On the corner of Water Street and 5th Avenue in downtown Olympia, across from Heritage Park Fountain, is the new home of the beautiful Procession of the Species Studio.
The opening ceremony in late February was a sight to see. The sun was shining, children were coloring the sidewalk with chalk, and the sounds of cello and fiddle flowed out of the open front door. Inside, people mingled, laughed, and discussed the new space—the ninth home for the studio—one much more spacious than its prior location in an alley off Capitol Way.
The 5,000 plus-square-foot studio, located at 406 Water Street SW, has 11 rooms. It includes a dedicated space for kids, plenty of storage, and an extra room available to rent.
And the most talked about feature? It’s visibility.
“There have been whole collections of people stop by – people who came intentionally and others that just wandered by,” said Leslie Gowell, who volunteered at the event. “We’ve always been down some alley or out of the downtown core. I think it will be really nice that we’ll be out in the public. This is going to spark people’s interest.”
Jerry Berebitsky, longtime volunteer and new co-manager of the studio, says that even though there were concerns about lower ceilings, the Procession animals and supplies have all found their place in the new home.
Jerry says his motivation for co-managing was two-fold. As a professional organizer, he had the aptitude to set up the studio. He admits the second reason was self-serving because he wants the space to work on his newest super-secret large animal. The iconic giraffe and elephant are just two of his Procession creations.
“It just made sense to co-manage,” says his counterpart, Kris Geringer. “It’s a big task for one person to take on. I have the utmost respect for Jerry and thought it would be a good match. Our skills and interests complement each other. I think the core volunteers just naturally find their place in the organization. We are managing the studio. But it’s a group effort.”
The Procession of the Species, an Earth Day celebration that is 21 years strong, attracts 35,000 spectators to downtown Olympia and has more than 4,000 participants. Earthbound Productions, the nonprofit that puts on the Procession, is all-volunteer run.
“I’ve always had a call to art,” says Kathy Marshall, a new volunteer. “The Illuminated Ball in December was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve been hooked ever since. I want to make sure they have all my time. I think this new spot is perfect, too.”
“This is a place to explore skills and get support,” she adds. “They’ve all welcomed me.”
The Procession of the Species Studio has several ways it offers community involvement and volunteer opportunities.
New this year is an “adoption” process. The idea is a person or group can choose one of the iconic creatures, like the lion or zebra, handle any repairs, create a costume theme for the group, and carry the animal during the Procession.
Also new are hours of operation at the studio. This year, rather than being open a full 4-6 weeks prior to the Procession, special times have been allotted for public participation: April 3 – 10 and April 16 – 17, where people can explore the studio and create their own masterpieces.
Otherwise, group sessions of 10-15 people are booked in advance. For a small fee, groups can learn batik, luminary, or mask-making.
In addition to the organization’s annual gala and Illuminated Ball, fundraising and awareness comes in the form of earth flags this year. A person or group can sponsor a flag, which will hang along the downtown corridor as a reminder of the ultimate reason the Procession of the Species exists – connecting the community to the natural world. The group is advocating for an Earth Month, leaving the flags on display throughout April.
The core volunteers have high hopes for the studio, and are enthused by the new changes and location.
“We know that this studio will bring great joy, inspiration, and discovery to many,” say Jerry and Kris. “It will be a place of creation and growth; we look forward to celebrating our world with you.”
For more information please call 360-705-1087 or visit the studio at 406 Water Street SW in downtown Olympia.
