Marijke Klamer: "In the morning we met at the resort headquarters with Gisanne en Ellen. We got some beautiful red rain hats as a gift with our names embroidered on them. Then we did a round of introducing ourselves to each other. We spoke about the things we like to do but also about recent failures we had, which was a nice thing to talk about because we realized that it’s often just a part of the process or can lead to new ideas. In the afternoon we went on a boat tour through the canals of Groningen, it was fun to look at the city from a tourist perspective. Afterwards we went to the forum to end the day with some cocktails. "

Michiel Teeuw: "After a short bike ride, we arrive at a rectangular building, of ribbed silver metal with a blue lining at the top. To the right, tons of cars pass by. To the left is water with tons of boats like BREG and CAS. We walk over tons of autumn leaves, underneath a small plate roofing and end up in the shipyard. Planks, plates, rods and other gibberish rest against the walls. To get to the ship, we have to jump on and off other ones, walk on small paths, and thus we arrive. The boat is very slanty, and as Siem remarks, you can see the layers of history. The renovation of the ship Gouwzee that Benne and Servaas (Stichting Historische Haven Hoogkerk) started is also related to this history: they are planning to organise art exhibitions on this ship. It will be placed in Hoogkerk, where a historical harbor will host eight ships giving different stories of nautical history. Someone used to live on this boat - he disappeared.

Marijke asks why boats have round windows. Servaas answers that

[ i ] Ships have round windows because square windows break more easily when the force of water pushes against them.

The group wonders about the etymology of "patrijspoort". Apparently, I found out later when googling, it is a comparison to the "arse" or fallopian tube opening of a <partridge>, where the eggs would come through - poort used to be a synonym for asshole. Good to know.

There is an engine in the boat. It could be working within three days, Servaas mentions, but the ship will not be moving. That would require a lot of extra money and burocracy. In the living room of the previous inhabitant, I find a copy of Kafka's Process. We wander around the ship, exploring all the corners and such - after which we go upstairs to do our photoshoot. The air of autumn has arrived and slightly cuts through our clothing."

Siem de Boer: “On this day we came together with the midseason residents and two special guests: Alina Lupu and Anika Mariam Ahmed at SYB in Beetsterzwaag. Sadly Arnisa Zeqo (the director of SYB) couldn’t join us for the day. Together with their experienced eye we tried dissecting our works in different rounds of presenting and questioning, to get to know each other better.

We all spent a part of the day talking about our recent works that we felt represented us artistically. We got to know each other a little better and how we feel moving forward in the art field. The talks were interesting and explorative, where critical questioning resulted in exciting new views about our practice but also about our way of questioning. As a group we found some deeper connection from the various invitations in each other's practices.”

Sjors Smit: "On a rainy, very windy Thursday we visited ‘Museum aan de A’ the former maritime museum of the city of Groningen, now in transit towards being an institute showcasing a broader view of the city’s history. We were welcomed by Wicher, the museum's curator, and followed him through a room filled with the penetrating smell of oil. The museum harbors itself within two 14th century warehouses featuring its characteristic steps & little rooms. After our brief introductions, we headed to the collection in search of inspiration for our upcoming projects. The broad variety of tools, materials and other objects, curated in a chronological order, gave a strong impression of how distinctive the city’s nautical history truly is.

The overwhelming amount of information the museum had to offer was followed by our first visit to the turquoise ship where our exhibition will take place, the ‘Pelikaan’. Peter, our skipper, was iconically swabbing the deck when we walked up. He shook our hands and invited us below deck as it was still pouring. The interior was showing that the ship is being used as a youth hostel, polished and filled with large communal tables. We nosed around, all looking attentively for potential spots to mount our artworks-to-be on/in/under. I think we all realized today that the game is on, four weeks to go, let's make it happen."