Second Week - Sunday

Today has been a beautiful day. While most of our time so far has been rainy and a bit cold we were blessed with a beautiful and warm weekend. We are preparing for our trip to Prague tomorrow and needed a little family break. I and my family decided to go for a nice outing. We took a great walk today around the town of Kamenicky Senov, where we are living. The first part of our stroll started out with going to a basalt outcropping. This walk was almost 2 kilometers but went by very quickly. As you can see from the photos the formation is very interesting and powerful.

After we spent some time there, climbing around and also checking out the interesting mushrooms that were growing there, we started to look for some lunch. There are only about three resturaunts/pubs here. Mostly they are smoke filled and it is also difficult because my wife and son are vegetarian, so the menu choices are small. We have found ourselves at a nice place called Resturaunce u Tumu. It costs a little more, but the staff and food are excellent. I say a little more but we are usually eating a big meal, with a few beers and some dessert, for my son, for about $10-15 US Dollars (pretty good I think).

Second Week Photos

Images:
Microwave furnace with instructor
First cut glass example
Student engraving glass
Student cutting glass

Second Week

Greetings! This week I have been observing classes and working with some instructors. I have been focusing my research on glass cutting but also on engraving. This is the first week, however that I have been able to attend an engraving class.

The cutting class that I am most interested in is the first year class. The consecutive years seem to be working more independently with very close guidance from the instructor.

The first year students are starting at age 14 or 15. They begin with some basic cutting focused on one wheel. From this point they practice making marks on plate glass. These first cuts are arbitrary. They are left with the freedom to experiment from the beginning. As the class progresses, it becomes a little more structured. In addition to practical workshop experience, they are also lectured about cutting theory and design.

At this point I should make a note about the structure and course of study. The classes are divided into four groups, each studying for four years. The courses of study are; glass painting, glass cutting, glass engraving and lighting design. Every student is required to take drawing (from the figure), modeling (mainly from the figure or figurative elements) and science/chemistry of glass. In addition, students take theory of their discipline and have the option to take some metal working classes.

While some schools in the states require a minimal amount of drawing, it is pressed on these students for all four years. Another difference is about the science/chemistry classes. I am aware of a few schools teaching this but most are not or they focus on ceramic chemistry, which is related but still different. Also, keep in mind of the age range of these students. This information is being obtained at a young age compared to the states.

Next I had the opportunity to work with the science/chemistry instructor in repairing the microwave furnace. I have some technical background working with glass equipment but this is a new design for me. The microwave furnace is a Czech invention. The school at Kamenicky Senov has been fortunate to have one of the first there for their students to use for quite a few years.

On Wednesday I joined the head of the school, Frantisek Janak, for the opening of a Moser Crystal exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts in Prague. It was very exciting work and very inspiring. One thing that is most exciting is the fact that I have been fortunate to meet a few of the designers recently and in the past. This offers a little more of a personal connection to the work. You can see what they are doing at: http://www.moser-glass.com/en/

To end the week I took some time to attend a figure drawing class in the evening. It is great to be back working with the figure directly. It has been too long to have not drawn from the figure. For an artist of any discipline it is essential.

The next week, my family and I will be attending an orientation for Fulbright in Prague. We are very excited and looking forward to meeting other Fulbright Fellows and Scholars. In addition, it will be good to meet the Fulbright staff who have been so tremendously helpful in making this experience happen.

First Week - Photos

Images:

1. Frantisek Janak (Director of School), Rene Roubicek, Josef Kris (Glass cutting instructor) please forgive the spelling, I am unable to add the correct Czech pronunciation symbols to the letters
2. Frantisek Janak & Chloe (my wife)
3. Frantisek Janak & Thomas (my son)

***Double click on image to see it bigger

First Week - September 2-8, 2007

We arrived safe and sound. The flight over was pretty uneventful until we connected in Frankfurt, Germany. This is a very confusing and not very helpful airport. However, we made to our next flight on Czech airlines which was a very quick flight to Prague.

Our long time friend and principal of the school in Kamenicky Senov, Frantisek Janak picked us up from the airport and took us on a quick tour of Prague. My wife had never been here before so it made for a good introduction. Then we headed for Kamenicky Senov.

We made it to our flat, which is just a few meters from the school. It is owned by the school, so they were able to offer it to us at an incredible rate, by American standards. It is a very beautiful area. We have a great view of some close mountains and are located not very far from Novy bor and Ceske Lipa. Both are larger towns with good resources.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Rene Roubicek, a very important Czech glass artist. We also visited his studio.

My family and I joined the instructors for a dinner and a game of bowling.

On thursday we visited the Czecg Glass Exhibition at the Fine Art Museum in Prague.

The classes I was able to attend this week were very informative. They covered basic explanations about tools, equipment and safety. One thing that is very different from the cold working studios in the US is the atmosphere. The studio is very open and has windows running the entire length of both sides. In addition the first year student brought plants in from the garden, which then line the sill of the windows. It makes the environment much more welcoming and pleasant.

After some basic explanations about the tools and how to use them, the students were left to practice. There is no cutting format for the first class. The students are allowed the time and freedom to experiment with the first wheel that is introduced.

I should also make mention that this is a Secondary School. These students range in age from 14-19. However, they are receiving information that is close to the equivelant that American students would receive at the university.


Images:
1. Front of school
2. Our apartment building, the school is the blue building behind

***Double click on image to see it bigger