{"id":15267,"date":"2014-07-02T20:40:03","date_gmt":"2014-07-03T03:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amicuscuria.com\/wordpress\/?p=15267"},"modified":"2018-09-29T18:23:18","modified_gmt":"2018-09-30T01:23:18","slug":"olys-culture-of-violence-public-artesian-well","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amicuscuria.com\/wordpress\/olys-culture-of-violence-public-artesian-well\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympia’s Culture of Violence @ Public (A)rtesian Well"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Illustrated Man<\/p><\/div>\n

Ava Arvest<\/p><\/div>\n

http:\/\/www.midwestwomensherbal.com\/myceliumpresenters?lightbox=dataItem-j3601wyc3<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Olympia, WA (7-1-14) —<\/strong>\u00a0With the 4th of July nearly upon us, the spirit of independence among Americans is alive and well, suggesting it’s time to re-examine how this plays out in our civic spaces and public places…e.g. Olympia’s City owned Artesian Well on 4th Ave near several taverns and an adjacent bike shop.<\/p>\n

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It’s the Water!<\/p><\/div>\n

As always, a picture is worth a thousand words, but without a narrative, they don’t tell the whole story in this instance. A revisit to the Artesian was in order as the City was still altering it, installing an additional drain for runoff in the asphalt with nary a blade of grass in sight. Municipal fingerprints were everywhere. The City had blacked out thoughtful artistic graffiti honoring street heroes which requested the well be respected as a community resource.<\/p>\n

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Community Oriented Tasteful Graffiti Censored<\/p><\/div>\n

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Asphalt Jungle<\/p><\/div>\n

The City has also installed a large steel strong box as if marking its territory. Some boxed flowers were hanging and in planters on the pavement. A couple of picnic tables had been added–and removed nightly so as to make it less inviting for the homeless.<\/p>\n

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The most miraculous sight was a public handicap accessible outhouse, though behind a wrought iron barricade. Bystanders said the City continues its policy of locking all of its public toilets at around 5 \u00a0or 6 pm, and this one was no exception. But, a closer examination revealed the wrought iron gate had been WELDED open.<\/p>\n

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Anti-Homeless Barriers<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gate Latch Welded Open<\/p><\/div>\n

How in the world did the City lock the public toilet when the wrought iron latch had been welded? They lock the fiberglass door on the outhouse itself it was said. This suggested a need for verification of facts and a closer inspection–camera in hand.<\/p>\n

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No complete hasp or holes for locking this particular door were apparent. Perhaps a closer inspection inside would solve the mystery? \u00a0A tug on the door left it unyielding. A stronger tug on it produced a violent kick of the door and a woman (Ava Arvest) exploding out spewing profanities and accusing the photographer of disturbing her, to put it mildly. “Please don’t kill me,” was his first thought. She was violently angry…announced to those present, including a motorcyclist named Brian, the evil photojournalist had attempted to violate her personal space.<\/p>\n

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Other observers, having entertained an earlier dialog about the City’s counterproductive hysteria in locking public toilets assured Ava this wasn’t the case, that the shutterbug didn’t know the outhouse was occupied. Ava could have announced as much with the first tug, but given her nature, chose confrontation, and would have none of it. “It has an ‘OPEN’\/’OCCUPIED’ indicator on the door!” she fumed. “It doesn’t always work,” said they.<\/p>\n

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Ava<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ava Arvrest (right) Cooling Off<\/p><\/div>\n

Sensing her weak argument for a witch hunt, Ava segued effortlessly to gloating about the photojournalist having been assaulted and robbed by a mob of @narchists during a TESC event (Anarchists Convergence in 2013). “That crime continues to be investigated by the campus police,” came the response.<\/p>\n

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Ava Arvrest & Brian<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ava ‘Charlotte Renninger’ Arvest<\/p><\/div>\n

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Brian and Ava obviously knew each other well, but while Ava was too shy to mention her name, Brian let it slip. Ava, in fact, had recently sought legal advice over the internet from the paralegal and photojournalist, though rudely, as always. Both Brian and Ava eagerly argued the violent consequences awaiting any photojournalist insisting on the right to photograph in public without permission…ignoring the signs announcing video surveillance while oozing self-righteous violent repercussions over uninvited street photography. Brian even detailed how he would smash the photographer’s camera\/face.<\/p>\n

(UPDATE: Ava’s house & contents burned down<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it was pointed out photography was not a crime, but assault was, Ava demurred it was only what Brian would FEEL like doing, not what he would actually do.<\/p>\n

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you at Media Island?” Ava was asked. “That’s because there’s someone there who assaulted me,” she complained. “Really? Why don’t you file a complaint and\/or take the person to court?” she was asked. Ava paused, then said, “No. They’d just want money.” Ava then sniffed disapprovingly at the reporter’s electric car as she panned, “Nice car you have there.”<\/p>\n

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Associates: Charles Waller, Alexander Raveane, Ava Arvest, Lisa Pangburn, Jacob David Fortuna, Donovan Michael, Chelsea Norris and Mike Norris.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The veiled threat was palpable. Ava, it turned out, had been in a romantic relationship with a Media Island regular–Bruce Wilkinson. The breakup had not gone smoothly. Ava wouldn’t disclose the details or who, but each had insisted other Media Island volunteers get involved to resolve their personal conflict.<\/p>\n

Many hours were spent with little or no progress, but not before Ava attempted and was prevented from destroying Bruce’s bicycle locked to Media Island’s front steps. Clearly, Ava listened to a different drummer when it came to respecting other people’s property. The law, as with 1st Amendment rights, was an inconvenience, but no barrier to her.<\/p>\n

After a few more contemptuous innuendos, the reporter and subject parted company. Olympia’s public spaces remain hazardous as various street elements try to virtually ‘privatize’ them as their own, substituting their own biases and violent impulses for the law.<\/p>\n

The City’s police continue to treat this as a fait’ accompli’, throwing up their hands in a show of utter disgust and concession of defeat. Citizens will have to resort to their own strategies to reclaim public venues as the municipality cannot or will not protect them. Or, as Brian hinted, “Insisting on your right(s) [e.g. to photograph in public?] has consequences<\/em>!” This cannot be denied, as Trayvon Martin found out too late.<\/p>\n

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“You didn’t ask permission!”<\/p><\/div>\n