Category Archives: Events

Photography Exhibition – Of Ink and Light: a look into the soul of spanish american literature. Daniel Mordzinski

 

Until the 24th of October you have the chance to visit a photography exhibition of famous writers, hosted at an unusual space, as part of the Dimitria Festival.

Photo Exhibition at Bensouan Han

Photo Exhibition at Bensouan Han

Daniel Mordzinski, was born in Buenos Aires in 1960, and is considered the writers’ photographer.

This is something that has earned him various roles, from war correspondent, to a photojournalist based in France and author of more than ten travel guides. Over the last 30 years he has photographed every writer and great thinker that he could get his hands on, which has had him closely follow the evolution of literature over these last three decades.

Mario Vargas Llosa himself even said that, to say that Mordzinski has photographed authors is simply not enough, but rather he makes profound and respectful interpretations of their personality as is reflected in the features and characteristics of his photos.

The Argentinian photographer has photographed writers such as Jorge Amado, Martin Amis, Paul Auster, Francisco Ayala, Mario Bendetti, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Marquez, José Saramago and Mario Vargas Llosa.

http://www.danielmordzinski.com

26 September – 24 October 2013 / The exhibition is part of the 48th Dimitria Festival /  Curator: Miguel Fernández Belmonte

Venue: Bensouan Han (Edessis 6, Ano Ladadika, tel. 2313318212)

Opening hours: Daily 12.00-21.00

In collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes of Athens, Thessaloniki Museum of Photography and the Federico Garcia Lorca Cultural Center of Thessaloniki

The exhibition is part of the PhotoBiennale parallel program by TMP

Open House Thessaloniki 2013

Open House Thessaloniki 2013

Open House Thessaloniki 2013

Open House Thessaloniki is back for the second year !

In 2012 Thessaloniki joined the Open House family and started organizing an event that celebrates the city’s architecture and design.

Do you know what exactly is it ?

A simple but powerful concept: showcasing outstanding architecture for all to experience, completely for free. Open House initiatives invite everyone to explore and understand the value of a well-designed built environment.

The history behind it

The Open House event started in London in 1992, gaining in the past 20 years a lot of appreciation and support. Today 21 cities are members of the Open House Worldwide family and host annually this event, including New York, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Helsinki, Melbourne, Barcelona, Chicago, Rome, Lisbon etc.

The second Open House event in Greece is taking place on 19th and 20th of October in Thessaloniki. Selected architectural sites will be open to the public during this weekend.

The event is organised by the non-governmental and non-profit organisation Open House Greece, founded in 2012.

Open House Thessaloniki aspires to expose the architectural treasures of this dynamic city, and make architecture accessible to all. Its aim is to contribute to the deeper understanding of urban design and public space, and enable all citizens and visitors to explore and understand the value of a well-designed built environment. You will find the detailed program with venues and times here.

We cannot wait !

3rd Thessaloniki Performance Festival

performance festiva;A performance festival will take place in Thessaloniki next week in the context of the 4th Biennale 

After the successful conduct of the first and the second Performance Festival, the public’s positive response and how it contributed to the spread of performance as an artistic expression and practice, the 3rd Festival is aiming to be an important project that will explore the concept and the development of performance, will instigate awareness and will set down an indelible mark on the city.

The festival’s program will include live performances which will highlight the diverse elements that constitute the art of performance, master classes by artists participating in the festival and a workshop to be held a week before the opening of the Festival and will aim to broaden the relationship between performance and photography, as also the transition through the photographic lens.

In addition, the Festival will include an one day conference with theorists/art historians and interventions by artists and participants of the Festival, experimental electronic music concerts and screenings of video performances. In addition, underlining the historical background of this artistic practice, the Festival will make tributes to two major art figures that throughout their longtime artistic trajectories, they excelled in the area of performance.

ARTISTS 
Live performances: Maria Jose Arjona (Colombia), Ron Athey (USA/UK), Aymeric Hainaux (France), Clarice, Lima (Brazil), MaraM (Italy), Mohamed El Mahdaoui (Morocco), Monali Meher (India), Alekos Plomaritis (Greece), Tamar Raban (Israel), Maria Sideri (Greece)
Workshop + exhibition: Manuel Vason
Tribute: Dimitris Alithinos (lecture, re-enactments, video screenings
Screenings: VALIE EXPORT
Video-performance exhibition: Filippo Berta (Italy), Andres Galeano (Spain), Sarah Trouche (France), Mary Zygouri (Greece), Performance Voyage by Artists’ Association MUU (Finland)-Annette Arlander (Finland), Filippo Berta (Italy), Trine Hylander (Norway), Essi Kausalainen (Finland), Mikey Mc Parlane & Michael Mallis (USA), Maria Nikiforaki (Greece / UK), Anna Nykyri (Finland), Andreas Pashias (Cyprus) , Dana Sederowsky (Sweden), Surya Tuchler (Germany), Tracy Valcarcel (Peru / Canada), Eero Yli-Vakkuri (Finland)
Conference:“You had to be there.” Documenting, archiving and curating performance art. Coordinator: Angeliki Avgitidou, Key note speakers: Adrian Heathfield & Manuel Vason
Masterclasses: Aymeric Hainaux , Clarice Lima, Tamar Raban

Duration: October 15-19, 2013
Curator and Coordination: Eirini Papakonstantinou

THE FASHION ROOM SERVICE

roomservice

The Fashion Room Service Thessaloniki edition is back in town, tomorrow October 6th !

This Sunday, October 6. The Ozon creative team in synergy with OFF Radio present the established Fashion Room Service event in PORTO PALACE HOTEL ,Thessaloniki.

After two years, the event returns to the city, presenting new designers, collections and creations for this season- in one of the biggest deluxe class hotels.

Selected rooms in PORTO PALACE will transform into mini pop up showrooms giving the chance to stylists,  fashion editors, fashion bloggers, photographers, press and of course the public to explore and discover new up and coming Greek designers and promising creators/artists.

The participants of this year’s FASHION ROOM SERVICE are:

GEORGINA KOSTARA, PANDORA PSILOPOULOU, FOTIS GIAKOUMATOS, YIORGOS KOULASIDIS DRAMA QUEEN, POPPYSEEDS, KNIKATI, SPANAKI CLUTCHES, ASELELEONORA, LUCKY PIG, BORD DEL’EAU DESIGN, ZOI GIAKOUMATOU , 3RD FLOOR, ARCHITECTURAL FASHION BY NEFELIA

The Fashion Room Service event will complete its course with a party- DJ set, curated by OFF Radio’s radio producers while the guests will be able to enjoy free and cool cocktails made by the Absolut Vodka bartending team in the amazing Roof Garden of Porto Palace Hotel.

The rooms will be open from 15:30 – 22.30

Porto Palace: 26th Octovriou st, Thessaloniki Port.

Evening Party by ABSOLUT vodka from 18:00

For more info: 210 3634009

Fix in Art

fixinartFix in Art is an alternative art multi-space in the west side of the city, not far from the city centre.

It is located in an old building right next to the nightlife area of Fix. It houses concerts, dance lessons, theatre seminars, free movie screenings and a used bookstore all under one roof !

I first went there last spring after a friend suggested to go watch the classic movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and I was pleasantly surprised with this alternative art space.

The new dance season starts today so you can visit their facebook page for details on time schedule and prices. I have to tell you that this is not your regular dance class with latin and zumba. Here you can even learn how to dance Bollywood style !

I suggest you keep an eye on their page as various events come up throughout the year.

Φιξ In art
Performing Arts Venue and Other Nightlife
26th of October 15

Fix area

4sq link

DIMITRIA 48th edition

48th Dimitria

48th Dimitria

The big arts festival of Thessaloniki is here for the 48th time !

As you should already know if you read a bit about the history of Thessaloniki, this city is 2330 years old, so a 48 year old arts and culture festival is not that old in comparison !  Actually, as early as the golden age of Byzantium, about the 14th century AD, Thessaloniki hosted a regular spectacular “New Festival” each autumn.

In October 1966, the festival was reborn and named Dimitria after Saint Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki. There is also a big street and of course a church named after him.  The church is a must visit, but I will tell you about it some other day.

Back to our subject, the art and culture festival of Dimitria which opens tomorrow, Thursday 26th and lasts for a whole month till October 26th – the name day of Saint Demetrios and of the whole city.

The whole program can be found here, unfortunately only in greek, but if you walk around in the city, you are probably going to get your hands on a printed version with, hopefully, some info in english as well !

The official opening ceremony will be held at the morning of Sunday 29th in the open space area of the port pier, in a feast of music, dance and food delicacies !

In total you will find around 50 events: music concerts, dance, theatre, fine arts, some paid and many for FREE.  The venues are many different spots around the city.  The weather is thankfully still great to wander around and discover them so go on, explore the city and enjoy !

Update 5/10

Good news ! The festival program just came out in english ! 

A different day in the centre of the city !

parallaxiTomorrow Sunday the 22nd of September is the annual european car free day.  It is the best day to walk in the centre, ride your bike or rollerblade in the middle of the main streets of Thessaloniki.

The last few years an activist group named Thessaloniki Allios ( meaning Thessaloniki Otherwise ) formed and supported by Parallaxi mag has offered us many different days in the city.  Thanks to them we have discovered many unknown corners of the city and had many alternative experiences we wouldn’t have imagined in the past.

The different day in the city starts tomorrow at 12.00 and will last till 20.00.  There are 35 different events that will be happening in various points downtown and all of them are completely FREE.

The program in brief goes like this:

Point – Proxenou Koromila & Lassani – Games for children and grown ups !

Point – Ag. Sophias street – Various athletic events like Yoga, Dance, Tai chi, Zumba and more! Also free bikes and bike repairs up on the street near the church !

Point – Ermou & Svolou – Music events !

Point – Tsimiski street – Parades and organised city tours !

Point – Aristotelous square – Movie on a grass filled square at 20.00 !

Street Yoga 2012

Street Yoga 2012

The detailed program can be found here and the official facebook page here.  Most info is in greek but don’t let that stop you. Just go downtown and wander around the events and blend in with the locals !

Since no cars will be allowed in the centre you will only be able to go by foot, bike or bus.  Have in mind that because of the day buses are FREE and so are some of the parkings around the city centre.

Don’t forget the rest of the events this weekend, like the eco festivals, Reworks, and Κ.Ο.Θ. underground ! This is definitely on of the best weekends in the city!

Bike Parade

bikerideThis weekend really has it all ! Music festivals, eco festivals, fun events, and 2 bike events ! I don’ t know if the term parade that I put on the title is valid for the organised bike rides, but I’m using it anyway and if you can suggest a better term let me know !

First of all, let me tell you that we are having a bike events weekend since tomorrow is the european day without cars.  A new post with the events of tomorrow will follow !

There is one public organised bike parade which is open to ANYONE and will start today Suturday 21st at 18:30 in the centre of the city. The route is really short and simple and anyone can follow. People of all ages and fitness levels attend these events just for the fun of it.  Roads close for the cars during the parade so it is a wonderful experience to just ride your bike on the same busy streets you pass everyday with your car. If you are in town, there is no excuse not to go!

bikerideThere is another organised bike ride which is open to professional athletes. The greek world champion Christos Volikakis will be there as well as athletes from other countries. They will follow a city circuit of 54 km in the centre of the city.  This is really nice to watch while you drink your coffee in one of the coffee bars of Nikis street, like Thermaikos.  The photos featured here are from last year’s event and as you can imagine I shot them while I was having a relaxing coffee with friends.

Tomorrow the athletic bike ride will continue with another group of around 180 athletes from all over the world, who will start a country route from Thessaloniki and will go 175 km away to Siatista!

2nd Day with Colours from Sfina

coloursIf you are not so much into music or simply want some genuine crazy type of fun, then I have another suggestion for you!

The Day with Colours will be housed tomorrow Suturday 21st and for the second year in a row, at Camp Field Kodra in Kalamaria. The event is inspired by the Indian religious ceremony of Holi, but here we do it just for fun!

The host is the activity group Sfina, or else a group of crazy people doing crazy stuff in the city.  Not only they like doing crazy stuff but they like filming them too, so here is an excellent video clip from last year’s event.

The video speaks for itself so there is no need for me to say more. If you feel like letting the child inside you have a fun Suturday out, then wear a white outfit and be at Camp Field Kodra at 14.00.  You can easily go there by bus # 5.  The event is free but you will have to pay 2 euros for each bag of coloured powder.  All the colours used are safe for humans so you can safely bring any children with you.

Κ.Ο.Θ. UNDERGROUND

Κ.Ο.Θ. UNDERGROUNDAnother type of music event is running over the weekend besides Reworks festival. It is K.O.Θ. UNDERGROUND and as you will probably NOT understand by its name, it is hosted by the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki and the venue is Block 33.  It is an unusual venue for a state orchestra which also has an unusual program to present to its audience.

Κ.Ο.Θ. UNDERGROUND is an annual event which has become a tradition in the city over the last years and has now reached its 4th year!  Here, you will have the chance to listen to some exquisite musicians and singers.  It is a 3 day event full of music, and also some parallel exhibitions of art and photography.  The music program itself, is quite impressive and varies from greek folk, to film scores, jazz, rock, classical and everything you can imagine.

Entrance to the events is free and the program starts at 19.00 on Friday the 20th, 17.00 on Suturday the 21st, and 11.00 in the morning on the last day Sunday the 22nd.

You will find more info (in greek) on their website and their facebook page. 

4sq link for Block 33