Since 1997 Kunstverein Seide e.V., a German artists' association of professional silkpainters from Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Byelo-Russia has presented 8 congresses with qualified further education for silk painters, 4 juried competitions and 21 exhibitions in various galleries and museums throughout Germany.

The last exhibition "Faszination Seide" (Fascinated by Silk) at the gallery of the Regional Administration Building (Regierungspräsidium) Karlsruhe has been a record breaker with 350 visitors at the opening ceremony on 8th May, and an enormous number of visitors till the end of the exhibition on 8th June 2008.

The exhibition featured two- and three-dimensional works created by 26 artists from Kunstverein Seide and 9 works created by guests. Among the guest artists were Lydie Ottelard, Laure Bouissou, Josiane Arnaudet, Ann Marie Caffin (all from D'ART ET DE SOIE) and Marie-Jeanne Weerts (HABOTAI).

Kunstverein Seide e.V. had also invited its Polish artist member Ludwika Zytkiewicz to present some works created by first grade students from Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts & Design (Lodz/Poland).

During the exhibition artist members of Kunstverein Seide e.V. offered various guided tours through the gallery and informed visitors about silk production and the art of silk painting. In one section of the gallery Kunstverein Seide e.V. presented a selection of works of the competition "Light and Shadow".

The association had received 26 applications from 9 European countries, of which 14 works were selected for presentation in the gallery. Rosemarie Reber (Switzerland) was rewarded the 1st prize for her work "Schatten des Schweigens " (shadows of silence). Ulrike Isensee (Germany) received the 2nd prize for "The dark side of the moon" and Mie Vaale Noddeland (Norway) the 3rd prize for "Im Schatten eines Perlhuhns " (In the shadow of a guinea fowl).

In 2009 Kunstverein Seide e.V. will organize another open congress with further education and workshops for anyone interested. This event is scheduled for 5th till 7th June at Rothenburg a.d.T. The artist association has chosen this venue because the house offers good conference facilities and the possibility to book full board on the premises. Kunstverein Seide e.V. will provide more information on this event in due time.

Venue: Evangelische Tagungsstätte Wildbad, Tauberweg 42; D-91541 Rothenburg o.d.T.; Tel. 0049-9861-9770; Fax: 0049-9861-2605; email: info@wildbad.rothenburg.de; www.wildbad.rothenburg.de

Monika Engel
www.kunstvereinseide.de