Very unique art festival in my hometown these days (pictures)

[Kirsten]

Right now, our MonumentArt-ArtMonument show is taking place. The idea is to use abandoned, partly ruinous buildings in our town center as an exhibition area for various artists to show their work. For nine days, these buildings (almost all of them half-timbered houses, the oldest from the 13th century) are opened to the public, and it's really exciting to explore them.

Here are some pictures:

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_15.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_14.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_39.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_40.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_42.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_43.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_46.jpg

http://www.catmom.de/2013/DKKD_47.jpg

[Karen]

What a cool idea! Do the artists provide the furniture, etc, as well as the actual artwork?

[Kirsten]

Karen, I think some artists provided the furniture as they are part of the installation; as in the first three pictures. But the living room in the 4th picture must be the remains of the former owners; at least that was my impression.

[Karen]

Are there that many abandoned buildings there? It seems like someone would want to live in them!

Still, interesting idea for an art exhibit, and maybe someone will think "That piece would look so much better in MY house with clean walls ..."

[Kirsten]

Yes, there are many abandoned buildings in the town center these days; very old houses that do not match our modern standards. The idea of the festival (it's taking place every two years since 2007) is to draw peoples' attention to these buildings, and some of them have found new owners that way. It's an award winning concept, btw. :)

[Karen]

Wow, I cannot imagine it! I adore old buildings, and they obviously have good walls intact, structural integrity - it seems it would be easier - and more economical - to rehab one old building than build new!

[Kirsten]

That's right, Karen, but to match these days' standards, a lot of rebuilding/restructuring would be required. I grew up in such a house, but these days, I cannot imagine to live like that. For example, we had no bathroom. We had a toilet cabin in the stairways and we used to wash ourselves in the kitchen sink, go figure! Later, my dad installed a shower in a very tiny room between our living room and our kitchen. As a child, it seemed normal to me, but today, I wouldn't want to live like that.

[Karen]

That's right, Karen, but to match these days' standards, a lot of rebuilding/restructuring would be required. I grew up in such a house, but these days, I cannot imagine to live like that. For example, we had no bathroom. We had a toilet cabin in the stairways and we used to wash ourselves in the kitchen sink, go figure! Later, my dad installed a shower in a very tiny room between our living room and our kitchen. As a child, it seemed normal to me, but today, I wouldn't want to live like that.

Wow, that's surprising! I mean, not for the 13th century, but for the 20th, sure! Of course we do not have any building that old around here, 300 years is considered very old, and rare! Gosh that just sets my mind ticking, planning - you know, Step 1, install modern plumbing! Step 2 - a kitchen! and on we go! Well, it is a good thing they are very far away from me, it is just tempting!

It seems like modernizing one building a year would be good practice for a technical school or something - do they ever do that?

[Kirsten]

Technical schools don't do that (although it's a good idea!), but we have a unique project right now (also part of ArtMonument-MonumentArt): 9x24, an entire half-timbered house (abandoned after a fire in 2004), now rebuilt within the 9 days of the festival, 24 hours a day - only by volunteers. :-)

Since you're interested in these old buildings, I'd suggest you'd check my FB album with pictures of that rotten building (took them in April this year):
https://www.facebook.com/kirsten.scheffel/media_set?set=a.10200811761083799.1073741842.14566 15523&type=3

[Asiel]

What an interesting concept Kirsten-- what a great way to put those old buildings to use and get people to visit them. Love the pictures, almost makes on want to take out pen and paper and see what could be done with those old remains... what a great project that would be.
We have absolutely nothing like that here, the old buildings, and I mean the buildings that were considered landmarks here were demolished in favour of modern offices some look like they're made of all glass--I don't really care for the new look, it would have been nice to keep the old landmarks that our children and grandchildren will now never see.
Love the pictures, thanks for sharing. I bet the history behind some of those buildings would make for some interesting reading.

[Karen]

Another thought would be to start a writing contest - one building at a time, as they seem to have stories to tell that writers would have a good time imagining!

[Kirsten]

Asiel, that's so sad that the old buildings in your area have been replaced. Here, they cannot do that so easily because there's such a thing as preservation of sites of historic interest; even renovating buildings needs to be done in accordance with these rules.

I'm sure all these houses would have lots of interesting stories to tell, I always wonder what these walls have seen in all these centuries... Unfortunately, most of the records got lost in WW2. However, a writing contest, as Karen has suggested, might be a good idea. :-)

[Karen]

I'm sure all these houses would have lots of interesting stories to tell, I always wonder what these walls have seen in all these centuries... Unfortunately, most of the records got lost in WW2. However, a writing contest, as Karen has suggested, might be a good idea. :-)

Hee hee - maybe that could be your next "job" - start a contest, and get people to sponsor prizes, etc., and get grants to pay yourself a small salary as part of it!

And do, please post some photos (nature, or other) over here on Pet Talk, too - you know I love to write poems to match them!

[Kirsten]

Hee hee - maybe that could be your next "job" - start a contest, and get people to sponsor prizes, etc., and get grants to pay yourself a small salary as part of it!

And do, please post some photos (nature, or other) over here on Pet Talk, too - you know I love to write poems to match them!

I'm sure the organizers will come up with something interesting for 2015. :)

And as for nature pictures... I haven't taken any this year. :o I just wasn't in the mood to take the same kind of pictures over and over again. Maybe next year.

[robinh]

As always, your pictures are fabulous. I like this idea. Very interesting way to make old new again.

[Karen]

I'm sure the organizers will come up with something interesting for 2015. :)

And as for nature pictures... I haven't taken any this year. :o I just wasn't in the mood to take the same kind of pictures over and over again. Maybe next year.

Oh, Kirsten, any pictures will do, doesn't need to be nature ones! I just love your photos, and they are always good for writing about!

[Litterati]

To me they look like fabulously detailed stage sets. Now all that is needed is someone to write the script.:) Back in university I took a directing course where we had to present a scene. The class was held in an old sorta rundown building so to make stage set a snap our group chose a scene from a play set in England in the late 50s ( A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney) and furnished a section of the classroom. The old-fashioned radiators, window frames, flooring was spot on! This brings back memories!

[Barbara]

Wow- that is exciting!
I remember that in one documenta year there was an extra exhibition -kind of an off-documenta which also had installations in Hann. Münden in some old houses. (I suppose it was 20 or 15 years back). That was fantastic.

[phesina]

What a good idea! These are stunning, and your photos as always are breathtaking, Kirsten. Thank you!

I wonder if this would work in Detroit, which is loaded with abandoned homes and other buildings.

[Kirsten]

Oh, Kirsten, any pictures will do, doesn't need to be nature ones! I just love your photos, and they are always good for writing about!

I hope I will take any nice pictures in the fall, I have to admit that throughout the springtime and summer, I haven't taken any pictures at all, except band photography and old buildings. :o


To me they look like fabulously detailed stage sets. Now all that is needed is someone to write the script.:) Back in university I took a directing course where we had to present a scene. The class was held in an old sorta rundown building so to make stage set a snap our group chose a scene from a play set in England in the late 50s ( A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney) and furnished a section of the classroom. The old-fashioned radiators, window frames, flooring was spot on! This brings back memories!

That sounds like fun! :)


Wow- that is exciting!
I remember that in one documenta year there was an extra exhibition -kind of an off-documenta which also had installations in Hann. Münden in some old houses. (I suppose it was 20 or 15 years back). That was fantastic.

For some reason, I don't remember that; maybe I was too young at that time... :o But I do remember the installations set up in my hometown during the Expo 2000, some are still existing. Like our "water carpet" of which I have recently taken a series of pictures. :)


What a good idea! These are stunning, and your photos as always are breathtaking, Kirsten. Thank you!

I wonder if this would work in Detroit, which is loaded with abandoned homes and other buildings.

In fact, I can see this working in Detroit. A while ago, I saw a report on tv about Detroit's abandoned buildings. Some of them looked really cool, a perfect stage for exhibitions! :)