Trebon (or) The Icy Saint's Revenge

Artist Marie Brozova's recollections of the coldest public drawing event so far.

When the so called icy saint, St. Pancras, St. Service and St. Bonifas (celebrating their holidays in May-changing weather) heard, that I decided to draw a drawing titled "The Water Sprite’s Household" out in the main Masaryk Square inthe fish-farming town – Trebon, taking part in the international festival of animated films AniFest 2005, they were very amused. And their cook, St. Sophie, clasped her hands, asking maliciously, "So what kind of weather are we going to cook for her?"

And they could not stop laughing. Well, what else can you expect from the icy saints?

At first it was raining. "OK, it could be worse," we said and retired to hide under the arcades. The water sprite drawing got so wet that I had to be careful not to tear the paper while drawing. The temperature dropped to 7 – 20°C, but since I am an invincible optimist, I visited a nearby cinema bathroom every hour and warmed my hands under a flow of hot water. I consoled myself: "Thank God it’s not freezing."

My drawing was going well, it was getting wetter and wetter everyday, but I was supported by enthusiastic and cold spa-patients and also the main sponsor of the festival, Jameson. We got a bottle of whisky as a present that saved our life and health throughout the week.

As the next dramatic number, hailstones came bouncing off the square. The festival projectionist spread great news about a blizzard coming here from the Alps, "The snowstorm will surely be here in two hours!" he claimed with a wide smile. All the movies were full, the streets were empty. In spite of this my Water sprite drawing won its regular visitors, who kept coming back despite bad weather. Were it not for them, I would have run away, Lord is my witness. Especially when I spotted romantic lace-like snowflakes falling peacefully down on the last day of my public drawing.

I’m afraid that the icy saints wanted to give me an original present – it was my 30th birthday…