MOPEDTRIP IV

Tomorrow a Suzuki from '79 and a Puch from '58 are heading for the Northernlights... well... that's like the target; at least Copenhagen and from there we'll see !

As you can see on the map, it is the fourth time I'm now going for a mopedtrip, and everytime its way exciting. Meeting so many nice people, gaining and exchanging so many experiences its just unreplaceble. Last week after finishing my last works the preperation for the trip went into an acceleration. Previously, we stayed mostly in France, we went to the nearest the border of Switzerland in 2004, and after that, in 2005, we almost reached the border of Spain (a few kilometers from Bordeax, before we visited St Mont Michel, Cherbourg and a lot of other exciting places). The third time, 2006, was a short one, with Dour Festival as a goal and the first time we took a camera with us ( see also http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=BXpaW1yQyiI ) ! Let's see we can do that again !

A nice picture from Suzy;

And last week in Jeroen's Shed; (Yes it is still the same thing, with 30000+ Kilometers on it... powertape excluded)

I will try to post some updates with some pictures once in a while, but It won't be as often I guess! Till August we're heading, and if you want to meet up, send me an email or post a comment !

Art Starts at ArtStart

ArtStart, the Portal for Art in The Netherlands. At least that's what it is intended to become. We started almost 5 months ago and last week we gave a presentation towards school, the organization and Thieme ICT, the company who provided the environment where could work on this project.

In february the project-assignment was shown in a presentation of Projects within "Medialab" (which is a part of the CMD education within the College-University of Rotterdam) and those who had an interest could sign up for this project. There was a small waiting list but because I was one of the first to sign up, I had the chance to be on the project. The project with its intention to build the biggest art platform of the Netherlands had started, in a total with 6 students.

Our Job was to research the existing and create the new, and we came up with the following concept; Our platform (with an international attitude) is aimed primarily at art lovers, secundairy are the artists and the galleryholders, which are not stated in the previous ArtStart, and who are now an essential part of what is about to become. Because ArtStart now has to be realized; and it's not open to public at the moment, I can only give some previews of the concept without taking it into detail.

Mainly, the biggest improvent and change within ArtStart is the image browsing, not knowing what you are looking for (blueberry picking technique's). A widescreen browser, a wall of artworks which reacts on the movement of your mouse. Never ending browsing, filtering results to your own interest, and save those interests as specified and personal filters.

With our platform, the most astonishing is that it is going to be totally customizable to your needs; including customizable news letters, agenda events, tips and tricks; the entire content. The pages are all dynamic, you can even drag and drop several items and you can create, collect, save, favorite and share your personal "art bar".

Blurry? Well... can't tell more, you will have to wait for a few months and see for yourself. But you can see the prototype by clicking here . But please notice that with creating this concept, we have done a lot of research including fieldresearch questionnaires reaching over 1000+ respondents and deskresearch examining more than 30 art related websites.

And now after these months of hard work it is very nice to hear our client is more than pleased, as well as our mental coach and even the programmers at Thieme ICT who are anxious to start building... and the project graded just yet with a straight A, as well as the personal assesments of most people working in this team.

Lord of Parkpop

* klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie *

It's there, the 29th edition! We all know what we are talking about; Parkpop. One day before Parkpop I get the chance to interview Guus Dutrieux, one of the six from the original Parkpop-Board. It would be a busy presentation, but... it turned out to an informal and personal conversation.

Nearly thirty years of existing, and growing each year; Parkpop is a phenomenom amongst the hague youngsters. Besides that, it's one of the world's biggest FREE festivals. But how did it began? Dutrieux tells easily, comfortable, about the first edition of Parkpop. Looking back on the old days the handout agenda for the event didn't even have 10 pages! What a laugh! But, it had around 15000 visitors; quite nice! But how big is the book right now ? Well.. about this size, and he lifts his hands placing his vingers on a book of what looks like more than the neverending 'Lord of The Rings'.

But even as the festival is growing each year, Parkpop has had his losses. "Reckon that we pay all our income from drinks, marketplaces, sponsors and subsidy... and not any entry prices!"

"That's quite something..."

"Yes, and besides that we pay normal prices for the performances, and everything around it"

Also, Parkpop has a lot of more competitors than before: "There is so much more, that wasn't there before. It's a lot harder now to start a festival." But Dutrieux is convinced that tomorrow they will succeed again, especially with this weather forecast.

And it's not the only thing they do, and that's good aswell "Because..." he continues "...with the profit of other events we can fully cover this kind of Festival". And the production firm has a lot more for the future. In the North of Holland, a big event, in multiple cities...

A nice conversation ended with some backstage tickets the next day;

the 29th edition of Parkpop with a.o. Racoon, Monte Montgomery and Sheryl Crow