Christina Vogelsang

What architecture can do

2011-12-12T21:42:00.000+01:00

"Perhaps in your city there is a structure so potent and glorious that its existence in your mind becomes the actual architecture of your mind - a structure through which all of your dreams and ideas and hopes are funnelled."
Douglas Coupland - City of Glass

Vermittlungshemmnisse... 17.12.11

2011-12-10T09:32:00.000+01:00

Five longterm unemployed talk about their lives, careers and barriers to the job environment. Woven into work philosophies and jazz music. (Photo by Andreas Bohnhof)

17.12.2011 ... AK Saal ... 8 PM

How I feel about theatre these days

2011-11-24T20:13:00.000+01:00

"I'm not really interested in acting. I've given up waiting for an epiphany of interest to strike. Acting is a red herring and a major mistake and I'm still trying to get back on track. Every time I'm in a film I'm determined it's the last I'm in then I'll fall into a conversation with someone and we'll cook up a new scheme. Basically it's gone on for 20 years but I'm hoping to pull it to a close shortly."
Tilda Swinton

CAFFEE... 7.12.11

2011-11-22T07:44:00.002+01:00

With their concept CAFFFEE, the Berlin group post theater has won the 7th Bremen Authors’- and Producers’ Award of the Schwankhalle 2010. They will be premiering their piece on December the 7th in the Stauerei. I will be coordinating the production in Bremen. (Picture by Hiroko Tanahashi)

7.12.2011 ... Stauerei ... 8 PM

Follow the directions!... 23.11.11

2011-11-21T17:00:00.003+01:00

Patricia Lambertus was grantee of the Bremen Art Satellite in 2010, an honor that brought her to Damascus, Syria. The political situation there has since then changed dramatically. To follow up, Ingo Clauß, the curator of Patricia´s work in Damascus, has initiated an evening about Syria. An introduction to Patricia´s work will reminiscence of their experiences and impressions before the revolution. Journalist Kristin Helberg will then give a lecture on the current situation in Syria.

I am especially looking forward to the book presentation. It documents Patricia´s work and with it come four sheets of designed wall paper to be used on your very own wall. My mini-contribution was a graphic instruction on the order of the sheets. I love those little tasks as they earn me a free copy :).

23.11.2011 ... Weserburg ... 7 PM

Horse racing... 12.11.11

2011-11-12T18:16:00.001+01:00

After all that brouhaha about the Bremen racing track I was curious enough to attend the last racing day for this year. I am not convinced.

Junge... October 11

2011-10-10T07:32:00.007+02:00

Sebastian Polmans, our resident writer from 2008, has published his first novel "Junge" and went straight on to win the prestigious Jürgen Ponto literature prize. Congratulations!

Berlin again... 4.10.11

2011-10-04T09:38:00.000+02:00

Trailing through Berlin. The width of Tempelhof meets the length of my appreciation.

Chelsea Physic Garden... 3.9.11

2011-09-03T18:07:00.000+02:00

Sometimes you enter a special place and cannot let go of it after. The Chelsea Physic Garden is a magnificient botanic garden in a very charming part of Chelsea. I went there shortly before dawn. As the light faded the garden´s features unified into an intense echo in my mind that still lurks there and gives me smiles.

London... 29.8.11

2011-08-28T17:42:00.010+02:00

As a Teenager London was my alltime favorite city. With the little money I had I managed to go their four times within two years and I was always mesmerized. London was my introduction to true urban life. I was very curious if, after that long period of time, it would still have that kind of effect on me. After all, since then I have lived in Mexico City and New York City, both slightly bigger metropolises.

I was stepping outside of Paddington Station and I could feel excitement creeping up my feet. While I didn´t recognize places the energy was still there. I got that delightful feeling of being-at-home that I only remember from New York.

Dartington Hall... 26.8.11

2011-08-26T18:14:00.000+02:00

What a pity the famous Dartington art school had to move from the premises. What a scenery for a campus, what a landscape for artists!

Eden Project... 24.8.11

2011-08-23T20:54:00.013+02:00

There are so many things that are remarkable about this venture. Idea and construction impress me most. Yet the feeling of it, at too many pathes across the site (and being August namely), was that of a huge temple of consumption. One will have to come back at a different time of the year to get a deeper and better understanding of it all.

Watertower 2011

2011-08-22T09:59:00.005+02:00

The travelling exhibition "zur nachahmung empfohlen. expeditionen in nachhaltigkeit und ästhetik" (examples to follow. expeditions in aesthetics and sustainability.) was hosted in a vacant watertower in Bremen from July 3rd to August 28th. It is curated by Adrienne Goehler and will continue its journey to Hamburg, India and Adis Abeba.

"examples to follow" demonstrate artistic practices that contribute to the preservation of the planet, intend to influence conscious consumer behaviour and be economically efficient; they also showcase artistic positions in which the boundaries between art, activism and inventions dissolve and the experiences and methods of environmental initiatives interconnect with artistic approaches. Besides participatory projects and networks, the exhibition presents technical innovations and materials in the areas of renewable energies, climate change and re/upcycling, as well as in examples of sustainable management, each challenging the individual dimension of action in their own way.

Back to Cape Clear... August 2011

2011-08-21T07:13:00.000+02:00

This year I decided to do many of the things I had always wanted to do on Cape Clear and never gotten around to. Like canooing from South Harbour to North Harbour. Funny thing is how you complete parts of your list only to discover there are more things you will need to have to do. (Photo by Julia Baer)

Other than that life on the island is pretty much the same. There is a new addition to the herd, Loki. He was by far the hardest foal to halter and I only managed with lots of patience and a few tricks. He is cheeky and stubborn, just like his father.

Meanwhile Tui has found himself a new lad to hang out with, or better said to boss around. Kirsty finally brought down her fairly big pony. Very shy boy and apparently a napper.

The rest of the gang is still as cute as ever. Ekho is almost as big as her sister Samhradh.

My shed is still in great condition, even that all the winter cover had almost been blown away. Enjoyed many nights in there. This place is as silent as no other place!

Ragwort is a real problem this year. The Leonards used Paddy´s fancy tractor, we did the plugging manually.

Fun day on Cape Clear. Drink and games and music. Poppy and I went to the dog show. She won second prize in the small dog competition. Fathom they had to bring a dog from the mainland to beat her from first prize!

Permaculture & CSA... 18.8.11

2011-08-18T07:03:00.002+02:00

The landscape and permaculture designer Volker Kranz gives an introduction to the principles of permaculture, followed by a short lecture of the Bremen CSA group about the community supported agriculture model. You can listen to the podcast of that event here. (In German.)

18.8.2011 ... Wasserturm/Stadtwerder ... 5 PM

Urban Gardening... 4.8.11

2011-08-04T21:59:00.003+02:00

It certainly has become a trend, but how is it affecting Bremen? What Urban Gardening projects exist and where do they find their support?

4.8.2011 ... Wasserturm/Stadtwerder ... 7 PM

Horse Talk... 23.7.11

2011-07-22T21:10:00.006+02:00

For many years Jürgen Horchler was equerry at the Beck´s Brewery in Bremen. Until 2005 a horse drawn cart delivered the beer for bars and restaurants within the city center. The beautiful cart and the stunning horses were a well loved sight in Bremen. When the owners of the brewery changed, they retired the horses - and the equerry. In this talk Jürgen Horchler, together with the veterinary Dr. Redecker, looks back at the old days when horses had a strong place in urban areas.

23.7.2011 ... Wasserturm/Stadtwerder ... 7 PM

Special tours... 4.7.11

2011-07-04T20:46:00.001+02:00

Walk through the exhibition with a tour guide of honor! We are proud to present our special tours with following guides:

10.7. ... 6.30 PM ... Dr. Joachim Lohse (Senator of Environmental Affairs)

17.7. ... 6 PM ... Prof. Dr. Antonia Kesel (Head of Department, Biomimicry Hochschule Bremen)

27.7. ... 6 PM ... Michael Börgerding (Designated Head of Theatre Bremen)

7.8. ... 6 PM ... Dr. Henning Scherf (Former Mayor of Bremen)

28.8. ... 6 PM ... Dr. Helga Trüpel (EU Parlamentarian)

Willly Schwarz Concert... 3.7.11

2011-06-26T19:51:00.003+02:00

Willy Schwarz is an amazing and versatile musician. I am very happy he will be performing inside the watertower and lecturing about the evolution of musical instruments.

3.7.2011 ... Wasserturm/Stadtwerder ... 7 PM

Luleå opening... 22.6.11

2011-06-22T06:57:00.000+02:00

Soap bubbles at the opening in front of the museum and Roger Rigorth's work "The Luleå Conspirative Cells". (Photo: Augis Narmontas)

Watertower... 4.6.11

2011-06-02T19:02:00.004+02:00

Will be working as a project coordinator for the travelling exhibition "examples to follow!". The exhibition is placed into a vacant watertower on the Stadtwerder. This building is out of use since the 80ies. It has a splendid castle shape and only a very narrow window door through which all of the art pieces need to fit. I will also curate some of the events.

Church of Zig Zag

2011-05-14T00:34:00.005+02:00

The Church of Zig Zag is an outdoor installation and was exhibited at the Luleå Art Biennale 2011 (LAB11), running from June 22nd to September 14th. It celebrates fragmentary lifelines and serves as a patron saint for those who still won´t give up living their life driven by curiosity rather than submitting to economic and social pressures.

The bridge invites people to walk a zigzag course in order to leave evil spirits behind since they can only walk straight. It offers membership by initiation through gently pushing the church tower towards the blue sky.

Daryoush Tahmasebi has made a mini-video of the church:

Bridge and holding construction waiting to be installed.

Children enjoying the chance to be on the pond.

Church of Zigzag

2011-03-22T18:54:00.004+01:00

My project proposal "Church of Zigzag" got accepted at Luleå Art Biennale 2011.

Calendar 2011

2010-12-23T22:50:00.008+01:00

Ard na Mara Farm 2010

2010-11-27T13:16:00.003+01:00

... coming soon...

Of Fairs and Countesses ... 21.10.10

2010-10-21T17:28:00.006+02:00

Organized by the Kerry Bog Pony Society, the Kerry Bog Pony Show & Sale took place at the Kerry Bog Village in County Kerry on the 16th of October 2010. The weather was brilliant and so was the atmosphere. Most pony owner come for the yearly inspections, which is where your 2yearling is measured and classified. The same evening a booklaunch for the "Story of the Kerry Bog Pony" was held at the Red Fox Inn. Mary McGrath is also the author of the "The Irish Draught Horse: A History", so that was extra exiting. Next day a series of seminars took place, among others a talk and demonstration of cart driving. My favorite talk was given by Countess Merveldt, a breeder and judge. As a fervent speaker blessed with some sharp Irish humor, she gave some good advice on general horse showing and horse conformation.

More horse training ... 5.10.10

2010-10-05T13:18:00.014+02:00

I participated in another working horse course with Sandra Schmid - this time at their fabulous home near Bantry. The focus was on training the horse to work in harness, building confidence and trust with the young horse, getting the horse used to the work environment, starting to work in chains and shafts - and of course we finished with a first start of field work. Last thing Henry the Horse had to do was to pull the cart. As I am especially interested in cart driving that was a sure plus.

Artefacto Cultural ... 6.9.10

2010-09-06T20:08:00.008+02:00

Years ago I had the idea of asking photographers from different urban areas to send me back pictures of the graffiti they would discover on-site. G.B. Stephens covered Oaxaca, Mexico. As he was digging deeper and deeper into the town´s outskirts he fell in love with the many exceptional pieces he found on walls and roads. He began photographing graffiti extensively and his collection started growing fast. I am happy and proud G.B. is now presenting his first US exhibition of his photographs at the Centre Gallery of the University of South Florida. The subtitle of the exhibit reads as: "The Documentation of Graffiti Art as Historic Record of Culture and Politics". Exhibition Dates: September 7th to 17th. Reception on September 10th from 7 to 9PM.

Fáilte, Festival Visitor ... 27.8.10

2010-08-27T12:44:00.011+02:00

During the course of the Cape Clear Storytelling Festival I will be managing the local hostel Eirí na Gréine. Eirí na Gréine means Rising Sun and was originally a pub where you would last until the sun got back. It is owned by the Co-op and has been used in summer times to host Irish teachers. Fáilte! You can make a booking under: 00353 (0) 871651211.

Working Horses ... 22.8.10

2010-08-22T12:37:00.006+02:00

Over the weekend I participated in a working horses course at Bantry House. Sandra Schmid from Horse Power in Ireland gave an introduction to the history of work horses and how they are still widely used around the world in horticulture and farming. We harnessed Henry & Winnie and after lunch at the Bantry House Team Room we had them drive around the fields. Best fun was riding on the sled while Henry was puttering around the orchard.

Shed 2010

2010-07-23T21:10:00.007+02:00

Once I hired a man with a manitu to lift an unused shed up on a hill. I payed fifty bucks for it. No problem finding me to send the bill, the man said looking at my shaky thing. Unless I´d forget to tie me to the rocks.

Thoreau went with his axe into the woods of Vermont and build a shack at Walden Pond. I bet he had to endure the same sarcastic comments from local residents. His trip was an experiment in personal independence and self-reliance, something that still inspires generations of mostly young people. Every other week Thoreau went home and had his mother wash his clothes.

I had always wanted a shed close to the sea. There is a seductive thought that by reducing your belongings to the minimum you return to something more self defined, to your core. We have a sense we too often live with too many unnecessary attachments. We get the feeling our personae is controlled by social habits and environments. We seem confused by too many opportunities and forget what we are about.

A buddhist monk once said to test your meditation skills you need to sit down at a busy traffic corner. A secluded shed on a hill may bring peace and quiet, but not neccessarily revelations and insight. Silence equals a situation of no disturbances. But to grow and expand you need to have challenges and input. After two weeks my thoughts collided. When I discovered I could catch someones open wireless lan I did not complain.

My shed is a painting. Many evenings I felt the greatest joy to place myself into this absurd design and act myself through it like a hermit saint. My shed is part of an equilibrium. It allows for physical withdrawals. It serves as an eye´s or mind´s rest. It is more a usable installation than an utensil. I have heard some laugh about it fondly. That is nothing against my own deep grin when I bridle the pony stallion to ride up to the hill, quite the lonesome cowgirl, content in the fog of the dawn.

In Plain View ... 10.7.10

2010-07-10T19:52:00.006+02:00

Artist Dan Witz has published his first book "In Plain View". This monograph on his 30-year-involvement in streetart contains stills from the Super8 footage Daniela Abke and I shot back in in New York in 2004.

Add Culture to Nature ... 8.7.10

2010-07-08T17:39:00.009+02:00

Over the course of the summer I will be working at the Cape Clear Museum / Heritage Center as a Chúntóir (of few Irish words I am afraid).

The Cape Clear Museum was established 1981 by Éamon Lankford and the Cape Clear Museum Society to collect and preserve records concerning all aspects of Cape Clear island life. It is housed in a old schoolhouse and contains several hundred artefacts of island maritime and folklife interest.

Aspects covered in the exhibition panels include the island´s archaeology, placenames, shipwrecks, famine, education, genealogy, farmlife, lighthouses and signal towers, telegraphs, fishing, maritime history and folklore. The Fastnet Lighthouse and Fastnet Race of 1979 form a special memorial exhibition.

As the museum looks small from the outside people are always surprised by its variety of artefacts. A children´s favorite are the 400-year-old canonballs guilty of destructing the O´Driscoll castle near North Harbour.

Urlaub in the Zeit ... 2.7.10

2010-07-02T08:45:00.003+02:00

German Magazine "Die Zeit" published an article on the Urlaubsproject. They placed the article in the "Travel" section instead of the feuilleton, which is equally interesting. For illustration they used filled in application forms of my design. Speaking of, if you want to have a look at the forms or even fill it out yourself (only applicable if you are aligned to the performing arts and are based in a German speaking country), check it out here!

Life with ponies ... 18.6.10

2010-06-18T10:30:00.000+02:00

Birth of a Foal ... 25.5.10

2010-05-26T10:12:00.006+02:00

Ekho Maera was born on the late evening of May 25th. She has begun to curiously discover the world, while her fiercely protective mother keeps pushing everyone away.

Library of Few and Much ... 25.5.10

2010-05-25T13:14:00.012+02:00

As the Co-op´s application for a new island library building fell through, the old library container at North Harbour still needed replacement. On a sunny day in March, Marie and I sitting outside the Goat Farm watched in some disbelief the new library container passing by on a truck. The truck got stuck twice on its way down the windy road.

Mary the Glebe took some footage of the library put in place:

Following May on I became library assistance, being on duty Thursday afternoons. Top of picture the new library in its glory. Bottom of picture shows Sile, the librarian, on the day the Swans came to visit North Harbour.

Baking Oven Course ... 29.4.10

2010-04-29T00:06:00.007+02:00

Went for an extended weekend to The Hollies and took part in the "Build a Baking Oven". Loads of fun!

Mind the ponies, my friend? ... 5.4.10

2010-04-05T22:32:00.013+02:00

As my two plans for April fell through I was delighted to be recommended to a local farmer on the other side of the island. The job description sounded like a 13year old girl´s dream come true: minding ponies was going to be my job. Or better said, getting them accustomed to human company and handling. Out of the semi-wild (yet very friendly) herd of five only the oldest mare, Polo, was schooled. Apart from her and her daughter, six year old Saphire, the herd was not halter trained. Infact, the stallion could barely be touched. Having no former horse training I was still up to the task. I mean, how can you resist a job that basically reads as hanging out with ponies?

Because there are Goats ... 9.3.10

2010-03-09T19:50:00.006+01:00

Bartosz Konopka´s movie "Goat Walker" was the inspiration for my increasing interest in goats. There is something endearing and hilarious about the goats in his documentary that caught on. I was determined to have my own goats, even if only for the duration of the Sproutbau project. While the three billy goats that I got in August 2007 were mere stand-ins for milk goats, I decided to have a real go at milking in 2008. My first position as a Wwoofer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) began in May 2008 on the German farm Die Ziegerei. Mostly I took care of the newborn goats and adopted a kid that I bottle-fed. As there were 70 goats to be milked twice each day there was little time for actual handmilking. Die Ziegerei turned out a great cooperation partner the following year with our venture into goat milk ice cream - but I remained oblivious about certain aspects of goats. Two years later I decided to change that by applying to an Irish smallholding. Cleire Goat Farm´s owner Ed Harper keeps his goats the traditional way. As he is blind he relies on Wwoofers, and being three wwoofers on the farm meant we basically took over large parts of the house. We did the cooking, brushed the floors, de-dusted the shelves and carpets, painted some walls, flung the manure out of the stables and became experts in all things Irish - except, to my dismay, milking.

THE GOOD LIFE Bonfire at beach, Kim fiddling to the goats on her violin, the Triplets of Belleville on a Sunday morning jaunt.

Cape Clear, Resident Nr. 111 ... 5.3.10

2010-03-08T23:58:00.012+01:00

For the next months I will be moving to this this Southern Irish island. Cape Clear, or Oileán Chléire, has a population of around 110 people, meaning, I will happily take up the task of being number 111.

Größere Kartenansicht

Christiane Fichtner Book ... 14.2.10

2010-02-14T23:50:00.003+01:00

Christiane Fichtner has published her second book and asked me to write the summary for the back cover.

Urlaub ... 1.2.10

2010-02-01T23:38:00.005+01:00

"Urlaub" is a new project by the Schwankhalle, where freelancing artists of the Performing Arts may apply for a paid vacation. The goal is to support artists in recharging their creativity and give them some time off the spin. Currently I am curating and organzing "Urlaub" and its been nothing but fun to send people on a trip. For those interested, the next deadline is February 27th.

Sproutbau goes Ruhr ... 7.1.10

2010-01-07T19:17:00.004+01:00

Sproutbau, along with the project "Kunst im öffentlichen Raum", has been selected to represent Bremen at the RUHR.2010 as a National Hero. More information (in German) in this downloadable flyer -->.

HAG PR Concept

2009-12-26T14:13:00.006+01:00

Café Goldkarotte

2009-09-30T09:57:00.000+02:00

... coming soon

Parkingday 2007

2009-09-27T16:08:00.006+02:00

PARK(ing) Day is an international event initiated by Rebar, where public parkings spots are "leased" from the city and transformed into parks. We were the first group from Germany participating in the now annual global happening and served as props for the Local TV station´s daily weather forecast.

PARK(ing) Day is a creative exploration of how urban public space is used and how it can be transformed to people-friendly public space.

Sproutbau 2007

2009-09-26T14:21:00.006+02:00

For a month a vacant housing block became the home of around 80 international artists turning the place into a city within the city. With a focus of self-sufficiency and exploring ideas of alternative living 45 different projects were created and many lasting friendships found.

On August 3rd in 2007, 65 people from 15 countries moved into a building now known as the Sproutbau. The massive concrete housing block with 110 apartment units gave a temporary home to those willing to experiment with individual living utopias and concepts of intentional communities.

On the outskirts of Bremen, in Tenever, these people with different backgrounds formed the Sproutrepublic and altered the structures and modalities of the house and its use. The initial concept from the 70ies of separating work-, learning, shopping and housing areas - a sort of suburban commuter community - were de-installed. To have it all under one roof was the idea of Sproutbau, reinterpreting the meaning of a "city of short ways".

An important focus of the Sproutbau was serving as a platform for exchange and cooperation. Living and working together on a daily basis fostered communication and inspired new ideas. Even some of the obstacles to the project, like an ill functioning water and electricity system, were used to shape bonds between neighbours helping each other out, emphasizing on the sensible use of ressources.

Website Sproutbau (in German)

"On one floor a rooster and hens were cackling amongst golden walls. On another goats were frolicking in front of an idyllic alp panorama wallpaper. On a third floor, the New Yorker artist Mary Ivy Martin was draping rolled grass over soil hills, giving her Indoor Garden a natural foundation. With all that you almost got reminded of the Netherland Expo-Pavillon, one of the most impressive constructions of the World Fair in Hannover. There in the year 2000 the Rotterdam architects MVRDV layered seven types of landscapes on top of each other. But here - in a housing complex in Bremen doomed for demolition - you could admire a remarkably larger variety and compaction of art- and real life environment."
(Deutsche Bauzeitung, Ocotber 2007)

"The house seems to be a city of arts. You find almost anything: a Free Shop, a Sewing Store, a Roof Top Cinema, light installations, sound collages, sculptures and a so called community kitchen, where people share self cooked meals. Furthermore there is the play "Sixth floor, diagonally opposite", the home produced "Telenovela", a continuation novel in and about the Sproutbau, read every weekday night on the top balcony, or a tree made of cardbox that sprouts up all seven floors on one of the outer walls. The ideas that are explored and realised seem as big as the building is."
(Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, 31.8.2007)

"Like some temporary uses of fallows the project allows for experimentation with ideas and concepts. While other laboratories settle in cultural hip quarters, the Sproutfarmers moved into a zone outside the traditional access. Here, where city planners planned for the spacial separation of housing, working, learning and shopping, so that residents slowly became isolated in these solid structures, it seemed exiting to develop counter strategies. (...) With its many projects Sproutbau has inspired to create a space that allows for questioning the planned and enable reinterpretations."
(UP ART, September 2007)

"Exitement of another kind you feel at a for Bremen unique project. A Sprouthotel, goats in the building, comics on the hallway walls and living one month in the "Sproutrepublic": people from here and abroad developed alternative living utopias in Tenever. For a temporary period of sixth week they lived and worked in an empty building block in Tenever and developed alternative housing, living and working forms to transcend the isolated appartment cell towards a sustainable lifestyle."
(BREMER, Septemeber 2007)

Teneverparadies 2006

2009-09-25T13:50:00.009+02:00

The facades and balconies of a soon-to-be-demolished housing block were turned into a stage. The remaining residents contributed to a 13 chapter story about the life and love in this building while at the same time acting as narrators and performers.

Back in the 70ies the city of Bremen envisioned Tenever as an urban residential paradise at the edge of town. Around 2.500 modern housing facilities were built, some of them up to 21 levels high. But what had looked promising at start soon began to decline. Ceased rent subsidies, political missteps and irresponsible facility owners contributed to tumultous years in a quarter that eventually became known as the "Ghetto". Over 40% of the flats were disinhabitated. Social structures weakened and the unemployment rate increased. Finally, at the beginning of the 2000ies, a state funded plan was initialised to rehabilitate and revitalize the area. An essential part of the plan supported to demolish almost one third of the buildings.

"Tenverparadies" looks at one of the doomed houses and the destiny of its tenants. A group of artists established a studio in an empty appartment to work with the remaining residents. Five months of different workshops and local research traced back the good and the bad years of life in Tenever. The artists shifted the focus away from the ideas and utopias of city developers and property owners to the dreams of the people who created their lives here in Tenever. Aside from being stigmatised as denizens of a failed housing project, wasn´t it still possible to find paradises, big and small, within each and everyones individual stories?

On September 30th more than 90 residents of Tenever participated in a thirteen chapter long reflection of their past 33 years. From a passionate Russian chorus to a dramatic Bollywood dance scene: personal cultural backgrounds contributed to the different ways of weaving the story into an entertaining and lively evening. The building´s facade became a canvass and its balconies a stage.

A documentation of the project can be ordered at Quartier e.V.

"This moving story, while using film, sound and shadow play connected through a sarcastic-naive fairytale narrated by Tenever veteran Joachim Barloschky, is one of constant miscalculations. Sure, to be wrong is to be human. But as colorful as the storyline is, it becomes only too clear that the decision-makers were indifferent to what dreams were dreamed here and what kind of lives people lived."
(taz, 2./3. Oktober 2006)

"The highlight of the evening begins (...) with the short film "Bollywood in Tenever", breathtaking kitsch in extraordinary pictures. Sentimental, humorous and romantic, with temperamental oriental music, Vasantha Puvanendran and two accompanying girls dance in their whirling dresses on the squeaky green lawn - with skyscrapers and the highway as a backdrop. The audience is blown away, literally freaking out."
(Weser Kurier, 5. Oktober 2006)

Zen Goats

2009-09-23T21:08:00.009+02:00

For a month three billy goats moved into the Sproutbau. They shared a ground level apartment with adjoining garden and were stand-ins for milking goats. As the Sproutbau was aiming for self-sufficiency - in some cases on a theoretical note - the integration of goats into a residential environment was based on the idea of supplying fresh milk and dairy products to urban dwellers. Goats as modest and flexible animals seemed particularly suitable for this purpose.

The three attractive siblings with a somewhat distinctive smell soon became a hit between Sproutbau residents and neighbours alike. To the residents of Tenever, a low-income quarter of dense housing blocks, they represented the opportunity to visit the Sproutbau without obligations and have a glimpse of the rather strange ongoings. For the Sproutbau residents the goats were lovable mascots but also a place to chill out and experience calmness. Often participants would sit inside the apartment, listen to the goat´s endless chewing and reflect on personal matters. To establish an area for livestock in an urban residence proofed to be a success. While the initial idea to supply fresh products to the residents could not be tested due to circumstances, the goats functioned as communicators and facilitated dialogue and exchange.

Postcards of the three goats were printed and distributed. Top left: Mordechai (named for his Jewish looking curls), top right: Ingmar (named after the late Ingmar Bergman). Bottom: everyone´s favorite goat, Heidi (named for his girlish good looks).

PS: Heidi, Ingmar and Mordechai retired from the Sproutbau to the animal farm of the Egestorff Stiftung, where they joined an existing goat herd. As of November 2010 all animals are still well and unfortunately a bit overweight. Ingmar has become leader of the pack which seems to entitle Heidi to spend her life on top of the haystack without disturbance.

Turmschreiber 2008

2009-09-21T17:12:00.007+02:00

An empty lighthouse facing the riverside was transformed into a sanctuary for a
writer in residence.

"It is a true idyll: wind is blowing across the narrow mole at the harbour´s outskirt, some seagulls draw quiet circles, water everywhere the eye turns. With curiosity Sönke Busch and Sebastian Polmans climb up the stairs of the lighthouse. Each will be residing in the historic building as the local Resident Writer. (...) Initiator Christina Vogelsang had been dreaming about using the lighthouse for some time: "I was thinking about how this peaceful environment is just made to draw inspiration for artistic work" - and eventually the responsible authority, BIG: Investment Firm of Bremen, and the Waterways and Shipping Office signaled all clear."
(Weser Kurier, 7.8.2008)

Ephmeristan 2008

2009-09-20T17:14:00.006+02:00

An underused theatre space in an isolated area of Bremen´s new harbour district was vitalized for a summer with fresh performance ideas, concerts, art markets and readings. To bypass restrictive insurance and safety rules, the project declared itself a micronation where upon entering performers, staff and audiences alike became instant residents.

A state funded theater is a public space administered and curated by a group of people appointed by state officials. Such spaces usually stand vacant during summer recess yet are seldom available for common citizen´s purposes. Even if the head of theater would agree to such request, mostly insurance issues and licensing problems prevent a shared use.

In August 2008 Christina Vogelsang was able to borrow the small theater "Stauerei" on the terms of trust. There, with a group of people, she founded the temporary micronation "Ephmeristan" and declared any ongoings as part of an 850-hour theater play. All participants became state servants and every visitor was made a citizen. Under these conditions the group - or better said the government - bypassed the often paralyzing regulations and city-laws and was able to fill its stages with experimental performances, musical gigs, discussions and readings.

The micronation celebrated its goodbye with the 3-day Randpflanzen festival.

Website Ephmeristan (in German)

"(...) 'place as prerequisite' reads the philosophy of Ephmeristan - whether as a micronation or an 850-hour theater play. Here theater is defined as independent territory and can hence play with boundaries and restrictions. What counts is the pioneering spirit to define things for themselves and to apply the parameters of art in a different way."
(Weser Kurier, 28. Juli 2008)

Mc Mae 2009

2009-09-19T17:42:00.008+02:00

A simple wooden shed, an edgy logo, a good product framed by installation art became a succesful money maker at the renowned outdoor festival Breminale. Having won the prize for innovative new stall, McMae was created by artists Patricia Lambertus and Christina Vogelsang in cooperation with Bio-Farmers Kaemena.

"The Breminale has landed a big hit: ice cream made from goat milk. (...) Presented in posh dirndl costumes the two artists Patricia Lambertus and Christina Vogelsang marketed the ice-cold sweets at the festival on the Osterdeich. "This is absolutely delicious", praised a raving consumer. The artists cooperated on the project with the bio-farmers Kaemena. Kaemenas experimented with the recipe until the last second, recount the artists, who had built a fenced installation for the live goats and created a logo for the ice cream. And the good weather increased the appetite for more of their ice cream."
(Weser Kurier, 6.7.2009)

Contact & Imprint

2009-09-01T21:39:00.006+02:00

Christina Vogelsang
28237 Bremen

0176 / 23 76 24 55
Email : christina.vogelsang [ at ] gmx . de

Christina Vogelsang is the sole owner respectively licensee in respect to the content, material and information on this web site. All rights reserved.

The information provided is correct, complete and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge and belief. This web site, however, including the content, material, information and software provided is made available to the user in its current form, with no warranties or guarantees of any kind, either explicit or implied. Access to and use of this web site is at the user's own risk.

Hyperlinks to third party web sites do not in general constitute endorsement of their content on the part of Ms Vogelsang, although occasionally they do.

(c) 2011 All rights reserved.

(c) 2011 photo credits:
* Marcus Meyer
* Yannick Radeke
* Patricia Lambertus
* Occam
* Nina Fenzau
* Peter Trukenbrod
* Cathrin Eisenstein
* Mary Ivy Martin
* Kubikfoto

Inhaltlich Verantwortlicher gemäß § 55 Abs. 2 RStV: Christina Vogelsang
Haftungshinweis: Trotz sorgfältiger inhaltlicher Kontrolle übernehmen wir keine Haftung für die Inhalte externer Links. Für den Inhalt der verlinkten Seiten sind ausschließlich deren Betreiber verantwortlich.

About

2009-08-30T22:10:00.011+02:00

Christina works with buildings, using them as a canvass and platform for performances and installations. She is the initiator and curator of one of Bremen´s largest independent art projects, the Sproutbau, and has won an award for her concept on urban art.

Born in Bremen, she has studied to a master´s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on urban development. For many years she has worked in the theatre, creating programs and producing plays.

ARTISTIC FOCUS
art in public spaces, art in context, plant art, movies, applied arts, horticulture.

SCIENTIFIC FOCUS
community development, shrinking cities, mega cities, green architecture, habitat for humanity, diy.

Press

2009-08-12T11:31:00.001+02:00

Press Review _ Teneveraradies (Compilation of 12 pages, pdf format)
Press Review _ Sproutbau (Compilation of 27 pages, pdf format)
Press Review _ Ephmeristan (Compilation of 9 pages, pdf format)
Press Review _ Turmschreiber (Compilation of 3 pages, pdf format)