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Marieke Warmelink & Doménique Himmelsbach de Vries in “Art in Odd Places”
Marieke Warmelink & Doménique Himmelsbach de Vries restage the duo-performance “One Hour of Free Help” during the 11th edition of AIOP RECALL, 7-11 October 2015.
Wed, Oct 7 - Sun, Oct 11 2015
After a successful participation in the performance festival Art In Odd Places 2014, in New York, artists Marieke Warmelink & Doménique Himmelsbach de Vries are invited to restage the duo-performance “One Hour of Free Help” at Union Square during the 11th edition of AIOP RECALL which will take place from 7-11 October 2015 along 14th street Manhattan.
One Hour of Free Help
In their performance “One Hour of Free Help,” Marieke Warmelink and Doménique Himmelsbach de Vries aim to raise the social reputation of the Netherlands. The country used to be known for it being a safe haven for individuals who think differently. Warmelink and De Vries believe that the past years the country has been characterized by a growing fear of dissidents which has, according to them, resulted in fertile ground for negativity. Thus they take on the role of “Embassy of Goodwill” to encourage people to act with curiosity and openness. They aim to “symbolically reclaim and re-use populism in a fertile and social way.” As artists, instead of creating something to look at, they offer a helping hand. “One Hour of Free Help” as an act to reach out to the other and to gain a deeper understanding of the social context of a new surrounding. In their performance Warmelink and De Vries meet various people and listen to personal stories about private living and work conditions. Through dialogue they give advice on how to approach daily life problems. Collaboration on a local level is the key. “One Hour of Free Help” is a performance that encourages curiosity and welcomes the unknown. The integrity of offering help is a way to break with social spectatorship and directly apply social engagement with an immediate result.
Performance Agenda
October 7-11:
– One hour of free help ‘The Monument’, Installation @ Union Square 4PM-6PM daily
– One hour of free help ‘The act of Hanging’, Performance @ Union Square 4PM-6PM daily
October 8:
– Lecture One hour Free Help @ Pace University Art Department 12.15PM-13.15 PM
October 11:
– One hour of free help ‘Free Help Competition”
– Freeform Discussion with public, curators and artists @ Jackson Square at East 13th Street and 8th Avenue 1PM – 2:30PM
October 14-28:
– Exhibition @ LODGE GALLERY
About Art in Odd Places
Art in Odd Places (AiOP) presents visual and performance art in unexpected public spaces. AiOP also produces an annual festival along 14th Street in Manhattan, NYC from Avenue C to the Hudson River each October. Art in Odd Places aims to stretch the boundaries of communication in the public realm by presenting artworks in all disciplines outside the confines of traditional public space regulations. AiOP reminds us that public spaces function as the epicenter for diverse social interactions and the unfettered exchange of ideas.