In the March edition of The Heacham Newsletter I wrote about my experience at the symposium at the Schloßökonimie Gern, Eggenfelden in 2005. Ten years later I was asked to teach at a Summer Academy on this same site that I had loved so much.
During the first week in August, four intensive workshops would be held by four professional artists: Etching and Experimental Printmaking, Creativity Through Drawing and Painting, Colour and Space and Working in Three Dimensions. I would run the 3D course.
The concept of the Summer Academy matched my teaching philosophy perfectly. Small groups of no more than 10, would allow for each person to develop their own artwork. In my group, any sculptural medium was allowed. I was able to liaise with everyone to prepare prior to the workshop. The range of ideas and materials used was as broad and individual as those attending.
So, now that all the course preparations were made, I would need to get myself to the Schloßökonimie! By this time, I was living in the western part of Germany which meant a 5 1/2 hour drive – which inevitably took longer due to traffic jams and construction on the Autobahn – but Bavaria was calling so it was worth it. I would get to see friends and relatives including artists I had met at the symposium ten years earlier – a working holiday – yay!
The Schloßökonimie was pretty much the same as it had previously been. The biggest sad difference was that the brewery was locked up for health & safety reasons. We discovered that we would be working in the garden of the Forester’s cottage. However, making sculpture outdoors under natural light gave us the best working environment. There was space for us inside if it rained. Luckily, we were blessed with the best summer weather we could have ever wished for.
Everyone brought their ideas with them and worked intensively over the seven days to develop their practice. Wonderful work was created: a terracotta warrior, wood carving, an almost life-size figure made of breeze blocks, and plaster and wire sculptures were realised. There was also the opportunity for people who preferred to work in 2 dimensions to attend a life drawing session. I encouraged my 3 dimensional group to use clay to capture the life model’s short poses. They were surprised at how much they could achieve in such a short period of time.
The feedback from the organiser was, “With great dedication, high technical and artistic competence Esther looked after the many participants. Her responsiveness and the ensuing dialogue and support led each individual to the successful realisation of their artwork.”
Running this experience set the stage for how I teach now. It is also part of our vision for The Old Dairy. It would be wonderful to have not only year round 2 and 3 dimensional courses run by local artists, catering to individual needs, but also running a Summer Academy with guest artists offering a broad range of workshops.
Esther Boehm