mirror images

john mccracken'slovely mirrored obelisks at the hamburger bahnhof in berlin got my brain going about my place in time and space and the future...

...as did these mirrors in athens! multiple moments! multiple dimensions! multiple mes!

berlin landscapes

I have never had a bad time in Berlin. Not even when I lost my cell phone on New Year’s; or when I coincidentally ran into an ex-boyfriend in the Turkish market; or when I got busted TWICE in one trip for not buying a train ticket. For some reason this city just calls my name and even if it roughs me up a little, I still leave feeling the need to stay longer. For EVER!





This time around I stayed with Ian and lovely Lilly in their fabulously European flat in Kreuzberg. Ian is currently working at SoundCloud, an web-based music sharing program/community, and Lilly works for an association of Berlin galleries. Although my stay was brief, I managed to see some sights, meet some new faces and get some good work done. Upon my arrival, Ian met me for lunch and I checked out the Bruce Nauman retrospective at the Hamburger Bahnhof while I waited for him to get off of work. In the evening we met Lilly at home and devoured falafel and the best ice cream I’ve had in a loooooonnnggg time (sorry San Francisco!) at Vanille and Marille. I had sesame/honey, pistachio, choco-coco-banana, oh my god it was all amazing. We climbed up the real “Kreuzberg,” watched the sunset, and went home for some Mad Men.






In the morning I walked forever taking photos, losing my favorite scarf, ducking into shops and places for snacks. I visited C/O Berlin for a photography show about the growth and decay of cities. Some fascinating photos from all over the world installed in the former main post office on Oranienburgerstrasse. Later, Ian and I kicked it on the Ufer w/Donny and Carsten, drinking beers while I made paper chains for CELEBRATION ROOM #2! Dinner at Seerose, an all-vegetarian café, and ice cream (again!) for dessert! When we got home I took all my supplies to photobooth down the street from Ian’s and made CELEBRATION ROOM #3!!! Boarded a train the next afternoon for Vienna…





Much thanks and love to Lily, such a sweetheart, for the great talks about art, gallery tips, and a comfy bed below Picasso in the kitchen. And as always, love and thanks to Ian, who has been a great Freund for many years, and comrade in german studies! Alles Gute to you both and see you soon, ich hoffe!

CELEBRATION ROOM #3

took over a berlin photoautomat, one of the many that grace the STREETS of berlin, for the 3rd installation of CELEBRATION ROOMS! no need to even step foot in a bar! i had prepared the paper chains all day and finished installing everything around midnight, just as a group of scottish kids came up to use to booth. they were thrilled to take advantage of the CELEBRATION and crammed in to take some shots. right afterwards, another big group of birthday celebrators came and happily jumped in with the garlands and ribbons for more photos. everyone loved it! we all celebrated for a brief moment together and went on our separate ways. i took a few photos of myself in the booth too, for posterity's sake. ian informed me that it was gone the next day, but i managed to grab a few photos in the morning before the party ended.

CELEBRATION ROOM #2

a bit off-the-cuff, but as we were sitting on the ufer in the evening berlin breeze, ian suggested i decorate the tree before us with my paper chains. seeing that it's a community effort, these CELEBRATION ROOMS, i took his advice and had carsti help me hang a few paper chains in a tree to the surprise and delight of everyone else! what a scene-- the two lovers below the branches, the sunset, the swans in the river! everyone always asks, "whose birthday is it?" or "what are you celebrating." it's no one's birthday, we're celebrating LIFE! we're celebrating because WE CAN! thanks for the help, boys. it's so relaxing to sit and make those links while they drink their beers. i love berlin!