Embodied Care: Gemeinsam Essen

Wir tischen auf und ihr seid herzlich eingeladen! Im Innenhof des PROGR veranstalten wir ein Cookout in Form eines riesigen Picknicks, zu dem alle, die möchten ein Gericht beisteuern können.

Das Zubereiten und Essen von Mahlzeiten ist eine tägliche Handlung der Fürsorge. Praktiken der körperlichen Wertschätzung sind direkt mit unseren emotionalen, mentalen und spirituellen Wohlbefinden verbunden. Wenn wir gemeinsam essen und Essen teilen, bauen wir eine Kultur der gegenseitigen Fürsorge und Gemeinschaft auf, die durch unsere Körper erfahrbar wird.

Wann: Samstag, 21. September 2024 ¦ 18.3 Uhr bis ca. 22 Uhr
Für: offen für alle Interessierten
Wo: Auf der Holzplattform, im Innenhof des PROGR (Waisenhausplatz 30, 3011 Bern)

Eintritt frei, mit Kollekte

Wir freuen uns über jedes Gericht, das ans Buffet beigesteuert wird. Wenn möglich, könnt ihr euer Gericht via Formular unten anmelden. Herzlichen Dank!

The Core von Soñ Gweha

Herzstück des Cookouts ist die Kissen-Skulptur-Installation The Core (2021) von Soñ Gweha. Die Kissen verdeutlichen das Gefühl des Zusammenhalts und der Gemeinschaftlichkeit: “Der Kern einer Frucht (Safou, eine aus Kamerun stammende Pflaume) dient als Symbol der Vereinigung. Die Installation aus neun riesigen, weichen Kissen-Skulpturen The Core soll müde Körper beruhigen und Komfort bieten und Zusammensein in der Gemeinschaft erleichtern...“. 

Das ursprünglich von Soñ Gweha für die Performance „Codes to Keep Burning“ mit chaos clay bei HIT 2021 geschaffene Stück wurde dem TU-Théâtre de l'Usine geschenkt und wird gelegentlich von Aktivist:innen-/QTBIPOC-Gemeinschaften und Kunstschaffenden für ihre Veranstaltungen und Versammlungen ausgeliehen und genutzt. (Soñ Gweha bei eeeeh.ch).

COMMUNITIES OF CARE: A GATHERING

How do we build sustainable and resilient communities in times of deep social division and uncertainty? What can we learn from queer and Black feminist collectives, where are the ongoing challenges, and what are our biggest internal barriers? For the main day of the End of Summer Fest, café révolution invites you to a community talk to share knowledge and experiences. We will start the exchange with a panel discussion and will then collectively reflect on our achievements and continue to envision the path forward in our shared struggle for liberation. 

What: Panel Discussion w/ café revolution and OKRA Collective, followed by a Community Talk
When: Saturday, September 21th, 3.30 PM - 6.30 PM
Where: café révolution, Waisenhausplatz 30, PROGR, 3011 Bern
For: Black People, Free of Charge

OKRA is a collective of black multidisciplinary artists founded in 2020. The collective aims to create collaborative practices to strengthen and support BIPoC communities. OKRA is committed to creating festive spaces that are sensitive to different forms of discrimination and are committed to highlighting artists who are in alignment with their values. The collective organises numerous parties and events throughout Switzerland, which act as spaces for community, connection and networking. In a short period of time, they have managed to establish a large network of BIPoC artists on a national and international level. One of their core values is to be intentional in their collaborations and to translate this approach into the creation and curation of spaces.

w/ KA-RABA for OKRA Collective, MONA-LISA KOLE for café révolution and special guest CHINNAMASTA.

 Community Care Circle

Inspired by Southern African traditions with Rhoda Davids Abel

Rhoda Davids Abel’s family has an intergenerational practice of different forms of community support and healing. There are/were plant medicine workers, dreamers, beekeepers, midwives and non-western Indigenous knowledge-based therapists. Rhoda is in the process of exploring how she can incorporate some of her familial ‘gifts’ in the context of her community – which now also includes Switzerland.

In the framework of her practice, Rhoda will offer a care circle which will include a brief intro to some of the Khoe, IXam and Damara healing practices. Including a 7 to 10-minute hand massage - using oils made from indigenous Southern African medicinal plants and conversation while holding space for everyone present. Massage being a practice Rhoda grew up with. A deceptively minimal gesture, but an effective prompt for reflection and meditation on community care. 

When: Saturday, 21 September 2024, 12.00 pm - 2.00 pm
For: Black Women, Intersex-, Non Binary-, Trans- und A-Gender Persons

Free admission, registration via form appreciated (below), held in English

Rhoda Davids Abel (RDA) completed her BA at the (HKB) Bern Academy for Fine Arts, Switzerland in 2021 and her MA in Fine Arts at the Sandberg Institute/Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

She has exhibited in the Kunsthalle Bern, Rote Fabrik Zürich, Kunstmuseum Langenthal, Kunstmuseum Thun, Kunsthalle Palazzo, Read My World International Literature Festival in Amsterdam among others. Additionally, she won the Swiss Performance Art Awards in 2022 (with Latefa Wiersch & Dandara Modesto) for the work ‘Neon Bush Girl Society’.

Rhoda Davids Abel casts herself as a modern therianthrope, elegantly traversing the realms that bridge human, animal, plant, and mountain. In the tradition of the mythical shape-shifters, RDA's artistic identity thrives on this dynamic interplay, connecting disparate forms into a seamless whole. Celebrating the transformative power of everyday objects, RDA finds inspiration in the mundane, breathing new life into ordinary artifacts and everyday gesture movements. 

Within her art, objects metamorphose into carriers of profound significance, bridging the gap between the conceptual and the performative tangible. This nuanced approach, challenges viewers to reimagine their perceptions and narratives.  Rooted in the depths of fragmented poetry and the enigmatic language of dreams, RDA's creations become a tapestry of codes and symbolism. Her artwork is a symphony of hidden meanings, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of interpretation and introspection.

These metaphoric layers intertwine to form a unique archive—a repository of stories and emotions that transcend time, a testament to the intimate link between memory and artistic expression. Her works serve as a contemporary archive, safeguarding forgotten memories and marginalized narratives, both honoring the past and holding a mirror to the present.

She is primarily based in Switzerland and currently working on research elements for various new projects and collaborations.

Echoes of Care: A Night of Community, Poetry, and Open Voices

You’re invited to the End of Summer Fest Poetry Night, an evening where shared thoughts and emotions take the spotlight. The night begins with a captivating reading by Zulu, a local spiritual hoodrat deeply committed to the well-being and thriving of Black communities of color. Zulu’s powerful and thought-provoking texts offer deep insights into personal experiences and reflections, creating a welcoming space where one can feel seen, heard, and comforted by the words. With a focus on the interconnectedness of healing and creativity, zulu's work is a journey through pleasure, embodied storytelling, street knowledge, and poetry, all aimed at fostering community and collective growth.

Following the reading, the microphone will be open to the audience. If you feel inspired, take the stage and share your work!

The night will culminate in a heartfelt singing performance by "held in song" – a community-driven experience that invites everyone to connect through music. Led by atelier igihozo, this group brings together voices from all walks of life, whether you have musical experience or not. We’re excited for you to join this diverse chorus of voices. If you’d like to step up to the mic during the Open Mic session, please be sure to keep an eye on the program schedule.

When: Friday, September 20th, 6 PM (reading starts at 7 PM)
What: Poetry Night featuring a special guest reading, Open Mic, and a singing performance by «held in song»
For: People who experience racism
Where: café révolution, Progr Atelier 14, Waisenhausplatz 30, 3011 Bern

Thursday, the G.V.O. collective is taking center stage! We're opening our doors to racialized people (BIPoC) of all ages. Come discover local artists, savor delicious community-made food, and let loose with our DJs. There's space to connect, play games, dance, or just be.
We can't wait to see you there!

Am Donnerstag übernimmt das G.V.O-Kollektiv die Bühne! Wir öffnen unsere Türen für rassifizierte Menschen (BIPoC) jeden Alters. Entdecke lokale Künstler*innen, geniesse leckeres, von der Community zubereitetes Essen und lass dich von unseren DJs mitreissen. Es gibt Platz zum Vernetzen, Spielen, Tanzen oder einfach nur Sein.
Wir freuen uns auf dich!