Long Night of Museums


Markus Vater and Das Metapherproblem


Saturday May 8th is the annual Long Night of Museums when over 40 city museums and cultural institutions open their doors to the public until the early hours. Many until 2am! Special events are happening all over town; one of the many highlights is an iphone concert by Kreidler at the NRW-Forum and light installation on the building facade.

Interview by Feli Hackmann
There will also be a live broadcast of all that is going at the NRW-Forum over the web and I have been asked to say a few words about RhineBuzz, you can watch this here. We are scheduled for between 8 and 9pm. The broadcast will go on until at least midnight, various people from the world of arts and culture will be interviewed, most of it will be in German, but our interview will be in English.

The museum kunst palast also in the Ehrenhof, will be staging a vibrant program including a skate show in the courtyard, a huge painting event also outside with the aid of paintballs and amongst the varied exhibits inside the building you can enjoy a fabulous animated installation by Markus Vater, a piece he describes as a "walk-in painting." In contrast, in the Hentrich Glass Museum, in the building opposite you can admire some of the most exquisite paperweights you are ever likely to see. Real treasures!


Tickets are €12 and allow entry to all exhibits and events and the use of shuttle buses that take you to the various venues. You can purchase tickets on the night at booths in the city and at all participating houses. The main bus crossroads is at Grabbeplatz which is outside the Museum K20 in the centre of town.
Blue booklets which list all that is happening - and is too vast to list here - are available at all venues, ticket offices and the tourism office.
It's a very busy night. Be prepared to queue and we really don't recommend you go in a big group!


It was a great night! The Ehrenhof was the place to be with the iphone concert broadcasted on the building of the NRW-Forum, the fabulous Men in Blech who entertained regularly throughout the night outside mkp.

For those that understand German read Feli's highly amusing report of what went on backstage at Museum TV that night on Felisworld.



Mapplethorpe




Robert Mapplethorpe: PhillipPrioleau, 1980 (c) 2010 Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, used by permission

Final tour August13

Robert Mapplethorpe Retrospective
Shocking. Authentic. Desperate. Obligated. Graceful.
Mapplethorpe’s eye was all this and more. So much more.
RhineBuzz at The NRW-Forum every Friday until midnight. 
Free tour in English at 9pm.

February 6 - August 15 2010

Mapplethorpe was an artist of endless superlatives.

The talent, the search, the obsession and the honesty produced masterpieces to some and startling offensive images to others.
He opened up dark, secret worlds and at the same time paid homage to the great classics as he described photography "the perfect way to make sculpture."
This artist produced perhaps the world's most graceful still life photographs of flowers; strong, sometimes fragile, spell-binding portraits of royalty and the world's greatest artists and in parallel sparked controversy and ground breaking judgements dealing with sexuality and the question of what public funding of the arts should be.
Mapplethorpe never leaves you without emotion.

Final RhineBuzz Friday Nights at the NRW-Forum Tonight
Every Friday from February 12th. 
Everyone welcome even if you do not wish to visit the exhibition
Museum entry €3.80
Free tour in English 9pm
Ehrenhof 2
40479 Düsseldorf
U Bahn Tonhalle/Ehrenhof


METRO Group Marathon Dusseldorf






On May 2nd a bunch of RhineBuzz friends, Naoki, Pedro, Patrick and Peter from Japan, USA, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal and UK will be running in the City Marathon as the Super Mario Runners, start number 1043, so do along and cheer them on!

They are running in the relay marathon that begins at 9.50 at the Rheinterrasse. The course is here.

Participation in the various marathon disciplines is still possible by late registration.
Billed as one of the 'one of the fastest routes in the world with great views of the Rhine and a fantastic public' let's hope the weather remains clear and beautiful for this great day out when the city takes on a truly festive atmosphere.

The guys did just great finishing in a time of 3h 27, coming in at position 187 of over 2400 participants - great stuff, very well done!
Training for next year begins next week I'm told ...

After Work Arts at museum kunst palast


Next Date May 27th

On the fourth Thursday of the month, last month on March 25th, RhineBuzz hosted the second RhineBuzz After Work Arts at museum kunst palast, something that will be a regular event. When you arrive all you can expect is an art workshop, but the techniques we will be using are not disclosed until the evening of the event — all very interesting and a part of the concept. The evening is not about being an expert, but about having fun, being creative and enjoy trying, and learning something new, which means everybody can participate and everybody can enjoy it.

This time was very different from the last when we were here in February. Several of the March participants had also enjoyed the February event, but we also had some new faces.

This workshop started differently than the February event. Whilst we began directly in the studio last time, on this occasion our excellent guide took us to see a piece of art to start with, a fascinating 3D collage hanging inside the museum — of course to inspire us. After having observed the piece of art and being told more about the background we headed back through the museum and into the well equipped studio.
Last time we were working with limited equipment, this time was very different, we used a large range of materials — colouring as well as collages were on the agenda.

In February we painted in water and followed a concept by the artist Sarkis who had a show at the museum a while ago. The workshop included an exercise to show how to transfer the feeling from the paint in water activities onto paper — mainly the feeling and the knowledge about water colours in water and how the colours respond.
This time we worked with other techniques, using other people's art to create our own by using colours to put new life into black and white prints, and then later by creating collages. With access to the large amount of material mkp has available this was fantastic. We worked with water colours, oil pastels, charcoals, pencils, ink, as well as pieces of strings, coloured papers, glue, tape, old post cards and so forth. A very interesting experience — and the results were fascinating to see!



















Already looking forward to the April event!
Next date May 27th in the Studio at museum kunst palast, from 7 to 9pm.
Cost is €18, all materials are included.
Email caroline@rhinebuzz.com to reserve your place.
More information here

Thank you to Ann-Katrin from Sweden who wrote this piece and took the photos for us.

After Work Arts at mkp in March








We hosted our first After Work Arts at mkp last night.
This is what one of the guests had to say - her words are way better than mine could be -

I had such a wonderful time - I can't remember the last time I was in such a zen zone just doing art! The instructor was fabulous - she created such a nice positive open atmosphere and sort of led us in playing with stuff. AND we had really groovy background music! Everyone should come - it beats most TV shows, and it beats *yet another* evening standing around at cocktails with people, asking where they're from and how long they've been here. This gives you something more interesting to hold than a cocktail glass, and a much better return on your investment. For boys and girls.

This will happen the fourth Thursday of every month.
Next date March 25th at the Studio at museum kunst palast. 7 - 9pm.This will be hosted by Ann-Katrin.
€18 all materials inc. Email me to reserve your place caroline@rhinebuzz.com


More information here



Patti Smith "Just Kids" The Endearing Friendship with Mapplethorpe


Robert Mapplethorpe: Patti Smith, 1975 (c) 2010 Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, used by permission

Patti Smith will be reading from her book "Just Kids" on March 19th at the lit.Cologne. Tickets for Patti's event sold out pretty much immediately but RhineBuzz managed to secure a couple places and John and I will be there. So join us after March 19th for the tour at the Mapplethorpe Retrospective as we can relay first hand anecdotes from Patti herself about the endearing friendship she shared with Mapplethorpe.

On March 19th my colleague Rita will be taking the English tour at the NRW-Forum at 9pm. Thanks Rita and thank you Manfred Schmidt for the beautiful photograph of Rita taken at the pre-opening of the show.

©manfred schmidt photography

Patti Smith and her band will be playing at the Museumsplatz in Bonn on July 4th!

Wine Tasting with Nicola






So many have asked us to organise wine tastings and we've been trying to fix a date for quite some time, so we are very happy that Nicola now has the capacity to bring her amusing tastings with her immense wine knowledge back to Düsseldorf. Nicola Blanchard is a qualified WSET wine enthusiast with years of experience.

Discover 5 fabulous German wines with her accompanied by culinary delights prepared for you by WINELIVE, Düsseldorf's newest wine location, selected by the city guide Prinz as the best opening for wine in Düsseldorf 2009!

Places for the evening are €35, only available from Nicola and RhineBuzz.
Please contact Nicola if you have any questions 0179 590 1097




Wednesday, 24th February 2010
19:30 - 22:00



WINELIVE

Im Liefeld 32

40227 Düsseldorf

Rhine Ballet Premier b.03 and upcoming b.02



RhineBuzz were at the Premier of b.03.
Phenomenal.

We have secured discounted tickets for the Rhine Ballet b.o2 Kunst der Fuge for April 16th at 19:30. Email caroline@rhinebuzz.com for details.

The entire performance was stunning but the highlight for me was the heart-rendering centre piece "Signing Off." A strong, emotional dance that will remain with me forever. Unbelievably powerful in a mystical and haunting way, this award-winning piece by Paul Lightfoot and Sol León is about farewell.
Stunningly beautiful. One of the members of our group is a professional performer - he had tears in his eyes as we met for the intermission.
The Philip Glass music was just incredible.

We met members of the ensemble after the performance who shared the delights of working with the Rhine Ballet's director Martin Schläpfer with us. Simply put, we were told that each day is a new challenge and that the learning process, working with this quiet Swiss artist, is second to none. "Everyone is a star when working with Martin, there is no better director to be working with today" the ballerina smiled.

The next performance is on Friday 26th February and again on Saturday 27th. You can purchase tickets from the excellent Opera Shop or online.
b.03 runs in Düsseldorf until April 4th.



Fit2Dance 8th and 9th May Düsseldorf



''Be healthy, stay fit and have as much fun as possible''
This is the simple Fit2Dance philosophy

Sinclair Arts Productions are proud to present "Fit2dance" Workshop 2010

This coming weekend!
Saturday 8th and 9th May
Holmes Place Health Club
Kölner Landstrasse 11
40591 Düsseldorf

The internationally known "Fit2dance" Workshops combine the worlds of dance and movement with the fitness industry and present you a workout that your body will never forget.

There are thirty classes to choose from, ranging from yogaballetfusion, hip hop grooves, zumba, salsa freestyle, capoeira, step and Bollywood workout. With ten international instructors taking you through your paces, step by step, much of the instruction is in English.

A perfect way to meet new friends who share similar interests and a fun way to try new and wonderful ways to move your body and stay in shape.

This Weekender also includes a dance/Fashion presentation from British Designer Sinclair Wear, free F@D cocktails, F2D lunch, F2D massage and live music by "Little Snax"

Not to missed

or call Colin Sinclair on +49 (0)172 284 1769

RhineBuzz Special - mention RhineBuzz in your booking and you will receive 10% off!


Mapplethorpe Opening

John and I spoke with Michael Stout, the president of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation and Eric Johnson at the opening of the Robert Mapplethorpe Retrospective at the NRW-Forum last night.



Michael kindly, with a big smiling face, gave us a personal view of the photographer; they had known one another many years, he was his friend, his lawyer and the person he asked to help build and take care of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.

I also spoke with Ralph Goertz, who has recently returned from the States where he was able to speak with, and film, people who had been friends with Mapplethorpe and who had worked with him. I asked Ralph if these people were tired of having to answer questions on Mapplethorpe and was very surprised to hear that several of the people in his movie "Shapes" had never spoken about Mapplethorpe before! A enormous coup for Ralf - congratulations - and a wonderful film is the result! You can see it at the exhibition and purchase it in the shop at the NRW-Forum.


The tour will evolve greatly I'm sure as we move through the weeks of the exhibition.

We encourage questions and discussions and are able to contact the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation with unanswered questions which will no doubt come up.

Certainly the response to the packed opening last night was very positive. The photographs are everything - stunningly beautiful, intriguing and quite unlike anything you may have seen before.

Marja from Finnland and Mercedes from Spain who won an invitation to the opening at our Funk & Soul Party in November.

Stammtisch every Friday from February 12th.
Free tour in English 9pm.



Meet and Greet Schumann Quartett


The Schumann Quartett
Final concert May 9th at 5pm

In January over 30 of the RhineBuzz community had a great afternoon with the young Schumann Quartett on Sunday in the robert schumann hall.
Our visitors truly enjoyed the concert and we've had fabulous feedback about the meeting with them before the performance. We were all enamored by the anecdotes the Schumann Family had to share with us, including a little musical history and demonstrations of different versions of what was to come.
I thanked Erik Schumann for taking precious time before the concert to meet us. He replied with:
Dear Caroline,
It was a pleasure. Thank you so much for bringing so many friendly people to our concert!
Best wishes to all RhineBuzz members and see you again soon!


The next erstklassik! Schumann Quartett concert will be on May 9th at 5pm with:

Joseph Haydn
"Spaßquartett" op. 33 Nr. 2 Hob. III: 38
Robert Schumann
Streichquartett op. 41 Nr. 2
Johannes Brahms
Streichquartett Nr. 1 c-Moll

More about these marvellous young musicians here


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