XXIX FIDEM Congress and Exhibition, SEIXAL 2004
Report by Cory Gillilland, U.S.A. Delegate to FIDEM
Seventeen Americans attended the FIDEM XXIX Congress and exhibition in Portugal. These included two students who received FIDEM travel grants. Though the number of U.S. attendees was smaller than usual, our delegation was again the largest. The Congress took place in the coastal town of Seixal, a former fishing village and now a suburb of Lisbon. The meetings were held in the municipal auditorium and in the auditorium of the Sociedade Filarmonica Tembre Seixalense. The two lecture halls were about one block apart with the exhibit situated between the two in the Antigos Refeitorios da Mundet, a former cork factory. One could look out from all sites at the Bay of sea water or of sea bottom, depending on the tide! Buses transported the delegates from their hotels, both on the beach and in Lisbon, to and from the Congress sites and to the special activities such as the visit to the Mint of Lisbon.
|
The FIDEM exhibit was very well done with nice cases and proper labels. The catalog, a hard bound volume of 501 pages, includes photos of one medal per artist. The U.S. medals received many accolades though the prizes went to others! The FIDEM Grand Prix was awarded to Elisabeth Varga of the Netherlands, The Rahapaja Insignia Ltd. Prize for a creative struck medal and/or technically innovative medal went to Otakar Dusek of the Czech Republic, The Aimo Viitala prize for young artists under 30 years of age was given to Maria Joao Ferreira of Portugal. This last name some of the readers may recognize as the FIDEM contact person for the Seixal Municipality. The Gulbenkian prize for innovation and creativity was awarded to Peter Szanyi of Hungary, the Lisbon Mint prize for the best cast medal was given to the Finish artist, Pirkko Viitasalo, and finally the Cuhaj prize for young artists under 30 went to Natasha Ratcliffe of Great Britain.
The site of the American Delegation party made it one of the most memorable of the Congress events. The Seixal staff arranged for our party to be held in a building now owned by the Seixal Municipality; and most importantly, a historically important site. Until a short time ago it was the home of the family of Vasco de Gama and had been when he was a child. What a thrill to be there. The home was beautiful with 17th century tiles, splendid furniture and lovely carpets. The large garden captured all the guests attention, that is until the rain came and the wine arrived. Each country delegate received the U.S. delegation medal designed by Mashiko and Jeanne Stevens Sollman and cast by Jim Licaretz. These artists volunteered their time and talent and thus by cooperation created a magnificent medal. Copies of this medal may be purchased for $30 from the U.S. FIDEM delegate, Cory Gillilland.
Lectures included sessions given by three Americans. Heather Blume spoke about The Contemporary Anti-War Medal. She has organized a fine traveling exhibit of these medals which is available for additional scheduled venues. Dr. Ira Rezak, an internationally known expert on Jewish medallic art, talked about the medals of Boris Schatz and his School, while Cory Gillilland discussed Mashiko's New Dimensions in Medallic Art, her New Approach Inc., and her work with student artists. Mashiko arranged a special exhibit of students at the University of the Fine Arts in Lisbon. Well known Portuguese medallist Joao Duarte teaches there.
On the last day Chris Cipoletti, Executive Director of the American Numismatic Association, addressed the FIDEM general assembly, discussing the next FIDEM Congress to be held in Colorado Springs. The General Assembly voted to accept the ANA's invitation and to plan for the Congress in the fall of 2007.
Unfortunately, the Assembly, over the objections and votes of the U.S. delegates, moved to raise the FIDEM dues. U.S. members will be advised of the cost as soon as the Treasurer has agreed upon the exchange rate.
The Assembly also accepted the Executive Committee's recommendation that Cory Gillilland, the U.S. delegate, serve as a member of the executive committee. Ron Dutton of Great Britain and Carolien Voigtmann of the Netherlands were also added to the committee. Mashiko was named as a second vice delegate for the U.S. (Jeanne Stevens-Sollman serving as the first vice delegate). All of this aids the U.S. in offering a larger voice in the workings of FIDEM. Well we should for the U.S. has the largest number of members.
As our country will host the next Congress, the FIDEM medal for 2007 will be the work of an American artist. Hopefully, there will be many entries in the competition for this medal. We also want to ask all to offer new ideas for the Congress. What type of lectures would you wish to hear and what kind of workshops would you want to attend and by given by whom? Please write Cory with any ideas you might have. Let's all make this 2007 Congress a great one and one to be long remembered.
Cory Gillilland
227 Mountain View Drive
Willsboro, NY 12996
Phone: 518-963-4677
gillilland@artinthehand.com
|
