This summer’s been a hoot with European travel, new friends, food, art, education and everything in between.
So here’s one abridged story and an invite to the upcoming limited event called: “A BERLINERS LUNCH” We will be showing – word, video, book and physical, dimensional art. We hope to include snacks from a local tasty treatery of which I’m working on now.
The trick is you have to get on the list because again it will be invitation only and the dates (Oct & Nov) TBD. SO send your requests with contact information to include telephone # and physical address.
I left for Berlin Germany with a ready to hang show that included Metal Sculpture, Drawings and Oil Pastels packed in an trunk with wheels.
First I arrived Albany International, 3 hours early for the ceremony of travel.
I paid for the trunk show which at the time I thought was convenient, safer and cheaper than shipping via carrier.
Boy was I wrong!
I waited in the Albany International Airport for United Airlines to the connecting flight in Newark NJ. There was very little time to catch the next flight. The plane arrived 3 hours late, They- air officials said- not to worry there’s another connecting flight to Tegel Germany from Newark.
OH- did I say United Airlines -YUCK-!
After the first hassel now in Newark come hassel #2 there was NO AiR Plane- going to Germany this day I would have to wait another 28 hours! Yes in the airport! SO I made them ship me home to Albany where I was picked up and I started again the next day!!!! The steward told me that this has been this way for more than 5 years and of course they tried to charge me extra-HHHHA!
Now the question was where was my trunk!?
No one could answer and I was assured it would meet me in Berlin!
So I started the next day and flew into the past, Germany’s time is behind ours by 6 hours.
I got to the Airport where no one spoke English and spent the day – Yes- one whole (12 Hr) day trying to find my bags……
Finally I was told to call a United Airlines claims number and they would send my bags to where I was staying…..
3 Days on the phone- Bags were in Unknown Zone- with a big sticker reading Ballard Road Art Studio -OVERWEIGHT-??
maybe the work took a vacation-?
But where? And when would it be back!
At this point I realized I needed a sculpture show for The Berliner undergrnd and SOMO opening night!
Maybe the work I brought from America was gone forever- at this point who knows?
But “the SHOW MUST GO ON!”
I switched gears—-drawing Feverishly and searched for metal on the streets like a sociopath hopped up on caffeine.
Once I found some weldable objects in clothes slightly wet that got washed at night and worn by day, I went searching for a weld shop. I first picked up my new ride – a Scooter, the man wanted to know if my husband approved of me riding a scooter… This was way too funny as I tried to explain “I ride a big Harley in the states.” I took out pictures and all, he still held me till he closed for a lesson. But better safe than sorry.
My search began; 3 shops and no one would even let me in to talk never mind to beg the use of a weld machine. On top of it all everywhere I went cars were beeping and giving me the Universally Known -finger )I(. I was really starting to get aggravated, no food, no clothes, no sleep -starting to lose all sense of adventure. You should note that I wasn’t in the Berlin proper I was outside in very non touristy places, communicating with the locals and I don’t speak German. Finally I got to a yard where an old woman was cooking on an open fire. We shared smiles and I tried to communicate verbally with no luck. She called someone over, who called someone, who called 2 others to finally call the head man over. In the meantime I drank a beer and eat chicken on a stick. This is when I learned about lemon rattlers (Beer) that’s Yummy_! After to find Grapefruit Beer is even better.
No one could figure what I wanted out, But they were at least trying.
They realized a young cousin could speak English so—–I waited as they enlisted her help.
Way to funny,—– after all this ——>
The man in his 80’s who owns the shop said-
“NO-> NO way-> No How-> NO-> go Away!!”
I told them I wasn’t leaving as they were my only solution!
Hours passed it got dark!
I said to them -I would come back tomorrow and everyday, until the very small project was completed!
Finally he agreed to weld it for me and honestly it’s a very small project maybe 8 spot welds.
Charging me $7 Ero and they fed and watered me for the day.
But NOW I was ready to show, work in hand- no matter what happened from there on in!
I headed to my new home as I pulled the helmet from my head, I saw the giant fluorescent Sticker reading “Scooters To Rent” at which I went inside and black taped over it to never receive another universal sign, or screams in German for the rest of entire trip.
The Traveling Show Trunk showed up 2 and a half weeks later with a rush sticker over its shoulder, crushed and dripping having been filled with water. I asked the United Airlines delivery man if this seemed normal his only response was are you not accepting delivery?
The adventure never stopped over the next 2 months so join us in the limited event “A Berliners Lunch” by limited invitation. Stop back for further posts and updates.
Thx -m
