KP: So, part II ...

KP2: Part II.

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Again it is that first 'quiet' week.  Students are in their groups, professors are feeling things out and assistants are the ones you see most of the time. So far the first two set of lunch talks organized at the Hohensalzburg Fortress attracted a smaller group of students then before.( KP : Maybe , you should stop thinking about before.)

Up till now, Hanspeter Hofmann and cooperating artists in charge of the class organized in the Kiefer stone quarry, Doris Schälling and Jörg Enderle, introduced themselves to the students and showed us their method of working. Three artists seemed to share this interest in the universal, in the scientific and methodological approach to their art making creating works of art that can speak to the viewer on their own but one can't avoid asking the question what do the art works represent and mean. The interest to the history, references to theory texts and questions of what we can see or what we can't see laid at the core I would say of the works showed to us.

Off course as the artists work in different materials more talk about the approach to the material was discussed at the lunch talk today of Doris Schälling and Jörg Enderle.What and how they see the stone and how do they approach it seemed to start a little debate between the artists and a member of the audience, previous student of the older generation. She was part of the Academy for over 15 years and this year as the new professors are taking over the stone quarry she questioned their approach to the stone. Her views could be taken to represent that more traditional way of thinking about the working in the stone, possibly that romantic view of the sculptor working with his hands and releasing forms from the quiet material. New professors are in fact interested in opening more possibilities to the students of how they can work in this material concentrating more on the conceptual approaches where all is in a sense open and stone could be a starting point for a space intervention, sculpture or even a performance piece. This little debate just made evident the need of the Academy itself to start new things and keep with the on goings of the contemporary art scene.

After the lunch talk I found myself exploring part of the fortress that before I never saw. The top floors and the library have this amazing feeling of space that is quiet and meditative, something that maybe all of us who are here from the beginning seem to crave for. But, as they say, show must go on. Quickly and swiftly we again move from one place to the other. From the national Polish art, introduced to us yesterday evening by Sebastian Cichocki in his evening talk organized at the Kunstlerhous to another gallery opening planned to start soon by Mara Mattuschka. No rest for the wicked, students and artists at the Summer Academy.

KP: So, what do you think?

KP2: I like them…I think. But I still miss the first group.

KP: For sure. But get over it.

KP2: Ok. One last time though...

…..

Things on the surface seem to have changed easily. Some have been working here for the past twenty years or so and maybe for them this shift is something that they are used to. For me, the half mark is a little bit stressful. I am looking for the energy to bring myself back to the game and to talk more. But, maybe this time it will be a little bit easier.

The first day like the one before came and went. New classes, new faces and for sure new and a little bit different energy then the last time.

KP: Maybe more relaxed?

KP2: Maybe more relaxed.

The opening party, this time organized in Alte Saline, had a little sad note to it as it was mentioned once again, and this time it seemed to have stuck with us all as the rain again made things more dramatic, that this is the last year this space will be used for the Summer Academy classes. For many that have been working there I must say one big thank you and congratulations. You really should be proud with the work you have done.

The party later moved to the space of the Kunstraum Pro Arte gallery which will as I mentioned before for sure become more known as the Christof Social Club. Many events are planned to take place there and I am sure that we will all visit the place again in the days approaching.

Yet, what was here before seemed to have vanished in a second. I was amazed how it all disappeared so quickly. Like in a fairy tale …

https://soundcloud.com/summeracademy/blog-heinzelmannchen-wma

KP: Oh, oh, woe is me ...

KP2: Oh, oh, please. It is only rain.

(Sincere recommendation- while reading the blog, listen to Gorillaz- Latin Simone- Que pasa contigo?)

......

What are they doing? How can they so quickly put their works in the rubbish? And then it hits me, things need to end so that something can begin. But, it all came way too quickly. It took us a week to understand where we are, one week to start and one week to produce and show.

KP: Oh, oh, woe is me...

KP2: Oh, oh, please. It is only rain.

It is the rain that slowed all of yesterday. The plans changed but in the end it all worked out. The doors to the working spaces opened up not only to each other but also for the public. Some more than others worked with the space they were given. Most seemed to prefer to leave the space in the sense of an open artist studio, leaving the brushes and canvases as well as work that was still in process around. Some paid more attention to the surroundings and created little universes that showed the amount of work that was done in the past three weeks. I was more than impressed with the works of the printmaking group organized by Leya Mira Brander, the video class by Felix Gmelin as well as the works of the class organized by Thomas Kilpper. It was incredible what they managed to do in this amount of time. Now while I am writing I am thinking that it is a shame that the works are not on show a little bit longer. Maybe, who knows, at one point a little collection of the works could be organized as a little museum or a permanent collection of the works produced here.

The goodbyes came too quickly for me as well. Speaking with some of the students I got the impression that all will take back with them really fond memories of the Academy and the time here. Some felt that the works they produced here may not have been to the best they could be but for sure the process of something new was opened here and that was what they wished for. One student also made an interesting suggestion that the curatorial class should have curated the show on display yesterday. Like the look from the outside. "I spend the last three weeks with this one idea. So how can I decide which pieces you need to understand my idea? For me, my idea is so obvious. Maybe someone from outside would have been able to make a better selection".

It is great to feel that even at the age of 60 the Summer Academy is still a place that people come to and leave it thinking what could be done next year or what else could be done here. Nobody is giving up on this place and this school.

On Monday we have new energy coming our way and I am really looking forward to seeing what else is in the cards for us all. But I must admit, I will miss new friends I made up till now and I do hope we will stay in touch.

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Open day!

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Tomorrow is the day when all the works- or at least the ones felt like the most successful- produced in the last three weeks will be on show both at the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Alte Saline. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.

As it is always in life when something finishes something new will soon start. What that something new is or could be we had a little glimpse of yesterday evening at the Kunstraum pro arte gallery in Hallein.

With a full stomach, thanks to Shaina Anand , Ashok Sukumaran and their class for the organized lunch, video screenings and some rest time, we all walked to the gallery for the opening of the show "Christof Social Club ". I will not go into great detail about the speeches or the works exhibited by different artists who share the name Christof. I would recommend that you go and visit the gallery as it is an amazing space which will in the days approaching act as a gathering space for movie screenings, talks and hanging out all linked to the project "Christof Social Club" organized by the artist and one of the professors of the second set of classes starting next week, Christoph Draeger. For sure I will keep you posted. Until then to all who are working hard on the final pieces, good luck and I can't wait to see it all tomorrow!

My dear Museum of Contemporary Art in Serbia,

It is great to find you well and still under construction. It is good to know that there are still things that one can rely on and that in this time of constant change and crises you seem to stand firm and undeveloped.

I am writing to you from Salzburg. I am taking part in the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts. As an artist in residence, this year a blogger in residence I am everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I am a persona in the middle and I love every minute of it. It is sad a little now since the end of the third week is fast approaching and the moment of goodbye's as well as promises of keep in touch- for sure I will not/ for sure I will - is coming our way.

The reason I decided to write to you is not all this mushy moment of goodbye and hello. No. I am writing to you to tell you all about the celebration that I went to last night. Imagine, there is a place that values culture and takes pride in an International Summer Academy of Fine Arts that is celebrating its 60^th Anniversary. Yes, yes I assure I am speaking the truth. The value is given to history, tradition and the school which even though it is not a young artist brush, is still keeping up with what is going on in the Art world.

So much trouble and attention to detail when into organizing this event last night and I did congratulate the director of the Academy, Hildegund Amanshauser for doing a great job for the past four years. Alongside the organizational staff of the Academy, lecturing artists, few students and members of the cultural society in Salzburg , imagine, the president of Austria was there. Could you believe that? No, I know you can, many did visit you but as we all know greater importance was placed on them and not you.Yes, I know, I know. I know things are changing with you a little bit, I just googled to see how you are.

We learned more about the history of the Academy and its director and founder Oskar Kokoschka in the speeches last night. Few anecdotes were told but all to even emphasize the long history of the school that for sure will not stop. Of course, similar to you, it will go through some changes as well. This is the last year that the space of Alte Saline will be used for classes and from next year all will be in the Hohensalzburg Fortress where all did start. But I am sure that the space in Alte Saline will be missed by many who were there.

The celebration went long after the speeches have finished. It would have gone on longer for all were there to celebrate the school and its history but unfortunately the rain made us all say our goodbyes. Not just the rain but also the fact that there is still work to be done for the Open day on Friday.

I hope you know that I didn't write to you to stab my finger in your eye as you are in a place that values other things and not so much culture. I wrote to tell you that things will hopefully change and that you should know that even if I am away from home I am still thinking about you. I promise that when I return I will come and we can have coffee together, what do you think?

Keep in touch and open your doors soon,

Ksenija