International Paneling/January 2022
Image by Horster
Welcome to 2022! Keep Your Fires Burning, my Friends!
by Leo Kuelbs
Berlin
Well, here comes 2022 and I could totally be more excited! Heading deeper into another COVID winter with a more virulent strain forcing plan changes, closures, and lots of other bad stuff. What’s not being said is that we are actually in the midst of multiple ongoing pandemics. Besides COVID, we have a despair pandemic, a money laundering/housing shortage pandemic, which is tied to global political upheaval which is also exacerbated by global warming and let’s not forget the racial reckonings that will continue for the foreseeable future. It’s a kaleidoscope of chaos! A Pandemic of Pandemics! Oh lord…
I was checking out some stats and officially 5.5 million have died from COVID, so far. Wipe Norway off the map, for scale. And I am sure that is a low estimation. Also, so many have died indirectly from the virus, ODs, not going to the doctor, added stress. I haven’t seen stats on that, but it’s got to be a few/several million. Seeing as we are in another round of this right now, it could easily be 10 million+ lost before the end of this new year. And then you add in the end of the baby boomer era and we are definitely looking at some bleak times ahead.
And all of that stress, as well as bad examples from our leaders, have given people’s inner assholes the perfect excuse to get some sunshine! At least some folks are getting some inner Vitamin D. “D” for “Douchebag!” But I digress!
Here in Berlin, it’s already been very dark. The sun has been out a very few hours in the weeks since I have returned from NYC. It’s tough. Life is relatively awesome for me and most of my friends here, and it’s still a tough grind. One wonders how the less fortunate—in all ways—will hold up going through another, even greater, season of stress and strain? And all of that stress, as well as bad examples from our leaders, have given people’s inner assholes the perfect excuse to get some sunshine! At least some folks are getting some inner Vitamin D. “D” for “Douchebag!” But I digress!
The point of this article and greeting into 2022 is to remind everyone that after the ironies of winter get to the point of ridiculousness, the bitter laughs begin; then they eventually turn a little lighter as spring enters the scene. The result of decaying sadness is the stuff of laughter and comedy. When one looks back and considers the cabaret scene, this ability to look at sadness and laugh wryly until the smile stays a little longer is evident and so nourishing. New scenes of the new situation begin to unfold, inviting us into nice new naughtinesses, as well as creative endeavors and adventures. It turn outs, that in the end, one can only cry and suffer so much before hope again pops its head out of the ashes.
When I originally visited Berlin, I asked a friend who owned an old bar, opened after the wall came down in the 90s, if I could do a video art show in the Kino in the back. He asked to meet and discuss the idea. I told him the idea for the show was about how bears hibernate, how some seeds rest in the ground when it is cold, through the wintertime. The idea was about keeping a fire burning in the coldest days, knowing that eventually the sun will come out and warm us up again. He suddenly smiled broadly and said, “I like this idea. Ours is a ‘winter bar.’ It’s made to be a safe and cozy place in the gray times.” We became fast friends.
My message to you, dear readers, this Rutsch (slide) into the new year is simple: Keep your fires burning the best you can. Enjoy the cold and dark days as a means to focus on interior growth. Look at Disha Lundberg’s Norwegian drawings of trolls and cozy caves filled with candles and books and take heart. Realize that people have been through chaos and calamity since the start and, apparently, that isn’t stopping. Cherish those lost and love those that are near and think fondly of the ones to come. Just like a river, life flowed before us and will flow after, we are just tiny faces formed for some moments in ongoing currents that flow, always towards a greater sea.
We offer this publication to you as a “Winter Bar,” minus the booze! I have to say, there’s a lot to love and consider this issue. Please check out the “3 Questions with…” segments. Oh so tasty! Thanks to everyone who participated this go around and to all of those who helped since the beginning of this online journal! Danke sehr!!
Guten Rutsch! Happy New Year and keep spreading the love!
Shorty of the Month! Kristian Pederson’s “Orbits,” with Sound by Elke Brauweiler!
Intro by Leo Kuelbs
With the new year upon us, it is the perfect time for Kristian Pederson’s “Orbits,” a short film! Kristian was tapped for the Digital Fairy Tales series a few years back by co-Curator, Sandra Ratkovic, and paired with German musician, Elke Brauweiler, for this tasty treat. Based upon “Sun and Moon” fairy tales, Pederson went towards geometric abstractions that reflect planetary movement. Brauweiler’s soundtrack offers an icy edge to the celestial proceedings. A perfect treat for chilly winter’s day at year’s end!
Image by Disha Lundberg
Berlin
Poetry Corner: “Midweek of Midwinter”
by Nicole Callihan
Brooklyn
in the middle of my life
in the middle of a pandemic
in the middle of the kitchen
in the middle of cooking fish
I noticed in the middle of the flounder
a bone of perfect choking-size
that could shift all the middles
into a single, tragic end
and so, w/ a blade, I removed it
Rules to overcome Rauhnächte (the Time of The Wild Hunt). A Users Guide!
by JCO
Baden Baden
Halloween is long over. I’m happy you haven’t got bitten by a vampire, a zombie didn’t suck out your brain and a demon didn’t try to posses you. You probably think that you’re safe for another year, that you can enjoy a peaceful Christmas feast and toast with your loved ones on new years. Well you’re wrong. Because even though you might live in a city where the old traditions are forgotten, they may still apply. In Europe between December 25th and January 6th, there’s a high chance to see something strange in the night, in the darkness. During the so called “Rauhnächte,” the portal to the underworld is wide open. And if you don’t know the rules, well…you can only imagine.
Luckily for you, I’ve written some down, so your 2022 won’t start with a curse.
1. Your pets might be able to talk in human tongue at midnight. The good things is they can tell you about your future. The bad thing, if you can hear them talk, you’ll die right after. Also if you treated you pet badly, it might complain to a ghost that will punish you.
2. Singles can go to our crossroad at midnight and see a vision of their future partner. But they not allowed to stare or speak to him, because that will cause immediate death.
3. Keep your house clean and tidy. Demons are attracted by chaos.
Don’t hang up white bed sheets. The cavaliers of the wild hunt might steal them and use them as shrouds for you and your family members next year.
4. Don’t use clotheslines to hang up your laundry at home. A ghost might get caught and will stay in your home.
5. Don’t cut your hair or nails. You will end up having gout or migraine in the following year.
6. Don’t whistle in the morning or misfortune will follow you.
7.Slamming doors will cause thunder and lightning.
8. Keep track of your dreams in a dairy. During the Rauhnächte your dreams will predict events in the future. Each of the twelve nights is representing a month.
9. “Ins Horchen Gehen" - The only safe way to talk to a ghost: From midnight till 1am you can go to a crossroad and draw a circle out of salt around you. The salt will protect you and you can talk to the passing ghosts of the wild hunt and ask them for advice.
10. Smoke out your home that will protect you from demons and dark forces.
11. Protect your home by drawing a pentagram on your front door. The members of the wild hunt respect the symbol and won’t bother you.
So, if you follow these simple rules, you should have a great Rauhnächte season and a wonderful new year! If not…??
Oh my! It’s time for “3 Questions with…” NYC-based Actor and Artist, Anthony Crane!
If you watch network television, you’ve seen this handsome villain skulking around darkened corners. But he does theater, too! And not a bad painter, as well. Anyway, let’s let him speak for himself.
But first, here are the questions…
1. As an actor, how was it to cope during these past couple of years?
2. You also paint and have other arts interests. Can you tell us about those things? Maybe show us a couple images?
3. How does it feel to be back in gear and what projects are you excited about these days? Also, where can we see you these days?
“Ms. Santa Claus” by Adrian Pocobelli. A3 print on colored paper
The 10 Reasons I like Christmas
by Adrian Pocobelli
Berlin
Christmas can be a controversial subject. My five-year old self would gape in astonishment at such a claim, but this is the world in which we find ourselves. So, as a staunch (non-Christian) Christmas advocate, permit me to itemise some of the reasons I like Christmas.
1. Christmas is surreal. From Santa Claus to Christmas trees to colored lights, chimneys, bells and sleighs, Christmas is extraordinarily rich in iconography, color and symbolism. This turns a humdrum time of year into a wonderful, real-world dream.
2. It’s a time to show appreciation. Not only is it fun to receive gifts, but it’s also nice to give gifts. Gift giving is an opportunity to remind your friends and family that you truly appreciate them. It’s also a way to genuinely give joy to someone, which is a wonderful thing.
3. The music is magical (too provocative?). The folk songs that we associate with Christmas are some of the most beautiful and most universal melodies that exist. These traditional songs, which I sometimes call the original trance music or Christian mystery music, have an insightful and uplifting spiritual quality that is deeply moving (when one is open to it, of course).
4. The food. Rich turkey feasts with endless side-dishes and wonderful wines, alongside a month-long indulgence in baked goods, set a festive tone that resonates from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
5. The parties. Even if you’re a workaholic, Christmas is a time to let loose and reconnect with friends and family. The sweaters, the wine, the music, the baking, the lights, the trees, the decorations, all combine to create an air of festivity that is truly unique to this time of year. Everything feels a little more special in December.
6. The shopping. Although buying Christmas gifts can seem like a mundane chore, at it’s best, it’s a time to go out with friends during the day, drink coffees and spend money, bringing back large hauls of shopping bags and boxes (and packages in the mail). (And don’t forget the post-Christmas shopping deals after being cooped up for three days inside). It’s a time of plenty.
7. The movies. Whether it’s traditional Disney movies, old black and white versions of A Christmas Carol, or the latest blockbuster, it’s a time of year when you actually have enough time to engage with movies, whether at home or in the theatres.
8. The concerts. Christmas concerts are a special kind of event that feels almost like a long lost ritual. Whether it’s a play, a music performance, or a child’s school choir, there’s something essential about attending a performance of some kind to achieve the complete Christmas experience.
9. The time off from work. From reading a novel to baking cookies, Christmas time offers an opportunity to unplug from the demands of society, while spending extra time with friends and family during the daytime. This changes the dynamic of the household, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, but in the end, it does manage to reset home life in a vital way.
10. A time of reflection. From the Queen’s speech to debates with family over Christmas dinner, Christmas-time is an opportunity to look back and assess the year, as well as our lives.
What NFTs are You Wearing in the Metaverse? Mark Bailey’s Metverse 101
by Mark Bailey
Minneapolis
Things change quickly in crypto, and not always in ways you might expect. Even as an insider writing for the industry, I've been surprised time and again by both the pace and magnitude of some of the changes that have taken place. One area that took me by surprise in 2021 was the way NFTs are contributing to the rise of the Metaverse.
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are crypto tokens associated with metadata that makes them unique. This metadata typically includes media such as an image or animation, as well as descriptive text. Some NFTs are presented as digital trading cards while others are more like fine art. While Ethereum is the most popular blockchain for NFTs, most other major blockchains have rolled out their own versions of NFTs this past year.
Personally, I have NFTs on Ethereum, WAX, EOS, and Hive. Other blockchains with emerging NFT marketplaces include Solana, Tezos, Terra Luna, and Binance. The tech is compelling enough to account for the explosive growth in this sector. And some of this growth overlaps emerging trends in the Metaverse.
Metaverses are alternate digital realities, like immersive video games. In the Metaverse, your persona or avatar has special qualities that other Metaverse participants can perceive or interact with. There are already 3-D metaverses presented as art galleries, wherein every piece of art is an NFT that can be bid on or purchased using crypto. And I know of at least one Metaverse library in development, where users can read NFT books.
Metaverses are alternate digital realities, like immersive video games. In the Metaverse, your persona or avatar has special qualities that other Metaverse participants can perceive or interact with.
Just as cities feature galleries, it makes sense for there to be places where users go to look at interesting things in the alternate world. But the Metaverse isn't merely designed for passive consumption of media. It's designed for interaction. Here's where it gets weird.
What you wear in the Metaverse is visible to other Metaverse participants in much the same way as your clothes are visible to other people you pass on the street in the offline world. So Metaverse fashion is becoming a thing. And what is Metaverse fashion likely to consist of? Fashion NFTs.
Some major designers are already releasing fashion NFTs. The Italian luxury brand Dolce and Gabbana released a 9 piece collection named 'Collezione Genesi,' which was sold exclusively through a curated NFT marketplace called UNXD. Both collectors and investor groups purchased the digital creations, paying about $6 million for the items. Other top designers like Jimmy Choo and Rebecca Minkoff have also released their own fashion NFTs.
As more and more brands jump on this trend, Metaverse fashion may begin to take on a life of its own. The purchase of physical sneakers could entitle the buyer to their equivalent NFT sneakers, which could perhaps be customized with unique metadata, such as the geographic purchase location. And, unlike physical sneakers, the Metaverse versions would experience zero wear and tear, making them easy to trade or resell on secondary markets.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sold on the Metaverse yet. I'd rather look at my NFTs in an orderly wallet than on my avatar in virtual reality. But I can't deny the massive momentum building behind Metaverse development. However surreal it may feel, the Metaverse is happening, and NFTs will probably play an increasingly important role in that.
It’s time for “3 Questions with…Tessa Beck from the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids, MN!
Here are the questions for the Director of the Nemeth in scenic Park Rapids, MN…
1. Hi Tessa! Can you tell us a little bit about your background, where you are working/living and your training, etc? Maybe some of the artists you admire, as well?
2. Can you tell us about the art scene in the Park Rapids, MN area and the Nemeth Art Center, in general? And how does that fit into the national and international art scenes?
3. What are you excited about working on in the future?
Let’s turn it over to Tessa….
Holiday Happiness in Dark Times
by Leo Kuelbs
It’s been a dark year here in Berlin. Like dark, as in not a lot of sunshine. And has we slip and slide into 2022, the sepia toned days are shorter and the nights are oh, so long. After the continual drips of death and overhyped media/political rhetoric, pharma miracles, and general naughtiness, small moments of sunlight are worth crossing the street for. Little moments of kindness shining from the bright side of humanity are soaked up like sunshine after a month of darkness.
This was the case this past “Friendsgiving,” held here in Berlin. The corona-fueled uncertainty and stress gave way to a semi-spontaneous, 12-person, multi-national turkey feast with some nice Champagne and a true feeling of “thankfulness,” that was as lovely as it was unexpected. A French National asked me about the origins of Thanksgiving. It’s a sweet tale that turns horrible through time, as the Native Americans of that era, greeted the hapless, yet eager religious weirdos of England, who, basically, blazed another trail into North America, which was soon filled with dream seekers willing to crush whatever was in their path to survival and hopeful fulfillment. So much more than that to think about….
It was a little bit scary how hungry people were, not only for a family-style meal, but also just a warm room with decent people.
In the past 20+ years, for me, that holiday has changed to a time of making food for whomever is around, who wants/needs it. Bring what you can, drink some nice stuff and revel in a feeling of friendly communion.
The food went fast. The turkey was DEVOURED in short order. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, ham—demolished. It was a little bit scary how hungry people were, not only for a family-style meal, but also just a warm room with decent people. The Hong Konger got into it with the American whose family emigrated from the same. The Canadian sat on the sidelines, grinning widely, as the Turkish guy told the Englishman about the devaluation of the lira and deals to had with property in Istanbul. The Baklava was served, an Apple cake made by a coalition of a German and an American was also fantastic. The night wore on and as we finished the dishes, well after midnight, we counted the countries represented at seven. If you counted parents’ nationalities, it was more like nine. Not long after, I was tucked up into bed, awaiting another gray day. Yet, I realized I this past evening was something special. I actually had so much less stress and so much more in common with a group of international friends and near strangers, than I would have if surrounded by many of those who are more dear to me through time.
This isn’t to say that I don’t love my family and old friends. Of course I love them. But it was with a happy heart that I fell asleep and counted my blessings just as I counted how many countries came to our table for a friendly feast full of good will and gratitude.
Fairy Tales Continue to Inspire! Lithuanian Artist Dalia Kiaupaitė on the creation of her show “Daughter of Serpents’ Queen” at SCOPE BLN!
Installation shot from Dalia Kiaupaitė’s “Daughter of Serpents’ Queen” at SCOPE BLN! Through January 22nd, 2022
Text and Images by Dalia Kiaupaitė
It was a calm and warm September evening in 2019. I was visited by two foreign artists. After an intensive day of picking and preparing mushrooms and berries spent in forests and fields, along rivers, we were sitting on the terrace of my countryside home in Lithuania. Then, for the first time in my life, I heard a compliment that my relationship with nature is as exceptional as well as my knowledge. Who? Me? I am a city girl who basically grew up on a sidewalk. I hold the fresh and heady air of the Lithuanian countryside responsible for that!
This realization has guided me to the origins of a myth: the narrative surrounding Eglė - the Queen of Serpents…The tale features not only human–reptile shapeshifting, but irreversible human–tree shapeshifting as well.
The guests left, but the seed was already sown. This realization has guided me to the origins of a myth: the narrative surrounding Eglė - the Queen of Serpents, which is one of the most well-known Lithuanian fairy tales with many references to the Baltic mythology. The tale features not only human–reptile shapeshifting, but irreversible human–tree shapeshifting as well.
Eglė (Eng. Spruce) who is a rural girl who marries the King of Serpents and moves to live together in the sea. There she gives birth to 4 children: 3 sons and one daughter, who is the youngest one - Drebulė (Eng. Aspen). Then by visiting her mother‘s relatives ashore she betrays her chthonic father. Finally, Eglė turns herself and all four of the children into trees. Drebulė too never came back to her native sea.
Since then, I was questioning myself – where exactly is my own shore? Which cultural background is dominating my mindset? All the while growing up in Eastern Europe, I was seeking to be as West European as possible. At the same time, I felt pretty contradicted about that. I remember how I went through the Brandenburg Gate in 1990 for the first time. Now, after 30 years a natural answer came to my mind – I need to drop me again in Berlin. In the city, which has both backgrounds.
It all started around mid-April 2021. I arrived here in Berlin, while the city was still under the COVID-19 lockdown. I felt so lonely and invisible, but then while discovering the city step by step, I also discovered that I am not alone with this kind of feeling. There are a lot of other human beings around me who are searching for the same things. I started to meet women from diverse cultural backgrounds. Our prolonged encounters usually happened during the time when day turns into the night, when culture turns into nature and when the masculine vibrant city turns into the mystic underworld of the wild woman. Wild woman becomes the inspiration and the goal.
She wanders into the future, yet she keeps turning back in search of the present moment. *
*Clarissa Pinkola Estés. Women Who Run with the Wolves
Barefoot and open-hearted I walked through Berlin following in the footsteps of these wonderful women I have met here - Oihane Amurrio (ESP), Weiwei (CHN), Stefanie Bechtold (GEO), Inti (ARG), Laura Konti (GRC), Viktorija Mamontovaitė (LTU), Nerm (GEO), Rituparna Rana (IND) and others. Each of their stories have inspired, uplifted, and strengthened me on my own.
Miami Basel Photo Diary! Soak in that Sun, Baby!
Images and text by Sandra Ratkovic
Berlin
Palm trees line the entrance to Art Basel Miami 2021. I was very excited to visit the American offshoot of the famous Art Basel fair. International galleries, good-humored visitors who did not let the corona pandemic spoil their mood and wonderful weather ensured a fantastic afternoon full of art in the Florida sun. Miami and Art Basel - I'll definitely visit you again next year!
Here are some impressions from the art fair:
All Photos: © by Sandra Ratkovic
In closing, we would like to offer you our “German Words of the Month,” an International Paneling Exclusive!
Tasty Terms to Share with Friends and Family this Holiday Season!
"Saftig” pronounced Zaf-tig = Juicy
“Würzig," pronounced Vur-zig = Well seasoned, spicy
In a sentence: “Die Würst is saftig UND Würzig!" Meaning, “The sausage is juicy AND spicy!”
Bitteschön! Happy 2022!