it's not over

Dear all,

Συγνώμη για τα εγγλέζικα, με το συμπάθιο.

We wish to tell you all how deeply grateful we are to you for ... everything.
It's been a terrific ride so far and this first stage of the project didn't go nearly as bad as we thought it might, considering! :D

We have more battles to fight, currently one to do with exhibition maintenance. We're working on it.

Also because the catalogue isn't out yet we wanted to give you a taste of the bigger picture.
Given the rarity of the opportunity to work within a Cypriot Museum/designated Monument/the Antiquities Department in this way, we decided early on that it made no sense to accept the Opening Date as a deadline (credit to Alkis for planting this!) and we chose not to let it stop the development of this intervention into something meaningful. This was a liberating decision for us and it means that the exhibition (put together in too little time, with too little resources, and with our many shortcomings) has the freedom to continue developing reflexively from here onwards. We invite you to make use of this freedom to the full and in any way you see fit.

We will have at least two pieces that will be added to the exhibition later in the year: Alkis Hadjiandreou and Despo Pashia will be installing their pieces in September, and we have a series of performances planned for after the summer. This includes a performative/academic research piece by Ellada Evangelou, along with a creative project using movement by Stavros Karayanni in November, and in October there will be dance-theatre performance by Eva Kalomoiri, Elena Pavlidou, and Nikoletta Verykiou.

We're putting together an academic conference, we're working on an educational programme for Gymnasiums and Lyceums, and there's going to be a Closing Party in December. We're thinking that with your help this could be a day of performances and workshops that will bring lots of people to the museum, and then turn into a party with live music, drinks, and much better lighting than last time (!). We'd love your input on all of these.

We've mostly heard good comments about the project so far and we are eager to hear more critical feedback. We hope that there will eventually be enough debate around the exhibition to also generate discussion about what it means to 'curate' in 'the periphery', around issues in museology and 'ethnology' in Cyprus and elsewhere, as well as how contemporary art can address all these, and gender history especially.

Do let us know if you think of something for the museum that you'd like to be included in the In Crisis calendar. Evenings are often booked for functions, but Saturday mornings present interesting opportunities.

With heartfelt thanks,
Evi & Chrystalleni