During this time, among other events, there will be an exhibition opening and three open artist talks, while a mobile kiln for firing ceramics will be installed in the Market Square for three days.
Artists from Poland and abroad will take part in the largest event promoting our city, the 21st Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival. On Friday at 6:00 p.m., the Market Square will host the opening of an exhibition of works by artists selected for this year’s edition. The exhibition will be accompanied by a display of works from the Ceramic Symposium in Gmunden, Austria, the oldest symposium of its kind in Europe. From 24 August, the exhibition will be open to visitors at the “mała Biała” gallery of BOK-MCC.
During the Ceramic Festival, on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the Market Square will host the performance “Happy Birthday” by Maria Joanna Juchnowska, a symposium participant, and Vivien Chan. The finale of the performance will take place the following day, on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., also in the Market Square.
The participants in the 51st MPCRZ in Bolesławiec are: Adam Frew – England, Jakub Biewald – Poland, Ceyhun Konak – Turkey, Eva Srniková – Slovakia, Georgi Pachkoria – Georgia, Ute Hartwig-Schulz – Germany, Katalin Tomay – Hungary, Lung-Chieh Lin – Taiwan, Maria Joanna Juchnowska – Poland/Norway, Michał Podleśny – Poland, Patrycja Barkowska – Poland, Rebecca Maeder – Switzerland and Adriana Grochal – Poland. Mateusz Grobelny has been appointed commissioner of the symposium for the third time.
For three weeks, the artists will be hosted by Bolesławiec companies: Zakłady Ceramiczne „BOLESŁAWIEC” Sp. z o.o., „Ceramika Artystyczna” Spółdzielni Rękodzieła Artystycznego and Fabryka Naczyń Kamionkowych „Manufaktura” Sp. J. Smoleński & Zwierz. In addition, Garncarnia na Widoku will serve as a new workplace.
As part of the symposium, three meetings and multimedia presentations of the work of artists participating in the 51st MPCRZ will be held in the BOK-MCC conference room. The artists will talk about themselves and present their artistic achievements.
On Friday, 4 September, at 6:00 p.m., the following artists will present their work: Michał Podleśny, Patrycja Barkowska, Adam Frew, Eva Srnikova and Ute Hartwing-Schulz. On Saturday, 5 September, at 6:00 p.m., the following artists will give their lectures: Georgi Pachlovia, Jakub Biewald, Maria Joanna Juchnowska, Adriana Grochal and Craig Usher.
On Sunday, 6 September, at 6:00 p.m., we will meet with the artists Rebecca Maeder, Katalin Tomay, Lin Lung-Chieh and Mateusz Grobelny.
From 9 to 11 September, a wood-fired kiln will be installed in the Market Square to demonstrate the traditional technology used to harden ceramics.
We will see the results of the participants’ work from the 51st edition of the symposium next year, during the 22nd Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival. As usual, a symposium catalogue will be published, presenting the artists’ profiles and the sculptures displayed at the post-symposium exhibition.
The International Ceramic and Sculpture Symposium has a 50-year history and is the oldest event of its kind in Poland. Over the years, it has become one of the most important events promoting the region, creating opportunities for artistic dialogue and fostering contacts and cooperation—not only in the artistic and cultural spheres, but also in discovering new technologies in the ceramic industry. The symposium effectively promotes the achievements of prominent ceramic sculptors from Poland and abroad. Young graduates of academies of fine arts who are beginning their artistic careers also take part in the symposium.
