Believe it or not, my animated short Ins Dunkel (engl. Into the Dark) will be released this year, after almost five years of preparation. Officially. On 2nd June, 2012. In a cinema.

With all the bells and whistles!

How so?

I just made a decision. And set a date.

Today I talked to the people of the Filmhaus Bielefeld. They run a small cinema and I asked them if it's possible to show my film there, and if so, when. – I decided to celebrate of the release of my film project in June, so that I have on the one hand enough time, and on the other hand enough pressure to finish it.

So here's the big announcement!

What I plan for that special night:

• An opening reception
  
• introduction & screening
  
• a making of
  
• an interview with a q&a, and
  
• and a small exhibition with props and puppets from the film.

Mark the day in your calendar, it's official! – I'll keep you updated!

Love,
– Jessica ♥

Every year we tend to panic because Christmas again has come so suddenly. – Who would have guessed?!

While most people seek for their last presents in town, I'm going to go into the beautiful city of Herford to install a solo exhibition at the Kiosk24, a local shop window gallery.

I am working on an installation in which I combine an animated video and paper objects. The installation is called und selbst wenn… (engl. and even if…) , and shows an animated character who brings a lot of stuff into the window.

This is an invitation!

If you're interested to see what happens with all that stuff, I'd love to see you there! Since it's a shop window gallery, it will be open 24/7, in case you won't be able to join us at the opening. The exhibition runs until 22 January.

The opening

…is next Wednesday, 21 December 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

I would love for you to join me for the opening in front of the gallery!

Jessica Koppe
und selbst wenn…
21 | 12 | 2011 – 22 | 01 | 2012
Opening: 21 | 12 | 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Kiosk24
Radewiger Straße 24
32052 Herford, Germany
(The gallery on google maps.)

You can also download the German version of the invitation card.

I hope to see you at the opening night!

Love,
– Jessica

Currently I take a small break from working on my film, Ins Dunkel.

Over the last 10 months, I went from door to door to find galleries or art other spaces who are willing to show my works next to my work on the film and the paid work. This finally seems to pay off: I already showed my artworks in two exhibitions over the last four weeks, and I'm going to have a solo show in December, too.

I like exhibitions because they force me to think about how I want you to perceive my artworks. It's all about communication, and getting in touch with the audience.

For the latest exhibition I went for a new form of presentation of my drawings, called

Storyboards

Since my drawings often seem to be like separated comic panels, I thought it would be great to combine them to some kind of story. I wrote the headline with electrical tape onto the wall, and added drawings that carry a certain mood. (In this case, it's isolation and feeling betrayed.)

I call them Storyboards since the principle of arranging and replacing is pretty similar to the development of a storyboard for films.

and even if…

For my solo show at a local shop-window gallery I'm creating an installation in which I combine props made of paper with a projection of an animated loop.

Yesterday I finished the drawing for the invitation card which will be printed this week.

This time, I'm going to tell you in time when the exhibition takes place. – I really hope to see you there!

Love,
– Jessica

Animator Artist Sven Bonnichsen has founded a new animation festival, the NW Animation Festival in Portland, Oregon. The special thing about this festival is, that it doesn't come with any limitations towards animation: everything is possible, and they really want to discover what you do.

Just click the image to follow their Call for Submissions.

Sven explains his vision at the festival's website:

This festival is dedicated to the love of animation. This is the Northwest Animation Festival’s inaugural year. We begin our endeavor with a bold vision:

• To feed animation lovers’ craving with a sprawling feast of new work
• To re-inspire independent animators each year with an infusion of new ideas and imagery
• To encourage students and emerging artists by helping them get their first showing on the big screen
• To showcase the breadth of the art form with shorts blocks dedicated to different animation methods: hand-drawn, computer-generated, stop-motion…
• To share this event with the Pacific Northwest by creating a touring “Best of the NW Animation Festival” show
• In some small way, to nourish the art of animation, helping it grow and evolve

The festival will be held on June 3-4-5, in the heart of downtown Portland Oregon at the historic 5th Avenue Cinema. Early deadline is April 1, 2011, and the regular deadline ends May 1, 2011. For more information, visit: nwanimationfest.com or contact:

Animation artist and Goddess Halfland, Shelley Noble did a little promotional video on youtube to support Sven and his festival:

Good luck, Sven! May the festival be a huge success for everyone!

Dear creative folks,

tomorrow the Studio Monday will take place for the first time. From March 7, 2011 on I’ll open my studio in Porta Westfalica, Germany every Monday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for you to come and join.

I wanted to create an event where creative people of all kind have a space to work together, to get in touch with like-minded people and to take a look behind the scenes of my work. During this weekly open studio event you’re invited to bring your own creative projects to work on, or to join me on my projects if you like to (that could be my Orpheus film project, for example).

The entry is free.

It’s easy to plan your journey with google maps, the studio’s address is Kaanstr. 7, 32457 Porta Westfalica, Germany. I recommend to call in before under +49 (0) 571 38 76 781, especially if you’re going to travel a longer distance.

I look forward to see you! Jessica