“There and Back Again”
My first exposition after having returned from the States was at the JUFA Hotel Graz City. Its title “There and Back Again” sounds familiar to avid readers of Tolkien´s books on Middle Earth, for it is borrowed from Bilbo narratives about his journey to the lonely mountain and back to the Shire. Having gone on a long journey to the States and having found back to Graz, I felt obligated to draw an association between the two adventures. Becoming reacquainted with my roots unraveled many obvious differences, yet also revealed unforeseen similarities. Such state of affairs was the foundation upon which I based this small exhibition. Held in one tiny conference room only, with only the dearest of friends and family around me, I presented two worlds: Minneapolis and Graz.
“There…”
“There” in Minneapolis you experience climatic extremes from +30 to -30 degrees Celsius. Winter lasts for 5 months and the land is flat. Lake Superior, a freshwater lake the size of Austria, borders Minnesota to the north. Architecture, nature, the people, simply everything is to be discovered, small as well as big differences. The exhibition showed 14 paintings of cities and landscapes from Minnesota, Wisconsin, California and Nevada.
”…and Back Again.” Anyone who grows up in Austria quickly becomes accustomed to farmhouses in the mountains and decorated windowsills full of primroses and geraniums. For someone returning to Austria, such things are no longer taken for granted and you gain a deep appreciation for even the smallest details. Styria has a number of cottages that are well worth seeing. 14 paintings illustrate the city of Graz, farmhouses in the Alps, and summer landscapes in Lower Austria.
“…and Back Again.”
Huddled together, and sometimes on top of each other I presented 28 paintings, mostly water color or acrylic. No exposition catalogue to hand out, only a few photos exist. No website to market the event, leave alone any meaningful organization. However this little showing encouraged the desire to continue my painting, and present new pieces in a regular fashion.