Report by Charlotte Schatz
[Ed. note: Philadelphia artist Charlotte Schatz made a trip to Berlin, Lyon and Paris this spring and wrote these lively reports on her visit. The first four posts will cover her time in Berlin.]
Today was very exciting. We went to Dodge’s son’s, Jason Dodge’s apartment and babysat for a while and then went out on the streets to watch the demonstrations, the punks all decked out with multi-colored hair, the policei decked out with helmets,etc. It was all very peaceful and colorful. We ate Syrian pitas stuffed with vegies, drank carrot juice, walked and walked and walked.
May Day in Berlin
After all the excitement of MayDay, to the tune of “The International,” Berlin is cleaned up and back to work.
Another May Day picture
We went to 4 museums today starting with the DaimlerChrysler Contemporary on Potsdamer Platz. It’s free and very posh. It was a small exhibit of contemporary Indian works from their collection. Potsdamer Platz is studded with the large, exciting buildings of the multinationals – very modern, lots of glass.
Gemaldegalerie
Berlin is busy removing the gray, ugly traces left over from the East
Berlin regime. It’s becoming very colorful and green. There are many lovely little parks and of course, the grand Tier Gardens. We passed many, many playgrounds with all kinds of wonderful, creative equipment. One in memory of Kathe Kollwitz just across from where her house stood. I bought a 3 day museum pass which admits me to practically every museum.
Went to the Gemaldegalerie, large extended building housing multiple exhibits both historic and contemporary. Saw some old favorites, OK, Jawlensky, Schmitt-Rottluff and some gorgeous furniture from the Jugenstil. Particularly enjoyed the Design exhibit of spectacular jewelry, ceramics, silver, etc.We went to the Deutsche Guggenheim to see a show titled Affinities. Some of them were quite a stretch – in my humble opinion. More later……Regards, Charlotte
—Charlotte Schatz is a Philadelphia painter and sculptor. Part 3 of this report coming soon. Part 1 is here.
