Hallo!

So I took a journey down Karl Marx Allee.....the major show-me GDR celebrate communism avenue. Broad long and monumental. I'm not sure how its honored, or not, by the community? Hopefully the pictures will explain. I have been reading about our need and relevance of our own history since I've been here and seeing it too. Can history give us something new, if we need something new. Where does history extend its usefulness to live in the present? The Great Western Archive?

Cafe on Karl Marx Allee.

Historical Marker. There are about 40 in all put up inthe last 18 some years.....alll but a few look like this or worse.

Renovations to the Moscow Cafe.

a mural in a building now housing a thrift store

Image from the wall (der mauer)

One day I made a visit to the studio of Christian Rothman. I was very impressed and inspired by our conversation, his space and bodies of work. He left to Korea the next day for the biennale. We chatted about art and art in Berlin and it was very enlightening. Thanks Christian, good luck in Korea!

Christian in his studio.

Turkish market in Kreuzberg...

On the first nice summer day everyone was outside. I have a feeling Berliners really take advantage of the Summers...I gues winters are rather grey, but not super cold or snowy. Buffalo. So in any case a group of us spend most of the afternoon in a park in Friedrichshain (FREE-dricks-hine) at the invitation of Marcus who had created a solar oven. We sat in the park, played cards, and than after 4 hours of cooking we feasted on potatoes, garlic, corn, and apples! Cool.

Marcus preparing the Essen(food)

OBAMA!

As I walk to see Obama...

Brat purchased as I wait for Obama....

me and Mamoru waiting for Obama...

Obama. Yeah he played the part well. Very well received! I could not believe the crowd. We had a good seat.

So after obama we go to the reception of an exhibition inspired by a journey and analysis of Mexico City. Is crime, corruption, housing, community, etc. I found it very interesting although it was in german. I was reinspired to make a trip to the border. i found it ironic after seeing Obama,

and our work that needs to be done in regard to our virtual wall at the border.

The image was an incredible Ska mexican, salsa, rock band....yes from Mexico, at the after party, in an under garage boat dock off the Spree river. nice.

Recent studio shots and my first art purchace. A share of a project by artist, Jofroi Amaral at Gallerie Andrieu.

tschuss!

( many have asked about this...* Tschüss (t/YS) (chews) interjection German slang (from French: adieu) An informal goodbye among friends.

....what a first week! We had our opening reception last night (Saurday) and it was fantastic! Good people, good energy, and amazing art. I was one of three performances occuring. My piece titled, "Spielen Sie Euchre," involved myself and 4 participants playing the card game of Euchre at a table, as I was taught to play. A Friend of a friend Megan, whom I actually met in KC, brought several friends, so we had a full table for the night. It was a wonderfully active engagemant with some great folks from Berlin. I taught them the game by which as I explained things, I asked them to repeat things in German, so it was a 'lingual salad' of rules of play. After we all got the hang of it, we played a full game enjoying lively discussion and playful bantering. I also have a few other interested individuals in playing, so I am scheduling more game time during public hours. so far so good! The post party was Berlin at its finest! I let you image the details......one odd happening of note was when I was intruduced to a friend of the residency, an artist also originally from, yes, Dubuque, Iowa.......yeah, go figure. They say we Dubuquers are everywhere, and alas, it.....is.......true. cool.

So this week was pretty much about getting us all ready for the exhibition, a bit stressful, but a nice accomplishment for the first week, none the less. Needless to say I have not ventured much outside of Friedrichshain, the nieghborhood I am in. The one time I left was to a friend of a KC friends closing reception, artist Christian Rothman. It was a wonderful exhibit with a BBQ in the back courtyard, parking area. I met several very nice artists and galleriests, whom I hope to hook up with again, soon. From what i have been hearing, it is relatively easy for an American artist to get a 1 year visa and be here as an artist....HOW COOL IS THAT!

street snack

I would love, love to find a gallery here, so next week I visit some and schedule some studio visits. I have started several large drawings while in my studio. SOme more left brain projects I've been wanting more time to explore, and some are right brain extrapolations. This way i always have something to dialog with depending on my state of mind. The third approach to my stay is to begin a dialog with some found objects. With so much detritis in the city, it is a bit daunting to find my way thru that cover, but I will continue to be with it and let it guide me. I'm not sure what will happen, but I did score an old newspaper sign....I think its a good start or anchor....maybe.

I explored the East side gallery, the longest remaining section of the wall, which is just south here within walking distance. Its a must see but touristy as well. The context is perplexing after years of reunifying. It is near the bridge that connected the AMerican Sector to the Russian sector of Berlin.

We've also had someone already leave and another person come in the residency. There is a strange sadness and casualness to it all. I guess its comes with the territory, so to speak. It really makes us enjoy one another at each moment. But there is faith on my part that many of us will hook up again. Most of the other residents are from the states, as well (Detroit, Baltimore, Connecticut, New York) with one from Ireland and another from Norway, with another American pursuing staying in Berlin. It seems like being an immigrating american artist is keen to many. Starting in August, there will be a pretty major rotation, so we'll see who comes. All in all, it is a fantastic community living environment, created by the artist present.

Alex and Kathy....you rock, lets hook it up stateside!

oddly, the traffic lights in the former East Berlin have standard walking signals, but the little green man and red man have hats. A little carry over that they apparently kept for a civic pride distinction. Is it interesting to see these sorts of remnants and which ones are kept and which ones are bulldozed........The city so far seems like contemporary ruins, but with maybe a shrinking use of history and future. Its hard to describe. So dirty its gorgious. I have no good recipe of cities to describe it with yet. It is a feast for be-ing.

Images from in and around the residency.....tschuss!

Michael Schonhoff - takt kunstprojektraum, Berlin

Well here goes....This is the start of a journal/blog of my happenings, thoughts, and cyber ramblings... Please comment/question as you feel so possessed......leading me to the residency space which might have some extra curricular other siders hanging around...somethings dropping those dishes. Who was oppressed here under the GDR? We are several blocks from Karl Marx Allee....I 'll take my leave with that. peace and blessings, mjs