That's So Pinoy

JR Celski (@celskeet) discusses his latest plans regarding M.A.D. NW, the Olympics, and college.

Celski is M.A.D. about Seattle arts

Riley Steinmetz 8/4/2010

J.R. Celski is best known for his triumphant return to short track speedskating after a gruesome injury during 2010 Olympic Trials. Ultimately, he won a bronze medal in the 1500-meter skate at theVancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. 

But follow him on Twitter or listen to a couple of his interviews and it becomes clear that there is more to this Olympian than just his sport.

Despite not anticipating a busy summer, Celski’s post-Olympic Games summer began with an internship and ended with the creation of a company, M.A.D. Northwest. 

A passionate fan of the Seattlemusic scene, Celski had originally intended to spend a good portion of his summer planning a benefit concert.  However, when plans fell through, King County councilman Pete von Reichbauer offered him an internship position withhis office.  The two were acquainted after von Reichbauer set up a county recognition of Celski’s Olympic accomplishments in April.

Celski took the internship because he was interested in learning the internal workings of the city.

“As outsiders, we hear what’s going on from the news … so it was pretty interesting to be able to learn from an inside perspective how government works.”

Celski, who worked alongside University of Washington quarterback Jack Locker, spent his summer sitting in on King County Council meetings and watching councilmembers advocate for their constituents.  There was one meeting in particular, though, that struck a particular chord in Celski.

“An economics professor from the University of Washington came in, sat down, and the Board asked him to explain how the economy of Washington could change,” Celski recalled. He added he was captivated by how the professor explained the Seattle music and art scene is under-promoted and how it could be what sets the city apart, increasing tourism and bettering the economy.

Instead of walking out of the meeting and moving on to his next internship project, Celski took the professor’s words to heart. 

“I was like struck because I know personally how big our art scene and dance and music scene is,” Celski said. 

After brainstorming ways to expose the Seattle arts, Music, Art, Dance (M.A.D.) Northwest was born.

Along with Dan Torok and Terrence Jeffrey Santos, students at the Art Institute of Seattle, Celski hopes he can play a role in turning around the economy of the city he knows and loves.

“We’re creating a documentary that will showcase the urban underground independent music, dance and art scene in Seattleto the rest of the country, so that’s where I’m heading with this right now.  We’re taking steps to hopefully change the economy of Seattle.”

While the effects of the project are yet to be seen economically, M.A.D. Northwest has certainly had an impact on individuals in the Seattle area.  Just recently, the company hosted a small, private concert at the Seattle Children’s Hospital.  They brought in a number of artists, as well as a break dancing group.

“We were inspiring the kids and having these artists tell these stories about how they overcame hardships because you know, kids in theSeattle Children’s Hospital are affected by so many different things and diseases, and basically a lot of them have been in there since birth,” said Celski. “Just to see the amount of hardships they go through, I thought it’d be great to have them connect with somebody other than patients or nurses or doctors. I thought that bringing in artists would be kind of a spin on it.”

Interestingly, it was the artists rather than the children who were the most moved by the experience.

“Part of being an artist is giving back to the community that raised you,” said Seattle emcee Wizdom, one of the artists who performed at the hospital.

“To be able to talk, play and laugh with these little warriors is truly inspirational.  I feel like these kids made a bigger impact on me, than I did on them…They are the true heroes and hanging out with them all afternoon was something I will never forget.”

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Source: http://speedskating.teamusa.org/

-That's So Pinoy! Staff