On a Sunday in October

What exactly is the “Berliner Kunstherbst” (Berlin Arts Fall)? This much discussed season has always been a mystery for me. No later than from September onwards you hear and read about it, the names of numerous galleries and exhibitions are dropped like leaves fall from the trees. “Help! There are already now more private viewings than I can count, more festivals than I can celebrate, more contemporary art than I can understand.”

Admittedly, I love this city for this very reason. There is always something to be missed culturally but there are also always unknown treasures to be discovered. And this applies 365 days a year. So what does autumn have that the other seasons do not?

The answer was given to me by Stroke.Artfair last weekend: the world’s only art fair for urban art was exhibiting in the Postbahnhof location imposing oil paintings on canvas, fine charcoal drawings or neon coloured installations with everything that shapes and colours have to offer. Between the horn-rimmed glasses and flashing analogue cameras of the other visitors I discovered one or the other artist in an animated conversation, far away from the cool aloofness of conventional galleries.

We want to go outside; after all the autumn sun beats down on the picture windows of the hall. Outdoor workshops and live painting are staged there – and then it dawns on me: that’s the Kunstherbst: a wonderful Sunday in October with the ingredients arts, sun and outdoors. Well then, is there any more of it?

--> The next Stroke.Artfair will take place in spring 2012. In the meantime many other cultural events in the city will help us to get through winter.