that the heritage of Southampton has fallen by the wayside because of development that has not taken into account the aesthetics of the centre of town. This is not something that can easily be controlled without an association of property owners who have come together with a like purpose of creating an atmosphere and by working together to achieve a collective goal. There are certain elements that can be controlled by the government of the township which would help to encourage the creation of that atmosphere and it is those elements which need to be addressed before any progress can be made.

The most obvious problem is the traffic thru the centre of town. As I see it, the biggest issue are the drivers who disobey the traffic laws by using the centre emergency lane as their own personal passing lane. To my way of thinking the centre lane should be more clearly demarcated to indicate this and people should be forced to obey the lane restrictions, even to the point of citations. It is very clear to me that the addition of a brick appearance to the centre lane, such as was done in Rosyln will help to designate that lane as not a traffic lane. It is also clear that the traffic lights are not properly timed to control traffic. The areas of congestion need to be timed so that the traffic will clear out before more cars are permitted in those lanes. If the traffic moves too slowly because of the lights, so be it. At least it will not move slowly because of congestion. If people do not like the traffic signals slowing things down, they will find another route.

The intersection at Second Street Pike and Knowles Avenue needs to have a traffic cop controlling that intersection from time to time, particularly during rush hours. People do not obey the traffic signals and are jamming up the intersection. They are not obeying the lanes and are bullying their way into creating more lanes than actually exist. I have run into drivers who are passing all other traffic in the centre lane and doing so thru the intersections at great risk to the safety of the other drivers. An officer controlling traffic and another citing people who violate will give those abusive people a rude awakening and bring the traffic back under control. There is too much passing on the right and there are apparently too many people who do not know the rules of the road.

Besides the obvious addition of improved sidewalks, street lamps, decorated cross-walks and centre lane (refer to Roslyn/Fox Chase & Hatboro), there are other more significant improvements that can and ought to be made. I have come to the conclusion that the centre of focus for the township needs to be on the railway system that runs thru what might be considered the centre of town.

• 12/10 NOTE: This statements below was included in an email discussion about the potential for the centre of Southampton to take advantage of it's Victorian remnants , as scant as they may be.  

• Obviously,  I have an interest in seeing the rail line become a functional asset to the community, both for the fact that I live a stone's throw away from the train station and for the sake of the programs I am trying to implement at the park. So I am and will continue to try to encourage this concept to move forward. 

• By the way I've suggested this concept to the American Trolley Tours and recently noticed the Bucks County Trolley Company passing thru Southampton.  

• I think that if this concept is to succeed that there ought to be discussion about renovations to the small centre section of Southampton that surrounds the Train station.  By that I mean brick sidewalks and attractive victorian street lights. I think it is important to encourage the restoration of what little history remains in Southampton into a quaint village environment. 

• One might consider the fact that the remaining buildings on the east side of Second Street Pike (near the train station) are ripe for an "artistic, aesthetic village setting, if the sidewalks and lighting were to be groomed. There are the remnants of a Victorian Setting and it is those remnants that need to be enhanced if Southampton is to become a desirable place for people to visit, particularly if a trolley line were to become a tourist attraction (which I most certainly think it could be).  

• Clearly, all this would take a lot of effort & time to implement, but such thinking needs to be integrated into the awareness of the managers and others who can effect such changes in the environment.  I already mentioned to the township manager that I thought the property behind the train station should be a park oriented towards things like a sculpture garden or other more culturally sound elements. Maybe a music shell for the orchestra.  

• If such a thing was to be included then grooming the centre of town as a walking area would work well in conjunction with a train museum/trolley line to the area parks.  Such a thing would create a truly unique array of circumstances with Southampton being the hub. 

• In regard to that concept of the centre of Southampton being a hub- my plan, if I succeed with my project "The Gnomes of New Hope" (which I anticipate has very high income potential) I would like to buy the Old Church in the centre of Southampton and to turn it into a theatre. 

• That being said, a Park behind the theatre would be a most desirable option for the use of the land, particularly if there was a music shell there. 

• If it ever turns out that I generate enough money from that project I would buy both parcels and do just that, restoring the house that is currently on the property.   Now obviously these are all concepts that may never be implemented, but right now they are possible.  Once these parcels become cluster housing, any cultural facilities or tourist opportunities will likely be gone.    

• So I put forth these ideas as a way of planting seeds which may grow into an improved cultural setting for Southampton, which in my opinion would save the community from the oblivion of the urban blight which has already practically negated any aesthetic qualities that it has had.

Continuing... It may be advantageous to have a trolley car run along the centre lane from time to time, if for no other reason than to help to designate that lane for other uses, particularly during rush hour. Eventually that may become a useful service for the citizens of the town and to help eliminate congestion by allowing people to park in one lot and move about town without being involved in the rush hour traffic. This would serve to encourage foot traffic which will make the town more desirable as a whole. This might start out as a weekend item which would also encourage tourism of some sort.

Part II - The Railway System

It is clear that this rail system was, at one time, the hub of activity in Southampton and it is clear to me that this is the one very obvious remaining element in a heritage that is barely noticeable in the centre of town.

It is quite natural that over time modifications will be made to the land and buildings in any area, but it is incumbent upon the managers of the town to preserve certain aspects of the community, which will foster pride and unity and help to bolster the economy of that community.

Within the heart of Southampton lies the remains of a railway system, which for the most part has been neglected and consigned to the whims of the managers of that railway system, SEPTA. SEPTA- has essentially abandoned those rail lines and has failed in their obligation to the community in regard to properly maintaining those rail lines.

It is my opinion that the communities thru which those rail line run, should take possession and responsibility for those rail lines. Particularly, in the face of the fact that- Septa has abandoned those lines. The operation of a rail system across the township and/or to the adjacent communities is something that could be of great economic benefit to Southampton.

I say this because it is a clear fact that Southampton is the only community in the immediate area of Bucks County where the centre of commerce is in close proximity to the train station. Consider the population between Bethayres and Newtown. Now consider the possibility of stops along that rail line in Bryn Athyn/Pennypack Nature Centre, Southampton/Tamanend Park, Churchville Nature Centre, ultimately Newtown and in-between.

Even if this line where only run as a novelty line, utilizing a "turn-of-the-century trolley car" operated with a diesel power plant, the viability of restoring the line to operating condition, even on weekends would be clear. In addition to bringing tourists into the area to spend a day going between the nature areas, the refurbishment of the rail line would bring work to the people who would run and maintain this line and give people another option for moving across the township, if not further along the line.

In today's world of traffic congestion and fuel consumption, the restoration of this line will serve the community by providing parking lots at Bristol Road and County Line Road and provide a line that intersects with the SEPTA bus lines at Street Road and Second Street Pike.

There has been serious talk of a cross county line that runs from Newtown, thru Doylestown and on to Quakertown. If this where to become a reality, then the Southampton line would be an essential connection to that line. It is because of this that I heartily recommend that any consideration of removal of the railroad track in a rail to trails scheme be cast aside. Once the railroad tracks are removed, it is very unlikely that they will ever be replaced. A functional rail system has proven itself over time and will once again prove to be a part of the future.

We all know quite well that the trolley system was removed because of the automotive interests in the early part of the 20th century and their desire to cause the economy to be based in everyone having a car. The removal of those trolley lines was a mistake that should never have been permitted as evidenced buy our current traffic situation.

We are faced with huge economic challenges due in large part to our economy being based in the automotive industry (which we have lost to foreign interests) and the development of the suburbs as a result. Southampton has an opportunity to stand strong as an example of a community that does not care to fall victim to the superficial interests that fail to recognize the significance of having a resource like a rail line in the heart of it's community.

By taking charge of that resource, utilizing it and creating and operating trolley line within the boundaries of the community, Southampton will build civic pride and serve as an example to other communities who may follow suit.

If it is clear, and I think it is, that SEPTA cannot operate the rail line, then those communities where the line resides should be free to do so. I say this with the caveat that the rail lines must remain rail lines.

If each community cares to lease the rail lines back to SEPTA or to another operator who may operate a trolley, so be it, but the control of the lines should remain with the community, under certain stipulations that they cannot prevent the use or passage of the line. Certainly, the rail line can and should be operated like a toll road and those tolls would be applied to the maintenance of the line. For those communities that do not want to maintain the lines themselves, that maintenance can be contracted out and inspection would need to be part of the scenario, but if each community were responsible for the rail lines and the beneficiary thereof, then we would not be faced with the decaying situation of an authority, such as SEPTA, abandoning the line and failing to take care of an essential component in our transportation network.

Part III - The John Fitch Steamboat

For some time we have been mulling over this question of the John Fitch Steamboat. We have all heard about it since we were kids, but no real information was ever provided as a part of a community effort. This was always baffling to me. So, recently we have been discussing where it was that this phantom steamboat was allegedly tested. We knew that it had to be attached to the stream which runs through Davisville, or at least that is what we thought, and so we came to the conclusion that it must have been in one of the ponds which are in close proximity to that stream.

I heard rumor of a pond which was filled in that had been in the forest area off County Line Road, and being unaware of the pond which sits on the property on the corner of Davisville Road & Street Road (where the Saddle House was moved to years before,) I had concluded that this County Line Pond must have been it.

In our discussions of the Steamboat, I had said that I thought it was unbelievable that Southampton has not taken advantage of this piece of history which, clearly is profound enough that highlighting it, would most certainly benefit the community. We had noted that the Seal of Southampton utilized the Steamboat as a predominating graphic element, so it is obviously important to the community.

Now, those of us who have seen it, know that the Southampton Days Parade is a big event in the township. It is one of the biggest parades in the County, I've seen and participated in parades in Doylestown & New Hope. I've seen the parades in Feasterville and in Bryn Athyn and I am sure Quakertown must have one too.

So that being the case, years ago when I had my last scene shop, I thought I'd like to get into building parade floats and I had designed a float truck. I was about to begin constructing the truck when a potential order came in for four of them. Well that complicated matters and changed my construction methods to accommodate a more standard truck base. That, as well as other circumstances pertaining to supplies and facilities caused the project to be put on hold. But the idea of parade floats has been lingering with numerous designs and applications. The most recent concept in that regard has been the construction of a float that represents the John Fitch Steamboat. With that in mind I have begun some research on the subject.

A visit to the John Fitch Steamboat Museum at Craven Hall was in order. Just as a starting place. This museum is now under construction, as is a full functional scale model of the steamboat. Much was revealed by the conversations that ensued, in particular the location of the pond as being behind the General Davis Inn. In addition to this discovery, I was able to request access to the plans for the model to assist in the construction of a parade float and received an affirmation to that request. But in addition we discovered that there are tentative plans to build a fully functional replica of the steamboat that ran on the Delaware River as a result of the tests conducted in Southampton. We also learned that John Fitch lived off of Centennial Road in Warminster and that they may have discovered the foundation of his workshop on the property.

So there is without a doubt valuable history here on this subject.

This led our discussions to the status of the property on which this pond sits. My involvement with Tamanend Park led me to believe that this property ought to be under the management of the Parks & Recreation Department. As it turns out, that is the case. The property was at one time under the authority of Bucks County and now it is part of Southampton Township & The Parks & Recreation.

Let me say here that The Parks & Recreation Department and Tamenend Park is the one real gem in the crown of Southampton and it is a most honorable and profound thing that the township has done to protect this park and the programs that they are developing for the community. I, any many others, most heartily appreciate their allowing us to construct The Meadow Amphitheatre and work toward creating programs of theatre in the park.

So having discussed this with the Director of Parks & Rec. I obtained permission to explore the property, which I did forthwith. As it turned an employee of the Public Works was there and he showed me around a bit. We discussed the situation regarding the buildings and the property and explored the pond as could best be done.

Clearly, the pond has not been maintained, as there is a relief valve which is apparently not in use. This has resulted in the surrounding area turning into a marsh land, which is actually rather nice and serves well as a sanctuary for bird life. Even though I am certain that the pond was well maintain for most of it's life and in particular, during it's use for testing the steamboat, I do believe that the march land serves a good purpose. I imagined seeing an observation deck and walkway around the march and pond as a way of serving the nature area needs and providing the citizens with a view of this historic pond.

As we stood there looking at the farm house it was clear to us that the large barn located further down on Davisville Road was likely part of the estate that was once the status of this property. Had that been the case, it was most certain that the land owner of the property where John Fitch was known to live, would have been friend with or in contact with the owner of this parcel where the pond is located. I can easily see that when Fitch needed a place to test his boat, he would have traveled the few miles to this pond to do so.

It is so obvious to me that this property is a historic location, both for its construction and it's relation to the history of the steamboat. I am convinced that it is worthy of being placed on the National Trust for Historic Places Registry and I believe that this is an effort which should be pursued by the Township of Southampton, The Parks & Recreation Department, The Historic Review Board and any citizens who may like to assist in this endeavor. This of course, would be the point of my writing this essay.

Should we move forward to construct a full size parade float replica of the John Fitch Steamboat, this would be the perfect location to store the float and make it available for the public to view in close proximity to the pond.

I most certainly feel that With a place on the Historic Registry, adding in all the other factors, there would be funding available for the restoration and maintenance of the property. But this is not the only goal I see for the property.

Part IV- A Performing Arts Centre

As you can see from other posting on this web page, I am involved in theatre and in particular The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park. Some time ago, I made note that the Polly Wog Farm on Street Road was up for sale. Being involved in and particularly interested in facilities design and management, I imagined this as a fine location for a Performing Arts Center, maybe not the best location, but considering the options in the area, a quite suitable location. Another location I thought was worth considering was the Oscar Huber building on Second Street Pike. It seemed as though that property might be available and I did have a viable plan for parking. Being that it is in the center of town and located in close proximity to the railway station it is quite suitable as a facility that would serve to rejuvenate the center of town. I would note here that I do have my eye on another property ,which I would like to renovate into a small theatre, something I've wanted to build & operate for thirty years.

Now, in regard to a Performing Arts Centre, I am not addressing the issues of budget, management, or practicality in anything other than a cursory fashion here. Rather, I am dealing on conceptual terms, based on what is possible with the spaces that exist. I certainly believe that utilizing adapted spaces is the first entrance-way into an endeavor such as this. Even though I rejected this approach in New Hope years ago. The facility in question at the time was the Union Bag Works, a huge warehouse which posed other problems I was not prepared to deal with.

It is most important to have some idea of what your facility will serve and what kind of audience you can develop before entering into a project such as this. In terms of Southampton alone, there is insufficient audience here to support a large facility such as this. Possibly Doylestown could support such a facility, however, if the property in question were to be constructed and operated to service road shows, and not attempt to produce programming in house, then it would likely succeed. There are sufficient producing organizations in the area that another stage facility could be supported by external programming.

National Road shows have a developed audience and must implement sufficient advertising on their own to aid in their success. This would be an initial aspect to the programming, that would serve the facility well while it is gaining credibility in the region. In addition to that fact, a well & properly equipped facility will be in demand for existing shows.

One of my arguments at the time in New Hope for a new stage facility was that the Valley Forge Music Fair shut down leaving a large hole in regional performance spaces. My current belief is that most of the facilities that are available are attached to the schools systems and are designed to service their needs, not those of the professional touring shows. The fact is that in Bucks County most, if not all of the programs are attached to the schools or community theatre.

There are a few producing organizations with their own facility. The Sellersville Theatre, which does service road shows, cannot accommodate a large musical theatre or multi-set show because it is basically an old Vaudeville house/movie theatre. The Bristol Riverside produces their own material and does bring in material, but the facility is not a four wall. The same can be said for The Bucks County Playhouse. Actor's Net and some others can be considered little theatre and they do a fine job for what they are, but they do cannot service the larger shows or name talent. I cannot say what the fact is with the Philadelphia Race Track and the Slots there, they often do provide those services, but it is not a family oriented environment.

If such a facility were to be constructed what would it be called? It would need to be something that was far reaching and significant enough that it gained recognition in the industry. When I was attempting to design the Key theatre into a performing arts centre in Doylestown, I fancied the name "The Victoria Theatre" not terribly appropriate in this case, but merely an example. The Bucks County Performing Arts Centre seems like it might work, but then that might need to be in Doylestown, since it is the County seat. Southampton Performing Arts Centre? Well, we'll let that be...

Part V- Southampton Arts & Cultural Centre

Returning to the subject of the Steamboat pond and the buildings that are attached to that property. It is currently under the authority and management of the Parks & Recreation Department in Southampton. Discussions have taken place regarding the use of the buildings and more directly, their current condition. Without having seen any inspection or safety reports, it seems most urgent to me that the historic nature of these buildings and the property be secured. Any talk of tearing down this historic farmhouse is appalling to my thinking and I am most certain that Restoration funds could be forth coming with the appropriate designation, at least sufficient for bringing the building up to code and preserve it for the future.

My most immediate vision for this property is that it would serve most wonderfully as an Arts and Cultural Centre, providing meeting rooms, galleries and offices for the work of securing future cultural programming for the region. It is most likely that a festival will be produced that centres around the John Fitch Steam Boat and there are numerous other events both outdoor and indoors which would be well served by this facility. Certainly, the rooms in the building can provide space for art classes and lectures and the outdoor area can be well groomed by a sculpture garden. If, as I mentioned above, an observation deck were to be installed around the pond, with a walking trail thru the woods to the Saddle House Gallery it would provide an eventful day for visitors to the area, particularly if a model of the steamboat were part of that experience.

The upper part of field area could easily provide a small parking lot and additional spaces could be added along the driveway without any undue impairment of the beauty of the property. The building itself could provide offices for an organization such as the Bucks County Arts Council or some other such organization.

Conclusion

I put forth these observations as my way of contributing to the community in which I live and to comment on the things I would like to see happen here as a way of improving the lifestyle in Southampton. I've seen too many communities get swallowed up by the advancements and development of land to the point where they have no identity of specialness. I've been in communities where this has happened to such a degree that I wondered who would ever live there, because it felt like a prison. Thankfully Southampton has not gotten to that point, but I think it is incumbent upon those in control to consider the advantages and resources that are still available and not to let them disappear into the oblivion of uncontrolled urban growth and homogenization. AG

The Alpha & Omega Society

Recent thoughts & occurrences;

I've begun a discussion on Facebook for the Alpha & Omega Society

Here is a link to the
IMS Facebook Discussions

I will continue to post
the more refined conclusions here
and strive to edit this so that it may become a practical guidebook.

4/11;

RE: Membership in The Alpha& Omega Society

With the advancement of Nunc Licet in the Assembly, it is appropriate to make that play, a project of The Alpha & Omega Society. The purpose of The A&O Soc. is being clarified as time progresses and it is clear that Nunc Licet is the type of project which The A&O Soc. is intended to support.. so onward and upward.

There will be a program produced for the presentation being made in Bryn Athyn College (see other postings on Nunc Licet) and with that effort, the sponsorship program for The A&O Soc. will be solidified.  The goal is to fund the production requirements of the play, but it is also intended to bring together the membership of The A&O Soc. and to begin to move forward with the goals that are outlined herein.

As the Managing Director of the A&O Soc. I will be striving to clarify the goals, methodology, and mission statement.  I do expect that the refinement of the organizational structure and the "playbook" will take time and go through a variation of presentation and management styles.  Please bear with this process, but certainly, if you care to be involved, make that fact known.

You will note that in the context of Nunc Licet, I am inviting individuals, business and corporate sponsors to become members and by so doing provide operating funds for the implementation of Nunc Licet. The details of membership and communication with members will be communicated in due time.

I will be looking for a person to oversee Membership communications and other matters pertaining to creating and establishing a Society of active members. Until such time I have to admit that, being dependent upon me, communications will, by the very nature of my limited time, be sporadic.

If you care to be an active and/or sponsoring member, do let that be known.

The information in the archive below do not fully represent the current line of thinking, although much of that information is applicable.

I welcome partners in this endeavor.

Archive

_________________________________________________________

1/10; Unfortunately, or it may turn out to be fortunate, I managed to wash my notebook with all the extensive designs for the Alpha & Omega Society's Community. What that means is that I have to reconfigure them and redraw all the designs.

In one way that is good, because it will force me to lay the designs out in a usable way, which is what I intended to do from the notebook and... which is the reason that the notebook was in my pocket. I had done the drawings in a pocket sized notebook, so I could carry it with me. Let me recommend to you that you do not use a notebook that is small enough to wash by accident.

They were very incredible designs, outlining the community layout, buildings, and use of land. There were many notes about organizational structure, operation and the politics of such a community. I may or may not be able to reconstitute them, but I do think I will be striving to construct a model of the community, much like a train board.

It is unfortunate that that happened, but in order to construct the community we would have needed enough land to fill Montana, so it was not something that was immediately practical.

I do want to publish the designs for the community, if even as a conceptual design, so I will be working to do that and possibly posting those designs here as I do. No promises though. AG


Overall Summary;

Recent discussions about the state of mind which envelops the artist have spurred some thought on the subject. Initially, there was a great deal of passion about establishing the A&O Soc.. The primary intention in this regard has been, and remains, the establishment of a living environment that is designed to support the unique needs of the artistic mentality.

A big part of that, in the long view, is the establishment of The Creative Archive and in that regard, use of the web and in particular the digital environment that it depends on, will certainly be a part of that foundation and seems to be the best starting point. In lieu of actual facilities, the archiving of the artist's work in the digital domain is a viable alternative, to establishing a record of the artist's work. Of course, the work of recording the material is a huge task, but the process of doing that would certainly be a service of IMS and The A&O Soc.

The primary objective at this point in time is to publish the designs for The Alpha & Omega Society. These designs include the outlines for the modus operandi (as it pertains to numerous levels of participation) sketches for the facilities (which extend from a core "Inner Sanctuary" outward in layers to the outermost degree of commercialization), the management notes (which include the politics involved in the governing of the community).

All of this is extremely complicated, and will require, not only a Board of Directors, but a Social Governing Body which would oversee the assorted rules and regulations which must be implemented in an environment such as this. It is not so much a remaking of the existing society and the current Modus Operandi, but rather a realigning of the purposes and a focus on the needs of the Artist, above the needs of other members of the society as a whole.

The purpose of such a realignment lies primarily in the fact that the classic "starving artist" is a result of an increasing disassociation from a social environment, which historically has existed, but is becoming increasingly external and desensitized to the aesthetic environment (or mentality) which the artist is compelled to dwell within.

It is most certianly true that social environments have been created to support the artist, some of which operate quite successfully.

The Alpha & Omega Society is intended to be akin to those Artist Communities, however, the basis for the A&O Soc. are the teachings of The Church of the New Jerusalem and a primary aspect of the community must be the spiritual component and associations of the people involved.

The A&O Soc. is not intended to be based on a generic non-denominational, non-commital spirituality. It is clear that artists, like everyone else are on a path to discover their own spirituality and so that path must be honored and supported. But the clearly stated and specific basis for the A&O Soc. are the teachings of The New Church.

This is not intended to, and does not, exclude persons who are unclear about their path in terms of spirituality, but there is one very clear and definitve critera for participation in the activities of the A&O Soc.. That is a very distinct and undeniable "leading by the Lord" to be associated and involved in the activities of the A&O Soc..

There is not intended to be the exclusion of any religious or spiritually uplifting teachings from The A&O Soc. . Rather all such teachings that have been presented in the world should be included for the purpose of discovering the truth that lies within them. But as so stated, the Teachings of the New Church are to be the foundation for any growth that occurs within the community. This being the case, it should be understood that the point of the community is to foster unity in the understanding and pursuit of Truth, Goodness and to discover the method by which this understanding can be put into application.

A larger purpose of the environment that is conceptualized, is to rediscover the aspects of societies from times past and from locations around the world, that bring forth the best that man has been, is and can become. In this rediscovery, discovery, and conceptualization the foundations of the A&O Soc. are formed. It is the application of these elements into a social environment, that serves the aesthetic enhancement of the artistic experience, but still allows for the artist to live in the lifestyle that best suits his or her mentality... this is for this reason that the Alpha & Omega Society being formed.

A very large part of the community, as needs be in this material world, are the economics of such an environment. In the larger concept of the A&O Soc. the economic behavior of the community is rather socialistic in nature. I know that in America this is a bad word because America is allegedly based on capitalism. But it is the corporate raiders and the greed mongers who have literally destroyed our social environment because of the freedom and propagation of rampant capitalism. In the current environment people are taught and encouraged to grab all they can, while they can at the expense of the "weaker" people in the society or those who are not so aggressive. In my opinion this has been quite destructive to our society and it has in a very large sense shifted our values in a very non-productive direction. I say this with a very different understanding of what is and is not productive.

Productivity is the pursuit of aesthetics & beauty in form and interaction thru art, to seek peace, harmony, truth, goodness, wisdom and love. It is not the creation and acquisition of goods with which one can increase the numbers in ones bank account and therefore permit one to create rampant greed, selfishness, social depravity, isolation and conflict. This is my opinion and it is the basis by which I move forward to conceptualize The Alpha & Omega Society.

I am certain that I will not live to see this manifested, therefore it is my mission to publish the material I have gathered and to proffer my thoughts on the subject as best I can before I depart for the great (un)known.

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There have been numerous projects whose seeds are beginning to sprout, which will be nurtured in the environment of Image of the Mind Studios. The organizational structure of the A&O Soc. is being defined and Mission Statement is becoming clearer as discussions are taking place with potential board members.

Numerous requests have come in regarding management of large sums of money for charitable causes and an endowment program is being designed to accommodate this as a service offered by The A&O Soc.. Such a program will also provide operating funds to the foundation and it's programs. Unfortunately I fear that many of these offers are not legiamate.

The management structure of The A&O Soc. is essentially layered to segment essential functions from project functions, which will operate independently from each other. There will be tiers within each segment which will likewise be independently responsible for fulfillment and micro-management of their own resources. The net effect of this is to simplify management and establish more stability in the organization. Of course with this approach, the personnel structure will be defined by smaller teams with more autonomy and of course, the Project Directors & Department Heads will be answerable to the Board of Directors, not so much for their fulfillment, but more so for their adherence to a set of standards, which will maintain the level of integrity that is necessary for the health of the organization as a whole.

Priorities (philosophy)

This was written some time ago and never published. I thought it was interesting.

You will most certianly observe- that:

 the IMS web pages cover a wide array of projects that are in various stages of development. 

    Some have been critical of this and have chosen to respond in a negative fasion. Those persons obviously don't understand the nature of what is being done at IMS. 

    It's good to see the weeds in the garden so you can pull them out. The fact of the matter is that, as the Artistic Director, it is my job to develop ideas and to determine which ones may fit into a long term plan. I've chosen to use the internet as an arena for developing this work, not for any personal engrandizement, but for the simplicity by which other persons may participate in the process, both to assist in the goals of IMS and to share in the enthusiasm as they may find a forum for the expression of their creativity.

      The reality is that I'm lucky if I have another twenty years of useful service left in me. Twenty years is not a long time. So with that reality facing me, I've determined that the best thing I can do is to convert as much viable information about these larger projects onto the the web pages, if for no other reason than to archive them in the event of my demise.

      At this point, there are tangible and somewhat mundane tasks which need to be performed to completion which directly effect the ability to move into active production. These tasks build upon one another to the point where one can turn around and see absolute results, yet in the process, they seem like nothing more than a necessary distraction. I've developed the ability to see the chain of events and anticipate the process & the energy required to achieve a goal. Along with this ability, I've come to expect a certian level of complexity and the inevitable unknown. 

      The contingency fund is gaining increasing volume to meet the inevitable, of course both remain unknown, but non-the-less the unknown factor must be recognized as significant. With an understanding and respect for this unknown, the known factors become clearer and more easily managed.

      Priorities can only be based on known factors but they must be flexible enough to remain intact in the face of the unknown. Their position on the scale of importance is only what changes. The change in position of importance occurs because of multiple factors and the way in which they are compounded upon one another.

      As a project progresses, the level of complexity increases. Certian goals require fulfillment of previous objectives. The goals withing a project are defined with a wide brush and the individual aspects of those goals are gradually expanded as resources & knowledge allow for that to occur. 

      Within a project, indeed within an organization as well, the priorities find their own level. The director of a project will set objective goals and move to achieve those goals, but it must be understood that the unknown factor is so significant that in many ways it controls the outcome of the effort. 

     The secret to endurance on any project is to be flexible enough to be able to respond to that unknown and to have developed enough options where one can shift ones energy to another aspect of the project and continue to move forward, while contending with the unknown that has become a factor needing attention.

      And so, the priorities can be set down as objectives, with the hope and expectation that those goals will be met, but in the larger scheme of things, the fulfillment of those objectives is heavily contingent upon, not only the resources available, but also the sequence of events which can only be anticipated to a certian degree of accuracy. 

The largest factor in the fulfillment of goals is commitment.

AG

Conveyance, an essay

We live in a world that can easily draw us into illusive priorities. Our perspectives are often determined, if not dictated , by the environment we find ourselves in. But is that environment true or false? Do we ever even consider the possibility that the world around us may be an illusion or do we just accept what we see, hear and feel as being the basis for the reality of the world around us? We are told in the Word that the senses are false and cannot be trusted, but what does that really mean?

Well, I've determined that there is a prevailing set of illusions that are being perpetrated upon society as a whole. Not that this insidious act is being orchestrated by any one person, group, or organization, but rather a collection of illusions that insinuates themselves like rust on bare metal with roots that extend outward. We live in a world bound by the laws of entropy and the effects of entropy carry themselves throughout and within the entire created natural world. I see it as a fail-safe or a self destruct mechanisim designed to prevent the decay of the remainder of creation, the Spiritual & Celestial Worlds. The extent of entropy is unknown to me, but I believe it's effects are most significantly manifested in the material world.

None-the-less, this insinuated illusion is amplified in our increasingly complex society, because as more people fall victim of the illusion, it becomes something that is perpetrated upon the bulk of the society. As much as I'd like to define the perpetrators of this illusion, and in fact the illusion and it's assorted attributes, now is not the time to do that, for it would create unnecessary and counter-productive agitation. I rather choose to point out the illusion and state that it's perpetrators cannot hide from the light of Truth. The largest part of the illusion, as it is manifest in human action, is that: adherents to it's principles believe they have the power to control the outcome of events or to dictate the process of reaching an objective outcome.

That being said, I leave this essay on the expectation that: meditating on this concept will bring about an understanding of future concepts, designs, and goals which I have determined to post here for the purpose of contributing to the societies of mankind without joining the ranks of the perpetrators of the illusion.

Being as falable as everyone else on this planet, I can only hope that the desire to break thru the illusion and the effort to do that is sufficient to keep from being perverted by it's stranglehold on the societies of man. I guess this is a large part of the effort and purpose of The Alpha & Omega Society, to form a social structure that disallows the destructive forces which are implanted buy succumbing to and worshiping this illusion. An illusion that belongs to the proprium.

9/19 - I realize how off-the-wall this essay may sound to one who is unable or unwilling to consider what I may be talking about and that is part of the illusion I speak of. In large part, this illusion perpetrates a doctrine of limitation and utilizes a regimented insistence on conformity and a system of reward & punishment to implement that. It is understandable in the context of social management, but it extends beyond that and insinuates itself into the deeper levels of interpersonal relationships whereby it perverts the understanding and distorts the will. It is the erroneous understanding that ascribes the power to act to the faulty human mechanism and the necessity to determine a course of action based on the sensual input that creates this illusion. It is a compounded scenario, whereby human action is dictated by space & time, at least to the degree where an environment is established which nurtures the illusion and propagates it's false principles. Needless to say, the illusion is a multi-facited crystalline form growing within the core of society. Is it somehow an element which must be eradicated? Or is it rather an aspect of external ism which must be revealed, contemplated and viewed from a distance? Thus allowing for a revelation of the true nature of space & time. If space & time are truely understood, how will this effect the presence of the illusion of power & doctrine of limitation. Clearly, the physical, which exists in space & time, experiences entropy and is thereby in the external reality is directly connected to the tangible effects of power. Limitations are felt as a result of the association of the physical and the variations which occurr in abilities as a result. But this is part of the illusion, it attributes external experiences to what should correctly be understood as the internal source of all power and a source of the unlimited. Effectively, the illusion inverts the true order of things to impose carnality into the understanding, thereby distorting the balance in social relationships. Don't let this bizarre train of thought prevent you from exploring other aspects of this blog. AG

Spiritual Retreat

10/17/07- Numerous discussions have taken place with individuals interested in this project. Conversations are of a general nature at this point because The Alpha & Omega Society will be the ultimate authority in this regard, and the Board of Directors has not yet been officially established. As I may have discussed in the section under The A&O Soc., my work is to produce the establishing principles and modus operandi, something which is moving forward rather slowly right now (due in large part to the demands of Image of the Mind Studios). It is my desire for IMS to provide the land for the Spiritual Retreat and once that has been achieved (or is emminent) then to turn it over to The A&O Soc. (or at least a portion thereof). AG


General Summary

A Spiritual Retreat Environment is something that I am striving to create as a means to encourage and support the creative process. My propensity is to work in the theatrical arena and I view this forum as requiring all of the known arts& crafts as part of that process. With that in mind, I fully understand the strain that can come into the artist's life by struggling with his or her environment. As we grow older, we come to terms with this struggle, but by the time we learn how to cope with it, our creativity has suffered to a significant degree. I am in the process of formulating The Alpha & Omega Society. The purpose of the A&O Soc. is to endow and manage the affairs of the Spiritual Retreat and the Theatrical Development Centre. These are but two of the concepts which encompass the design for a larger community. It is my expectation, that like all of us, I will be passing on to the Spiritual World within the next few decades. As of this writing I am pushing 53, I'm in good health, and have no idea as to what my duration will be. But it could be tomorrow for all I know. So it is appropriate to make hay while the sun is shining. With this in mind, I am moving forward to publish the designs for this larger community. I have my doubts about my own ability to manifest this community in my life time, because I am not the kind of aggressive character that seems to be a trait of the developers I know. Rather, I choose to believe that the concept which I am putting forth is something that will manifest as a result of people of like mind, gradually coming together to implement an environment which offers regeneration to those persons who have a high degree of creative impulse and are dissatisfied with the way in which American society has developed as a whole. I do not want to imply that American Society is an adversary in this regard, rather I want to state specifically that the social environment in the greater part of the American Landscape has developed in a somewhat helter skelter fashion. The cities and the suburbs are a composite of individualism bolstered at it's foundation by the capitalistic compulsion to exploit any opportunity or resource for the sake of profit. In large part this has created an overall disjunction in society and a great deal of energy is expended trying to conjoin the social relationships in the face of that gulf which should never have occurred in the first place.

The larger principle in the Spiritual Retreat/Artists Colony concept is the establishment of a community design which functions on the basis of Harmony of the Whole in preference to the rights of the Individual. This is not to say that the rights of the individual are not significant and of extreme importance, but it is to say that they are not paramount. It is clear that the rights of the individual being proffered as having the highest degree of importance have caused a significant degree of contention within society. It is not that those rights are largely put forth as having that degree of importance, rather it is that individuals have taken on the opinion that their right to proceed without consideration for others is acceptable. This attitude is being protected under the misunderstood idea of freedom and the condition within our society is such that we have progressed too far beyond the edge of properly training our young people to counteract that attitude. The media has taken extreme liberties in the name of freedom of speech and Pandora's box has been opened. It is because of this that I feel it is necessary to create an environment that has been laid out Based on the Principles of Harmony.

In addition to the physical design of the facilities of the community, it is necessary to outline the management of the community as a whole. A great many of the principles on which our country was founded are quite applicable for the management of this microcosm, however there are a number of areas where we have gone astray. The objective of this Spiritual Retreat Environment,. The Alpha & Omega Society is to make adjustments based on the obvious errors in the functioning of the society in which we dwell. It is unfortunate that we cannot make those adjustment in a larger way, but the society has become unmanageable due in large part to it extreme size and diversity.

From my position, the objective methodology is for a society to be modeled after the creation. We are now aware of the molecular structure of matter and it is quite clear that the very foundation of the material world is consistent with that form. It seems quite clear to me that the social relationships, or rather the sphere of society needs to be principled on the same basis. It is on this basis that the experiment of The Alpha & Omega Society needs to be founded.

Theoretically, if this were the case, the expansion that would be required, would be modeled after the core structure. Eventually, the foundational structure would reach a harmonious balance of diversity that would not require expenditure of energy on conflict and would then encourage the creative impulse even in the face of entropy. The naturally occurring changes would be within the scope of predetermined boundaries that allow for a certain degree of latitude and thus support not only the feeling of freedom, but the actuality of it, because the modus operendi is that of the Harmony of the Whole and not the proliferation of the proprium, the source of disharmony. More Later AG

Facilities

Opportunity- The opportunity to acquire a workable facility has come and gone. The space was 7k sq ft sitting on 1.5 acre on the Industrial Boulevard. Initially, my thoughts on the Theatrical Development Centre were centred on it's placement in upper/central Pennsylvania as a retreat environment. I still see this picture as the optimal goal, however, after some consideration, this facility and placing the Theatrical Development Centre in a closer proximity to Philadelphia seems like a practical approach at this time.

Effort- This objective must become the primary concern for IMS, as we are sorely in need of a reasonable working facility at this time. The focus of attention is divided between "The Gnomes of New Hope" , The Shakespeareans of Tamanend Park and The Meadow Amphitheare. All other development projects are receiving the minimum attention required to keep them alive until we can establish a new studio compound, so do not expect to see advancement in any other direction. But it may well be expected that with the proper space advancement of the other projects will increase exponetially.

Foundation- I've been having discussions with a few potential board members regarding the establishment criteria for The Alpha & Omega Society Foundation and it seems clear that the aforementioned facility would have made a good headquarters for the Foundation as well as Image of the Mind Studios. Consideration of that facilitiy (or any other facility needs to have a close proximity to The General Church of The New Jerusalem in Bryn Athyn and this is important for various reasons.

I discontinued consideration of the aforementioned facility because it was clear that my role in creative development would be impaired if I essentially became a facilities manager. Also the cost of modifications and aquisition were prohibitive. You might look on the IMS Homepage to find some photo-essays of previous studio compounds. I've had 9 shops thusfar and I'm quite anxious to settle into (what could possibly be) my last studio space.

Aqusition- There does not seem to be an appropriate property in Southampton. However, if that were to be the case, in order to implement the TDC in Southampton I will need to generate a minimum of $1M- 3M for acquisition & renovations, 1M for an endowment to cover the overhead, and 1M+ for investment in standing projects & personnel. Obviously, that is a rounded estimation, but it is sufficient to gain a minimum of 5 years of stability and enough to set the increased cash flow into motion. This would not provide the funding for individual projects, as they would need to raise capital based on specific needs asnd resources inherent in each project. I am assuming that in order to raise this capital I will be needing to sell off the ancillary rights or establish an array of distribution agreements regarding IMS Product lines. Acquisition of these funds through investment is possible but a personal dialogue in this regard is obviously required. I have no intention, nor the ability to borrow this volume of money via conventional banking means. Wether or not this changes in the future, who can say? But it should also be known that I am on the look-out for a CFO.

Resolve- There are management issues which also need to be resolved, mostly from the fact that stepping up into a new level of operation will require it. The operation of Image of the Mind Studios as a proprietorship cannot continue if the growth objectives are to be achieved. The fact of the matter is that expansion is sorely needed and along with that expansion comes a corporate structure and departmentalization.

Expansion- Consideration of this new facility seems like the most practical approach. In large part because renovating the existing space will require less time & energy than building from the ground up in a more remote location. It is likely that marketing this facility would be easier as well. But clearly, I have no intention of moving forward without sufficient resources to give me a good five years of uninterrupted operations and to bring in good people to implement the change required. Meaning to say that all overhead, in addition to facilities aquisition are fully paid for for that period of time. There is the option for a lease on the property, however I am unwilling to stand surety for any overhead that may immediately effect the security of the environment. This means that there must be an endowment that is producing enough income to cover the basic expenses and to create a surplus fund to meet with unexpected facilities maintenance. The principle of this endowment must remain equity of IMS, or be locked in for ten years with all proceeds coming to IMS for that period of time. Of course that would be viewed as an investment, but the return is tied to specific criteria of the Joint Venture Agreement.

Service- The primary goal of The A&O Soc. is to provide a working environment to support artists in their creative endeavors. There are many details about this which I cannot go over now, however, the first and most important aspect of that goal would be fulfilled in micro-cosom in the establishment of this facility and the endowment to maintain it.

Additionally, I have personally had requests that I receive and distribute individuals wealth to numerous Christian causes. Because of this, I have developed the criteria by which contributions can be made to The A&O Soc. and by which individual endowments will be set-up and managed by the Board of Directors. I will be posting this information and linking it to The Alpha & Omega Society's home page. If enough of these endowments are set-up, then the management terms of this agreement will support the Spiritual Retreat Environment, and thus The Theatrical Development Centre. Any income from these endowments will be dedicated to supporting the environment, not staff , stipends, or projects. Those funds will be gathered from other sources.

Updates- I will try to ulitize this forum for updates in activities from time to time. I am trying to manage numerous other pages so there is a plethura of information being posted at erratic intervals. If you have any specific questions or any particular project interests you, do not hesitate to write me. Generally speaking, my energy moves in the direction that has the most immediate & ongoing interest and shows the most promise. This does not mean that because a project sits idle for some time, that it isnot viable, it only means that another project has found other individuals who want to participate in one way or another. I focus on the projects that require attention, for whatever reason.

Information- There are numerous internal demands which must be met. I try to post the kind of informtion that will help in implementing the objectives outlined in the IMS documents posted on the web. Anything posted on the internet refers mostly to external operations with only passing references to internal operations. The only persons privy to internal operations and specific policies are vested partners and/or board members. Persons with an interest in investment should open a dialogue in that regard. Investment in IMS is a private affair, we do not make public offerings, although I expect that that will occur in the future. I have found that it generally takes about two years to develop a relationship of trust and stablitiy. Any one wishing to become involved in IMS activities should assume this fact. This is not to say that trust cannot occur in a shorter period of time, but confidence in that relationship takes time. This time factor also tends to filter out malintent. I just want to make my position clear in this regard. I'm not interested in flash-in-the-pan & hit-and-run tactics and I'm not a fan of "ultrayuppiedom" if you get my drift.