This week for Favorite Friday we combine an awesome reel, fun occasion, and great cause!
The Mermaid Parade
All you Coney Islanders will know what this is, but for those of you that don't here is the synopsis on the Mermaid Parade:
The Mermaid Parade is artists, it’s community, it’s Brooklyn weirdos, it’s people flying in from all over the world and, most importantly, The Mermaid Parade is YOU. Every year since 1983, it has enabled artistic New Yorkers to find self-expression in public. It’s an American celebration of ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside, and it showcases over 1,500 creative individuals from all over the five boroughs, kicking off the summer with incredible art, an entrepreneurial spirit and unflagging Coney Island pride.
Last years parade enticed 750,000 visitors!
3D photographer Jay Kusnetz used his love of 3D to create some amazing pictures from last year's Mermaid Parade, as seen in the 3D Stereo reel below.
But here's the problem...Hurricane Sandy came along.
Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the Coney Island community. It also destroyed our historical museum and performance space at 1208 Surf Avenue. We rely on the income from our popular side-show and gift shop, along with registration fees, to pay for the Mermaid Parade. With our building severely damaged and donations slowing to a trickle, our not-for-profit has had virtually no income. In many ways we’re still underwater. What this all means is that the 31st Mermaid Parade now has a budget shortfall of $100,000. This is an impossible gap for a tiny not-for-profit arts organization like ours.
So, they have a Kickstarter project going to raise the money for the parade. I urge you to check it out and watch their fun video! Click here!
And, if all goes well, June 22nd, 2013 will be an awesome day!
