#75 - Founding Everland | Jonny Jenkins (Everland)

Today I’m excited to announce a new mini-series within Life is a Festival about communities and land-based projects where we can live our most expressed lives. In a time of isolation and global change, without the festivals, ceremonies, and other gatherings we have used to grow together, many of us are looking to build or join communities that cultivate that particular serendipitous convergence we have felt at places like Burning Man. Starting with today’s episode I will be interviewing some of the people who are experimenting with and stewarding such projects about their life stories and particular wisdom. Longer dives on personal growth through a festival lens will continue as well, including an upcoming interview with Burning Man CEO Marian Goodell. As the first episode of this series I am speaking to my friend Jonny Jenkins, a visionary who is leading the creation of a large-scale art park outside of Denver Colorado called Everland. I had the privilege of staying at Everland for two weeks and while this is an early stage project, the land itself, the existing infrastructure, and what they’ve already accomplished is inspiring. On the show we talk about Jonny’s commitment to community from his Christian upbringing to Burning Man and how a near death experience inspired him to make his dream a reality. We discuss Everland’s commitment to radical inclusivity and the amazing team involved. We chat about some of the art and artists already committed to the project and how you or an artist you nominate might participate. Finally, Jonny shares the unique challenges and opportunities of the project and some of his uplifting poetry. Everland is an Eco-Retreat and Immersive Art Park in Colorado. You can learn more, support the project, or submit your art at Everland.co. May we all find Everland! LINKS Everland Eco-Retreat & Immersive Art Park: https://www.everland.co/ Everland Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/everlandco/everland-eco-retreat-and-immersive-art-park Archipelago Clubs: https://www.archipelagoclubs.com/ Previous episodes mentioned on the show Fly Ranch: https://www.eamonarmstrong.com/lifeisafestival/zac-cirivello Meow Wolf: https://www.eamonarmstrong.com/lifeisafestival/vince-kadlubek Punta Mona: https://www.eamonarmstrong.com/lifeisafestival/stephen-brooks TIMESTAMPS :09 - Jonny’s connection with community from his Christian upbringing to Burning Man :18 - How spaces create community, like the Archipelago club in Denver. :23 - How is Everland approaching real radical inclusivity? :28 - How a near death experience in Taiwan led to the founding of Everland :35 - Jonny shares some of the art planned for the property and also how artists can get involved. :42 - Financing Everland :48 - The Everland Team 1:04 - Advice and challenges of founding Everland 1:08 - Jonny’s Poetry