STALKE UP NORTH

Currently showing at Stalke Up North in Gothersgade:

NO REGRETS, CONGRATS SAM

Stalke Up North in Copenhagen is very happy to announce the opening of the surprise group show NO REGRETS, CONGRATS SAM, which is a celebration of Mr. Sam Jedig's 50th anniversary. A selected group of artists, who have exhibited at Stalke Gallery at some point since its opening in 1987, participate with one artwork of their choice.

Albert Mertz (DK), Andreas Vind (DK), Anja Franke (DK), Anne Bennike (DK), Ann Sophie Stærk (DK), Anne Marie Ploug (DK), Barbara Husar (A), Bella Angora (A), Cecilie Westerberg (DK), Christian Falsnaes (DK), Christine Melchiors (DK), Christoph Draeger (D), Cordy Ryman (US), Deborah Sengl (A), Dove Bradshaw (US), Frank Busk (DK), Frans Jacobi (DK), Gudmundur Ingolfsson (I), Gunnar Örn (I), Jeannette Ehlers (DK), Jonas Hvid Søndergaard (DK), Judith Fegerl (A), Kaj Nyborg (DK), Kristian von Hornsleth (DK), Kristleifur Björnsson (I), Lars Bent Petersen (DK).Lawrence Anastasi (US), Lawrence Weiner (US), Les Levine (US), Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen (DK), Lone Mertz (DK), Marianne Hesselbjerg (DK), Margrete Sørensen (DK), Meir Tati (IS), Michael Coughlan (US), Morten Tillitz (DK), Nikolaj Recke (DK), Nils Erik Gjerdevik (DK), Olafur Eliasson (DK), Peter Holst Henckel (DK), Susanne Eybl (DK), Søren Dahlgaard (DK), Thomas Bang (DK), Thorbjørn Beckman (DK), Thorgej Steen Hansen (DK), Torben Ebbesen (DK), William Anastasi (US), William Anthony (US).

About Sam Jedig and Stalke Gallery

Since the middle of the 1980s, artist and gallery owner Sam Jedig, with his numerous projects, has been one of the most experimental figures of the Danish art scene. Reaching beyond traditional categories and conventions for how to do things, he has, with critical enthusiasm and curiosity, and with a unique openness and generosity, led Stalke Gallery as a procedural work of art in constant evolution. This has inevitably involved unpredictability and risk, but with this approach, he has found opportunities for innovation of the gallery form itself, and he has discovered new artistic talents as few others.

Although he unquestionably represents a kind of institution, he has always refused to be established and controlled by "business as usual." He is always on the way forward. As he said in a newspaper interview in 1993, his dream was to travel around Europe with his surfboard on the roof of the car and make art projects.

This describes the spirit of many of his projects, from Stalke Gallery, which opened in 1987 and remains the focal point, along with Stalke Collection and the Gallery Project "Stalke Out of Space," launched in 1991. Other projects include Gallery Kirke Sonnerup (2002–2007) and Stalke Up North, opened by Sam Jedig and Camilla Rohde Madsen in 2008 in Copenhagen.

Later this year, he opens the project space The Black Cube, a 2x2x2 m black painted box located in the free nature of Iceland, with which he has maintained a close relationship for many years. Sam Jedig also publishes a project called Artstamp.dk, a Mail Art project where he uses stamps as a medium to address global political realities.

The common thread in all the experiments is an irrepressible and, in so far rather un-Danish, dedication to conceptual-based art in its many forms.

Expressions and Legacy

Expressions, both historical and contemporary. Sam Jedig has in Stalke Gallery exhibited the art pioneers from the 1960s to its rediscovery in the "90s-art" and the continuation of the contemporary generation. And many, many more. From Denmark and the world. The range is impressive and characterizes nothing less than a unique function in relation to both domestic and international standards.

Best regards,
Camilla Rohde Madsen

Sam Jedig from Galleri Stalke deceived by the financial crisis

When this hard-pressed reporter called Sam Jedig, the man behind Galleri Stalke, to hear how things were going, he told me that it might be a good idea to show up at the gallery in Gothersgade, where I could see an exhibition about the omnipresent financial crisis. However, he himself had nothing to do with the exhibition, as I understood; it was curated by Nikolaj Recke and the director of the Up North gallery in Copenhagen, Camilla Rohde Madsen.

An exhibition about the financial crisis sounded like a cool idea to me, so I showed up. The small gallery was packed, and there was a festive atmosphere, but I found it hard to see how the exhibition tied in with the financial crisis. No surprise—the whole thing was set up as a surprise party to celebrate Sam Jedig’s 50th birthday, and that’s certainly worth celebrating.

His position in Danish art life is unique. As a curator, artist, gallery owner, idea man, and inspirer, he is seemingly always on the move and in good spirits, driven by openness and curiosity.

The gallery was founded in 1987 and has since developed into Stalke Collection, Stalke Out of Space, a traveling gallery, and Stalke Up North, which includes both a showroom in Gilleleje and the department in Gothersgade.

From the beginning, the gallery has had an international outlook, with particular focus on the USA and Iceland, although Germany has also played a role. Early contributors include William Anastasi, Lawrence Weiner, Dove Bradshaw, and Alfred Mertz. Later, the list has grown to include names such as Nikolaj Recke, Kristleifur Björnsson, Søren Dahlgaard, Kaj Nyborg, Olafur Eliasson, Bella Angora, Anne Bennike, Deborah Sengl, Cody Ryman, and Annemarie Ploug.

There are plenty of exciting new initiatives on the way, which we will return to soon. But there is no upcoming exhibition on the financial crisis—that could have been exciting!

By Andreas Hansen

KUNSTAVISEN 05 · 2009