As an artist with special training in hand papermaking, my Fulbright Scholar project entailed building a hand papermaking studio at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Belgrade. Serbia has a strong and well-known tradition in the graphic arts. In a wider sense, this project participated in bolstering the university's art offerings during a time the university faced serious economic and administrative challenges. Students often lacked basic supplies, and many of the studios are in a state of disrepair.
Despite the hardships, a number of my colleagues were particularly remarkable. Based on numerous conversations before my arrival, Professor Adam Pantic built the papermaking studio in an unused room in the printmaking building. Throughout the semester, I conducted papermaking lectures and demonstrations, and trained students to take over the studio for when my grant ended. Students are still using the studio, and a number of professors also became interested in papermaking as well. Professor Biljana Vukovic organized papermaking lectures for me to share this still somewhat unknown medium at various universities throughout the country.
Of course, working in a transitional country requires a strong ability to adapt to change, often requiring a plan B (and often, even C). Something as seemingly simple as ordering additional supplies from the United States to be delivered to Belgrade required three days at the post office in negotiation with customs officials unfamiliar with the materials and wanting to charge exorbitant customs fees. As my very patient colleague during those days described, however, it was great fodder for a short story. Through such events, I gained remarkable perspective on these kinds of daily challenges when compared to our lifestyle here in the United States.
Being adaptable provided most fruitful during my research on papermaking in the Balkans. Although I discovered that hand papermaking had virtually no tradition in Serbia (in fact, they imported it from Italy), my time researching these facts at the Ethnographic Museum was totally remarkable. The curators always greeted me with coffee and chocolate, and I spent hours there touring their special collections depot, archival photographs, and video recordings of Serbian artisans.
I have continued work with Ethnographic Museum Senior Curator Sasa Sreckovic on a special project encouraging cultural tourism in a town called Vlasotince in southeast Serbia. I have traveled there twice since my Fulbright Scholar experience, and we are now planning a regional exhibition featuring the region's craft artisans, as well as more substantive, long-range programming. While I was back this year, I also gave talks at the American Corners in Belgrade and Novi Sad, and was interviewed by Politika.
The Fulbright Scholar Program was a watershed event for me. It gave me the time to create a substantial program for the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Belgrade, as well as relationships that have transitioned into more long-term collaborations. This work continues to be a wonderful part of my career as a teacher and artist.
Please contact
us if you would like to submit your own story
and/or photographs.
"International education
exchange is the most significant current project
designed to continue the process of humanizing
mankind to the point, we would hope, that
nations can learn to live in peace"
--J. William Fulbright |
|
