In Greece
Initiation and production of The De Valigia Train in Greece by Stichting De Blinde Schilders.
Why did the name of The De Valigia Train changed into the europartrain? Austria/remarks
Debut of the project in Thessaloniki, Greece on the 20. March 1997
with
converted Greek passenger carriage / (33 ) Greek artists
converted Danish passenger carriage / (26 ) Danish artists
converted Dutch cargo carriage / (28) Dutch artists
one converted container on container wagon as exhibition stage for artists from other countries
one modified container on a central position/square in every town
Time table
Thessaloniki
Opening celebration in the Thessaloniki Railway Station, Track 1, on the 20. of March 1997, 8 p.m.
Programme Opening celebration:
Opening speeches
Il teatro Artigiano de "La Scuola de Tovena"
traditional Northern Greek Dance and Folklore performance
exhibition dates: 21. March till 2 . April 1997
Egnatia - route:
Alexandroupolis
Opening celebration 5. April, 7 p.m.
exhibition dates 6. April till 12. April 1997
Drama
Opening celebration 13. April, 7 p.m.
exhibition dates 14. April till 22. April 1997
Edessa
Opening celebration 23. April, 7 p.m.
exhibition dates 24. April till 30. April 1997
Florina
Opening celebration 1. May, 7 p.m.
exhibition dates 2. May till 9. May 1997
opening times at all locations: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
* the project was on view to the public free of charge
Activities and sideline shows
Initiation and production of The De Valigia Train in Greece by Stichting De Blinde Schilders.
Invites of Greek artist through collaborations with:
Nikos Kryonides (independent artist) Mentor
Lola Nikolau Gallery (Gallery)
Giorgos Tsaras (Aristotelian Art Academy)
Preparation catalogue, De Valigia Train in Greece, (2000 copies), which were sold for cost price to the public. Artist's addresses and telephone numbers have been published in the catalogue.
(With the thanks to Georgios Katsagelos, for the use of his studio for photography of the artworks).
preparation of Danish, Dutch and Greek railway carriages and two containers.
artist network party. 10 day prior to the opening, the artists, curators and organisers were getting together in the place, where the railway wagons got prepared. To meet each other and to celebrate.
65 suitcases from Italy, Germany and other countries, which were previously part of the De Valigia exhibition, were shown as Satelite-exhibition in the Foyer of the administration building of the Aristotelian University in Thessaloniki for the whole period of time, the train was traveling in Greece. ( 25.000 students).
Educational activity
co-operation with some Art lecturer from the Academy on subject related programmes with their students (2 lecturer, 2 students joining the project)
a mailing has been sent out to art teachers in schools to promote a visit for art teachers and their pupils to the train. Giving to the students an indication of what contemporary art can be about and for teachers to bring the project into the classrooms. About 70 school classes attended the train.
Press conferences, publicity and media
Press conference in Thessaloniki on the 19. March 12.30 p. m.
Press conference for Alexandroupolis, Drama, Edessa, Florina, same day as opening at 5 p.m.
Preparation invitation cards and international mail
Preparation posters and flyers, distribution
Newspapers and magazines: 80 publications
Television: 5 documentation, film by independent film maker (Mangos production)
Visitor attendance
Visitors attendance at the opening in Thessaloniki: about 500
Visitors attendance for the whole period of time in Greece: about 8.000
Satelite-exhibition (Aristotelian University): about 5.000
Official co-organiser and other co-operation
Greek Railways
The Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Thessaloniki 1997
Gallery Lola Nikolau
Margarita Godi ('Best person in Town')
Individual lecturer from Aristotelian University
Local artists
Marylou Koulourida
Participation of professionals (artists)
BLIATKAS NIKOLAS
DAMBASSINA LYDIA
FELDMAN BARRY
KARABETSOS STELIOS
KATSAGELOS GEORGIOS K.
KATSIANI & CHONDROS
KLADISSIOS KLAUDIOS
KOSTAROPOULOU KATERINA
KOUNOUPI-GORITSI STELLA
KRYONIDES NIKOS
LIOLIOPOULOS DEMETRIOS
MANOS FILIPPOS
MATTHES RUUD
MAVRIDIS HECTOR
MOUSMOULIDIS CHRISOSTOMOS
DANIELA VON NAYHAUSS
PANAGIOTAKIS STAVROS
PAPACONSTANTINOU LEDA
SKIPITARIS KOSTAS
TANTANOZIS DIMITRIS
THEOPHLAKTOU ELENI
TOUMBEKIS CHARALAMBOS
TSAKIRIS GIORGOS
TSARAS GEORGIOS B.
TSIRKOU MARIA
VLACHOGIANNIS DIMITRIS
VOUTSINAS MARIOS
XONOGLOU DIMITRIS
ZIOGA & KARANDINOS
ATTALIDOU KATERINA
(not in catalogue)
AMBABTZIDOU STELLA
LADOPOULOS HARIS
SEFEROPOUDOU GESTIMANI
remarks
From out the Netherlands, we financed the official coyright for the countries, Greece and Italy for the trade mark of De Valigia © by Gianpaolo De'Andrea.
We had to make a lot of emergency scenarios for public relations / press, accommodations, etc.. The local railway company, as well as local artists and curators, knowing about the 'mall-functioning' way of the Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Thessaloniki 1997, were defending us and offered lots of help. Finally it was a great pleasure to be there for working, dealing, talking, eating, drinking, making friends. It has been wonderful to experience Greek hospitality.
Thanks to the following people and instances
Nikos Krionides, Marylou Koulourida, Lefteris Kyriazis, Juanjo & Irena, Katerina Kostaropoulou, Stelios and Elena Karabetsos, Mr. Milounakis, Panagiotis Stergiopoulos, Thalia Stefanidou, Georgia Dodou, Dimitris Vlahogianis, Kostas Skipitaris, Litsa Dombasi, Lola Nikolaou, Margarita Godi, Panos Charamoglou, Tatjana Papa, Katerina Sathiropoulou, Constandina Sideridou, Marc Rencher,Anastasia Tsochoutaridou, Nikos & Madeleine, Giorgos & Maria Tsaras, Anthi Samartzidou, Chryssa Mokou, Danny Stilidis, Despina Stoli, Dimitris Lenis, Eva Skoudaropoulos, George Viamopolus, Teta Magri, Giorgos Giavvopouios, Irene Pinov, Julia Elovari, Katerina Attalides, Mr. Tetradis, Olga Mpiln, Petros Mitkas, Stelios Argirakoulis, Ruud Matthes, Dania ten Hoopen, Eva de Klerk, Ewan Cameron, Monique Jansen, Maj Green, Frank Weller, Jeroen van Roon, Bureau Buitengewoon, Marijke Thijssen, Veronie Willemans, Elke van Dommelen, Andrew Borge, Anna Flavia Roman, Gianpaolo D'Andrea, Pietro Argenti, Loredana Manfré, Anita Possamai, Terrenzio Del Grosso, Daniela D`Andrea, Bert van der Lingen, Henk de Klerk, Herr Bolt, Peter van Wel, Toni Niel, Mark Hannant, Munni Caur, Anke Stapels, Tom Raas, Hanneke de Jong, James Fitzpatrick, Kresten Thomson, Trevor Davis, Hans Peter Hjerl, Absa, Omepo, Jacq Kriek, Wijkcentrum Havens Oost
Giorgos Katsangelos, for the use of his studio for photography of the artworks.