05.28.09
Art on prescription
The idea is to exhibit and supply original(!) works of art during the Aarhus Festival – which this year has the theme “The future is near.” At a deeper level, this deals with the importance of allowing ourselves time and space for art, poetry and magic.
Prescription forms have just come from print – and is now to be dispatched to the artists – for further processing…
More info here
05.17.09
Dream of a catalogue
Good news: Upcoming Project ABC / Context has just been granted funding support from Nordic Culture Point, so now there’ll definitely be a proper exhibition catalogue!
Let me take the opportunity to show you the catalogue from 5.th Triennial in Vilnius. I am pretty wild with the concept: Super quality paper, beautiful but simple typography and layout – very “graphic”. And the idea of literally “binding” together everything is absolutely tremendous: The catalogue itself actually becomes an “Artists’ Book” on Artists’ Books, is that a generously simple and intelligent design? Listen, hear the angels sing!
Ok, now I just try to keep the ground a moment before lost in superlatives… but it is wonderful to have recourses to dream away?!
05.10.09
A Book Arts Festival in Dk
Yesterday opened Denmark’s first Book Arts Center & Festival at Limfjord Center located in a former merchant house at Doverodde, Thy, a scenic, quite sparsely populated area in north-western Jutland. The place functions as a regional history museum and centre for nature and outdoor activities and is now also housing Doverodde Book Arts Festival.
The festival lasts Friday to Sunday and consists of an exhibition in the former stockhouse, an additional ”reading corner” with a (permanent) display of artists’ books, various workshops in paper folding, marbling art, pop-up books and other book related activies - and some lectures with capacities from GB as Sarah Bodmann and Tom Sowden from UWE in Bristol.
I attended Sarah’s talk on artists’ books the other day, it was really exciting and informative – although it took place in a rather primitive setting – a tent – while outside it was more than windy. Conditions were not optimal, to say at least, but she did it superbly!
A special gift was the exhibition of works made by the local artist Mogens Otto Nielsen. I´m totally on! Not only “on wavelength” but deeply related to the very way his works unfold and to his universe in general. We had the luck to meet and talk to the man himself. It really made my day - I hereby declare myself as instant ON fan!
Congratulations to Doverodde for a very good start of a hopefully strong and lasting series of Book Art Festivals in Denmark!
05.06.09
Where does inspiration come from?
Does it come from the lively chatter at the neighbour table in the café with the checkered tablecloths? The sounds from River Neris? The scent of pipe tobacco and newly mown grass?
Or does it come from the melancholic accordion tune that waves against you in the evening darkness on the way home after a happy evening in good company? Or is it the feeling of cobblestone peaked through your shoe soles, the smell of incense in the Russian church, the peeled, pastel coloured walls or conciliatory tone which surrounds people here?
I do not know. I only know that I am filled to the brim with impressions
05.04.09
Greeting from Vilnius
We have wonderfull days in Vilnius attending the opening of TEXT. 5th International Artist Books Triennial.
It is so great to be here, I hardly know where to begin and where to end my telling – and which images to choose for illustration. I´ve got well above hundred of photos – of the city, the art works, the opening of the exhibition, the artists we´ve met, the churches we´ve been to, our walks, detours and outings, cafes and restaurants where we´ve been eating and drinking coffee, etc. etc….
The city is boiling and bursting with life and energy these days. Besides the local population and the usual tourists, lots of extra visitors are present because of the 1st of May (which is a public holiday here!), a street music festival, and a 3-days international pilgrimage festival/-event going on in any of the city’s churches (and there are really a lot!) Furthermore the whole atmosphere of experiencing something extraordinary is underlined by the fact that every day since our arrival, the weather has been like summer when best. People walk the streets in just shirt sleeves – it feels like being in Italy. You just rest in the parc, at the ground next to the river – or hang out in the streeet cafées – whenever you need a break.
Basically, to be here means new impressions and impulses. You can´t help lots og instant inspiration pops up in your mind while walking and talking. It feels like an invitation to be alert and present. To open the senses, enjoy the moment of now – according to your own inner rhythm – and in the company of good friends and colleagues from near and far of course…
