2024 BFA Ceramics Art Show
Last weekend, we had our second annual ceramics art show that opened at the Heimat und Keramik Museum here in Kandern. This has been a collaboration between the museum and BFA which started last year and has now become a tradition that we hope to continue in future school years. A bit of back story on this can be found in our blog update from last year’s show. In summary, the museum director reached out to BFA and connected with me in October 2022 to start a collaboration between the school and the local museum.
One thing that has been a lesson I’ve learned this past year is it never hurts to just ask. Several great learning experiences for my students have come from simply asking an artist in town to go and visit them in their work spaces and studios. The Kandern German community is open to connections if we pursue them. I’m so grateful for the opportunity God has put in front of us to build these relationships and be connectors for the students. Learning can happen outside of the classroom through observation and new experiences. Kandern has a rich art history that our students have benefited from learning about.
Art Show Theme - "Kandern Inspiriert!" (Kandern Inspires)
This year, Kristen and I passed out posters to local shops in town to help promote the art show.
After last year’s show, I discussed what this year’s exhibition should be like with Frau Hartmann (the museum director). She wanted the students at BFA to experience more of the history of the area in ceramics and challenged us to create a work which was inspired by the artists that historically or currently work here in Kandern. Starting in the fall, I took my level 2 and 3 students to the different ceramic experiences available in the area so they could develop an idea they would like to use for the show. Each advanced student from semester 1 and semester 2 completed an artwork with this inspiration. I am so proud of each of them for connecting with the German community this way!
Here are some up close images of some of the artworks created for the art show!
The BFA Ceramics 2024 Art Opening
The opening for the 2024 BFA Ceramics Art Show was on April 28th and included 24 art pieces intermixed with the local artwork from the museum, some ranging back several hundred years. The event began with several speeches about the art everyone was about to see— speeches from the museum director, the mayor of Kandern, me (translated by Kristen), the BFA principal and even two of the ceramics students, speaking in German. Kristen put together an amazing spread of food to provide hospitality to the visitors at the museum. Eight BFA community members volunteered to help with hospitality and the flow of visitors! Like last year, the museum was filled with great music performed by several BFA student musicians. We estimate between 75 and 100 people came to the opening of the show this year.
Frau Hartmann mentioned that she can tell that the teachers at BFA really care for their students in a unique way and that it stands out to her. Please pray for good conversations to come from this event and thank God for the opportunity to connect with our German community and this experience for our art students.
Here is a preview of the 2024 show!
Kristen at the food table along with two of our volunteers.
Sharing some words about the student’s work.
