A stone with a purpose.

Video still: Anti carrying the stone from the residence to the park.

I moved a stone, an obstacle that blocked the flow of creative thinking in the life of the children. What happens with stone when it has been moved? Does it remain an obstacle but just in a different location, or can it serve a new purpose?

Video still: Digging the hole.

During the exhibition ritual I promised to lay the 'altar' stone in the park that separates the house from the town. A symbolic gesture, wishing it to a stepping stone for the kids to the town and the foundation for new developments, connections, ways of thinking. Today I got confirmation that the stone has not become another obstacle in a new location, but that it has indeed has already become a stone with a different function as a rock, a foundation for something new.

Video still: Kids watching with interest.

I visited the director of the orphanage to thank him and to say goodbye. He thanked me for showing a different way of working with the children and that as a result he will think differently and will continue to do so in the future. Well that was just music in my ears. It gives me hope that change is always possible, no matter how 'stuck' systems or people seem. The Berlin wall came down, maybe one day the parameter fence of the orphanage will too. From the inside out hopefully as that would be most empowering.

Video still: All set.

The director cannot do this alone, he will need support from visionaries who can envisage change, new possibilities, different modes of thinking and operating. I hope he will have the courage to implement change. He has Szilvia as an ally, which is a great start. Accessing creative thinking is a crucial tool for growth. A simple art project as I did with the children can make a difference and is proof to me that access to the arts in its widest possible meaning is extremely important for humans and human development.

Video still: Tucking it in.

I derive great satisfaction from knowing that what I have set in motion will not stop with my departure. I am an idealist, wanting to move mountains, easily frustrated when they don't move the way I see possible. With online support from friends in New Zealand (Lynsey, Marica) and The Netherlands (Henriette) I have learned to be satisfied with the small subtle changes. There is no such thing as charity, there is always an exchange when one engages with other people, a teacher is also a student and the student is also a teacher. This is the foundation of critical pedagogy which, alongside writings by Paolo Friere has influenced my way of working with people and communities. This has been true in this project as well. I have learned so much and have been able to grow personally for which I am really grateful.

Video still: paying a spontaneous tribute.

So, I am saying goodbye to all the readers of this blog, as my role as Bridge Guard ends with my departure tomorrow. I will be traveling to The Netherlands and Turkey to film, followed by an adventurous holiday in Syria, what comes after that I have no idea. I will continue posting on my own blog: http://marcel.baaijens.blogspot.com as I continue my Bardo, my journey of transformation. I know my life has changed as a result of my experience here. I plan to be back in Sturovo his summer to finish video projects and I hope embark on a new adventure as well that may begin in Sturovo. I will keep you posted. Thank you for your company and interest.

A big thanks to the town of Sturovo for the residence, Gyuri Himmler from the cultural association 'Sturovo and Vicinity' for providing local support and last but not least the initiators of the residency Karol and Hanneke Fruehauf.

The best of luck to Theresa Cebrian, the 8th Bridge Guard who will arrive shortly in Sturovo from Spain.

Marcel Baaijens, signing off as the 7th Bridge Guard.

Video still: I have embedded sacred New Zealand jade (Ponamu), the two halves of my pendant, as 'protection' on either side of the stone.

The Pillar Supporting the Bridge

A bridge will not survive without solid support, neither will the 'Bridge Guard'. My work with the kids from the orphanage would not have been possible with the fantastic loyal support of Szilvia Novak. She had just started working at the orphanage as a pedagogue when I came along. She acted not only as my interpreter, but also as my colaborator in the project. She organised the kids to come to the studio at 3 pm daily, she collected any information I needed, spoke with the director on my behalf, provided me with honest feedback, and last but not least became a very good friend. We share the positive belief in the children (there are some who don't) and an addiction to chocolate. (If anyone has a spare bar of chocolate to spare, just send it to her.) We laughed, moaned, worried and solved problems together. She was happy to be working behind the scene but she deserves a bright spotlight. She did all the above while looking after two kids of her own as a solo Mum and writing a thesis. She is smart, modest and has a golden heart, a rare combination that makes her very special. I know you will continue to advocate and provide access to the arts for the children. You did an amazing job in helping me move a heavy stone on earth and free up the flow of many rivers as a result. So a big thank you to Szilvia.
Szilvia and the bridge.

Beans for a Boy

Video stills from a dinner with a boy:
Dried beans soaking in water.

One day Balint, 9 year old Hungarian boy came to visit me one day with his mother. While we were busy talking in the studio he sneaked into the kitchen where leftovers from lunch were still sitting in a pot on the stove. He took a tea spoon out of the drawer, tasted the vegetarian bean dish, washed the spoon and put it back again into the drawer, leaving no trace of his secret mission. Once home he told his mother and said that my food tasted really good!

A toast with fresh apple juice.

Consuming a bean.

So I decided to invite him over for dinner one night, but alone!!! His mother dropped him off, and the two of us had to make conversation over dinner without an interpreter. The only thing we both agreed to do is talk and reply regardless weather we understood anything that was being said, which was most likely very little, if anything at all.

No thanks, to the second helping.

Homemade ice cream for desert.

He brought with him a wonderful gift, a handmade book containing a short story illustrated with art, diagrams and even a musical notation for a song. It became a great conversation piece. I still don't know what it is about, but it is quite magical.

He is trying to explain his story to me, I am trying to make sense of it.


He liked the dinner and the whole event so much that he now wants to cook a dinner for me at his place! This is tentatively scheduled for later this summer as time is running out with only one day left. I filmed the whole event and once I have figured out what was said I intend to edit it and show for all to enjoy.

Text and a song.

I thought it was extremely brave of this kid to go to the house of a foreigner, have dinner with him on his own and eat food that he is not accustomed to. This kid does not know what xenophobia is and with his fantastic attitude and sense of adventure probably never will. The relative social isolation I have experienced in Sturovo from adults has been compensated for by the wonderful spontaneous interactions with kids.

A pirate turned into a cow, or something... (translation pending)

Spring Cleaning

Click HERE to view the above publication.

I just finished the creation of a blog for outsider artist Yelena Barbalich from Wellington, New Zealand. I had the pleasure to work with Yelena for six years through Art Compass Studio-Gallery. I promised to create a portfolio blog for her. Together with publishing three other Art Compass publications online I have tied up all loose ends from my previous commitments in New Zealand. It was important to make these blogs public as testimonies to an amazing project I did for five years prior to becoming the Bridge Guard. I had to close the project due to lack of funding.


Click HERE to view the above publication.

Today I met a person with intellectual disabilities who like many others in the world sit at home all day, doing little. I have discovered that some have amazing creative abilities that can enhance the life of many including their own.


Click HERE to view the above publication.

Art is such a meaningful occupation of time for anyone, but specially for those who are deemed by society to be redundant. All the artists featured in these four publications have touched so many hearts and changed so many minds. Their work is enhancing the lives of those who bought their work. In the New Zealand project we also sold copyrights of art and designs used for graphic design, T-shirts, buildings, gift boxes, jewelry, wrapping paper, etc.



Click HERE to view the above publication.

All is well, bridge still standing.

I am taking a break from my daily observations of the bridge. It is time for me to shrink all my possessions that are scattered around this spacious residence into a tiny backpack. This coming Friday I will leave this residency and make space for the next Bridge Guard. Being here is not over, but I can already conclude that I feel very privileged that I have been given the opportunity to serve as a Bridge Guard in Sturovo. The glorious weather that has been blessing this place since Easter is helping me to shed the double dose of winter blues. It was not a tough winter, but even two mild winters in a row can be a bit much.

The feedback from the exhibition has been very positive, the continuous spontaneous interactions with the kids, meeting new people as the sun is warming up the town and the visit of Monique are making these last few days go very fast.

Below images from Adrian, Szilvia and me playing with a beetle and trying to convince Adrian that his prickly legs won't hurt him. Because of the creative process I did with Adrian, a solid bridge has been forged between him, Szilvia and myself that make spending time together such a joy. We have his full trust, as we gave him our trust. We have his full respect, as we gave him respect. It was so simple, but so effective. What did I get out of this? The opportunity and the excuse to connect with my inner child. What does that mean? Well just observe the following sequence of Images of Adrian. He does it naturally, hopefully all his life.

Trojan Horses in Sturovo

As part of the exhibition the kids and I made Trojan horses that were displayed around the Main street in the heart of Sturovo. It was used as a draw card to make people curious about the exhibition. At the same time however is was a symbolic gesture by me to conquer the hearts of the people of Sturovo on behalf of the kids from the orphanage. By showing a different side of the children people may begin to see that the kids are more than just orphans.

Visiting Bridge Guard No.2

Monique Besten (Netherlands), who was the 2nd Bridge Guard visited Sturovo for a few days.It was great to meet her and 'compare notes' of our experiences as the Bridge Guard in Sturovo.

Borders and Barriers: exhibition documentation.

Images used in Trojan horse (L): The Children


Images used in Trojan Horse (R): Borders and Barriers in Town.



Mapping Xenophobia: Digital media printed on paper (A4).

"There is much apathy and depression present among people who have been oppressed by an authoritarian regime such as communism. Communism discouraged people from being authentic, connecting with one’s Soul and with other Souls. The regime is gone but the effects it had on people such as sub-conscience, internalised xenophobia have not. Xenophobia, the dislike or fear of foreign people, their customs and culture is still present and effects people like gypsies, gays, children in an orphanage, a visiting artist from New Zealand, Jews, Muslims, etc.", Marcel Baaijens

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I created a ritual for the exhibition opening to acknowledge the end of project I did with the children and the fact that I had to surrender the responsibility I had taken on for their creative development.

The elements used in the ritual were: river stones from the Danube which flows past the orphanage, silk orange fabric and ribbons from India (orange is the colour associated with the second chakra, the chakra of creation), a plastic 'magic wand', a candle and some spring flowers symbolizing new beginnings.

Children's Art

Dear children,

Our time has come to an end. It is time to continue on our respective journeys through life. It was a privilege to have been part of yours. You brought sunshine in my life with your smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to accept my challenge to do the best you can.

A stone has been moved in the river and the water will never flow the same again. What was once a barrier has become a steppingstone. Please take a stone as a reminder of the creative time we spent together.

I hope that whenever you have to make important decisions for yourself, you will remember your ability to be creative. I will now use this magic wand to transform these ordinary river stones into commemorative ones.

The large stone represents the responsibility for the creative development of the children. I will place this stone in the park separating the orphanage from the town. I will leave the stone in Sturovo and release myself from the responsibility and hand it back to the town. May the stone be a symbolic foundation supporting the development of new connections to between the children and the town.


.

Borders and Barriers (English)

‘Borders and Barriers’ is an art exhibition by Marcel Baaijens from New Zealand. Marcel is serving as the 7th Bridge Guard at the Bridge Guard Art and Science residency in Sturovo. The exhibition illustrates his attempts of building bridges using art as a connective medium between:
1. The children from the local orphanage and him self,
2. The children and each child’s authentic self,
3. The children and the people of Sturovo.

For the first and second bridge Marcel invited two children at a time into his art studio to make art. Thirty-two children took up the challenge. Most children would initially draw pictures with three blue clouds and a yellow sun. Such pictures have little to do with art or creativity but all with conformity.

Marcel then used his art facilitation skills to draw out a more personal picture with a unique individual quality. His approach, which is founded on ‘Critical Pedagogy’, is radically different from traditional art education offered through the school system. It is an individual approach based on the following two simple yet essential assumptions:
1. Everyone is creative.
2. There are no mistakes in art.

In order to engage in art, or any form of creative thinking, people need a safe environment and permission to connect with their authentic selves. Generally children and adults are discouraged from connecting with their authentic selves. This is especially true for children who are raised in institutional settings where they are cared for and managed in groups. Discipline, compliance, and the comfort of the carers/managers and the group often come before the interest and needs of the individual and determine what children can or cannot explore in life. In such settings it is easy loose one’s unique identity, one’s self esteem and faith.

Offering each child the opportunity to create art in the studio with Marcel has been a unique experience for many of the children, one Marcel hopes they will remember whenever they have to make important choices in life. Creativity is a crucial skill for navigating life. It is all about making the best choices for oneself, without creative thinking, one will default to conformity. In doing so one’s Soul is denied expression.When the Soul is denied expression, apathy and depression set in.

There is much apathy and depression present among people who have been oppressed by an authoritarian regime such as communism. Communism discouraged people from being authentic, connecting with one’s Soul and with other Souls. The regime is gone but the effects it had on people such as sub-conscience, internalised xenophobia have not. Xenophobia, the dislike or fear of foreign people, their customs and culture is still present and effects people like gypsies, gays, children in an orphanage, a visiting artist from New Zealand, Jews, Muslims, etc.

Sub-conscience xenophobia can easily transform into hate, which easily transforms into aggression. Xenophobia is an invisible sub-conscience barrier that is much harder to recognise and overcome than any visible state border or natural barrier such as the Danube. Becoming conscious of the existence of a barrier, by naming it or making it visible is a first important step in overcoming it. How else does one learn why and where a bridge is needed?

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Marcel employs the metaphor of the siege of Troy to make this barrier visible. The city wall of Troy was an insurmountable barrier that was overcome with creative thinking. The Maria Valeria Bridge has been rebuild, the national borders opened, but an invisible ‘Trojan’ sub-conscience barrier of xenophobia still survives today in post communist Eastern Europe. Becoming conscious of the existence of a barrier, by naming it or making it visible is a first important step in overcoming it.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

The third bridge that Marcel attempts to build consists of paper horses. Horses, decorated by the children of the orphanage and himself that will be strategically displayed in the heart of Sturovo. It is not a trick as in Troy to win a war, but a genuine attempt to raise awareness as well as an invitation to the people of Sturovo to take a closer look at the exhibition titled ‘Borders and Barriers’. The exhibition will feature artwork by the children from the orphanage, illustrations of the transformative process the children experienced and Trojan horses addressing issues of xenophobia.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

The exhibition will open on Friday 13 April, 5:00 p.m. and can also be viewed Saturday 14 April 10:00-5:00. The Trojan Horses are on display in the centre of Sturovo from 5 April till 15 April.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Hranice a bariéry (Slovak)

Fond "Stefan und Viera Frühauf"
Detský domov v Štúrove
Kultúrne združenie Štúrovo a okolie

Hranice a bariéry
Výstava Marcela Baaijensa (Nový Zéland)


Marcel je siedmym Strážcom mostu v Štúrove, ktorý pôsobí v tomto umeleckom a vedeckom centre. Výstava prezentuje jeho pokusy, ktorými stavia mosty prostriedkami umenia:
1. medzi sebou a deťmi miestneho detského domova
2. medzi deťmi a ich autentickým vnútorným svetom
3. medzi deťmi a obyvateľmi Štúrova

Pri stavbe prvého a druhého mostu Marcel pozval k sebe zakaždým dvoch detí do svojho ateliéru. Výzvu prijalo celkovo tridsaťdva detí. Drvivá väčšina z nich na prvý pokus kreslila obrazy typu „tri modré oblaky a jedno žlté slniečko“. Takéto obrazy nemajú veľa spoločného s kreativitou a umením, ale o to viac svedčia o prispôsobení. Potom deti pomocou Marcela vytvorili oveľa osobnejšie a jedinečnejšie obrazy, pričom vyplávala na povrch ich vlastná kreativita. Jeho pohľad vychádza z metódy Kreatívnej pedagogiky, ktorá sa radikálne líši od metódy, ktorú ponúka umelecká výchova zaužívaná v klasickom školskom systéme. Tento individuálny a jedinečný pohľad vychádza z dvoch hypotéz:
1. Každý je kreatívny
2. V umení neexistujú chyby

Vyhotovenie umeleckých diel znamenalo pre každé dieťa jedinečnú možnosť a skúsenosť. Marcel verí, že deti budú vždy spomínať na takto získané skúsenosti, keď budú stáť pred dôležitým životným rozhodnutím. Kreativita je totiž zásadná schopnosť potrebná k riadeniu života, prostredníctvom ktorého môžeme učiniť naše najlepšie rozhodnutia. Bez kreatívneho myslenia totiž jednotlivec môže blúdiť iba na ceste večného prispôsobenia sa.

Pri stavbe tretieho mostu Marcel používa metaforu trójskeho koňa, v záujme odbúrania neviditeľných bariér existujúcich medzi obyvateľmi mesta, resp. obyvateľmi detského domova. Múr Tróje bol totiž takou neprekonateľnou prekážkou, ktorá sa dala odbúrať jedine silou kreatívneho myslenia. Most Márie Valérie bol obnovený, ale podvedomá „trójska“ bariéra xenofóbie je aj dnes prítomná v hlavách ľudí. Prvým dôležitým krokom vedúcim k prekonaniu tejto bariéry je jej pomenovanie, čiže zviditeľnenie.

Tretí most pozostáva z tých papierových koní, ktoré vyhotovili spoločne deti z detského domova s Marcelom, a budú vystavené na strategickom mieste – v srdci Štúrova. Toto nie je trik, akým chceli dobyť onoho času Tróju, ale jeden úprimný pokus v záujme toho, aby sme upriamili svoj pohľad bez hraníc a bez bariér na tých, ktorí tieto diela vytvorili. Na výstave môžeme vidieť diela obyvateľov detského domova - ilustráciu procesu premeny, ktorá v ich skúsenosti prebehla.

Otvorenie výstavy bude 13. apríla 2007 (piatok) o 17,00 hod.
v Dome Strážcu mosta,
Pri colnici č. 2 (budova mestského múzea)

Výstava je prístupná aj 14. apríla 2007 (v sobotu) od 10,00 do 17,00 hod.
Každého očakávame s bezhraničnou láskavosťou !

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Határok és korlátok (Hungarian)

"Stefan und Viera Frühauf" Alap
Párkányi Gyermekotthon
Párkány és Vidéke Kulturális Társulás

Határok és korlátok
Marcel Baaijens, új-zélandi művész kiállítása

Marcel a Hídőr-ház – művészeti és tudományos központ – hetedik hídőre Párkányban. A kiállítás az ő próbálkozásait mutatja be, amelyek során a művészet eszközeivel hidakat teremt:
1. a helyi gyermekotthon növendékei és önmaga között
2. a gyerekek és azok autentikus világa között
3. a gyerekek és Párkány lakói között

Az első és második híd megalkotásakor Marcel kettesével hívta meg a gyerekeket a Hídőr-házban levő műtermébe. Harminckét gyerek vállalta a kihívást. Legtöbbjük elsőre „három kék felhő és egy sárga napocska” típusú képeket rajzolt. Az ilyen képeknek nem sok közük van a kreativitáshoz és a művészethez, de annál több az alkalmazkodáshoz.

Marcel segítségével ezután – saját kreativitásuk felszínre hozásával – egy sokkal személyesebb és egyedibb alkotást készítettek. Megközelítése a Kreatív pedagógia módszerét követi, amely radikálisan különbözik az oktatási rendszer által nyújtott hagyományos művészeti oktatástól. Ez az egyéni és egyedi megközelítés két alapvető feltevésen nyugszik:
1. Mindenki kreatív
2. A művészetben nincsenek hibák

A műalkotások elkészítése minden gyerek számára egyedülálló lehetőség és tapasztalat volt. A művész reméli, hogy a gyerekek mindig emlékezni fognak az így szerzett tapasztalatokra, ha valamilyen fontos döntést kell hozniuk az életben. A kreativitás ugyanis az élet irányításához szükséges döntő képesség, amely által a magunk számára legjobb döntéseket hozhatjuk. Ugyanis kreatív gondolkodás nélkül az egyén csupán az örökös alkalmazkodás mezsgyéjén bolyonghat.

A harmadik híd megalkotásakor Marcel a trójai faló metaforáját alkalmazza a város lakói és a gyermekotthon lakói között feszülő láthatatlan korlátok leküzdésére. A trójai városfal ugyanis egy olyan áthághatatlan akadály volt, amelyet csak a kreatív gondolkodás ereje győzhetett le. A Mária Valéria hidat újra felépítették, de a xenofóbia láthatatlan - „trójai“ - tudatalatti korlátja ma is jelen van az emberek fejében. Az első fontos lépés ezen korlát leküzdéséhez,hogy nevén nevezzük és ezáltal láthatóvá tegyük.

A harmadik híd azokból a papírlovakból épül, amelyeket a gyermekotthon növendékei és Marcel közösen készítettek és egy stratégiai helyen - Párkány szívében - lesznek kiállítva. Ez nem egy olyan trükk, amellyel annakidején le akarták győzni Tróját, hanem egy őszinte próbálkozás annak érdekében, hogy határok és korlátok nélkül tekinthessünk azokra, akik ezeket készítették. A kiállításon a gyermekotthon lakóinak munkáit, az általuk megtapasztalt átalakulás folyamatának illusztrálását láthatjuk.

A kiállítás megnyitója 2007. április 13-án (pénteken), 17,00 órakor lesz
a párkányi Hídőr-házban,
Vámház köz 2 (a városi múzeum épülete).

Megtekinthető továbbá április 14-én (szombaton) 10-től 17 óráig.

Korlátlan szeretettel várunk mindenkit !

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Week 24

Images: Facilitation process with Martin(8).

26/3 Monday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
The initial painting made by Martin. He rushed the process as he was keen to get on to the computer. Note the three blue clouds and one yellow sun along the top of the page. Most children drew the same symbols in exactly the same quantities. Which well-meaning but uninspiring teacher taught kids that clouds are blue, that there are always three of them in a drawing and that the sun is yellow and shines from the corner of the page?

Works like that are signs of conformity rather than creativity. With the right encouragement, a bit of challenging, and a safe environment for kids to experiment the following process can take place with a very different result that is individual and creative. It sends quite a different message to the kids at the same time; it is O.K. to think creatively and as an individual rather than follow a majority or superior (blindly).

27/3 Tuesday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
First he just mucked about a bit, but then it was time to ask him to concentrate and make the most of this opportunity, and he did.

28/3 Wednesday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He wanted a new page and began drawing with intent.

29/3 Thursday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
I showed him how to use elements of his initial painting, which he was keen to try out.

30/3 Friday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He got the hang of it quickly and was able to take control of the mouse and the process himself, changing colour, size, and position of elements of his work.

31/3 Saturday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He continued to develop and layer his work, something unimaginable an hour earlier while painting.

1/4 Sunday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
The end result demonstrates his growth in one session. It also shows that kids like Martin are able to be creative and unique, if only adults can let them. Can a town like Sturovo handle creative individuals or does it only feel safe with conforming citizen?