Astrid Hiemer
Bio:
A cultural critic and writer, Astrid grew up after WW II in Hamburg, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in the 1960s. She was formerly the assistant director (Administrative Officer) of the Center for Advanced Visual Studies at MIT under Otto Piene, with whom she has worked in the past several years editing, translating, and researching for a major book about his life and career. While at The Center she knew and worked with many multi-media artists. In addition to professional work as an editor and translator she is also a poet, and writer of fiction. Most of her written work is accompanied by her own photographs.
Recent Articles:
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Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation Front Page
Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA)
By: - Mar 22nd, 2024On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Not long after that, John Quincy Adams Ward (1830-1910) created the bronze sculpture “The Freedman.” It depicts a semi-nude seated figure in the act of his removing shackles. Resembling the iconic Roman “Boxer,” the work was arguably the first bronze sculpture to depict an African American.
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The 74th Berlinale Front Page
The International Flm Festival in Berlin
By: - Feb 26th, 2024The 74th Berlinale is Europe's first international film festival of the year. Always a glamorous happening with stars galore, this year's events from February 15-25th, 2024 have drawn to a close.
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Anatevka at Komische Oper, Berlin Front Page
Better known as Fiddler on the Roof
By: - Feb 17th, 2024Most people know the story of Tevye, the milkman, as 'Fiddler on the Roof.' What started in the1960's as a sensational Broadway musical by Jerome Robbins, has kept all of its allure. 'Anatevka,' here named after the location of the action, is still the wonderful same.
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The Golden Cockerel at Komische Oper, Berlin Front Page
Der Goldene Hahn by N. Rimsky-Korsakov
By: - Jan 31st, 2024Barrie Kosky, former director at the Komische Oper, Berlin, directed Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's last opera "Der Goldene Hahn" (The Golden Cockerel) at the Schiller Theater, the temporary house of the Komische Oper during its renovation.
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Sartre's "Dirty Hands," at Berliner Ensemble Front Page
Opened Jan. 26 in Berlin, Germany
By: - Jan 29th, 2024Opening night of Jean-Paul Sartre's "Die Schmutzigen Hände" (Dirty Hands) on January 26th, 2024 at the famed Berliner Ensemble in Berlin, Germany was sold out.
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A. Baker, The Big Picture Show, at Eclipse Mill Gallery and Front Page
E. Berland/ W. Beavers, Somatic Movement Workshops
By: - Oct 12th, 2023E. Alexander Baker, Erika Berland and Wendell Beavers are all residents at the Eclipse Mill in North Adams, Massachusetts. The mill offers live and work spaces for creative people. Baker’s exhibition can be seen in the Eclipse Mill gallery until October 29 with hours from Thursday to Sunday, 11 am to 6pm.
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Tanz im August in Berlin Front Page
With 19 World-Wide Dance Companies
By: - Sep 02nd, 2023Tanz im Augus is the Berlin showcase for contemporary international dance. Organized, as usually, by the theater Hebbel am Ufer (HAU).
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Compagnie Käfig at Jacob’s Pillow Front Page
Final Company in Residence, 2023 Season
By: - Aug 29th, 2023For PIXEL, by Compagnie Käfig, today based near Lyon, France, ten male Hip Hop dancers, French style, a woman contortionist, a roller-skater, small robots carrying tiny lights, and a huge metal hoop shared and interacted on stage with highly sophisticated projections, music, and sounds.
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Martha Graham Dance Company at Jacob’s Pillow Front Page
The Oldest American Dance Group
By: - Aug 22nd, 2023The venerable and totally contemporary Martha Graham Dance Company was in residence from August 16 to August 20 at Jacob's Pillow. The dancers gave memorable and also frenzied performances.....
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Complexions Contemporary Ballet, at Jacob’s Pillow Front Page
A Most Powerful Ballet Company
By: - Aug 15th, 2023Perhaps, it’s not accidental that 'Complexions' followed the 'Hip Hop Festival.'The performance started with an excerpt of 'Hissy Fits, 2006,' to ongoing very loud percussion, sounding like drum beats to, as per program, J.S. Bach music. And the music mostly continued at a high decimal, just like hip hop.
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Hip Hop Across The Pillow at Jacobs Pillow Front Page
A Festival inside the 2023 Summer Dance Festival
By: - Aug 07th, 2023Hip Hop Across The Pillow was curated by Melanie George and Ali Rosa-Salas. We were fortunate enough to catch the very last totally engrossing performance yesterday.
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(Not Entirely) Black and White, by Nelson and Fried Front Page
Show at the Eclipse Mill Gallery, North Adams, MA
By: - May 20th, 2023This exhibition in North Adams ends on May 29 and so we also introduce the Old Stone Mill Center in Adams, MA, on Rt. 8, outside of downtown, direction to S. Adams. Both are worth a visit!
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Strindberg's Totentanz at Berliner Ensemble Front Page
August Strindberg's Play of 1900
By: - Mar 11th, 2023August Strindberg's "Totentanz" had its opening in Berlin at Bertolt Brecht's famed theater, the Berliner Ensemble. Written in 1900 it is one of those plays that lets one shudder about the senselessness and cruel relationship some couples endure and call it a marriage.
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73rd Berlinale Front Page
Februray 16 to 26, 2023
By: - Mar 01st, 2023Too bad and not long enough! The 73rd Berlinale is now film history. After the limited screenings during the Covid years, the festival became an obvious success.
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Die Rache der Fledermaus, at the Komische Oper, Berlin Front Page
The Revenge of the Bat
By: - Feb 22nd, 2023Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss, from 1874, is one of the most well known light operas the world over. Known for its indulgence into song and dance, the audience is at first surprised to find an almost empty stage with a five member musical ensemble to play all the tunes....
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Ivanov, at the Berliner Ensemble, Germany Front Page
By Anton Chekhov
By: - Feb 17th, 2023"Ivanov" was Anton Chekhov's first play. It opened in 1887 and had been modified several times by the writer/playwright himself, vascillating between comedy and tragedy.
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La Cage Aux Folles, Komische Oper, Berlin Front Page
An Over The Top Production
By: - Feb 08th, 2023What a performance of La Cage Aux Folles at the Komische Oper, Berlin!! This musical with music by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein has seen many international interpretations since it opened in 1983 at the Palace Theatre in New York.
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Amore, at Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin Front Page
Lighter Fare for Valentine's Day
By: - Feb 06th, 2023Valentines Day is drawing near and the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin, Germany, seems to bow to this occasion with its new production 'Amore' under the direction of Aram Tafreshian.
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Clockwork Orange at Berliner Ensemble, Germany Front Page
Theatrical Adaptation by Tilo Nest
By: - Jan 17th, 2023Who does not remember Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film 'A Clockwork Orange' based on the novel by Anthony Burgess from 1962!? It was one of the most chilling cinematic affairs then, and it remains today on stage. Here, the photographs speak a million words....
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Oyayaye and Fortunio's Lied, Komische Oper Front Page
Of Course in Berlin
By: - Jan 10th, 2023The Komische Oper Berlin is one of three opera houses in the Capital. Committed to presenting lighter fare, it just celebrated its 75 birthday in January with a big gala and two operas by Jaques Offenbach: Oyayaye and Fortunio's Lied.
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Cape Ann Rocks! Front Page
Quarries, Poles Hill, Ocean Ledges
By: - Jan 06th, 2023Quarries, Poles Hill, Ocean Ledges and gratitude weave through the following essay, with 30 plus photographs.
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At the Manship Artist Residency Front Page
All About Quarries, Ponds, and Rocks!
By: - Nov 22nd, 2022All about quarries, ponds and rocks! This article presents a photo and word essay - in the format that I have exhibited at the Eclipse Mill as well as this summer/fall at the Berkshire Art Museum in North Adams, MA.
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Intolleranza at Komische Oper, Berlin Front Page
Intolleranza 1960, by Luigi Nono
By: - Oct 14th, 2022What an opera experience at the Komische Oper! Luigi Nono's "Intolleranza 1960" as the first opening of the 2022/23 season.
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Chance Encounter Word
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volksbuehne.com ~ Berlin Front Page
Ophelia's Got Talent
By: - Sep 28th, 2022An amazing theatrical performance took place at the stage of the Volksbuehne, Berlin. The Austrian performance artist Florentina Holzinger made her newest work „Ophelia's Got Talent“ into a show that stretched the technical abilities of the theatre to the fullest.
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