Thursday May 23 CAST visited ‘Broei, een klinkende silo’. CBK (Centrum Beeldende Kunst Groningen) offered a masterclass to seven aspiring artists, after which they presented an exhibition at a very original location: the EMG Silo. The exhibition gave us a preview of the Timeshift Festival, which started the day after.

It took a while to find the location; an old silo located near the Eemskanaal. The silo used to be a place for ships to reload and drop off their cargo, but when the Berlage-brug was build this had to stop. There was looked for a new plan for the historical place, and it was sure found: the EMG silo is the perfect place for exhibitions!

The silo looks like an abandoned factory, like one you see in the movies. Certain spots of the factory even could be called creepy. When arriving headphones were handed out, as well as receivers. We were told to simply walk around, aiming the receiver at random objects; walls, support beams, lights, whatever. If we did this, we would hear sounds.
This is something I totally didn’t expect; when thinking of sound-arts I think of a big room with lots of music and audiovisual material to look at. I loved it from the start; I am a curious person and putting on the headphones helped me isolate myself from the other people in the room and prevented background sounds from seeping in.

The silo was divided into two areas; the basement and the ground floor. The spaces we walked through were filled with obstacles: pipes, staircases, machines, whatever comes to mind. Besides that, light was scarce, which made you focus on your other senses when walking around the room. This all made the journey through the building very adventurous.

Everywhere I went sounds were heard through the headphones; pointing the receiver at a wall, machines or art pieces made the room come to life. The art we encountered was mostly minimal; supporting the story behind the sounds. The sounds we heard were very varying; music and voices till industrial sounds like machines, chains and sirens.

At the end of the journey there was room for a chat and a drink. Everyone around me was very enthusiastic, which I completely agreed with. Such a great experience! The headphones, the old building, the lack of light; it all made this very exciting!

The exhibition can be visited until  June 2.

Pictures by CKB Groningen

Jagten tells the story of Lucas, a recently divorced man, who works at the local Kindergarten. Lucas is happy with his life: he and his teenage son Marcus get along, he has found a new girlfriend and he enjoys his social life and his job.

Lucas’ best friend Theo has a seven year old daughter; Klara. Klara, who goes to the Kindergarten Lucas works at. As many young girls, Klara is in love with her teacher and loves being around him. Due to certain circumstances the schools headmaster Grethe starts to believe Lucas is sexually abusing Klara. She decides to go talk to Klara, which prompts the girl to tell her a fantasy story about Lucas. After this things get out of hand; because of Grethe’s actions the story spreads like wildfire and the villagers start a witchhunt. Lucas’ life is turned into a living hell and his friends desert him. Lucas’ family is being tormented and his girlfriend leaves him because she is no longer sure who or what to believe. At the police station everything goes wrong as well; instead of being objective the officers have made up their minds: Lucas is guilty. Because of this their questioning of Klara is completely tainted; they only ask her suggestive questions. In the end there is not enough evidence to convict Lucas and Klara admits she made it all up, but still the bullying and tormenting of Lucas (and now Marcus too)doesn’t stop. In the eyes of villagers Lucas is guilty, eventhough the ‘victim’ admitted her lie. If you are convinced of something; is it possible to forgive and forget?

Wow. That was the first word that came to mind when the movie ended. First; the acting is superb; especially Mads Mikkelsen (Lucas) and Annika Wedderkopp (Klara) are brilliantly cast and portrayed. This really is a movie that makes you think: you can see how a lie about a very sensitive subject can turn into a full witch hunt. People lose their humanity when they are convinced of something, and even when the person who started it all admits her wrongdoing people still look the other way. Peerpressure and ‘following the leader’ also play a big part when it comes to dehumanization. What really bothered me was the lack of professionalism by the various job-representatives in this movie. The police, the school, everyone did exactly what they shouldn’t have done because they are so prejudiced.

Jagten is a brilliant, but very depressing movie. I really advice you to check it out: it makes you think and wonder, but please, if you watch it, do something that makes you happy afterwards

Fjodor Dostojevski, a Russian writer, brings us the 1866 story of Raskolnikov, a man who feels like he is above the law. He sees himself as some kind of ubermensch: ‘low standard’- people should listen to the law, while he himself doesn’t have to do this: he is above the law.

NNT, who has produced more theatre plays I have visited, has tried to bring the Russian story to life in a Dutch-language play: Crime and Punishment. Sunday March the third the premiere of the play arrived. It was a very busy day at the Stadsschouwburg; the place the festive event took place. The show was sold out: there were no empty seats!

Joris Smit plays the role of Raskolnikov, a man who feels like he owns the world and the world owes him. His story starts pretty successful and positive: he is a law student and has enough money to make ends meet. Eventually he decides to quit school, which leaves him poor and unable to provide for himself. Out of desperation he decides to kill a pawn brooker: a woman who has always been unkind towards him and others. Unfortunately for Raskolnikov something happens he isn’t prepared for: someone witnesses his crime. There is nothing he can do besides killing her too.

After the murders Raskolnikov panics: what if someone saw him? Raskolnikov begins to become paranoid. A very hard working detective doesn’t believe Raskolnikov’s lies, which makes him more insecure and behaving weird, thus drawing even more attention to himself. He is slowly going insane, but thankfully Sonja is there to help him. Sonja is a woman forced into prostitution: without her doing her job her family can’t eat. Raskolnikov recognizes himself in her: both do things the law forbids. Their love is strong, but something is stopping them: Raskolnikov’s actions. Out of love for Sonja Raskolnikov decides to turn himself in. He is sentenced to 8 years in a labor camp, where after Sonja awaits him with open arms.

 When I normally visit an NNT play the shows are very funny, clever and positive, so Crime and Punishment was something I had to get used to at first. Eventhough it is different than what I am used to: it sure was good! Great acting and a good storyline. This sure was a play which causes you think things through: there are a lot of double meanings and questioning of standards in this piece.
Nice! Crime and Punishment will be available till March 16th in Groningen. After this date the show will go on tour through the Netherlands.

The weekend of March 1st and 2nd the city of Groningen focused its attention  on dance: Club Guy & Roni presented ‘a weekend break of dance and beyond’ at the Grand Theatre.

Guy & Roni was born in 2002: the group tours the Netherlands and other countries, presenting its productions, mostly consisting of a mixture between dance and other disciplines. ‘In its quest for innovation, the Club collaborates with artists from other disciplines such as music, film, theater, science and visual arts’ according to the Club’s website.

This was very visible the evening of Saturday March 2nd: especially dance in combination with live music played a very big role the whole evening.

The evening started with ‘White Smoke #1’. Dancers were looking for ‘reasons to move’, which  caused alienating experiences happening on stage. For example: someone took a bath on stage, a girl was helped picking out an outfit and a man seemed to be in a psychical fight with an alter ego. Use of light also played a big part: with the help of the tone of live music, a man was drawing a path on the ground with light. Very hard to explain: it is something you have to see for yourself!
White Smoke #1 also had live music (a band and a dj). The exhibition of talent really showed what the human body is capable of: playful, yet animalistic moves. Very beautiful to see!

After the lights went out we were directed to a different room, where an empty stage awaited us. It was time for Juxtapose by Cecilia Moisio. Having no idea what awaits us, we sit in the dark till two pin-upgirls come on stage.
Dressed up in fifties style clothing, makeup and hair they sang a song for us, after which they told us about keeping up appearances: an how to guide for maintaining a relationship, good looks, maintaining a good household and cooking. In the fifties there were tons of books that focused on telling women how to behave, think and act, were this information was based on. The audience thought it was hilarious: the tips that were given were in between the bizarre and terribly funny. Cakes were being prepared, outfits were changed numerous times and makeup was applied.

After a while the ladies weren’t so ladylike anymore: they thought it was time for being treated better: they weren’t there to stand on stage and look pretty, they had something to say: there is too much focus on mirroring others and listening to other people’s opinion. The whole atmosphere changed: the cute pin-upgirls turned into monsters: throwing things, yelling. Cakes were smashed, kitchen appliances were thrown around stage and there was no longer singing, just screaming.
At the beginning of the show I thought I was watching a parody of the fifties lifestyle. Apparently there was a serious undertone: the role of women through the ages and the people whose behavior we mirror during everyday life. The dancers gave their all: at the end I thought they were going to pass out out of exhaustion and fever. When the lights came back on they got a standing ovation.

At the end of the evening they was time for a different kind of fun: a metal karaoke band (yes, a real live band: Punk Rock Heavy Metal Karaoke Band) joined the stage, looking for a new lead singer. That was so much fun! I didn’t participate, because besides being a terrible dancer I am also a terrible singer That evening I stayed with listening and watching, which sure was fun! I had a great time, it sure was a ‘weekend break of dance and beyond’.

Photo taken from Club Guy & Roni Facebookpage

It took quite some time, but our new student desk is finally up-and-running! In E0.05, across from SCALA, you can find the new Art4students desk from CAST. Do you have questions about Art, theatre, dance or music?Then drop by the Art4students desk on workdays during office hours. Nobody at the desk? Then visit the office of CAST in E0.30 around the corner.

From the Art4students desk, activities are organized for and by students of the Hanze University Groningen. Would you like to organize an Art-event yourself? Then do stop by to discuss your ideas!