Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #49

What looked like a turn around in the Amsterdam art market at the close of last year has fizzled out with the new year. People are NOT buying. And that hurts! Hurts artists and galleries. Art lovers are not doing their part to stimulate a return to the "good times." Strange! Strange, because the Netherlands unemployment rate is the envy of much of the rest of Europe and half that of the US of A. It's a mystery to 3D. 

As to the irregular appearance of the "3D list," well, unfortunately, things have not returned to normal. I still have limited access to both the Internet and a PC. Hopefully, come September, something will come up and we can get back to our weekly get together. I am working on it, but I do need help.

What's Happening:

Max Snow (USofA) is at Serieuze Zaken Studioos (Lauriergracht 96) exhibiting macabre art photography with a sense of humor. You have to laugh at the imagery because it hurts too much to cringe. What can you say about a photo of a skull in a blond wig with a tiera? A pretty lady, naked from the waste up, with a pistol sticking in her mouth? A skeleton straddling a naked lady or a pretty nude lady laying in a coffin with a cigarette dangling from her mouth and a bottle of beer resting on her lower abdomen? And all this imagery in glorious b/w. You got see it to appreciate what Snow does. Until 15th June. Sorry, forgot to check the price list. https://bit.ly/2mrkyDb 
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At Artspace 50 (Herengracht sous) is Thomas Monses made in Japan show. He made a trip to the country and came back with memories that were inspirations. This exhibition "Everything in its right place" hangs pigment liner drawings on paper which are representational but could accurately be described as linear abstractions. He includes acrylic and gouache works on paper which are simple and sentimental. A series of four photographs are unusual because of their composition of rather banal scenes which have been transformed into intricate designs and patterns. The prices are also attractive. (29x22 cms., dr. @ 180 euro; acrylic & gouache on paper @ 1,600 euro.) Until 6th July.
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"C&H art space" (2e Kostverlorenkade 50) offers Adriaan Ress and friends. Rees designed and fired in ceramic six 50 cms high torsos and asked six different artists to do the designs. And each is a unique presentation, no edition. One has a design in Delft blue; another is a flat gray charcoal; another in a pale aquamarine which is "tattooed" with roses and skulls. Something for everyone. A single work all by himself is a lady leaning over with her head in a bucket. 

In the adjacent gallery there is a group show. Patricia Kaersenhout does cut-out collage work that is cut from pieces of paper from old books on history, science and anthropology which are then "rearranged in a new illogical sequence." Angelo Barone (Italy) does photography with an architectural theme...Jantien Jongsma work is like a contemporary condensed version of the Brueghel's. Each piece is mixed media: paint, pastel, w/c, gouache and color pencil...Carine Weve presents conceptual work on paper as a central inspiration. ..Ren Zhangs work is truly mixed media: acrylic, w/c, ink, pigment on photo print and photo etching. The imagery you could describe as portraits, sorta. Until 26th June. http://ch-gallery.com/ 
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Are you curious about contemporary and avant garde drawing? Here is your chance to see an excellent overview with artists from four countries: Stichting ZET (Glazen Huis, Amstelpark) is showing Steven Baelen (Belgium); Jean Bedez and Hippolyte (France); Fiona Michie (Scotland); Lenneke van der Goot, PJ Roggeband and Dorien de Wit (the Netherlands). Expect to see everything from representational to conceptual. Until 30th May. Note: On the 29th May, at 15:00, there is something titled "drawing marathon Cadavre Exquise." Sorry, no website address. 
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Galerie Witteveen (Keizersgracht 538) hangs the recent work of Pieter Bijwaard who is an artist 3D has been following for more than 25 years. His work, which is geometric abstraction, has evolved favorably over the years, but he has remained true to his original voice. What is new is how he is representing his work. Most pieces are "ultra chrome prints" of his drawings and water colors. Another series of "ultra color prints" are after photos that appeared in magazines during the 60s. (70x50 cms, ultra chrome pr. Ed. 6 @ 900; 120x90 cms., Ed. 6 @ 1,500.) Until 4th June. http://witteveenvisualart.nl/
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A Paris gallery, Frank Elbaz, has taken over the Nieuw Dakota (Ms. Van Riemsdijkweg 41b; NDSM-laan, FREE ferry from CS) to show the artists that they represent. On exhibition are eight artists each working in the their own unique style and, for that matter, time period. The latter is exemplified by the work of Wallace Berman who is described as the "guardian figure of Californian appropiationism and Beat guru." He was one of the first to make "prints" using a Xerox photocopy machine...Bernard Piffaretti is "a painter of duplication." That is, he paints geometric abstractions that appear to be dip-tychs mirroring each other...Davide Balula is a conceptualist who sees artist forms in the most uncommon places. A large dip-tych (about 2 and 1/2 meters by 120 cms) is two sheets of weathered wood from a construction site. You'll never look at "junk" the same way again. There is an intrinsic beauty to it; you only have to open your eyes, well, maybe more accurately, open your mind to perceive it. He also hangs canvases that are more organic in technique and they are both conceptual and minimal and in black and tan. There is more. Until 29th May. https://nieuwdakota.com/ 
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What is art? The ongoing question. One of the best definition is that it is the reinvention of itself, its styles and the technique used to convey it all. Tamara Muller, at "Galerie bart" (Bloemgracht 2), hangs acrylic/oil paintings that's style is representational figuration...but, not really. Not by a long shot! The subject matter looks like young girls and boys with a rabbit or dog thrown in for good measure. But there is something comic about the distorted imagery. The body forms are sketchy and the faces, well, sometimes vague and unreal but with such a depth of color nuances that you might think you are looking at a 17th century master's work. Nice! (50x50 cms., acrylic/oil on canvas @ 2,500 euro; 150x150 cms., acrylic/oil on canvas @ 6,900 euro.) Until 18th June. https://bit.ly/2m4yS4n 
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"Sleeping Beauty" is the title of the exhibition for Natasla Kensmil at Galerie Paul Andriesse (Westerstraat 187). "Studies in black" might be a more apt title however. There is a simple series of 12 charcoal drawings of a crow; a series of 12 charcoals with a cross as a central theme; and a series of 16 mixed-media drawings which, again, are all in black although with a touch of gray. The paintings are another matter. They are "dark" but with black pigments seeming to have an element of green/gray hues. The imagery ranges from a rather delightful composition with a full moon as a focal point, as seen through a grove of trees, to a couple where the subject matter is a woman laid out in her coffin. But what gets your attention are the layers of complexity in the compositions. (24x24 mixed media drawing @ 950 euro; 90x120 cms.,, oil on canvas @ 10,000 euro; 230x180 cms., oil on canvas @ 20,500 euro.) Until 25th June. http://www.paulandriesse.nl/ 
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AKINCI (Lijnbaansgracht 318) has a group show of seven artists. Here is a glimpse of what to expect. Juul Hondius does photography with no apparent theme but people are a focal point. The view of a man seen through a rain speckled car window is notable for the mysterious aspect it creates..."Gluklya" shows a series of gouaches on paper. The drawings reflect the naïve quality of children's art and all have a family theme...Coralie Vogelaar and Teun Castelein have combined to take us on a trip through the an Arctic region. There are photos and videos which focus on the collecting of Arctic ice for the purpose of scientific study. Until 18th June. http://akinci.nl/ 
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Michiel Ceulers is at PS (Leidsekade 60) showing two sides of his style. In one manifestation he paints "wood." That is, imagery showing wood grains and knotholes. But it is neither hyper-realism nor, for that matter, realism. The brush strokes are expressionistic plus he interjects a rectangle of color to create more tension. The other two works on display are expressionistic and with a linear abstract element. While both paintings appear to be dark there is plenty of color. But sometimes you have to search for itl. Until 31st. May. https://bit.ly/2uiHcCb 
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Laser 3.14, the Amsterdam' street poet, is often quoted by the "3D List." So, if you are not familiar with the "tag" Laser 3.14, you should be. But he is more than a "poet." At Gallery Radar (Rozengracht 77) are his paintings which are a mix of Pop School elements, comic strip-like illustrations and geometric abstraction. He generally avoids using more than three colors: yellow, red and blue. He keeps it simple. As to subject matter, it ranges from the robotic to alien-like creatures. The work is fun but also has a serious side. Also on display are some of his "metaphysical" statements: "Kiss me or die," "Global warming, oh how charming." and he has designed a t-shirt that reads: "Facebook is the opium of the people." Marx would more than likely agree with the updating. (20x20 cms., markers/acrylic on canvas @ 350 euro; 60x60x4 cms., markers/acrylic on canvas @ 1,100 euro; 112x140 cms., mixed-media on wood # 3,200 euro; t-shirt @ 24 euro.) Until ? 
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...Now for a touch of nostalgia for 3D's younger readers. If you followed children's Sunday morning TV, during the 90s, you will know Rembo & Rembo. Surprisingly, they were discovered by a VPRO producer when they were completing their art academy training. They did a performance that the producer happened to see. The rest is history, but their art career was derailed. Well, they are back on track and showing at Gallery Vriend van Bavink (Glederskade 52). The exhibition is more of a coming attraction for a larger and more ambitious show coming this fall. But I digress. As to the art...Their styles are not the same. Maxim Hartman does what I describe as comic caricature portraits; Theo Wesselo makes drawings enhanced by collage additions and they are heavy on typography. In fact, the latter is arranged so chaotically that the alpha symbols become true geometric abstractions. As to what the letters spell out, well, here's an example: "In every ass hole is a heart." Yeah, I suppose, but you sure gotta look for it because you are not goin' smell it! Until __?__. http://www.vriendvanbavink.nl/ 
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At MLB (Witte de Withstraat 32) Philo Gregoire has titled her exhibition "Life Recycled" and for a very good reason. She has taken works that had gone unsold, cut them into strips and reconfigured the pieces. Some paintings have become sculptured objects that look like boats on stilts. She has utilized the strips on canvases into linear compositions but in a haphazard way and mounted it all on old wood. The title, "Just figure it out" says it all.. Several works are mixed media collage. Busy compositions and there is a complexity to the work owing to both the material used and the compositions. |(20x20 cms., mixed-media @ 575 to 625 euro; 75x60 cms., mixed-media @ 650 euro.) Until 30th May. https://bit.ly/2zzw6O6 
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Jac Bisschops is back at ARTTRA (2e Boomdwarstraat 4) for the nth time---3D has lost count. It is always pleasant to see a new exhibition of his. I have followed his work over the years and while it is always the "same" it is constantly evolving. That is, he remains true to his original voice which is geometric abstraction basically formed with rectangles and few colors, but the evolution has been nuanced with his choice of materials: wood; gold foil and tempera. The combination brings a new look to his style. The result is thrilling in that such minor adjustments can create something entirely new while everything in its essence remains the same. (26x26x4 cms., tempera, gold foil, wood. Ed. 7 @1,250 euro; 45x41x5 cms., tempra, wood @ 3,750 euro; 152x33x4 cms., titanium white, gold foil, wood @4,800 euro.) Until 24th June. http://www.arttra.nl/ 
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Laetitia de Haas paints interiors in a perspective that resembles that of a naïve. The compositions also have a strong linear style. Flowers is another subject matter with a strong contemporary impressionistic feel (700 to 3,500 euro.)...Showing, too, at Art A Casa (Kerkstraat 411), is Hendrik Jan Visser who does beach scenes with a style reminiscent of the Fauves. Strong and vibrant colors. There is a mystery element in that the subjects are generally seen from the rear. (425-525 euro.) 
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The finalist for the Prix de Rome annual award can be seen at SmartProjectSpace (Arie Biemondstraat 111). In the first gallery, as you enter, Gwenneth Boelens presents an installation modeled around the early days of photography. She does this in a variety of ways. The unifying factor tends to be that everything is in b/w or shades of gray...Vincent Vulsma works with fabric. Everything is also in b/w and shades of gray. Also, the imagery is geometric abstraction that reflects African textile work...Priscila Fernander has made a video around a young girl building a structure with colored blocks. It's fun! Fun, because of certain unexpected happenings; and it is also colorful. Simple, but entertaining and you do get absorb into the "scenario." There are seven more artists to see. Until 24th July. www.prixderome.nl,
https://bit.ly/2ufXTyc 
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Circle Gallery (Kerkstraat 67) is showing the sculpture work of Papa Adama (Barkina Faso) who has been living and studying in Amsterdam for several years. He is a graduate of the Rietveld Academy and the Rijksacademy. Considering this academic history one would expect a strong European influence on his work. And perhaps there is, but he remains true to his original style and techniques that were obvious when he first arrived. He paints, draws and sculpts; though it may be more accurate to say he makes objects because the material is from the street. He welds it all together into easily recognizable forms: people, dinosaurs, lizards, etc. An example of the figurative is a "man" with his torso formed from a fire extinguisher; and there is a legless man in a "wheel chair." But the piece de resistance is the Big Bird---looking much like an ostrich----which stands three meters high. And it is animated. It takes bows and so should the artist. Good work and great fun! Fourteen works on display. Three red dots. 875 to 7,000 euro...Carla Kanendonk has been reviewed on this site previously. Her work got 3D's attention the first time I saw it. The technique is mixed media,but that doesn't say much. The bases for the works are cut out images of people that form a montage collage and all are in b/w as the background. Over this, she paints figurative imagery, inserts typography, adds beads and all is in bright colors and reflect Caribbean naïve artists. (100x110 cms., mixed media on canvas @ 4,800 euro; 145x250 cms., mixed media on canvas @ 9,500 euro.)...Judith Quan is a photographer that shoots what 3D describes as conceptual representation. She plays with natural light and contrast to capture rooms of the poor in third world countries. The emphasis is on composition that includes the "decorations" of the inhabitants. Six red dots and a lot of green ones. (30x30 cms., C-print, Ed. 7 @ 340 euro; 70x70 cms., C-print, Ed. 7 @ 1,450 euro.) Until 14th June. https://bit.ly/2ui7dR6  
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The library at "foam" (Kerkstrat 609) is reserved for young and talented photographers. Grant Willing shoots in b/w. His choice of subject matter is eclectic though he favors scenes from nature. He uses b/w in both extremes. That is, there is a winter scene of a frozen waterfall which is nearly a monochromatic white; and a view of a wooded areas that is dark to black. Both have a haunting quality. You sorta expect something to appear unexpectedly at any moment. In a photo of a tree against a sky background he uses a di-positive effect rendering the tree's trunk and limbs as white against a black sky. Until __?__.
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The CBKAmsterdam (Oranje Brijstaatkade 71) has done something radically different from their past exhibitions. This new show is an exhibit of "URBANART EFX." It focuses on street art seen in cities around the world that generally mar the walls of buildings. CBK has brought it all indoors and made it legitimate. And the show is truly international since the thirteen artists come from Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the UK, Mexico, India and, of course, the Netherlands. Expect also to see video, sculptures pieces in addition to drawings, photography and paintings. Some works hang far above the floor and from the ceiling.Until 28th May. https://bit.ly/2MnO1gR              http://www.cbkamsterdam.nl/  
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At Kahmann Gallery (Lindengracht 35) is work by Albert Watson (Scotland) and his style is evocative of Paul Strand (USofA) and Yousuf Karch (Armenia/Canada) but with both contemporary and avant garde nuances. As with Strand and Karash there is strong contrast in all his b/w photographs. He brings it all up to date with unusual poses, backgrounds and situations. A "portrait" of a lady (Kate Moss), whose head is covered with a hole-riddled stocking, is a study of figurative geometric abstraction. There is also often a vague melancholy aspect which is more introspective than it is depressing. He does fashion and celebrity photography in addition to art photography. He has done over 200 covers for Vogue and 40 for Rolling Stones Magazine. (61x76 cms., Ed 25. @ 5,800 euro;to 61x76 cms., Ed 25 @ 20,000 euro. N.B. The prices are determined by how many are are still available in an edition.) Until ___?___. https://www.kahmanngallery.com/ 
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Ludo Winkelman shows at BMB (Kerkstraat 127) with a style that harks back to the German Expressionist of the 20s and 30s, but with contemporary nuances. Three over-sized canvases are conceptual portraits done with a mixed media technique. The base is a digital print on canvas. The imagery is achieved in a way that resembles the way metal filings reconfigure themselves on paper when a magnet is place beneath the surface of the paper. In this case, the filings are reeds found along a river side. (32x22 cms., @ 750 euro; 47x38 cms., @ 900 euro; 240x180 cms., @ 25,000 euro.) 
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Two artists show at "aschenbach & hofland galleries" (Bilderdijkstraat 165). Sven-Ole Frahm does canvases that range from minimal to busy-busy. Each work is mixed media: painting and collage. The collage part is very interesting and not only because of the material---strips of raw canvas or painted canvas---but how it is included in the composition. There is both a geometric abstraction and linear quality that gives his work unity. (125x125 cms., mix media on linen @ 5,500 euro; 210x220 cms., mixed media, acrylic, oil on linen and cotton @ 8,500 euro. 

Julia Münstermann does what appears to be minimalistic paintings that require lots of work. It is representational, but it comes across as a conceptual interpretation of common scenes. The canvases tend to be dark and either in shades of blue or green. Your senses see panoramic night views of city scape's, but they are so vague that it doesn't matter. Nice! (30x22 cms., acrylic on linen @ 950 euro; 140x190 acrylic on linen @ 5,500 euro.) Until 11th June. http://gerhardhofland.com/en/ 
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Alan Charlton is at SLEWE (Kerkstraat 105) with an exhibition that is not for everyone. Only a select few art lovers will appreciate his work and style. Charlton is a conceptual minimalist that does monochromatic painted canvases and presents them with a conceptual redundancy. He limits the color range to no color. Well, almost. All the works are in various shades of gray. "Each" piece is composed of from five to 12 canvases. And together they comprise a monumental composition. One red dot and two greed dots. (42x70 cms., acrylic on paper @ 5,500 euro; 45x117 cms., Nine canvas sections for a total size of 133x360 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 44,000 euro.) Until 4th June. https://www.slewe.nl/ 
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On Sunday, the 22nd of May, the restaurant Patroon (Zeeburgerdijk 52) turned their space over to a group of artists. The space, itself, is rather spectacular. It is a late 19th century industrial site with the original overhead crane still in place. The restaurant was closed for the one day only exhibition; and I couldn't find a menu. A total of 13+ artists were showing with work ranging from posters, to video, to cut-outs, to drawings, to photography, an installation and there was a "performance." The latter was interesting, if not artistically, then from a psychological angle. You entered an enclosed octagon area with three three meter high mirrors, each separated by a curtained rectangular area which appeared to enclose something like a Punch & Judy stage. You took a seat on a stool that swiveled. At one point, a set of drapes opened and a man stared out at me but said nothing. 3D made comments, but there was neither a reply nor any physically acknowledgement that any one of them had registered. Then a second set of drapes parted and a woman started out at me. I made humorous and ironic comments but, again, no response. I even tried to out stare her...even that didn't illicit any retort, physically or otherwise. I finally, I said, "It must be love!" De nada was the reply. The experience was five minutes long and rather disconcerting. Sorry that I can't give credit to the two "performers" and/or artist, but there were no name tag on anything. We were given a sheet of paper listing the participants and they were numbered, but NO numbers appeared on any of the work. Pity! Pity since there was a few exceptional pieces. https://bit.ly/2Leklxl 
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If you are in the area of the harbor, near the entrance to the IJ-tunnel, check out the installation, in the water, behind ARCAM (Prins Hendrikkade 600). It is "Manifestatie BRAK" by Roel van Timmeren and Floris der Kleij. They have made a three+ meter high figurative sculpture from green netting that looks like seaweed and strewn over a supporting cross like that used for a farmer's scarecrow. In place of a face, there is a deep sea divers' helmet. Take the kids. They will probably enjoy it more than any adult. A related program will follow on 19th June; 27th August. See for info: https://bit.ly/2BuxJ0o      https://bit.ly/2nnsDtj 
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"Gallery nine" (Keizersgracht 552) has an exhibition for Hubert de Boer who is a geometric abstract artist with his own unique watercolor technique. He does simple rectangle washes and overlaps it with one or more squares and/or rectangles. Simple, but elegant. His color chart is rather limited and quiet. That is, no strong vibrant colors but hues of brown and blues. Nice! (22x22 cms.to 25x28 cms., watercolor on Arches Aquarelle @ 850 euro.) Until 4th June. https://bit.ly/2O2dGJ6 
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"Timeless" is the title for Femke Teussink's exhibtion at Galerie Rademakers (Prinsengracht 570). Her work is not meant to be portrait work, but they are portrait studies. That is, no one commissioned her to take the pictures but they are all "portrait" photographs of young ladies from the age of about 10 to their early 20s. She has a couple of unusual techniques. In several photos, we see the subject through a haze; they are a bit vague but also mysterious. In other examples, she has drawn with white paint an oval outline on the subjects face. A very large photo of a woman, in a red dress, is hanging directly opposite the gallery's entrance and at a distance of 30+ meters. It commands your attention immediately upon entry. Oh, yeah, it ain't for sale. Sorry. (Each work is offered in two sizes: 70x70 cms., Ed 7 @ 2,950 euro; 109x80 cms., Ed 7 @ 3,300 euro.) Until 6th June. https://bit.ly/2JvtSz2 
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...And directly next door at Morren Galerie is Paul Day (UK/FR). Day has taken material and a technique more common with the 19th century and reinvented it. He forms---or sculpts?---images that are truly 3-dimensional from terracotta resin. There is a classical opera theater scene where we view the interior and stage from seats at the rear of the upper balcony. Another shows a person's face from the tip of his nose to the upper edge of the eyebrows and from ear to ear. The figure is wearing glasses. Okay, that much is rather simple, but, get this, in the section where the glass' lenses should be is a collection of figures---25+---that is the reflection of the view of the room. Cool and with fantastic detail ((70x120 cms. terra cotta resin @ 12,700 to 18,000 euro.)...Hanging on the walls are the photographs of Brooke Shaden that are elaborate in their posing and production. And the posing is not only unusual, but often conceptual. Some of which defy explanation. All feature females. (100x100 cms., photo on dibond, Ed. 5 and Ed 10 @ 2,800 euro.) Until 12th June. https://www.morrengalleries.nl/ 
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Please note: some of these shows will be closing in the next few days so you gotta hurry, hurry, hurry. Don't wait. Don't stop at "GO." Just GO!!!

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