Was geht ab in ... Barcelona? (englisch)

 
What's happening in... Barcelona?

"We Catalans are lucky to speak two languages, but we don't speak any of them really well!" Flavio Castañero, cabaret artist

Geographically speaking, we are in the South when regarded from the North and in the North when regarded from within Spain.
I have been living and working in BCN since 1989. Born in Krefeld of the Lower Rhine (Germany -A.W.), I came directly to the Escola Massana and completed their official training studies (4 years, later changed to 2 years) for jewelry in '93. At the time there was just one single gallery for jewelry that is presently still in existence - HIPÒTESI - as well as a jewelry association Orfebres FAD that Forum members will probably be familiar with - re. Ars Ornata '96. At that time the city of Barcelona was still very much un-Europeanized, for example it was even difficult to find butter or smooth cottage cheese (popular dairy product in Europe - A.W.). Ever since the Oympic Games this slightly musty and decadent city has made a full-circle turn around as has the country Catalonia. This might come as somewhat of a shock to all nostalgics amongst us, but large cities do need change in order to revive themselves and their inhabitants.

Interesting reading tips for German readers: "Die Stadt der tausend Wunder" (Eduardo Mendoza) or Krimis van Montalban etc.
This city has changed in all regards. In Ramon Puig Cuyas' jewelry classes at the Massana as well as other schools in the city - La Escuela Industrial and the Llotja - new jewelry generations have developed . The Massana stands out since its professor is probably the internationally best known modern Spanish jeweler. Other popular destinations for many jewelery students from Germany are the Escola Massana:Sesam Projekt or the Karl Duisberg Gesellschaft.

Nowadays the jewelry panorama in Barcelona is somewhat different despite the fact that the kind of jewelry being regarded as Art still remains anything but natural. For example, as in other parts of Europe developmental work is still in its beginning stages: modern jewelry will probably always have problems emancipating itself, resp. finding a larger audience and popularity.

The Catalans are a kind of Spanish Swabians (Swabia is a German geographical area with typical dialect, customs etc., sometimes referred to in jest or derisorily - A.W.). This is not intended as an insult but many Spaniards' and many Catalans' personal point of view. Catalans are proud of their language, their culture, and especially their food culture. While cooks might be celebrated with all honors jewelry's path is a lot more difficult. Neither is there any other university besides the schools mentioned that offers jewelry studies, nor is there a proper curriculum, be it modern or somewhat more conservative. Despite all that the number of makers has strongly increased during the last 20 years. Our problem is not creativity itself but sales. Anything made using precious metals in Spain needs to be officially stamped, and with one-of-a-kind pieces that is a complicated enterprise because of the metallurgic assay done by means of specimen sampling. Often also pieces are damaged that way. The metalsmith's responsibility is subject to a kind of paternal supervision, and this applies to the whole of Spain.

The galleries:

Galeria Alea S. L., opened in 2001, located in the Bome in the city center, a stone's throw from the probably most beautiful and most important church in Barcelona, Santa Maria Del Mar. The gallery is situated in a small space adjoined to the shop of Enric Majoral. Proprietress Lali Mensa exhibits on a quarter yearly basis differing exhibitions, often with a theme in the gallery's simple and distinct display cases in appr. 25 square meters.
http://www.aleagaleria.com

Galeria Amaranto, opened in 2000, located in Gracia quarter, gallerist Grego Garcia Tebar who also makes jewelry. The gallery lies somewhat aside from the commercial city center, which is probably why it is frequented mainly by locals. It has distinct display cases, and due to the fact that the exhibitions can be viewed clearly this achieves a pronounced space division.
http://www.d-dos.com/expoanuschka.html

Galeria Hipòtesi, the oldest existing gallery shop in the well situated Eixample quarter. Gallerist Maria Lluisa Samaranch organizes 3 to 4 exhibitions yearly with more northern European artists. The display cases are somewhat questionable but situated in a spacious room, although one never really knows exactly what is being shown unless one asks.
No website available

Galeria KLIMT by Amador Bertomeo and Leo Caballero. They have been on-line since 2002 with their website for and about international jewelry makers. With their gallery they both represent probably the most modern project: also in Eixample quarter, opened in 2007 on the 2nd floor. They exibit their concept of modern jewelry in two generous spaces with a clear display area.
http://www.klimt02.net/gallery

Galeria Meko, since 1988 near Palau de la Musica Catalana (heyday of Catalan Modernism). Gallerist Carmen Pintor has for 5 years been showing mostly Spanish jewelers; from January through November, according to a specifically defined motto: the "Window Display of Diversity".
http://www.galeriameko.com

The organizations:

Orfebres FAD - Thankfully this society has had a change in management bringing in a fresh wind. This year they will be represented at Inhorgenta Munich; have organized "Enjoia't" ("Eingeschmückt" - embellished, decorated, adorned), a competition for students and professional jewelers. It seems that new things are occuring regarding jewelry in order to reach a different and new audience. They are trying to break the ice by means of several conferences and planned workshops. Yearly member fee 300€.
http://orfebresfad.blogspot.com

Atresans de Catalunya (Craft trades of Catalonia) - In the recently fully restaurated building on the Calle Banys Nous they present everything within the scope of traditional work in craft related professions. There is also much support for Orfebres FAD and for example lectures held there.
http://www.artesania-catalunya.com/informacio/es/portada.html

With the Col-legi de Joiers, Orfebres, Relotgers, Gemologs, short JORGE, we have a fairly peculiar and newly registered organization that attempts to cover and control all fields of jewelry. There are signs that this could possibly be compared to the German guild system (Handwerkskammern = Chambers of Handicraft). In my own personal experience with this organization's formation and promotion and in which seats are occupied by the former FAD people, it is all about power instead of content, even if "merely" regarding a field as small as jewelry. A lot of energy is wasted in a constant power struggle instead of being concentrated on content (which is often missing around jewelry) or into promoting this profession that is always being technicalized anyway. In my opinion this organization is the absurdest feat achieved here so far. Possibly the most questionable issue regarding this enterprise is the competition that they create in offering their own program of expensive courses instead of drawing up an actualized curriculum for Catalonia or even Spain itself and supporting existing schools. From the Collegis' point of view only education and competition in the private sector is to be encouraged and promoted. Yearly fee 720 €.
http://www.jorgc.org/main.asp

Presently active artists:

Gemma Draper, Grego Garcia Tebar, Ana Font, Pilar Cotter, Teresa Capella, Carmen Pintor, Estela Saez, Nicolás Estrada, Rinaldo Álvarez, Lourdes Carmelo, Juan Capdevila, Marc Monzo, Tensi Solana, Silvia Piva, Blanca Sánchez, Gloria Gasleti, Gimena Rios, Jaime Diaz, Marta Boan, Cinta Sala, Martina Pons, Montse Rego, Pilar Marsà, Carmen Amador, Natàlia Torné, Jose Castro, Miguel Garcia, Carol Sarafar, Rosa Ballata, Javier M. Frias, Gigi Kohnen, Christine Hrwart, Lou Andrea Savoir, Walter Cheng, Natascha Grant, Ana Copian, Anie Michie, Sivia Sera.

Marcus Teipel, Barcelona
(Translation: Andrea Wagner, Amsterdam)