11/12/2009
Florida
't Gemaal, Rotterdam
TENT presents the research exhibition Florida. Currently, an increasing number of artists are establishing themselves in South Rotterdam and developing exceptional initiatives. What attracts artists to this changing district? These days, artists are often regarded as trendsetters in a residential area. How do they see their role in South Rotterdam? A number of revitalizing artists' initiatives use 't Gemaal as a platform to exchange their ideas and work with visitors and with each other: collective ADA; bureau Sensational Mix; foundation NAC and music podium De PLAYER.
In ’t Gemaal in South Rotterdam TENT. presents the research exhibition Florida. Currently, an increasing number of artists are establishing themselves in South Rotterdam and developing exceptional initiatives. What attracts artists to this changing district? These days, artists are often regarded as trendsetters in a residential area. How do they see their role in South Rotterdam? A number of revitalizing artists’ initiatives use ‘t Gemaal as a platform to exchange their ideas and work with visitors and with each other: collective ADA; bureau Sensational Mix; foundation NAC and music podium De PLAYER.
In recent years, it has been conspicuous that an increasing number of artists are establishing themselves in the south of Rotterdam. In a short period, a network of presentation spaces initiated by artists has sprung up. These are often small-scale initiatives, established next to the local store, the sex shop or the police station and focused on experimentation in art. Informal places in which they relate personally to their surroundings and the public through their work. Richard Florida’s well-known ‘Creative City’ theory is often quoted: the presence of creative entrepreneurs in a residential area attracts innovative industry – creative activity as the engine of economic growth. But what do artists themselves seek in this changing district?
Program
Saturday 12 December 2009, 16.00 hrs - Opening Florida with the official book launch of ´Op Zuid´, with a.o. a column by Arjo Klamer (professor in Economics of Art and Culture) and Lennart Pieters (slam poetry). ´Op Zuid´ offers a unique picture of a cultural renaissance in Rotterdam, of the art of South Rotterdam, urbanism and restructuring. (ed. Marjolijn van der Meijden, Minke Themans and Siebe Thissen.)
16 – 20 December 2009 - De PLAYER is a ´sound gallery´ and experimental podium for performances of, in their own words: ´(a) spectrum from highbrow underground till low-fi übergrund´. For Florida they have invited the band Fat Worm of Error (USA) to present their sources of inspiration, working methods and music in ‘t Gemaal. The exhibition shows the production process of an 8-inch record developed specially for De Player, with a concert by this noise rock / nu-jazz band as grand finale.
Wednesday 23 December 2009, 19.00 – 22.00 hrs - Kunstelevator presents: The Family Circle Film Evening in ´t Gemaal
30 December – 3 January 2010 - The temporary botanical gardens of ADA offer insight into the philosophy behind their ´Area for Debate and Art´: a garden as a social space and starting point for further discussion, research and activities. ADA (Deirdre M. Donoghue, Esmé Valk, Gerwin Luijendijk, Maja Bekan, Margo Onnes and Sjoerd Westbroek) descended on Feyenoord on 12 November 2009.
6 – 10 January 2010 - Sensational Mix, is due to open its doors on the Afrikaanderplein soon: a meeting space and office to present and complete their project proposals for South Rotterdam in interaction with the public. Sensational Mix are Roland Groenenboom (Sensational Fix) and Nathalie Houtermans (Stichting Mixtura).
13 – 24 January 2010 - In a short space of time, NAC (Nieuwe Ateliers Charlois) has developed into the driving force behind numerous project spaces and activities in the borough of Charlois: P. Hendriks, Club Attent, W Lfr_t project spaces, BART-store, Gallery 182, Half Juni and the guest studios Zimmerfrei # 1 & 2. In ´t Gemaal, it is possible to follow the development of this initiative, with special attention for their unorthodox strategy of ‘district takeovers’ and the effects of this on South Rotterdam.
For more information please contact Esther van der Leer, communicatie TENT.:
com.tent@cbk.rotterdam.nl or +31 (0) 10 413 54 98
Saturday 12.12.2009, 16.00 hrs
Opening exhibition Florida & Book launch ´Op Zuid – De Kunst van Rotterdam Zuid´
‘t Gemaal
Pretorialaan 141 3072 EL Rotterdam Zuid
Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 17.00 hrs
Note: ´t Gemaal is closed from 24 – 27 December 2009 and on 1 January 2010
Admission is free