Artist Marie Brozova's memoir of her public drawing event in Kladno, as a part of the Melon Carving Festival.
When you mention the city of Kladno in our country, most people visualize the notorious red glow – the symbol of its communist past, industrial shabby city and factories of the Poldi Kladno steel mill. My vision of Kladno was no better, and I had never tried to visit this place before.
The reason, why I decided to go to Kladno with my project The Defense of Colored Pencils was, in fact, an invitation to the Melon Festival which is held every year in this city. I must say that melons are my favorite fruit, the most beautiful symbol of summer, together with ice cream.
I was really amazed when I came to Kladno for the first time, and saw the newly renovated city center, and the main Masaryk Avenue with a very inventive sun clock, though modern and in harmony with the nearby baroque church. I was supposed to work on my drawing at this very place, near the sun clock with fountain. Everything surrounding was new and tidy. I was also surprised that Kladno, which is the symbol of industry, is bordered by beautiful nature and many interesting places. When you are nearing Kladno, it looks like an island in the green sea.
Local people were very active, energetic and attentive. They often came well prepared; they knew about my public drawing from announcements and they visited my website in such detail that I was somewhat taken aback. I was very glad to meet a senior man, living in the old people’s home, who loved to draw with colored pencils and came to learn new skills.
Kladno is nevertheless a city of great social contrasts. I explained the meaning of my project to luxurious noble ladies, dressed with taste comparable with the Prague cream of society and a few yards away there were gypsy children drinking murky water from the fountain and bathing in it, as if it were a swimming pool. I remember a small gypsy girl, who asked me many intelligent questions and seemed to be really interested in my colored pencil technique and the next day she came back to tell me: "I’m sorry I forgot to thank you. So, thank you very much. Good bye."
I would also like to reply to a young lady, who only hissed in
my ear: "I
can see that nobody walked over you. That you’ve never been
belittled." She didn’t wait for my answer and rushed
away. My answer is:
I wish nobody to hear what I must have heard
about my art, studying the art school and then from all of those
qualified "judges of taste." I have never followed
a beaten path. When people envy me and my husband all those positive
aspects of public performance and publicity, they don’t know
what cost we must pay. When someone tells me: "I wasn’t
that lucky," I can hardly make him see that one needs much
more than luck. You must be courageous, tough and independent to
be really happy and content in fulfilling your vocation.
But I
know I can only smile and say: "Oh yes, being lucky is the
best way to be."
Besides all that we experienced, a private miracle thanks to our friends’ help with the problem of our lodgings. Part of this miracle was an ancient small castle, two Saint Bernard dogs, a black cat called Devil (just like one of ours), a fairy-tale garden with alleys of grown up trees, Turkish olives and an extremely hospitable couple.
This was by far the best base camp of our project that we ever had.
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.
NOW YOU CAN ORDER
signed author prints ready for framing, postcards and more.