Creative ideas to jump into Procession

By Lisa Pemberton | The Olympian • Published April 26, 2007

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The Procession of the Species is just around the corner.

And if you're looking for a way to get involved, try one of these ideas:

1. Visit the Procession's community arts studio, which has all the supplies to create papier mache masks, batik flags and other must have, one-of-a-kind items.

"If they come down to the studio, there are people who will help them put together a costume," said Nicole Mercier, president of Earthbound Productions. "We have so many things for inspiration."

Although some people spend weeks creating the perfect costume, you don't have to commit that much time. The studio has several quick and easy projects, such as templates for masks and headdresses with designs of birds, eagles, turtles and other animals.

All you need to do is transfer the pattern to cardboard, cut out the shape and decorate it with glue, paint and glitter, Mercier said.

The community arts studio is at 115 State Ave. N.E., Olympia. It's open from noon to 9 p.m. daily.

2. Create an outfit at home.

Use paper plates, tissue paper, glue, paints and your imagination (or a pattern from a Web site) to pull together a flower, sun or animal mask.

Or, consider recycling an old Halloween c ostume.

You'll want to create an outfit that falls into one of the Procession's four elements: earth (such as trees, flowers and animals), water (such as jelly fish, mermaids and starfish), fire (such as dragons, mythical creatures and the sun) and air (such as birds, clouds and rain).

Some people create their outfits on Procession day with tree branches, bark and moss.

Ivy also has become a popular Procession material, Mercier said.

"That's how some people clean out their yard; they pull out all the ivy and wrap themselves in that," she said.

3. Bring on the noise.

Don't forget: the Procession is about music and dance, too. And if you don't have a pair of maracas, a cow bell to bang on or a bongo drum, it's time to improvise.

Yogurt cups, yogurt smoothie containers and juice cans make noisy shakers when they're filled with beans, Mercier said.

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