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Christmas 2007. Wishes for Christiania

Imagine: Christmas in the Grå Hal. 1500 people fold 1500 red and yellow paper airplanes and make them fly in the entire huge space. On the airplanes there are written wishes for the future of Christiania, and who wants can write his or her own personal wish. During the hole night some airplanes with the wishes for Christiania fly circles in the hall.
I called the person who is in charge of the Xmas decoration this year, told him my basic idea what I would like to perform and read out a few wishes for Christiania to him I already had collected. He said he really liked the idea and we should do it and continue talking. When I met him a few days later he said the idea with the wishes for Christiania could be a problem and he could not take responsibility, I should talk to the hole Christmas group. I actually got the feeling he was backing off but he said he would support me and my idea.
At the meeting of the Christmas group they spoke about that having people read or write wishes would be too political for Christmas. The Deco person was on the phone most of the time I presented the idea and didn’t say anything to back me, instead denied that I had spoken about wishes for Christiania. The group said the idea should be altered somehow and he should decide. When I asked if I could rely on his decision now he said yes, but I would get no time on stage. Then A. said I would get 5 minutes on stage and he also would like to discuss with me which I was happy about because I get a sincere sensation from him.
So I left the meeting with a few more thoughts:

How can wishes people have for Christiania be ‚too political’? I had explained that I think it is important to bundle the positive energy of as many people as possible for Christiania – espcialy at the end of 2007 - and that the image being created would probably be very powerful and poetic. I really think Christiania needs this kind of stuff. Visions, images, good energy.
Does this argument have something to do with the Danish ‚hygge’? I had been told that during the last years celebrations quite political speeches had been held. Isn’t the fact that Christiania instead of the city makes this Xmas meal – the city has stopped years ago saying there are no poor peole in Copenhagen who need it - isn’t that a purely political act? And is there anything that is not political? Strrrange, strrrange...
Is this surpring experience I had an exception or does it apply tp other people with ideas as well (ja, tell me, tell me, I wanna know)? I am here on a residency for a few months with the purpose to portrait Copenhagen and Christiania on the web and in performances. Why do I get the feeling my ideas and wishes to donate/participate actively for Christiania is not welcome? I have worked with quite a few different communities and cultures including families, artists, freemasons, politicians, celebreties, why is it that the Christiania people who I would somehow expect to be the most open to International artists especially if they have lived and worked here for more than a month, seem – so far - to me to be the most difficult to cooperat with? I personally think the my idea is pretty allright iin this context and I have never heard of anything that has been done alike.

Ok, then I continued talking with people about my experience and there was some understandin. I called A. and left a message on his answering machine, he did not call me back and now I am running out of time because I am cooperating this week with the demonstration for Ungdomshuset. And preparation time will probably now to be too short... oh well.

Individual Wishes for Christiania from all Sort of Folks:
- That it was much bigger, had more ressources and was saved (fredet) from the thread of being closed. (Mette)
- free food
- legalize marihuana! that would solve a lot of problems.
- The internal struggles should vanish.
- All of the brothers and sisters should have their eyes opened and new waves of cosmic love would reach them so we can continue buidling love and community. Like the enthusiasm and love 30 years ago.
- I wish: No borders, no boundaries, no limits!
- people in Christiania should get rid of their anger.
- that it stays forever.
- I would give the feeling of unity, not the clans working against each other. Christiania should develop ONE true vision and live that out.
- that it stays 'free' (tone)
- more creativity and less hash.
- That it could be that place of freedom that it started out as!
- Progress. Youth.
- I wish Christiania will become some place of influence so that politicians will learn from that.
- That the government would drop all plans of 'normalisation' and allow Christiania to develop as a free community and give support to a lot of alternative building on the area and that Christiania in return would let in a lot of fresh, young, visionary people.
- If I would be the good fairy I would give a surplus of energy to be able to handle more, especially wha comes from outside.
- bring the old and strong enthusiasm back to maintain things in alternative way.

So here are my 2 wishes for Christiania 2007
(1) Openess to ideas and good energies coming from outside. Even if the wishes can be naive, Christiania should accept good intentions and not close off.
(2) Close your eyes and imagine 1500 red and yellow paper airplanes with wishes for Christiania fly on the ceiling of Grå Hal. Awe! Merry Xmas 2007 ☺

17.12.2007, 09:02