URBAN WITCHES NOT BITCHES #2 : A Pagan Wheel of the Seasons

“WE ARE BADASS, MAKING MAGIC WITH OUR PUSSIES.” 
Lisa Lister

14-28 JANUARY 2017 
OPENING + CALENDAR LAUNCH: 14 JANUARY 2017 @ 19:00
NEUROTITAN GALLERY / ROSENTHALER STR 39 / 13127 BERLIN 

URBAN WITCHES is not a Feminist Exhibition. Rather, it exhibits a new way of seeing the Feminine. 

Raw. Powerful. Painful. Exposed. Uncooked. The New Feminine is wild, intact. Undamaged by the rational mind, the New Feminine inhabits a realm of uncivilized norms in which the Dark Feminine, so feared by patriarchy, emerges transformed.

Conceived by Viviana Druga, URBAN WITCHES is composed of an exhibition and calendar. Eight women artists have been invited to create installation, performance and sound-based work.

The printed calendar, featuring eight photographic portraits of eight artists (performance artists, sculptors, costume designers and illustrators), forms the basis of the exhibition. 

Each portrait symbolizes a festival or ‘sabbath’ in the URBAN WITCHES 2017 Calendar / A Pagan Wheel of the Seasons, and is represented by an artist fitting the transformative energy of that season. Each portrait was created as part of a ritual during the year 2016. 

The URBAN WITCHES 2017 Calendar / A Pagan Wheel of the Seasons is based on the eight seasons of the neo-pagan 'wheel of the year' and its cycles of birth, death and renewal. The wheel of the year developed out of cross-cultural awareness in early modern Europe, influenced by Celtic traditions. 

URBAN WITCHES deploys occult, pseudo sciences such as astrology reflexively and allusively. The exhibition is designed as an artist’s laboratory rather than a fixed entity. The calendar subverts pin-up expectations to present icons of the New Feminine.

Viviana Druga´s approach to performance and photography involves the community around her. As with her previous project, 22+1 Tarot de Berlin, she transforms friends and family into icons. Their personal characteristics determine their psycho-magical roles. 

The exhibition is accompanied by performance art and sound-based events, Shaltmira will be performing tattoo art for the duration of the show. Kasia Justka will be making food and sound in her Singing Kitchen, and Rubbish Fairy animates her House of Doll.

Text: Viviana Druga with Samantha Jayne Williams

WITH

Yule as Shaltmira / DEC 21
Imbolc as Moran Sanderovich / FEB 1
Ostara as Frau Feeger/ MAR 22 
Beltaine as Gaff E / MAY 1
Litha as Labanna Babalon / JUN 21
Lammas as Mad Kate / AUG 1
Mabon as Viviana Druga / SEP 21
Samhain as Rubbish Fairy / OCT 31

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OPENING CEREMONY 19:00 
with:
Gong: Sof Ya / drums Brandon Rosenbluth / voice Tim Henrik Schneider

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VERNISSAGE PERFORMANCES STARTING WITH 19:30
by:
Mad Kate
Lady Gaby/ Gaby Bila-Günther 
Kasia Justka
Frau Feeger
Werner Kernebeck& David Braithwaite
Marissa Rae Niederhauser
Beati Jolanda Niesyta

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PERFORMERS AS PART OF INSTALLATIONS:
Alex Denver
Anakleinod
Irina Aniri
Karolina Svärd
Anne Fidler
and many more TBA

Viviana Druga in interview with Tamara Dauenhauer / Launch of URBAN WITCHES CALENDAR 2017

www.vivianadruga.com in vacation listening to music...

m3dula