*** September 14-15, 2006 continued ***
Dariusz Fodczuk continues the dialogue
with the Gallery. He writes to the Gallery director: I don’t judge
your work, I just read the announcements you send me. I even had an
opportunity to visit the Gallery in Ustka mid-July and see a wonderful
marine paintings exhibition. My son was just delighted! For him it was
a unforgettable experience, he even made a series of works in crayon
technique inspired by what he saw.
Then Fodczuk writes, that the Director answers all
of the questions with just one argument: “Kazmierczak is a thief”.
“I understand, that it may be a sensation in Slupsk, but from
our perspective, the case of the ex-director is not so important. We
accept the fact that the case of the former director is being investigated
by the district attorney. That’s about it? Could we stop dealing
with the sensational motifs? Would you agree to do so?”
Dariusz concludes: if you really care about what people
in the whole world call the Castle of Imagination, I advise you to try
to do it other way.
>>> Text
in Polish
Edyta Krol responds: “I am very pleased, that the marine paintings
exhibition inspired your son. But send your thanks to the ex-director
of the Gallery, as I realize his schedule till the end of 2006. I wish
your son similar inspirations in the future.”
>>> Text in Polish
Fodczuk replies: I am pleased to see your attitude and willingness
to realize Kazmierczak’s will. By the way, I would like to explain,
that the ex-director’s will would be not using the Castle of Imagination’s
name in this context
>>> Text
in Polish
***
Joanna Kazmierczak, Wladyslaw’s
ex-wife addresses all the Gallery employees, its director and the president
of the Society of the Friends of Contemporary Art Iwona Wyszynska. „I
am absolutely enraged by the way you treat Kazmieczak as a man and as
your principal. I am also infuriated by what caused him to emigrate
from Poland. It is beyond my comprehension, why there’s so much
venom and hatred in you. (…) You write yourself that nobody had
paid Kazmierczak for being a curator or for the Festival’s concept.
So what did you sell to the Gallery, if you did not buy it? (…)
Being totally objective (it’s me who could be his enemy as an
ex-wife) you lost your senses all together. (…) I hope that the
justice will win, and I wish it to all of you.”
Joanna Kazmierczak
>>> Text
in Polish
***
Malgorzata Kazmierczak, assistant
curator for the Castle of Imagination 1998 – 2000 feels she has
to respond to the letter that Iwona Wyszynska wrote to Tomasz Kosciuczuk.
The letter ended in her wishing "good luck" to all of Kazmierczak’s
loved-ones.
I felt like you were talking about me, Ms. Wyszynska,
in the last sentence of your letter. I assure you that all Kazmierczak’s
loved-ones are all right and ever since he does not live in Slupsk,
even better. (…) You should start getting used to the fact that
you would never make MoMa out of your gallery, even if you invite Polish
Swarzkogler from Sandomierz to co-operate.
Malgorzata Kazmierczak
>>> Text
in Polish
***
Agnieszka Okrzeja, who used to be
an assistant curator at the Castle of Imagination and now works her
own projects writes: if Ms. Edyta Krol was professional, taking over
the name of the Event wouldn’t even cross her head! For a professional
curator plagiarism is a disgrace! If she was a little bit smarter, she
would create a polemic with the Castle of Imagination, she would not
act in such a banal way. (…) On the other hand, I think it is courageous
of her to burn herself right in the beginning.
Agnieszka Okrzeja
>>> Text
in Polish
***
Wojciech Kowalczyk and Danka Nawrocka
write to us, that they will make a protest performance on
October 7th at the opening of the planned
scandalous "poetry reading event" in Ustka.
They invite performance artists to
take part in this action.
They are going to show up at the opening and leave just after.
We would like to remaind you that
BBB Johannes Deimling came up with the same
idea not long ago!
Let us know if you are interested too: art_interventions@onet.eu
>>> Text
in Polish
***
A letter from a vice-mayor of Slupsk,
Mr Andrzej Obecny, who is also being attacked and slandered
by local media. He declares that he’ll help Kazmierczak to explain his
point of view in his own, independent paper.
>>> Text
in Polish
***
In the local media the director
of the Baltic Gallery continues smear campaign and threats againts Wladyslaw.
We are informed that she already denouced him to the local district
attorney for theft of festivals documentation and she’s going
to do the same regarding "stealing" Castle of Imagination's
name. The text we got hold of also announces the dates of 'correct'
Castle of Imagination in October. There is also a part of the article
describing the 14th Festival in Schloss Broellin as the competition.
>>>Text
in Polish
***
Tomasz Kosciuczuk
comments on the letter that the Gallery employees, and members of the
Society of the Friends of Contemporary Art addressed to him. He advises
Ms. Bozena Wysocka, a member of the Society, who also signed the letter
and who has been director’s secretary, that instead of discussing
about art, she should rather make some coffee.
Kosciuczuk wrote: Important! Looking at the photo I noticed, that Kazmierczak
turned totally gray! Who owns the copyright to Kazmierczak’s black
hair? Is there anybody among the Gallery staff, whose hair has recently
turned black? Could the district attorney from Slupsk focus on the case
of the pigment that left Kazmierczak’s head in an inexplicable
way? Is Jolanta Szczypinska (an MP from “Law and Justice”)
is going to order an investigation on that matter?
Could Art Interventions, instead of publishing somebody else’s
letters, just find Ms. Edyta Krol some job? Why don’t you announce
that you are looking for a vacant position? If there’s any other
gallery in Poland, that has so much audience that they destroyed the
floor, Ms. Edyta Krol will save it. I mean the floor. If there’s
some other cultural institution that has three locks, Ms. Edyta Krol
will install the fourth one and she’ll lock it. If there are any
local artists, who cannot exhibit their works at least once a year –
they will exhibit every 3 months. And it will be a lot of fun!
Half of the Brits have a negative attitude towards the Queen (Krol
= King in Polish).
>>>Text
in Polish
***
OK, so hereby Art Interventions
advertises:
if anybody knows about any vacant position (it doesn’t
have to be well paid) that would not require any specialized skills
in art field or foreign languages, please, call us. If you suffer from
overcrowding, we have a perfect candidate to make your venue work better!
Please, contact us at art_interventions@onet.eu
Also, check the link here => http://warsaw.craigslist.org/res/208404861.html
***
Last e-mail from Adina Bar-On, an
artist invited to the fake Castle of Imagination:
"Dear, it is going to be GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! ...
Either ANOTHER name to event or NO event!"
***
Letter from Boris Nieslony:
Just back from Poland. Exist different facts and stories about this.
Have the hope, Zbigniew Warpechowski and people from Baltic Art Gallery
will get this mail from Art Interventions to. For my opinion, only they
have the right to react.
best greetings Boris
***
Dariusz Fodczuk writes to Boris Nieslony:
Dear Boris I disagree with your opinion that the only people who may
react are Warpechowski and Baltic Gallery. I'm not the only one for
whom "Castle of Imagination" is a valuable brand.
I strongly disagree to name something with the well known name whilst
it is not what you would think it is.
I treat it as the way of showing disrespect to the audience, artists
and the curator at least
With respect,
Dariusz Fodczuk
***
Vassya Vassileva wrote:
Imagination has many Castles. I believe all artists are good. I agree
with Boris.
vassya
***
Artur Tajber wrote:
I agree with Dariusz Fodczuk. I don’t feel myself in charge to
judge having limited access to the facts, but my right is to ASK. From
the beginning of that affair I am sending letters and calling to Baltic
Gallery and to Zbigniew Warpechowski. I have no response from Zbyszek
– I still believe it’s only a result of his absence.
I received two letters from Baltic Gallery representative, Rafal Pawlowski,
but no answers for my questions.
I am still waiting for clear explanation or the decision – today’s
situation is scandalous and peculiar. Buddhists can cut one festival
in two full festivals of the same name with one sword, maybe, but...
I don’t see any little piece of good will. Generally, I think
the author is somebody who created something, and the Castle of Imagination
is evidently linked with Wladek’s name and his activity, and is
impossible to imagine without him. It is easier for me to imagine Castle
of Imagination without Baltic Gallery than without Wladek. All other
arguments are out of focus. I understand the standpoint of the gallery
people who need money, but I can’t accept their methods. I don’t
understand Zbyszek Warpechowski and I am waiting for his explanation
– maybe he has arguments, maybe he was manipulated by the gallery...
I hope he will explain it to all of us.
Today situation is out of imagination, but is closely related to the
castle – in the sense of function – power, control, distribution...
Artur Tajber
***
Adina Bar-On:
To my friends, there are always currents underneath; I KNOW they exist
and that that are flowing exactly to where we all would wish ! ... give
a few more days and all shall be settled .. adina
***
Artur Tajber wrote:
...BUT PRINCIPLES TOO...
I am patient, but time is working against the actors of this affair,
unfortunately. I appeal to explain the standpoints clearly - especially
to Zbyszek.
Artur
***
Mentalcolony wrote:
Why these things are happening around the world? This is not an isolated
case. Its happening everywhere. What so important with performance art
that the few marginalized artist are aiming to? Who will join the spectacle
Truth are becoming the myth. I sympathize with castle of imagination
people
I hate politicking. It is now alarming.
***
Perfo Puerto wrote:
We've received this information, and we are very concerned about what
it's been mentioned...
***
Arti Grabowski in his e-mail demands
that his address be removed from Baltic Art Gallery mailing list and
encourages other artists
to boycott the gallery the same way.
>>>Text
in Polish
*** September 17, 2006 ***
We have a brand new video on the matter from Malgosia
Kazmierczak:
>>>
QuickTime / Mac >>>
Windows Media / PC
***
BBB Johannes Deimling:
BGSW = Bezczelny Galeria Sztuki Wspólczesnej
I was a participant of the 14th edition of Castle of Imagination in
Schloss Broellin and in OFFicyna in Szczecin from the 2nd to the 5th
of September 2006. And with me a lots of professional artists from all
over Europe. The performances I saw have had a very good quality and
I was happy about the quantity of this quality. Also that the curator
Wladyslaw Kazmierczak gave again a podium for young Performance artists
made this castle of imagination Festival a very nice and high leveled
event.
When now in that small town in the north of Poland will be soon again
a 14th Castle of Imagination I really have to wonder about it, because
it has already taken place. I feel taken for a ride.
Everybody knows that only Wladyslaw Kazmierczak can invite to an edition
of Castle of Imagination, because he is connected with this label like
a captain with his ship. My students in Switzerland and Estonia know
that Wladyslaw Kazmierczak is the curator of the festival “Castle
of Imagination” and they know this Festival as one of the main
places in Europe where international artists meet and create an international
network. And that performance art is also called the "art of meeting"
and this was obviously the main aim of the Castle of Imagination.
Also my students know the works of Mr. Warpechowski as one of the pioneers
of Polish performance art. But an artist and a personality like Mr.
Warpechowski surely don’t need the label 14th Castle of Imagination.
His name and authority should be enough label to create his own point
of view, his own vision of performance art. But obviously the aim is
not performance art, the aim of this maneuver is to damage the image
and the work of Wladyslaw Kazmierczak.
The dirty and dangerous words from Warpechowski’s employers and
financiers (names that are not worthy to be listed) I don't want to
comment at all. Province minds that take their chance to take revenge
and get some attention. Warpechowski will loose a lot when he is going
to deal with those people that don’t mind to sell their grandmother
on the market.
BGSW (see title) never have got now the money from the government, without
the long work of Wladyslaw Kazmierczak. Slupsk was just a small town.
Only with Wladyslaw Kazmierczak’s long breath Slupsk became a
mark on the art map. My students know where Slupsk is located, because
of Kazmierczak’s Castle of Imagination.
I give my respect to Julien Blaine for not taking part in Warpechowski’s
event and I would like to ask all invited artists to follow Julien Blaine’s
way.
If the event in Slupsk will take part like announced, the organizers
and the curator should be sure that there will be a strong protest.
Wladyslaw Kazmierczak is the general owner of Castle of Imagination.
BBB Johannes Deimling
***
BBB Johannes Deimling wrote:
Dear Boris,
I also disagree with your opinion.
I see it like Dariusz Fodczuk, Castle of Imagination is for me worth
reacting and asking what’s up, when I feel that something strange
is going around. For this I do not need to have a right.
And for sure Warpechowski and the Gallery don't have at least the moral
right to "react" like this.
The main point is: the curator (general owner) of castle of imagination
is Wladyslaw Kazmierczak and not Warpechowski. Like I am not the curator
of Performance Art in NRW.
BBB Johannes Deimling
Vassya Vassileva wrote:
Agree Artur, but we ought to hear from both sides first... [sorry if
I am 'out of time' with my insistency on discourse ethics]
And yes, you are right - it's about Castle, sometimes castles abandon
imagination, but they are still castles of imaginations, because a lot
of work has been done by imagination to create those castles, castles
turn to be unfaithful then [smile]
And yes, I do also respect Wladek's work.
vassya
BBB Johannes Deimling wrote:
Dear Vassya Vassileva,
For sure imagination can create a lot of castles, but the CASTLE OF
IMAGINATION is not to imagine without Wladyslaw Kazmierczak.
And that all artists are good... you really believe this?
BBB Johannes Deimling
Dear Adina Bar-on,
To wait until the waves calm down is closing the eyes
and disrespect. And I am sure the waves will not calm down...
BBB Johannes Deimling
Dariusz Fodczuk wrote:
Dear Boris
You are right, but please consider that 8 day have passed since I sent
him my letter.
Zbigniew knows about confusions and the discussion around the Castle,
I'm sure. So, I'm afraid that his tactic is to cover everything with
silence.
Try to think what I feel; there are 2 feasts of performance in Poland
as you know. The CASTLE and INTERAKCJE are like, forgive me religious
association, Christmas and Easter. Thanks to those festivals I may contact
and react today’s performance art as well as many other Polish
artists and art-lovers do.
I support organizing the "Symposium of Poetic Realities" by
Zbigniew Warpechowski. But I wouldn't say that what happens to "Castle
of Imagination" doesn't matter to me. Castle is a big part of our
performance culture in Poland.
It's hard to understand why the one who has always presented nearly
aggressive disapproval of Wladyslaw output and the Castle in general,
wants to work on the Castle just after Wladyslaw left his place.
Zbigniew's short statement on Baltic Art Gallery web site makes me afraid
that he is willing to act against the 14-year old Castle’s tradition.
Perhaps he wants to shatter Wladyslaw's Castle to make room for himself.
That is why I directed my serious questions to Zbigniew.
Maybe that’s why some Polish artists, critics and curators respond
to that so emotionally.
with respect
dariusz fodczuk
***
Adva Drori and Josef Sprinzak (Tel-Aviv)
wrote:
Dear Wladislaw
We want to send you our support and concern about the festival "Castle
of
Imagination".
We admire your great work as a curator and organizer with a personal
touch of warmth and care. The festival is of high artistic level and
creates a stage for important international artistic and political dialogue.
There is no right for anybody else to try to claim rights on this festival
and we strongly condemn this attempt.
If there is anything else we can do to help and give support, please
tell us.
Yours,
Adva Drori and Josef Sprinzak
Tel-Aviv
***
Zane Trowe (Brisbane, Australia) wrote:
the original castle of the imagination remains the
only one...
how immature it is to even consider using the (idea and) name without
the original curator being consulted and agreeing and then thanked,
acknowledged and recognized...? this would have been a common human
courtesy, and of course a professional requirement, regardless of who
might "own" it. without this courtesy the action becomes grubby
and small minded, and one would urge all artists and audients of integrity
to boycott the event.
Zane Trow
Artistic Director - Live Art: Locations
Chairman - Multimedia Arts Asia Pacific Festival
*** September 18, 2006 ***
Boris Nieslony after a phone call
to Zbigniew Warpechowski:
yes, yes you are right, Dariusz
It is pity to see how things are splitting.
It is not so easy to help to build up networks and to build up frames
where performance art is possible and have places, looks like the two
festivals and some others, for example Waldemar from Lublin, or Antoni.
Yes it is pity this situation.
Had phoned with Zbigniew, he don't want to discuss, pity, pity, to see
how things going worse.
with my respect and my hope in other cases we have to develop the good
things.
Best boris
***
Kaori Haba (Nagano, Japan) wrote:
Dear Boris, and IAPAO friends,
Yes, it's so pity... I am not a devout Buddhist but I found the following
sentence in my dictionary
<Every form in reality is empty, and emptiness is the true form.>
:Zen
KAORI HABA
***
Massimo Zanasi (Sardinia, Italy) wrote:
Hola Iapao collegues!
At this point it would be more interesting to map the performance art's
FAKE GURUS, isn't it?
I am pretty sure we'll have funny surprises from each country... :-)
In Italy, for instance, not so long time ago, we Arka denounced to the
Press and to the Italian Society of Authors and Editors a poor guy (he
calls himself as artist-curator...) that was and is used to copy parts
of others' performances, researches and concepts to play his dirty (art?)
job. When this scoundrel did the same with our InterActions Project
and Arka's recordered definition of "Dramaturgy of the Arts"
we reacted according to the law. But there is not any cure forever,
it is a wasted battle: the artists (in general) are opportunists &
bootlickers and they are ready to make strange "exchanges"
with everybody (especially in the case of artists-curators). It was
not necessary to have this sad confirmation from Poland.
The only way out today could be to abrogate the term "artist"...
Ciao ciao!
Massimo Zanasi,
ARKA (H.C.E.)
***
Dominik Zlotkowski (artist, who once
was invited to the Castle but he has never participated) wrote that
he could not believe in what he read and that he sends his support and
best wishes.
>>> Text
in Polish
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