Janina Bany-Kozłowska presented utility vessels and several larger sculptures at her exhibition. She focused on showing pure form. The plates, jugs and cups are covered with monochrome glaze to emphasize even more strongly their sophisticated, rich and unconventional shapes. “It seems that nothing new can be invented when creating yet another mug,” says the artist. “Nothing could be further from the truth—there are still many possibilities for approaching form and shape creatively. At the exhibition, I wanted to show this pure form because it exposes the artist and shows their capabilities.
The artist hesitated before putting on the exhibition. Busy every day at the ceramic plants, she has little time to present her work and to create. “I treat everyone with respect; whether someone cleans, paints or works at a machine, I believe they deserve the same respect. However, a time comes when you also have to show yourself. Your creativity, your work. Be an artist and hold your own exhibition. Show a different image than the one at the plants, when I run around the halls supervising production,” says Janina Bany-Kozłowska.
Last summer, the Bolesławiec artist appeared on the “Aktywni 50+” program. In the film “Z miłości do gliny” Marii Guzy from TVP Kraków, Janina Bany-Kozłowska speaks very interestingly about her work, design and personal history.
The artist’s exhibition may inspire the artists who came to Bolesławiec for the anniversary plein-air workshop. The 50th International Ceramic and Sculpture Plein-Air Workshop is attended by ceramic artists: Bogusław Dobrowolski (Poland), Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter (Poland), honorary participant of the Workshop, Mateusz Grobelny (Poland), Workshop commissioner, Kazimierz Kalkowski (Poland), Marta Kisiliczyk (Poland), Ihor Kovalevych (Ukraine), Piotr Nowak (Poland), Edyta Orlińska (Poland), Joan Poch I Catala (Spain), Michał Puszczyński (Poland), Yuri Ragazzini (Italy), Luce Raggi (Italy), Siraj Saxena (India), Ruta Sipalyte (Lithuania), Evelina Wojtowicz (Poland).
During the exhibition opening, BOK-MCC director Ewa Lijewska-Małachowska welcomed all the artists who had come to Bolesławiec and were creating at three Bolesławiec plants: the “BOLESŁAWIEC” Ceramic Plants Sp. z o.o., the “Ceramika Artystyczna” Artistic Handicraft Cooperative and the “Manufaktura” Stoneware Vessel Factory, Smoleński & Zwierz Sp. J. Guests invited to the opening also spoke, including Deputy Mayor Iwona Mandżuk-Dudek, president of the “Bolesławiec” Ceramic Plants Karol Stasik and Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk.
On June 14, 15 and 18, always at 5:00 p.m., multimedia presentations showing an overview of the work of the artists participating in the 50th MPCR in Bolesławiec will be held in the BOK-MCC conference room.
The result of the artists’ work will be presented at the opening of the post-workshop exhibition, which will be held in Bolesławiec Market Square during the 20th Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival.
The 50th International Ceramic and Sculpture Plein-Air Workshop in Bolesławiec is being carried out as part of the ARGINET project, co-financed by the European Union under the Culture program.
(commissioned information: Grażyna Hanaf)