Artist Marie Brozova recalls her public drawing event in Holland, first one abroad.
The first invitation abroad for our project The Defense of Colored Pencils began a great process of crossing borders. More than ever, we realized, how much we had been damaged during those first fifteen years of our lives that we had to spend in the bondage of the communist era. We were just leaving elementary school, when fortune smiled on our country. But still, we are full of Kafka-like fear of crossing the borders of any kind, fear of great opportunities that we often wave aside saying: "No, not yet", because saying "yes" would be extremely dangerous, though attractive.
But we have said "yes" without thinking it over, when we got an offer after our successful performance in Trebon's International Festival of Animated Films AniFest 2005 – the invitation to Holland, to Alexandeschool in Bennekom near Arnhem.
We were afraid of going abroad, but we were accepted so warmly that we felt more at home than in many places in our own Czech Republic. I fell in love with Holland at first sight. The flat land with low fluffy clouds, the small houses with even smaller prettified gardens, you would think you had wandered into a Hobbit Village. And Dutch people were real Hobbits too, warmhearted, hospitable, friendly, with a very positive attitude to all earthly joys of life, such as cookery, drinking wine and beauty in all things of daily use.
Thanks to our dear friend Jan, a teacher and a prolific artist, who watches all the funny Hobbits with patience and tolerance for their childish joys and obsessions (like the wizard Gandalf), we had the chance to see at least a small part of Holland not from the tourist’s view, but like welcomed friends. But even an evening walk around the village was an interesting tour around Hobbit settlements. They indulge in a strange habit to leave their curtains open, so you could see clearly deep into the Bag End. We felt like two Elves visiting the strange land, because especially children at the school viewed us as mysterious, exotic beings. It took them a few days before they loosened up and found out, why they were learning English. For many of them it was their first English practice.
Even though it was quite difficult to carry out the whole project in English, we were rewarded with a peace of mind and heart-at-ease throughout all days of my public drawing. Not even one aggressive attack, no envious remarks, nor the vulgarities we rarely escape in the Czech Republic. We experienced happiness, admiration and enthusiasm – not only from children, but also from their parents and other visitors, who came to see the public drawing. The drawing "Waterfall" became a part of the Water project going on at the school. The main purpose of this project was to give the children an idea of water not only in a scientific sense, but also in the social, spiritual and art context.
The pupils were very intensive and independent in their studies. Although they were full of vigor I hadn’t seen any case of aggression. Their plan of study was very informal and benevolent during the Water project and, in spite of that, I hadn’t heard any teacher raise his voice to bring attention. They rang the school bell only as a curiosity for my benefit, they did not need it. Children looked forward to their lessons, they spent more time at school than in their homes (in Holland, children start to attend elementary school when they are four years old). Even after their lessons they often play football in front of their teachers’ staffroom windows. They yelled without fear and when the ball hit the window, I told myself: "This wouldn’t be possible in the Czech Republic." But the teachers told me, that the window had never been broken…
On the last day of my public drawing I got a wonderful present from the children – a book full of their drawings, inspired by my drawing, some in colored pencils, some full of rainbows, mermaids other details from my Waterfall drawing.
When I write all this, I feel almost apologetic as I praise the Dutch education system and I compare my Dutch experience with my Czech problems. But I cannot deny that my work abroad felt somewhat easier, I did not have to be on the alert for possible attacks and troubles. In our country, after almost twenty years from the fall of communism, there is a high level of hostility among people, rivalry, money-making fever, desire to catch up on everything what was missed, need to grab what you can with all the consequences.
During my public drawing I can clearly see the negative impact of parents discussing money matters over their children’s heads. Not even one child in Holland had asked me about the price of my originals even though they were able to express themselves in English quite fluently, and didn’t hesitate to ask about other matters. In the Czech Republic it is sadly one of the most frequently asked questions in children. What would you answer to aquestion like that from a five year-old child?
And what should I say in conclusion?
We found that the Middle-earth is large and that Elves are welcomed everywhere, where there are people sensitive to beauty and poetry, even though it is drawn in humble colored pencils.
We are going to travel abroad with our project soon again!
VISIT MARIE BROZOVA’S VIRTUAL GALLERY
www.angels-fairies-unicorns.com,
where you’ll find both the drawings created during public events and in the studio.
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signed author prints ready for framing, postcards and more.