Open Source Amsterdam's first work of art commences

Yesterday was an important day for the art foundation Street of Sculptures. On a cold evening at the parking deck on top of shopping mall Kraaiennest in Amsterdam Zuidoost - de first pixel of Peter Stel's work was being placed.

That same evening Open Source Amsterdam got many new sponsors who participated in an 'auction' of items such as children's workshops, construction advice, etc.

The sponsors could spray their name on the Wall of Fame which now contains names of main sponsors de Key)Principaal and Rochdale - as well as the generous contributors Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst and SKOR. Many other companies attended and support our first international art manifestation, such as VenhoevenCS, Delta Forte, Van Wijnen, de Nijs, De Vaklieden, Ursum Bouw, Purpura, KBK-bouw, Hemubo.

Lectures and presentations

When I took the job as a curator, I never anticipated that so much of my time as a curator would be taken up by lectures and presentations. In the past, public speaking was not one of my great skills, but I have noticed that the more I do it, the better I get.

Yesterday evening, I gave the first presentation in English, for the Rotary Club at the Hilton. It was a good rehearsal, since I may have to go abroad next year to promote the project.

And this afternoon I presented the project to the department heads of Stadsdeel Amsterdam Zuidoost. I think that went very well indeed. I wish I had done that sooner, since now we have the full support and cooperation of all departments, which is crucial for a project in the public space.

Slide Show at Spinoza Day..

Well, I guess you can't win them all.....On 23 November there was a Spinoza Day at Paradiso in Amsterdam. It was day with several lectures and two debates so I thought it might be good to present Hirschhorn's Bijlmer Spinoza-Festival there, as a visual backdrop to all the talking.

Since the organizers thought is was a good idea, I asked Thomas to create some slides, which he did: 13 great slides explaining his perspective as an artist on his project. Unfortunately, the people of the first debate did not want us, since there were several artists in the debate and they did not want to have someone else's work in the background. Then, the first debate also rejected us (I think the term 'visual violence'' was used..). So then it was decided to show the slides after one of the lectures, but we were not allowed to introduce the project.

So in the end, the slides were shown out of the blue to an understandably baffled public...

Visit Amalia Pica

Amalia has moved to London recently, but she came over to the (cold cold cold) Bijlmer to walk the Open Source Amsterdam route with me. And guess what! We have found a perfect location for her work. I can show you where it will be (see above), but not what it will be.

Visit Michael Beutler

Michael was in town for 2 days. He gave a lecture at De Ateliers - which apparently was very well received. Unfortunately I could not make it to the lecture (stuck in a meeting, as usual), but we met up the next day to discuss his proposal for Open Source Amsterdam.

I am dying to show you his sketches, but alas....you'll have to come to the event (9 May - 11 July 2009) to see what he's created.