All posts tagged: free

Alternative Zurich

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The Fraumünster Church is an icon of the city which dominates the skyline and features stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall.  The presentation is gorgeous and similar to the Chagall windows at the Art Institute of Chicago, but at the church there is absolutely no photography allowed.  We payed a quick visit here during our stay in Zurich and left after wandering around the dark and somber church for a few minutes.  We had no idea that we would be returning the following evening when the space would be transformed into a shining performance space by art collective Baushtellë and be confronted by a program of thought-provoking contemporary work. Members of Baushtellë from Prishtinë, Beograd and Zürich participated in the complete transformation of the Fraumünster Church.  I love what they did with the space… coincidentally it was my first time seeing an artist perform semi-nude inside a church.  And this time, photography was encouraged! At the heart of this collective is an exploration of a system of beliefs, so I found it very appropriate that the exhibition was held …

Copenhagen for Free | Best Art Destination

Copenhagen for Free: Best Art Destination

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Statens Museum for Kunst (the National Gallery of Denmark) wins the award for number-one best, must-see, don’t-miss-it, gotta-go-there, how-is-this-even-legal-it’s-so-good art destination.  This museum is located in the center of Copenhagen and is known to locals as the SMK.  And the best part: it’s free.  But like LeVar Burton says on Reading Rainbow, don’t take my word for it!  Check out these pictures and you will get to know why this gem is worth so much more in this often-pricey Scandinavian capital. ^^^The interior gazes out into the Østre Anlæg park through massive floor-to-ceiling glass panes.  This is the section of the museum that contains contemporary art, so obviously this is where we spent most of our time at the museum!  Who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon here?  That being said, where are all the tourists?  Where are all the selfie sticks?  Usually art museums of this caliber are full of them! ^^^The views from the museum are worth the trip alone.  When you get around to admiring the artwork, you will notice that the museum …

Doors of Paris

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Step one for visiting Paris: find a place to stay.  We rented a chambre de bonne, which is a fancy french word for a former maid’s quarters.  Our tiny room was situated at the end of a six storey climb up a narrow staircase; on the top floor of an old iconic apartment building in the center of the Pigalle district.  So what is so cool about that?  The doors to this building are beautiful.  Not just beautiful, but stunningly ornate.  And so are all the other doors in this neighborhood, and all the surrounding neighborhoods, and pretty much everywhere in the city now that I’m paying attention! Are we really doing a post about how beauriful the doors are in Paris?  Of course we are!  Just look at these amazing entranceways!  They are everywhere you look; every color, every style you could imagine.    We should take a second to discuss the most famous doors in the city… ^^^Considered a masterpiece of French-Gothic architecture, the doors of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral are also …

London Visual Art Guide: 9 Must-See Spots

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London has so many famous art museums and galleries – and entry to all of them is completely free.  I can’t get over this.  These museums are all institutions which are held in the highest regard (probably bordering on religious fervor) and could only be described as “sacred” for any lover of art.  London is also brimming with contemporary visual art galleries well-known for exhibiting the latest and greatest, and they are all free!  Take advantage!  I originally tried to make this list highlighting the best 5 free art venues around the city, but that was impossible… there are just too many amazing spaces.  These are our top 9 must-see visual art spots in London. 1)  BEERS This is The Alternative Atlas top pick for so many reasons.  A pristine small gallery space in Shoreditch with a great name and an even greater show program.  1 Baldwin St, London EC1V 9NU. 2) The Tate Modern Too good for words… but the images speak volumes.  Bankside, London SE1 9TG. 3) Marlborough Fine Art Representing prominent international artists …

London-for-Free: The Saatchi Gallery

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We visited a lot of galleries and museums in London, and one of the finest is the infamous Saatchi Gallery.  It just so happens that this is the only completely free-entry contemporary art museum of its size in the entire world.  So what does this mean for art lovers like ourselves?  Do we get to indulge in monumental works by world famous AND emerging artists side-by-side AND hang out in an insanely beautiful exhibition space AND we get in for free???  Yes, yes, yes, and yes! The Saatchi Gallery has been defining and redefining the way we encounter contemporary art for 25 years, and we spent an afternoon exploring its two new exhibitions: Dead: A Celebration of Mortality and Pangea II: New Art From Africa and Latin America. ^^^I am particularly psyched about the Dead show; imagine my excitement upon seeing advertisements throughout the city depicting a schoolboy playing leapfrog in a graveyard…  Yes!  I’m so into it!  That kid can play on my grave anytime! ^^^One of my favorite pieces by Terence Koh, The …

Copenhagen Pride!

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Today was our first day in Copenhagen, and we set out this morning with no idea what the day would bring.  Should we rent a bike?  Maybe we should get familiar with the currency?  Is anything going on downtown?  Oh wow it looks like something is going on today… Copenhagen Pride!  A free festival dedicated to the LGBTQ community, Pride is a massive parade that promotes and makes visible the Danish LGBTQ members.  The quaint downtown area was swarmed with loving and supportive crowds drinking beer and champagne and dancing in the streets.  It looks like we arrived on a good day!    ^^^So many beautiful people strutting their stuff… get it girl! ^^^Do I recognize her from Downton Abbey? ^^^The crowd had so much positive energy… which of course immediately translated into even more sassiness from the proud LGBTQ community members.    ^^^Who’s got two thumbs and is a Grade-A badass?  This dude.    ^^^Everybody was included in the crowd participation and interaction.     We also met an American/Swedish couple that insisted on buying us …

London East End Street Art Tour

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The area of focus here is Brick Lane and Shoreditch in Hackney on London’s East End; this stretch is a cultural hub which doubles as a vibrant fashion district as well as a constantly evolving street art exhibition space.  This is an exciting area to see ever-changing work, and a point worth mentioning is how accomplished artists are producing in areas constantly in flux.  From hard edge abstraction to large-format hyperrealism, it’s all happening here.  An appropriate word that comes to mind while walking through these streets is dense.  Another word that comes to mind is gentrification; this area is home to England’s largest Bangladeshi population living side-by-side with the artists moving into the neighborhood.  Case in point: we saw in the same instant a Muslim woman in her niqab (a garment which covers the entire body and face except the eyes) walk past a fabulous man changing into a pair of hot pants in the middle of the sidewalk.  While the woman was modest enough not do a double-take, I had to get another …

6 Free Things to do in Dublin

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Dublin has a booming tourist economy, therefore it can be tough to absorb anything of cultural relevance without waiting forever in a queue or paying exorbitant admission fees (10€ to see one page from the Book of Kells?  Yeah right!) so we have assembled six destinations that are off the beaten tourist path and absolutely free.  While all those pesky tourists are waiting in line to see a book that was stolen from the Scottish, pay a visit to any of these six Irish wonders and you will not be disappointed.    1) Irish Museum of Modern Art This free museum is Ireland’s leading institution for the presentation and collection of contemporary art.  The IMMA exhibits works by world-famous artists in an immaculate space which is basically empty besides the gallery attendants.  When Marina Abramovic shows in New York people come by the thousands, at her exhibition here we were the only people in the room.  Also, the building is a 17th century hospital!  Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 2) Glendalough Walking …

15 Free Edinburgh Experiences

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Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and the second most visited city in the United Kingdom after London, and the old town and new town together are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.  Edinburgh is an easy city; simultaneously big and small.  It can be an expensive place to visit, but as we are all about the budget, we focused on all things free.  We stayed in a cheap hostel made of shipping containers, made most of our own meals, and walked through the cobblestone streets surrounded by the history of this ancient place.  These are our top 15 free things to do in Edinburgh: 1) Bargain Spot Tollcross- Project Space This is an AlternativeAtlas special recommendation.  We stumbled into this artist-run exhibition space one evening and got a glimpse into Edinburgh’s underground performance art scene.  I was left with the impression that everyone in attendance knew each other, and it was refreshing to find a thriving community here.  12 Earl Grey St, West End, Edinburgh EH3 9BN   2) Climb Calton Hill Looking for panoramic views …

10 Free Things to do in Washington D.C.

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Washington D.C. is a well-known tourist destination and can be a pricey place to visit.. use these tips to save some money and see some of D.C.s best spots! 1) Book a free tour of the NPR National Headquarters Tour the beautiful building and see some of the NPR staff in action… woah is that Korva Coleman standing over there?!  Tours start everyday at 11 a.m. and are absolutely free.  Advance registration is required though, so be sure to register here. 2) Visit the Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden The Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is located next to the National Mall… you know, like, near all those monuments and stuff.  They have constantly revolving exhibitions of internationally acclaimed modern and contemporary artists. 3) Take a Stroll Around Georgetown Georgetown is a charming historic neighborhood off the Potomac River where you can take a walk through civil-war era streets.  The houses are antiquated and beautiful, and Georgetown University is also located here.  Fun Fact: the neighborhoods can be creepy at night and are thought to …