BFA Ceramic Art Show 2023

Happy spring everyone! Depending on where you are in the world while reading this, it may feel more like a warm spring, snowy spring, or a very wet spring (that is our experience here in Germany). I wanted to send out a quick update regarding the BFA Ceramic Art Show that opened this past weekend at a local museum here in Kandern. I am so proud of the students and their willingness to put themselves out to the public by making artworks that are so unique and personal! It is our hope that this will become an annual tradition for Black Forest Academy and this local museum (Heimat und Keramikmuseum Kandern). The relationship between the international BFA community and the local German community is so valuable.

The story of how this all came about was interesting. In October 2022 the reception office at BFA received an email from the new director of the museum asking if the school had any interest in having a cooperation; connecting the school and the museum in any way. This email was then forwarded to me. When I initially read the email, I thought it would be a unique way to have students learn about art history by seeing artworks in person. This email came at a time when I was very much transitioning in my job to getting comfortable on how to do things and it would have been the easier solution to turn down the offer, but I went with it. After initially meeting with the Museum Director in November, we discussed the possibility of having a student art show at some point. You may remember in March, the students were able to have a guided tour of the museum. I’m so glad that this connection was made and that now 6 months later it became a reality. This is the first time since the art museum opened, 47 years ago, where they have exhibited student artwork.

The students could choose their meaning in the artwork they wanted to present. Some chose to communicate a poem, others based their work on memories and some chose Bible passages to represent through sculptural ceramics. Through the month of May, visitors will be able to see BFA student art work mixed in with the museum’s art collection and read the student’s artist statements; perhaps beginning a conversation about the student’s artwork themes.

Here is a quick video preview of the student art at the show.

The Museum Director (speaking) and the Mayor of Kandern (to the right) gave speeches at the beginning of the art opening.

During the art show opening, two BFA students played piano for background music for the event and Kristen put together an amazing spread of food for museum visitors. I didn’t keep a count of the number of visitors at the opening, but I would guess between 75 and 100 over the course of the two hours. Hopefully many more will come and see the great work done by our BFA students. I look forward to seeing where this continued cooperation may lead. I’m also praying that God will bring more connections like this to the school so that we might be more of a light to the community we live in.
Thanks for reading this update!