Deutsche Werkstätten in Hellerau

I've been there for a conference on June 7th. It was an amazing day at the Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau.

You'll find my digital event pictures here and the attendees lomo-pictures here.

No Trespassing?

Wolkenburg castle

Two days ago I had an epiphany. I realized that for the last weeks I had been falling back into my old behavior of being an observer instead of an doer. Since I've decided at the beginning of the year that I want to live an active life, I wasn't exactly amused by this observation (pun intended).

So when I got an e-mail by my club yesterday morning, asking for last minute help with todays big scale event in Dresden, I jumped at the chance. During this event I will not only be the event photographer but also teach the attendees (from some CCIs and business promoting organizations) about Lomography and creativity (hence todays picture).

Lomography was my restart in photography, without my Lomo Fisheye camera there wouldn't be this blog or San's Visual Art. Lomography to me means sheer creativity.

What means creativity to you?

Urban vs. Classic Art

Good Morning. I'm back from my little trip to the southwest and I'm quite relaxed from it. It was a brilliant week, with lots of great conversations, good food, sunshine and strolls along rivers. The new week is packed with art related stuff. For the next three days I'm at the Medientreffpunkt Mitteldeutschland representing my club Kreatives Leipzig and taking pictures.

I took the picture above at Leipzigs Spinnerei during the last April weekend. I thought it was a good juxtaposition of Classic and Urban Art.

Tille Tubby Land 2.0 at Leipzigs Distillery

Thursdays in the garden of the Distillery: music, creative discussions, playing boardgames and just hanging out together. With fabulous lighting. I totally enjoyed being there this Thursday evening.

Pictures of the Präsentierteller I'll publish soon, just have to decide which. And then write the post. But for now the weather is awesome in LE and there is an open weekend at the Spinnerei and Tapetenwerk, which I don't want to miss.

I hope you all can enjoy a beautiful weekend too.

Kreatives Leipzig - LE FOKUS - Gentrification

On Monday I've attended another event of Kreatives Leipzig, this time at Leipzigs Distillery. The Distillery is a club specializing on House and Techno music and is not only hosting the PRÄSENTIERTELLER event series of Kreatives Leipzig, but is also hosting a poetry slam on the first Friday of every month.

Stage(L tR): David Voss (standing), Prof. Dr. Dieter Rink, Paula Kanefendt

Monday evening however it was the LE FOKUS Series (normally hosted by the LOFFT). The topic was Gentrification and drew quite some audience.

The ultra cool ceiling at the Distillery.

It took me some time to get the right camera setting. But I guess for the first time photographing there the pics are alright. Tomorrow I'll be there earlier to get a better place to photograph.

Discussion group at the stage (LtR): David Voss, Roman Grabolle, Prof. Dr. Dieter Rink, Jens Bengelstorf, Paula Kanefendt

What is brilliant about the Kreatives Leipzig events, is that I'm always in a great mood when I leave them.

Anyway. The next event is the Präsentierteller tomorrow evening (26.04.2012, 7 PM) at the Distillery. With fresh house music, due to the presentation of a local music label. Should be fun. If you live in or near Leipzig why don't you attend?!

Book Discussion at the Kollaborat, 12. April 2012

The Kollaborat*

Last Thursday evening a small group of creative people gathered in a shop in Leipzigs neighboorhood Stötteritz to discuss THE BOOK: “Zustand und Zukunft krea­ti­ver Arbeit in Leip­zig – LE Klub Ana­log”. The shop is the office space of the Kollaborat, which consists of the two Designers Jakob Gleisberg and Hendrik Möller.

Discussing the books development

Hendrik (far left) and Jakob (far right) were the designers of the book (who'd have thought?!) and told us about the process, the certain choices for type faces and papers. (Interestingly enough, the font-types used in the book are font-types created from designers from Leipzig and they are very cool font-types if you ask me. Yeees, I'm biased in this matter.) It was interesting to hear how the project evolved.

I've asked them for their thoughts on individuality for this post and here is what Jakob wrote me:

»Individualität bedeutet einen eigenen Anspruch zu haben. Keine Standard-Lösungen aus einer Schublade zu ziehen. Die Problemstellung gut zu kennen und eine maßgeschneiderte Lösung zu suchen. Es heißt nicht besonders extravagant zu sein und das Besondere zu suchen.«

»Individuality means for me to have an own demanding. Do not accept standard solutions. Do not work with prepared ideas. You should know your problem well, you have to find a made-to-order solution. But it does not mean to do something extraordinary or super special.«

Still discussing ;-)

It was also interesting to talk to so many creative entrepreneurs, to get their point of view on related matters. That is after the champagne and the introductory round loosened us all up a bit. ;-) Anyway, I felt quite at home with this crowd.

Hendrik discussing some pictures with a photographer (Whose name I've forgotten, shame on me, because he's really a nice guy. Note to self, always exchange business cards.)

This last picture is actually my favorite one of the few photos I took.

*As you can see, the really cool crowd was attending. A vintage road bike belonging to one of the attendees is parked in front of the office. Vintage racing bikes are the coolest thing currently in Leipzig. And I'm certainly thinking about getting one myself. I've always wanted a racing bike.

Club "Kreatives Leipzig e.V."

As I had already told you way back in November 2011 I've become a member of the club "Kreatives Leipzig e.V.". Which was founded in 2010 to support and connect the people working in Leipzigs creative industries.

So, my goal was always to be more than just a member who pays her membership fee. And I'm proud to announce, since last Wednesday:

I'm an event photographer for the club.

One of four to be exact. After all I can't cover all the events alone, now can I?! Anyway, I'm really proud on being this.

My first official assignment will be the LE FOKUS next Monday at the Distillery.

However, since there was a book discussion on Thursday concerning the clubs book about “Zustand und Zukunft krea­ti­ver Arbeit in Leip­zig – LE Klub Ana­log” I went there and took the first pictures. The post about the discussion will be published tomorrow morning, 9 AM CET. Great book by the way.

My life is truly gaining traction and I love it. Tonight I will attend my watercolor class, tomorrow I have an exceptionally full calendar first a fair in Dresden and in the evening I'll meet some creative Ladies. And Wednesday...