In the Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery ~ adjacent to the Walter Reade Theater lobby. Open daily 1:30 to 6pm.
Metelkova is an alternative culture community in the heart of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. The exhibition, assembled by Kevin Kaufman who was the architect of the Metelkova Development Plan, includes the posters & collages he created to promote the 'Metelcolia' arts festival in the winter of 1996. Kaufman is currently working in New York. This exhibit coincides with the Film Society’s look at classic and contemporary Slovenian cinema.
Metelkova was the headquarters of the Yugoslav's Peoples’ Army in Slovenija. The complex was constructed in the 1880's to the requirements of the Austro-Hungarian Army. The complex was vacated by the army in 1991. Mreza za Metelkovo, Network for
Metelkova, was formed to turn the complex into a center for non-institutional art & culture in the heart of Ljubljana. After an attempt in 1993 to demolish the complex overnight, Metelkova was occupied & squatted by members of the Network for Metelkova. The City responded by shutting off electricity & water.
Art & culture continued at Metelkova under increasingly bleak circumstances. In 1995 the Metelkova Development Plan was published as a guidebook for the reconstruction of the complex. In 1997, a Metelkova Arts Festival was given the name 'Metelcolia', due to the complex facing another winter without heat, electricity & water. 'Metelcolia' was held at the same time as the 100 year anniversary of a major earthquake in Ljubljana & the establishment of the motion picture throughout the world.
The 100 year anniversaries of these events became a motif for promoting the Metelcolia Event. Metelcolia was divided into 5 themes; - alchemy, betrayal, games, order & construction - & arrayed to represent the 100 year history of Metelkova. These are the 5 themes, as explained by Achille Bonito Ooliva in his 'Preferirei di no - cinque stanza tra arte e depressione', which explains & illustrates how the creative act arises from depression & melancholia. These 5 themes were further broken down into 8 periods, to fully evidence the 100 year history of the Metelkova complex. The 8 window gates of Zapori, as fashioned by Metelkova artists, were used to represent the 8 periods.
Ten years later, Metelkova continues in a state of transition, but also performs, as envisioned back in 1991, as a center for independent art & culture.
Further information on Metelkova may be viewed on Metelkova.org and it's parent organization, Kudmreza.org.
