THE FINAL SHOW and CLOSING OF KAFENEON

Wel.. 31 days later.. I thought this day would never come. kafeneon has more than exceeded all my expectations as many amazing people came together to help make it what it is. Couldnt have happened without those who volunteered equipment, time, and their presence to the many event that took place. THANKS TO ALL I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!.. speaking of enjoying it.. weve got THE FINAL SHOW to check out. WOW! people once again came early and once again stayed late.. on the menu tonight.. a whole lot of video with performance sprinkled in for good measure.. and as kafeneon is a social project..some more great pictures of the general social atmosphere surrounding tonights CLOSING…here is the gathering crowdMy Uncle, Aunt and cousin showed up to show their support! Thanks guys My uncles says.. NOOOO PROBLEM!!!an outside gathering..Hey Yota, thanks for coming!outside kafeneonand an inside gathering..hey there Fellas, thanks for coming!and a gathering in the pantry closet, an action including immigrants all piled into the room.. while show audience are lured into interacting with the foreigners, one by one into the small.. hot … but lively space..Angelos takes the opportunity to talk to lovely immigrant Rosina in the closet..Some video viewing!OH WAIT… I looks like something else is going on.. lets go see… women in black setting some things up… while…Mary and well.. it looks like Mary.. wait in the wings with platters full of carrots.. to do the performance Double Action for Healthy Beauty. 4 Exception is Realityand then the performance began with alternating actions of violently chopping and discarding carrots…and brushing teeth and spitting…The performance ramped up to the point of Mary screaming at well.. um Mary, culminating in a percussive din of carrot chopping and eating, yelling, spitting, and finally… dental floss.. THAVMA!The performance ended with a face off of the two Marys, one brandishing a knife, while the other… well.. just a mean looking stare down and finally.. a slap across the cheek.. GREAT! here is an image of the final scene..Some post performance buzz..Evas Back!and now her front..Daphnie thinks that joke was funny and thats all that fucking matters!A happy Mary post performance with Demosthene..Ioannis whatching some video amongst the crowdGreat shot of the kafeneon Neon sign “noenefak”Fellow Fulbrighters Tracy Rosen and Elias (LOU) Rotsos sing the Fulbright Anthem….Wait.. i think something else is happening.. whats that?? Why YES.. it appears the immigrants in the closet are making their way out front of kafeneon.. lets have a look (photos courtesy of Elias (LOU)Continuing the Jennifer and Toby’s project “Hymn to Freedom” the group of foreign immigrantslined up outside of kafeneon.. facing the courthouse.. and began to sing the Greek National Anthem… GREAT!!!back inside continuing the project the immigrants were mingling with the crowd and handing out cards with their names and stories printed on them.. This one says.. “I have no papers. No job. I cant get my residence permission done. I love singing. I have been here for 7 years. The rose is more beautiful in Bangladesh.”Post performance atmosphereTongue series…and Alexandros still thinking i put to many pictures of people on the blog.. ITS A SOCIAL PROJECT MANNNNNN!… SOCIAL MEANS PEOPLE! Thanks for coming though!Irini’s amazing video “Boys”Christina finally made it to kafeneon! “She says.. wow.. where have i been these past 30 days?”GROOOOWLLWhatever i just told myself.. i found it funnyInge and Nikitas did tooChillllin“So then i pulled out my blaster and i said.. you know what Darth, i dont give a rats ass if your my father.. im about to bust a laser cap in your ass..”“HEY PAUL.. DO YOUR PERFORMANCE ALREADY”“YEAH MAN”FINE!!!!!! GRRROOOWLLhere i am getting my gear set up for my performance “The UBER Creation and Subsequent Destruction of the Universe. (How Many Performance Artists does it take to Change a Light Bulb.)”I started off reading a song lyrics i found on the internet.. the crowd was into it!Then.. i got prepared.. putting on work gloves, and pulling out a rope for a makeshift harness..With my situation secure.. and my bag attached…its time to go up! so using the winch, i started cranking with a great noise.I got to a certain height and was able to connect myself to the second mechanismand continue my elevation..reaching the top.. i started to reach in my bag of tricks and ….would unscrew a light bulb.. send it crashing to the floor with a big POP …repeating this action about eight times with the harness limiting my breathing…I hung a plastic flower from the final light bulb to the delight of the crowd..and then smashed it.. (notice the flower falling in this photo NICE EH?)Unhooking myself from one of the mechanisms.. i lowered myself safe and sound back to earth..and out the door!some residue from the performance….now lets see what the crowd thought.. Dionysis says “YESSSS”Tereza coudnt see a thingfriendly discussions about art no doubtSeb’s happy!Jennifer and friendsdiscussing my performance with some new friends..Elina poses with the signnotice the nice cieling.. YIKESDiscussing Performance no doubtI think ill give it another go.. but this time….Yota says.. “yeah.. that would be awesome..”“You Better not try that one!”Yeah.. your right..So thats it for THE FINAL SHOW.. and well i guess kafeneon.. time to close her down..I woke up relatively late considering i went to bed at 6.. and went down to kafeneon to see what i needed to do.. and while cleaning up bits of carrot ad glass..plastering holes and taking down equipment..and along with the smell of the day old spilled jug wine.. i was able to remember all the great lectures, screenings, work, cups of coffee and sleepless nights.. Thank you to everyone for your support, energy, critiques, ideas, and conversation. This has been an immense pleasure and i a successful project thanks to all that participated actively and passively. I hope to see more of these types of project spaces spring up from time to time.. keep your eyes open for the release of the kafeneon Month Book chronicling the month here at kafeneon, and if/when there is a kafeneon II.. youll be ther first to know.My deepest appreciation and sincerest thanks.Paul

Kafeneon Day 25

It finally came.. the last day in kafeneon.. and just like many others it was filled with art, conversation, curiosity, and people. I was pretty calm as i figured out a major component to my performance for THE FINAL SHOW, and having finished compiling the videos, i was able to sit back and enjoy the last day! Lets see what happened shall we? I started the day by documenting THE FINAL SHOW… the videos are all great, mostly all under 5 minutes and very interesting work. Here is the front room…

looking back

the middle room with a projection room behind.

peaking in to see a video by David Maroto

and another projection room off the this middle room

and a compilation of images from the video show…no particular order.. AMAZING STUFF!!!

this last day had everything a last day should have.. like some tire changing LOUUUUUU!

and what better to wash down some manual labor with than an amazing FREE cup of Greek Coffee

And Murray stopped by just as things started getting crazy with the performers and equipment started showing up. Just in time to have the LAST amazing FREE cup of Greek Coffee at kafeneon.. well done Murray

here Jennifer and crew talking through the nights events

While Mary and her posse discuss their plan

and thats it for the coffee here at kafeneon.. ive met some great people, brushed up my Greek, served a many amazing cup of FREE Greek Coffee, watched the neighborhood go by, and have had a great time! thanks to all who stopped by! and now its time for THE FINAL SHOW.. can hardly stand it anymore..!!!

FILM SCREENING

Well the screening went great.. a great turnout of people who were greeted with Sushi.. i mean come on .. a japanese film.. gotta have sushi right? RIGHT! Some helpers rolling sushi while i got the Cineplex ready.. that is to say.. putting a projector on a table!

Dimitris showed up to present the Norwegian documentary Satan Rides the Media about Black Metal.. ROCK ON!

Here is some of the lovely people.. getting ready to attack the sushi and see some films!

Christina introduces the japanese movie Woman in the Dunes by director Hiroshi Teshigahara..

attentive movie watchers…

image from the movie which was great.. go rent it.. amazing textures, and cinematography..

Time for intermission.. and ill admit it.. kafeneon may be a lot of things.. but lacks comfortable seating for a 2 hour 20 minute film.. my ass hurt.. but the film took my mind off it!

many left after the first but those who stayed later were rewarded with an amazing documentary.. here is a schot of the screen…

Well thats it.. another successfull event at kafeneon… this is the final four days.. tonight a screening presented by ITYS of a short documentary by Hito Steyerl and a short lecture by Aristede Antonas.. hope to see you there.. and thanks again to Christina and Dimitris for offering the films..

UPCOMING EVENTS YO!

Here are the posters for the upcoming events during kafeneon’s final week! I hope to see you all here! Starting WED 26th March 8pm and Thurday the 27th! FRIDAY!!!and THE FINAL SHOW saturday through monday with the CLOSING as you can see MONDAY the 31st 8:30! DONT MISS A MINUTE!

ik hou van je maar ik verdien je niet

So here we are with documentation of Evas beautiful installation here at kafeneon.. the show is still up Monday and Tuesday 12-8.. so check it out!! This is the last week of kafeneon so keep tabs for the upcoming events… OK.. starting from the front room we see a skillfully installed series of correspondences (email, skype) and drawings which tell a story of an illusive relationship which sets the tone for the theme of the overall installation… heres how it looks in the evening… fannnntastic… turning around we see the title of the show written in lipstick (in Dutch) on the mirror – ik hou van je maar ik verdien je niet (i love you but I dont deserve you) and the bicycle (the mode transportation for this illusive affair) close up as we enter the second room we see a series of small vacation photos along side a suspended, ghostly lit object (which the artist tells me represents a bedroom) close up… another view of the second room with the suspension in the foreground…and vacation photos in the backgroundand another view of the vacation photos.. turning around…. in the third room we see a large print of Amsterdam courtesy of google earth, with borders marked in red tape that show the geographical evolution of the relationship… the map room… close up of the borders..coming back out into the space for one more look GREAT SHOW EVA!!! COME AND SEE IT SOON!.. and please donate (to the right) to the kafeneon “month book” which will chronicle the entire month of events at kafeneon…

Ik hou van je maar ik verdien je niet

AHHH Show #2 Ik hou van je maar ik verdien je niet (i love you but i dont deserve you) a beautiful installation in the space including correspondences (mostly electronic..email, skype..etc) between two people about an elusive relationship which takes place in amsterdam… Autobiographical??? you make the call! I will be posting proper documentation of the whole installation soon STAY TUNED! After a rainy day a beautiful evening for the opening… and even with a few other events in Athens this night.. a really great crowd of interested supporters! Let take a look shall we?? Eva sure is excited to…the gathering crowd… a couple of firsts at todays opening… we were lucky enough to be visited by someone who smokes a pipe…and if that isnt enough.. a guy in a Sherlock Holmes hat…wouldve been great if it were the same person.. but hey.. cant have everything right? featured here in aforementioned hat “Caveman Joe”

Tereza shows us how to greet one another in Greece . SMOOCH!!here is Eva with part of her installation… and some folks investigating Evas map of Amsterdam Dionysis shows us why he is the God of Wine…who needs cork screws eh? And Nikos Tranos joins in the wine fun… outside merriment …and a lady from the neighborhood popped into see whats happening.. I cant help myself with this picture.. Stelios and Sifis looking fantastic… Folks enjoying a series of correspondences and drawings installed wonderfully.. WHATS UP NIKITAS! Long time kafeneon supporters Irini and Seb stopped by to see the show.. more of the wonderful people enjoying wonderful workuhh.. someone should tell Dimitris about the frog on his head before it gets out of control…too late…. FROGGGGGGGGGS!!!!!!!! Thinks its funny huh Nikos? Eva cant believe it either! Anna caught one.. wheeww glad thats over …OR IS IT!!! FROGGGGGGGGGS!!!!!!!! Eva tries a pagan dance to appease the frog infestation… Tereza says “Im going to Kiiiill youuu” then takes my camera..“youre gonna kill me?” a nice shot by Tereza noenafek (thats kafeneon for those paying attention) A picture of me and Nikos discussing the finer points of our facial hair Me wondering if i will ever to get as great of a ‘stache curl as Nikos has FROGGGGSSSSS!!!!!! Eva cant believe it… quick little sucker aint it… a very theatrical night at Evas opening with Margarita, Yannis and myself a crazy bike picture with Eva…MY BACKKK! FROGGGGGSSS!!!!! “I cant believe your still doing the frogs joke” “Yeah… really.. enough with the Frogs already” Fine.. how bout Yiannis’ B-Boy moves then…. Eva thinks thats better….Intensely discussing art… … then coming to a happy agreement Well folks.. thats the opening.. Please check out Evas show.. hours are Saturday and Sunday 4-8 pm monday and tuesday 12-8pm…swing on by.. i mean.. how can you say no to this face…. and stay tuned for the final jam-packed week of kafeneon including lectures.. screenings.. more lectures.. and a fantastic video show closing on March 31st featuring performances.. and of course wine in really big jugs….FROGGGGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ik houd van je maar ik verdien je niet

SHOW #2: ik houd van je maar ik verdien je niet – a semi-fictional obsessive description of an illusory relationship – An Installation by Eva Michalaki. Opening Friday March 21 8:30 pm (viewing hours Sat-Sun 4-8pm) Mon-Tues (12-8pm) DONT MISS A MINUTE!

Kafeneon Day 12

Well.. the show Beautiful Like an American is still up and im serving coffee during gallery hours and my first visitor to enjoy the show is Anna, showing a perfectly made cup of Greek Coffee. Stelios and Toula came by for some time today here is Stelios with another amazing cup of Free Greek Coffee This is Aliki.. she had a perfectly poured cup of water.. and enjoyed the show she heard about through a friend Stelios decided to make a great pasta lunch that we all enjoyed thoroughly.. well done SteliosAnd the final visitors of the day Xenia, Olga and Dimitris

Thanks for coming ‘yall…sorry Olga couldnt resist adding this one!

BEAUTIFUL LIKE AN AMERICAN

as promised images from the show which closes today! Ill start from the front and work my way back. This is a little bronze sculpture by Nikos Tranos another view of the front space  one of my pieces… I found the foam tile with the sticker of Christ on it..  Another one by me “white cube” made from the fallen tiles found in the kafeneon and reinstalled on the wall View looking back int he front spaceThese great rubber masks are makde by Dimitris Antonioua fantastic drawing by Sifis Likakis  a sticker installation on the mirror by Margarita Bofiliou shows the American Singing Canary In the second room we find Stelios, Dionysis, Dafni, and ToulaFantastic drawings by Stelios Karamanolis (pencil on paper)Forground is a sculpture by Dafni Barbageorgopoulouand hanging above a great piece “Basket Full of Farts” by Dionysis Kavallieratos (courtesy of the artist and The Breeder)another shot of “Basket Full of Farts”And a beautiful 9 piece mixed media drawing by Tula PloumiWalking into the back room (the kitchen) we find an impromptu installation created by the group during installFurther in.. in the pantry is an installation by Kostas Roussakis Video in the installation with a Hendrix song playing in the backgroundHuh?? lets take a look..Super great… Playmobile ghostStill part of the installation by  Kostas Roussakis Hand made knives by the guy in the video and Armenian friend of Kostas Back into the second room looking left past Dafnis sculpture is another one of my pieces consisting of broken glass found in the space an old school light projectorfake snow and spray paint on the mirrorAnother view of the “Glass Mountain”and finally back in to the spaceI disected a little rotating light thingy i found in a Chinese store and installed it behind the sticker that existed on the door in kafeneonAnd thats it Folks.. Show #1 Beautiful Like an American Stay tuned for show number two opening this Friday the 21st featuring an installation by Eva Michalaki  See you there! 

Kafeneon Day 10/11

Well kafeneon is open for the show this weekend I had a few visitors through word of mouth and one who came to the show came back for a closer look! These lovely folks came by saturday evening… we enjoyed some wine and a great conversation.

i think she is saying KAFENEON F’N ROCKS!

And this is Tereza she came by for the closer look we had a great talk about the space, the art scene everything really…and just when she asked what kind of people come by kafeneon in this part of town this man came in.. he enjoyed the show and was really impressed with the artistic mind. stay tuned.. im shooting the work in the space today and will post it soon!