Holiday Greetings 2010!
Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues,
Happy Holidays from chilly New York City! It’s been a wild year of work, travel and fun. The most challenging aspect of “Life 2010” has been living between NYC and Berlin. The shifting between cultures is invigorating, yet living in two different time zones sometimes leaves me wondering where I am and what day it is!
Otherwise, my home in Berlin is finally set up and quite comfortable. I rent it out when I am away, as I do in New York, and that creates a little extra spending money while keeping the places occupied, as they should be.
This year saw some very positive steps in the curatorial work I have been doing for the last 4 years. I did two shows involving large-scale video projections on the Manhattan Bridge. The second of which, “The Endless Bridge” was seen by around 30,000 viewers over the course of a weekend. If you are interested at all in what I have been up to, you can check out my website: leokuelbscollection.com. Look under “Archive” or check the Facebook link for short video clips.
I also did several shows in Berlin, which went well, but on a smaller scale. The coming winter months will see some exciting new events in Berlin and NYC, as well as other cities. I feel like I am involved with a good network of hard-working, trustworthy people—a great feeling!
Back in Minnesota, my cabin has gone through the final phase of its renovation with a new paint job. I look forward to going back there next week to see it, visiting with my neighbors, my Mom and the TCHD crews for pre-holiday fun, then barbecuing some meats, roasting in the sauna and rolling in the snow, and also playing a show with my fine, fine band, Frances Gumm, celebrating our 17th or 18th year of operations! Who can possibly remember? What good times we’ve had.
In Texas, my Father is surly as ever, though age-related health issues are now keeping him home-bound, for the most part. My siblings there have done heroic work helping Leo Sr. to remain as independent as prudently possible and I thank them for it. As I thank my Minnesota-based brothers and sister for watching out for my legendary mother. I love my family and wish I could see them more often.
Other than that, I still miss Helmut, my old dog. Dating has been interesting, a little difficult with living in two towns at once. So, I generally survive on friends and a steady sense of knowing that I will always return to a life, which renews itself with regularity and sparkling views of Manhattan and the East River, then the Fernsehturm and Bernauerstrasse, where the Berlin Wall once stood. I catch myself having moments of uncontrollable happiness when I see these things after a couple of months away. Amazing.
Writing! Okay, I haven’t been doing much of that lately. I even gave “The DUMBO Paneling,” my small, local newspaper, a break after 4 ½ years of monthly publication. The curatorial work, plus the shifting from city to city makes it difficult to keep a regular publication schedule. While the simple way I communicate in Berlin makes my English seem like a bad translation of Gogol. I did manage a couple articles in German, of which I was quite proud!
Well, there you have it: A quick look at the last year lived in lines at airports, folded into little seats in the backs of planes with crying babies staring on, and dark, rainy Berlin afternoons. As for now, I will put on some winter running gear and hit the streets of DUMBO. A run along the river and under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges seems awfully nice about now.
Happy Holidays Everyone,
Leo Kuelbs, Jr.
