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..!!!