How do we wish to receive the next generation?

Once it was the priestess who was present during the process of birth and death to guide the soul in and out of life; now it is a medical professional. With Birth Project : Look Again we examine our view of the birth process, we zoom out and we zoom in. How did we give birth throughout history; what do the oldest images and symbols of birth tell us; how can this inspire us and perhaps even influence the process? What do we know, or we think we know, about birth and what is the basis for this knowledge? How were we born ourselves and how does this influence our convictions about birth and death? How do we wish to receive the next generation? There are many choices that (future) parents can make, but from what foundation will these choices be made? With Birth Project : Look again we are going to examine this together. You can contribute to Birth Project : Look Again in one or all of the following ways:

Preparing a Space for Birth

A birth space will be prepared by (prospective) parents in a series of guided workshops. In shaping this space, in addition to the practical necessities, we will address the existential dimension and meaning of a birth space.

Birth in Amsterdamse Bos

From 3 – 17 June, in addition to home, the birth hotel, birth center and hospital, children can also be born in the Amsterdamse Bos. On a field surrounded by trees these or other (future) parents can welcome their baby. More information

Join the Activities

Birth Project : Look Again creates space for a new look at birth. You can participate in workshops, lectures, film screenings, discussion groups, and new rituals that examine birth in a contemporary context. Program

Participate in Crowdfunding

You can contribute to crowdfunding for Birth Project : Look Again - creating the opportunity to give birth in the Amsterdamse Bos, and giving space for a new look at birth, here or anywhere else in the world. Contribute

Community Building

Another great way to support Birth Project : Look Again is by sharing this information with other potentially interested parties - please help us by spreading the word and inviting others to Look Again.

Program

Birth Project : Look Again presents a program of workshops, film screenings, presentations, and new (old) rituals to look again at birth. [More information, locations, and a printable Program]

18 May - 10:00 - 12.30, Clay workshop with Henriëtte van Klinken

20 May - 10.30 – 13.00, Felt workshop with Cristina Pacciani

29 May - 9:00 – 17:00, Building the Birth Space (yurt) with (future) parents

4 June - 10.00 – 12.00, Henry Weessies (process leader), Constellation / Systemic Exploration

4 June - 14.00 – 16.00, Ria Mariasdochter Beyens (vroedvrouw voor de vrouw) PlacentaTree - Oerbegeleid(st)er en LifeTree

4 June - 16:00 – 18:00, Meet & Greet, meet the artists on the field of LIFE/LOVE/DEATH

5 June - 13:30 – 14:30, Belly-house; children’s workshop (4+)

8 June - 19:30 – 20:30, Dr. Saskia Bosman (biologist and independent researcher), The Pineal Gland

9 June - 20.00 – 21:30, Sophie Albers (humanistica), ‘Leven geven betekenis geven’

10 June - 13:30 – 17:30, Janneke van der Putten (artist) Holding Space with Sound

10 June - 18:00 – 19:00, Janneke van der Putten (artist), solo performance

10 June - 20.00 – 21:30, Deirdre Donoghue (artist, doula, and activist), The Mother as a political figure

11 June - 11.00 – 12.30, Hans Götze (father-coach and trainer), Fathers Welcome Upcoming Fathers

11 June - 14.00 – 16.00, Ida van der Lee (ritual artist), Cradle Ritual

16 June - 20.00 – 21:30, Rebekka Visser (visionary midwife), ‘Weet ik veel!….’

17 June - 15.00 – 17.00, Dr. Annine van der Meer (theologian, historian, and symbolist) The Evolution of Birth Symbols: Birthing or Mating?

17 June - 17:00 – 18:00, Bites by SulSolSal

17 June - 18.00 – 19.30, Scott Kirschenbaum (documentary filmmaker), Sneak Preview & Meet the Director ‘Of Woman Born’
Lievnath Faber (film researcher) Representation of birth in American fiction films

[17 June - €10 full program + bites / €7,5 half program + bites]

18 June - 13:30 – 14:30 Belly-house; children’s workshop (4+).

18 June - 18.00 – 19.30, Screening of the film Motherhood Archives, by Irene Lusztig [€6 film + bites]

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With the exception of the evening programs on June 17/18 the entire program is free of charge, donations are very welcome!

The number of places is limited, reservations are possible by mail; Claudiavandijk@outlook.com; or on Facebook: Look Again

[More information, locations and printable Program]

Partners

Meet the artists, speakers and birth-community supporters who will join to Look Again at birth.

Ida van der Lee

Ritual Artist

Siri Amrit

Empowering Birth

Jennifer Walker

Doula Birth Support

Scott Kirschenbaum

Documentary Film Maker

Sophie Albers

Humanistica

Annine van der Meer

History, Theology, Symbols

Ria Mariasdochter Beyens

Vroedvrouw voor de vrouw

Rebekka Visser

Midwife Educator

Lievnath Faber

Film / Doula/ Activist

Hans Götze

Trainer

Henry Weessies

Procesbegeleider

Saskia Bosman

Biologist and Independent Researcher

Deirdre Donoghue

Artist / Doula

Janneke van der Putten

Artist (photo by Gabrielle Barros Martins)

Henriëtte van Klinken

Ceramic and Felt

Cristina Pacciani

Felt Artist

Life / Love / Death

Birth Project : Look Again is part of the Cure Park (www.curepark.nl), a manifestation around the art of care that will take place from June 3 - July 16 in the Amsterdam forest. Cure Park is an idea of TAAK and Circus Engelbregt and is being developed in collaboration with the Amsterdamse Bos and the Bos Theater. The Cure Park is works of art, installations and interventions, which serve to broaden definitions of care and test alternatives. The theme is 'life cycle', where birth, sexuality and death are brought together. These themes share a room, a room that can be put down anywhere in the world and that creates an innovative place with its presence before life, love and death.

Life

Look Again is a project of Claudia van Dijk (artist and midwife) and Arden Rzewnicki (artist and designer) who wish to create space and permission for a new look at birth. In this study, we do not focus primarily on thought, but on the ‘felt sense’, the physical sensation of meaningfulness. We will address the existential dimension and meaning of a birth space and create opportunities for examining birth in a contemporary context.

Love

Love Space, a project of Jasper Griepink, is a temple for lovemaking where sexual freedom and empowerment is seen as a direct reflection of socio-political and interpersonal health. Interested visitors can camp on site, and participate in workshops and daily group discussions about sex, love, eroticism, and the world community, creating awareness and connecting the personal and private with the public and political.

Death

Karel Winterink hosts this imaginative program, in which eight 'performers’ are invited to present their views on death, each in their own distinct way. For eight evenings, during the transition from light to dark, reflections on the death experience will be ritualized in a 'cathedral' surrounded by trees. Artists, designers, philosophers, teachers and psychologists guide the visitors on their personal quest to take hold of death.

Would you like to support Birth Project : Look Again?

News / Community / Inspiration

Jun, 7

Belly-House Children’s Workshop

7th June 2017 by Look Again

Sharing some photos from our Children’s clay workshop ‘Buik-huis’/ ‘Belly-house’ If you missed it, we will host the workshop again on June 18 from 13:30 – 14:30, hope to see you there!
Read more Birth Project : Look Again

Jun, 1

Felt Workshop

1st June 2017 by Look Again

All those hands! It was an amazing workshop creating the big felt birthing ball, with mothers, children, a doula, a midwife, and felt artist Christina Pacciani. From the softest fibers our hands have formed such a strong and beautiful material. The big ball has found it’s new home in the Birth Space in the Amsterdamse Bos,Read more about Birth Project : Look Again[…]
Read more Birth Project : Look Again
Apr, 2

Birth café / Death café

2nd April 2017 by Look Again

You are happily invited to the Birth Cafe and Death Cafe on Sunday April 9th 15 – 17 h in Svaha Yoga Downtown Studio at Begijnensteeg 1 in Amsterdam. There is no life without death. Death does not happen without life. Our view on life is importantly defined by our relation to death. In thisRead more about Birth Project : Look Again[…]
Read more Birth Project : Look Again

Mar, 20

Workshop: Movement During Birth

20th March 2017 by Look Again

When: 26 March, 13.30-16.00 Where: WG-plein 255 (Amsterdams Ondernemings Centrum, AOC, Instituut voor Interventiekunde) By: Siri Amrit, doula and pregnancy/post-natal yoga teacher Jennifer Walker, doula and Spinning Babies Approved Trainer For Who: For all women, pregant or interested During the workshop ‘Movement During Birth’ we investigate, for ourselves and each other, how movement could supportRead more about Birth Project : Look Again[…]
Read more Birth Project : Look Again
Mar, 1

Vrouwenbron – Boetseer Je Eigen Baarmoeders

1st March 2017 by Look Again

An inspiring workshop by Belgian group Vrouwenbron http://www.vrouwenbron.be/activiteiten/boetseer-je-eigen-baarmoeders-1
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Feb, 26

Hello world!

26th February 2017 by Look Again

Birth Project : Look Again is taking form this summer in the Amsterdamse Bos as a part of Cure Park : Life/Love/Death This summer Life, Love, and Death will meet in the Amsterdamse Bos. During Cure Park : Life/Love/Death we invite you to join us for Birth Project : Look again from June 3 – 17.Read more about Birth Project : Look Again[…]
Read more Birth Project : Look Again