Staufer magnificence and ‘Karfunkel’ lustre

Workshop seminar and exhibition

Staufer magnificence
The dynasty of Hohenstaufen made quite like no other nobility in Europe their mark on the Holy Roman Empire of the 12th and 13th Century.  The ‘Golden Age’ of the Swabian Staufer (1138 – 1268) is widely recognized as period of invigorated artistry and cultural expression, with a court culture previously unknown for its level of magnificence and refinery.
The Staufer are thought to have founded Schwaebisch Gmuend in 1162 as one of their first cities.

‘Karfunkel’ lustre
‘Karfunkelschein’ - garnet lustre – supplies both name and motto to the project: as in glamorous artificial ‘gems’, man-made from glass and of dazzling opulence. In it reverberate whispers of fairy tales, magic, origin and belonging - and amalgamate into one name: Prade.
The bijouterie company, founded 1922 by Richard Prade of Gablonz (now Czech Republic) and resettled 1948 to Schwaebisch Gmuend, manufactured costume jewellery designs far into the 1990s.
Run by Prade descendants throughout it only ceased business in 1995. Since then a vast collection of glass ‘gem’ stones, beads, accessories and findings remained in chests and drawers, largely untouched to this day.
A treasure trove of source material and inspiration pivotal to this workshop project.

Workshop seminar and exhibition
Successful applicants are to access the original Prade arsenal of findings to ‘sparkle’ off new visions and designs. Called to explore a rich store of supplies and to let their imagination run free surely is a veritable  overture and outset to the seminar.  Delving thus into innumerable possibilities and inspirations, participants are proffered a creative experience seldom available in their own studios/ workshops or feasible during academic curriculum.
Design and execution start off with the workshop seminar.  Pieces shall be finalised within 6 months following the initial seminar to meet a schedule outlined at the end.  The project culminates in an exhibition of works originating and/or made from Prade sources a year after the seminar.  All participants will have to submit their final pieces at the given date to enter the exhibition. At least one piece per participant will be part of the exhibition whereas a display of additional pieces is, if desirable, subject to conditions.  First venue of the exhibition is Schwaebisch Gmuend, with further venues being planned. Both seminar and exhibition will be publicised by means of visual documentation.

Tutors:
The workshop seminar is run under the tutorage of

Beate Eismann, Halle
Sabine Klarner, Hamburg
Ulrike Knab, Hanover
Iris Köhnke, Schwaebisch Gmuend
Doris Raymann-Nowak, Schwaebisch Gmuend

Fancy a creative challenge?

Then check out our jewellery-workshop competition.
You are cordially invited to enter an unique design project hosted August 1st - 12th 2011 in Schwaebisch Gmuend.

Delving into hundreds of precious ‘glass gems’, you may try out daring mixes, test out unusual combinations or discard them and indulge in experiments with the infinite possibilities sparking  copiously from colours, shapes and materials – as if a dream becomes true.
It is the drawers, shelves, card-board boxes, down to tiny envelopes, all meticulously labelled and sorted, that hold the immeasurable treasure trove of the formerly Gablonz Bijouterie Company Prade.

You are invited to hunt through a magical source collection, one of the kind that one always wanted but is hardly given access to, whether in ones own studio or in academic institutions. You will have the support of tutors, which have been smitten since first laying eyes on the treasure chest in all its dazzling and invigorating splendour, radiating from hundreds of vibrant glass ‘gems’ in all colours, opaque or translucent, smooth or facetted, as well as an abundance of accessories, findings, chains and bobbles.

The three finest works will be awarded a prize donated by the Prade family, of the Gablonz Bijouterie Company founder, thus:
 
First Prize: 3.000 Euro
Second Prize: 2.000 Euro
Third Prize: 1.000 Euro

However, workshop spaces are limited to 48.
So do not hesitate to enter your application immediately accompanied with a short written proposal. Just kindly outline what attracted your interest in our project and its aim or what ideas you might have in mind.

Finally some administrative detail you want to be aware of:

Tutorage

The workshop-projects are tutored by

Beate Eismann, Halle

Sabine Klarner, Hamburg

Ulrike Knab, Hanover

Iris Koehnke, Schwaebisch Gmuend

Doris Raymann-Nowak, Schwaebisch Gmuend

Terms and conditions

The cost of entering the workshop 2011 project is 300€ per entry. It covers findings and accessories donated by Prade. Participants may furnish their work with additional materials at pleasure. Individual and specialist tools can be brought by each participant at his/ her own discretion. A range of generic tools and appliances is available to all at the college workshops, where the making detail of the seminar takes place.

Application
Entries are invited from Goldsmiths and Silversmiths as well as Jewellery designers.
The competition is also open to students of colleges and other academic institutions in their 3rd semester or later. Naturally any magnificent entries from practitioners preferably of other areas of design will also be considered.

Dates
August  1st - 12th, 2011 (workshop seminar)
Summer 2012 (exhibition)

Venue
The Arenhaus - Vocational college for design, jewellery and equipment  Schwaebisch Gmuend
Marktplatz 35

Start  
Monday,  August 1st, 2011,  9:00am

Fees are due in advance and to be paid after the successful applicant has been notified in writing.. Application and proposal are considered mandatory and have to be received by July 3rd, 2011 at the latest – posted to the following address

Foundation Gold- und Silberschmiedekunst
Schwaebisch Gmuend
c/o Stadtverwaltung
Ulrike Kleinrath
Waisenhausgasse 1-3
73525 Schwaebisch Gmuend
Germany

For entries mailed from non-EU countries, such as Switzerland, or overseas please allow extra time for delays and customs processing.

Entries are also accepted by email to
ulrike.kleinrath@schwaebisch-gmuend.de
and considered mandatory by submission of entry date and initials.