International Post-Plein Air Exhibition, Bartoszyce 2018
Post-Plein Air Exhibition “Syros 2017”
The post-plein air exhibition “Syros 2017” was held at the Grey and Black Gallery CENTRUM of the Nowa Huta Cultural Center. Opening: August 18, 2018. The CENTRUM Gallery hosted for the second time artists who, at the invitation of Father Professor Stanisław Głaz, gather on the island of Syros to create paintings during a plein air event.
Participants: Maria Bieńkowska-Kopczyńska, Andrzej Borowski, Zbigniew Cebula, Jolanta Czernecka, Ewa Danecka-Chmiel, Małgorzata Flis, Anna Fornelska, Anna Forycka, Joanna Furgalińska, Barbara Frankiewicz, Krzysztof Grajczak, Małgorzata Kalińska, Janusz Karbowniczek, Artur Kardamasz, Anna Kostenko, Wojciech Kozioł, Elżbieta Kuraj, Tomasz Lubaszka, Elżbieta Luba-Nowińska, Małgorzata Małkowiak, Krystyna Misiak, Leszek Misiak, Piotr Olszewski, Agnieszka Opala, Krzysztof Pasztuła, Maria Przybylska, Anita Rotter-Pucz, Małgorzata Ruff, Marek Ruff, Marek Rzeźniak, Adam Siałkowski, Wiesław Smułny, Aleksiej Shkurat, Kaja Solecka, Anna Ujma-Lubaszka, Katarzyna Wesołowska-Karasiewicz, Anna Włoczek, Katarzyna Zawierucha, Małgorzata Żak, Anna Zadora
Syros 2017 — Plein Air Painting Motifs. The collection of works, presented while still at the plein air, impressed with the richness of motifs. Dozens of Syros subjects in kaleidoscopic watercolors and pastels. Sea coves with rocks and sailboats, port shores, streets and cafés of Ermoupoli. Beaches with reed parasols on tall poles, plots of dried grasses along the road to the beach with fig, lemon and olive trees, laurel bushes and botanical abstractions of faded greens. All the scenes in a palette of very light brown-ochre grays, olive greens, soundless, quiet blues. In unsaturated colors, devoid of any harshness, yellows or reds. Dry and semi-dry watercolors, created through rapid evaporation of their medium in the hot climate. Over 50 sketched studies laid out on the common room floor! Among them were also human figures at rest and in motion, on the beach, in streets and cafés, marked by tonally restrained color patches and sharply defined lines and strokes. Delicate and transparent color patches in a mosaic formula spiritualized the real image of Syros and gave it a stylistically uniform appearance of a summery, lemonade-like haven. Alongside motifs inspired by the landscape of Syros, the plein air output includes rich individual and personal work by the participants — continuing their own studio practice or a conscious artistic program. Painting and beyond painting. Sketches and studies, numerous photographs and photo documentation, video recording, collages, workshop samples and performance, as well as installation. Wiesław Smułny
