funkshoe

A Greener Indiana and Three Heads Company boogied down this New Years Eve at the Hog Barn in Valparaiso. While enjoying the New Years celebration, the event was also a culmination of an ecstatic synergy between arts and activism, people and passions, cultural and environmental sustainability, a new year and a new paradigm.

This New Years Eve event occurred at an old hog farm that has been deactivated due to its its lack in meeting environmental standards and modern practice. It was a symbol. To celebrate together the joy of our coming year of change and the coming age of sustainability. To generate together the love and intentions of propelling the paradigm in a facility that is out of order due to adopting such intelligence and understanding. The Hog Barn has a new use of providing space for pro-active participation, education, fund raising, and celebrations. It's new purpose is to host events for recreational, environmental, cultural, and the performance art purposes. In essence my friends, it's more than a symbol, it is living example of positive change.

One month ago this space sat unused, filthy, and full of storage. Nothing but a darkness full of cobwebs and junk. A task that would seem near impossible. By New Years Eve the Hog Barn had undergone a metamorphosis into a clean open space. Provided with electricity, heating, a new stage, bar, recycling section, bathroom section, furniture, floor material, full lights and sound. 99% of all the materials used to rehab this space were all from salvaged and recycled materials. It was all accomplished by practicing eco-consciousness practices and the 3R's "Now should be 4R's, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot!" Everything but the purchased floor boards for the performance stage and the guitar used to enshrine the stage that was donated and signed by the Grateful Dead.

Live music started to fill the air with colored lights everywhere at 9pm and at nights end the vibrations and light striations were put to rest by 5am. We had a full house dancing and prancing by 11:30 and hundreds celebrated with gracious kisses, good cheer, happy faces as the ball had dropped with balloons, streamers, and graces filled the sight. We were all in love with each other and the moment during this dreamers night.

Performances by the Snuckafoo "Chicago", The Litmus Paper "Valparaiso," Funkshoe "Portage," and Chester Brown "Chesterton." followed by a spontaneous Three Heads All Star jam out. Great sound from CB and lights setup from The Light Guy were provided. All of which are active assets participating in Three Heads Company, a record label and production company formed out of cooperation. Under this guiding philosophy, they work with local communities, artists, merchants, politicians, and activists to raise funds and awareness about current social ills and innovative solutions. Three Heads strives to establish a successful model for simultaneously running a profitable modern DIY music business and acting as stewards to the environment and to their local community.

NYE at the Hog Barn was a moment to remember, something that will go down in the history books as the activation and unveiling of the partnership of Three Heads Company with A Greener Indiana. The act of A Greener Indiana becoming an umbrella for Three Heads Company as an events partner to plan, develop and host live events, festivals, and gatherings that are a celebration and living example of eco-sustainability.

Both parties’ intentions are to collaborate in producing culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable events that are a celebration of community participation, performing arts, educational programming, and environmental stewardship. A Greener Indiana and Three Heads Company agree to work together in cooperation equally distributing the duties and proceeds in producing sustainable live events and community gatherings that are charitable, safe, and successful by reaching consensus in the decision making process and implement with earnest methods of P.L.U.R. A great thing to start to see manifest and implemented this New Years. Thank you everyone that has helped make this a reality and together we shall build a better world for ourselves, our children, and our environment. We hope to see you all at the next event and our next New Years blowout. Till then, we wish your love, abundance, and happiness for this year and the many more to come.

“If we can't dance - we don't want to be part of your revolution”

Happy New Year!

Derek Reuter
Executive Director
www.AGreenerIndiana.com

- A Greener Indiana