ACTION FIELD KODRA 2004
Annual Visual Arts Festival
[festival] [exhibitions] [publication]
About Action Field Kodra
Action Field Kodra is an annual visual arts festival that takes place in a former military camp in the area of Kalamaria in Thessaloniki. Between 2004-2008 Christos Savvidis undertook the festival's Artistic Direction and ArtBOX was in charge of the General Coordination. During those years, the festival underwent major transformation and became one of the most important and vibrant visual arts events of international acclaim in Greece, having as main focus the communication between the local and the international arts scene. more 

Introduction


The first Action Field Kodra under our artistic direction and coordination sets the tone for the future editions in which we are involved. Our efforts are directed towards designing a festival that will become a point of reference both for the local arts scene, as well as for international agents that are interested in what’s going on in Greece.

At the core of the project is the exhibition RoomsToLet of young artists & arts schools graduates up to 30 years old, as well as fine arts students of all ages. These, criteria and the introduction of a selection committee aim towards raising the quality of the works exhibited. The artists were called to ‘enlist’ by an Uncle Sam poster and the response was great - especially from artists outside Thessaloniki, whose applications were more than in previous years. The selection committee brought representatives of the most important Greek institutions of contemporary art around the same table, who finally selected 63 participants for the exhibition, that took place at the former camp's headquarters and recreation centre. 
Situated at a small distance opposite these two buildings are the Dormitories. Here is where the quarters of the other dimension of Kodra are. Artists, who have already covered some ground in their career, participate in three different exhibitions: 
Protasis is the exhibition that took up most of our time and concern. It is not commonplace for art critics, curators and artists to cooperate in order to organize a joint exposition. The team worked outside the usual framework, pressured by financial limitations and lack of time. Decisions were reached consensually - through long theoretical discussions at the centre of which was the quality of the proposal.
Berliner Zimmer presents the work of Greek artists based in Berlin. The idea suddenly dawned on us after having a discussion with Christine Dimitriadi, who undertook the coordination of the project. The six artists met several times, worked collectively, exchanged ideas and concluded about how they were going to ‘furnish’ the Berlin Room. 
Finally, Danae Stratou and Elli Chrysidou, two established email Greek artists, present new works, created especially for Action Field Kodra.

Other activities include: 
- open rehearsals by theatre group ‘Angelus Novus’, who will be holding the rehearsals for their new play at the Dormitories, leaving the doors open for the public;
- specially conceived performance by choreographer Konstantinos Rigos, for the opening night;
- two workshops for the young artists, participants at the exhibition Rooms To Let.

Former Military Camp Kodra
31 August - 12 September 2004

Production:
Cultural Organisation of the
Municipality of Kalamaria (COMK)

Artistic Director:
Christos Savvidis (ArtBOX.gr)

Organisation:
Maria Kenanidou (COMK)

Coordination:
Lydia Chatziiakovou
Eleni Dimopoulou

RoomsToLet
[group exhibition] [young artists]

Exhibition of young artists, students and graduates of fine arts schools up to 30 years old. Following an open call, participants were selected by a committee of specialists – fine arts school professors, museum representatives, curators and art theorists. This is the first time that Action Field Kodra introduces this process and the response is great, coming from fine arts schools from around Greece. The exhibition, including works by 63 artists, is held at the buildings that used to host the former military camp’s headquarters & soldiers’ recreation centre. 

In the framework of RoomsToLet, the participants were given the opportunity to attend two workshops, given by two established artists: Evanthia Tsantila focused on art in public spaces and Vaggelis Pliaridis discussed the art market and its processes.

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August - 12 September 2004

Curated by:
Christos Savvidis

Selection Committee:
Konstantinos Antoniadis (Thessaloniki Museum of Photography), Vangelis Ioakimidis (Center of Photography of Skopelos), Maria Kagiadaki (Cultural Olympiad), Katerina Kamara (Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art), Sania Papa (Contemporary Art Center, State Museum of Thessaloniki), Thalea Stefanidou (Curator), Lina Tsikouta (National Gallery, Athens), Giannis Fokas (Fine Arts School of Thessaloniki)

Artists:
V. Avramidis, E. Adamopoulou, D. Ameladiotis, A. Abati, S. Arfanaki, N. Aslanidis, I. Baka, R. Belou, H. Bita, C. Chatzicharalampous, A. Chondrouli, M. Chrisochoidou, D. Demiris, V. Dragnis, P. Giakas, G. Gianopoulos, N. Gianoulis, K. Gagaki, S. Gatenio, G. Grekas, P. Famelis, I. Fragouli, H. Fotiadou, S. Hatzi, R. Harantoni, K. Hasioti, K. Kapanidou, M. Karanika, A. Karanos, D. Karantinopoulos, C. Kasapa, H. Kasimati, H. Katsarou, S. Katsigianopoulou, K. Katsioura, G. Kolios, P. Kotsiliati, D. Kousoulas, A. Konstantinidis, S. Lampoudis, E. Linardaki, T. Lioulios, A. Mamouri, E. Mavridou, E. Meletiadis, M. Mitsopoulou, H. Pallas, C. Papdopoulou, G. Papalexandrou, E. Papapostolou, K. Papastamatiou, D. Papous, V. Parisot, V. Protopapadaki, E. Roumpou, J. Sahini, K. Stavrou, E. Simeonidi, E. Sotiropoulou, G. Tsalamanis, N. Varitimiadis, P. Voulgaroudi

Protaseis
[group exhibition] [mid-career artists]

Art critics, curators and artists contribute equally to co-sign a show, outside the usual framework, pressured by financial limitations and lack of time. Consensus under the shared dream of a “good show” is key. But what makes a show “good”?

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August - 12 September 2004

Curated by:
Xenia Kalpaktsoglou, Thouli Misirloglou, Vangelis Pliarides, Lina Tsikouta, Augustine Zenakos

Artists:
Loukia Alavanou, Efie Amanatidou, Aggeliki Avgitidou, Vasilis Balatsos, Kostas Basanos, Lamprini Boviatsou, Dimitris Foutris, Vagelis Gokas, Yioula Hatzigeorgiou, Vasilis Kehagias, Vali Nomidou, Nikos Papadimitriou, Kriton Papadopoulos, Konstantinos Rigos, Kostas Tsolis, Kostis Velonis, Babis Venetopoulos, Natasa Zaranti, Apostolos Zerdevas

Berliner Zimmer
[group exhibition]

Exhibition of Greek artists based in Berlin. The idea suddenly dawned on us after having a discussion with Christina Dimitriadis, who came up with the title and undertook the coordination of the project. The six artists met several times, worked collectively, exchanged ideas and concluded about how they were going to occupy the Berliner Room. 

A few years later, in 2011, we organised a second version of Berliner Zimmer, a traveling exhibition with works by Berlin-based artists from the Balkans, in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Thessaloniki. more

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August - 12 September 2004

Coordinated by::
Christina Dimitriades
Artists:
Christina Dimitriades, Lia Polenaki, Gerge Sapountzis, Vasilia Stylianidou, Dimitris Tzamouranis, Evanthia Tsantila.

Faces - Elli Chrysidou & Danae Stratou
[project]

New works by two of the most prominent female Greek artists.

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August - 12 September 2004

Artists:
Elie Chrisidou, Danae Stratou

Performance by Angelus Novus Group
[open rehearsals]

Director Damianos Konstantinidis and his company conduct open rehearsals of their new show. The audience may come and go, watch and participate with comments - actively engaging with the process.

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August - 12 September 2004

Director:
Damianos Konstantinidis

Actors:
Angelus Novus group

Performance by Konstantinos Rigos
[opening] [performance]

The opening night is marked by a number of happenings and performances, the centre of which is the specially conceived performance by Konstantinos Rigos, that invited the audience to participate.

Former Military Camp Kodra
Thessaloniki, Greece
31 August 2004

Curated by:
Sania Papa

Artist:
Konstantinos Rigos

Workshops for the participants of Rooms To Let exhibition
[workshops] [young artists]

This year, the young artists participating in the exhibition Rooms To Let will have the opportunity to attend two interesting workshops, led by established artists Evanthia Tsantila and Vaggelis Pliarides. Evanthia Tsantila aims to provide them with incentives and to challenge them to get acquainted with the process of creating art for public spaces. She will also urge them to use materials and elements found in the space around us, to revive them or to change the way we see them, understand and appreciate them. Vaggelis Pliaridis instructs the artists on how to survive in the ‘art market’, which nowadays requires that the artist has additional abilities alongside his abilities of a purely artistic nature.     

Former Military Camp Kodra and
Municipal Theater “Hilis"
Thessaloniki, Greece
August 2004

Workshop Directors:
 Vaggelis Pliaridis
Evanthia Tsantila

Action Field Kodra Catalogue #1
[publications] [exhibition catalogue]

Design
Katerina Stafylidou

Coordination:
Maria Kenanidou

Supervision:
Lydia Chatziiakovou

Greek, black & white, 24x7 cm