This autumn, events held under the banner A Thing for Art once again bring together initiatives by Cracovian artists, designers, foundations, associations, galleries, studios, artisans and producers. They are united by their original approach to the world around them. We will discover once again that all spheres of life can provide a creative challenge. For example, the exhibition Camouflage at the UFO Art Gallery explores the links between art and fashion, lessons of Gothic calligraphy at the Dydo Poster Gallery note the growing popularity of the art of beautiful handwriting, while workshops prepared by the RH Plus Chamber of Commerce explore the latest culinary trends.
“Events held as part of this year’s A Thing for Art. Design in Kraków have several goals. They reveal trends in various spheres involving art, craft, design and simply good taste, as well as providing educational components through workshops and meetings for all age groups. We are also constantly facing up to the challenge we set ourselves a few years ago: to showcase Cracovian creativity through myriad forms created by individuals, small and medium enterprises and institutions. By bringing them together under the banner A Thing for Art. Design in Kraków, we are able to conduct more extensive promotional activities and express our belief in the importance of their activities and their role in Kraków’s cultural landscape,” says Katarzyna Olesiak, coordinator of the project at the Department of Culture and National Heritage at the Kraków City Office.
This year’s events show that fashion – always closely linked with the art of design – has many names, and former trends frequently return in new contexts. We will explore themes such as the current attitude to folklore, fashion from the communist era to the present day (we will take a peek into the wardrobes of past and present celebrities) and icons of Polish design reflected in the popularity of vintage styles. We will encounter many examples of applied art from the 1960s and 1970s, for example at meetings at the Kraków Glassworks. The factory produced artistic glass admired in Poland and beyond; one of the leading designers was Marian Gołogórski who has been running his own gallery for many years. During meetings with the public, glassmakers recreate one of his designs from the 1970s.
As usual, the programme includes numerous fairs (Vintage and Retro Kogel Mogel fairs and Nówka Sztuka), meetings with representatives of the fashion industry at the Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design (Kraków Meetings with Design) and shows as part of the Debut Zone at the Design Forum.
Although creativity is mainly seen as the domain of artists, we are all born with it and we should all strive to cultivate it. A major part of the programme is aimed at the youngest visitors, including workshops developing their talents and interests and information about architecture, book illustrations and fashion design.
Lectures, workshops, exhibitions, guided tours… You can find the full review of the events (some of which will be held online) on Facebook.
