This year, around 30 people went to Woodstock. The entire group were guests of the Academy of Fine Arts, located on the hill at the Festival site, at its very heart.
At the Academy site, the Bolesławiec Clay People installed a gallery consisting of banners, a photo exhibition from last year's Gliniada and an exhibition of Bolesławiec ceramics made available by “Manufaktura.” From liquid clay, through bisque, to fired vessels and artistic activities, everyone could learn about the attractions of Bolesławiec and the surrounding area.
– We were displayed beautifully – says Bogusław Nowak, Papa Clay Person. – We received a great many vessels from “Manufaktura.” When we set up a pool with ceramic mass (a large one, for six or seven people), random passers-by jumped in, thinking it was a wonderful idea. They played with the clay and wanted to become Clay People. The barrels of slip we brought—nearly a ton of ceramic mass—ran out after four hours. We had to hide the remainder so that we could paint ourselves again for the evening performance.
As Bogusław Nowak says, an incredible number of people also viewed the photo gallery. They even wanted to buy the pictures.
– The Clay People – Nowak recounts – met Lech Wałęsa, the star of the 15th Woodstock Festival, as well as Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the first prime minister of free Poland, and Professor Janusz Kochanowski, the Commissioner for Human Rights since 2006.
Everyone received gifts. The President and his wife received ceramic dinnerware from the following manufacturers: “Manufaktura,” WR Ceramika s.c. J.K.W. Rutyna and Zakłady Ceramiczne “Bolesławiec.”
– In a word – says the originator and creator of Gliniada with satisfaction – once again, a group of enthusiasts went there at their own expense and promoted the city while having a great time. Although we did not have much room to maneuver when it came to promotional materials. The Promotion Department gave us 10 posters for the Ceramics Festival and about a hundred leaflets, but the Blues nad Bobrem Association gave us three thousand. We handed them all out.
Bogusław Nowak speaks about the Clay People’s performance with great enthusiasm. – We came down from the Festival hill to the stage, waving banners, and everyone who had previously painted themselves with clay joined our group. Around 400,000 people watched us live as, on the main stage, we thanked Jurek for being there and creating such positive events, and sent greetings to Woodstock.
– In the bathroom during my morning routine – Nowak adds – I spoke privately with Owsiak and encouraged him to take part in the Berlin Festival of Cultures. Perhaps next year we will parade there together.
Bogusław Nowak encourages everyone, young and old alike, to come to Woodstock and take part in such a positive activity: a place where hundreds of thousands of people have fun and listen to music without aggression and without police cordons.
– A person is like a tree – says Papa Clay Person – it needs to be watered. Old mechanisms do not always allow us to survive. I recharge my energy at events like these, which help me survive until reality catches up with me again.
Jurek Owsiak emphasized the importance of the Clay People. In his words, Gliniada is a high-caliber artistic activity with an idea behind it. Young people can create something themselves for the first time in their lives and surrender to creative processes. They then become part of a great act of creation.