Last year, the 50th anniversary of the International Ceramic and Sculptural Open-Air Event (MPCR) was celebrated in grand style. Sculptor and creator of artistic kilns Mateusz Grobelny has been the MPCR commissioner for two years and has ideas for refreshing the formula of the traditional event.
Grobelny wants to continue the idea of director Ewa Lijewska-Małachowska to display works created during the event in a spherical tent in the Market Square during the Ceramics Festival. He also wants to return to organizing the open-air event in August so that artists can take part in the city’s largest festival.
“We have reset the counter and are starting over,” says Mateusz Grobelny. “It is important to us that the crowds attending the ceramics festival see the works. We are keeping the exhibition because it is a great place and a great moment. The second idea is to emphasize the ceramics festival. We want international artists at the festival’s opening. At a time when so much is happening, representatives of the ceramics community will be present; people can meet, talk and showcase the entire artistic culture of Bolesławiec, which will be inspiring for the artists. Another idea is to present the artists to residents and tourists. We want to showcase their achievements in an attractive way and organize an exhibition. It will probably be a logistical challenge, but we want to prepare an exhibition of their works for the opening of the open-air event. This year, we will present an exhibition from the oldest ceramic and sculptural open-air event in Europe, held in Gmunden, Austria. This will enrich the open-air event with another exhibition and artistic event,” the commissioner adds.
A new idea is to open the event with the previous year’s exhibition, so that in 2016 we would see an exhibition from the 2015 event. This would give the organizers more time to prepare the catalogue. Mateusz Grobelny is also considering proposing a main theme to the artists.
“I want to impose a theme on the artists, but I will consult the idea with the committee,” says the artist. “I want it to be a topical theme, something from world events that is widely discussed on internet portals. This will make it easier to put the entire catalogue together,” he adds.
Applications for the open-air event will be accepted from the beginning of March, and after a month the committee will select between 10 and 14 people who will stay in Bolesławiec for the event in August. The event is organized by Bolesławiecki Ośrodek Kultury-Międzynarodowe Centrum Ceramiki. Participants will create their works at three Bolesławiec plants: ZC „BOLESŁAWIEC” Sp. z o.o., „Ceramika Artystyczna” Spółdzielnia Rękodzieła Artystycznego, and Fabryka Naczyń Kamionkowych „Manufaktura” Sp. J. Smoleński & Zwierz, as well as in two BOK-MCC studios.