Candidate: Kay Morrison

Five years ago I had the opportunity to get involved in the dreams of this community. We wanted something more then the event in the desert. We wanted more then art that was built to burn. We wanted to make our neighborhoods feel like the streets of Black Rock City. We wanted to make the Northwest (and Canada!) more appropriate to our view of the world.

So much has happened to inch these desires into reality in the past years, and Ignition Northwest is only a part of the wheel of success, but it is the part I have invested my passion in. Now, as Ignition Northwest begins to become a vital part of the Seattle arts community, is financially sound, and has a strong strategic plan to guide us, I find myself wanting to help with the next steps.

I have a decade of professional experience in nonprofit and small business administration, with strengths in meeting facilitation and organizational development. In the past few years I have chosen to take classes in Local Arts Development and Nonprofit Leadership, and I am about to return to school to tweak my skills in Civic Art Development and Organizational Leadership at Antioch Seattle.

My Burning Man resume looks something like this:

• 2000 - First Burning Man
• 2001-2006 Camped/worked with the Space Virgins
• 2005 - Elected to Ignition Northwest Board. Served as Vice President.
• 2005 - Received grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation to create Public Art in Rainier Vista
• 2006/2007 - Served as President of Ignition Northwest
• 2007 - Joined Iron Monkeys Ironwork Collective which designed and built 4 steel Tree Spires for the Mangrove surrounding the Man at Burning Man
• 2007/2008 - Served as Vice President of Ignition Northwest
• 2007/2008 - Wrangled/Bartended Monday Night Burn Night at the Lower Level
• 2008- Completed Rainier Vista Public Art Project. Permanently installed an Iron Monkey Tree Spire into Rainier Vista Park.

I am continually amazed at what we can accomplish, and am energized to continue contributing to our development in the best way I know how.

Thank you for all your support and drive in the past years. I look forward to where we will go...