The Olympian

Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jon Miller Keeping students rocking. OC student Greg Rivers helps organize music performances in the Bremer Student Center. Rivers also plays bass for local band YIA and does work for Artists for Freedom and Unity. [Click to enlarge]

While most Olympic College students
are cramming for tests and doing physics
homework, one student is working hard
at bringing music and culture to the college
and the community.
Greg Rivers, an engineering student in
his second year at OC, has a full plate of
activities that center mostly around promoting local musicians and artists, mostly
through Artists for Freedom and Unity.
Rivers has been working with AFU
since its early conception. He now serves
as a member of the board that organizes
events at the AFU hall such as art exhibits
and music performances from both local
and touring bands.
"The goal is to promote the arts and
preserve the arts," Rivers said.
AFU is a non-profit group formed
about a year ago with a goal of bringing
artists and musicians together for mutual
benefit. The combination of art and music
helps pay the cost of running the all-ages
venue.
The wall space of the small venue on
Callow Avenue is rented out to artists
who pay a monthly fee. In addition, the
group collects a commission whenever a
piece is sold.
Music shows and special classes also
help keep the doors open, and bring in
more people to view the art. Some artists
even teach drawing classes.
"Even on days when there aren't shows
playing there are five or six people just
hanging out," Rivers said. He added that
he thinks AFU is having a real positive
influence on the local scene.
When he's not running the door at the
venue for music shows, Rivers can be
found playing music at local bars like the

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