Earlier this week a wake was held for the M.O.S.T., a collaborative arts group based in Portland. The M.O.S.T., a group of four, was responsible for discovering a place called Mostlandia about five years ago. Mostlandia is a type of parallel land or universe that exists along side of our own; people travel in and out of it all the time without realizing it. When the M.O.S.T. discovered this place, they decided to create a bureaucracy for the new land and a somewhat open system of “government” with an economy of friendship and love. The M.O.S.T. values fun above other worldly things. The bureaucracy that runs Mostlandia is one that is fun to be a part of and can make bureaucratic systems in our world more enjoyable. I believe Mostlandia to be an idyllic vision built by a community, a utopia that is carried out somewhat within our own realities and yet firmly rooted in hopes and fantasy.

Any person can become a citizen of Mostlandia by applying for a passport. There are currently over 250 citizens and Mostlandia has received official recognition from the Australian government.

Unfortunately, the four founders have decided to put an end to their Mostlandian collaborations. They have officially become citizens and the founding group has disbanded. Until now these four were not citizens of Mostlandia, but were portals to Mostlandia – contact with them allowed easy access into this other world. Now, Mostlandia will be run by its other citizens if these citizens choose to run with it.

The wake was held on August 8th at 7:00pm. Citizens met at the Junior Ambassador’s food cart in Portland, Oregon, which is one of the spots that allows one direct access into Mostlandia. Panwiches were served, toasts were given, the Mostlandic winter tradition of rumball was carried out in the summer, four-layered ice cream was served (ice cream is the national food), and a few other fun events occurred. The M.O.S.T. will be missed as they seemed to have a firm grasp on how visions of fun and friendship can be carried out in the real world.