Send Kim To Kalgoorlie, Pozible. It worked.

When I am not swanning around the internet pretending to be a zombie whispering former princess, I am plotting world domination through the medium of clay. I say plotting world domination only semi flippantly, as I am passionate about community engagement via the medium of making and I believe that any arts based organisation has a critical role to play within its community.

The title of “former princess” is an internet inside joke and unless you internet you wont be privy to the joke, which is okay, you just have to trust me when I say it was hilarious at the time.

My title of President, is a very real title and one that is never hilarious, well maybe the bit where I pantomime wearing a crown could possibly be mildly amusing, but that is beside the point.

I am the President of a statewide organisation and I take this role very seriously even when it seems I am being flippant.

I was wearing my presidential hat the other day while I was doing some admin for the TCA and a suggestion by Eunice from Tas Regional Arts, that I should consider going to Kalgoorlie this October took hold. My initial reaction was Kalgoorlie? I will melt, I will cook, it is too hot, too far, I could not possibly go.

Within two days and with the encouragement of my facebook friends, I had changed my mind.

Discovering that Antony Gormley’s sculpture, “Inside Australia” was a mere 170 kilometres away from Kalgoorlie was the only push I needed.

Once I decided that yes, I was going to go to Kalgoorlie, things started to happen, a friend popped up and offered me accommodation in his caravan, saving me nearly a thousand dollars. Another friend pre-booked a small ceramic workshop for next summer which covered my train fares. Still more friends in Perth offered me a place to crash on either end of my journey and so with this sort of magic happening I just had to go.

I still needed to find nearly two thousand more dollars to cover airfares and the conference ticket, but pfft details, details. I maxed out my credit card that night, booking a flight to Perth and with that purchase I was committed.

On the Saturday, I spent all day writing up my Pozible, and I mean all day, it took hours to find the right words and the right rewards. About 4.30 pm I thought I had the balance between begging for money and moaning about the heat pretty right and so I held my breath and pressed submit and prepared for the excuciatiingly long twenty four hour wait.

I am not good at waiting, in fact waiting patiently is not even a skill I possess and so I tweeted at the @pozible crew.

I just submitted my @Pozible project for review. I might have mentioned my possible death by Kalgoorlie’s fiery sun more than once.

— Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

 

I am sure it is okay to mention my possible death by sharks if Kalgoorlie’s Fiery Desert sun doesnt fry me. @Pozible #raasummit — Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

Fripperies and Geegaws are also valid expenses. I am sure I read that somewhere. @Pozible

— Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

 

I nearly fell off my chair when my pozible project was approved within fifteen minutes.   And so of course I tweeted some more.

Wow, that was fast. It is like @Pozible want me to burn to a crisp. — Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

YOU MONSTERS

— Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

I had no idea how my project would be received, it was five o’clock on a Saturday afternoon and my twitter was full of memes with Abbott asleep, and the footy scores. I hoped that I would reach my goal but I really did not know how my project would be received.

Now I have STAGE FRIGHT — Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

Not really stage fright, more a DREADFUL FEAR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S BURNING SUN

— Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

Something magic started to happen

My @pozible has been live for less than two hours and I am two thirds of the way there. OMG http://t.co/O6BeUFWTWR YOU PEOPLE WANT ME TO FRY

— Kim former Princess (@frogpondsrock) June 7, 2014

help @frogpondsrock get to fry in the sun in kalgoorlie! http://t.co/QoGYIDD7XU

— Mr Onthemoon (@firstdogonmoon) June 7, 2014

SO CLOSE! Help finish it off? Rewards include handmade functional art by @frogpondsrock. http://t.co/rDkOZG1wVk (also hilarity)

— Veronica Foale (@VeronicaFoale) June 7, 2014

I do like to contribute to the hilarity @frogpondsrock brings when she is suffering. I can imagine the phone calls now.

— Veronica Foale (@VeronicaFoale) June 7, 2014

“BUT THE SUN! It’s like a fiery orb in the sky! AND I AM BURNING.”

— Veronica Foale (@VeronicaFoale) June 7, 2014

And just like that, in less than five hours, my pozible project was funded.

I was a bit overwhelmed and so very grateful for the support of my friends who bought my work enabling me to go on a glorious adventure.

My pozible is still live and will be live for another thirty days or so.

Whilst I have reached my target, the money raised so far really only covers my travel and conference ticket. So if you would like to support me further I would be very grateful.