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Muveszet Art Magazine

Muveszet Art Magazine

AIR/HMC, Balatonfured/Budapest, International Artists Residencies exhibition at 
Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism 
August 3 - September 13

When Beata Szechy's founded the Hungarian Multicultural Center in 1990, her goals were fostering culture, personal connections, and art related exchanges.  At the beginning mostly American artists participated at the residencies.  Now artists from all over from the world come to work here for few weeks and exhibit their art.  This particular exhibition is unusual, as the artists think similarly but execute their work differently.  Almost all the artists’ subjects link to the their travels or Budapest.  We can feel the temporary feeling, living somewhere else for a time, a shaper view of the new. 

John Shadeck using a homemade, pinhole (lensless) camera, created these images to depict the general area of each of the eleven stations on the M1 (yellow) metro line, the oldest underground railway on the European continent.  These photographs are negative, reversed images exposed directly onto light-sensitive paper in the camera. No film was used.

Dolie Thompson’s photographs were taken in Varosliget.  Her black and white photographs are filtered and soften the sunlight, creating a much more beautiful environment, emphasizing oppositions such as soft and sharp.

Amanda Meeks arrived from Chicago.  She is interested in relationships and memories of her day-to-day, pursuits of connecting with those around her, communication, and interactions with others past and present.  Her work is meant to provide viewers and participants with a sense of a very intimate conversation.  For example, she drew a Yellow Fiat 500 car and wanted to meet with the car owner, but did not succeed.  So she wrote a letter to him and put it under the wiper telling him if he comes to the opening he will get the drawing.  Also, she has created a sound piece during her stay. “In One Day”, uses sounds that in the gallery setting evoke just a memory and could be understood as disappeared voices.

Emily DiCarlo from Toronto was inspired by time.  “The Temporal Visitor” is an installation comprised of a number of performance-based photographs and objects. 
“Eleven Minutes Less” is a marker of time, expressed through the daily accumulation of cigarette butts.  Contrasted with “Eleven Minutes Less” is her hand, or the “life line".  Walking in Budapest, she searched out the public clocks which represent the “universal time” that is meant to unite the public and also disperse a common understanding of time.

Jessica L. Smith’s jars are a celebration of smallness.  She derived this concept from Budapest secessionist architecture, which is decaying over time just like our memories, buildings, bodies, and civilizations.

Douglas Gast calls himself an artist/cartographer.  “The 30 Days of New Life Project” is a series of performances, each of which results in a new map. Last year he spent 30 days in Berlin with a similar project.  Each point included on the map is of personal, artistic, historical or cultural interest.  He does not control what gets included in the map, rather, local residents make suggestions and it is their suggestions that ultimately build it.

Jeanne Dunn created a "map" as she printed on canvas an element from the Liszt Ferenc Square, composed of part of tree trunks with circle-shaped surroundings with stones and divided by a man made sculpture.

Eveline Kotai uses a combination of sections of paintings from Australia and Hungary, cutting, sewing, and created a textural series, entitled “Mirage 1, 2, 3”.

Sarah Pedlow's "What’s Wrong With This Picture?" is a self-portrait.  Hungarian folk art and embroidery inspired her work in Budapest.  She has braided her hair and wrapped it with ribbons.  "Raday utca, 05.24.09" is a photograph and chain stitch used in Kalotaszeg embroidery which she stretched out to suggest a network in the sky linking to architecture and referring to the cultural district in Budapest.

Amy Sacksteder arrived from Michigan.  Her island paintings refer to the last moments of Amelia Earhart's life during the final flight before she was lost.

Michael Hilsman is an international traveler whose work deals with both the tragedy and the beauty of the human condition, and is influenced by such topical subjects as politics and religion.

Hsu Chiung Wen, an artist from Taiwan, created objects from artificial flowers, "The Flower Named Ever", reminds me of  Huysman’s essay, where the main character likes the artificial flowers rather than the real ones...

by Katalin Geller

2007

Naplo - Daily newspaper, Veszprem, Wednesday, 08/09/07
International Artists Residencies Exhibit

This summer 13 artists worked at the residencies, and four of the artists participated at the exhibition opening reception, opening remarks presented by Katalin Gopcsa.
Richness, variation and plurality are the main characteristics at the Balatonfured-Csopak-Budapest International Artists Residencies exhibit that opened at the Balatonfured Congress Center.
"Real and fictive meeting place this show. Here meets medias, techniques, meets different background artists, find each other different cultures", said in here opening speech Katalin Gopcsa, art-historian. Artists find new techniques and extreme materials, as human hair or horsehair, and bring the artist message to the viewer. This exhibition also give the opportunities to introduce the new contemporary art.
At the 14th Balatonfured-Csopak-Budapest International Artists Residencies artists came from the United States, Japan, Australia, Scotland, Mozambique, Turkey --said Beata Szechy, the exhibition curator. Three group of artists spent one-one-one month at Lake Balaton, and created art. Also, we can see pictures from artists who spent time at the winter residencies in Budapest.

* Klub Radio - 20 minutes interview with Beata Szechy about the residencies, exhibition and HMC.

* Fured TV - documentary film - 25 minutes about the book introductory opening

* Veszpremi Naplo - article - August 8, 2007

* Naplo-Balatonfured - article - August, 2007

2006
Artists-World
Monday, August 14, 2006 by Marcell
Winter -Summer International Artists Residencies
More and more artists apply every year to the International Artists Residencies. The goal is to provide a supportive community with uninterrupted time to work, and offer participants a unique opportunity to interact with other artists representing a variety of cultures and backgrounds. More then 150 artists participated in the past at the HMC workshops. Every 3-4 years the donated artworks are exhibited in Budapest at Vizivarosi Gallery. Also, every year at the end of the residencies there is a closing exhibition in Balatonfured. Below more detail about the organization.
The HMC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The HMC's goal to support the development of artists and provide them with greater opportunities for the creation and presentation of excellent work through exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, seminars and workshops.
The HMC is funded by Beata Szechy in 1991. The residencies based in Balatonfured, Csopak and Budapest from 1995. The participants are invited by a jury to the residencies.
After that Hungary became a member of the EU in May 1, 2004, the new goal of the HMC to support new ideas, concepts through individual consultations, seminars, conversations and screenings. These new goals will be more productive when the 5,0000 catalogue with illustrations will be published, so the art lovers , collectors will be informed.

Central-Europe unknown secrets
Nepszabadsag, July 28,2006 by Istvan Zoltan Csider
Photo:Stephanie Dean: The Summer Going By, and He Never Taught Me The 6ths (After Robert Schwarz)
The International Artists Residencies, Balatonfured/Csopak, -From/About- exhibit has opened yesterday from the last 10 years works at the Central-European Cultural Institute.
Beata Szechy has funded the Dallas based HMC in 1990, and the Artist-in-Residency program started in 1995. The HMC is a nonprofit organization.
From since every year artists are coming for few weeks to work in Balatonfüred-Csopak, in a new environment give them new ideas and energy. They are few weeks thinking, working together and at the end they introduce they work to the local public in an exhibition. As usually any artists residency, it is not easy to get in to the HMC organized workshops. The HMC has the opportunity to carefully select artists between the several hundred applicants. They select between all discipline, the goal is that all of the media would be represented, painters, sculptors, media artists, photographers, installation artists and writers.
The From/About-Signals from Central-Europe exhibition series second show introduce the last ten years works, at Central-European Cultural Institute. 62 artists more then eighty work in exhibited at the Keki Gallery, Rakoczi u. 15., Budapest. Artist introduce their feelings and experiences about Central-Europe, Hungary from American, Belgian, Japanese, Canadian, Italian, Portuguese and Great Britain. This exhibit not only a registration, it is a question mark, too. They are interested what kind of people we are, how is our landscape different, what kind of things we are using and what is the quality of our faces. And it is also a question what is common in the different little ethnic group in this land. What this place gave to Europe and to America? Shortly, they are interested to find out Central-Europe unknown secrets.

California Magyarsag/MARCH
International Artist Residencies, Csopak
The HMC has founded in 1990 by Beata Szechy, she has organized the first residency in Hungary for young international artists in 1995. The end of the residencies' exhibition was held from the donated works at Lake Balaton, and every 2nd,3rd years an exhibition was organized in Budapest. Last summer 23 artists exhibited their work, these year 36 artists are participate. There are happy life in Balatonfured and Csopak, the surrounding area is a prefect place to relax and create. The evaluation of the artists about the residencies are very positive.

California Magyarsag
International Artists Residencies in Csopak
The HMC is funded by Beata Szechy in 1991. The residencies based in Balatonfured, Csopak from 1995. The participants are invited by a jury to the residencies. The end of the residencies' exhibition was held from the donated works at Lake Balaton, and every 2nd,3rd years an exhibition was organized in Budapest. Last summer 23 artists exhibited their work, these year 36 artists are participate. There are happy life in Balatonfured and Csopak, the surrounding area is a prefect place to relax and create. The International Residencies there has a great reputation. The successful closing exhibit held at the Congress Center, Balatonfured. This year weather did not help to enjoy the Lake, but the landscape and the surrounding area helped to forget the hot and rainy weather. The evaluation of the artists about the residencies are very positive. Every spring they develop the residency place for the next year guests.

HUNGARIAN RADIO
www.radio.hu/read/190764
From/about: 60 artists from everywhere
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The International Artists Residencies, Balatonfured/Csopak, -From/About- exhibit has opened on Thursday at 18:00pm at the Central-European Cultural Institute, Rakoczi u. 15.
The Dallas based HMC is funded as a nonprofit organization in 1990 by Beata Szechy, and the Artist-in-Residency program started in 1996. She told that the organization now they are celebrating the 10 years anniversary of the residencies. The exhibit include artists from around the world, 83 art work are exhibited, paintings, photos, sculptures, prints, installations. 3 groups has stays for one-one month from Australia to Japan, from China to North America and Portugal. This winter will be an other Residency/Seminar in Budapest. This summer 36 artists participated at the residencies, the artists had to apply and the jury selected the winners. The jury has chosen different style, discipline, and gender. The Hungarian Associated Press got the information from Beata Szechy that on August 8th will be a closing exhibit for the artist at the Congress Center, Balatonfured for the this year residents and in the same time will be a filmfest from documentary and art films. The exhibit in Budapest will be open until August 15th.

INTERNET MEDIA
www.fotoklikk.hu
www.est.hu/esemeny.php?esemenyid=926905
www.artportal.hu/index.php
junior.hu/rovat/kiallitas/esemeny.cfm?d_id_event=926905
forum.sg.hu/ listazas.php3?azonosito=Irodalmiradio&id=1151316673
kontakt.erstebankgroup.net/events/2006-08
www.artportal.hu
epiteszforum.hu/?q=node/2796
rhizome.org/fp.rhiz?id=978
www.artportal.hu/aktualis/kiallitasok/
www.naplo-online.hu
http://www.muvesz-vilag.hu/kepzomuveszet/esemenyek/396

OPENING SPEECH (short translation), Balatonfured by Dr. Gellert Katalin
08/18/2006
Dear Everybody, I would like to thank to Beata Szechy, the request to open this exhibition. I am proud that I was the associate curator at the first HMC exhibition over ten years ago. From the 19th century the artists residencies and work shops has an important role in the art community., as in Barbizon, Pont-Aven. In Hungary the Godollo and Nagybanya artist residency had a big influence on the country art life. They were the rebels from the traditional art, and influenced each others. There are two kind of contemporary residencies. One based on some idea, the others goal is to introduce and influence in a new cultural environment. The HMC is the second kind of work shop. The foreign country develop an unique feeling that influence the artist. Who came here to work was interested of our culture. They recognized that kind of things that we do not notice anymore. The three groups that spent time here in this summer, looks like find the micro environment interesting. I hope that this tradition will continue, and thanks to the artists and beata szechy that we are able to see this adventure.



2005
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like welcome the exhibiting artists, organizers, curators and supporters. Also, I would like welcome the public. I would like to speak not just about the works on the exhibition, so please allow me to provide an unusual opening speech. On the 11th International Artists Residencies invitation card are two photographs about two groups. Both pictures background shows fresh green bushes and grass with a concrete tiled road that going to a far distance. In the first group 12, and in the second group 11 people are standing, men and women, young and middle age, of different nationalities, and on both pictures a blonde woman with a hunting dog crouches in front of the artists. She is Beata Szechy, the exhibition curator. She is not the key person, because she crouches modestly in front of the artists legs with her four legged partner, but it is obvious that both of the two groups have a good interaction with the artists and her. This exhibition introduced one-one work from each artist, and the show give us a feeling about the artists life at the residency. More then twenty people undertook a common life for one-one month in a foreign country. They were there not just to concentrate on own work; they also open to a new culture. This openness we can felt in the works. Because this is the 11th artists residency here in Balatonfured/Csopak, that means 200-300 people came to this land with open heart and open eyes. They are missionaries: they intermediate between different cultures. Beata Szechy, the residencies organizer is not just an artist, she is a visual ambassador through art. I thought about it what motivated her as an artist who until 1987 worked only in Hungary, then left for California and Texas where she is teaching, and exhibiting. And then she founded the Cultural Center where she organized film screenings, exhibitions, concerts -- I think I know the simple answer: homesickness and patriotism are still strong feelings in her heart. At Lake Balaton, as a cultural center of this area she pledged a culture mediation of the visual language.
On this exhibition we can see different thematic, fresh, open ideas with different stiles and techniques.
Patricia Gould's work is a shiny, metallic landscape, with sawing techniques. She used a high tech sawing machine and painted with acrylic. Kent Alan Kapplinger and Eunice Kapplinger transferred base, architectural drawings and created an unusual, figurative association. Exploring the environment of Hungarian countryside, architectural elements, and interior spaces and comparing them to related elements in North Dakota provide an interplay of communication, a voice of common ground. Jan Conradi came to write a book about a graphic design history, but she created on hand made paper with traditional techniques beautifully shaped letter composition. Still her work is very modern and sensitive. Jason Bladzinski used watercolor to express the loneliness through two different materials -- concrete and barrel -- together painted on his work. His paintings are a visual portrayal of the powerful response to isolation. Judy Greff's Reflection shows her spiritual connection between nature. Loren Marquardt's very sensitive drawing, with different materials created a visual story -- a statement, a fingerprint of the area and a memory of the residency. The collage imagery becomes a visual documentation of her experience. Rebecca Drobis black and white photo portraits are visual explorations. John Scott Murdoch used traditional technique: on board with oil and on yellow background he created an odd, imaginative figure: a robot. Scott Griffin's landscape is in romantic style and shows a lonely, bold tree. The primary focus of his art is the energy and the beauty of life. Sherah Rosen is the opposite, her painting shows the sunny guest house wall with shadows. Elen Feinberg's dark colored painting suggests some secret meditation in the strong light something coming through her painting. Her paintings are derived primarily from images of the galaxy. Few artists investigate their ancestors as did Lin White. She is investigating her Hungarian heritage using images and artifacts from her female forbearers. Robin Walker painted her impression after visited Heviz: she read there on a sign that the water is little radioactive, Her work title: Solidly radioactive. Scott Ponemone's watercolor composition has interesting anthrophomorf elements mixed with plants and fruits. Dr. Shari S. Stoddard's techniques are unusual and interesting and drew much attention: she :built her work from textile stripes -- creating nests and snail-stripes. Anthoni Marchetti's photograph showed an almost empty room. He commented: Every fine object opens a window to someone's life. He is interested in the concept of interior and surface. Stephanie Dean's photograph has an interesting atmosphere. It is a self-portrait and the title suggest more about her message. Sara Lind's blue fishes are more understandable -- she photographs under water, but made pictures about buildings here at the residency. How can be an art from a mathematical - geometrical form and transfer for visual motives? The sinus - cosinus lines waiving on Ericka Hedgecock's special-prism, Plexiglas landscape. Kaeko Mizukoshi three lyrics memory photographs made about the residency. She is interested in the situations and the structures that people belong to. Matthew Board's work is a computer generated painting. His work is an exploration of the similarities in strategies used in the military and in advertising. Roberto Salas' extremely sensitive drawing is a battle on the world. He uses text, gold leaf, graphite on his historic story. The exhibition also features film screenings. These films suggest experimental freedom in our rigid visual world. They include: Backyard Ballet by Kaleta Doolin; Dancing from the Heart by Marilyn Hunt; Dear Daughter by Andras Szirtes; Skafandr by Alexander Timofeev; Beneath The Surface by Dawn Young; Themes by Luis Valdovino; Song of Hannah by Nicole Opper; Tropical Fantasy by Noriko Takabishi & Mitsu Haraguchi. Gopcsa Katalin

Veszprem TV,Balatonfured TV, MTV



2004
Muerto, July - August 2004, by Istvan Sinko
International Artists, Hungarian Inspirations
The Hungarian Multicultural Center (HMC) - founder and director Beata Szechy, an artist who lives in the United States - has been organizing exhibitions, concerts and film screenings for American and European artists from 1990. The international artists residencies have been based in Balatonfured since 1995, where every summer the nonprofit organization invites artists from Europe and USA. In this exhibition, over 40 artists show their work from the last three years residencies. The exhibit is not the first one for the International Residency to be shown at Vizivarosi Gallery, where the public can view objects, photographs, paintings and sculptures. The strongest works are influenced by the natural environment at Lake Balaton, such as Ed Lane 'The Harvest of the Reeds', Emese Rivera 'Hungarian Poppy', or Sarah Hirneisen's installation, in which it is not just the titles indicate which depict the local color of Balatonfured. Not only the second -, or third - generation Hungarian immigrant artists have been influenced by nature in Hungarian, but also the Mexican, Korean and artists from other nation shown their inspiration from the Hungarian landscape. We can find the concept of multiculturalism in the different works, styles and conceptions (Margit Czak, Lynn Newcomb). Szechy has two intentions: 1. She would like to introduce Hungarian culture, ideas, everyday life to the international artists. 2. She would to bring the young and middle generation western artists work to the 'art market' of Hungary. Of course, the second point cannot be a 'business', but in the well known Vizivarosi Gallery, these artists, whose work is not known in this country,are on the market. Szechy has consistently and passionately accomplished this last idea. (The exhibit is open until July 23.)

Pesti Est, July 8 - 24. by cssi
Artists from America and Europe
Who could think that there is a music school in Balatonfured, where from year to year the school becomes full with artists from American and now from different European countries. Some kind of artists' residency, where the Hungarian Multicultural Center invites young, talented artists. And who could think that people would come to the residency. And not just a few, but nearly 50 artists come every year to the summer program offered by the Hungarian Multicultural Center to produce new work, mostly for the Vizivarosi Gallery.
Of course, it is easy to find out what is most interesting for the pure artists there, who arrive from as far as the United States... Of course, Lake Balaton, the Tihany peninsula, the reeds, the Tagore beach; and of course, the eternal muses, the beauty of the women and the time. The most different styles and techniques: sculpting from net, gluing from plaster, painting, or captured in poetry.
It is true that Daniel Atyim, Ed Lane or Renee Rohr's names don't ring in our ears like Picasso or Modigliani, but who knows, maybe in a hundred years the Pest Est will write about them as the recommendation of the 'big years of the century'.

MTV1 - Kozeli 07/15/04

International Artists Residencies... by Kiss Gabi

Balatonfuredi Naplo July 26, 2004 by Hamori Katalin
Cultures meets at Balatonfured
The HMC organized the 11th Annual International Residencies. The artists stayed at the Ferencsik Janos Music School from June 14th to August 14th, and close with a representative exhibition. We had a conversation with Beata Szechy, HMC's director and six artists.
How did the artists came to Balatonfured?
The HMC is a nonprofit organization. The goal of this program is to give the opportunity for the artists to work and exhibit in Hungary, and introduce their work to the public. Many people apply to this residency, this year, several hundred. So, we could choose from every field of art: sculptors, painters, installation artists, media artists, writers, and photographers. In the new environment, I believe that artists will create differently. It will help them develop their work, and is also, a good opportunity to get into the international art 'market'.
How do you like the place?
The history of Balatonfured, the nature, and the architecture make it a perfect place to create art, to think and exhibit.
Ben Dallas has worked for 30 years in Chicago. He has a downtown studio there, where he creates painterly and sculptural objects. This is his first time in Hungary, and he finds the surrounding area beautiful. He likes that multiple people participate in the residency, so they can share ideas with each other .
Michico Kameda was born in Japan, and now lives in New York City. She makes photographic installations, where she combines element of the eastern and western cultures.
Lynn Saul has a Hungarian background, and she came to find her ancestors. She lives in the middle of the desert in Tucson, Arizona, but earlier lived in an Indian Reservation. Her last work is influenced by Radnoti's poetry and her Aunt's photographs, and death with the holocaust and communism.
Joshua Sledge came from Washington, and he is influenced by the Hungarian architecture, colors, furniture, cars and he incorporated these forms in his work.
Catherine Altman is a writer from Colorado. Her style is 'magical realism'. Her short stories are about the artists who participated at the residency, and she photographed them and combined her photography with her writing.
Georgina Luck came to Hungary from Australia. She is inspired by the new place, and felt that Balatonfured is a magical place, especially the Kossuth fountain. She has included in her short stories her memories of Balatonfured.

Magyar Nemzet, August 12, 2004
Exhibition in Balatonfured
The 10th International Artists Residencies exhibition opening is tonight at 6pm at the Arkad Hotel Gallery. There are opening introductory by Dr. Istvan Boka, mayor and opening speech by Katalin Gopcsa art hitoritian, also, music by the Ferencsik Janos Music school's Clarinet Quartet, the exhibition will be open for the public until August 22nd. (V.O.E.)

Petofi Radio, August 12, 2004

Cultural Events

Kossuth Radio, August 12, 2004

Info Radio, August 12, 2004

Veszprem T.V. August 15, 2004

Balatonfured T.V., August 18, 2004



2003
Hir TV, Budapest, July 16, 2003

Sed TV, Veszprem, August 28, 2003

Fured TV, Balatonfured, July 24, 2003

Fured Naplo, July 23, 2003 (KGy)
The 9th Artists Residency's participants are opened an exhibition at the Art-East Gallery few days ago. The organizer for the residency is the Hungarian Multicultural Center, and the exhibition is curated by Beata Szechy. At the exhibition 21 talented artists introduced their work, said dr. Boka Istvan, mayor and congressman in the opening speech. There are paintings, graphics, sculptures, and installations in the gallery. The mayor emphasized on the importance of the hungarian - american cultural exchange and relationship. also, he said about the residency is annually organized from 1997 in balatonfured. The original Paloczi Horvath Adams' castle is home the residency. The artworks are mostly influenced by the nature, landscape of Balatonfured and the surrounding area, but every artist's style is different. At the opening the Ferencsik Janos Music school Clarinet Quartet played 20th Century classical music and one poet presented her poetry in English and Hungarian.

Magyar Nemzet, Julius 19, 2003 (MTI)
American exhibition in Balatonfured
Twenty one artists who participated in the International Artists Residency opened an exhibition at Art-East Gallery with almost 50 examples of their art. Two groups came to Hungary in June and July to the residency, including painters, graphic artists and sculptors. They are influenced by the Lake Balaton, the exhibited works mostly donated to the city of Balatonfured.

MTI -- Electronic media, Friday, July 25, 2003
Artists Residency exhibition and Film Fest in Fured 
The 9th International Exhibition of work produced by participants in the Hungarian Multicultural Center's artists' and writers' residency opened on Friday, last week. Artists who had arrived from the United States and other countries such as Canada and Belgium lived and worked at the Ferencsik Janos Music School during two sessions, one from June 16 - July 4 and the second from July 6 - July 23. At the Art East Gallery exhibition, the public can view paintings, sculptures, video film and poetry until next Tuesday.  At first I thought that I would not understand the works that I would see because the artists came from another world, from another culture. But when I went through the exhibition I got the feeling that art has one language. I did not need a translator to see that Tihany is beautiful from the American point of view, too, or that the harvesting of reed is a very hard work. The busy streets of downtown Balatonfured show some mysteries of the city. Still lifes and expressionistic paintings and sculptures symbolized a lot to me about beauty and life.  The Rising Bird of Freedom by Bela Torkos, for example, speaks about passion and private life. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1964. He symbolized freedom with a wing crippling the body underneath it by its weight. There are different methods for shaping the human figure: from wire, from painted mannequin, or from paper mache. These figures compiled in one room suggest the differences and similarities among people. Legends near the works supply information about each artist, give the title of the artwork and describe techniques and materials both in English and Hungarian. I did not meet with any new technique. It is does not matter from where the artists come, everywhere they use the same methods.  The Artists Residencies sponsor is the Hungarian Multicultural Center (HMC); organizer is Beata Szechy, director of HMC. The goal of HMC is to create cultural exchange between the United States and other countries and Hungary. The residency has been an annual event since 1995. Each residency concludes with a show of the best works in an exhibition open to the public. These works are donated to the city of Balatonfured and to HMC. (juzy) 



2002
Naplo, July 18., Thursday, 2002
"Our Profession Is: Brush"
American Artists' Residency in Balatonfured (V. R.) -- Bob Freimark from California has pointed shapes resembling tentacles in a large blue space. He sad of this work: The octopus catches his victims just as politicians and governments trap people. This is the eighth year of residency at the Ferencsik Janos Music School. Beata Szechy, the founder and director, holds dual citizenship. She resides in Dallas, Texas, as well as Hungary. This year, eighteen artists, the most ever, spent almost a month working in Balatonfured. The artists who were awarded residencies this year are a varied group including painters, graphic artists,sculptors and photographers. We met yesterday with Sigrid Wonsil. She noted that the clouds and colors together influenced her work. Next to her sat Eugenia Pardue of Portland, Oregon. She said: she is happy to get the residence's opportunity because her grandmother is from Hungary, where she studied music in Kassa. She made few montages where she used some family photographs.On July 25th, an exhibition of works by these artists will open at City Hall.

Hungarian Salon, Hungarian Television 2, July 27. '02 3 min.

Hungarian Salon, Hungarian Television 1, July 29, '02 3 min.

Balatonfuredi Naplo, July 26. 2002, (V.R.)
Bubbleshapes, Patterns and Picturemeditations
Bridges, squares,. Streets, Water. Faces, trees. Hungarian folk motives. Bubbleshapes and colored patterns. Meditations. All of these subject exhibited yesterday at City Hall, Balatonfred from American artists works. The artists, who won the Hungarian Multicultural Center's competition spent time at Ferencsik Janos Music School in Balatonfred. Between the artists had painter, graphic artist, photographer. 16 artists donated one-one work to the city. From the donated pieces opened the exhibition, where the Mayor, Sandor Palfy gave an introductory speech. Also, Istvan Vidovics played on a zither, Mrs. Mihaly Hutas on the piano and Erzsebet Hutas on violin.

Balatonfuredi Naplo, August 4. 2002, (BiSo)
Contemporary American Artists Residency
I met first time with Beata Szechy - founder of the HMC - in 1998. She has organized the residencies and exhibitions for American artists in Balatonfured. The first residency took place at the Szechenyi Ferenc Kertszeti Szakkozep Iskola (Sz. F. Agricultural College). Beata Szechy has graduated at the graphic department from the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. She was the Vice President for the Young Artists' Studio between 1982-86. She won a fellowship in Rome, Italy and then she left to the US. There she has worked as a display designer, and other related jobs until she won a scholarship in Berkeley. She has curated exhibitions, but never gave up her fine art work. She realized that for young artists as difficult to get recognition in the US as here at home. She decided found the HMC and her goal was to showcase Central-European art in the United States. Beata Szechy has moved to Dallas and organized a Hungarian Art Exhibit there with prints, monotypes, monoprints in 1993. Also, she had an exhibition at Dorottya Gallery - entitled as "Outside-Inside" - where she exhibited book objets. This year was the fourth residency that they organized at the Ferencsik Janos Music School for American artists. This year two group of artists (9-9) were invited, the first group came on June 10th. Balatonfured is different from an American city: in the same time village and city, quiet and noisy, old and new. The visiting artists has the opportunity to meet with local artists who love our Lake, and make friendship between themselves. It is a tradition to make a closing exhibition from they work. These is the first time exhibition at City Hall Gallery, at the mayor office.

Local Television, Balatonfured, August 8, 2002, 10 minutes



2001
Uj Balatonfuredi Naplo, September (Hanny Szabo, Aniko)
Kultura Naplo, July 25, 2001 (Juhasz)
Ten American and one Austrian artists are exhibiting in the city of Balatonfured at Ferencsik Janos Music School. At the opening Beata Szechy, Director of the Hungarian Multicultural Center, Inc., non-profit organization -- said that the annually organized artist's residency closing event is an introduction for the invited artists. Georges Le Chevallier, a painter from North Carolina providedfriendly answers for the visitors questions: "The question mark is a symbol with lot of meaning. When I arrived to Hungary I was not sure what I would do here and I was not sure what other people will think about me and my work. The inspiration for my work came from this dilemma." His work entitled as Question Mark. There are paintings, photographs, drawings, collages and objects on the exhibition. The new artists' residency participants and exhibiting artists are: Langelo Ho, Daniel Atyim, Duc Ly, Angela Baker, Margit Czak, Miwako Kato, Georges Le Chevallier, Melissa Furness, Daniel Burns, Carol LaFayette, Jenine Gehl.
The curator of the show is Aniko Tuboly, the exhibition open until end of July.

Balatonfured TV. (5 min.)

"Artist's Residency in the City", July 25th, (K. Baja)

Est FM 98.6, Radio 2001 July 29. (Buliczka, Tunde)

Budapest, Vizivarosi Gallery

Duna TV (Major Eszter) 2001 July 14.

Look - Your Agenda for Hungary June 28 - July 4, 2001

Figyelo July 5 - 11, 2001
"Americans with brush" (Judit Redei)
An unusual exhibition surprised the art lovers this summer in Budapest at the Vizivarosi Gallery. Fourteen American and international young artists introduced themselves in the exhibition with their selected works. This kind of exhibit we can see rarely in the capital city of Hungary.
The Hungarian Multicultural Center works hard to keep and build a stronger relationship between the United States and our country. The center provided for the sixth time the opportunity for artists to come and work in Balatonfured at the artists residency and an opportunity to them to work and meet with others far from their culture and home, where they can share their intuitions in sculptures, paintings and photographs. The selection from their work for the Hungarian public is a very good opportunity to see ourselves from the outsider's eye. The exhibition will be open until July 20th at the Kapas street gallery, please come, it's a unusual exhibit with different technics, different subjects and different concept.

Info Radio, 2001 July 3.

Magyar Nemzet, 2001 July 9.

Pesti Est, 2001 July 28.

Pesti Musor July 12-18, 2001 (Rieder, Gbor)
"USA-Balatonfured"
The Hungarian Multicultural Center, Inc. (HMC) is a non-profit organization. Its principal focus is an international residency program to which artists from around the world are invited. The HMC offers opportunities for the presentation of art from all disciplines and provides an artists residency for young American artists in Balatonfured. The guest artists introduced acrylics paintings of the Hungarian landscape as Lake Balaton and Chain-Bridge in Budapest and an installation of Hungary. Most of the works shows the artists own intuitions as animation figures on paintings, use champagne bottle's wire for sculptures or hors droops for objects. At the exhibition Sarah Carson photographs introduce gates, doors, windows. Of the fifteen artists the works of Robin Wassong abstract compositions the strongest. Her happy colors, a geometric forms based on traditional nonfigurative American art gave her a new meaning.



2000
Imre Kozma, local artist of Balatonfured, introductory speech at the exhibition opening at the Art-East Gallery on July 21, 2000:
Welcome everyone, especially the artists from the United States and Canada. They worked at the Ferencsik Janos Zeneiskola and their artworks are shown here at the gallery for the local public.
The Hungarian Multicultural Center and Aranyhid Cultural Club organized this exhibition. The four artists were worked and lived at the college, maybe at "Spartan" situations. This short time was enough for them to realize the Hungarian life. They lived in Hungary one of the beautiful region, they experienced the Hungarian culture, life and people.
I believe that all this experiences have been and will influence they work later.
I believe that this artists residencies are very positive and helpful for artists. Here I would like say thank you to the artists for the donations that they gave to the college. I hope that they will remember with good heart about this time that they spent with us.
I would like to introduce the participating artists work:
Russ La Chanse, Chicago, IL:
Most of my work is bright, bold, colorful and humorous. I am always trying new things and have produced successful pieces in different styles.
Michelle Lance, Queens, NY:
My work evolves around the concept that our bodies will one-day start to change, due to the harmful substances that are carelessly disposed of in the environment. I represent this idea with dried fruits and vegetables that replaces the skin and hair on a human like form. I choose this medium because I can take a particular fruit or vegetable, apply it to a form, then watch as it slowly dries out, changing the color, texture and sometimes leaving the surface unrecognizable.
Aleksandr Niestroj, Montreal, Canada:
With a relentless urge to explore himself and his surroundings Aleksandr examines all that catches his fancy, from the mundane to the whimsical. Combining pigments, collage, and gels, he plays with his subjects as well as the materials from which they came.
Robin Wassong, Seattle, WA:
My work deals with geometric shapes in an animated, relational way. They are playful constructions which set up formal issues of color, texture, pattern and balance. For many years my concentration has been on large oil paintings. Here at the residency with limited time and materials, I chose to do small studies of collage and paint on paper.
This exhibit is different from the usual shows at this gallery. Please welcome the artists and their works. Thank you.



1999
Naplo, 08/03/99 by Kellei
"American artists in Balatonfured"
American artists are exhibited in the Art-East Gallery, Balatonfured. The exhibition opening speech was presented by Laszlo Bognar, a sculptor. Wendy White exhibited an installation that influenced the artist in Hungary. Anna-Maria Vag is a first generation Hungarian, was born in New York. This residency was her first trip to Hungary. She studied at the University of Los Angeles Film and Television Department film and photography. Her subjects are the nature and human connections. Sandra Raminez is a teacher in California. She uses strong colors on her paintings. J. Mehaffey was born in Texas and lives in New Mexico. She is a spiritual artist. She uses gold leaves, paint and other materials on her meditation paintings. Her works are feminine, sensitive and based on old cultures.

Opening speech by Laszlo Bognar:
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Art Lovers! I would like introduce to you the artists and their work that their brought to the Art-East Gallery to exhibit in this year. The artists lived and worked for a month in the Artists Residency, Balatonfured. Wendy White exhibited an installation. The works that she made here in Hungary are different from her previous work. It shows how she feels. She never have been so far from her home before. These thoughts influenced Wendy White in Hungary. Anna-Maria Vag is a first generation Hungarian in the United States. She was born in New York. This residency was her first trip to Hungary. The first time she met with her relatives from Hungary. She studied at the University of Los Angeles Film and Television Department film and photography. Her subjects are the nature and human connections. The only picture that she exhibited here The Dezso Utca that she donated to the City of Balatonfured. Sandra Raminez arrived from California. She is an art teacher. She uses strong colors on her paintings. Her paintings are experimental work that combine of psychology and her experiences.
J. Mehaffey was born in Texas and lives in New Mexico. She is a spiritual artist. Her works are feminine, sensitive and based on old cultures. She got many awards. She is a master of the meditation art. When she visited me in my home and I looked over her slides and photographs, her work made an interesting feeling on me. Sri Chin Moj, the peace guru pictures came in my mind. J. Mehaffey uses gold leaves, paint and other materials on her meditation paintings. She donated her one painting entitled as Eat Alone to the City of Balatonfured. My favorite piece of her work is the Headphone. I imagine that I am sitting in a comfortable armchair, listening to some soft music and arriving some colorful world. She is a great artist. I wish success to the artists and that you have a pleasant time as you present these works. I open the exhibition.



1998
Exhibition opening:
Tibor Szalay, director of the Ferenc Szechenyi Kerteszeti Szakkozep School, introductory speech at the exhibition opening at the ART-East Gallery on July 26, 1998:
Welcome everyone, especially the artists from the United States and England. They worked at the Castle of Szechenyi and their artworks are shown here at the gallery for the local public.
The Hungarian Multicultural Center and Aranyhid Cultural Club organized this exhibition. The eight artists were worked and lived at the college, maybe in "Spartan" situations. This short time was enough for them to experience the Hungarian life. They lived in one of the most beautiful region, they experienced the Hungarian culture, life and people. Also they met with the Bosnian and Polish culture in the college.
I believe that all this experiences have been and will influence they work.
I believe that this artists residencies are very positive and helpful for artists. Here I would like say thank you to the artists for the donations that they gave to the college. I hope that they will remember with good heart about this time that they spent with us. Thank you.

Maria Soltesz, exhibition organizer at the Aranyhid cultural Club, introductory speech at the exhibition opening at the ART-East Gallery on July 26, 1998:
The Hungarian Multicultural Center and Aranyhid Cultural Club organized this exhibition at the EAST-Art Gallery for the artists who worked at the artists residency in this month here in town. I would like to introduce the artists:
Wil Bosbyshell: My works subject were the Hungarian capital and Lake Balaton. I see this country in this way. Hilary Ann Maslon: I will use my experiences at home in my exhibition that will open in October in New York. Allegra Marquart: The different sounds, colors, tastes, walking at new places, swimming in new waters influenced my work. Cathy J. Deak: I have been many times in Hungary. The openness and kindness of the people influenced my work. Goro Hasegawa: All my work is connected with nature. I used in my work local materials. Sandra C. Ramirez: I manipulated colors and shapes.

Artists' Residencies Exhibition 2004

at Vizivarosi Gallery, Budapest 2004