Connected by Hands and Hearts

12 artists, 6 countries, 1 UNESCO entry, that’s what’s behind the exhibition called Connected by Hands and Hearts. The exhibition was created in collaboration with Sýpka Lemberk and the Kuzebauch Gallery and is part of the Glass Symposium.

In the new project, we brought together twelve glassmakers from six countries, including glassworks from northern Bohemia. The participants were treated to a two-day creative symposium, seminar and exhibition at Sýpka Lemberk, and the joint work culminated in Kristiánov as part of the Glass Festival. The event took place from 2 to 7 September and was sponsored by the UNESCO International Headquarters in Paris. The entire project was supported by the National Regeneration Plan, Mobility III programme. The exhibition was also an official part of the 15th International Glass Symposium IGS in Nový Bor.

The goals of the joint inscription of handmade glass production on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity include deepening knowledge about the tradition and present of glass crafts and their popularization towards the public. And also mutual transfer of experience between glassmakers of all six countries, in a word, cooperation. "Therefore, we took advantage of the opportunities offered by the Mobility program and prepared the second international glass symposium with an accompanying program this year. The first, Czech-Spanish, was held in May at the La Granja glassworks. We were very pleased with the interest of the operators of glassworks, who went out of their way to accommodate us in every way. For us, it is confirmation that such events make sense for them too," said the museum director Milada Valečková. "I am personally looking forward to the glass show in Kristiánov, where the symposium participants will create together at the Florianovy Huti mobile furnace, under the supervision of festival visitors," she added.

The artists from six countries were selected by the symposium curator Petr Nový in cooperation with foreign colleagues. He is also the author of the exhibition concept, which will present not only works from the two-day creative process in selected smelters, but also examples of typical works by individual participants. "We chose smelter-blown glass and glass decorated directly at the glass furnace as the theme, because it is a popular and widespread technique in all six countries. A technique that truly unites us," said Nový.

The artists will be accompanied to the Crystal Valley by members of the official working group, which was established last year at the first meeting in Spain. They will participate in an official meeting at the museum and, as part of the seminar, will present glassmaking in the individual participating countries. "For most of them "This will be their first visit to the Czech Republic. Their program will therefore focus on getting to know both the live glass production and the museum exhibitions. We will also discuss the possibilities of further cooperation and joint projects," concluded Valečková.

Symposium program

2. 9. Informal meeting of participants at the Museum of Glass and Costume Jewelry

3. - 4. 9. Joint creation at the smelters

5. 9. Public seminar in the Sýpka Lemberk area, exhibition opening6. 9. Excursion to glass factories

7. 9. Glass workshops / Glass Festival Kristiánov

6. 9. - 6. 10. Exhibition in Sýpka Lemberk

Creation at the smelters (3. - 4. 9. 2024)

Pačinek Glass, Kunratice u Cvikova: Torsten Rötzsch (Germany), Jean Thebault (France), Alba Martín Casado (Spain)

Novotný Glass, Nový Bor: Markus Marschmann (Germany), Luca Kohut-Görömbei (Hungary); Alma Jantunen (Finland)

Ajeto Glass, Lindava: Václav Řezáč (Czech Republic), Ángeles Escudero Marcos (Spain), Aada Vainio (Finland)

Jílek Glass, Kamenický Šenov: Irena Czepcová (Czech Republic); Stella Kolesczar (Hungary); Diego Mínguez Sebastián (Spain)

Videos from joint work, meetings, symposiums, exhibitions here