Art is in the Air!

Pick an ordinary day, a random situation, a certain moment. What do you hear? What do you hear right now? Exactly now I hear a man on the radio telling about the weather, the clock ticking on the wall, the tapping sound my fingers make when I type in these words. Is there art in there? What’s for sure is that there are also several sounds around me and in the air that I’m not noticing or paying attention to. But if I’d start to pay attention, I’d discover a world full of sounds. 

There is a chance to dive into the world of sounds and sound arts in Tartu, in Helikoosolek sound gatherings once a month (http://helikoosolek.blogspot.com/). The event is always an experience, an unexpected surprise –you could never imagine the scenes and views that sounds can reveal to you! You want to give it a try? Imagine a world of underwater sounds...done it? Now go to listen to underwater recordings of a French sound artist Thomas Tilly: http://thomas.tilly.free.fr/todisco.html. Did it meet your image?

Sitting with your eyes closed and letting sound arts fill your ears can really be what they call an experience. I think that you’re having an experience when you forget your awareness, possibly also your surroundings, and your senses and imagination just play together –whatever the result may be.  One recommended chance to try such experiences in the world of sound arts is a two day event called Topofon, taking place at Y-galerii in the beginning of May (http://ygalerii.blogspot.com/). You might want to taste some sound poetry for example?

Topofon audience

So yes, there is art in there, more art around us than we even realise, or sense to that matter. A clock ticking on the wall is not that far away from being a piece of art when you combine it with some creativity. It may be even singing instead of ticking, right? Maybe singing with countless delicate tunes that can turn even silence into a concert, air filled with art.

Wanted: a Good Home for Good Art

I completely understand anyone who finds it hard to start purchasing art. First you should somehow define your taste of art –what pleases me, what do I rate being good enough to buy, how to compare different works? After that you should recognise people and places that sell art, find the courage to step into different galleries and shops. And still it might be that when you find a calling piece of art, say a nice painting, the price tag makes you run away and stick to posters available in any market for the rest of your life. Sounds familiar?

I also completely understand any artist who finds it hard to start selling their art. An artist might face exactly the same challenges as a potential art buyer, get confused when trying to find the right people and right places, and end up running away when seeing the price tag -this time it being the price tag of the gallery rent. And end up sticking to painting in the basement with no sales or publicity approach in their mind.

Luckily there is Tartu Loomemajanduskeskus to help! Two times a year the centre is calling for young and unknown artists to bring their works to be introduced in an exhibition that will culminate in to an auction that brings these art makers and art purchasers together. This time the exhibition is called Best Of... and it’s introducing 48 pieces of artwork from 35 different young artists. The amount is great, and it should be said that it is only a fraction of all the works that were offered for exhibition and sales. 

opening the exhibition at LMK

So get your coat, walk to Kalevi street and find a house full of art! Go around, find your favourite(s), show up in Cafe Newton in the new science centre AHHAA on May the 13^th at 4 p.m. and get ready to bid! Or if you already feel like you can’t wait a second more to get to see the artwork, you can taste it also here: http://www.lmk.ee/bestof. 

The auction itself was slightly rehearsed in the opening of the exhibition with the lead of Georg Poslawski and already there the house was filled with excitement and the crowd on the edge of going wild. I take it as a sign that you really don’t want to miss the a(u)ction in Cafe Newton 13^th of May! Come and give a good home for good art!

Georg leading the example auction

Drinks Gone Green

After having a discussion with some friends about how important is changing opinions I entered an event that is perfect for that – the first Green Drinks session in Tartu. Green Drinks (www.greendrinks.org) is a concept that makes people interested in ecological and environmental issues get together, meet new people and share thoughts and opinions over a drink. As the concept introduces itself: it’s an organic, self-organising network. It has existed since 1989 and becoming growingly popular with a speed of five new cities around the world a week just now. It’s open to be established where ever will and interest exist, open for anyone to participate and open for any ideas and discussion, and an open road for all of us to take a step towards a greener direction!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: finding such a concept taking place here in Tartu is surprising me only positively. It’s about people being active by their own, not needing big organisations or waiting for public decisions before acting –just doing it, making it happen! I find it amusing, exemplary and very Estonian. I think it’s easy to find this do_it_yourself_attitude around here –and that’s just enjoyable!

Environmental awareness is needed and important, and in creating this awareness I see similarities with introducing arts and creativity to people: should be easy to approach, accessible and fun. People should think of acting environmentally friendly as something entertaining and beneficiary instead of it being inconvenient extra work. Having a green drink might make you feel like that. The next chance to try if it is so is in Tartu May the 14^th. Green Cheers!