It's OK... Circle 4: Roots in the Oude Kerk #1
15 July 2023
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Public gathering and conversation.
Moderator: Gijs Stork / Co-moderator: Karolina Wargin
Guests: Frank Bruggeman, Margret Wibner, Michel Hamersma (Jemi), Margarita Osipian & Ad de Jong (w139), Diederik Six, Carin Rustema (HvA).
This circle, brought together by Gijs Stork and Karolina Wargin, sheds ligt on unknown relationships within and around the Oude Kerk departing from the church’s many graves. In conversations with people whose ancestors rest in the Oude Kerk or who presently reside at addresses linked to these ancestors, a space is created for unexpected narratives and transhistorical connections.
In the first gathering, different perspectives on connections with and around the Oude Kerk are explored. Starting from the artists Frank and Margret, who will illustrate the thinking process behind their artworks and unique approaches – that are part of this circle at Oude Kerk.
Through the words of Michel (flower shop Jemi), a business owner working in the area for over 20 year, we will uncover the hidden histories. Margarita and Ad, from gallery W139 will take us through its 44 years of history, located at Warmoestraat 139. Where many years back Gerard Barterghn, buried in the Oude Kerk, lived. One of the descendants of the Six family, Diederik, will guide us through his family tree in connection to the church. After our conversation will then take a wider perspective on the meaning and practices of connecting with communities together with the researcher Carin Rustema (Hogeschool van Amsterdam & ArtEZ University)
Other gatherings of this circle
On Friday 21st of July the second gathering of this circle takes place with contributions by patricia kaersenhout, Jennifer Tosch, Harold Schole, Koen & Martijn (AEIGS), May Leegte, Bonne. The circle also features Flowers on the Grave by Frank Bruggeman and, on 18 July, the participatory performance ‘time out’ by Margret Wibmer.
Over Gijs Stork
Gijs Stork (Curaçao,1964) has lived and worked in Amsterdam since 1986 Gijs Stork is a cultural entrepreneur. Since October 2020, Stork has been active in organising the platform de Wallen Online and developing the neighbourhood map. Since 2018 curator and founder of Queer Currents, an Amsterdam platform for LGBTQI+ programming. Since 2010 curator and owner of Foundation SALON oa in Amsterdam, Istanbul, Beijing, Cape Town, Aruba, Buenos Aires, Paris in development Casablanca and Paramaribo. Co-initiator of Design Museum Amsterdam in collaboration with Het Nieuwe Instituut. Also founder and curator of XBANK in W. From 2009 to 2014 curator of contemporary art at Keukenhof Castle. Founder of ArtPeople, a cultural recruitment and selection agency since 2009. Since 2009, Gijs Stork has been programming the non-profit exhibition space and house concerts at the Stork Club at Magazijn in Amsterdam. Stork is a freelance exhibition maker at home and abroad (including in Washington, Aruba, Moscow, and for Oumuamua. Previously, Stork was publisher of art, architecture, design and fashion books and magazines at Artimo (1992-2005) and Veenman Publishers (2005-2009), publishing about 750 titles during that time. Stork studied Art History and Cultural Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Stork is a member of several (cultural) boards, had and serves on several committees at various funds and other cultural organisations such as Pride Photo Award, Grachtenfestival, Commemoration April-May 1943 Strikes and private family foundations such as JP Stork Foundation and the Pierson Fund. In addition, Stork has advised and managed his own and several private art collections since 1992.
Over Karolina Wargin
Karolina Wargin (MA & MEd) is een freelance ArtistEducator die werkt met kunst- en culturele organisaties, onderwijsinstellingen en diverse sociale gemeenschappen. Ze gebruikt kunst gebaseerde onderzoeksmethoden om collectieve ruimtes van zorg en creativiteit te creëren. Haar missie is het bevorderen van niet-dominante verhalen over gender, inclusie en duurzaamheid. Als resultaat van haar Master of Education in Arts (iMAE+, ArtEZ) begon ze met het ontwikkelen van de Embodied-Creative Learning methode over de verbinding tussen lichaamskennis, creatieve expressie en kritisch denken. Voor Hogeschool Windesheim (Zwolle, 2023) heeft ze met een team van 5 ArtistEducators (SeAre ArtEZ) de twee maanden durende cursus "Verantwoord Leiderschap" mede ontworpen. Het programma was gericht op het ontwikkelen van een project over Sustainable Development Goals door gebruik te maken van Arts-Based Research methoden. Voor de eerste editie van het Next Generation Festival (No University Center for Advanced Studies en ArtEZ Zwolle, 2022) maakte ze deel uit van het artistieke team dat workshops ontwikkelde om de klimaatcrisis vanuit een interdisciplinair en innovatief perspectief aan te pakken. Met het team van RE:PLACE (Honours Lab Radboud Universiteit, 2021-22) ontwikkelde ze een educatief project over klimaatcrisisbewustzijn in het hoger onderwijs dat werd geselecteerd als onderdeel van het New European Bauhaus 2022 in Brussel.
About It's OK... commoning uncertainties
This circle is part of the multi-year collective art project It's OK... commoning uncertainties and narrating different realities. From May 26 to September 24 in the Oude Kerk, for more information about It's OK... look here.