Tonight, the HomeBase Project in launches HAUNTED HAUS, a Halloween special at the city's most beloved artist residency and community space up in Pankow. HomeBase describes itself as "a site-specific residency and research program exploring the notion of home, operating in the intersection of contemporary art and social change." What does that mean? Many things: They host great parties with an international roster of talents far and wide, they collaborate with their neighbourhood (check out the Week of Public Action in Pankow for more details), and they host the HB Festival, an ongoing residency showcasing site-specific work in a communal setting. If that wasn't enough, drop by tonight to find out more information on how you can apply -- this truly is the best intro to the city of Berlin if you're an outsider looking to dip your feet in the cultural capital of Europe. HAUNTED HAUS will feature curator DJs, 'scare or be scared' costumes, art and an eerie exploration through the HomeBase studios, a sprawling, 100-year-old brick-laden brewery. Can't beat that on Halloween. Heather McKee, the associate director of the HomeBase Lab, dishes for ArtStars* to expect the unexpected when it comes to HAUNTED HAUS. the spooks in the art world, and more. Interview by Nadja Sayej. So you're doing a HAUNTED HAUS. First of all, what is the history of the building we'll be walking into tonight? Isn't it a little scary in itself? This building, as many over a 100 year old institutional buildings in Berlin, has quite a history. A Brewery built up by a German Jewish business man and philanthropist Ignatz Nacher, seized by the Third Reich, he died in destitute a year later. His spirit haunts our house. Then after the war, this old brewery, located in East Berlin became a home for children whose parents were always away working for the DDR government. After the fall of the wall it was empty. A dark building in the neighborhood. Squatted by artists in the now rotting attic. After twenty years of emptiness HB came. What kind of treasures can we find tonight, from performances, music rooms and more? Its powered by the people and our community so its as big as the participants want it to be. We have a forty meter long red carpeted corridor. So it just screams Haunted Runway. the walks as well as the costumes will be judged by our guests. The focus is on YOU. We are providing the space for all to happen. DIY open mic room. Its all pay what you can. We are expecting lots of zombies and maybe a couple of Döner costumes, but if you don't have a costume we have blood and glitter at the door. Just get yourself up to Pankow. Thats the one thing you shouldn't be scared about. Its not that frighteningly far. I'm sorry, I'm obsessed with this "curator DJ" thing (curator porn with a laptop and some speakers). Who is DJing tonight and what will they bring to the table? HomeBase is full of multifaceted people. By day we have been Fairytale characters for our Kita kid neighbors. By night we are transforming ourselves and our very own Puss in Boots is becoming DJ Fuck me in Disneyland. Two other neighbor DJ's will also be spinning. And let me tell you, this neighborhood's got quality. This is first off and primarily a community art event. What does that mean to you in an art scene like Berlin? Its easy to be an artist in Berlin. Whats difficult is to connect with locals. HomeBase is driven and thrives from all volunteer, creative people. We wanted to realize our network and share the love, bring all the people that have brought us to this point with us and celebrate this moment in time and this day. Today its Halloween. Over the past few weeks its amazing what has been pulled together from this open call for a community event through our networks. Goes to show the potential of the Berlin art scene and beyond. What is the scariest thing about the art world today? The thinking that the people around them don't matter. Okay, costume time: What are you dressing up as? During the day as a fairytale character, Frau Holle. The woman who lives in the sky and shakes her pillow for it to snow on us. At night I will be glamorous Road Kill. RSVP to HAUNTED HAUS, follow @HomeBaseProject on Twitter and fan the HomeBase Project on Facebook. Check out the HomeBase blog, too, and stay tuned for more events in Berlin by subscribing to the HomeBase newsletter.
