Welcome to Thai Fest 2008
The Thai Fest 2008: Cultural Exchange event was designed to nourish a budding relationship between the Fine Arts Department of the Government of Thailand, Chiang Mai University and the South Bend arts community. Our hope is that this cultural exchange will add a new dimension to our organization, contribute to the expanding arts awareness in South Bend and create exciting possibilities for future collaborations and exchanges.
Background Information
In July 2006, seven Fire Arts members, named cultural ambassadors by Mayor Steve Luecke of South Bend, Indiana, traveled to Thailand. Their goals were to work in the Samnakchang Sip Moo arts complex with government employed sculptors and craftspeople, to share technical knowledge about casting techniques, to learn about Thai traditional and contemporary art, visit public and private foundries, and to travel to historic locations to learn about Thai culture. A friendship based on our mutual love of the arts was formed.
Goals
Fire Arts’ Goals for Thai Fest 2008 are to:
- encourage exchanges by developing relationships with international artists.
- share technical information about pottery, bronze casting and modeling techniques with guest Artists-In-Residence.
- provide an American arts experience to visiting artists from Thailand.
- develop a model for future exchanges.
Event Description
On July 13, 2008, three government employed artists from the Fine Arts Department in Bangkok, Thailand and a cultural exchange officer will arrive in South Bend, Indiana for a two week stay. Where they stay and travel while in the U.S. will be largely determined by the money Fire Arts raises.
These artists from Bangkok’s Samnakchang Sip Moo arts complex are employed by the Office of Traditional Art, Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture. They are Suntree Prasong (Head of Applied Arts, ceramicist and art researcher), Pongpan Chanthanamattha (sculptor), and Navin Suvananapura (Head of Technology of Casting). Peerapong Duangkaew is a sculpture professor from the Fine Arts department of Chiang Mai University. Nithivadee Homyam (Dao) will accompany these artists to make contacts with administrators in the U.S. for future cultural exchanges.
The public is invited to meet the visiting guest Artists-In-Residence at a formal reception hosted by the Mayor of South Bend and again at an informal reception at the Fire Arts Studio. At a later planned event, they will present a slide lecture of traditional and contemporary Thai artwork to the public and also show slides and speak about their own works via a translator.
Fire Arts’ Artists-In-Residence will work alongside our guests at a condensed portrait workshop where the project will be completed over a four day period during their two week stay. This collaboration, intended to perpetuate the exchange of ideas, both technical and aesthetic, is an exciting opportunity for Fire Arts and the community to deepen our commitment to the arts and to acknowledge and celebrate its value in our lives (and have some fun.)
Several local day trips are planned for these visiting artists to meet with art department faculty of Notre Dame University and Indiana University at South Bend, tour their facilities, galleries, museums, and classrooms in addition to visiting regional galleries. Fire Arts has arranged for a meeting with students and faculty from the Art Institute of Chicago school and has planned for visits to the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. A second overnight trip has been planned to tour the Meijer Sculpture Garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Our Budget Needs
Although we have raised money through small individual donations, fund raising events and a raffle, we are still $3,000 short of our goal for this project. Please consider supporting this project with a financial donation.
We hope to see you during Thai Fest and truly appreciate your support.
Schedule of Events
Monday, July 14 (1:00-5:00 P.M.)................ Fire Arts workshop - clay modeling
Tuesday, July 15 (2:00-7:00 P.M.)............... Fire Arts workshop - clay modeling
Wednesday, July 16 (8:30-11:30 A.M., 1:00-3:00 P.M.)......... Fire Arts workshop - rubber mold-making
Thursday, July 17 (1:00-5:00 P.M.)............... Fire Arts workshop - plaster mold-making
Friday, July 18 (8:30-11:30 A.M., 1:00-5:00 P.M.).................. Fire Arts workshop - investing
Sunday, July 20 (1:00-3:00 P.M.)................. Fire Arts bronze pour and slide show of Thai artwork
Monday, July 21 (8:30-11:00 A.M., 1:00-5:00 P.M.)............... Fire Arts workshop - finishing bronze