I was officially invited to attend and participate in this wonderful community festival in the Old Island district of Amsterdam, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. My then host and now good friend and collaborator, Rob Andeweg, was one of the ‘social scientists’ behind this project. I also met all the other project coordinators, and a network of potato friends, including the great Jos, Noud and Diane.

The original initiative for this event was inspired by the history of the internationally diversified neighborhood where the annual fest now takes place. In 1917, there had been a “Potato Riot” or Aardappeloproer, when the starving people of the neighborhood rose up in a bloody seven day battle to protest the exportation of locally grown potatoes. The neighborhood is now united again, peacefully, by the potato.

There was a parade that marched through the neighborhood, with a big cart of potatoes and a band. We paraded past windmills as the children dressed as potatoes took bags of real potatoes (donated by local farmer) and passed them out to bemused bystanders. I saw them throw a 5 kilo bag up to an old couple who caught it on the awning as they laughed and waved.

Potato food was lovingly prepared by a crew of volunteers and served to over 200 attendees who ate communally outside on the plein. There was plenty of great potato entertainment on the main stage in front of the old church which is now the community center, and served as headquarters for the event.

Late in the festival, a wonderful spontaneous work of art was created on the spot (but behind-the-scenes) by Jos and the others. There were all these empty boxes that had once stored donated potato chip bags. They took these boxes and created a 12′ tall Wicker Man that had prizes stashed within him. They dramatically marched this imposing effigy to the beat of drums and announced its presence, and its purpose–to meet its maker–at the hands of the children who were encouraged to destroy the Wicker Man after he was thrown to the ground. The savages ripped that cardboard, stick and tape man to smithereens while they proudly jeered with the spoils–the potato chip bag entrails they had pulled forth.

The lovely belly dancer Isis was also a real highlight (for me especially) and there was much dancing near the end of the night. The brilliant social artist Jos could not have been more enchanting as he closed out the affair with thanks and a goodnight song on a banjo with children all around him (even on his lap), letting one help strum his instrument as he improvised a potato song of fun.

We took all the tents down and finished sweeping up, and it immediately started to rain.
My trip to attend this event was sponsored in part by the New York Foundation for the Arts, SOS Grant.

PO-TA-TA-TOE V has already been scheduled for September 6, 2008. I highly recommend you attending.