x-front was invited by Megafån to take part in the workshop "How does it really work?" July 8-11 2010. Megafån wanted to discuss and work with other artists and art workers around the theme how does it work, working in a group with a feminist/queer/gender perspective? I had the possibility to go and spent three very inspiring and hot summer days in gallery KUMA in Mitte. Apart from presenting the x-front project and doing some hands on work making peeing funnels out of milk cartons, we talked about the advantages of working in a group, the pitfalls, how it can be used as a feminist strategy, and much more. Some parts were only for the invited participants and some were open to the public.
On Thursday we first introduced ourselves and talked about methods and whether or not we need written rules while working in a group.
Malin Gustavsson talked a little bit about her work as a gender knowledge consultant and some more about the importance of spaces for social gatherings and how she has worked with that in Helsinki.
Heidi Lunabba held her workshop "Abnormal Superhero", about creating a superhero who belongs to some kind of minority . Pics can be found here.
On Friday x-front held a workshop. Some talking and some making peeing funnels and trying them out. I also had the possibility to share some thoughts about my masters project in architecture and my study trip to Japan. Some x-front pants were on display on a clothes line and Fredrika Biström's photos of the pants in action. I find it fascinating how many questions that the theme arises (every time!) and how people are so quick to share their ideas and experiences. Part of it I think is because the starting point is such a basic need - the need to pee.
Manuela Schininá and Eva Kietzmann told us about their work with the nonprofit self organised archive Bildwechsel (means change of images) which started in Hamburg in 1979. Bildwechsel is both an art project, which develops and supports events and initiatives, and an archive collection on women+/media/art. Manuela left some good questions for us after the workshop, like: "Write down all the economies, support systems, exchange and relational systems (partnerships and alliances), that you know of, with which you can trick (avoid, circumnavigate) the monitary system." and "Where do you go to get the information on prizes, supports, money, etc. for artists?"
Vappu Jalonen showed a couple of short films, both funny and inspiring. On Sunday morning Vappu held a workshop about running through Mitte, which I skipped because of the heat. Later we gathered to talk about our visions for the future. The final workshops were a collective drawing organised by finnish art duo Tärähtäneet Ämmät (Nutty Tarts) and a sound/word/language workshop held by Laura Lilja.
The days were tied together in the evening with an official opening of the workshop traces show which has been possible to view the past week.
