Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter is an artist and educator who has made an outstanding contribution to Bolesławiec. She taught at the Vocational School Complex in the Ceramics Department. For 30 years, she trained specialists for the ceramics industry, for which she was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit. Bolesławiec also owes her the concept of the International Ceramics and Sculpture Symposia. She served as commissioner for 15 years. In 1999, she was awarded the Golden Badge of the Association of Polish Artists for directing the symposia.
Greetings and expressions of respect for the artist were offered by Mayor Piotr Roman and City Council Chairwoman Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk. “Given the support expressed by the city authorities for the artist this evening, and in view of her achievements, we can expect her to soon become an honorary citizen of Bolesławiec,” commented Jerzy Janowicz, vice-president of the Wrocław branch of the Association of Polish Artists, at the exhibition opening.
Ariadna Sarnowicz, the author of the introduction to the exhibition catalogue, read a letter from Piotr Wieczorek, in which the president of ZPAP expressed his admiration for Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter’s creative power. He also emphasised the sculptor’s choice of Bolesławiec as her place on earth, where she continues to magically transform clay into works of art.
The artist warmly thanked everyone for their help, words of support and expressions of respect. “Thank you for your kind interest in me,” Krystyna Gay-Kutschenreiter told the invited guests. “I thank the city and county authorities, BOK-MCC director Ewa Lijewska, and the presidents of Ceramika Artystyczna, Helena Smoleńska, and Zakłady Ceramiczne ‘Bolesławiec’, Karol Stasik. Without them, I could not carry out my projects, because I do not have my own studio and rely on their help.
The retrospective exhibition “Fluctuations” presents forms close to nature, rendered with the lightness characteristic of the artist in openwork forms. Her lush works, inspired by organic shapes, have a disturbing expressiveness. These one-of-a-kind ceramic sculptures convey the element of air. This is especially visible in the “Trees” works, shaken by an invisible gust of wind.
The exhibition can be visited at the International Ceramics Centre gallery until 27 November. Admission is free.
(information: Grażyna Hanaf)
