MEDAL SYMPOSIUM 2005
IN UHERSKE HRADISTE
(TSCHECHISCHE REPUBLIK, CZECH REPUBLIC)

         This is the eight edition of the International bronze-casting symposium in  the town of Uherské Hradiště. The event was organized by the town Uherské Hradiště, the Moravian Slovak Museum and the Secondary School of Applied Art, but it was the well-known Czech sculptor Jiří  Vlach who was instrumental in making it happen.

        Many artists from different countries have taken part in this symposium. I was attending the Kremnica Medallic Symposium in 2002 when I visited my colleagues in Uherské Hradiště. I was very pleased with the creative atmosphere there. So, I gladly accepted the invitation to participate in the symposium in the summer of 2005.

       The event is housed in the Secondary School of Applied Art. The participants can take advantage of all the workshops and studios of the Ceramics and Stone carving department as well as an improvised kitchen where my colleagues took turns in showing off some of their typical national dishes.      

        The symposium in Uherské Hradištěis famous for its perfect casting in bronze. The participants get their works ready in wax and there is casting three times under the guidance of great masters in the field Jiří  Vlach and Miroslav Kovářík. Every casting is a somewhat of a celebration and it is frequently attended by guests. At the end of the day there is some meat instead of metal roasting on the fire to go with the famous Czech beer.

        Another important figure connected with organizing the symposium is PhDr. Milada Frolcová of the Moravian Slovak Museum in Uherské Hradiště. She organizes an exhibition in the museum of the participants’ works.  

       Here are some photos of the artist who attended the Eighth Symposium for Medals and Small Sculptural Forms and some of their works.

 Text and photos  B. Nikolov