Gallery Weekend in Berlin
Back in the 1920’s, Berlin was the unequivocal capital of arts and culture in Germany. Movements like Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) and Secession, along with artists such as Max Beckmann, Käthe Kollwitz, and Edvard Munch, were a part of a scene that drew some of the most innovative creators into the city’s arms. Then came the long years during and after the war until the 1970’s and 80’s brought attention to art once again with an energy that included West Berlin’s Junge Wilde (Young and Wild movement). Since the Berlin wall fell in 1989, the city has enjoyed yet another Renaissance, with artists flocking from all over the world to experiment, show their work, and find inspiration from an atmosphere so open to creation and acquisition. From painting, to sculpture, photography, performance art, and installations, there is a constant buzz around the ongoing exhibitions, biennials, art trade shows, and grand events like the Documenta show in Kassel, which takes place every five years. In Berlin there is a huge opportunity for collectors, curators, and visitors to take in a scene that is intense, alive, and always evolving. Supporting the scene are an enormous quantity of exhibition spaces that include former factories, breweries, churches, boiler rooms, tower blocks, and office buildings that have been converted into galleries and work and living spaces for artists. Many of the spaces that were vacated by businesses after the wall came down became available for use through the initiative of organizations like Kulturwerk and the Berlin Senate. This unprecedented support for artists is what makes Berlin so unique. With over 150 not-for-profit and self-funded artists’ spaces all over the city, it is no wonder that Berlin is a mecca for artists who cannot afford to create work in other renowned cities across the globe. Current statistics say that there are over 20,000 international artists now living in Berlin. Grant programs to support studios are prevalent, giving way to more than 830 subsidized artists’ studios and studio apartments. With excellent grants, such as the DAAD artists program and Kunstlerhaus Bethaniene, international artists can get assistance for coming to the city to both create and show their work. The National Galerie is another supporter of contemporary art, giving prizes to young artists since 2000. Art collectors in Berlin also do their part to help to create studio spaces in obscure spaces, such as abandoned crematoria and even a former Communist party carpark. Putting their private collections on public display, may of these collectors create exciting events, such as Christian Boros’ show that was housed in a former WWII bunker. Another exciting venue is in the Hamberger Bahnhof where Heiner Bastian’s collection features works from the “art brut” movement, including pieces by Joseph Beuys, Damien Hurst, Anselm Kiefer and more. As a center for contemporary art, one feels a special vitality in the air, with a youthful and vigorous scene that is a given for a city that prides itself on a sophisticated forward-mindedness. There are a plethora of galleries in Berlin neighborhoods such as Mitte, Kreuzberg, Potsdammer Strasse, Charlottenburg, and even various apps like EyeOut Berlin and INDEX Berlin that follow the art trends throughout city. The 11th Gallery Weekend Berlin begins on April 30 and runs through May 4. Founded as a private initiative amongst local Berlin galleries, this year has 47 of them exhibiting works from both new and established artists. http://www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de/ www.tocaevents.com
The Magic of December in Berlin
Most of our team at TOCA agrees that Berlin is an absolute favorite destination, especially during the winter season. We know that many are daunted when thinking of going to a northern European city in December, where skies are mostly grey and temperatures drop down into the single digits, but we’re here to tell you that you will see a completely different side in Berlin when the Christmas holidays come around! Old-fashioned Charm and Youthful Ebulliance December is a time when the German spirit is brimming with an old-fashioned charm along with a youthful ebulliance that is so signature to this city. Putting aside the great music and art scene, and an international supply of restaurants that seems to expand every month, the winter holidays are a time to bundle up and take to the streets. Enjoying the Holidays Berliner Style With over 80 Christmas markets offering everything from handmade artifacts to antiques, locally designed clothing, artwork, jewelry, and so much more, there is very little of the frenetic shopping we’re so used to seeing around this time in the States. Watch children play on bungee-rigged playgrounds as they fly from ground to air, sit at an outdoor cafe wrapped in a blanket as you sink your teeth into a mouthwatering bratwurst with its blistering coal-roasted skin topped with mustard, wander around the wooden booths that seem to be designed for another century, and imbibe the ubiquitous gluwein that warms you down to your toes… this is the way Berliners and the rest of Germany enjoys the holidays, and we are all for it! Potsdamer Platz’s Winter Wonderland We love the winter wonderland at Potsdamer Platz, right in the heart of Berlin, where you can skate around the ice rink, go on a toboggan run, visit any one of the wooden huts to sample holiday fare, and all the while take in the stunning view of the Brandenburg Gate. Nearby there is a great Christmas market, where stalls are stocked with leather, textiles, pottery, wood carvings, and other handcrafted goods. Listening to the Masters Music is a staple in Berlin, and no matter if you are into the club or classical concert scene, everyone goes to listen to the masters in the magnificent churches and castles around Berlin. There is nothing quite like listening to Bach or Handel in the Kopenick Palace, or in the hauntingly beautiful Hall of Mirrors at Clarchens Balhaus, which is precious any time of the year. After 60 years of abandonment, you feel the history here. Ravaged from the war, the hall has kept its peeling wallpaper and bruised stucco. With the candles lit, flowers anointing each table, and good wine available from the bar, there is a sense of decadent splendor and profound magic as you absorb the remnants of the hall’s history, letting the music take over. The atmosphere and acoustics are ideal for a romantic night of chamber music, which is why locals and visitors in-the-know hold the hall in so much regard. Celebrating the City We love Berlin for its history, its vibrant present, and the sense of its pulsating future. With so many events taking place here, we at TOCA celebrate the city and invite you to do the same. www.tocaevents.com