What does Converse do with old and abandoned buildings? They transform it into a creative playground!
Today, Converse Inc. announces CONS SPACE 002 BLN, the latest installment of a new initiative that unleashes urban creativity by uniting the worlds of music, art, skate and style. Located in the vibrant Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg area of Berlin, CONS Space 002 BLN will transform an empty warehouse into a two-week exhibition and performance space – from Thursday, October 3 to Wednesday, October 16 – where Converse will invite skate ambassadors, artists and musicians to showcase their craft.
CONS Space 002 BLN is the second edition of the Converse series, which kicked off in May 2013 when Converse Skateboarding ambassadors Kenny Anderson (US), Pontus Alv (Sweden) and Javier Mendizábal (Spain) worked together to reinvigorate a dilapidated section of industrial docklands in Barcelona. This time around, Converse will challenge local artists to overhaul three floors of a vacant textile factory and celebrate the creativity of modern Berlin alongside members of the global Converse Skateboarding team, including Jason Jessee, Kenny Anderson, Mike Anderson and Ben Reamers.
“With its complex and rich cultural history, Berlin has evolved into one of the most inspiring creative scenes in Europe, and is the perfect setting for CONS Space 002 BLN,” said Neil Chester, Converse EMEA Skate Marketing Manager. “We look forward to connecting deeper with the Berlin community and celebrating the talent that makes this city so unique.”
A core element of the new CONS Space 002 BLN will be a creative studio and gallery space curated by Hallenkunst, a Berlin-based artists collective united by their love for skate.The Hallenkunst creative installation will evolve over the two-week period and act as an expression of Berlin youth culture. Roberto Cuellar, whose visually arresting sculptures push the boundaries of skateable art, will transform the ground floor into a unique Skate Lab, featuring a state-of-the-art indoor skate park that will be free of use to all guests.
CONS Space 002 BLN will also play host to a variety of special events, performances and creative showcases across its first floor gallery, hang out areas and outdoor cinema.These will include a Jason Jessee retrospective curated by Jürgen Blümlein on Saturday, October 12, celebrating the career of the West Coast skate legend alongside the launch of the Converse CONS CTS Santa Cruz 40th Anniversary pack.
To commemorate the CONS Space program and to celebrate the intersection between skate, music and art, a local edition of Sébastien Carayol’s “Skateboard Concerto” will be performed by concert pianist Fortunato d’Orio alongside exclusive Converse skate footage shot in the space. This special performance will take place on Wednesday, October 16 and serve as the grand finale to CONS Space 002 BLN.
For more information on additional programming, hours and entry for CONS Space 002 BLN please visit: www.converse.de
Address:
CONS Space 002 BLN
Alt-Stralau 4
10245 Berlin
GermanyHours:
Thursday, October 3 – Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Thursday: 4pm – 10pm
Friday and Saturday: 2pm – midnight
Sunday: 2pm – 10pm
via Nike