Museum Night Fever at La Monnaie

Last Saturday, Museum Night Fever offered a rare opportunity to escape the (last of) the wintry and dark days. 19 Brussels museums opened its doors (almost) the whole night and offered guided tours, animations, music, dance, performances, in collaboration with students of numerous artistic high schools.

Too many to visit all (in the rain), so my favorite pick were the workshops (Ateliers) of the Royal Monnaie Theatre, a most prestigious opera house in Europe. Its workshops are one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Though not strictly to be considered a museum, but rather a very active creative part of an opera world. Would the unique journey (parcours) through its workspaces appear a source of inspiration (as the program announced)?

Indeed, it was, in the first place for the students of the Brussels school of Arts.

Figures disguised in black outfits and forehead masks, armed with I-pods playing excerpts from Mozart’s La Finta Giardiera, guided us – solely using “body language” through the various workshop spaces. Wardrobe, sewing, wood, metal and painting… unknown worlds of big-scale, hence creative activities opened up for me.

And everywhere young dancers (on of the them the daughter of good friend of mine) enhanced the de-mystifying experience with their fresh movement and dance creations. At the end we could watch parts of a rehearsal for Cosi Fan Tutti by singers of the famous music chapel Queen Elisabeth. An inspiring journey it was!

Belated New Year's Party

Belated New Year’s Party

One of the strange traditions here is that the New Year is celebrated throughout the entire month of January.

People visit friends and family over the weekend for a casual, semi-festive lunch or dinner … a great way to catch up.

Organizations and companies throwing receptions to give back to the community or to make its new year resolutions “public”.

Last Friday “De Markten”, a cultural centre (catering to mostly Flemish speaking folks) in the heart of Brussels, opened up its doors for a marvelous new year’s party. Of course, I had to be there.

After a warm welcome by the director Nora, I munched on hearty international and Belgian food prepared by members of the board of directors – more than heartwarming on a cold winter night.

Glad to hear other languages too. I ended up talking (in English and Dutch) with two young women, Shosha and Juliane – dancers - who are in the process of creating a new choreography and are rehearsing in De Markten. Looking forward to this piece of these “Body Talkers” (bodytalker.be). After all, isn’t dance a most wonderful way of communication?

Ending a nice evening to the swinging and cheering tunes of the European bluegrass band “Sons of Navarone” … alright, let’s dive into 2011!!!

Winter Fun

Walking in fresh snow this winter is a totally different sensation than swimming in the ocean at Venice Beach these past previous years.

Les Plaisirs d’hiver (or winter wonders) organized by the city of Brussels consist of a wide array of attractions in the vicinity of the Grand Place and a highly promoted Christmas market. Commercially exploited to cater to thousands of locals and tourists, the merchants, set up in prefab chalets, sell all kinds of X-mas gifts and various comfort foods, from sauerkraut with sausages, greasy donuts, pancakes with Nutella chocolate spread, all flushed away with huge amounts of mulled wine and/or liquor shots. Any excuse to stay warm will do.

Though I like hearing the different languages and dialects of the people, I cannot stand the smell of the pungent food for longer than a few minutes, and am escaping in search of more creative inspiring activities.

In the evening I attend a screening of “Turquaze”, as part of a small film festival featuring recent Belgian films. Telling the obstacles of a young Flemish-Turkish couple amidst deeply rooted cultural traditions, the film has serious flaws.

More enjoyable is the post-screening reception, where I ran into a fellow LA friend/expat & actor, J.P. We are sharing our stories on (re)new(ed) living and professional experiences and challenges in our native country … , mutual encouraging words feel good.

On Sunday afternoon wandering through more fresh snow to Gallery Espace Blanche (white space) – is white a theme here? – for a festive lunch, organized and prepared by the two female artists, Sophie S. (paintings) and Nath Kahan (sculpture), whose work is on display at the gallery.

Surrounded by strong and personal art, live jazzy sounds by family members of the artists, playful children, I munch on delicious food and embrace the impressions of these warm moments. I really love Sophie’s acrylic and mixed media paintings, inspired by “the impression of a sacred dance, where the sea and the earth hug each other” (sic Sophie S.).

For me now it’s dancing (if not slipping) in the snow on the way home!

Diversity

One of the many aspects of a metropolis is its diversity. That’s not different in Brussels, the capital of Europe, where people form diverse origins live. This colorful mixture, not always easy to structure and handle politically and socially, does liven up the city’s culture.

Last Thursday was the closing night of the first “Fortnight for Equal Rights and Diversity”, a new initiative by the Brussels government, to raise awareness in this matter through a variety of programs.

For the closing night celebrations I went to the historic city hall on the Grand Place, a jewel of Gothic architecture. After all these years, I fell in awe again for its beauty!

With an eclectic array of songs, the female group “Ik zeg Adieu” (I say Goodbye) gave voice to the closing night reception for the campaign to respect women’s rights.

Afterwards, I headed over to the venue “La Tentation” for more festivities: yummy food and drinks, and feel-good songs and music by the band “Viva Ninas”. Those women rocked the house with their folky, jazzy, sometimes bizarre interpretations of popular Eurovision tunes. They got many bodies moving, including mine ... a great way to cheer up a cold evening!

Facing Fall

I am continuing my “Brussels travels”. I moved to a friend’s place in the center of the city, which is unbelievably convenient. Walking distance to shops and the major cultural venues in town, what a treat!

Less of a treat is that fall has taken over the town, and with it comes an abundance of gray skies and rain … very common for Belgium, but not so for me anymore. I am already missing the Los Angeles’ sun and warmth and the darkest winter months are still to come. Oh no!

Have to explore alternatives: hammam, tanning salon, getaway to a mediterranean country? Will have to save up first.

For now, creativity and “getaways” in the local art world have to distract me from the daily grayness.

More dancing and moving, taking a contemporary dance class, visiting more art galleries and expositions are on my agenda.

During one of my recent “art wanderings” I came across the exhibition “Un corps a soi” (a body of one’s own) – photographs by the Belgian filmmaker Marie Mandy. In these very personal, often confrontational and overall liberating images, she documents her healing process of breast cancer. Mandy also wrote a diary “AMAZONe” and made a documentary reflecting all her emotions and anxieties involving. Calling herself a modern day “amazon”, she quotes the legendary artist Louise Bourgeois: “Through art, we transcend real life. Being an artist, we can overcome our torments and guarantee our mental health”.

Let art guide and inspire, indeed.