Lublin University

Janusz was eager to show us around Lublin University’s art and multimedia departments so we were taken there during the second week. The range of facilities and the artwork on display was impressive to say the least and we were pleased to see the traditional art and the digital multimedia sitting side by side. Professor Lech proudly showed us around and asked students if they would demonstrate some of their work. At the end of the visit they also gave us CDs of video and animation work to take home with us. Also we were presented with a large book of artwork produced by the professors and staff of the University.

Examples from the student's Life Drawing class

Johnny, Janusz, Katherine and Professor Lech

>>> Weekend Trip to Marynka

Janusz treats us to a meal out

Janusz and his wife invited Teresa and ourselves to a traditional Polish lunch in a restaurant outside of Lublin and closer to the countryside. Inside the building was decked from top to bottom with wooden sculptures, farmer’s tools, hunting equipment and upturned tree trunks. Roots spread out across the ceiling creating an amazing effect.

Beautiful tree trunks decorating the restaurant

Neither of us was prepared for the amount of food that was to fill the table after we ordered. We tried bits of everything and barely managed to make any impact on our own plates. Food in Polish restaurants seem to be very meaty and chunky, all served in generous portions. We felt bad that we could barely make a dent in the huge feast spread across the table but our hosts were happy to see us enjoying Polish hospitality to the full.

A banquet of food spread across our table!

>>> Lublin University

Kazimierz Dolny

As part of the drawing exercises, Janusz and Marzena took us to a small town, Kazimierz Dolny with a large group of artists from both the Mother Theresa centre and Fundacja. The town was renowned for its artists and the picturesque architecture and landscape. It was perfect for the exercise and we all found a great deal to inspire our sketches.

Volunteers Steph and Lea drawing

Johnny drawing the town's architecture

At lunch time our hosts treated everyone to a meal in a local restaurant. Pierogi seemed to be the order of choice with a wide variety of delicious fillings. Afterwards we were taken back to Lublin though we would have loved to have spent more time in Kazimierz Dolny. It was obvious that there was a great deal more to see than we had time for.

The two Johnnys!

Johnny checking out Kazimierz Dolny

>>> Janusz treats us to a meal out

Fundacja Miedzy Nami

As well as working at the centre in Lublin we were also able to spend some of the time at Fundacja. We took part in some countryside drawing studies in the surrounding areas which were beautiful, an ideal place to be creative. On a second visit we were able to try out some pottery and help set up what would be a final presentation of artwork produced by everybody during the two weeks we were in Poland. Marzena Bochenek, the director for the centre, kindly offered to fire our clay work and post it on to the UK. We created a vase, two incense stick holders and an unusual walrus head. She also sent arts and craft produced at Fundacja to be sold in the UK to raise funds for the centre.

Johnny and Katherine drawing in the nearby countryside

Johnny, Katherine, Maria and Steph with the local students

Maria, Katherine, Janusz, Johnny, Steph and Terenia

>>> Kazimierz Dolny

Holy Day of Obligation

Poland’s Holy Day of Obligation fell on the Wednesday which meant a day off for everybody to attend a special procession. There were rose petals on the ground and banners being held up high. Much like a second Christmas the day was very important to the locals, so many of whom were present for a speech given by Bishops and holy men and women. This took place on a stage set up in the centre of town.

Maria, Steph and Lea in Lublin town centre

>>> Fundacja Między Nami

Fundacja Fuga Mundi

Whilst taking part in the exhibition and concert at Bar Hades we met Hubert, a short film maker based just above the bar. He invited us to visit his studio where he played some of his work, including a UK based piece following a small group of deaf teenagers during a trip to Yorkshire. Much of Hubert’s work focussed on demonstrating how disabled people were functioning in society, often achieving great things. As we are involved heavily in Multimedia ourselves we were extremely grateful to Hubert for taking the time out to talk to us.

Hubert filming at the exhibition in Bar Hades


Visit the Fundacja Fuga Mundi Website
Fundacja Fuga Mundi's YouTube Channel

>>> Holy Day of Obligation

Professor Gavin Fairbairn’s Lullaby

During the first week we were invited to attend the exhibition which we had helped setup earlier in Bar Hades. We brought a DV camera to record the event and a lovely bouquet of flowers to present to the artist. Katherine was tasked with presenting these with a polish line meaning “on behalf of Leeds Metropolitan University I present these flowers”. (See the full promo video on the Projects section of the Kooji Creative website). The artist Stash focuses on one subject for all his work, a young carer named Ola who works at the Mother Theresa centre. However, each piece has a very different feel to it and the exhibition was very successful.

Stash with his portrait of Ola (Photo © Janusz Padzinski)

Eva prepping Katherine before the presentation/ Johnny setting up his shot (Photo © Janusz Padzinski)

Following on from this the guests we’re treated to a musical event featuring classical piano pieces, Polish opera and a surprise performance from Professor Gavin Fairbairn! Sporting a classical guitar Gavin started with a gentle lullaby followed by a slightly more upbeat song. The whole event was fantastic and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Gavin playing his lullaby (Photo © Janusz Padzinski)

>>> Fundacja Fuga Mundi

Bar Hades Art Exhibition

The first task we were given was to help in the preparations for an exhibition to be held at the local ‘Bar Hades,’ a very cool underground venue which used to be a nunnery. We helped to mount the artwork which was to be displayed later that week. ‘Stash,’ one of the artists from the centre, was to be honoured at the evening event and we felt greatly honoured to be trusted with his fragile works of art.

Katherine and Terenia

Stash's painting of Janusz (the only one not of his carer)

>>> Professor Gavin Fairbairn’s Lullaby

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day Centre

Teresa accompanied us on our first day at the centre and after several kisses on our cheeks and (polish) words of welcome we were whisked away in Janusz’s mini-bus. We were really taken aback by the welcome we received at the centre and the hospitality we were shown. Despite our difficulties in communicating at first we found that a bright beaming smile went along way and they appreciated it when we did try to speak in Polish. We learnt lots of positive, encouraging words before we came and made sure to use them frequently as we looked on and grinned.

Johnny and Katherine at Matki Teresy z Kalcutty

Katherine sat with the artists in the workshop

We were introduced to the participants and they proudly pointed out their artwork furnishing the walls of their studio. We then gave them some gifts we had brought along with us: Leeds Met T-Shirts, Frisbees and Yorkshire tea biscuits. Johnny even demonstrated the art of ‘dunking.’

Basia working on her glass painting

Katherine with the gang

With our friend Marla - the workshop assistant

>>> Bar Hades Art Exhibition

Venturing into the Unknown

We set out on this journey with high hopes and eager anticipation. We had already had some email communication from our hosts and so we were very excited about meeting them all in person. We found it extremely hard to know what to expect and Teresa Pioro, who helped to organise this volunteering project, asked us on the mini-bus about this. She said she was looking forward to hearing if our expectations were met after the trip, and if we had any experiences we hadn’t predicted. The food was the first welcome surprise and the team enjoyed sampling lots of cuisine at the first restaurant we stopped off at in Poland. Our favourite was definitely the pierogi, small dumpling sacks containing potato, spinach and meats. Delicious!

The Leeds Met Poland 2007 Team

It was sad to part with the other volunteers as we got off at our hotel and we told them to let us know how their first week goes as we said our goodbyes. Many of our friends stayed with host families and so picking up the language was something they’d be experiencing almost round the clock. We wouldn’t be attempting much Polish until our first meeting with Janusz Padzinski, a fellow artist who works at the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day Centre in Lublin, the city we were staying in for the next two weeks.

His and hers matching suitcases!

>>> Mother Teresa of Calcutta Day Centre