EVENTS IN DECEMBER, 2019. A useful shortlist.

Those infamous winter holidays are near, and everyone can feel it. No, it is not another Mariah Carey hit in grocery stores, but they are Holiday markets in Riga. They are the dark afternoons, and temperatures below zero. Eventually, it's the snow we wait the most as long as it never gets mixed with sludge and keeps being dry.
Accidentally and without any purpose we selected this December's shortlist, mainly offering events available for free or close to free. And why would that be bad? If most money goes to presents, debts, or simply heating, it is quite convenient to enjoy your time with fewer costs.

capital r, capital riga, latvia

EMMA SOFIA
Pretending not to see. Moving on
capital r riga, 2019

When: until 7 December
Where: LOOK Gallery
How much: free entrance
If anyone of you is a big fan of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's "Hunnybee" video, the next achievement by LOOK gallery, works by Emma Sofia / Lauma Kokorēviča, will speak your mind!  "In this series, she shares the way she copes with the current social topic pressure - through painting. The artist's mission is to perpetuate his needs, necessities, cravings, feelings, and messages day-to-day, which eventually will mark the future as a milestone in a series of events.
In Emma's words: ''If you are not seeking respite, the respite must come to you. In recent years, I've found it through landscapes. They are reminiscent of disappearance, nowhere, emptiness and fulfillment when you are able to break away from the everyday. The exacerbations of the perception of life are being reflected in pictorial and peaceful abstractions of geometric areas, soft-colored horizons, emptiness and continuous flow of gentle strokes of paint. Emma Sofia graduated from Riga School of design and art,  holds a bachelor's and master's degree in textile arts from The Art Academy of Latvia. Studied at the University of Bergen, Faculty of Visual Arts, Music, and design (Norway), and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Currently studying Masters program in painting."
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STARS
capital r, riga, 2019

When: until 11 January
Where: ISTABA
How much: free admittance
"RAY. The emerging ones in Latvian illustration" will be an exhibition, celebrating the art of illustration being produced by artists born in a free country - after 1990. 21 young artists will express themselves in monochrome illustrations, curated a famous book artist and designer Rūta Briede, and the exhibition will play with contemporary concepts, forming a multidimensional form. Each artist will create its part of the RAY, thus emphasizing their contribution to the world of book art today and in the future.

YARD SALE
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 6 - 7 December
Where: Robert's books
How much: free admittance
We have praised Robert's books as one of our favourite book stores for used and new items in English before, and they have their yard sale again this holidays! As they describe it themselves - "The most laid back gift shopping experience!"
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RUSH HUSH
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 7 December
Where: Ģertrūdes ielas teātris
How much:
"Endless Roar is an electroacoustic free-improvisation group, who use audio-reactive technology to drive visuals through layered video projections. Saxophones, drums, double-bass and electronic effects oscillate between dense rhythmic energy and free-floating spaciousness. Video projection on multiple surfaces react to the music, and are specially created for each program and performance space. Endless Roar is: Arvydas Kazlauskas - saxophones; Stanislav Yudin - double bass; Jachin Pousson - drums", and the band will present their LP!
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BLACK MARKET
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 11 December
Where: Kim?
How much: free admittance
"Rounding off their 10 year anniversary celebrations, Kim? Contemporary Art Center will be opening an unprecedented event on 11 December – Kim? BLACK MARKET. At this event, you will not only be able to view, but also purchase artworks by artists featured at Kim? over the past 10 years. BLACK MARKET will consist of a body of works specially selected by Kaspars Groševs, the Program Director of Kim?. You will not only be able to enjoy the art, but bring some of the works home with you in this way supporting both the artists and Kim?. Artist Maija Kurševa’s exhibition BLACK LINES will take place alongside the Black Market.
BLACK MARKET is curated by Kaspars Groševs and will include works by Uģis Albiņš, Aksels Bruks, Anna Ceipe, Jānis Dzirnieks, Krista & Reinis Dzudzilo, F5, Margrieta Griestiņa , Indriķis Ģelzis, Atis Jakobsons, Raids Kalniņš , Jānis Krauklis, Ieva Kraule-Kūna, Līga Marcinkeviča, Inga Meldere, Darja Melnikova, Dzelde Mierkalne, Liene Pavlovska , Ojārs Pētersons, Mārtiņš Ratniks, Līva Rutmane, Krišs Salmanis, Līga Spunde, Viktor Timofeev, Marta Trektere, VARA, Evita Vasiljeva, Elīna Vītola, Armands Zelčs, Amanda Ziemele etc."
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JAUNMARKA
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 14 December - 5 January
Where: Art Academy of Latvia
How much: free admittance
"Yaunmarka" or, as it was once called "Yarmarka" in relation to a well known Russian word for holiday markets, is an Student art Fair concentrating around works by students of the Art Academy of Latvia. With "more than 10 000 unique pieces of art for purchase for display and and purchase - paintings, ceramics, jewellery, glass, graphics, fashion and design", Yarmarka is one big fuss for both viewers, buyers, lovers and haters. This is probably the best place to find works by young emerging artists or simply buy a great present for any one you love or hate.

SH!TLABEL
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 14 December
Where: ONE ONE
How much: free admittance
"For the very first time, Oliver Deutschmann (who played 66 times in the past 10 years at Berghain/Berlin) will play in Latvia. With acclaimed releases on "INNERVISIONS", "SOMA" and "MOTE EVOLVER" he is on tour around the world and is in high demand. The two Berlin-based DJ's BLACK ANTHEM RESTORE and INVERSE ELEMENT are holding a residency since one year with their SH!TLABEL in the well known Berlin club ://about blank. We are looking forward to the first massive SHITLABEL rave at One One Club."
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WINTER VEGANFEST
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 15 December
Where: Angārs (backyard)
How much: free admittance
"Christmas is almost at our doorstep 🎄,the weather is turning frosty and white, and people are looking for gifts to give to their loved ones 🎊. We invite you to our Vegan Christmas Market, where you can find environmentally friendly and animal-friendly goodies and gifts, relax and enjoy the 3rd advent! Come join as for the Winter Vegan Celebration 💙"
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JVLMA
Tribute To Bebop + Jam Session
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 15 December
Where: Trompete Taproom
How much: free admittance
"The second-year ensemble of the Jāzepa Vītola Latvian Music Academy under the direction of Indrikis Veitners will play the well-known Bibop jazz standards from Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Clifford Brown. Musicians: Rūdolfs Daņiļevičs - drums; Emils Bogdanovics - double bass; Toms Kursītis - double bass; Davids Bejers – guitar; Luca Spina - guitar; Karīna Laugale - vocal; Katrīna Kabiņecka - vocal; Ance Jankovska - vocal; Marija Broča - vocal; Raimonds Petrovskis - saxophone."
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TOMMY CA$H
capital r, riga, 2019

When: 21 December
Where: Palladium (entrance from Pērses street)
How much: €€€€
Celebrating his new album and (probably) the coming of Christmas, the most known Estonian name, rapper Tommy Cash is performing in Riga! "Music critics call Tommy Cash a conceptual artist, capable of crashing preconceived beliefs and destroying the boundaries of sexuality and genre frameworks. In Riga, the trending rapper will present tracks from the new album ¥€$. The second solo album impresses with its genre diversity: from ethnic motifs with hard bass to hip hop in the style of Danny Brown. The album includes the track X-RAY, a clip on which collected almost 3 million views on YouTube.
For reference: Tommy Cash (Tomas Tammemets) is an Estonian rapper performing in mixed genres. He gained wide popularity thanks to provocative stage images and scandalous video clips. His style is called “gypsy chic” or “Russian trash”. In his work, the rapper often refers to the hangover of East European and Russian culture of the 90s."

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