Artists in Amsterdam are taking a radical approach to urban planning and community development and are inviting the public to a international August symposium on the topic. "Out of the Blue," August 3-9, 2009, is organized by The Blue House (Het Blauwe Huis), focusing on three strands in "understanding experimental communities": Instant Urbanism, Hospitality and Accelerated History. The Blue House is a four-year durational project in IJburg, a new urban district on a cluster of man-made islands east of Amsterdam. In 2005, artist Jeanne van Heeswijk arranged for a large villa in Housing Block 35 to be taken off the private market and be redesignated as a space for community research, artistic production and cultural activities. Out of The Blue will take place in the future 'Activity Centre' on the island presently under construction, to include a 50-room motel and an amphitheater. [LINK] Posted by Linda Frye Burnham