BOOK LAUNCH: Tbilisi - It’s Complicated. Edited by Data Chigholashvili, Nini Palavandishvili, Marike Splint. 10.10.2019 in the State Silk Museum in Tbilisi.

Thursday, 10. Oktober 2019 at 7pm in the State Silk Museum, 6, Tsabadze street, 0112 Tiflis

We are inviting you to the book launch event of Tbilisi - It’s Complicated, an art book by GeoAIR that critically reflects on the changes that Tbilisi has faced in recent decades. Where the official motto of the city is “Tbilisi, the city that loves you,” this book proposes an alternative - “Tbilisi, it’s complicated.”

The idea for this book originated from the projects GeoAIR has realized in and about Tbilisi for over a decade. The contributions consist of adapted projects that took place in the framework of GeoAIR’s artist-in-residence program, as well as works implemented by the organization itself. Several artworks dealing with urban topics of Tbilisi have also been adapted and contributed to this publication by their creators. Additionally, some contributions were made specifically for this book.

Edited by Data Chigholashvili, Nini Palavandishvili, Marike Splint.

Contributing authors: Abandoned (re)creation (Andrea Kalinová and Martin Zaiček), Tigran Amiryan, Oleksandr Burlaka, Tamuna Chabashvili, Data Chigholashvili, Onno Dirker, Paula Ďurinová, Christian van der Kooy, Lado Lomitashvili, Tamar Nadiradze, Nini Palavandishvili, Lena Prents, Ana Ramazashvili, Nino Sekhniashvili, Marike Splint, Katharina Stadler, Sophia Tabatadze, Giorgi Zagareli.

Published by Onomatopee.

The making of the book was supported by GeoAIR, UCLA, CuratorLab from Konstfack and Kunstpunkt Berlin.

Launching event in Tbilisi is supported by Kunstpunkt Berlin. We would also like to thank the State Silk Museum for hosting the event.

The presentation will be held in Georgian with translation into English.

All photos by Geoair Archidrome www.geoair.ge

EXHIBITION: Pop-Up Chess Palace - On Architecture, Ideology and Chess, June 22-26, 2017, ZK/U Berlin

Curated by Nini Palavandishvili and Lena Prents

Participating artists: Atu Gelovani, Lasha Kabanashvili, Aleksander Komarov, Lado Lomitashvili, Magdalena Pięta, Nino Sekhniashvili, Tatia Skhirtladze and Naili Vakhania
Chess program: Uli Huemer

"Chess palace" may sound unusual in the Western European context. However, it was a common idea in the Soviet Union, where chess was widely played in its pioneer palaces, cultural houses and workers' clubs. In a few years after the October Revolution, the young Soviet Union managed to turn a "useless game of the bourgeoisie" into a sensible pastime of the working masses. After the Second World War Soviet domination in chess became an important ideological argument for the superiority of the system. In the 1970s the special palaces were created for chess - not in the centre though, but in the peripheral Soviet republics of Georgia, Armenia and Belarus. These buildings are distinguished by their striking architecture, sophisticated design and intelligent placement into the urban environment.

The exhibition Pop-Up Chess Palace focuses on Tbilisi Chess Palace and Alpine Club - architecturally the most demanding and ambitious one among these palaces. The curators of the exhibition question how to generally deal with the unique features of the modernist socialist architecture and how the ideal content of these buildings can be lived today.

The exhibition is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia in the frame of German-Georgian Friendship Year 2017 program.

Photos by David Meskhi


More: geoair.ge/8x8 future neve -happened

GEOAIR: 2017 calendar with Soviet period mosaics from different regions of Georgia

GeoAIR's new product is out on the market - 2017 calendar with Soviet period mosaics from different regions of Georgia. Among them are Vartsikhe Hydrostation and Shukhruti Mining, seeing of which might be hard without special permissions. Starting from today you can buy them at 17 კვადრატი, Funduki / ფუნდუკი and წიგნის მაღაზია სანტა ესპერანსა - Bookshop Santa Esperanza shops, including Georgian National Gallery bookshop. Enjoy and if you get intrigued, book our tours on Soviet Period Mosaics at ATT - Alternative Tours of Tbilisi

Source: facebook.com/geoair.archidrome

More to Soviet Mosaic: soviet-mosaics.ge
or here: facebook.com/sovietmosaics 

ART: 'Spontaneous Frameworks' mit Künstlern aus Georgien/Tbilisi in KV, Bükü, HGB Gallery / 22/04 - 9/05 in Leipzig (hgb-leipzig.de)

(hgb-leipzig.de) Ein Ausstellungsprojekt von Kristina Semenova im Masterstudiengang Kulturen des Kuratorischen in Kooperation mit der Klasse Prof. Tina Bara, KV - Verein für zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig und dem Kunstraum Бükü

+++

Exhibition project by Kristina Semenova in Master program Cultures of the Curatorial in cooperation with the class of Prof. Tina Bara, Бükü and KV - Leipzig

Eröffnungen/openings:
22/04 um 19 Uhr, KV
24/04 um 19 Uhr, Бükü
28/04 um 19 Uhr, HGB Galerie

KünstlerInnen/artists: Tina Bara, Aude Benhaïm, Fine Bieler, Natalia Bougai, Caroline Böttcher, Carmen Catuti, Ana Chaduneli, Tamar Chaduneli, Ana Chorgolashvili, Dali Dardzhaniya, David Datunashvili, Denise Fragner, Nora Frohmann, Zarah Gutsch, Matthias Julian, David Kukhalashvili, Marius Land, Sophia Lapiashvili, Natalia Nebieridze, Marcel Noack, Barbara Proschak, Teresa Schönherr, Steffi Schöne, Giorgi Tabatadze, Sophia Tabatadze, Anna Voswinckel

Kuratiert von/ curated by: Kristina Semenova in Zusammenarbeit mit/in association with Prof. Tina Bara und/and Anna Voswinckel 

Spontanität geht über geregelte Rahmen und festgeschriebene Gesetze hinaus. Als Eigenschaft wird sie dann als positiv empfunden, wenn man sie aus der Distanz beobachtet und in anderen Kulturen als etwas Authentisches und Emotionales wahrnimmt. Wenn man in Georgien unterwegs ist, so scheint Vieles von Spontanität geprägt zu sein. Spontane Handlungsresultate, die sich weniger auf lang verhandelte Planungen und Konzepte, sondern auf das schnelle Reagieren einzelner Menschen oder Bevölkerungsgruppen beziehen, werden in der Architektur, in der Dingwelt, aber auch in den sozialen Beziehungen sichtbar und erfahrbar. Die „spontane Architektur“ als inoffizielle und ohne Expertise errichtete Bausubstanz findet ihren Ausdruck in verschiedenen Formaten und prägt mittlerweile das Stadtbild von Tbilisi. Kamikaze loggias als eine Erweiterung des Wohnraumes, provisorische Architekturstützen als Schutz gegen den Einsturz von Häusern und spontane Kreuze als Gedenkmonumente ohne Genehmigung im öffentlichen Raum sind einige wenige Beispiele dafür. Sind solche spontanen Formen und Formate der Selbstorganisation eine Reaktion auf ökonomische Missstände oder wohnt diese Art von Spontanität der georgischen kulturellen Identität inne? Ist es der westliche Blick, der diese Spontanität erst als solche definiert? Und wie kann „spontane Architektur“ in künstlerische Arbeiten und in Ausstellungsräume übersetzt werden? 

Das Ausstellungsprojekt Spontaneous Frameworks zeigt Arbeiten Studierender von Prof. Tina Bara und eingeladener KünstlerInnen und ArchitektInnen aus Tbilisi, und versucht, eine transkulturelle Perspektive auf scheinbar lokales Phänomen der "spontanen Architektur' zu werfen. Drei parallel laufende Ausstellungen an drei verschiedenen Orten verhandeln das Thema durch das Prisma der linguistischen, räumlichen und kulturellen Bedeutungen des Begriffes Übersetzung.

+++

Spontaneity extends above and beyond regulated frameworks and written laws. As a feature it is then perceived as positive when gazed from a distance, and perceived as something authentic and emotional, in other cultures. When one travels in Georgia, so much seems to be characterised by spontaneity. Outcomes of spontaneous action, relate less to long-negotiated plans and concepts, than on the swift reactions of individuals. These outcomes are visible and tangible in architecture, in the world of objects, but also in social relations. 'Spontaneous architecture' as unofficial and crudely erected built structure, is expressed in various forms and characterises the current cityscape of Tbilisi. Kamikaze loggias as extensions of the living space, provisional architectural supports as protection against the collapse of houses, and spontaneous crucifixes, as unauthorised commemorative monuments within the public space, are but a few examples. Are such spontaneous forms and formats of self-organisation responses to economic inadequacies, or, are these types of spontaneity inherent to Georgian cultural identity? Is the Western gaze, the sole definer of this spontaneity as such? And how can 'spontaneous architecture' be translated in art works and exhibition spaces?

The exhibition project Spontaneous Frameworks showcases works of students studying under Prof. Tina Bara and invited artists and architects from Tbilisi in an effort to cast a transcultural perspective on seemingly local phenomena of 'spontaneous architecture'. Three exhibitions will run parallel in three different locations and negotiate the issue through the prism of linguistic, spatial and cultural meanings of the term translation.

Rahmenprogramm/frame program
22-29/04

Ana Chorgolashvili (Tbilisi):
Index: Soviet Architecture in Tbilisi
Künstleringespäch mit Videopräsentationen/artist talk with video screening, KV 25/04, 6 pm 
After the collapse of the USSR, Soviet urban planning and development in Georgia halted, particularly in the capital, Tbilisi. At the 20th century’s end, in the period of transformations and political and economic crisis, the centralised system of civic government failed, resulting in many micro schemes. Inhabitants began constructing spaces individually; some architectural hybrids originated, becoming spontaneous segments of the city, giving the capital a new look. From the beginning of the 21st century, 'new' building priorities were announced in Tbilisi, resulting in a massive city wide building process. Parts of old buildings disappeared, while other parts re-colored accordingly, had lost their original look and original message. A non-systemic approach has become a new governance system. Ana Chorgolashvili will speak about her ongoing research project Index focusing on Soviet architectural heritage in Tbilisi and its post-Soviet development.
 

Fahrradtour mit der Kuratorin durch die Ausstellungen
Guided bike tour with curator
29/04, 2 pm, Treffpunkt/meeting point: KV
Dauer/duration: 2 h 
Curator of the project Kristina Semenova who spent one month in Tbilisi at GeoAIR residency researching on the topic will introduce her curatorial concept as well as selected art works. 

Sophia Lapiashvili (Tbilisi):
Lost Utopias in Tbilisi. Mosaics from the Soviet period
Präsentation/lecture, KV 29/04, 6 pm 
Artist, curator and former coordinator of artist residency GeoAIR, Sophia Lapiashvili, presents a talk focused on the intensive changes within the public space that have been taking place throughout the last 20 years in Tbilisi, and have given rise to the interest of GeoAIR members in the monumental-decorative mosaics. Unsystematic transformation of urban environment, amateur interventions in forming the image of the city, and façade 'beautifications', have led to destruction of mosaics in Tbilisi’s public spaces. This became the reason behind documenting them, creating the database and online map. Lost Heroes of Tbilisi. Soviet Period Mosaics was a part of the SPACES project, funded by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.
 
Sophia Tabatadze (Berlin/Tbilisi):
Pirimze: A Place transforming to a Non-Place
Vortrag/lecture, KV 29/04, 7 pm 
Artist and founder of artist residency GeoAIR, Sophia Tabatadze presents a talk on her three years of research into social and visual changes affecting Pirimze, a six-floor edifice from the Soviet era, built especially to house repair and maintenance services. The theme unfolds to a broader picture and shows what has been happening in Georgia since the Soviet Union’s collapse. One may view Pirimze, a 40 minute experimental documentary film, in the exhibition space of the HGB. Beginning as a curious journey though the labyrinths of Pirimze and observing fascinating skills performed by craftsmen who once worked there, the story moves beyond the façade of the newly renovated business center Pirimze Plaza, which replaced Pirimze, and questions the need and motives for this transformation.
 
Finissage KV 29/04, 7 pm 

Mehr Information/more information: www.buekue.eu

Gefördert durch/sponsored by IFA Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen Stuttgart, StuRa und Freundeskreis der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst.

Öffnungszeiten/opening hours:
KV: 23/04 - 29/04, 16-19 Uhr
Kolonnadenstraße 6, www.kunstverein-leipzig.de

Бükü: 24/04 - 29/04, 16-19 Uhr, 30/04 - 09/05, Do-Sa, 15-19 Uhr
Aurelienstraße 48, www.buekue.eu

Galerie der HGB: 29/04. - 09/05, Di-Fr 14-18, Sa 12-16 Uhr
Wächterstraße 11, www.hgb-leipzig.de

www.buekue.eu
facebook.com/Büro für kulturelle Übersetzungen

Бükü – Büro für kulturelle Übersetzungen
Aurelienstrasse 48 | 04177 Leipzig
info@buekue.eu | www.buekue.eu
Tel.: +49 163 3737 534
Öffnungszeiten: Do – Sa 15.00 – 19.00 Uhr

EXHIBITION AND PUBLICATION LUNCH: Lost Heroes of Tbilisi. Soviet Period Mosaics - In The Trade Union Palace of Culture of Georgia, so called "Tsereteli Hall"

(facebook.com/geoair.archidrome) Just for one day different working material were on display, including private archives of authors, documents, sketches, catalogues and photos.

The exhibition included private archive material from Demur Bashaleishvili, Giorgi Chakhava, Saurmag Ghambashidze, Iden Tabidze, Radish Tordia, Kukuri Tsereteli, and photo material by GeoAIR, Zura Dumbadze, Nika Kapanadze, Alexi Kedelashvili and Nino Siradze.

On the same day we launched the publication, which includes research findings and photo documentation of monumental-decorative mosaics from various ‘public’ spaces of Tbilisi.

The intensive changes within public space, that have been taking place during the past 20 years, gave rise to our interest in the monumental-decorative mosaics. Unsystematic transformation of our urban environment, amateur interventions in forming the image of the city and façade ‘beautifications’ have led to the destruction of mosaics in the public spaces of Tbilisi.

It became the reason for documenting them, creating database and the online map, which can be found on the Google maps - Soviet Period Mosaics in Tbilisi

"Lost Heroes of Tbilisi. Soviet Period Mosaics" is part of SPACES project, funded by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.

source: geoair.blogspot.de

more: Georgia’s Soviet Mosaics (23 Photos). By Mirian Jugheli

Created with flickr slideshow.

OPEN CALL: Participation in the workshop - experimental short films on “Rhythm of the Everyday, with Tbilisi Migrants” (geoair.blogspot.de)

(geoair.blogspot.de) The workshop is conceptualized in the framework of “Cooking Imaginations: Tbilisi Migrant Stories” project. The theme of the workshop concerns the urban realm of Tbilisi, the “new” migrants living here and respective rhythm, rituals and everydayness of the city.

We invite artists, researchers and other interested professionals in Georgia to apply for the participation in the workshop conducted by GeoAIR and Dr. Richard Baxstrom. Two weeks of intensive work will include readings, theoretical debates, film screenings and discussions, as well as fieldwork, evaluation of each other’s work progress and the making of short films constituting to the final work, later produced as one DVD and screened in selected locations.

Working language: English

Please see more information on the following link.

Deadline for the application: November 25, 2014 – 18:00 (Georgia time)

Please distribute this information to people who you think might find it interesting.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us,

Best regards,

GeoAIR team.

--
www.geoair.blogspot.com
www.archidrome.blogspot.com
www.geoairresidency.blogspot.com

GEOAIR: Visual Storytelling: Tbilisi Migrant Stories (geoair.blogspot.de)

(geoair.blogspot.de) This project is implemented within “Cooking Imaginations: Tbilisi Migrant Stories” project, which addresses the issue of migrants’ lives and integration challenges in Tbilisi. These are people who have come here within the past decade and decided to live in Tbilisi permanently or temporarily. However, cultural exchange and communication within “hosts” and “newcomers” about each others’ culture is very limited, hence, some stereotypes might prevail.
Within “Visual Storytelling: Tbilisi Migrant Stories” we are collaborating with Social Photography Caucasus Foundation, school #43 in Tbilisi - history teacher Nino Abuladze and 6 students from various grades. Schoolchildren participate in workshops, learning basics of doing ethnographic fieldwork and techniques of doing visual documentaries, with the end purpose to use art of photography and power of the image for storytelling. By visual storytelling we mean to produce images as to describe person's everyday realities that many times can not be expressed with words and may easily go unnoticed. Participating schoolchildren will create visual stories about the migrants living in their neighborhoods of Tbilisi and these stories will be presented first time parallel to the public cooking event in October.

For more information about the project and related activities, please, visit our FB page: facebook.com/cookingimaginations

“Cooking Imaginations: Tbilisi Migrant Stories” project is implemented with the financial support of the Prince Claus Fund.

VACANT TBILISI: Exhibition, Presentation, film screening - Saturday,12 April in Tbilisi

Final presentation of 10-Day workshop focused on issue of vacant and abondoned buildings and lots in Tbilisi. By mapping empty properties, researching planning instruments, architectural tools and by site-interventions the workshop aimed to point the possibility of temporary use of empty properties and their conversion for another use.

PROGRAMM:

18:00 - "STATION BABINA" – EXHIBITION OPENING
Former Bus Station,
8, Zviad Gamsakhurdia right bank (Next to Galaktioni (Marjanishvili) bridge

Former bus station which has been vacant for long time and used only as a garbage bin will alive in frame of artistic intervention. This place will become a meeting point of local artist scene with everyday users, who are mostly car mechanikers and their customers. Their interests are joint on phenomenon of "car passion" which will be shared through specific atmosphere of abondoned soviet building.

20:00 "Cobra" Park
48, Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue (Next to main Post-office)
Festive opening of public green area which has been changed in frame of workshop from invisible to lively public space.

VACANT TBILISI project PRESENTATION
One of the target of the project is to help NGOs, social enterprises as well as community groups with social objectives to find and access vacant urban properties for temporary use. Through temporary use of these spaces can be rescued from total destruction as many of them are out of use, abandoned and due to variety of reasons, for example insufficient financial means state or private owner has no possibility to take care. Through temporary usage NGOs, social enterprises, community and individuals raise awareness and create other possibilities and functions for out of use infrastructure.
www.vacanteurope.eu

WANDERING BOOKS

everyone will have a possibility to bring and in exchange to take for him / her interesting book from the park library.
facebook.com

TBILISI FROM DUSK TILL DOWN - FILM SCREENING
40 min., Poland /Georgia, 2013

The film was made by film students of Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University and Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management (GIPA) under artistic supervision of Pawel Loziński, Rafał Listopad and Wojciech Staroń as a part of the documentary project “The World from Dawn till Dusk” by Mirosław Dembiński and Maciej J. Drygas.
tbilisifilmfestival.ge

Film will be presented by one of the project participants student: Vakho Jajanidze

This event is organized by GeoAIR and 4AM (CZ), KEK (HU) in collaboration with CCA-Tbilisi, kindly supported by ArtArea TV 2.0 and Tbilisi city hall - Municipal Department of ecology and planting.

"Vacant Tbilisi" is part of SPACES project, funded by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme and supported by STEP Beyond Travel Grant (ECF Lab).

www.geoair.blogspot.ge
www.forum4am.cz
www.kek.org.hu მოხეტიალე წიგნები

ART: GeoAIR Bulletin #1, 2014 from Tbilisi/Georgia (geoair.blogspot.de)

RESIDENCY: January-March 2014

January-February

Sezgin Boynik and Minna Henriksson (Finland) stayed for two months in Georgia. Activities implemented by them in the framework of GeoAIR residency included: Presentation by Minna Henriksson - Art and Power @ CCA-Tbilisi 14.01.2014; Public Lecture “Nationalism and Contemporary Art” - 23.01.2014 @ Ilia State University. SEE VIDEO; Presentation by Sezgin Boynik - "History and Forms of Situationist International" @ CCA-Tbilisi 29.01.2014

Additionally, presentation of works by Sezgin Boynik and Minna Henriksson created during their stay at GeoAIR residency took place at Nectar Gallery 26.02.2014. Minna Henriksson presented the newspaper Golden Dragon and Silver Star - New Georgia: Change of Symbols after the fall of the Soviet Union as a result of an art workshop around the topics of power, politics and symbols and in a collaboration with CCA-Tbilisi. Sezgin Boynik presented his publication ‘Still Stealing Steel: Historical Materialistic Study of Zaum’. Still Stealing Steel is ideological diary which attempts to theorize zaum as an indispensable political language, and experimenting on ways how to conceptualize the use-value of such expressions. >>>

The residency stay at GeoAIR was supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

March

Oleksandr Burlaka's (Ukraine) practice as an architect questions and studies the role, ideology and responsibility of architects today. Oleksandr has been contributing to Soviet Modernism 1955-1991: Unknown History published by Vienna Centre of Architecture, where he was responsible for research and collecting materials on that topic. During his residency together with GeoAIR, Oleksandr worked on the mapping of Soviet Modernist buildings in Tbilisi. As a result, online map with visual material will be published. >>>

Also, Oleksanrd Burlaka participated in public discussion organised by GeoAIR and Docomomo Georgia with the topic: "Laguna Vere" and forgotten architecture "Monuments" of Soviet Modernism."

Residency was part of program organized in the frame of the EU project SPACES. The SPACES project is financed by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme. 

RESIDENCY: April-June 2014 (upcoming)

April

Levente Polyák - KÉK (Hungary), Šárka Svobodová and Jaroslav Sedlak - 4AM (Czech Republic) in collaboration with  GeoAIR will work on a project VCEE (Vacant Central and Eastern Europe). For this we organize 10-Day workshops in Tbilisi. The Vacant Central and Eastern Europe project follows the project VAC (Vacant Central Europe) initiated in 2013 by KÉK -Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre. It aims to address the problem of vacancy by mapping empty properties, by researching planning instruments, architectural tools and by exchanging experiences and strategies of intervention that make the temporary use of empty properties and their conversion for another use possible. >>>

Residency and workshop are part of program organized in the frame of the EU project SPACES. The SPACES project is financed by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.

Geraldine Paoli (Morocco, France) - artist, curator, founder and director of PALIMPSESTE.

During her residency, together with GeoAIR Geraldine Paoli will work on the conceptual framework and possible participants from Georgian side for an upcoming project for 2015 "Resonants Confluence".

Residency is supported by French Institute of Georgia.

May-June

Though the collaboration with AIRLAB at Tirana Institute for Contemporary Art (TICA), Albanian artist Donika Cina will have a residency stay at GeoAIR. She was invited specially to participate in the project "Discover Eliava Market". The project sets the goal to demarginalize micro space of the street market and draw attention of the society to the issue of reduction of negative impact on environment, as well as effective use of resources (among them energy resources) through cultural intervention, establishment of a dialogue between different social and professional groups of the society and support of the experience sharing. she will work on and develop the project together with Georgian artist.

The project "Discover Eliava Market" is implemented in the frame of EC funded (cultural program) project Green Art Lab Alliance (GALA).

TICA AIRLAB is supported by Prince Claus Fund, Network Partnership Program.

RESIDENCY EXCHANGES

AIRLAB at Tirana Institute for Contemporary Art (TICA) will host Georgian artist, Keto Logua within their yearly theme: Storytelling as artistic practice.

TICA AIRLAB is supported by Prince Claus Fund, Network Partnership Program.

GeoAIR collaborated with TICA AIRLAB in selection process of the artist from Georgia. In exchange, Albanian artist is participating in GeoAIR residency program.

K.A.I.R will host Georgian documentary film maker Ana Tsimintia for two month residency in Košice, Eastern Slovakia (June and July 2014). In the frame of European Capital of Culture the NGO Košice 2013 is running an international Artist-in-Residence-program for the artists from all over the world and out of all artistic disciplines and expressions. Open call and selection was organised as a collaboration between K.A.I.R and GeoAIR.

COLLABORATIVE CULTURAL PROJECTS

February, 2014 - GeoAIR started the project "Cooking Imaginations - Tbilisi Migrant Stories", which addresses the issue of migration, foodways and public space in Tbilisi, as well as the practice of interdisciplinary collaboration in contemporary art. Intensive fieldwork will be followed by public cooking events, international residencies and other activities addressing topics within the project >>> 

The project is supported by Prince Claus Fund.

February 14-16, 2014 - In the framework of SUPERMARKET 2014 – Stockholm Independent Art Fair GeoAIR presented itself in collaboration with artist run Gallery Nectar.

Nini Palavandishvili from GeoAIR participated in panel discussion with a topic: Life Beyond Budgets – a panel discussion about alternative financial strategies. >>>

March 26-30, 2014 -
Sophia Lapiashvili from GeoAIR took part in the Partner Forum of Tandem /Shaml project in Tunis.  It is a program for cultural exchange between Europe and the Arab-Mediterranean region, started in partnership with MitOst (Germany), Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource (Cairo) and Anadolu Kültür (Istanbul). Tandem Shaml offers eight cultural organisations based in Germany and other European countries (incl. Turkey and Georgia) a unique opportunity to establish long-term cooperation links with partner organisations from the Arab countries across the Mediterranean.

The programme is supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stichting DOEN and Mimeta.

ARCHIDROME – CONTEMPORARY ART ARCHIVE AND DISCUSSIONS

24.03.2014 @ Club Frontline Georgia GeoAIR and Docomomo Georgia organised public discussion: "Laguna Vere" and forgotten architecture "Monuments" of Soviet Modernism"

During recent period we have been systematically witnessing functional and aesthetical impoverishment of city of Tbilisi. Hence, losing uniquely preserved city’s recreational spots and significant architectural buildings/constructions dating from the Soviet era. One of the symbols of Soviet Georgian modernist architecture, the Swimming complex "Laguna Vere" might be facing the same threat by becoming a victim of the tendency. >>>

Discussion was realised in the frame of the EU project SPACES.

This project is funded by the European Union through the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme.

Sincerely yours, GeoAIR team.

www.geoair.blogspot.com

www.archidrome.blogspot.com
www.geoairresidency.blogspot.com

ART IN RESIDENCE: Open Call for Georgian Artists (kair.sk)

 

(kair.sk) K.A.I.R. – Košice Artist in Residence, in collaboration with GeoAIR residency invites artists from Georgia to apply for K.A.I.R. residency. Selected artist will work in Košice on a project reflecting changing environment and the transformation of the city.

Host organization

Košice 2013 – European Capital of Culture (www.kosice2013.sk)

Košice

By now, Košice and whole Eastern Slovakia is one of the most fascinating regions in Europe. Not for nothing, Košice was the “European Capital of Culture” in 2013. During the last centuries, the whole region was influenced by many different kingdoms, countries and cultural groups and still you can feel this multicultural spirit in the city, also because of the huge Hungarian and Roma minorities and the three universities. During the socialistic time, Košice became a centre of steel industry, the population tripled within 3o years. The influence of the former socialistic times, especially in architecture and working infrastructure, still exists. During the last years, Košice, located at the Schengen border, starts a huge transformation process and will become an important cultural hub between east and west in social, political and artistic terms.

Artist in Residence

In the frame of European Capital of Culture the NGO Košice 2013 is running an international Artist-in-Residence-program for the artists from all over the world and out of all artistic disciplines and expressions. We give our residents the possibility to become a cultural pioneer and work in the inspire environment of Košice`s singular cultural surrounding to realize art projects, collaborate with the agile local art scene and present themselves to the local and national public.

We pursuit three main goals within the residency program:

- Support the creative energy of every invited artist and give her/him the chance to work in a new environment and to find (new) artistic ways of expression
- Stimulate the art scene in Košice, in the region and in whole Slovakia. Support the dialogue as well as the confrontation of the residency artists with local artists and the wide public.
- Create/strengthen a beneficial environment for the development of innovative and international contemporary art projects with international and local participants.

According to our main goals, our team will introduce every artist in the social environment of the city and the region and help them to build up networks and collaborations with local artists. We will organise public events like artist talks, projections, workshops, open studios to give all artists the chance to introduce and present themselves to a wide public. A final project/exhibition will show the working process during the stay of each artist.

K.A.I.R. – FACTS

What we provide

- Two month residency in Kosice, Eastern Slovakia (June and July 2014)
- Free accommodation and studio in Kasárne/Kulturpark, former military barracks renovated into the multi-genre cultural centre (kosice2013.sk).The two room flats are fully furnished with kitchen. The studio is equipped with basic tools and technical equipment.
- Honorary 500€ per month
- Travelling costs maximum 350€
- Material costs 500€
- Production and PR support

What we demand

- We are searching for visual artists from Georgia, who are open to collaborations with local artists. The artist should work on site specific project reflecting changing environment and the transformation of the city.
Artist should be able to know English on at least working level (hosting residency will support with the translations when needed).
- One presentation during the residency and final project/exhibition at the end
- Compulsory attendance
- Presentation/public event about the residency project upon return to Georgia

Application

The application must consist of three PDF files (all written in English and named as below)

- PDF n°1: Curriculum Vitae – a short CV including your name, address, phone, email, educational and exhibition background
- PDF n°2: Letter of motivation and objectives – briefly describe your motivation to come to Košice and first ideas of projects you would like to realise
- PDF n°3: Portfolio – artist statement and presentation of artworks (texts, photos, links tovideo or audio sharing websites: YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud etc.)
- Deadline: 31st of January, 10:00 AM 2014 / please send it only via email (subject line: K.A.I.R./GeoAIR application) to infogeoair@gmail.com


Contact to host organization

- K.A.I.R. Management: Zuzana Kotiková – zuzana.kotikova@kosice2013.sk / 00421915078489
- Online: kair.sk (official website), k-a-i-r.tumblr.com (blog), https://www.facebook.com/KosiceArtistInResidence (facebook), www.youtube.com (youtube channel)

PROJECT: "Unlimited Abilities" - a Charity Exhibition-Sale (unlimitedabilities.wordpress.com)

Women’s Fund in Georgia and GeoAIR, in collaboration with Georgian artists are implementing the project "Unlimited Abilities". The aim of the project is to organize a charity exhibition-sale. Funds collected during the event will be utilized for the professional education and employment of women with disabilities.

20.12.2013 18:00-21:00

Expo Georgia, 3dr pavilion, 118 Tsereteli ave.

Artworks can be seen and bought online: unlimitedabilities.wordpress.com
Unlimited Abilities 

“There was a girl in the wheelchair who made my hair, makeup and made me look pretty… You cannot see anything similar in here and it is very sad. Everyone should have their own source of income” – says Marina who uses the wheelchair. However, this fact and the challenges that non-adapted reality causes for her, did not prevent Marina to be successful mother, wife and the citizen, who constantly has the will to work, extend her network, get and share new experience.

In conversation with us, women with disabilities, often say that due to stigma and discrimination they feel isolated from the society and remain invisible. Despite this, of course they have dreams, aspirations, wills and ideas of becoming successful.

“The more you study in life, more chances you have to achieve something and do your own, your favorite thing. Also, the learning process will be very interesting, as I will have places to go to, I will get new experience, I will be able to get new profession and think about my new job. This will be my source of income, which of course is very pleasing” – so believes Juna, another participant of the project.

Women’s Fund in Georgia and GeoAIR would like to thank everyone who found time and energy to participate in the project and make their own story as an example of a successful one.

We would also like to thank the supporters of the project and all the artists who generously contributed their works to the project.

participating artists:

Akhalkatsishvili Tato, Akimidze Luka, Asatiani Marika, Bagdavadze Tsisana, Bagrationi Nato, Batatunashvili Inga, Batiashvili Maka, Bakhtadze Ia, Botchorishvili Tamar, Chilashvili Nino, Chubinishvili Nino (Chubika), Darchiashvili Tatia, Dolidze Andria, Gallery Container (Guram Tsibakhashvili, Ira Kurmaeva, Tinatin Kiguradze), Goguadze Anna, Grigalashvili Natela, Iremashvili Rocko, Japharidze Mamuka, Jincharadze Kote, Kacharava Karlo, Kakabadze Konstantin, Kakabadze Kristine, Khaniashvili Gabriel, Khmiadashvili Tamar, Kiladze Tutu, Kukhalashvili David, Kutateladze Karaman, Laperadze Luiza, Lapiashvili Sophia, Machaidze Salome, Maskharashvili Giorgi, Mechitov Yuri, Mindadze Kote, Mindiashvili Levan, Nяnю, Okrostsvaridze Manuchar, Pochkhua Lado, Rigvava Salome, Rukhadze Giorgi, Sekhniashvili Nino, Shvelidze Murtaz, Sitchinava Mariam, Sulaberidze Kote, Sumbadze Maya, Tabatadze Sophia

Special thanks to: Nata Sopromadze, Maka Kukulava, Elene Sulaberidze and Lika Kacharava.

The evening will accompanied by Reso Kiknadze (Live)

Supporters:
Fund for Women Mama Cash
Embassy of the United States Georgia
Expo Georgia
Artarea/Tv2.0
Chateau Mukhrani
The International Women's Association Georgia