We are thrilled to unveil the highlights of our recent 2-day workshop hosted by Urban Critters / Wedding Queer Space Queers. This event, a vibrant convergence of creativity and diversity, showcased the extraordinary talents of the queer community. Participants engaged in an array of activities, from writing and sound exploration to movement and animation, weaving a rich tapestry of queer narratives. The workshop was not just a platform for artistic expression but also a cradle for new ideas, collaborations, and friendships. The heart of this gathering was the courage and authenticity each participant brought, enriching the experience beyond measure. Our website now proudly features a digital exhibition of this memorable event, providing a glimpse into the magic that unfolded. This platform will not only display our workshop activities but will also serve as a hub for ongoing communication and updates within our vibrant community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees whose contributions were pivotal to the workshop's success. Their shared experiences and artistry have not only enriched our collective understanding of the queer community's diverse culture but have also laid the groundwork for future endeavors. Explore the captivating moments captured during our workshop and join us in celebrating the creativity and spirit of the Urban Critters community.

//Festival//

This workshop delved into the primal art of storytelling. Participants embarked on a walking tour to rediscover familiar urban landscapes with fresh eyes, looking for extraordinary elements in everyday settings. This exercise in attention and imagination helped to suspend judgement, allowing for the emergence of colorful, speculative mythologies. Back in the studio, attendees engaged in writing exercises, transforming their gathered stories into vivid texts. This workshop welcomed individuals at all levels of writing experience, emphasizing the communal power of shared narratives.

//Workshops Showcase//

This workshop encouraged participants to engage in a game of 'what-if,' experimenting with perceptions and judgments. Starting with pen and paper doodles, attendees created digital animation loops, like GIF files, using the 'Rough Animator' app. Inspired by personal experiences or the previous day's workshops, they conjured up symbolic objects, transforming them into objects of resolution. This activity was conducted in a safe space, with no pressure to share personal stories or symbolism.

Walking with Words; Writing Speculative Urban Mythologies!: hosted by Miche

Moving Images; Metamorph Your Life!:hosted by Krisho

Participants explored the sonic landscapes of their surroundings in this workshop. They were encouraged to listen attentively to the world's sounds and noises, identifying sources and co-creating sonic stories. Using their phones or other recording devices, along with the open-source software Reaper, they transformed these sounds into small pieces to share with others. This workshop was an exercise in sonic exploration and storytelling, requiring participants to bring their recording and editing tools.

Sound: Urban Field
Recordings and Myth
Hunting!: hosted by yv

Focusing on the interaction between the body and urban environments, this workshop explored how urban spaces, shaped by human design, influence bodily movement. Utilizing theater methods, participants reconnected with their physical selves and examined the conditioning of their movements by the surrounding space. The goal was to reclaim and reframe these movements, queering the way bodies navigate through designed environments.

Movement: Take Back the Town! Moving through Urban Spaces:! hosted by Jara

The festival turned out to be a great success and a truly positive experience for everyone involved. Attendance varied across the different workshops, with some drawing larger crowds than others, but each session was filled with energy and active participation. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the festival's impact and its role in bringing people together. It was a down-to-earth, vibrant event that really resonated with the queer community and its supporters. This success has laid a solid foundation for us to build upon for future events and community initiatives.

Final impressions

“After that day the lord spent months searching for the princex. The weather started to get hot. Hiding in AC units is not a good plan long term, after all.

On the streets of Wedding, Berlin there roams a creature made of air. It's chewing on housewalls, eating the paint, rusting the doorhandles.

On the walls of the houses in Wedding, Berlin colorless spots keep appearing. As if something, a creature made from the steam of radiators is eating away the paint from the inside. It's trying to get to the surface.”

Sascha Sandor

“The street breathed on its own, not on borrowed breath. The world was revealing itself at every instant; the vision reached just the right distance to the next step while an ancient melody surrounded her, timeless and unpretentiously, initiating an ancient tale that became a fractal of itself in a world that dreamed of being a kaleidoscope, in a place that became a memory under the dust.

It became a story, the street, sung by unconnected words and beings who had forsaken both the dawn and the twilight.”

Nik

"The parties must be fantastic. Walking down the street I see thousands of discarded single use food plates,each adhering to quite a strict color scheme:mainly yellows,browns,oranges and a couple of greens. Who knows what they were eating, all I know is that it must have been a feast. Along side the small oval shaped plates are discarded bottles. Like squished capri-suns the partiers have drunk their drinks with such vigour that the only thing left of their once plumply filled vessels are somethings resembling imploded earthworms. There is other paraphernalia that I simply cannot identify the purpose of. Long sticks,spikey balls and polished wooden spheres all of which I am sure contribute some way or another to the celebrations."

Rory Malone