Kooji does Poland...Again!

We returned to visit our friends in Lublin, this time to help promote the work of the centre and it's incredibly talented artists. Our mission is to help raise an awareness of the adults with learning difficulties, who struggle to be taken seriously in the art world. Kooji will be assisting them with a variety of promotional media including a flash website and CD-ROM showcase of the artwork.


Whilst there we also met up with one of our Polish counterparts, a film maker named Hubert working for Fuga Mundi. His films show us how disabilites are being overcome to allow people to contribute to society if they are given the opportunity. We will be producing a showreel CD to help him reach out with his films and gain more interest in future projects.

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Seven

Farewell

Marzena had kindly helped us to organise a minibus for the return trip to the airport in Warsaw. This made it far easier than the trip on the way here and we really appreciated her advice. The drive back was very comfortable and fast too, as we took the newly completely motorway that was only in its first stages of completion last June. The flight home allowed us time to reflect on our experiences over the last week. Everyone was far quieter than during the outbound flight, but after such an amazing week it wasn’t surprising. Dave, our Leeds Met minibus driver, was waiting for us at the East Midlands airport and it was great seeing him again. I nattered away at him in the bus for a few minutes about our trip, but the tiredness overcame me soon enough (to his relief most likely!)

Toodleloo! Pip Pip Cheerio!

We were the last to disembark and we thanked Dave again for his help. It was the end of another tremendous adventure!

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Six

Fundacja Miedzy Nami

Today was a very early start, but the whole team were really excited about the day ahead. We all dashed off for the bus to Kreznica Jara, a village just outside the city of Lublin, where the arts therapy centre ‘Fundacja Miedzy Nami’ is based. We spent the morning collecting the remaining footage for our project and checking over all the details with Marzena and her IT Manager. There was a lot to discuss with them about the documentary film and promotional flash website, that is being produced as part of our final year group project. These will be used to help raise an awareness of the centre and its artists. Johnny and I will be working on the flash website as an ongoing project through our company Kooji Creative, once the initial version is completed in time for my end of year show.

The artists in the Handicrafts Workshop

Shrek inspired artwork :)

A beautiful hand-made landscape

Slawek working on his woven rug

A huge selection of rugs, cushions and nick-nacks

A closer look

Branded T-Shirts

We gathered video footage of the artists in the workshops and took high resolution photos of artwork that will be used in the gallery section of the website. Although we were tempted to continue working, Marzena invited us to take a break. Today’s lunch was a generous serving of our most favourite Polish dish: Pierogi. This had been cooked in the Cookery Workshop earlier that day and was delicious.

We felt that this was the most appropriate time to show our appreciation for sharing this meal with us, and began presenting everyone with the specially made branded t-shirts we had produced for them. The Student Centred Change Management office had kindly agreed to pay for these and they were very well received by all. It was an extremely emotional moment and I was really taken aback by the reaction of our friend, Agnieszka, who we had been told was very nervous around cameras. Nothing seemed further from the truth when she pulled me towards the cameras and gave me a huge hug. It was incredible.

Marzena claps as the gifts are dished out

(left to right) Wieslawa, Marzena, Anna and Jolanta

Check out all those sponsors!

Katherine and new friend Agnieszka

Another heart-breaking moment was when one of the disabled participants came to us looking for his t-shirt. We looked all over but couldn’t find his size. Raf took off the t-shirt he was wearing and gave it to him. It was an amazing gesture and really selfless of him.

Chata Swojsko Strawa

That evening we took Marzena, Janusz and Justyna to a local restaurant called ‘Chata’ and treated them all to a meal. It was our way of thanking them for such a memorable visit. It also gave us the opportunity to present Marzena with the money we had raised over the last few months from Cake Sales and fundraising events for Fundacja Miedzy Nami. Many of the ceramic pieces that are made at FMN are shipped over to Emaus in Cambridge and then transported to Leeds Met. Selling these in the UK is a large part of this fundraising initiative as they are very popular here and can generate a lot of interest.

Katherine presenting Marzena with the fundraising money

The artists in the Ceramics Workshop and a selection of their work:


Later the same evening our friend Hubert Gorczyca from Fundacja Fuga Mundi, the video production company we were introduced to during our last visit, came to see us. We hope to help FFM and Hubert later this year to promote his film projects. Seeing him again was brilliant and it gave us a chance to catch up.

The time came to say our farewells and we waved goodbye to our friends. To our surprise Marzena and Janusz both agreed to visit us here in the UK for our end of year show. Janusz is quite scared of flying so this is a huge gesture on his part. Having them both at our final exhibition and showcase will be wonderful as this gives us a chance to introduce them to our tutors back home at Leeds Met.

http://www.chata.lublin.pl/

It’s Murder on the Dance Floor

After our hosts left, the team decided to dance the night away in a nearby discothèque. Dancing isn’t one of my strengths, but no one seemed to mind and it finished off a perfect day.

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Seven

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Five

Fundacja Miedzy Nami and The Emaus Foundation

In the morning Johnny, Rafal and I visited Marzena Bochenek, Vice President for Fundacja Miedzy Nami (The Among Us Foundation), and met the president for FMN and the Emaus Foundation, Zbigniew Drążkowski. Emaus and FMN work very closely together in their efforts to help the homeless and disabled. We were shown around the Emaus Shop, which supplies clothing and trinkets, which are donated to help raise funds.

http://www.fmn.lublin.pl

http://www.emaus.lublin.pl

The Emaus Shop

Marian Pietraś and Zbigniew Drążkowski

Bar Hades Art Exhibition

Today was the day of the art exhibition at Bar Hades in Lublin. Janusz Padzinski, the artist’s mentor from Matki Teresy z Kalcutty, had invited many high profile individuals from the surrounding areas to attend this event and it was a great honour to be a part of it all. Jarek’s giraffes were very popular and being able to see them all together as a series was a real treat.

Jarek's giraffe paintings are so colourful!

Jarek receiving his congratutions

Justyna, Janusz, Katherine and Johnny

Johnny, 'Little Stash', 'Big Stash' and Faith

Johnny, Katherine and 'Little Stash'

Katherine, 'Little Stash' and Johnny

Katherine and 'Little Stash'

Aww! How sweet :D

Interviews at Matki Teresy z Kalcutty

Afterwards we walked back over to Matki Teresy z Kalcutty to interview Janusz and Justyna. Janusz told us about the story behind some of the artwork that had been produced by the disabled artists. The project involved creating a composition based on the story of two kings: one who was ruled by money and financial gain, and the other who followed only his faith. He explained that while the abled artists painted accurate depictions, the disabled artists painted much more abstract, expressionist pieces; these he felt, had greater worth as they proved that disabled artists were just as capable and their work just as valid as their counterparts.

Janusz and Justyna in Matki Teresy z Kalkutty

Lubię śnieg bardzo!

The team were caught in a brief snowstorm on the walk back from the centre. Johnny and I decided to try out some more of the local cuisine, so we went to a nearby restaurant in the Old Town and had pancakes.

Heading off into the snow in search of pancakes

Bowling in Lublin

I had never been bowling before until this trip to Lublin and so the team decided to take me for my first experience in Lublin Shopping Plaza. I got a strike in two on my first attempt! A fluke it seems, as the following attempts were mostly gutter balls.

Johhny didn't get any gutter balls :P

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Six

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Four

Bar Hades

Johnny and I spent the morning at Bar Hades helping Janusz, Faith and Jarek prepare for the art exhibition that was organised for the next day. Jarek Kaminski draws and paints the most beautiful compositions; all which centre around the same subject: giraffes. Although we have been told that Jarek has never seen a giraffe in person he seems to be quite fond of them. His first attempt at portraying the beasts began when he drew over another artist’s drawing. ‘How rude!’ you might say but from this small gesture began a whole series of giraffe inspired imagery. We set up the artwork along with our friends and then visited Stasio back at Matki Teresy z Kalcutty.

http://www.hades-lublin.pl/

Johnny hanging Jarek's giraffe paintings

Johnny and Faith admiring their handiwork

Jarek, Faith, Katherine, Janusz and Johnny

Matki Teresy z Kalcutty

After the previous day’s lessons in Polish from our friend ‘Little Stash’ came today’s full-blown Christmas carol extravaganza! March is a strange time to be singing Christmas carols for some, but for us we thought nothing of it. We simply enjoyed the chance to share a special moment with our friends. Next stop was a visit to Jan Kurowski at his home in the city. ‘Johnny’ is such a happy person, so full of wonder and it was great to get a chance to see him again. We all sat and had tea together after a personal tour from him.

http://www.dpsmtk.lublin.pl/

Ohh, Jingle Bells!

Hitting those high notes :D

Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej

The afternoon was spent being shown around the Fine Arts and Multimedia Technology departments at ‘Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej’ (UMCS). This is an impressive university and the fact that both creative faculties work alongside each other in this way is wonderful. Many of the students from these faculties are involved in volunteering projects at both the MTK and FMN arts therapy centres.

http://www.art.umcs.lublin.pl/

The ceramics department at UMCS

Some of these look almost alive!

One of the students we met was Justyna Kieruzalska; an incredibly talented artist. Justyna is deaf, but hasn’t allowed this to stand in her way. She has been studying Fine Art for the last four years without the help of a note-taker or interpreter. It was wonderful to see that Justyna and our friend Ruari, who is also profoundly deaf, were able to communicate with one another. Ruari uses Irish sign language and Justyna uses Polish, but they were still able to understand one another. It was an amazing sight.

Another Night in Prison

As a follow up to our last trip to Lublin, we took our friends to a nearby theme restaurant: Prison. It was a restaurant we visited during our last stay and one of our most favourite places to eat. It rounded off a most enjoyable day.

http://www.restauracjawiezienie.lublin.pl/

Cuffs with dinner? Yes please!

Well maybe not throughout dinner this time!

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Five

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Three

The day began with our group sat in the hotel reception eagerly awaiting Marzena and Janusz’s arrival. It was wonderful seeing them again and Johnny and I had prepared a short welcome speech for them to accompany the flowers we gave them both. Rafal had taught us the correct pronunciation and although I don’t think we said it perfectly they appeared to understand the meaning. We then discussed our plans for the rest of the week; it was a brilliant feeling knowing that it was all coming together after so much preparation had been made.

Lost in Translation: Here we are saying our welcome speech

Our first stop was a visit to Janusz’s group of artist’s at Matki Teresy z Kalcutty in the city centre. It was a real honour to see that they had framed the painting Johnny and I made for them during our last visit. Janusz explained to everyone a little about his background and the work he was doing here in Lublin. Such pioneering work deserves to be acknowledged and it’s great that we are able to help by showcasing this in our final year project. We met Faith, one of the volunteers working with the artists, and she spent the afternoon with us showing us around the Old Town in Lublin. We also had a visit to the nearby shopping plaza and tried some Polish ice cream. Smacznego!

We both felt really honoured to see that they had framed our painting

Johnny, Katherine and our new friend Faith

Heading up to Lublin Castle (which was closed for renovations)

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Four

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Two

After waving farewell to David our Leeds Met minibus driver we waited patiently for the desk to open so we could check in our luggage. The flight from East Midlands airport to Warsaw was well worth the wait and I’m always amazed how such a large piece of machinery is able to get into the air at all. Much to our relief, Rafal was able to secure a taxi for us from the airport to the train station. The ride into Lublin by train was beautiful and we met two travellers who taught us some Polish and chatted about their experiences hitch hiking in England.

30,000 feet up in the air! Amazing :D

Yup, refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to go!

Another taxi ride later and we arrived at Hotel Campanile, which was a welcome sight. After settling into our rooms we all reconvened in the hotel lobby for some celebratory drinks and sandwiches. A swift power nap helped us to feel more rejuvenated after the long journey, and then Johnny and I set out in the city to explore the local eateries. KFC seemed like the right choice (it was the closest to the hotel!) and so after eating here we returned to our room to turn in for the night. Tomorrow couldn’t come sooner.

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Three

Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day One

It’s hard to believe that nine months have passed since our last trip to Poland. This all started by getting involved with the Leeds Met's International Volunteering Projects and the 'Leeds Met Poland 2007' project in particular last June. The opportunity to work within the arts therapy centres, Fundacja Miedzy Nami (The Among Us Foundation) and Matki Teresy z Kalcutty (Mother Teresa of Calcutta) was too good to pass up. We gained so many new experiences, made so many new friends and learnt so much in such at short space of time.

Fundacja Miedzy Nami is a centre for adults with physical and learning disabilities in the village of Kreznica, just outside the city of Lublin in East Poland. The centre runs many creative workshops for its artists including ceramics, woodwork, weaving and arts and crafts. It was an enormous challenge for us to take on this kind of project but incredibly rewarding.

After the two weeks had come to an end my partner Johnny and I were asked to help promote the two centres. I felt that this would make a fantastic final year group project and so began the process of integrating this work with the final year of my BSc (Hons) in Multimedia Technology. I have brought together a team from across my faculty, Innovation North and we are working towards producing a flash website and documentary film for Fundacja Miedzy Nami. My contribution will be the design and build for the flash website and I will use video footage of interviews and events both here in the UK and in Poland.

Heading back to our friends in Lublin, Poland.

Leeds Met University have also helped us in producing a large number of ‘Fundacja’ t-shirts. These will be presented to the artists when we arrive at the centre next week and I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces. The t-shirts look beautiful and their logo on the front looks wonderful.

We are about to set off on another adventure, I’m just about finished with my packing, the cameras are charged and so am I!

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Two