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.
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.
Wow, didn’t realize a holiday celebrating the birthday of your old queen while selling junk on the streets and wearing orange could be so fun! Far surpassed my expectations! I highly recommend partaking in Queens day if you ever get a chance.
I know I haven’t really posted much in the past month but I have been physically and mentally checked out of Amsterdam. I’ve been in Texas, New York, and locked up in a self-induced prison for my master’s program. But I’m back now and ready to start posting again! Thanks for coming back to the blog and I will start posting about events happening in this city asap.
Here’s a little recap of what I’ve been up to the last month:
I went back home to Texas after 9 months of being abroad and was reminded of how fabulous it is to be from the south. Here’s a little video I made of my night out in the ATX.
also ate a ton of tex-mex
and met a new family member!
then I went to Brooklyn and had a lovely reunion.
and this past week I’ve been physically in Amsterdam but mentally immersed in the cubinator project. Possibly the worst 24 hours of our lives.
If you want to let out some aggression this Saturday, head to the Dam Square at 5pm for a giant pillow fight! I did this in Austin, Texas a few years back and it was a lot of fun. Below is the description from the facebook invite.
Every year World Pillow Fight Day is celebrated in many cities around the world. It is a free event that is all about fun. Last year Amsterdam participated for the first time and we all had a feathery blast
Our world is increasingly obsessed with regulations, security and commercialism. This threatens our freedom and creativity. That’s why we must reclaim the streets as a place where everybody can simply have fun – without meddling authorities or corporate sponsors. So grab your pillow and join the massive pillow fight on the Dam Square!
There are usually free after parties happening after the pillow fight that last deep into the night. Keep your eyes and ears open for some serious pyjama partying
This is an event that is even more fun if you bring your friends. So invite them through the menu on the right. Everyone can join!
How to join the pillow fight in 5 easy steps:
0. Invite all your fluffy friends
If you hadn’t done so already
1. Dress for press and mess
Wear something photogenic and feather-proof.
2. Bring your own pillow
Soft pillows with feathers are the best!
3. Get there in time
Be there before 5pm and wait for the signal.
4. Fight fluffy
Swing subtly and don’t hit anyone without a pillow.
5. Clean up after yourself
Use public space responsibly. It is not ours only.
Amstersam specializes in beautiful photographs of reflections in Amsterdam. Many of the photographs are taken of puddles with people, buildings, and bicycles in the reflection. This is such an interesting way to incorporate all of the water in this city. Even though I’m constantly splashing my legs with water on my bike, I’ve never really thought of Amsterdam as a city of puddles until I came across this. Check out his flickr profile for more Amsterdam reflections.
Last week, I randomly stumbled upon a gallery opening and decided to take a peek inside I ended up discovering some intriguing pieces. Gallery Fons Welter has a new art opening of abstract nature based glass sculptures by artist Maria Roosen from 13 Mar 2010 – 24 Apr 2010. The gallery is located on Bloemstraat 140, 1016 lj Amsterdam.
Maria Roosen’s works are produced by what is given – natural elements, such as trees and the effect of the material, glass – and what she adds as an artist – human elements, manipulation, and imagination. The resulting interaction, between the givens, influence, and spontaneity, comes into play in Maria Roosen’s works as soon as the glass-blower fills them with breath, by blowing.
The Electrosmog Festival, an international festival for sustainable immobility is happening all day today and now the conference is FREE. All talks and art showings are held at De Balie and all events are being streamed live online.
The ElectroSmog festival is a critique of the worldwide explosion of mobility, and an exploration of the new forms of connectedness with others offered to us by network and communication technologies.Our question is if these new forms of connectedness can help us to develop a viable new lifestyle less determined by speed and constant mobility, which is both ecologically and socially more sustainable.
Tonight’s art program includes:
TeleTrust
Participatory performance by Karen lancel & Hermen Maat Daily: 9.00 – 11.00 & 20.00 – 22.00 hrs CET (GMT+1) Venues: De Balie, Amsterdam / Banff Center for the Arts / Dunedin, New Zealand
Urban Wilderness Action Center – John Cohrs (with Eyebeam New York)
Venues: Eyebeam, New York / Skulpturenpark Berlin / De Balie, Amsterdam / Remote: London Online linkup between New York, London, Berlin, and elsewhere will take place at 21.00 CET (GMT+1). Follow live updates from each city on Twitter at #uwac from 15.00 – 24.00 CET (GMT+1).
NomadicMILK project
Art project and installation by Esther Polak Venue: De Balie, Amsterdam (exhibition)
