die Ideenfabrik

remember when?

2011-10-17T05:20:00.000+02:00

a holz video - had this for so long...finally did a small edited version of it:

magic dragon

2011-08-08T18:18:00.000+02:00

a music video of Rainer Hirl's "Magic Dragon" with his very own invented Acpad Guitar.

Edited by Ashley Benzwie and put together by Ashley Benzwie, Elisa Zambelli, Rainer Hirl, Maria De Corrado, and Jessica Snidersich

distraction - installation berlin, neukölln

2011-02-19T00:36:00.000+01:00

Anthons Experiment, stream here!

2011-02-08T19:38:00.000+01:00

Anthons Experiment

2011-01-26T15:39:00.001+01:00

It is a film premiere....in the last chance we have. We would love for you to join us on the cozy couches of the Frühperle (Boddinstr 57A) and come see our latest short film, Anthons Experiment ....just before we venture off into new places.

Wir freuen uns!
Viele Liebe Grüsse,
Ashley und Elisa

Wie Marmelade ! finally

2010-12-11T00:12:00.004+01:00

Drinnen ist ein Vogel! Komplet auf you tube!

2010-12-06T15:23:00.006+01:00

trailer...Drinnen ist ein Vogel

2010-11-13T10:43:00.000+01:00

here's a three-minute teaser. do not be fooled this is an Ideenfabrik collective project. It only says my name at the end, because I had to cut 3 minutes to use for a fellowship application, and I was supposed to put my name somewhere in the footage.

Drinnen ist ein Vogel, details from ashley benzwie on Vimeo.

the hofs

2010-08-22T23:10:00.003+02:00

The Hofs
Jorge Campos / Fernelly Sarria. mit Juliet Newell. more city.

DRINNEN IST EIN VOGEL, der Film

2010-07-11T19:40:00.003+02:00

festival des traumbaus

2010-06-30T01:26:00.004+02:00

sneak preview

2010-06-29T15:56:00.014+02:00

Film Premiere:

Sa, 17. juli 2010
to be shown at the: Rixpack Hostel

Karl-Marx Str 75

Neukölln, Berlin

party, food, film !

48

2010-06-15T13:20:00.003+02:00

ein flyerr

2010-06-10T16:48:00.002+02:00

was fuer ein DOKUFILM? -- what's with our documentary?

2010-06-02T10:36:00.007+02:00

ENGLISH VERSION:

Neukolln. There are ‘An und Verkauf’ shops, flea markets, and items strewn across across the streets. In the house, there are possessions that are kept and loved and there are there are the others that are simply stored and collected--dismissed. How should one manage all of this?

Here the objects are in constant motion between people and locations (e.g. from homes onto the streets). The objects themselves hold significant information about their owners and surroundings, but so do the journeys that they undergo. They are circulating. Close observation of this movement triggered a search for stories, those that are true and those that are left to be imagined.

For our project, we will create a documentary. We have been collecting an array of footage that will reflect the movement of Neukolln. This will contain portraits and conversations of different personalities highlighting the diversity of our environment. We will also implement more fantastic bits creating small, playful scenarios using found objects from the kiez. From our processes, interactions with the neighbors are some kind of interaction with the passerbys interested in what we are doing at the time. We want to create possibilities, to redefine attachments, to find new uses and new ways of interaction. Where lies the agreement between persons and objects in a common space that is in constant fluxus state?

The documentary consummates with the construction of installation in the open air with open invitation (Donaustrasse Nachbarenfest/48 Stunden Neukolln, June 26-27). Festival des Traumbaus closes at a later date with a public screening of the documentary, the final installment. The support of Quartiers-Management Donaustrasse-Nord made this possible.

The composer of the project is a group of starry eyed, warmhearted, mish-mash of enthusiastic artists, die Ideenfabrik. Moving fluidly from visual and conceptual art to music, the desire for experimentation is ever present. Assembled are a group of nine very different personalities from all over the world. The goal is ultimately collaboration towards inspiration and action.

DEUTSCH VERSION:

Neukölln. Wie viele Dinge umgeben uns? - hier gibt es An- und Verkauf-Läden, Trödelmärkte und so viele Objekte, die man auf der Strasse finden kann. In jedem Hause, gibt es Dinge, die gesammelt und geliebt werden, andere die gehortet werden, bis das Interesse an ihnen verloren geht und sie weggeworfen werden.

Die Objekte bewegen sich zwischen Menschen und Orten. Sie enthalten wichtige Informationen über ihre Besitzer, die ihnen unterschiedlichste Bedeutungen geben. Sie sind im ständigen Umlauf.

Nähere Betrachtung dieser Bewegung inspiriert uns, die Geschichte, die sie zu erzählen haben, zu portraitieren – einige wahrhaftig, andere die die Phantasie anregen.Unser Projekt ist eine Dokumentation dieser Geschichten. Seit geraumer Zeit sammeln wir Material, das die Bewegung der Neuköllner widerspiegelt. Es enthält Portraits und Interviews mit unterschiedlichen Persönlichkeiten zur Präsentation der Vielfalt ihrer Umgebung. Wir werden mit Gegenständen (Objekten), die sich im Kiez finden, kleine fantastische Szenarien kreieren, die die Bewegung Neuköllns widerspiegeln.

Wir wollen neue Möglichkeiten schaffen, um den Begriff von Anhaftung neu zu definieren und neue Wege der Interaktion zu finden. Wo liegt die Beziehung zwischen Personen und Objekten in einem gemeinsamen Raum, der im ständigen Fluss ist? Die Konstruktion einer Open-AirSkulptur findet am 26./27. Juni 2010 im Rahmen des 48 Stunden Neukölln Festivals bzw. Nachbarschaftstsfestes in der Donaustrasse statt, zu dem alle herzlich eingeladen sind.

Das „Festival des Traumbaus“ schliesst mit der öffentlichen Projektion der Dokumentation zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt. Die Begründer des Projektes sind ein bunter Mix aus 9 idealistischen, warmherzigen, Künstlern der ganzen Welt: die Ideenfabrik. In ständiger Bewegung zwischen konzeptueller Kunst, Visualisierungen und Musik steht die Freude am Experimentieren ständing im Vordergrund. Ihr Ziel ist letztlich das Zusammenspiel von Inspiration und Aktion.

Die freundliche Unterstützung des Quartiers-Management Donaustrasse-Nord hat uns dieses Projekt ermöglicht.

latest

2010-05-24T17:19:00.007+02:00

Some other new projects that for one reason or another connect or not with other future projects from the collective:

a) Pepita music video
Paraic and Jorge will film a music video on a song from Mexican band Lunes, a day in life combined with setupstadt photo project idea and kostenloslife documentary project. Plus we use the donaustrasse as a starting set, meshing nicely with Festival des Traumbaus concept and needs. -visuals kommt später-

b) Strategies on space invasion perfomance
Sonia Klajnberg and Jorge will hold a performance 12th june in hobrechtstrasse 59.
..installation, live music and soundscapes, video and dance/performance.
the performance talks in images about entropy, chaos and a world / stage where everything plays an important / pointless role in it. the high importance of pointlessness of life, and because is pointless it should not be taken lightly, its very easy to get lost in it.

zum Verschenken

2010-05-23T11:54:00.004+02:00

Last Tuesday Fernelly and I sat on the stairs of Rauthaus Neukoelln:

Pair of leather shoes found near the Neukölln Stadtbad
a Detroit Pistons cap leftover from our Projekt Objekt objects.
A wooden box as pedestal and a sign that says 'Geschenk' (gift)

One of our interactions:

Man with light black/grey cap takes off his cap tries on our ours, tell him "es passt perfekt". The blue and red of the American team's cap matches his blue workers uniform perfectly. That day I didn't get a photo of him. UNTIL the next day when I saw him at Blage for Voku and reminded him of the exchange asking if I could photograph him. Apparently before I got there the man was making a scene throwing bottles telling the people at blage that he would call the police if they didnt quiet down, claiming he lived upstairs, but everyone tells me he was buzzing the apartment repeatedly trying to get into the building. Anyway unaware of all this,as I arrived to the bar, I saw him got excited as he was teling thers to quiet down, and I reminded him of the cap exchange from the day prior. Everyone around me had no idea what I was talking about, I asked him to take a photo, he took a break from his rants, smiled for two photos, then I assured him that I'd try to get people quitely inside. Then received a million questions from my friends as to what he was doing with 'my hat'

Speranto

2010-05-10T23:59:00.001+02:00

(In)corporate company is the musical face of ideenfabrik, take a look at their first video. oder? shot last year at ideenfabrik.

wie Marmelade ! !

2010-05-08T13:28:00.001+02:00

From you, to me, to us, back to you. On Saturday, May 15, 6 PM, at Ida Nowhere, the Ideenfabrik presents wie Marmelade, the second installment of Projekt Objekt (a past event in which guests were invited to bring 'something of theirs'). A onetime performance in which musical instruments tell stories inspired by the things obtained from you. Using film, the selected objects in the piece collaborate with uncanny characters to create peculiar environments. Ideenfabrik spent close to a year seeking the deserved purpose for these items, until their use became clear. Stories grew from objects. The ideas for the performance revealed themselves and thus emerged wie Marmelade.

Von dir, an mich, an uns, zurück an dich. Am Samstag den 15. Mai um 18:00 Uhr präsentiert die Ideenfabrik wie Marmelade, die Fortsetzung von Projekt Objekt (eine vorige Veranstaltung bei der die Gäste „etwas von sich“ mitbringen sollten). Eine einmalige Aufführung bei der Musikinstrumente Geschichten erzählen die von euren Gegentänden inspiriert wurden. Unheimliche Charaktere treffen auf auserwählte Gegenstände um auf Film eine eigentümlich Atmosphäre zu kreieren. Die Ideenfabrik hat fast ein ganzes Jahr nach einem Sinn für die erhaltenen Gegenstäde gesucht. Geschichten wuchsen aus Gegenständen. Die Ideen für diese Aufführung deckten sich auf und zeichneten sich ab wie Marmelade.

wie Marmelade - eine performanz - ein film

2010-05-05T15:28:00.001+02:00

from you, to me, to you

2010-04-28T13:25:00.002+02:00

Samstag, 15. Mai.
Ida Nowhere, Donaustr 79
Gegen 18:30 uhr

A screening of our latest project, a film inspired by your objects, and live musical performance. It's not a concert. In fact it's only about twenty minutes of the important stuff, then drinks and fun. Hope to see you there, and this time punctuality is important or you'll miss it!

Spontaneous Installation

2010-04-28T13:09:00.007+02:00

Spontaneous installation. Collect materials from the sidewalks. Install somewhere else. Done.

Hasen Heide - April 10.

Stories and Objects, and Places and Seasons

2010-04-26T21:26:00.002+02:00

BASEBALL CAP, VATICAN, WINTER

Der Kardinal: MCCCXI ANNUS DOMINIS CONGRESS DEN 12.12.1972

Der Kardinal fängt immer die Treffung an.

Er sagt das Datum und dann gückt alle an.

Die Entscheidung ist gefallen.

Gibt es Einwände? Er fordert Gegenstimmen heraus. Mit seinem Blick. Doch, dieser spricht auch von Unveränderbarkeit.

In der vordersten Bankreihe steht ain älterer Mann auf. Etwas stimmt nicht. Widerstand sieht man ihm schon äussserlich an. Er trägt ein Baseballcap in den Heiligen Hallem.

"Herr Kardinal, es ist Winter, wir sollten das Treffen am Morgen beginnen. Wenn es hell wird. Das Tageslicht nutzen. Die Kälte spüren. Dieser Ort ist zu künstlich, die Kerzen sind zu künstlich, sie erzeugen Sentimentalität. Suchen wir beim nächsten Treffen das Lebendige draußen, in der Kälte".

Der Kardinal denkt zwei Minuten nach.

"Dann müssen wir uns ernst vorbereiten. Wir wollen nicht dass unsere Füßen frieren, dass unsere Kopf nicht mehr denken kann weil es so kalt ist dass die Neuronen und ihre Verwindungen nicht mehr Eigenschaften haben, dass..."

"Warten Sie mal ein Moment!"-sagt der Baseballcapmann-"Ich glaube dass Sie zu schnell denkt. Ich meine: vor-Tat-stellen. So würde man nichts machen, wissen Sie? Ich bin Pro-Gegenwart. Also, Gegen-Wart, Gegen warten. Wenn man eine Idee hat sollte man aktiv sein. Obwohl...ja....manchmal es ist leichter gesagt als getan..."

Der Kardinal denkt nochmal nach. Dieses Mal vielleicht ein bisschen länger als das letzte.

"PAUSE!"- Rief der Mann mit dem Baseballcap. Es war gar nicht seine Rolle etwas entscheiden so wie wann pause machen oder so.

Der Regisseur war ein bisschen zu aufgeregt, wie immer. Sein besondere Art und Weise nachdänklich zu sein und an der Welt streiten.

Aber er mögte das ganze Ding, er mögte nicht immer die Leute weil die dachten dass sie Recht hatten! Ich meine es war sein Film und wenigsten endlich in seinem Film war er selber derjeniger der Recht hatte.

Er dachte an seiner Mutter. Die Kardinale assen Brötchen und Käse und Weinflaschen waren schon auf die Banken.

Die Kirche war voll mit Stimmen.

Dieser Film soll protestieren.

Aufstehen und wiedersprechen.

Amerikanische Baseballcap im Zemtrum der Kirche. Der Regisseur überlegt, wie er Autorität erlangen könnte. Braucht es Macht, um seine Vorstellungen in die Welt zu bringen?

peoplewithin

2010-04-20T02:41:00.001+02:00

10

2010-04-20T02:19:00.002+02:00

mondays' creations

2010-03-31T01:38:00.000+02:00

the below are inspired from the items we obtained at our 'object party' from way back when. we had a workshop performing different group writing excericises. it became really fun and interesting especially writing creatively in non-native languages. there are more to be transcribed, and more to be created.

Eating Sesame Sticks

2010-03-31T01:35:00.000+02:00

It's crazy how my interests change over time. When I was younger this used to be one of my favorite records. I listened to it so often and always thought it was so girly and boring that my mom would grow plants in the garden. Music was so much cooler to me then. My wife wouldn't put up with how I used to last my records. Plus I think she appreciates it more in this state. The things we do for people.

Maria (that's my wife) still has her stuffed bunny in our bed. Do you see me taking that apart to make myself an ottoman to stretch my feet out on? Na ja, I like to garden now. Just sometimes I question how much of myself I sacrifice of my 'old self' whatever that means. She still has her childhood treasure as a relic, her stuffed bunny and she keeps it in such an intimate place. In our bed! All I see of the old me when I look around this house is my favorite record, now a flower pot painted yellow. Who am I?

My favorite record becoming a pot. Is it change or letting the plant dry out? Shall a new plant be planted? ...in my former record?

Such a new form, a new use and another place in the house. Yeah, I did this for you Maria. I transformed myself, I molded who I am to be who you would like to love. Watching the red sun on our garden, eating Sesame Sticks.

Talking about us.

All this time, Talking about us. I don't know what I actually told you all this time. I will always see the pot as my favorite record. But I learn how to like the plant in it; Liking myself who likes plants, this comes harder.

We'll talk about it later...I love you darling!

A paper airplane hits me on the back of the head.

--Daddy, Daddy look what I made!

--Great, that's so great, did you make that all by yourself?

--All by myself, mam didn't even help me, I swear

--Show me how it flies...wow that's cool!

Junior is always a reminder to me why it's so important to have this love for Maria. It's my responsibility. It's not all about me anymore. What is music, or a plant, or even a stuffed bunny to a child?

Verlassen, der Dschungel

2010-03-30T23:39:00.000+02:00

In the Jungle, there I was. Dry throat. Sweaty forehead. Waiting for my guide. I hear a noise and look at my only sense of security my compass. It points Southwest.

Findet er mich in diesem Pflanzengewirr? Jeder weg sieht gliech aus. Er war nur kurz zum Pinkeln ein wenig in den Wald gegangen. Mein als wird trockener. In meiner Tasche habe ich noch einen Halsbonbon.

Das mach 'ich' ich will's essen. Wo is es??' Wo, wo? Ich muss jetzt alles aus dem tasche rausmachen. Es muss irgendwo sein. Das war noch der typ von gestern, Wo ist es jetzt??

Oh Scheiße. Nein. Es hat die seiten vom mein buch geklebt! Sheiße! ! 124-128 sind Jetzt nur süse und die geschichte wird ein loch haben, na gut.

Es ist wie das Loch meines Lebens. Ich hatte meine Planen, ich hatte alles schon im Kopf was ich mit meinem ganzes Leben machen wollte. Ich dachte dass dieses "urlaub" nur ein Paar Wochen sein würde. Ich habe noch ein Leben zuhause. Was ist"zuhause?" Wer war ich und wer bin ich jetzt. Ich frage mich diese Fragen als ich diese alte Photo von mir un ihm anshaue. Ich habe es in meinem Tasche gesehen als ich für diese Halsbonbon esucht habe. Was machen wir hier in mittel dem Dschungle machen? Werde ich ihn noh mal sehen, wird er je zurückkoomen, es ist schon seit langem dass er für diese Pinkeln gegangen ist. Ich fühle mich ganz alleine. Ich will nach Hause zurückkoomen.

Jedenfalls, wer kann ich vertrauen? Mein sachen würden beruhrt. Es gibt hier kein privatheit. Wenn un wenn er ist wieder da soll ich immernoch ihm befolgen? Ich habe angst. Wann er hat eine Waffe oder was? Vielleicht est is alle ein gross plan für mir töten oder aus rauben, oder beides. Vielleicht ich wede ein Sakrifizierung sein. Oh Gott, zu viel filme hab ich schon geguckt. Deshelb ich hab diese Abenteuer angefangt. Hä? Was ist das geräuch? Ich höre jemand. Ok Atem, atem....es ist kein film. Aber films kommt von irgendwo, oder? Ok...warte..atem. --Alles klar. --Alles klar. --Alles klar

An Album

2010-03-17T11:38:00.003+01:00

People within a Person cont'd

Festival des Traumbaus

2010-03-16T00:39:00.003+01:00

...morgen Quartiers Management werde ein Entscheidung machen....eeeeeeee. Hoffentlich alles werde schön klappen...

Festival des Traumbaus

Was? Wie? Warum?

zusammen mit einer Gruppe von Künstlern (Ideenfabrik) und den
Kiezbewohnern in einem öffentlichen open air Workshop/Veranstaltung in ein
größeres dreidimensionales Kunstobjekt zu verwandeln.
Kinder, Jugendliche und Einwohner/Innen aus dem Donaukiez werden hier
aktiv mit einbezogen. Die Künstler wollen mit den Anwohnern des Kiezes (z.B.
Familien, Einzelhändler, Studenten, Schüler, Kinder) vor der Veranstaltung
bereits in Kontakt treten, um sich über das Alltagsleben der Individuen und die
Wahrnehmung des Gemeinschaftsgefühls des Kiezes auszutauschen und
gegenseitig bewusst zu machen. Mit diesem ersten Kontakt sollen schon
Objekte, die nicht mehr benutzt werden wollen oder können (z.B. Holzbretter,
Bekleidung, elektrische Geräte, Verpackungen), von den Anwohnern auf der
Straße gesammelt werden.

Es ist vorgesehen, die Veranstaltung zum Nachbarschaftsfest am 26. Juni
2010 stattfinden zu lassen. In diversen Workshops (z. B. basteln, colorieren,
schneiden) werden die gesammelten und von den Teilnehmer/innen
mitgebrachten Objekte und Gegenstände kreativ mit den Künstlern in ein
gemeinsames Kunstwerk verwandelt.

Der ganze Prozess des Projektes wird videodokumentiert und später als Public
Screening aufgeführt. Es soll eine Entwicklung aufgezeigt werden, die einen
erfolgreichen kreativen Prozess der Gemeinschaft wiederspiegelt. Alle
beteiligten Akteure im Projekt erhalten somit ein Feedback und können ihre
Eindrücke austauschen und Anregungen für andere Kunst- und Kulturprojekte,
die von Relevanz für das Gebiet Donaukiez sind, sammeln. Auch anderen
Bewohnern wird damit diese Aktion erlebbar gemacht.

Kostüm ? Photoshoot

2010-03-10T19:40:00.002+01:00

Kleber kochen [homemade flour-paste]

2010-03-08T18:52:00.002+01:00

Mehl + Wasser = selbstgemacht Kleber

durchmischen

und abkalten

Details to any detail...

2010-02-26T19:38:00.002+01:00

With anyway of the many ways to seperate and coagulate, to be involved and remain mysterious, to say it strange or to say it straight, and the way that there is always room for too little and too much....

Stoked to see the transformation coming....

More People within a Person

2010-02-26T15:33:00.005+01:00

Marina

Fernelly

Troppo in ritardo

2010-02-26T09:24:00.004+01:00

Silvester its too late. 31 Dezember 2009.

Adjusted Date for Next Event

2010-02-24T00:54:00.004+01:00

Ok scratch Feb 20 - es ist schon verpasst.

MARCH 20 wahrscheinlich in die Schönstedtstraße in die nähe von Rathaus Neukölln.

Thema - Etwas wie Micro und Macro COSMUS. . . . Metamorphasis und so weiter.
Wie immer mit musik, künst, und getränke

Bestimmter Details Kommt sehhhhhhrrrrr bald. Bis dahin !

People within one person

2010-02-11T05:40:00.006+01:00

Sylvia

Ashley

Paraic

Jorge

Elisa

2010-02-11T03:51:00.001+01:00

Jessica

Proposed logo

2010-02-10T16:06:00.000+01:00

by Miguel Campos (mx)

Upcoming Event

2010-02-09T11:47:00.001+01:00

Save the Date for February 26.

Specific details are to be announced. But get ready for the next big Ideenfabrik event ! ! !

Story Book: Fox & Plows

2010-02-09T11:45:00.000+01:00

Elisa and Ashley are beginning to work on illustrated story with various fictional characters: including foxes, snowplows, and the snowiest winter one could imagine....sound familiar?

It is a very time consuming process but get excited for it !

Family Portraits

2010-02-08T11:20:00.008+01:00

Dienstag Abend: Licht 'Setup'

Mittwoch Abend: Photo Machen

Konzept: "FAMILY PORTRAITS" Kostüm machen / Photo Party, Kleider und Objekte mitbringen

' Friends are the family we choose '

Donaustraße 99! See you there (:

Silvester "it's too late" bilder

2010-02-05T02:53:00.005+01:00

Mostly random moments at the new year's party. Teatro Napoletano, Josma's works, Kuietsch and Toc-toc. More to come, hopefully.

Sylvester:It's too late

2010-01-08T02:35:00.000+01:00

After a delightful evening and early morning at Almost Photo studio weser. 191

many people passed through, passed out, dropped in, and spent money/time and experiences with us.

Beyond the ruckus from the circus,theater, and live music we will be planning many more delightful treats throught the remainder of 2010.

take a view of the evening....

Silvester. it's too late

2009-12-29T22:08:00.001+01:00

INCORPORATE COMPANY (www.myspace.com/incorporatecompany)
FROZEN FOCUS (www.myspace.com/frozenfocus)
THE OTHER MOTHER (www.myspace.com/chemagracia)
JOSMAS WORKS (www.myspace.com/josma_s_works)
other performers, that for one reason or the other have no website. and no, myspace doesn't sponsor this thing, its just coincidence. fröh Silverster

Silvester party at Weserstrasse. Musik, Performance, theatre. all night.

Unser Antrag - Projekt Objekt

2009-11-18T15:10:00.000+01:00

Künstler mit unterschiedlichen künstlerischen und nationalen Hintergründen bildeten Anfang 2009 eine Gruppe in Berlin, Neukölln. Sie hatten ähnliche Ziele und Ideen, aber unterschiedliche Blickwinkel und gründeten deshalb zusammen die Gemeinschaft "Ideenfabrik", mit dem Ziel sich gegenseitig künstlerisch zu inspirieren.

Die "Ideenfabrik" möchte nun eine Veranstaltung ausrichten und organisieren, die Objekte, Gebilde oder Gegenstände recycelt oder erneuert und diesen Prozess zusammen mit den Kiezbewohnern durchführen. Die Teilnehmer dieses Ereignisses bringen ihre eigenen Gegenstände mit, um diesen gemeinsam in spontanen Installationen und Skulpturen ein neues Gesicht zu verleihen.

In der Vergangenheit hat die Künstlergemeinschaft bereits eine Veranstaltung durchgeführt, bei welcher die Teilnehmer "Dinge mit persönlichem Bezug" mitbringen sollten. Diese Gegenstände waren dafür vorgesehen, für ein nächstes Ereignis vom Kollektiv der "Ideenfabrik" interpretiert und schließlich präsentiert zu werden. Den Teilnehmer soll die Möglichkeit gegeben werden, zu sehen, was aus diesen Objekten gemacht werden kann.

Wir möchten diese Idee nun auf einer größeren gemeinschaftlichen Ebene verwirklichen. Mit dem vorhandenen Material soll in diesem Projekt gearbeitet werden, sowie den Teilnehmern eine Idee zur Gestaltung, von den durch die "Ideenfabrik" bereits interpretierten und veränderten Dingen, gegeben werden. Hinzukommen sollen neue Gegenstände aus dem Kiez, die durch die Künstler gefunden und gesammelt werden. Dabei wird die Suche gefilmt und die gefunden Gegenstände und gedrehten Videos in das Projekt einbezogen.

Durch die Teilnahme des Kiezes wird das Projekt sich entwickeln, entfalten, sowie wachsen und sich verändern, beeinflusst durch eben diese Gesellschaft selbst. Die Idee hinter dieser Veranstaltung ist die Gelegenheit zu geben, die eigene Gemeinschaft im Spiegel zu sehen. Das Geschehnis ist für zwei Tage geplant.. Am Samstag wird gestaltet und dies filmisch dokumentiert, am Sonntag soll das Geschaffene erfahren werden, untermalt mit Live-Musik, Videoprojektionen, Speis und Drank.

englisch version kommt gleich ! !

if you lived here, you'd be home by now

2009-11-14T11:30:00.006+01:00

Ashley & Jess's Vernissage at ShangL HangL on Schönstedtsraße

The Next Page: Stories

2009-07-03T18:36:00.000+02:00

Get ready for another Ideenfabrik event. This time the starting concept is stories.

This will function with two stages of events for the public. The first one goes as follows:

Saturday, July 11.
Lenaustraße 12, Neukölln, Berlin 12055
(the orange buzzer - Rosemoore)

...but there's more ! !

You must bring 'something of yours' that you will give to us. Whatever that means to you, but you can't come in without it! With all of these objects that you bring to us at this first party we will create an installation for the next party (the date and location is to be announced). We will photograph you as you enter the party with your item and post these at the next event as well. If you really want to have some fun with this...write us a story - true or false, doesn't really matter, about your object. Or give us any story of yours even if it is unrelated to your thing.

Come only with that because, as per usual, there will be drinks and delicious multicultural food to keep you happy!

We will create stories using your things. Can't wait to see you there!

Project 1: Reflection

2009-07-03T18:12:00.001+02:00

The Woom Room… I ended up there because I was between homes upon my return to Berlin -- after visiting my first ever home in the states. I knew Fernelly decently and I was vaguely acquainted with some of the others, but I hadn't any true bonds yet established with this crew. Nonetheless, I was welcomed into the makeshift hostel that was Donaustraße 99.

It began with a meeting. There was a prompt as our focal point - Seduction & Consideration, and there was a date, May 29. The rest was to be determined. At this time, we were not yet a community. We all sort of discussed open ended possibilities for this collaboration at the end of the month, but no one yet knew what the others had to offer.

We discussed the idea of having workshops over the course of the month and so we held two formal ones: a discussion based around the concepts of masculinity and femininity and a figure drawing class where Paraic would stand in as our nude model. But these were only the workshops that we actually called so, because in reality there were workshops galore. All of which became just another part of the communication building and bonding process. We went on outings to abandoned houses, had weekend barbecues, and just normal life situations spent together on a day to day basis. And were there ever so many homemade dinners? I don't think one evening passed that I didn't find myself sharing a meal with at least 7 others, but more often up to 15 people. They say that it is imperative for the well-being of a family to share a meal together nightly, and clearly this rings true, because Ideenfabrik became a family...fast. A mini-UN, a microcosm: Germans, Californians, New Yorkers, Italians, British, French, Spanish, Mexicans, Norwegians, Swedish, Canadians - these people were at my 'table' daily.

It became something maybe only an idealist could dream of for the real world. But this was our real world and still is. Perhaps Utopia can only exist among a cross-section of society. And of course things were not entirely perfect; our tiny Utopia was by no means perfection. How can it be?

Often I found myself laughing at my life, wondering to myself (or perhaps out loud), when did I became such a hippy? I live in a fucking commune. But why is this idea considered to be so ridiculous anyway? Perhaps because people are so damn stubborn and unwilling to let go and really communicate with the people around them. If there is one thing that I have learned throughout my process in Berlin, it is that proper lines of communication are the key to, as Jess would say, a "Sweet Babe" life.

I thought about what outsiders would think when they saw some of our photos with all of us sleeping in piles and having shirtless-way-too-early-in-the-morning dance parties. The point is that any outsider must realize that this lifestyle, once interacted with, is just so contagious. Every single person that set foot into the black hole that was Ideenfabrik came out a little bit changed, but in the most positive way. Even for the ones that could only stay for a short time (this almost always included at least one overnight stay). Each person could feel the warmth and the open-mindedness that we had to offer. And so they too would feel compelled to contribute and never want to leave it. The community itself was Seduction & Consideration. It happened organically.

The culmination of our first project in the actual space combined Austellung (Exhibition) with Concert and Party. And WOW! Was there ever so much magic in the air as there was that night? The Austellung was just a marking point, merely a deadline in the middle of a process, but it was beautiful, for lack of a better word. (This word, probably due to language barriers, was thrown around the space incredibly frequently, but often was spot on). Everybody left the party with big smiles on their faces, but of course (we are in Berlin after all) very few left before sunrise, and most much after.

Post sunrise, probably about 30 of us (only about 5 had I truly known before this evening) were rolling around as a mere puddle of human beings within the 'woom' that Jess and I had fabricated. And yes fabricated is the perfect word: it was a pieced together whimsical, child's fort. Round and built with cloth; formed with umbrellas and lamps and a projection of a girl's shadow while using a sewing machine. The sounds of the sewing machine created a cadence in the background of the voices and music. Perhaps a heartbeat? But all together a feeling of domesticity. The video was a rhythm, a comforting, familiar rhythm. The space was filled with pillows and sub-levels of couches and mattresses, a perfectly organized disaster area of bodies.

And don't write it off just yet! Despite your probably perverse mind (or maybe just mine because I am the one defending this as I write), there was nothing sexual about any of this. Of course I'm sure there were people within this mass that were attracted to others (in fact I'm positive of It), but never once think that this communal slumber party atmosphere had anything to do with sex. It was quite the contrary, it naturally created a motherly, nurturing womb, and unless you are a Freudian analyst, you would realize that there is nothing sexual about this.

And then there was the living room, the performance space, formerly known as the dining room. This once red, orange, yellow, and flesh-colored room had undergone immense transformation. A travel through time and nearly 7 layers of wallpaper. The outer shell was of that typical Berlin aesthetic, textured and stucco-like. But it was worse then the typical texture with some sort of bizarre swirly flow to it. And than there were the ceiling tiles. They were adhered to a nice layer of mold and dust with a couple tiles ready to tumble down at any moment. They were geometric, old, discolored, and worse--styrofoam! Unaware of what lay beneath, one afternoon after a lunchtime salad, Elisa and I knew that all must be torn off. And we discovered such beautiful things beneath that first tear. It was the tops of trees. We ripped off more and more; we were so intrigued. It was a landscape, an American landscape, perhaps the Grand Tetons. Then came down some ceiling tiles to expose the plaster that lay beneath.

Once begun, the project could not be eradicated; there was no turning back. And oh was it laborious! I became obsessive. I thought of nothing else. I was compulsive about this space, and it didn't matter to me if no one was around to help me. It didn't matter that my muscles were aching and that my spine was contorting in strange positions becoming stiff and sore. I made it my business to expose the stories that were hiding beneath those suffocating outer layers. And when people decided to help, it just meant more help, and I was happy. And we found relics, gorgeous relics within each wall. In some cases I even found hairs. Hairs of people who labored over these ceilings and walls long before I had.

And people added to the newly exposed history with their own contributions of painting and drawing. Something I was at first hesitant to accept, but it worked in the end. The space continued to live and breath and so it only made sense that our hands not only set the old stories free but also added to them. Like the walls of Neanderthal's cave, we contributed to history with art. At times it was difficult to let go of my personal aesthetic for the benefit of collaboration. I found myself at times taking on a leadership role, but I realized that this should not make me simply a dictator (something that Communism often lends itself to), but instead a motivator. And it functioned, and the space breathed once again for it's inhabitants.

-Ashley

introductory bbq

2009-07-03T18:11:00.003+02:00

Follow along through the next few entries to see the process that we underwent over the course of a month. Beginning with a bbq to get to know each other and ending with an exhibition/party. It was about bonding and working together to achieve something great.

w(h)orkshops

2009-07-03T18:11:00.001+02:00

we held workshops as sort of means to discover each others strengths and to simply get to know each other. This included discussions, figure drawing classes, etc. the term whorkshop was simply a 'lost in translation' spelling error, but somehow fitting

naked dance party etc - bonding continues

2009-07-03T18:10:00.001+02:00

we had some parties along the way, some wound up with shirtless dance parties. we really became a family. also note the evolution of the actual space as you peruse.

It Begins with a Tear

2009-07-03T17:38:00.000+02:00

And then it really began. The physical labor part of it anyway. The first tear of wallpaper the removal of a disgusting ceiling tile.

Prep. Just 2 Days to go

2009-07-03T16:18:00.000+02:00

Pressure is high and the amount of time left is low. Somehow as it always does, it came together though.

* * THE PARTY ! ! !

2009-07-03T14:52:00.000+02:00

we were prepared in time. the place was ready and boy did it fill up. we sold beer and homemade food to try to make our expenses back. there were performances and things looked wonderful. the space functioned precisely how it was meant to. everyone fully enjoyed themselves.

Aftermath of Seduction & Consideration

2009-07-03T14:32:00.000+02:00

The place was a disaster. Together we cleaned it all up hungover and exhausted. Then sorted through the money we made from selling food and beer. We made just a bit more then we paid for total materials. And with that we had just another amazing meal. We used the projector we were borrowing to have a movie night...I don't know how many of us were awake enough to last through the whole thing.