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Support meter
After 4 months it is time to stop the Vistula Support Meter – an atypical photographic action consisting in collecting “signatures” (votes) in the form of portraits of Warsaw inhabitants. Our discussions led to a common vision of the river as a river belonging to the city and its people, a river that adds to the unity of Warsaw.
The photos were taken by the Vistula river during the Festival and on September 11, 2009 in five different locations on both sides of the river: Centrum (the strict city centre), Zbawiciela Square, near St. Florian’s Cathedral in the district of Praga Północ, and in Saska Kępa.
The project was implemented by: Impact Foundation, Grupa Okołofotograficzna, Saska Association and Flatten Image.
Here are some comments made by Warsaw inhabitants:
Julia and Magda – What is missing here? Boulevards, canoeing and better access to the river.
Witold – We need better land use planning, such freeways as Wisłostrada or Trasa Łazienkowska should be hidden in tunnels while buildings fit for living and services, accompanied by a large number of parks and squares, should be constructed above them. I would also like it if the river was connected to the National Sports Centre.
Janina – I’m dreaming of a Vistula with clean water, where people go sailing and canoeing.
Danusia – Coffee shops, beaches and deckchairs should be organised on the eastern bank of the river. I know lots of people from my neighbourhood who would like to take some rest by the river.
Radek – Unfortunately the river is a division line instead of a sign of unity…
Radosław – We need a beach, clear water and entertainment for children.
Krystyna – I would like to see museums depicting the real old district of Praga, the state of the river 500 years ago and the way the town inhabitants lived in the past – that would be really interesting. Apart from museums we need bars and cafeterias with cheap, good meals.
Krystyna and Bogusław – We want clean water and a safe, well organised riverbank: of course everything environmentally friendly and with respect towards the natural fauna. We also want some access paths from the side of Praga and avenues with benches and dustbins so that the numerous parks become an orderly place.
Iwona – There are no playgrounds on the riverbank.
Ewa – Clean the river!
Matey – Some rest and sports activities – that’s what I’d like to have by the river!
Jagoda – A drawing school would be a good idea.
Ada – Scientific workshops should be organised by the river.
Sara – A beach is a perfect place for hip-hop classes.
Tomek – Clean the bushes on the right side of the river! They are full of garbage… And a water tram shuttle would be a splendid idea.
Agata – Beaches, parasols, bars, grass – just like in Paris!
Katarzyna – I need some space to walk my dog.
Elżbieta – Sailing clubs, swimming pools, coffee shops – Warsaw should smile at Vistula.
Przemysław – We need to start the engine of cultural life and entertainment by the river, just like in any other European capital.
Anna – Get rid of the bushes! We need beaches similar to the ones of the 1960’s.
Marek – We need bigger beaches on the side of Praga.
Katarzyna – We need a place where young mothers could practise yoga while their children would be taken care of by professionals.
Aleksandra – We should take good care of our riverbanks.
Agata – We need beaches, a nice harbour and bonfires.
Konrad – We need bike rental facilities by the river. I love Vistula!
Michał – We need a swimming area with lifeguards, and volleyball pitches!
Jowita – We need to come back to the riverbank – it’s beautiful.
Anna – We need a beach similar to the one in Paris.
Paweł – We need a boulevard.
Maks – We need clean water in the river.
Piotr – No concrete roads near the river!
Grażyna – We need entertainment and cultural events!
Joanna – We need clean beaches, safer riverbanks and entertainment.
Marta and Michał – The river is wonderful but very dirty. We need to clean it up.
Katarzyna – We need to clean the riverbanks and create a walking route along them.
Aleksandra – I would like the river to become a safer place, so that I’m not afraid to walk the dog.
Krzysztof – The riverbank should be more accessible.
Paweł – The river is beautiful but neglected.
Kasia and her mother - The river should be clean, with a beautiful promenade filled with coffee shops to make people willing to go there at weekends.
Marta – We need swimming pools as the water in the river is too dirty to swim in. At least that.
Monika – We need benches and deckchairs to come and read a newspaper or talk. An open-air theatre might be a good idea… or maybe Friday meetings with celebrities…
Karmi and Carlsberg – We definitely need rock pubs!
Ola and Piotr – We need a promenade, coffee shops, bars, entertainment parks, sports facilities, meeting spots. Let’s promote sports and health by the river! There should be more cycling routes (made of tarmac and not paving stones), a grocery shop, clean water and dustbins.
Monika – We need festivals, deckchairs, film screenings, paddle boats, Warsaw gondolas!
Jakub – What should we have by the river? – Bars, restaurants and coffee shops! Tango, coffee and walking!
Magdalena – Beach, Canoeing and Kites!
Malwina – We might use a footbridge with a cycling route and a special platform for performances and happenings.
Marcin – I would like to have a house by the river.
Sławek – Let’s go sailing!
Bożena – We need boulevards with open-air exhibitions and coffee shops, as well as information centres letting people know about all the events organised by the river.
Agnieszka – The riverbank should be a safer place.
Adrian – It’s a nice place with good conditions for entertainment facilities…it should not be wasted.
Michał – We should invest in sports by the river.
Jan – I would like more people to go to the riverbank.
Monika – Nice promenades with bars and restaurants, and more open-air events and concerts.
Kasia – All non-profit cultural events are welcome.
Wojtek – I would like to see boulevards similar to those depicted by Bolesław Prus.
Natalia – We need a boulevard by the river.
Nina – Restaurants or bars serving good food would be a nice idea.
Marcin – We need good lighting for the riverbank space.
Filip – Vistula is a place where great non-commercial events can be organised – environmental fairs, cheap book sales etc.
Renata – What we need? Clean, large beaches.
Jacek – We need a nice promenade with a place for exhibitions.
Weronika – Vistula is an adventurous river!
Michał – More benches, flowers and beaches!
Magdalena i Jacek – A green promenade along the river, together with a cycling route, would be a good idea.
Magda and Mario – We want a well-organised space to walk and rest. The river should be better linked to the nature of the city.
Lucjusz – I want the water to be clean!
Magda – I’m dreaming of an ice rink along the river, bars and restaurants and a motorcycle rental office.
Agnieszka – I think we are in an urgent need of cycling routes.
Anie – The river is beautiful, especially at night or in full daylight on a sunny day…It’s such a shame that it’s so polluted.
Wiola – The natural beauty of Warsaw, and the river, is neglected. It is high time we changed it and provided a good place to rest by the riverbank.
Wojciech – I’m dreaming of a lounge bar under the Świętokrzyski bridge, water scooter rental and… an island with a palm tree.
Agnieszka – We should “revitalize” the river – make it more accessible and friendly. And clean it up!
Mariusz – There are too few places to sit on.
Tomasz – We need some parking spaces so that it’s easier to get there.
Katarzyna – We need more cycling routes to cross the river – right now I don’t feel very safe while crossing.
Joanna – Vistula rocks!
Łukasz – Vistula is the symbol of Warsaw!
Karol – The riverbank should be more colourful.
E. – I would like to swim in the river and go sun-bathing.
Marysia – Vistula rules!
Barbara – More bridges – like in other capitals! Then the charm of old Praga will be more prominent!
Przemysław – Let’s change Vistula!
Paulina – There are few sidewalks on the eastern bank – I think we should change it.
Alicja – I would like the river to become more beautiful.
Grzegorz – The river must become part of the city.
Michał – I want Vistula to be Vistula – and a clean one!
Maciej – We need to clean up the riverbank.
Jacek – We need more benches, playgrounds and sports facilities.
Michał – We need more hip-hop events by the river.
Witold – It should be a cleaner place.
Michał – A lot more needs to be going on by the river.
Lidia – We definitely need more cycling routes.
Tomasz and Paulina – We need more open-air events and clubbing areas.
Marta – We need deckchairs!
Katarzyna – The riverbank is beautiful and the place is worth investing in.
Daily!!!
- transFORM - installations, exhibitions, screenings, gigs, outdoor activities on a barge, in the container and in the pavilion set up by the Świętokrzyski Bridge
- transFORM – singing, painting, games, fun, and education, or artistic activities and workshops by the Mermaid Statue
- a lit neon, installations and research experiments by the Vistula
Fridays!!
- KinoMost – a nighttime cinema on a screen extended under the Łazienkowski Bridge 20:00
- gigs on the Barge of transFORM by the Świętokrzyski Bridge 20:00
Weekends!!
- Kayaking art trips: Wawer-Bialoleka route, about 16 kilometres. The trips are secured by lifeguards and tour guides. SUNDAYS with ENGLISH speaking guides!
- Saturdays – cruises with folk bands of Warsaw
- Saturdays – Gigs on the barge Herbatnik – Czerniakowski Port 20:00
- Sundays – Drumming workshops, Czerniakowski Port 18:00
There is no participation fee in most of the artistic actions by the Vistula