Berlin seems to be the ‘Lange Nacht der Something’ city… Museums, Opera, Books, and what else could be missing? That’s right, Design Studios, something that Berlin is very representative of. Therefore, on June 7th, between 19 and 23 pm, Berlin design studios will open also for the night shift! More than 58 design studios in town joined this event, allowing you a rare excursion into their creative spaces.

You will be able to visit exhibitions of special pieces, experiment new prototypes, attend film screenings and talks. All design disciplines will be involved, from Product to Fashion, Furniture, Multimedia and Graphic.

On the official page of the event you can access the map and check the studios involved and the addresses. Studios like Edenspiekermann to MONOQI or Nulleins can be checked on the page… (we wonder why can’t we find some of our and Berlin’s favorites like Hort, Studio Mario Lombardo, Node, Cyan, etc.?!?!)

Soon the detailed list of events and timetable will be updated in the event page so don’t forget to keep an eye on it.

Ursprung is the latest project of Stephan Abry (Workshop) and Hendrik Weber (aka Pantha du Prince). Their release is a mix of their own ‘Ursprung’: Krautrock, ambient, and minimalist guitar-sound á la Durutti Column- the guitar as the primary sound source. Those very influences melt into ten tracks produced by Tobias Levin.

Ursprung
CD-release: 21 May 2012
via Dial / Kompakt

Release party:
Friday, 08 June 2012
at ://about blank

Jarrar is participating in this year’s 7th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art (on view until July 1, 2012, free entrance) with a further aspect of the project that uses another official sign: postage stamps. In utilizing the Deutsche Post AG service called “individual stamp”, the artist produced stamps for the State of Palestine to be used in the regular mail. More than 20,000 stamps have been sold so far. Used on letters and postcards, they have circulated worldwide. Central element of the design is the Palestine Sunbird. It embodies the wish to create an open, independent country guaranteeing freedom to everyone to carry one’s life in one’s hand.

Jarrar’s passport and postage stamps tell the story of a state-to-be. But reality goes against him and other Palestinians. Instead of continuing again and again the discussion about a one- or two-state solution, using these stamps is a simple gesture that helps to create normality.

Read an interview with the artist by David Miller here.

You can buy the stamps at the counter of the 7th Berlin Biennale. To order stamps please contact fz@berlinbiennale.de. Against a small surcharge, the standard stamps of 0,55 Euro were produced with the “individual stamp” service of Deutsche Post AG and are valid for regular mailing. One sheet of 20 stamps costs 16 Euro (plus additional shipping fee for mail order of 1,45 Euro). Stamps are sold by sheet only.

Yes, you can bring your friends.

The Jewish Renaissance Movement in Poland (JRMiP) calls for the return of 3,300,000 Jews to Poland in order to re-establish the annihilated Jewish community. The movement was initiated by Israeli-born artist Yael Bartana in 2007 and has since spread internationally. It aims to create an atmosphere for a Jewish appearance in Europe. The Jews of today are not the same people who were expelled from Europe—the Europeans of today are not the ones responsible for the ethnic cleansing. This may be the appropriate time to unite again—and change Europe and Israel for the better.

The JRMiP is a response to these times of crisis, when faith has been exhausted and old utopias have failed. The aim of the First Congress of the JRMiP is to ultimately formulate the concrete platform of the movement and collectively imagine the future. The three-day long gathering departs from a letter of the late leader of the movement, Sławomir Sierakowski, found after his assassination, and considers the following questions:

- What should be changed in the EU to welcome the Other?
- What should be changed in Poland to become part of the revived EU?
- What should be changed in Israel to become part of the Middle East?

For the first time since its foundation, JRMiP members assemble, joined by international speakers, to reflect upon particular demands. The movement needs all of you who sympathize with the issues of different Diasporas in general.

Watch the official promo video here.

First International Congress of the Jewish Renaissance Movement in Poland (JRMiP) in Berlin
May 11 – 13, 2012
Daily from 3 – 10.30 pm
Hebbel am Ufer – HAU 1 , Stresemannstrasse 29, 10963 Berlin
In the frame of the 7th Berlin Biennale
More Information on the Congress / Program / Tickets

Editorial and Advertorial – New Illustration in the Media
Opening /
 Saturday, 05 May 2012 / 19h
07–25 May 2012 / 10h–16h

Work by Uwe Arens / Jens Bonnke / Christina Bretschneider / Constanze Guhr / Robert Hanson / Orlando Hoetzel / Rinah Lang / Kai von Rabenau / Katja Spitzer

AID Berlin
Akademie für Illustration und Design Berlin
Ritterstraße 12-14, Aufgang 2
10969 Berlin

Illustration by Jens Bonnke

Opening today in Kreuzberg: Outdoor venue with the genius name Fiesere Miese. Today big May 1st open air, tomorrow Mia Grobelny Release Party.

Mark Borthwick: Fountains of Ardor
27 April – 24 May, 2012

Comme des Garçons
Linienstrasse 115
10178 Berlin

Another fine and eclectic event to clutter your busy Berlin weekend schedules with.

Made is a curious and pretty bling – as in very white – space on the ninth floor of Haus des Reisens on Alexanderplatz. Their focus is to bring people from different media together and work out a new collaboration, so you never really know what to expect, which I suppose is the idea. It can be a little hit and miss at times, but their latest project this Sunday sounds promising indeed, with a prestigious triple bill uniting London-based media collective Random International, renowned choreographer Wayne McGregor and composer Max Richter. Even better, it’s free, if you sign up in advance. Find out more here.