The 3D list Week 26 By Daniel R. Gould

3D List: Week # 26

Hey, members of the 7A Club---damn, 3D, again, forgets what all the "As" stand for---Spring is officially here and daylight savings time can't be far behind. The short sunny days that weren't, through the winter months, will soon be but a fond memory. "fond?" With Spring comes thoughts of love and the love of art is what the 3D List is all about. So don't think about it...love is all about emotions and not thinking...think about that!

INDEX:

Bits & Pieces:

Restaurant Review: Voldaan Argentijns Restaurant

Museum Review: Persmuseum

Art Space Review: De Service Garage

What You Missed Last Week:

What Is Happening This Week:

BITS & PIECES:

Good news and bad news. Should we do the bad first?

The J. Paul Getty Trust fund that operates two museums in LA has announced that their investment portfolio has dropped 25% since the last half of 2008. From $6,000,000,000 to $4,500,000,000. The two locations attracted 1,600,000 people last year. The good news, here, is that the there will remain no addmission fee. However, car parking is $10. So walk already.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC) has annouced that it will lay-off 10% of their labor force.

***

...More about how museums are dealing with the "art depression" at: www.nytimes.com. Search "Which You Were Here," by Carol Vogel and you will get: "In Lean Times, New Ways to Reach Out" (12th March). She say, "Thomas Cambell, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), who took over in January, "This is a good time to refocus and reinvigorate...We want people to know we're here and have been for 138 years. We're a place of infinite experiences...Last year there were something like 20,000 different events from lectures to tours. A tour leaves every 15 minutes. It's really quite phenomenal."

***

An Amsterdam gallery that had exhibited at the art fair Scope New York reports dismal results. So bad, in fact, that they have cancelled their appearance at Art Chicago.

***

The art space "798," in Bejing, is located in an old factory complex that had been built by the Russians in the 50s. There WERE about 200 galleries located there until recently. 60 have now closed. The China art bubble has imploded. Can the rest of the world be far behind? Only YOU can prevent an art recession...not to mention "depression." Buy, buy, buy while the dealing is easy...

***

3D mentioned that someone had hacked into his Hot Mail address. I am still trying to sort out the damage. I do know that there are about 100 people who probably are not receiving the list. The problem is identifying them. A few people have e-mailed complaining---and gallery holders mentioned it during my visits--- that they were no longer receiving the list. On Monday, I sent an e-mail "test" to one former group that those people had been listed under. Well, I got back some comments saying "Yes, we get the list...keep it coming!" So, that meant I had NOT identified the problem as of yet. Last night I was thinking fondly about the positive reponse thinking, hey, people DO read the list. Then today, 3D sort of crashed when he thought that his plea for "donations" has fallen on deaf ears and resulted in: ONE.

I guess it means you read what you want to read. Well, it's the way of the world! And that address in Purgatory is: PB 15541, 1001NA Amsterdam. NO checks accepted!

***

In Week # 24, 3D warned about how you can avoid Internet scams. Here is where to find a more extensive look at the problem: www.msn.com. Search for: "Five Facebook Scams: Protect Your Profile," By J.R. Raphael, "PC World,"

***

The Jan van Eyck Academie (Eindhoven) is "accepting applications from artists, designers and theoreticians to submit research and production proposals to become a researcher at the academy." For questions and more info contact Leon Westerberg: leon.westenberg@janvaneyck.nl. An article in the Int Herald Tribune, a few years back, labeled this academy as the "best" in the world" for design. www.janvaneyck.nl

***

At NIMk (née: Monte Video, Keizersgracht 264), this Saturday, is a workshop titled, "TERRITORIAL IN/-/FORMATION," given by Linda Hilfling. You must register by e-mailing your CV and a brief motivation for why you want to do the workshop to: anouk@nimk.nl. The cost is cheap for the 10:30-17:00 day @ 15/10 euro with lunch included. Limited to 15. More info: www.nimk.nl

***

The VCC: De Brakke Grond offers a workshop on Friday and Saturday (3rd and 4th April) for aspiring young music journalist. It is FREE, but with a proviso: You must be present during the "Sonic Connection" festival. "Send your motivation to: nine.vincx@brakkegrond.nl." P.S. "You can also win a FREE addmission ticket." See details at: www.myspace.com/sonicconnections. Even more info: www.brakkegrond.nl

***

At www.msn.com via "Discover Magazine" is the article: "20 Things You Don't Know About...Sleep," by Jason Stahl. "Dreaming is related to burst of electrical activity that blow through the brain stem every 90 minutes during REM sleep [rapid eye movement]. Over a life time, an average person spends more than six years dreaming, clocking more than 136,000 dreams in all...But nobody knows why we dream," there are four favored theories, however. Here is a selection: "The idea that it is dangerous to wake a sleepwalker is a myth." "Who knew it was so easy? A Muslim couple in India is being forced to split up because the husband uttered the word 'talaq,' the word for divorce, three times in his sleep. According to Muslim law, the 'triple talaq' is an actual divorce." What is left unsaid is that it only works for the husband. His wife can't do a divorce so easily. "In 1964, 17 year old Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours and 12 minutes [11 days], the officially recognized world record." Yeah, but with or without speed?

***

The "nice" thing about the 3D list is that you get news NOT fit to print in a newspaper. Last week, under B&P, there was a list of food additives to avoid. Ko F. responded by saying, "When I look at my morning s***, I see my previous day before me!" Now that's food for thought. Have you ever wondered why our faeces isn't colored red, blue or green instead of brown, gray or black? Mull over that for a while. One of the great mysteries of life. Forget UFOs. Let's keep it down to earthy smells.

***

...And, it's a family affair. Leo F.---Ko's older brother (see above)---has this to say: "Life turns into something so divine with a belly full of wine!" Which reminds 3D of this axiom: "A day without wine is like a day without sunshine!" More from Leo: "The night is a perfect antidote for the day!" Well, Kris Kristofferson says, "What ever gets me through the night." Leo goes on to quote Picasso, "Art washes away the dirt of everyday life." And Henry Matisse, "All art worthy of the name is religious!" For more. click on to "Reflections" at: www.leofisscher.com

***

Laser 3.14, Amsterdam's street philosopher, at Schippergracht 15, says: "Sometimes it helps to dream." Right on!...And more at Kerkstraat 165-167: "Chewing bubblegum while tearing me apart." Hmmm, not quite sure what he is saying here. But if he has bubblegum, readily available, he can put all the torn pieces back together again just like Humpty-Dumpty. Eggs anyone? On the other side, of the construction barrier, it reads: "Social Peace or a disease?" Cryptic. Again, Hmmm.

***

3D has seen the future and it works! We have had "electronic books" for several years now. However, reading from a PC screen is not one of the great joys in life. Give me the printed page any day....or so I use to think. A few weeks ago, I read an article in the Int Herald Tribune about a new electronic book called the Kindle. It said that looking at its screen was like looking at a printed page of paper. This I gotta see, was 3Ds' comment....and it was abracadabra all over again. I had a visitor, from the states, last week, who has one. He can download 1000---or was it 2000---books on the Kindle's disc. I looked at it and indeed it was like looking at the printed page. I said, "Yeah, sure, but I have been annotating books, as I read them, since I began to read!" "Oh," he replied, "you push this function and it's done!"

There are 215,000 titles available through Amazon. And, get this, it is easier and more convenient than reading either a paperback or even a hardbound book because you don't have to hold it in a way that prevents it from folding closed. The future is hear and, well, I would miss looking at the covers and dating the book at the back with my comments when I have finished, but I guess there is a function key for that too.

***

...And speaking of the future, well, it is bringing back the past. Recently, on the USofA TV series, "American Idol," it appeared that all those Elvis sitings, that people read about, in the tabloids, may be true. Check this out and Elvis is only a click away: http://thehumorzone.co.uk/Videos/elvis_celine.wmu and you will "see" Celine Dion (who was born after he died, if he did, maybe) singing on stage "live" in a duet with the King himself. The song, "If I Can Dream." And he looks reeeeal good, c 1968. Thanks to Karl L. (Palm Beach, USA) for passing this on. Karl has the largest collection of Elvis memorabilia in the world. And now he can have the real thing!

***

Directly below you will find a restautrant review. So, speaking of reviews, this was an article in www.DutchNews.nl which probably illustrates how traditional 3D is and NOT with-it as to what is important these days. "Around 120,000 men have registered with a prostitute website containing performance reviews, says Friday's Telegraaf. The paper says 25,000 men visit the site everyday and that over 20,000 reviews of prostitutes' performances are listed. The site was set up in 2002." Damn, if only 3D could read Dutch.

***

RESTAURANT REVIEW:

Someone was visiting 3D, from Chicago, last weekend. He made a stop at Amsterdam on his return leg of a business trip to the Windy City. He travels on an expense account and 3D remembers those days well. The great meals he had had between Sofia and San Franciscio. One thing that made it all the more memorable and enjoyable was never seeing the credit card bills. Those were sent directly to the company's accountant. In this case, the visitor, owns the company so maybe there is a little sting when looking at the bottom line; I say that because he mnetioned the final bill three times over the next two days.

On Friday night, I took him to Beddington's #2 (Utrectsedwarstraat 141). That's not really the name. Jean, the chef-owner, doesn't refer to it as "#2," but it is both her second location and her reincarnation. She opened, in Amsterdam, in the early 80s. The restaurant was located next to the library at Rudolf Hartplein. It was 3Ds' favorite and, in those days, he had the money to enjoy the creative recipes. She closed sometime during the late 90s. But, I guess she got bored with doing nothing because, a few years back, I heard she was doing it all over again.

This is not a review of the meal. My guest...well, that's not accurate, he was paying...and I had not seen each other for 30 years, so I didn't take any notes. Just enjoyed the food and the company. And I am pleased to report that the food is still what Beddington's is all about. Jean is English---until only recently they were not noted for kitchen imagination nor versatility. After cooking school, she backed-packed across Europe and into Asia and stopped in Japan. Along the way she absorbed the culinary arts of several countries. I guess you could describe her as one of the pioneers of "fusion cooking." She has a way with mixing ingredients and techniques that reflect multiple cultures; and when you add to the fact that she has respect for quality, well, you never go wrong when you sit at her table.

There is a three course and four course menu each at a fixé price: 45 euro and 52 euro. I had the grilled lamb and my friend had grilled tuna as entrees...I can still taste it...and three bottles of the house white wine priced at only 22 euro a bottle and very good. What can I say, Fine dining at its best! Kid you not! www.beddington.nl

RESTAURANT REVIEW # 2:

On Sunday, I suggested a Sichuan Chinese restaurant located on the Albert Cuyp. This is a province located in southwest China. The table is heavy with garlic and hot spicy chili peppers. As we approached the address something was off; the sign was not lit. Admittedly, it has been a good seven or eight years since my limited budget allowed me to visit. Either the space is being renovated or it has folded because, alas, the restaurant is no longer sitting people. The hot oil has gone cold.

A few doors away, 3D saw what looked like a new eating establishment called Voldaan (Albert Cuypstraat 19). Through the window, the interior is contemporary, simple and well lit. The menu in the window defined its table as "Argentinian." Well, it is a country that does produce good beef not to mention great quality beef when the restuarant selects to pay the bill. We went inside.

Along the way, my friend and I had ran into a 3D List reader (her bona fides was a copy of this week's: "What Is Happening" section). She was invited to join us. (See what can happen when you GO?) This is a restaurant that specializes in grilled food. The steak section listed: Filet mignon (haas), 225 grs. @ 20, euro; 300 grs., @ 25, euro; and 400 grs., @ 30, euro; Sirloin Steak, 225 grs., @ 14, euro; 300 grs., @ 18, euro; 400 grs., @ 22, euro; Argentinian Steak (biefstuk)...damn, forgot to copy down the prices but all three weights were less than the fillet and sirloin cost.

There is also grilled Gambas (large shrimp) with olive oil and it is a simple dish allowing all the flavor of the sea to come through succulently and priced at 26 euros. You have a choice of french fries (patat frits) or American style baked potatoes with sour cream. Also, we selected fresh green asparagus also done on the grill and flavored with olive oil. There was a mushrooms cream sauce for the steaks on the side. Other entrees inluded Cajun marinated butterchide fillets and lamb cutlets roasted on a spit.

The beef quality is very good. The meat is tender and easy to chew. However, it is neither American prime quality nor Scottish Black Angus nor Japanese Kobe. All three of these varieties are well marbled, that is, speckled with fat throughout, and very expensive when you can find it. The good side of the coin is the Argentinian beef is more healthy because of the less fat.

A nice touch is that there are five house wines: two whites (Chilian and Italian) each @ 19 euro a bottle and 3 euro/glass: a rosé (South African) also @ the same prices; and two reds (Chilian and Argentinian). The former is a Cabernet Sauvignon @ 19 euro and 3 euro/glass euro; and the latter a Malbec @ 20, euro and 3,50 euro/glass. Additional wine selections come from Italy, France, Spain and Australia, but, alas, no Californian.

There is a limited list of starters: soup of the day; tomato-mazzarella salad; Ceasar salad; and carpaccio beef with cheese and olive oil.

The restuarant has been open only four months so now is the time to check it out, no lines and no reservations required, yet. The service was good and the staff very friendly. In fact, the chef-owner gave us dessert on-the-house---grilled fresh pinapple topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce served with a dessert wine, available by the glass.

Open Tuesday through Sunday; 11-23:00, lunch and dinner. (020) 47.111.48

***

Persmuseum is an unusual museum because its exhibitions are concerned with the newspaper and magazine publishing art. There is a permanent display which is most interesting for the original examples of newspapers as they have physically appeared over about four centuries. And about five or so times a year there are special exhibitions which can range from far and wide as to themes.

The current show, which opened last Thursday, was an exhibition of political cartoons---with a total of 28 cartoonist, each with four examples, was featured. This was an "award" show for the "best" of 2008. A cartoonist would be selected as the most "outstanding." But there was something different and highly unusual about the selection process. Students from 10 school---a total of 800---participated by voting and choosing the winner.

3D is glad he was not one of the judges. I LOVE political cartoons. It has a long tradition. Arguably, William Hogarth was the first. He was an 18th century engraver who specialized in satirical themes. Some are not only relevant today but still funny as well like "The Sleeping Congregation" which shows a preacher delivering his sermon to a sleeping public. And the nice thing about political cartooning is that often no caption is required; the visual satire crosses national borders easily...not to mention, the centuries.

Here are a few examples of those on view that could become classics---and 3D has selected from those he understood and/or played on the Americna political scene. By "Willem" we see Obama pushing a black ball measuring about 15 meters in diameter up a hill and saying, "Yes we can!." HP/Tijd, 14/11/08. And by the same artist, we see a dumb truck dumbing bodies into a huge pit labeled, "Afghanistan," not funny but certainly perspective. HP/Tijd, 23/5/08.

Berend Vonk is represented by one captioned "Winds of Change." Three USofA' FBI men are pictured. One of them---pointing finger at a figure of an Arab-dressed person, across the street---proclaims, "Isn't that Bin Landen." Another FBI man, holding up a photograph of a Wall Street Banker says, "Let's focus on terriorist!" Trouw, 20/11/08.

"Pluis" draws the American dollar but in place of the "Father of the Country," George Washington, we see a featherless chicken. Nederlands Dagblad, 19/3/08.

"Marijn" shows the White House painted black. Cute. Eindhovens Dagblad, plus others, 6/11/08. Then there is "Hajo" who has drawn a gorged donkey (symbol of the Democratic Party) with a long elephant's trunk (symbol of the Repulican Party) extending from its mouth saying, "I'm still here." NRC Next, 5/11/08. To which 3D says, "That's the bad news!"

Even Fokke & Sukke were represented with comments on the McCain/Palin ticket. Unfortunately, it was in Dutch and 3D has no idea what was speciifcally funny though Palin was always evoked a "sad" laugh from him. (Zeeburgerkade ______). Until ________. www.__________

***

WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK:

Saturday:

Mijn Schatje is back at KOCHXBOS Gallery Amsterdam (Eerste Anjeliersdwarsstrat 5). She has been making frequent appearances at the gallery because she sells. She sells because people like her work. People like her work because she puts much time into each piece she does. 3D mentions all of this because these very sweet and colorful portraits of young girls and ladies are computer generated. She utilizes Adobe Illustrator to make the "Barbie Doll" like images come alive. There is a misconception, amongest the general public, that computer generated art work is "quick and easy." Hey, you got it wrong. It is slow and as meticulously demanding as using a brush or pencil and sometimes more so. And Schatje's results are both beautiful, absorbing and kitschy. Great combination. (45x45 cms., on aluminum @ 900 euro; 120x70 cms., Ed. 15, @ 1,490; And here are two versions of the same thing: "Mermaid Sea into the Deep Series," 65x120 cms., @ 1,090 or the same titled piece with the addition of Swarovski Crystal---artificial diamonds---@ 1,290 euro.) Until 9th May. www.kochxbos.com

***

De Expeditie (Leliegracht 47) is showing the conceptual work of John Scanlan. On a table is a large jig-saw puzzle unfinished and/or in the process of being constructed. On the wall, next to the table, is the box that the puzzle came in. The image is an abstract/expressionistic piece. There were about four of us puzzling over the puzzle (3D, unfortunately, didn't connect...or something like that). At first, I thought the box was a poorly stretched paintings. Sometimes you have to ask the artist to know what the hell is goin' on.

The main focus of the exhibition, however, is on five works scattered around the gallery's space. Each is a set of metal rods about 150 cms., high; and each rod has a bow of yellow paper ribbons (eight bunches) that are placed in an staggered pattern up and down the rods. Each group is arranged in a different configuration. Damn, couldn't find a price list. Until 9th May. www.de-expeditie.com

***

"How do I know about the world? By what is within me." 3D sometimes wonders what exhibition titles really mean. Sometimes it is evident; sometime it becomes evident; and at other times it just doesn't matter. At Willem Kerseboom Gallery (Leidsegracht 38) the title doesn't matter. There are 14 Chinese artists showing and one Dutch person. If you know only a little about Chinese art and artist this is a MUST show. You will see a variety of styles and techniques. The range in style is from kitsch to POP School to figurative wood sculpture to decorative to sort of contemporary impressionism to figurative expressionism. The prices range from 2,000 to 120,000 euro with one piece that is negotiable, highly negotiable...that means price wise.

The lone Dutch representative is Siert Dallinga whose work I have been following for 25 years. He was a member of the "Back to Nature" group during the 80s. His present work is wood sculptured pieces. The styles range from impressionistic to funny and vary in size from 30x30x25 cms., to the big. Three pieces are in the group show and many more at Kerseboom's other address on the Keizersgracht. Until 4th april. www.kerseboom.com

***

Wetering Galerie (Lijnbaansgracht 288) has new sculpture and wall objects by Reinoud Oudshoorn. Sitting on the floor, and leaning against the wall, is a 330 cms., steel form shaped as an arc; almost like a rainbow. It conveys a dramatic affect. A multilayered wood form, which meanders like an ocean wave, hangs from one wall. Only five pieces on display. (57x57x9 cms., steel and glass @ 4,000 euro; 56x330x56 cms., steel @ 12,000). In the other room is a group show of 10+ artists of the gallery. A potpourri of styles and techniques. Until 18th April. www.weteringgalerie.nl

***

At "mart house gallery" (Prinsengracht 529) Jack Holden (UK) exhibits: paintings, collages, photographs, videos and sculptures. 3D says it is accurate to describe him as an artist who covers the artistic spectrum. The photos are both in b/w and color. The b/w is strong on contrast and more conceptual than representational. This is also true of the b/w videos. The collages tend to repeat themselves in both theme and imagery (the same image is used again). His paintings are figurative abstract and range from dark and moody to colorful. (76x20 cms., collage @ 600 euro; 70x50 cms., oil @ 2,200 euro: 37x47, photo, Ed. 3 @ 500 euro; 100x100 oil and varnish @ 3,400 euro.) Until 25th April. www.marthousegallery.nl

***

"Atomic Burger Flipper" at TEN HAAF PROJETS (Laurierstraat 248) is an unusual exhibition of photos and video. The artist, Bryan Zanisnik, was doing videos, using his parents and grandmother as performers, when he was 13 years olds. Well, the "work" was stored in his parents basement---all eight hours of it---for 14 years. He recently (four years ago) rescued it from oblivion and edited the material to two story lines totaling about 20 minutes. And his, then, 80 year old, grandmother emerged from the cutting room floor with the most screen time. She is an Uzi and butcher knife toting "real" American out to avenge the evils of the world in an absurdist "examination of war, immigration and family from a distinctively American point of view."

Two other examples are recent videos (shot about two months ago) and, again, using his parents. In "Black Death BBQ," we see a man at a barbecue grill oblivious to the fact that his wife is in their basement constructing a bomb. Hanging on the wall are still photos from the videos which tend to be grainy, dark and moody. At the opening, a caterer, _____ (where did I put the card?)_____, served "absurb" hamburgers. You had to eat them to understand. Sorry you missed it. They were absurbly delicious. But you don't know, when you don't GO! Where have I heard that before? (50x70 cms., C-print, Ed. 3 @ 850 euro; 75x100 cms., C-print, Ed. 5 @ 1,300 euro; DVD, Ed. 5 @ 3,000 euro and 2,300 euro.) Until 9th May. www.tenhaafprojects.com

***

De Service Garage (Stephensonstrat 16) did something completely different. The G. Rietveld Academy has a five year night program for students with day jobs that want to escape the 9 to 5 grind and become artists. The students flipped the tables on their teachers and, in this exhibition, show what the instructors are up to when not involved in teaching which is their 9 to 5 grind. In 3Ds' opinion, the teachers have past their "last exam." You will see a little of everything here. Lots of it conceptual---that's why they have 9 to 5 jobs, "conceptual" doesn't sell well---and several other styles, forms and guises. Some of it is self evident and some ain't. A good show, but you gotta see it to appreciate all the nuances. Until 5th April...so, huuurry. www.deservicegarage.nl

***

Sunday:

Minimalism is a religion with PS (Leidsekade 60). How many ways can you do "simple." Of course, simple isn't always simple. Gerold Miller is showing high gloss paintings done on aluminium. Hey, it looks easy...until you try to copy it. These small---30x30 cms.,--- squares are monumental and the high gloss paint comes across more like neon signs than a painted surface. The results? Beautiful. And while 3D acknowledges it is nearly sacrilegious to refer to a piece of "art" as "decorative" this work is indeed decorative. So put that in your snobbish pipes and smoke it. Who knows? You might get high on it! (30x30 cms., @ 4,300.) Until 30th April. www.psprojectspace.nl

***

3D missed the opening for Eva van Dam and Tashi Norbu (Bhutan), but made the closing at "galerie wies willemsen" (Ruysdaelkade 25). So, it is too late to go, but you missed something...and it was on the 3D List at the time. Van Dam is a figurative painter and does mostly portraits and the style is nearly hyperrealistic without being so. She hung portraits of Tibetan monks in this show and they do come alive.

Norbu has developed an unusual and, more than likely, a unique style. He has combined the traditional style of his home country with western nuances. Specifically, abstract/expressionism. He also uses Sanskrit in his compositions. And if you didn't know it was typography/calligraphy you would assume it was geometrical designs and/or symbolism. The result, of all this, are compositions that are mysterious which borders on both the decorative---that word again---and kitschy. But, as I said, the show is over and done with. www.wieswillemsen.nl

***

NP40 (Middenweg 22) is exhibiting the dual work of Ewoud Klaasse. He paints and he makes ceramics. There is a naïve quality to his oils and when 3D asked the gallery holder if indeed he was, the answer, "Maybe." Huh? Doesn't matter. These are vague landscapes. The technique is good, but for the most part the colors are subdued and he favors green.

His ceramics are sitting on the floor with one, two or three directly below a painting. They have an organic look and the imagery suggests large leaves or lily pads; and they do compliment the oils. (50x60 cms., @ 975 euro; 70x95 cms., @ 1,950 euro; ceramics 150 to 450 euro.) Until ____. www.np40.nl

***

WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Reminder: The (?) signifies that the info that 3D has found may be faulty...heaven forbid, but it happens.,,and when the s*** hits the fan, it goes all over the place which is why you are confronted, weekly, with this boring reminder. And there is more bad news..."*" means who the hell knows what time it is? All this is meant to advise you to check the web-site or telephone ahead when you seem the "sign."

THURSDAY: 19th March, 2009

20:00 De Veemvloer (Van Diemenstraat 410). "Sleep Around More," is the result of the honors program ART & RESERACH. Three days only. More nfo: www.veemvloer.nl

___?____ De Brakke Grond (New 45). "Victorian Circus" is back with a four day (until 22nd March) event around new media. Guest in focus, Eric Joris. Various activites. CREW is a Belgian performance group around Joris, "an artisitic jack-of-all-trades who originally set out to be a cartoonist and has now developed into a multi-mediia artist." www.crewonline.org Check the site for the full program which includes a talk, debate, interviews, films and a workshop. At various times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

FRIDAY: 20th March

Da Nada? Say it ain't so, Joe! This must be "Belgium Day" in the Netherlands!

SATURDAY: 21st March

11:00 ARCAM @ Cafe Vrijburcht (J.O. Vaillantlaan 159, IJburg). "Architectuurkaart IJBURG." A book presentation. www.arcam.nl

14-17:00 Gallery Spirit (Van Breestraat 2a). Geertje van der Zijpp, paintings and graphics. www.GallerySpirit.co'; www.demiljoenstekaart.nl

15:00 'til Late: MUKA (Museum voor Kunst and Actie, Lombokstraat 40). Exhibition for Rob Schrama and "World Wide Hug Party." www.museumvoorkunstnactie.nl

15:00 DROOG (Staalstraat 7b). "All about Gluejeans, Q & A with Gluejeans designer Gerrit Uittenbogard." www.droog.com

16-18:00 AYACS (Keizersgracht 166). Tamme De Boer, "Mad World," www.ayacs.nl.

16-18:00 Galerie R. Katwijk (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 198). Wim Classen. www.galerierogerkatwijk.nl

16-18:00 galerie ra (Vijzelstraat 80). Peter Hoogeboom, "Year of the Ox," new jewelry. www.galerie-ra.nl

16-19:00 PuntWG (M van B Bastiaansstraat 15). "Curriculum Vitae," 35 years of painting, photography and mixed media by Tina van Turnhout. www.puntwg.nl

16:00 Van Zijl Langhout (Brouwersgracht 161). Raymond Kuypers, paintings, drawings and "assemblages." www.vanzijlllanghout.nl

17-19:00 Steendrukkerij Amsterdam (Lauriergracht 80). "Het kanon van Gleis." www.steendrukkerij.com

17-19:00 Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140). Daniel Roth, "Portmeirion, Gwylit Woods." www.fonswelter.com

17-19:00 Lijnbaansgracht Group (Lijnbaansgracht 314-319).

LUMEN TRAVO, Dennis Adams, "Double Feature,"Four new projects revolving around the American film star Jean Seberg. Central to the exhibition series of collages composed from film stills grabbed from Godard's 'Breathless.' (1959)." www.lumentravo.nl

Galerie Akinci, Gerbebon Muler (Dutch, lives in NYC & Brazil), "reveals his skills as a painter of taboos...and is autodidact." www.akinci.nl

Vous Etes Ici, Terry Haggerty (UK), geometric paintings. www.vousetesici.nl

17-19:00 Upstream Gallery (Van Osdadestraat 294). Katrina Daschner, video and photos. www.upstreamgallery.nl

17-19:00 GRIMM Fine Art (Keizersgracht 82). "Hi Low and In Between," curated by Matthew Day Jackson, eight artists. www.grimmfineart.com

21:00 SMART PROJECT SPACE (Arie Biemondstraat 105). "Endless Installation: A Ghost Story For Adults," Well, there is an explanantion, but like the title it is rather hard to "see." Also. Carl Johan Högberg, (Sweden), paintings based on the story of Héléne Smith, a medium who gave séances to high society at the end of the 19th century. www.smartprojectspace.net

___?___ De Appel (@ Westerdok 606-608). "Festive opening of Westerdok studios, new premises of If I Can't Dance..." There are no times on the invite. Strange. www.ificantdance.org

SUNDAY: 22nd March

___?___ De Brakke Grond (New 45). "Victorian Circus finishes with in a playful and artistic mood with a theme afternoon devoted to artistic games." www.crewonline.org.

14-18:00 Fabrice (Quellijnstraat 127). Paintings, ceramics and objects. (no web-site on invite.)

15:00 Galerie Utrecht (Prisengracht 572). Zhang JianJun and Don Ken, paintgins. www.galerieutrecht.nl

15:30 Galerie Josine Bokhoven (Prinsengracht 154). Pierre Bergian, representational paintings. www.galeriejosinebokhoven.nl

(?)16:00* De Lavante (Hobbestraat 4). Cappy Jack (USA).

16:00 galerie wies willemsen (Ruysdaelkade 25). Oscar de Wit, nude paintings; Erik Bauknecht, nude paintings. www.wieswillemsen.nl

MONDAY: 23rd March

20:00 Lloyd Hotel (Oostelijke Handelskade 34). Art work of Thomas Hirschhorn; + "Buganda Music Ensemple," African drum music; + "Repair Sister Margareth." "Bring your sweater, socks or wooly for on the spot weaving and knitting." Kid you not, that's what the invite said. No website for Lloyd Hotel on invite. If you have never attended one of their "Monday night Happenings," this sounds like the perfect time...and, folks, it's ALL FREE!!! Put that in your recessionary pipe and smoke it!

TUESDAY: 24th March

15:30 AMC Brummelkamp Galerie (AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Z.O. A'dam). "Cover," Vivianne Sassen and Martine Stig. There is also a tie in with "ART AIDS." www.artaids.com

***

Gosh, what a city to live in. So much to do that there isn't opportunity to do it all! Television? Who has the time. See life for real, not the Hollywood version. Take advantage of interacting with real live people----maybe even Elvis. If you are receiving this, you are on the 3D Hit List and KNOW what in hell is happening. So, NO excuses...And there goes 3D peddling his bike DOING it. Doing WHAT? Living the life of an IAMsterdamer...join him...and see...