EU TRACE NET PROJECT 15.-18.10.2013

1. CONFERENCE: Ceramics, Tradition and European Cultural Cooperation

CITY OF LJUBLJANA on the map

CITY OF LJUBLJANA on the photo

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

Archaeological excavations in Ljubljana found ceramics from different historical periods.

The artefacts in museums, ethnological and art historical researches show rich ceramic works and different cultural impacts.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA-ceramics and pottery

Before the arrival of the Romans in the 2nd century B.C. the ceramic remains from the Illyrian and Celtic cultures were found.

Photo: City Museum of Ljubljana, http://www.mgml.si/medijsko-sredisce/sporocila-za-medije/v-zakladnici-mestnega-muzeja-ljubljana-na-ogled-arheoloske-najdbe-z-izkopavanj-na-kongresnem-trgu-in/

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

Later there was a strong Roman impact on ceramics and after the 6th century A.D. Slavic with mostly Austrian, Hungarian and Italian impacts.

2000 years ago the Roman city of Emona was established, where the city of Ljubljana is today.

The name Ljubljana was first mentioned in documents found in the 12th century.

Photo: Museum of Gorenjska Region, http://www.gorenjski-muzej.si/?page_id=29

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Slovenia. It evolved where deposits of clay were found.

From the 16th century onwards the potters are mentioned in the guild’s documents, because they were organized in guilds in cities and countryside.

At the end of 18th century the living conditions changed and city potters have shifted mostly into stove tiles making.

Photo: Ivan Romih, Slovene Ethnographic Museum

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics

There have also been some brick factories and some small ceramics factories, like the first factory of majolica in Ljubljana, which was built in 1743 (closed in 1768), or the first factory of cream -ware also in Ljubljana, built in 1788.

Photo: Slovenian National Museum, Cream-Colored Earthenware in Slovenia, Sugar bowl

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics

After 1816 the continental embargo was lifted, bringing in its severe competition from English ceramics factories, and Austria introduced a new financial system (Ljubljana was in The Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time), so in 1831 the factory was forced to close.

Photo: Slovenian National Museum, Cream-Colored Earthenware in Slovenia, Venus

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics of Spodnjesavinjska manufactures

CITY OF LJUBLJANA -ceramics of Spodnjesavinjska manufactures

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- Ceramics of Kamnik manufacture

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics of Kamnik manufacture

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- artistic ceramics

CITY OF LJUBLJANA-ceramics and architecture

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

Guilds ended and in the beginning of 20th century some cooperatives formed.

But on the countryside pottery remained an important income for the complimentary or independent craftsmen and farmers.

Photo: Boris Orel, Slovene Ethnographic Museum

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

Small Business Act in 1859 let the potters sell their products freely on the market and fair days and they could freely carry or drive to sell their products in the closer or further surrounding areas.

Photo: Boris Orel, Slovene Ethnographic Museum

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

In the 80s of the 19th century big changes occur; iron and enameled dishes arrived also to the countryside households.

Cooking on the open fire and owns changed to cooking on stoves so the market for the ceramics shrunk and the number of potters reduced.

At the end of 19th century estimated numbers say, that 410 potters worked in Slovenia, at the end of Word War II 184 with 40 assistants and 121 apprentices, at the end of 1960s only 74 and at the end of 1980s 36 left. Today this number is even smaller, but the ceramics sector is being reorganized and is getting stronger.

Photo: Slovene Ethnographic Museum, http://www.interpretingceramics.com/issue010/articles/04.htm

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

After the Second World War, there has been a decline of traditional ceramics.

The conditions were severe, so the children of the potters didn’t decide to continue the family tradition, but they rather went to work to industries and offices.

Photo: Museum of Gorenjska Region, http://www.gorenjski-muzej.si/?page_id=29

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics and pottery

But in the eighties and nineties of the 20th century there has been some promotion for traditional potters and some started to learn and do pottery again.

The biggest blockage for the development of pottery was a very suppressing fiscal policy and the absence of professional work with potters; there was no transferring knowledge to younger generation in the primary school and also art schools and universities.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

In Municipality of Ljubljana there is a department for culture, which covers also the ceramics sector. It helps to awake traditional and modern ceramics mostly by promoting exhibitions, fairs and workshops.

Every year since 2003 there is a ceramics exhibition of The Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia in the Town Hall and many ceramic workshops and other exhibitions from artists around the world.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

Ljubljana is also hosting ceramics fairs and big ceramics exhibitions like The 1st International Triennial of Ceramic in 2009. But ceramics on the academic and professional level is still lacking a proper school and position in the sector of art and education in Slovenia.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

There are mostly professional and private interests to develop and promote the ceramics sector. That is also probably a reason why we are here at the conference.

The Municipality of Ljubljana forwarded this project to us, The Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, the local initiative.

http://www2.arnes.si/~ljdkelo1/galerija.html

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

So, I will say more about our initiative.

The Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, was founded in Ljubljana in the middle of 1990’s from the need for progress of quality ceramics and pottery and its representation in Slovenia.

Education, sharing of experiences, building ties within ceramic society and promotion of ceramics has remained the main objective to the present time.

The necessity of ceramics union was reflected by numerous memberships. By first year the Society counted 80 new members. Today it has 150 members and incorporates traditional potters and art ceramists from all over Slovenia and also abroad.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

Trying to diminish the fifty years of neglected ceramist’s education the Society helps its members to acquire knowledge either from books contained in the permanently expending library or by informing them of all other possible means of education.

The Society is also organizing fairs, exhibitions, educational, promotional workshops and excursions to exhibitions around Europe etc. Its members have entered to many exhibitions and won prices in Slovenia and abroad.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

The Society organized the first retrospective exhibition in 1999, which was also the first bigger retrospective exhibition in the history of Slovenian contemporary ceramics.

The critics recognized the exhibition to show the use of very demanding technics, clear artistic expression and innovation, in short a high artistic level of the Slovenian ceramics.

Photo: The Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- ceramics sector

Representing Slovenia, the Society has been also involved in some European projects.

The Society is working on the position of the ceramics and pottery, which is well respected in foreign countries, to be recognized as such also in Slovenia. Efforts of the Society in the last years helped to establish the studies of ceramics in The Academy for Fine Arts and Design and the section for ceramics at The Society of Slovenian Fine Artists.

The progress of ceramics in Slovenia rests mostly on personal initiative and effort of every single ceramist and potter, to whom clay, this primal material means challenge, the possibility of creative expression, the means of survival, the possibility of experimentation and inexhaustible source of inspiration.

The Society is thus slowly but persistently changing the common view and attitude towards ceramics in Slovenia.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- project cooperation

Maybe it is a little bit too soon to have a lot of suggestions about our joint actions in the future, but there is :

a good chance to discover the development and the situation of ceramics in our European cities,

to make ties,

share ideas and

make plans for future collaboration for the development of recommendations for local policies and sustainable development plans,

Our network can also present new commercial opportunities

and we agree that it is important to actively involve the young generations in our activities.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- sourcesfor the presentation

SOURCES:

The museums: Slovenian National Museum, Slovene Ethnographic Museum, City Museum of Ljubljana, Museum of Gorenjska Region, Intermunicipal Museum Kamnik, Provencial Museum Celje.

The Municipality of Ljubljana, The Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, ILA d.o.o.

The experts: Janez Bogataj, Mateja Kos, Ivan Slokar, Milena Moškon, Teja Hlačer.

CITY OF LJUBLJANA- sourcesfor the presentation

Photos:

1. http://www.ljubljana.si/si/mol/novice/83516,1/gallery.html

2.http://geology.com/world/slovenia-satellite-image.shtml

3. http://www.visitljubljana.com/si/ljubljana-in-osrednja-slovenija/

4. http://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slika:Emona_predrimsko_obdobje_-_pre_roman_era_(2).jpg

10. Slovenian National Museum, Cream-Colored Earthenware in Slovenia, Decorative plates

11. Provencial Museum Celje, Ceramics of Spodnjesavinjska’s Factories, Two doses and Wein service

12. Private collection, Majolica from Kamnik

13. Intermunicipal Museum Kamnik, Decorative plates

14. Artistic ceramics, Karel Zelenko

15. Ceramics of architect Jože Plečnik, http://www.goprekmurje.si/slo/top-5/plecnikova-cerkev-bogojina.html, http://www.slovenskenovice.si/novice/slovenija/na-racun-cerkve-boga-se-ne-sluzi, http://www.siol.net/scena/druzabna_kronika/2010/09/beja_bogojna.aspx

17. http://www.napovednik.com/dogodek137730_glina_roka_ogenj_keramika_na_gorenjskem_od_davnih, http://www.slovenia.info/?_ctg_promotion_material=91&lng=1

20. http://www.delo.si/clanek/86727, http://www.etno-muzej.si/sl/dogodki/mednarodni-muzejski-dan-v-loncarskem-ateljeju-sem

22. http://www.siol.net/novice/lokalne_novice/gorenjska/2010/10/v_ljubnem_bodo_obujali_staro_loncarsko_tradicijo.aspx

23. Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, Exhibition in the Town Hall

25. Factory Made Art., http://www.eastview.com/russian/books/product.asp?SKU=2132049B&f_locale=&active_tab=1

26. Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, Ceramics workshop in the Town Hall

27. Ila d.o.o., Exhibition of the project: The Pot from the Black Kitchen

28. Society for Ceramics and Pottery Slovenia, The big baking mould for potica

30. http://www.napovednik.com/dogodek248520_spominjamo_se_lubenskih_cpinarjov_1_razstava_v