by Kirby Lindsay, posted 4 July 2011
The most popular t-shirt at the Fremont Fair in 1994 said, “Artists Republic of Fremont” on the front, and “Don’t Tell Me What to Do” on the back. In a vote of the people (at the fair) 784 supported the neighborhood’s succession from the City of Seattle, with 17 voting against – although, according to Jeanne Muir, a spokesperson for the ‘Republic’ (a.k.a. ARF,) in an article in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook (for June 22, 1994,) 13 people voted no only because they were cranky about the wet weather.
All this led up to a proclamation, formally signed and adopted, by the Metropolitan King County Council, on July 25, 1994, to declare Fremont an ‘Independent Imagi-Nation.’ This effort even led as far as submission of a request, to the United Nations, for recognition as the sovereign state of the Artists Republic of Fremont.
The Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back
This legendary bit of Fremont foolishness – and skillful campaigning – began with the City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan, and drawing of ‘Urban Village’ boundaries upon Fremont (and other neighborhoods around the city) by the Mayor’s Office. Eventually the City would go back to the neighborhoods, and ask them to define themselves, which led to a definitive boundary between Fremont and Ballard, and a battle that continues today over where the line lies between Fremont and Wallingford.
Many took the secession movement far more seriously than intended. Yet, the effort succeeded in drawing people in the ‘hood together around a common issue, several of whom had stood at odds for years. It also resulted in an inspired document (written in large part by Muir) that captures the community’s philosophy – as a mecca for artistic pursuits, thriving business, and independent minds and spirits.
In celebration of all forms of independence, the Fremocentrist offers the official proof of Fremont’s claim to be ‘Center of the Universe’:
Metropolitan King County Council
Proclamation
Whereas, Fremont is a State of Mind, not a foreign nation but an ImagiNation, based on the freedom to dream; and
Whereas, the Fearsome and Frolicsome Fiefdom of Fremont hath a long and lustrous history of community activism, having transformed itself into a thriving business, arts and urban living community, within the Greater Pugetopolitan area; and
Whereas, a myriad of magical and merry artistic pursuits hath sprung to lusty life amid the fertile Fremontian foam and fomentations, to wit, the quiet crowd that waits cemented in eternity for the bus that no more comes; and the droll troll that lurks in the shadow of the great bridge hovering above the kingdom, guarding the hall of giants; and
Whereas, the history of the land harketh back to primordial trees and spirits, and it greeteth the future with recently acquired rocket capabilities that stretcheth into interstellar space, or City Hall, depending on prevailing winds, and
Whereas, in addition to its space program, Fremont hath its own port, school, national bank, bakery, brewery, publicist, international market, television garden, theater, and outdoor cinema, hence it be a self-supporting community unto itself, and
Whereas, Fremont hath chosen a humorous manner of communicating its very real and heartfelt concerns to the City of Seattle over the Urban Village designation and boundaries, in hopes that laugher could heal that rift; and
Whereas, despite Fremont denizens voting overwhelmingly to secede from Seattle at the Fremont Fair, Fremont still loves and admires this great city of Seattle, County of King; and
Whereas, it doth us much honor to greatly celebrate the Artistic Republic of Fremont, affectionately referred to as ARF, to never be too much gentrified, and to publish abroad the tidings of its aspirations;
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Council of King County:
The Artistic Republic of Fremont is hereby declared, decreed, and determined to be an Independent ImagiNation and a Mecca for those of independent minds and spirits, and is forever and fervently empowered with all the rights and privileges thereto accruing. Further, the Metropolitan King County Council plainly postulates and proclaims Fremont to be Center of the Universe, indeed, and hereby supports Fremont in its gallant endeavors to apply to the United Nations for sovereign status under international law.
DATED this twenty-fifth day of July, 1994.
Signed by Cynthia Sullivan, District Two and Kent Pullen, Council Chair
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.