#78
This last Black Holes residency took place fom July 4th till 25th, 4 artists from Iceland, England, Russia and 6 local artists gathered for a three-week-long, process-based residency in the Totaldobže Art Centre situated in the culture hub Viskaļi, in 36 Viskaļi Street, Riga, Latvia.
The focus of the residency was on sharing and creation of ideas for new art works through collaboration and within the local context. It was like a structurised improvisation in jazz started from the first day and ended when participants were left.
The participants took part in interdisciplinary workshops, explored the local context, exchanged knowledge and skills from their own experiences. The residency was moderated by one of the co-founders of the Black Hole residencies and the head of the Totaldobže Art Centre – artist Kaspars Lielgalvis. Participants were be selected by 4 local professionals: composer Rolands Kronlaks,contemporary dance choreographer Ina Ločmele, architect Ramon Cordova and the moderator. There were organized a meetings with architects Kārlis Jaunromāns who has created the vision of the development of the building and the site of Viskaļi and architect and city planner Ramon Cordova who has made a research together with his partner – another architect Signe Pērkone and made the vision of the potential development of surrounding area probably affected by the new stackholder of the neighbourhood – cultural hub Viskaļi. In the end of the residency participants shared their ideas with the public in the forms of art exhibition and stand up show. Some of the art works created during this residency has been exhibited in the galerry KUNSTPUNKT (Berlin, Germany) during the gathering of the artist-run initiatives "LUFT – fair is in the air" within the project "ARNE" (Artist-run network of Europe) funded by European Comission programme CREATIVE EUROPE.
This residency was financed by the Latvian Culture Capital foundation.
Participants:
artists Aina Bikše, Rebecca Korn (UK), Einar Lúðvík Ólafssons (IS), Anastasia Shneps-Shneppe (RU), Kristján Thorlaciu (IS), Lidija Zaneripa, composer and sound artist Alise Rancāne, DJ Aizvakardiena (Gunda Sila), choreographer of contemporary dance and set designer Līga Ūbele; choreographer of contemporary dance Marģers Vanags.
The residency will take place 30 min bicykle ride distance from the city center. There is also a public transport. The price for the cab ride from and to the city center is around 5-10 EUR.
The residency will take place in the Totaldobže Art Centre, which is currently based in the cultural hub Viskaļi run by Free Riga in the former Riga Technical university site. The renting contract has signed in 2019 for the next 25 years. There are 15000 m2 and more then 200 rooms.
Totaldobže Art Centre has occupied small part of Viskaļi. It is running the residencies, organizing workshops and public events: concerts, exhibitions, performances, conferences, talks, poetry slams etc.
There will be separate bedroom for every participant, but shared WC, shower, kitchen, meeting and working space. In the photo – working space.
Totaldobže Art centre is having a large former cinema 600m2 and smaller rooms in total 1700m2 . Cinema can host 500 visitors (with seats) or more then 1000 (seats removed). Totaldobže Art centre runs a bar when there are public events.
There has been hosted around 20 events last summer, but in autumn it has been closed because of Covid-19 restrictions. It will be open again from the 29th of April.
There is a cosy terrace right next to the Totaldobže Art Centre. During warm summer nights the events mostly are hold outside.
There is a piano available for the Black Hole residents.
The Black Hole residents will be living next to more then 30 studios of artists and designers, workshops with cutting, printing, welding etc equipment. There is also a mushroom farm, sports centre and other kind of working, office and leisure spaces.