Artists moving in

I ended up living in Leipzig, Saxony.. I didn’t even know it existed until I went to Germany. The arts residency was cut short, as Hoefgen was closing the residency program. I was able to be on the residency for 5 weeks. I was very thankful for the time I had there. Daniela, a friend I had made during the residency, offered that I come and stay with her in Leipzig. I accepted while I worked out my plans. It turns out Leipzig is a wonderful city to live in. And I ended up staying there for quite some time. It was a base in between journeys during the year as well.

3rd March, I moved to Daniela’s, where she lived in Leipzig with her two young daughters. I helped out by cooking meals and cleaning dishes. I also took her youngest daughter for rides in her Christiana Bike. The park next door backed on to the zoo, so we would see Giraffes, zebras and pink flamingos every day.

Daniela is a well known German author. She lent me her bike and I explored the town, and enjoyed the parks. I met an artist friend of hers Thomas, whom had a spare room in his flat. He offered that I rent it as a studio, at a great price of 40 euros a week. This seemed like a great opportunity. One day I caught the train and bus to Hoefgen. It was a bit of a mission. I picked up the stretched canvasses I had left there. Then, catching trains, I took them to the new studio. The address was Waldstrabe 20, Leipzig, on a lovely street. By the end of March, somewhere along the line I had moved into this studio room in Leipzig! I borrowed a mattress from Daniella to sleep on. I was happy because I now had my own space. It was only 50 euros a week.

Then on the March Equinox, I went for a big ride. My goal was to purchase a fold up table from Obito, a great big hardware store, with Danielas Christiana bike. But on the way back found another table! It was an old table someone had left outside their house for donation. One of those ones that have the two extra bits to make it larger. I managed to get it on the bike with a hand from a lady passer by. Another neighbor helped me get it up the stairs. It was quite a mission, and I must have looked slightly odd cycling down the street.

I enjoyed living in Leipzig and painting, and riding the bike around. I would often go to Spinnerei, This old cotton mill now houses galleries and artist studios.. Spinnerei – from cotton to culture. For open days and also to check my emails. It is a fascinating old factory complex to explore. I simply loved the large Boesner art shop there. At one time it was the largest cotton mill in continental Europe.

I met with Bassel one day. He took me to visit Gabrielle. Whom was staying at ‘The Paris Syndrome’, a cool apartment he had rented in Leipzig. He rented it for a few nights to do writing. I would meet sometimes with Bassel n a café, he is from Lebanon, and good company. He shared that when he first came to Leipzig, he found it almost too quiet. He was used to hearing the background sounds of Beirut. And he had to readjust. He is a doctor and also a passionate classical pianist, with a grand piano in his lounge.

Leipzig is situated in the north-west of the free state of Saxony, in the former East Germany. In 1989, Leipzig saw the largest public demonstration in East Germany. This event led directly to the fall of the Berlin Wall. How East Germans peacefully brought the GDR regime down

More about Creative Leipzig here, where artists moved in really, converting disused buildings and warehouse into vibrant new cultural spaces.

Godwyn was a friend known to his friends as the mayor of Leipzig. This was because he knew so many people. I met him as he had organised a couch surfing evening for English speakers. We all met at a local bar/cafe. I met many new friends that night. This gathering helped shape my social life in Leipzig. I was very thankful for this meet up. Leipzig is in East Germany. German is, of course, the main language. I met Nuby, Annushka, Godwyn and Mirco. Godwyn invited us all to many social events, including picnics in the park. His spirit loves travel and different cultures. He hosted couch surfers. Godwyn loved to show them the city he is very fond of.

In May, I met with Godwyn and friends at African Breeze. It was really fun, an African beats club, Leipzig seems to do these well. I am still borrowing Danielles bike. It’s good to have this, as Leipzig is quite a safe city. Another day it was Godwyns birthday BBQ, on Brockhausster, a gathering outside. Latter went to Spinnerei for a music event, with Maeshelle and Mirco. It was a big night out for me, as I didn’t really go out much at night whilst living there.

I went on various trips with Leipzig as a base. I traveled up to Berlin many times. I also visited Portugal, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

I bumped into Godwyn one evening on the tram. He was with a couch surfer named Max. Max was staying with him. They were heading to a famous Leipzig site. It’s called Monument to the Battle of the Nations, or Völkerschlachtdenkmal. If you can say it, you can go there. Godwyn asked if I would like to join, I was on my way home, and had no plans. We had a lovely time. I hadn’t really been much of a tourist living in Leipzig. I didn’t know of this place at all. Accidental tourist.

May 22, this was a big day. I helped clean at Daniella’s, as she was moving house, from 9-2. In Germany when you move you take out your whole kitchen. I was also moving out of the room I had been renting at Thomas’s. Walked all my stuff around the corner to Bassels, to store. It took a long time, as the paintings were heavy! Cycled to Karl-Heine Strasse sent off applications to Bremen, Packed everything up!

May 23, I attended my first Vipassana Course, at the centre in Triebel. June 4, after thee course, I stayed with Anushka and her partner at their flat. Coming out of the Vipassana is quite a transition phase. The next day I met up with Sybille and Andreas to view paintings, that were stored at Basel’s place. They took two paintings to Dresden for a summer exhibition in Sybille’s gallery. June 6th went to Schaddel, for a few weeks.

On the 15th of June, back to Leipzig with Cindy, and stayed at hers for a few nights. The next day, met up with Graham, and cycled to Halle, with Godwyn and co. I borrowed Daniella’s bike, was a long way on this bike! We stopped at one of the man made lakes on the way. It was a hot day. Shameem was there too.

The next day, met with Bassel, and later went to eco festival in the park in Leipzig. And Mirco my Italian friend, let me stay on his couch. The next day was a beautiful sunny day. Meeting up with Patrick and we went for a lovely walk at the canal. Cindy picked me up to drive back to Schaddel. June 22, to Leipzig to Bassel’s flat, collecting clothes for next journey. Back to Schaddel, to stay to a few more nights. Then its to Goldwyn’s flat to housesit in Leipzig, lovely flat in a great neighborhood, Erich Zeigner Alee 27.

I was doing 1 to 2 hours meditation every day now.  I was a bit sensitive in my emotions and felt a bit lost sometimes. But again i was trusting and knowing that I was where I should be.  I spend a lot of time by myself in the process. Leipzig has lots of parks and quiet spaces. so was spending a lot of time in nature.

I really liked Leipzig as a town to live in. It felt like I could breathe again there, like I could exhale again after being in Berlin. The air is better, and there are parks everywhere through the town. I enjoyed cycling along Karl-Heine Strasse.

July 4th to October 2nd, I was away travelling through Europe. Arriving back on a train from Amsterdam. I met with Andy and he gave me the keys to friend Graeme’s flat at Arnd Strasse. He was away and offered that I stay. Oct 3, met with Bassel at Kaffik cafe. Which was a favourite cafe. We went to his place, so I could sort things ready for the next trip. He had kindly stored a few bags and paintings. As all the flats have a hold in the basement.

The next day I went to Spinnerei to purchase canvas and stretchers. Later dropping keys back to Andy at his work, then flew to Rome!

November 13, Back to Leipzig, Staying in Johannas room. She had kindly offered me her room to stay in, as she was going to stay at Graemes flat. The next night I was up most of the night, researching and booking the next flights. One evening we went to a Jazz concert, Johanna and I. I had met Volker, a musician friend (played the saxophone) from the residency at Hoefgen. It was beautiful, and he told the audience that a Kiwi was in the crowd. Seems that New Zealanders are exotic creatures in Leipzig. After the concert, a friend Nuby, had cooked yummy Sudanese food from his country.

Maeshelle West Davies is an American artist living in Leipzig. She had put a call out on fb looking for participants for an art piece called ‘Open Duet’. I thought it sounded really interesting, and she is a friend of Godwyns. So I made contact with her, and went along to her flat to take part in the photography series. I was paired with Francky, a drummer musician from the Caribbean. She asked us to tone, to make sound at the same time together. The couples were all strangers, the sound is quite beautiful that comes through (video below).

Whilst staying at Johanna’s, I enjoyed singing with her flatmate and friends. They meet and have a good singalong from song sheets. I also took the stored paintings in a taxi to Graeme’s flat. He was going to put them on his wall, and store a few bags for me. On the 19th on November, I couch surfed at Godwyn’s flat. And went out to dinner with friends I had made in Leipzig, as it was my last night. Bye, you are a very cool town. The next day I carpooled to Berlin as I was leaving to journey back to New Zealand.