Astrid Noacks Atelier with Shelley and Darren

Astrid Noacks Atelier, at Rådmandsgade 34, was the studio of celebrated Danish sculptress, Astrid Noack from 1936-1950. Astrid loved  the Ydre Nørrebro neighborhood we now call home. She was inspired by the wealth of activity–tradesmen, shopkeepers, children, families–in and around her little studio. The tiny room, kept warm with a wood stove, is much the same today as it was when Noacks was there giving cookies to children if they would sit for her sculpture work. In addition to being a successful sculptor, Noacks was a supporter of the working class, a communist, and reportedly, aided the resistance to the Nazi occupation of Denmark.

A group of community members and neighborhood art lovers, have come together to save to the old building that Astrid once called home. They have formed a board and have started an artist in residence program to bring contemporary artists into the neighborhood to do projects. For example, Kultivator, the radical Sweden-based art farmers have been in the neighborhood several times at work on a Time Banking project–read more on that here.

The studio was a magnet for arts and organizing when Astrid lived there, and because of this committed group of citizens, it remains so today. In this spirit of community supported arts, we worked with the folks at Astrid Noacks Atelier to host a show with the musicians Shelley Short and Darren Hanlon. Singer-songwriters, Short and Hanlon were passing through as part of their European tour. They kindly played an evening of songs to support the space and to celebrate Halloween.

The studio is a special place to hear music because the positive, creative energy generated by the years Astrid spent there remains. It is a well loved room.

The following pictures of the cozy, candle lit, Halloween evening were taken by our friend Anna M. Podhalicz-Bernat. She has kindly loaned them to the MQ.

Thanks to Anna, Astrid, Katrine, Finn, Kirsten,  Shelley, and Darren.