Extrapool is an art space in Nijmegen where character, experiment and conceptual base are of importance. As ‘Knust’, Extrapool is a (stencil) print workshop and publisher. As performance and exhibition space, Extrapool explores and crosses the frontiers between music, visual art, performance and film/video. The Extrapool staff is comprised of artists, and this implies that artists’ projects are realized when we find a clear connection in vision and mentality with Extrapool. Unlike most other cultural organizations, they are a generator rather than simply a purveyor of art.

Extrapool introduced an open invitation to artists of all disciplines to create a proposal for the redesigning of their building’s facade, one reflecting their mentality and activities. First prize is the realization of the plan.

I entered the following proposal for this competition:

“Although a lot has to happen to the facade of Extrapool to communicate the character of the activities inside to the outside world, I’m still very positive about the typography above the entrance, even after all these years. I especially like the way the upside down A points out the entrance. This is why I chose to use this typography as a starting point for my proposal.

The design consists of a striped plating that is fixated 10 cm outside the present facade of the building, so drainpipes and other projections can be placed behind the plating where possible. At the same time this distance makes the plating break away visually from the facade. The plating sort of hovers in front of the facade like a shell.

The plating consists of a large number of long pieces of material, that emphasize the lines of the reversed A in the original typography. This way the whole facade points to the entrance. The attention is optically drawn to the entrance which can make it easier to venture inside. If the entrance itself can also get a somewhat more open character in the future reconstruction of the building, potential visitors will find their way in so much easier.

The design of the facade can be perpetuated in the side facade as well. This way the whole building is focused towards the entrance, instead of ‘just’ the front.

The plating can be an ideal framework for all sorts of publicity materials and attention grabbers. Besides the nessecary space next to the entrance with the programme, one could think of billboards, flags, lighting (in front and behind the plating), color, and so on. A world of possibilities.”

All participants take part in the contest exhibition during a ‘Anderhalf Wit Avond’ in Extrapool and are published in a contest release. You can still look at some of the other entries overhere. The winners could very well be Eugenie Bakker and Joost Kok, with a truly marvellous plan!

Radio broadcast on Concertzender wit a special about esc.rec. The focus of this broadcast is on the Maga releases, but you can also listen to sounds by Gluid, Dion, Igor Krutogolov, Radboud Mens and Dreamspeed.

The beach libraries are open again in July and August when the wheather is good. In case you’ve never heard of the beach libraries (I know I didn’t), you can find more info at www.strandbibliotheek.nl. I think it is a great initiative, especially because – besides good books – they also lend you i-Pods filled with music and podcasts.

Gluid (out on esc.rec.) is also in one of the music collections. Imagine chilling on those sounds while lying on the beach. Can you get any closer to heaven?

Gluid (out on esc.rec.) is used as a soundtrack for a film project by Liseth Medema. This film was shown at Galerie Noorderlicht in Groningen untill July 14th.

‘Gluid – The Ashtray Is On Fire’ appears on ‘Mind The Gap #62′, the cd that accompanies the bi-monthly magazine Gonzo Circus. You can find it in the better book or music stores in Belgium and the Netherlands or you can order it overhere.

In that same edition of Gonzo Circus (#75) you can also find a good review of the Gluid album and an entire page with an article about esc.rec. Although it is a pity that there are some mistaken assumptions in this article, we are ofcourse overjoyed with all this exposure!