PERFORMING x VISUAL

Combining different kinds of arts can be a real challenge. But besides being difficult and taking some extra time for thoughts, it can also bring new ideas, different kinds of creativity and lots of inspiration.

Yesterday was the first performance of a series of 'Silhouettes, inside and out' at Fortyfivedownstairs. It is a interactive live art and performance experience where the audience is invited to join in. Last Monday I helped building up the whole setting for the performance (this includes working on a 4 meter ladder, yikes! but also learning a lot about theatre techniques). It is very interesting to see the whole 'before' for a performance, especially as I had never experienced the 'lights, camera' before the 'action' happened. 

Not having a very clear image of what the show would be like, I wanted to have an open mind to what was coming. First 3 visual artists started painting the silhouettes of the performing artists behind the canvas. After the break, the audience was allowed to paint on the canvas with different materials, according to the music they heard. It was great to see how interactive combining these two art forms was, and even more to see how people help each other and continue on each other's paintings.

It just makes me realize: anything is possible in arts. You don't need boxes to think. You just need an open mind to anything unusual and the rest will follow.

WHO: Silhouettes, inside and out
WHAT: Interactive live art & performing experience
WHERE: Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne

DEDICATED FACES

If there is one thing I've learned the past few months, it's that the combination of arts and kids is really something magical. The dedication on their faces, their seriousness and persistence of creating something special, their pondering visible in their eyes and their unconditional faith in themselves and their art and most of all their smiles and happiness that art brings them.

It is so wonderful to see how kids tend to get almost adult-like concentration when they work on their art piece. I love to see how they just do whatever they feel like and no matter what the end result looks like in our eyes, they are so proud of what they have just created. The quote that says: "The creative adult is the child that survived" is therefore very true. There is much we can learn from children not being aware just yet of all of their surroundings and perhaps also their very own existence as such, because it is exactly their attitude that creates the most happiness when working on art. Perhaps it is only a happiness that you can experience as a child, but it is as least one to strive for when creating art as an adult. 

I included some photos from yesterday's wonderful Art Community Festival called Under One Moon, carried out by Yarra City Arts here in Melbourne. It was a great day, and without all the dedicated volunteers and community it would not have been such a success!

The lanterns and lantern-making workshops were made possible by Bec's Treehouse, a great organisation set up by Becky, who makes it possible for children all over Melbourne to enjoy art workshops!

Enjoy the photos!

WHO: The community of Richmond
WHAT: Under One Moon Festival 2014
WHERE: Richmond, Melbourne

UNDER ONE MOON FESTIVAL

Hi all!

Last week and this week I have been working together with some other people on the preparation of a community art festival that will take place on October 18th. It's called the 'Under one moon Festival' carried out by Yarra City Arts in Melbourne and the idea is to bring people in the community together through arts and culture. Exactly the type of thing I like. So I decided to become a volunteer for this festival, which also gave me the opportunity to meet other people interested in arts.

Last week we started to make lanterns for the children who will participate in the lantern parade during the festival. I almost forgot how much fun it is to participate in crafts! After a lot of wiring, candle cutting, wrapping and bamboo placing, we are well on our way to create some lovely lanterns. 

I am also asked to take photos during the festival, so hopefully a follow-up can be viewed here next week with some photos of the festival itself.

But for now, enjoy the photos!

THE HE-ART OF BRISBANE

The first post from Australia! Last week I visited the East Coast of Australia, where I visited the Queensland Museum, Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)in Brisbane. It was very refreshing to see the variety of art Australia has to offer. 

A lot of modern art with a twist can be seen in the galleries. The GOMA had an exhibition about consumerism and food; how we deal with food and how our behaviour has changed over the years. A great way to shed some light on a topic that is important to think about. I can appreciate it when galleries really think about their exhibitions and are not afraid to provoke some thoughts.

In most museums and galleries you will be able to see (modern) Aboriginal art. I can remember that during my Masters we had a discussion about Aboriginal art, how it has changed and how it fits in the modern commercial market. It still keeps me wondering every time whether it is or is not beneficial to create art that is somehow related to your tribe, but is mostly just made to either entertain people or for people to buy it. How does it change the perspective? Either way, I can very much enjoy aboriginal art; I love the natural materials they use and the abundance of colours.

Brisbane had some great art to offer, mostly located on the South Bank. This is a man-made cultural and art precinct in the south of Brisbane. It somehow feels a bit artificial to me. But let me explain that. In Europe, we are used to cities and towns groing organically, usually over hundreds (or thousands) of years. Museums, galleries and theatres are randomly scattered over towns, which to me, gives it its charm. Artificially creating an area that has all the art venues in one place might sound convenient, but it misses its surroundings. It misses its charm, its natural habitat and therefore doesn't feel as 'gezellig'(Dutch for 'cozy', similar to the Danish 'hyggelig').

Overall, the East Coast was a nice visit. But see for yourself in the photos below!

WHO: Me, exploring Brisbane's art venues
WHAT: Several exhibitions, modern & aboriginal art
WHERE: Museum of Queensland, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Queensland Art Gallery (QAG)

LEWES HERITAGE

A few days ago we went to Lewes, in Sussex England. Lewes is an important town concerning heritage and history in Sussex. Prehistoric and roman artefacts have been found in the area, which you can see at the Lewes Museum near the castle.

Yes, the castle: one of Lewes' most fascinating sites. It is in itself quite remarkable that the castle is still standing after many fights, wars, invasions and even an avalanche(!). The castle was built around 1069 and has been used for different purposes since then. 

Today the castle is open for the public, providing lots of information on its past. In the Barbican House Museum is also a model of the town with a 10 minute video. This video explains exactly the history since the castle was built and all the different stages and eras it has gone through. At the Barbican House you will be able to see and read more about the history of Lewes and Sussex. There are plenty of resources for children as well; they can dress up and play as knights.

I always find it fascinating to think that people almost a 1000 years ago walked here as well. What were they thinking? How did they feel about all the fights? What were they doing on a daily basis? I guess we will never really know. And that is exactly what makes castles so highly mythical to me.

Enjoy the photos!

WHO: Lewes Castle
WHAT: heritage and history of Sussex
WHERE: Lewes, East Sussex, England

 Medieval bookstore

 Old flower store

 Barbican gate

 Canon

 View from the castle

 Castle walls

Castle Gardens

ART WORKSHOP BY ME

Today I gave my very first own art workshop! And it was magnificent. When the gallery just opened and I had prepared the materials, I felt a rush of adrenalin rushing through my head. Will people even show up? What will they think? Will they participate?
To be fair, you never know if your idea for a workshop is going to be working for people or not. It's a bit of a gamble (well, a thought-through gamble)but it is difficult to predict how people will respond.

The idea for my workshop was based on a few conditions: people of any age should be able to participate, people who come in should be able to participate for a few minutes or for an hour depending on what they prefer and the theme of the workshop has to relate to the current exhibition.

I chose to stick a very large white paper to the floor and drew multiple dots on it. People were supposed to 'connect the dots' by picking two dots and draw something from one dot to the other without getting their pencil from the paper whilst drawing something that represents them. The current exhibition has a theme that relates to reflection. I wanted people to reflect upon themselves and think about who they are or who they would like to be.

A group of families came in and some kids were eager to start drawing. Their concentrated faces, their pensive glances and their eagerness to create something was wonderful to see. How great is it that children don't feel boundaries, shame or worries when they create art? They can be so straight-forward and serious about what they are doing, something I believe many adults could learn from. However, some adults dared to draw something as well and together it made a great combination of different drawings. Basically, the drawings of people representing themselves where connected to other people by the dots, which I believed was a nice side-effect.

Not only did the visitors liked it, my colleagues and even the art educator from the gallery liked my idea and would be interested in implementing it again!

Not only did I enjoy my first art workshop, it makes me want to do it again, and again. It just made me even more sure: I want to become an art educator.

WHO: Visitors and me
WHAT: Sunday Art Workshop
WHERE: Fabrica Art Gallery, Brighton, UK

EDINBURGH's ARCHITECTURE

It can easily be said: Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities of all times. It has so much to offer: many museums, galleries, parks, festivals, gigs. But something you will see everywhere you go in Edinburgh is its architecture. The buildings in this city are quite distinct and most of all, they are very old. The heritage and history of Edinburgh is simply magnificent and it is absolutely worth it to go on a free (!) Sandeman tour so you can learn a little bit more about the buildings around you. Some of the stories will blow your mind!

The Edinburgh castle is one of the most outstanding buildings in Edinburgh, situated on top of a hill (how scenic!). But something you might forget to take a look at are the University buildings or the slightly more tucked away National Portrait gallery.

The architecture and the colour and structure of the buildings really create the right atmosphere in Edinburgh. It makes you feel you are in a city that never changed since it was built, you can easily feel the rich heritage this city is built upon.

If the museums, galleries, parks, festivals, whisky and tours had not persuaded you yet to go to Edinburgh, then the architecture definitely will.

Enjoy the photos!

WHO: Edinburgh
WHAT: Architecture
WHERE: Anywhere in Edinburgh 

 National Portrait Gallery

 Downtown Edinburgh

 Edinburgh University

 View from Edinburgh Castle

 Greyfriars Bobby

National Museum of Scotland