“Clay Bridges” was a series of Polish-German family workshops whose highlight was the Glina Show parade combined with the Holi Colour Festival. From Wednesday to Saturday, 15–17 August, we enjoyed spending time together in the clay town in the park by the municipal pond.
The programme included creating “clay” outfits for the parade during workshops with stylist Mariola Pieniakowska, which we later painted with clay slip; two days of fire-walking workshops; workshops in shaping clay on traditional pottery wheels; activities for the youngest children in special pools filled with clay slip; and a body-painting demonstration conducted by Ceramika Artystyczna Spółdzielnia Rękodzieła Artystycznego. Every day, a hot mix of hits prepared by a DJ rang out in the clay town especially for visitors, while all the attractions were presented by an announcer. The workshops in the town and the parade were an integral part of the 25th Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival.
Workshop with stylist Mariola Pieniakowska
We prepared fifty original outfits, assembled and decorated by stylist Mariola Pieniakowska. Mariola is a graduate of the University of Wrocław and specialises in style and image makeovers. She dresses models during outdoor photo shoots, helps people create a new image and, in doing so, feel better in their own skin. She is a woman with immense imagination who loves creating new things and enjoys bringing out the beauty in old clothes and combining them into remarkably interesting outfits. For her, fashion is more than a passion. It is an extraordinary art that she encounters every day.
Sensory pools
Experiencing the world through all our senses is one of the most valuable experiences of childhood. Children love touching, looking at, feeling and even tasting the world. This is how they learn about it. One of the best forms of play is getting dirty freely and without restrictions—even rolling around in mud. In the clay town, children could bathe in a pool of clay slip. Washbasins and changing rooms were available beside the pools. Dirty and happy children could be washed and changed there.
Pottery wheel workshops
Working on the pottery wheel proved extremely popular. Children and adults took part in the workshops. A jug made on the wheel could be taken home as a souvenir.
Fire-walking workshops
More than 400 people took part in two fire-walking workshops. A large proportion were members of the audience. Fewer than one hundred daredevils stepped barefoot onto embers heated to nearly 600 degrees.
Living works of art! Body painting with Ceramika Artystyczna
As part of the “Clay Bridges – Polish-German meetings around clay” project, we were able to admire body painting performed by artists from Ceramika Artystyczna Spółdzielnia Rękodzieła Artystycznego. Three models—Katarzyna Janowiec, Justyna Kieda and Eliza Sondaj—and model Krzysztof Sudół took part in this exceptional event. Their bodies were covered with clay and intricate patterns used every day to decorate ceramic vessels. Floral patterns were chosen for the women, matching each model’s character and appearance, while the man was painted with geometric designs. Like living works of art, all four took part in the Glina Show parade.
The Glina Show parade and Colour Festival
More than 70 people took part in the parade wearing clay outfits. They were young and old. Some were painted with clay from head to toe, while others wore only clay elements. Everyone looked wonderful in their original outfits.
The “Clay Bridges – Polish-German meetings around clay” project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund and by state budget funds through Euroregion Nysa.
The project partner is Die Katholische Pfarrgemeinde Leutersdorf “Mariä Himmelfahrt” in Leutersdorf.
