MISSION
The Instar Lodge mission is to share a beautiful space rooted in a rich history of compassion that inspires creativity, courage, and community through the arts.
HISTORY
The Rebekah’s from 1949 at Instar Lodge—now we have an active association at Instar Lodge: WOMENS WORKPLACE echoing a history past.
The name Instar Lodge originates in the definition of Instar: (noun) Any one of the periods of life between two molts. (verb) To make a star of; set as a star; stud with stars; place oneself among stars. The name alludes to the lodge being a home for transformation, creative process, and becoming. It also suggests it is a home of brilliance, full of starlight.
The Instar Lodge building was originally built as an Odd Fellows Lodge in the 1800’s and was named the Halcyon Lodge. The Odd Fellows have a remarkable history as a fraternal organization being the first in history to welcome women—The Rebekah’s. They were originally artists and makers excluded from prestigious guilds, who banded together to help one another succeed in sharing their respective trades with the community, and to offer generosity to those in need. Their motto was Truth, Love and Friendship.
The International Order of Odd Fellows is still active throughout the world and asks potential member's three questions:
Do you believe that Friendship, Love, and Truth should be the basic guidelines to live by?
Do you believe in a supreme being, the creator, and preserver of the universe?
Do you want to make a difference?
NOW
We recognize that creativity may be humanity’s greatest natural asset and agent for change. We provide a space for our community’s creativity to flourish and transform one another positively. At Instar Lodge we ask potential artist collaborator’s:
How do you imagine your work creating a positive impact in the world?
We ask our community to help support this good work through participation, membership, volunteerism and radical free will giving.
FUTURE
We imagine a community that grows collectively more vibrant and vital through immersion and celebration of each other’s creative gifts.