Since I’ve opened my shop on Etsy, I’ve become obsessed with browsing through all the awesome products people make by hand. I want to fill my house up with etsy art, drink out of etsy mugs, wear vintage etsy boots, I’ve gone into insane-o etsy land. Here’s an Amsterdam inspired treasury list I made to highlight works that reflect this pretty city. Enjoy!
After months of ruminating, my Etsy store has finally opened! I only have four holiday greeting cards at the moment but I plan to have many more prints, ceramics, and photography in 2012. Here’s my first attempt at designing greeting cards!
A spontaneous Friday night led me to Theatre Carre’s premiere of Fela!. It was REAL good. The broadway musical is about Fela Kuti, a groundbreaking Nigerian musician, political activist and pioneer of afrobeat music. The music and dancing is spectacular. Go see it if you are in any way interested in music, the show is an exploration into African music and dancing. If you need more convincing, the show won 3 Tony Awards in 2010. The show runs till the 24th of June in Amsterdam for the Holland Festival and then moves on to the UK. Get your tickets here.
Found some really cool bike art through my friend Taylor’s Blog. Artist Jayme McGown of Roadside Projects makes whimsical 3D paper art. The first image below reminds me of Amsterdam even though the girl is in a sundress and there are mountains in the background.
An art festival about Japan in Amsterdam?! The Camera Japan Festival is on it’s fifth year of celebrating everything Japanese. There will be feature films, dance, anime, food, music, documentaries, and exhibitions! It will be held from October 7-13 at the Melkweg and Kriterion.
Here’s what I’m excited about:
Lullatone, the amazing pajama pop band will perform a free show at the Kriterion, Friday October 8 at 21:00.
Brunch & Movie! The feature film “Pool” or “Puru” will be screened alongside an oishii Japanese style brunch for only 10 euros! Sunday October 10 at 11:00, Kriterion.
Hey creative peeps, want your art up on display for thousands of people to admire? The Edits Design Contest lets designers submit a piece of artwork inspired by an Amsterdam museum. Eight winners are chosen per round and will be able to have a temporary exhibition displayed in front of central station. The next round will start on November 15. Submit your work here.
NDSM provides a really cool (mini) escape from the hustle of Amsterdam. It’s only a 5 minute (free!!!) ferry ride from Tasmanstraat or Central Central and is perfect for a little lounge in the sun. It’s basically a haven for artists, creative types and and people choosing to live below the borders of society.
According to the NDSM website:A former shipyard on the northern banks of the IJ and larger than 10 football fields, the NDSM wharf is now a center for underground culture in Amsterdam. This huge area contains the NDSM hall, a hangar-like structure 20,000 sq. meters in area and 20 meters in height, and two historic ship slipways (Hellingen) housing workshops and artists’ studios.
If you wander around the surrounding area, you’ll notice that bohemians and anarchists alike have taken to alternative living quarters from broken down buses, to abandoned buildings and manholes. Make sure to check out Noorderlicht, which is a really cozy cafe with delicious snacks housed in an old greenhouse.
‘It’s Showtime” presents four artists engaged in the ‘democratization’ of art. Working within the realm of our collective memory, this is an exhibition for all eye’s to see. The artists’ common goal is to create work devoid of narrative; work that challenges the viewer into experiencing it directly. It is in the experience where the viewer finds the work and only afterwards is he or she left with confusion or ‘food for thought’.
My lovely friend Andre has been hosting SLAVE at the Supper club every sunday for the past couple of months and they have been ALOT fun. If you love art, good food, dancing, and listening to great Djs, you will have a good time!
The evening program on May the 9th is Guest Curated by Heido Lobato, director of the Africa in the Picture Film Festival. She will be screening one of her favorite African shorts and provide you with a little preview of the upcoming 2010 Africa in the Picture festival.
Live performances by Lake Montgomery (singer songwriter); Born and raised in Paris Texas. Influenced and inspired by Nina Simone, Billy Holiday and Miriam Makeba and the countless old blues mammas that have kicked vocal ass in the past 100 years.
Spoken Word performance by Dutch MC Blaxtar; Blaxtar is a dutch rapper from Zwolle. He has been active in the dutch hiphop scene for 10 years already. In 2006 he released his first album “Ozmoses”. Followed by his second album “Chronozbaäl” in 2008 and most recently with his latest album OZMO6:2
Afterwards the Boogieman Crew will kick mad funk flavor and takes you on a ride across multiple genres, woven by Soulful vocals, lush piano chords, warm bass lines and boom-bap drum patterns.
