Spring Fair comes our way

To set the record straight, the InnerSpace Family isn’t a colony of hippies living in the hills of Dillard in a dome painted with colorful murals, surrounded by flowers abloom, although it’s a romantic idea.

It is true, however, that the InnerSpace family has organized a Spring Fair for the past 33 years — without using a telephone.

Louis Montano, coordinator of the fair, tried patiently to explain the InnerSpace family.

“There’s no communal aspect of it at all, except for the Spring Fair,” he said. “We were all fleeing the same thing— we had had it with the city.”

Those who belong to the family — which is more a psychological concept than a physical entity — live on more than 2,000 acres outside of Dillard, 35 acres of which Montano purchased in 1971. The connection of ideals he shares with the people who later moved onto the property, he said, is “totally random.”

“Nobody is there to be led by anybody,” said Montano.

The Spring Fair is a festival-style gathering at the Douglas County Fairgrounds; a three-day smorgasbord for the art and craft glutton. Continuous reggae beats thump from three stages as musicians keep shoppers and exhibitors entertained. Not to go unmentioned is the food.

Jeff Havener raved about the homemade food at the fair and its organic unprocessed flavor, maybe because his wife Kathleen Shayler runs the InnerSpace Kitchen during the three-day event.

“Everything is made from scratch. All the food is home-cooked, there is no packaged food,” he said. “If you’re poor, you can eat for $2.”

Havener and Shayler have lived in Dillard for the past 17 years after moving from Portland. Havener defined the InnerSpace Family as an idea of community that is unstructured in keeping with the idea of sharing, networking and trying to think progressively and efficiently.

“We’re all thinking green about the future. We all hold the idea of a sustainable system near and dear,” he said.

For the first time, Havener will display his work at the fair in the Floral Building. His is a collection of artistic photographs featuring various subjects and textures.

This is also the initial year for the InnerSpace Art Show, in which members of the family will have a chance to display their work.

A posthumous exhibit of the paintings of Bill Billings, who died three years ago, will be included in the art show. Havener said Billings was a much-loved person and Havener is looking forward to seeing a revival of his artwork.

Conducting the revival is Billings’ wife Dianne and daughter, Jasmine Booth.

Booth said her father liked to work with acrylics, and she is trying to pick a piece from each of the periods through which he journeyed to show how he evolved as an artist.

“We’re going to keep most of it,” said Booth, “But he liked to show his work and he wouldn’t want us to keep all his stuff in boxes to be hoarded.”

Booth said there is no doubt her family is part of the bigger InnerSpace Family. She said the community is tight-knit and homey.

“If anyone needs a hand, if something blows up... whatever happens, you have someone to be there with you,” said Booth.

The first Spring Fair consisted of 65 booths in the Community Building, but by the third year, it had grown enough to move the overflow into Douglas Hall. Montano said exhibitors come from all over — California, Washington, Idaho — and each year, the entertainment is fresh and new. He said there has been a surprise element at the Spring Fair from day one because people in costume are admitted free.

“You never know,” Montano said of who might show up at the fair.

If you go ... <b>WHAT:</b> 33rd annual Spring Fair. <b>WHERE:</b> Douglas County Fairgrounds <b>WHEN:</b> 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. <b>HIGHLIGHTS:</b> Homemade food, live entertainment, over 130 booths featuring everything from stained glass to leatherwork to instruments. <b>COST:</b> $3 for adults; $2.50 for children 6-12 and seniors older than 65; children five and younger admitted free. <b>Schedule of entertainment FRIDAY, MARCH 28</b> 2 p.m. — Kingnik - Curtis and Nikki 3 p.m. — Jack Fallsrock and Friends - Traditional Native American Dance and Song 4 p.m. — Dave Clay - Comedy in a Juggular Vein 5 p.m. — Baby Gramps - Fair favorite musical cartoon 6 p.m. — Spring Fair Middle Eastern Dancers 7 p.m. — Tony Kaltenberg - Guitar Magic 9 p.m. — Reggae Dance in the Chumleighland Tent with I’Chele and the Circle of Light <b>SATURDAY, MARCH 29</b> 10:30 a.m. — Celtic Mist Trio 11:15 a.m. — Dave Clay - See the Funny Man Throw the Ball Noon — Umpqua Valley Gymnastics 1 p.m. — Baby Gramps - One-of-a-Kind Musical Legend 2 p.m. — Jack Fallsrock and Friends - Traditional Native American Dance and Music 3 p.m. — Tony Kaltenberg - Guitarist and Recording Artist 4 p.m. — Artis the Spoonman - A legend in his own time 5 p.m. — David Clay - Funny Juggling 6 p.m. — Baby Gramps - A Unique, “Must See” Musical Experience 7 p.m. — Spring Fair Middle Eastern Dancers <b>Sunday, March 30</b> 11 a.m. — Morning Sounds Noon — David Clay - Keeping it up 1 p.m. — Jack Fallsrock and Friends - Traditional Native American Dance 2 p.m. — Artis the Spoonman - A legend in his own time 3 p.m. — Baby Gramps - A Living Musical Cartoon 4 p.m. — Spring Fair Middle Eastern Dancers

So how does he organize a fair without using a telephone?

“Very well, in fact,” he said.

In a way, it’s a filtering process, limiting access to people who can write and aren’t too lazy to do so. It’s also a way to jury the crafts because people are required to send photos of their work.

Montano, who moved to Dillard from California, said he was prompted to establish the Spring Fair because there was nothing like it in Douglas County.

“These days it has a life of its own,” he said.



• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@newsreview.info.