Art Home

2006-10-09T19:35:00.000+01:00

Now we are home...

We have safely arrived back in Portsmouth and are missing Riga already. The residency was the most fantastic experience and we both feel that we achieved so much on many different levels. We met some lovely people and experienced life in a very optimistic European city (well that's how we perceived it).

We would like to thank the Arts Council England and Gill Ord and Keran James (and the others we haven' met yet) from Braziers International Artsits' Workshops - for their generous funding and support.

We would like to thank Aija Freimane the co-ordinator of the e-t+t residency space and wish her every success for the project in the future. We would also like to thank Agnese and Signe from 'Art Home' RIXC resdiency project (and Davis for IT support).

Lastly, a very, very BIG thank you to Vineta Kaulaca for her incredible professionalism, kindness and friendship and for doing a fantastic job of looking after us and pointing us in the right direction. Vineta you're a star!

2006-10-01T15:21:00.000+01:00

Sneek Preview

PUBLIC MIRRORS
A Retrospective Latvian Poster Art Exhibition

Today we had the opportunity to have a sneek preview of an exhibition of poster art 'Public Mirrors' which isn't due to open till Wednesday at the Arsenals Hall. Martins Heinrats, Head of the Artists' Union very kindly arranged for us to see it. They were still installing it but it was really fascinating artwork. Obviously we couldn't photograph it, but above are some of the enlarged posters used to advertise the exhibition. Follow the link above for further information.

There is a lovely tradition in Latvia. Whenever an artist has an exhibition opening it is customary for visitors to take the artist flowers (or a single flower) to their private view. Above are flowers from Vineta and Juris, which unfortunately we will not be able to bring home with us.

2006-10-01T09:42:00.000+01:00

Archaeology of Reality

Yesterday we went to another event at Andrejsala in another adapted building. The buildings here create an interesting environment for exhibitions as they largely disused industrial buildings in a poor state of repair. The exhibition was called Archaeology of Reality, and showed the work of 5 Scandinavian and 3 Baltic female-artists: Annika Eriksson (Sweden, Germany), Ann-Sofie Siden (Sweden), Eija-Liisa Ahtila (Finland), Gitte Villesen (Denmark), Ann Lislegaard (Norway), Katrina Neiburga (Latvia), Ene-Liis Semper (Estonia) and Kristina Inciuraite (Lithuania). The exhibition was very strong. All exhibits were video installation. For more information follow this link:

http://www.lcca.lv/projects/archaelogy/

2006-09-30T21:48:00.000+01:00

The last few days ...

Our residency is now nearly over. Our presentation went well and we have a day left to relax before we return.

A couple of stills from Mike's animation Milda's Song:

The same piece projected in the e-t+t residency space:

Paintings displayed as part of presentation in e-t+t residency space:

2006-09-28T16:53:00.000+01:00

We have moved ... again

We have now moved from the 'Art Home' at the Artists' Union and have moved back to the original e-t+t residency space where we stayed for the first two weeks. We are now preparing for our open studio presentation tomorrow where we will show the work we have created and give a slide presentation of our previous work.

The Artists' Union Building:

2006-09-27T22:46:00.000+01:00

Studio Visit

Well we haven't been posting for a while due to the fact that we have been working hard to finish our work here. However, this evening we were invited to the studio of artist Inga Bruvere to see her work and share a bottle of wine. Inga participated in the Braziers International Artists' Workshop in 2002, so it can be a small world! Whilst at Braziers Inga made a very interesting piece called 'Tea Time' based on the British obsession with tea drinking (also mentioned elsewhere in this blog). In this piece the tea cup and saucer was moved from the table to a plant covered pond, creating the illusion that the surface of the water was stable. Inga's studio is stituated in the Artists' Union building where we are currently staying.

2006-09-19T22:25:00.000+01:00

Exhibition and Book Launch

Daiga Kruze Exhibition:

(Apparently the guy pictured above with glasses translated the Harry Potter books from English to Latvian.)

Maris Bisofs' book Launch:

Last night we went to an exhibition opening at Pedants Gallery to see work by a young artist called Daiga Kruze - beautiful work.

We then went to a book launch at Istaba Gallery. The book is called 'My Latvia, Too' by Maris Bisofs who is an illustrator who has produced cartoons for the New York Times amongst others. He was very charming and of course signed our book.

2006-09-18T07:51:00.000+01:00

Contemporary Art Museum for Riga

Last week we were lucky enough to have a meeting with Inese Baranovska who is the Collection Curator from the Collection Development Department for the Contemporary Art Museum. There are three buildings ambitiously planned for Riga: the Art Museum, the National Library and Concert Hall, collectively known as 'The New Three Brothers'.

The site for the Art Museum is Andrejsala (as mentioned in previous posts). The Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas has presented a building for this space, and Inese very kindly showed us the models and plans.

However, now the website has been launched in English so follow the link below for further information regarding this exciting project:

http://www.j3b.gov.lv/eng/museum

2006-09-17T20:36:00.000+01:00

Fireworks from our window...

We could hear fireworks - so rushed to our room to see the most wonderful display. It seems as if they were on one of the bridges. We have no idea what the celebration was in aid of but we will endeavour to find out!

As a consequence the traffic was at a standstill:

2006-09-17T18:38:00.000+01:00

And a few more...

2006-09-17T11:37:00.000+01:00

Sunset over the Baltic Sea,
and art...

Last night we were taken on a trip to the coast - to the Baltic sea. This coastline is an area called Jurmala which is not far from the city and where many weathly people live. It is a beautiful long beach with really fine soft sand which is bordered by pine trees. The sea was so calm and still and the colours unbelievable. This is the most unspoilt beach I have ever personally witnessed - I hope it can remain this way.

Friday evening we went to an opening of an exhibition by Raimonda Staprana at the Latvian National Art Museum. Raimonda Staprana is Latvian but moved with his family to the USA in the 1940's and lives in San Francisco. He is a very successful painter both in Latvia and the USA; his work is a powerful example of West Coast painting. It was a great pleasure to see these works, as they are remarkable. This show is in celebration of the artist's 80th birthday. I had a chance to speak to him and he was more than happy to give a little of his time, he was very interested to know what we were doing here in Riga.

ND

2006-09-14T21:32:00.000+01:00

Unpopulated by Mikelis Fisers

This is an exhibition by Mikelis Fisers. It is a painting installation with sound. Landscape paintings mainly from Mexico and South America documenting the artist's travels. This is the first show in a new space that is going to be refurbished; Riga Art Space, Riga City Exhibition Hall Project. However, at the moment it is an incredible space that resembles an underground concrete car park. The artist has made the most of the 'drama' of this environment. The paintings are exhibited in the dark apart from very strong theatre lighting spot lighting them. This beautiful trick makes some paintings appear as luminous light boxes or stained glass. The accompanying soundtrack is song bird and then more industrial noise - like a thundering train passing overhead. In this setting this exhibition is very impressive.

The photos are out of focus, but this was the only way I could capture the atmosphere of this space. I would be very interested in visiting this space again sometime once it has been refurbished.

ND

2006-09-12T21:57:00.000+01:00

Feeling 'At Home' at 'Art Home'

Getting cosy in the studio drinking copious amounts of tea and getting down to some work.

2006-09-10T16:06:00.000+01:00

Some more painting...

ND

Riga Gallery

A lovely space - check out the website:
http://www.riga-gallery.com

2006-09-08T16:07:00.000+01:00

Janis Rozentals and Rudolfs Blaumanis Museum

Today we visited the above museum which is situated in a beautiful Art Nouveau building in Alberta Street. Janis Rozental (1866 - 1916) was a famous Latvian painter who lived here with his wife Elli Forsell (a Finnish singer) from 1904 - 1915. After World War 2 their son Mikelis Rozentals (painter) also lived here. This museum shows their living accommodation and art studio. The museum shows a lot of memorabilia - photographs, paintings, art equipment and furniture and offers the chance to see an Art Nouveau style interior. The photo above shows the fantastic spiral staircase.

Rudolfs Blaumanis (1863-1908) a famous Latvian writer periodically lived in a room in this apartment.

2006-09-06T20:20:00.000+01:00

Catuesque

The finished animataion.

MB

2006-09-04T08:28:00.000+01:00

Theatre

Saturday evening we went to the New Theatre Institute of Latvia to see 'Lielais Kars' the Great War by a company called Hotel Modern from Rotterdam. It was a very powerful and beautifully executed piece. It was about the first world war and mainly told through the eyes of a French soldier in the trenches on the front line. It was multi-media theatre which successfully rolled many artforms into one. There were miniature stage sets that were filmed in real time with micro cameras and projected on to a cinema screen, with narration, sound, puppetry and effects.

This is the weblink if you want to know more:
http://www.hotelmodern.nl/en/season.html

2006-09-04T08:21:00.000+01:00

Trams from our window

2006-09-02T10:16:00.000+01:00

We have moved

We are now in our second residency space at 'Art Home' in the Artists' Union building. This was purpose built for artists in Soviet times. It is still used as artsits' studios, gallery and offices for creative industries. In this location on the bank of the river Daugava, we are now reminded that we are in a busy city. The last accommodation was in the quiter business district. However, the studio we have now is far more akin to what we are used to - and we are now able to make more mess!

First studio:

Our new room...

... and the view from the window looking out over the River Daugava:

The view from our studio window...

...and finally to prove we are actually working:

2006-09-01T09:45:00.000+01:00

CIBAS

Dear Steve, Paola and CIBAS! I hope the event this evening is successful. Thank you for all your help and support. Keep up the good work!

Natalie

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/aboutus/project_detail.php?sid=5&id=381

2006-08-28T16:15:00.000+01:00

Shadows

ND

2006-08-28T14:33:00.000+01:00

Catuesque Still

OK you may have noticed my absence of blogging, but over the last few days I've been working on a animation based on a sculpture that I saw in Viestura Darzs (Park). Here is a still above. It is almost finished now and I intend to do some more in a similar vein.

Other than working I've been enjoying the bewildering array of artistic events that Riga has to offer. White Night was fantastic as was the Water Pieces film festival which probably inspired me in some way to try my hand at animation.

More from me later!
MB

2006-08-27T11:00:00.000+01:00

White Night 2006 (Balta Nakts 2006)

www.baltanakts.lv

The concept of White Night is to provide the opportunity to see a variety of contemporary culture during the course of one night. This idea has been taken from Paris - however, now five European capitals have embraced 'Nuits Blanches Europe' - Brussels, Madrid, Paris, Riga & Rome. Come on London!

White Night intends to discover the versatility of modern culture and inspire interest to a wider society through events and happenings.

Orbita's Poetic Laboratory at Andrejsala
Poetry, Music and Projections:

Videography at Andrejsala
Installation of music, sound and photography:

Installation by Katrina Neiburga at Antonijas iela:

This is a beautiful photographic installation set in the ground floor windows of a building in Antonijas Street. It is about the closed societies of apartment blocks, and the histories and social lives that are contained within these little 'republics'.

This is a text by the artist:

Why does lately our neighbour from the flat No. 14 look so sadly out of the window?
Last night I couldn't sleep again.
The Krumins family that lives behind the wall made hustle and bustle until the very dawn!
The old couple from across the staircase are absolutely funky. May God make us all look so happy until our old age!
Did you know that the woman who usually looks so elegant, you know, the one who from time to time works in a ministry has gotten a baby? The little one is kind of fidgety - as soon as the evening is close he shouts nineteen to the the dozen!

A walk along the bank of the River Daugava to see various events:

A view across the river to Old Riga:

Screening of films by Fleur Boonman (Belgium) at The Floating Gallery, NOASS:

Rock 'n' Roll on all Stages:

Installation Rock 'n' Roll. A film project for Riga by a French artist Alexandre Perigot. This involved a film making project in real time thoughout the length of the night. The plot of the film created by local musicians, artists, dancers, actors and students.

White Night is a truly ambitious project that was embraced by many people in the most amazing relaxed atmosphere - I'm not too sure what would happen if we tried this in the UK?
It was an incredibly long day. We saw as much as we physically could - but must confess we are exhausted.

ND

2006-08-27T09:50:00.000+01:00

Free Waves - Dangerous Waves Conference
http://rixc.lv/waves/en/conference.html

Free Waves:
Alexei Blinor - Introducing HIVE

Text from the WAVES website (this is the best way for this to be described - very interesting research):
'Hive Networks is an organisation that is liberating commonly available embedded computers for the use by digital artists. The repurposing of these devices signals nothing less than a paradigm change in creative computing. This time it is not the artists asking technicians for a creative solution, it is the engineer-artists who are proposing a framework for which artists and other media practitioners are asked to come up with project ideas. HIVE Networks transcends the boundaries between engineering and art. It is a work of art as well as a platform for other artists to create works. It also combines the element of content with the element of networking. Each HIVE device is capable of gathering content (through webcams, microphones, sensors) and disseminating it (web server, audio/video live streams, bluetooth, wlan). At the same time each HIVE device also acts as a node in the network, which means that it is capable of storing and forwarding data. Taking those two elements together means that the perception of the network as such changes. The network is no longer only a connectivity structure through which access to the global internet is facilitated, but it becomes a content structure, a hiving network of desires and cultural/artistic creations. This dream is driven by a dream to open up the world of embedded computing and make it available to the highest possible number of people.'

http://hivenetworks.net

Julian Priest - The Visual Spectrum

Martins Boiko - On concepts of silence and tradition of silent behaviour in the Baltic Region

Dangerous Waves:
Konrad Becker - Theatres of Possession - Dangerous Trans Communication

Jacob Kerkegaard - Silence: Unfolding in Space (Chernobyl, 20 years)
Very interesting project by artist Jacob Kerkegaard who gained permission to enter the restricted zone around Chernobyl - an abandoned area that can not be inhabited again for 70,000.

Text from the WAVES website:
'After the nuclear accident on April 26th, 1986, time did not just keep on "passing" in Chernobyl as it had done before. The individual lifetimes of many people had been suddenly extinguished, as the nature around the destroyed reactor would now radiate for several hundreds of thousands years into the future. When I entered the zone, my mission was to get hold of a fragment of this enormous amount of radiating time to come. I decided that the best way to capture time would be to listen to its passage. So I put my microphone into four abandoned rooms and I waited. From a technical point of view, this method refers back to Alvin Lucier's work "I am sitting in a room" [1970]. He recorded his voice in a space and repeatedly played this recording back into that same space. In my work, however, no voice is being projected back into the rooms; only the sound of the rooms themselves. During the recordings, I left the rooms. I was curious to hear what might arise from the empty spaces themselves.'

Marko Peljham - Behind the network centric paradigm shift - a spectral view
Marko Peljham has been working on a makrolab project, again very interesting work. If you want more visit: http://makrolab.ljudmila.org

For a lot more information on any to the above visit:
http://rixc.lv/waves/en/conference.html

ND

2006-08-25T07:19:00.000+01:00

9cm x 12cm

The smallest oil painting I have ever made.

ND

2006-08-25T06:14:00.000+01:00

Priorities?!

MB

2006-08-24T21:43:00.000+01:00

WAVES - Art + Communication 2006
Electomagnetic waves as material and medium of art

We've just been to the opening of this event. The exhibition brings together 40 international works of media art, in which electomagnetic waves are seen not just as carriers of information, but as the material and/or theme of the artwork.

As with most openings it is difficult to focus on the work and give it proper consideration. However, there appeared to be a lot of interesting pieces - so we will visit again. Here is the weblink:

http://rixc.lv/waves/en/home.html

ND

2006-08-24T06:48:00.000+01:00

Health & Safety: Observation number 2

I think this may be a tourist trap...

OK this is very funny - open manhole cover - no one around - one cone - and a tourist not looking at the pavement. Yep nearly fell down it. Must try to be more aware and not be distracted by the beautiful scenes and vistas around me!

ND

2006-08-24T06:22:00.000+01:00

Health & Safety: Observation number 1

Crossing the road here can be very dangerous. Problem number one, I just can't get used to looking the right way. Also there are no road markings, so drivers tend to weave across the roads to get passed any obstacle (including trams). Secondly, there are zebra crossings - but they don't seem to mean the same thing. You could wait a long time at these if you think the traffic will stop, Latvians just step out onto them - but I'm not that confident. Perhaps I will get used to it soon.

ND

2006-08-23T16:02:00.000+01:00

By popular demand

Here are some photos of Riga:

This is our immediate neighbourhood...

Below is an example of the many Art Nouveau buildings in Riga. This one is in Elizabetes Street, very near to where we are staying at the moment. (1901-03)

This is a cafe in Old Riga (Swiss style).

This is a commercial gallery in Old Riga - Galerija Maksla XO. For those of you who know Vineta Kaulaca, this is where she has a solo show in November. The gallery is in the basement, it has an interesting interior with a lovely stone floor - albeit very dark for a gallery!

ND

2006-08-22T17:09:00.000+01:00

The power of logos

Every day we are bombarded with logos. We open our computer - we see an apple or a Windows icon. We see them on packaging, in magazines, on the television, on the internet, on the side of buses - EVERYWHERE.

Perhaps we see them subliminally. We see them, but what attention do we pay?

Now I am surrounded by words I cannot read. I scan letters and combinations to desperately make sense of them. I'm searching for words to comprehend. What I can read are logos. I begin to notice them more now. They begin to reveal their power to me. They are truly an international language of their own (if we are conditioned to read them).

I see: MacDonalds, Kodak, Canon, Mastercard, Visa, Kellogg's, Nestle, Motorola, Nescafe... EMERGENCY... they're coming in thick and fast!

ND

2006-08-22T16:52:00.000+01:00

A shadow...

... a stranger in a city - wherever we are our shadow remains constant. It transcends cultures, barriers, languages, locations - a constant companion to the self. A reminder of our presence - our being. It is a reminder of our existence - reminds us that we are 'real'... in situations where we need to pinch ourselves.

Setting foot in Riga Park I wanted to run, both with excitement and joy and from fear. Running towards myself for comfort and courage - wanting to run from my own negativity and embrace the positive.

A stranger in a city - an artist keen to perform. A dancing shadow performs its own ballet.

2006-08-22T14:03:00.000+01:00

Rojaraku...

Today we met a couple of interesting artists. Maris Grosbahs (Latvia) and Helene Gerster (Switzerland). Maris Grosbahs runs an international residency programme in Roja, Latvia. This is very similar to the Braziers workshop in the UK. There's a very comprehensive website that documents the project very well at: www.rojaraku.lv. You can make an application through this website.

Helene Gerster has been involved in the workshops and is currently working on a publication to mark the 10th anniversary of the project. We were lucky enough to see the proof copy today. It is due for publication in February 2007.

ND

2006-08-22T13:42:00.000+01:00

Andrejsala ...

We have just found out that Andrejsala (mentioned below in the 'We are in Riga' text) is to be the possible site for the new Museum of Modern Art in Riga. It is scheduled to be completed in 2009(?). I'm sure this will make Riga a very popular destination for creative people.

http://www.j3b.gov.lv/eng/museum

2006-08-22T07:42:00.000+01:00

Fast Food takes over the World

Look here it is - the obligatory MacDonalds logo - is there no escape?

Freedom Monument

Below is a picture of the Freedom Monument, locally known as Milda. This monument was unveiled in 1935. A large staue of Peter the Great astride a horse once occupied this space. When the tsar's statue went missing during the first World War, the Latvians were in no rush to get it back. A figure of a woman stands at the top of the column - Mother Latvia, who holds 3 stars that represent the historic regions of Latvia - Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale. The front of the monument bears the inscription 'For fatherland and freedom'.

ND

2006-08-19T10:38:00.000+01:00

We are in Riga

...where it is surprisingly hot! Apparently they have had the same hot temperatures here this summer. Anyway that's the British talking about the weather bit out of the way.

There seem to be a lot events taking place in Riga at the moment. The first being an International Video Art and Digital Film Festival - Water Pieces 06, which is partially sponsored by the British Council. It started yesterday and some of the events were talking place in Andrejsala. This is a port area of the city very close to where we are staying. This was a restricted area during Soviet times where citizens were not allowed to enter. It contains industrial type buildings which housed some of the video projections. We took a trip early in the day to see some of the films on show, there was an eerie atmosphere here, as only a handful of people were strolling round and setting things up. Mike was prevented from filming and was shouted at by some fierce security! Hence all pictures below taken from outside the fence. Later in the evening we went back to find a much livelier event, with films and a pumping House Music party with what appeared to be most of the young people of Riga attending.

Andrejsala during the day...

and at night...

Another venue for this event is Cinema Riga. We went to see some experimental short digital films and animation - Terrain 06. These had been selected by NOASS (Riga) in partnership with onedotzero (London). Onedotzero are renowned for commissioning work from around the world specialising in cross-disciplinary technology-based media art. This runs for the next two days so we will be back for more.

Finally, I have found my perfect conceptual wardrobe... clothes while you wait!

PS We now have a fully functioning email and internet connection.

ND

2006-06-18T09:27:00.000+01:00

Arts Council England and Braziers International Artists Workshop Fellowship at 'Art Home' Riga, Latvia

In August 2006 we will be embarking on an International Artists' Residency to Riga, Latvia. This blogspot will document our experiences. A link will also be available through Natalie's website www.nataliedowse.co.uk.

More posts to follow, please revisit soon...