Even thou Spanish is my native language and the one used in my page, I will write this review in English since this is the language that united us in the“Boundless green- Painting, Piano and Poetry in Roedermark Park” Festival. Roedermark is a town in the Offenbach district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany, southeast of Frankfurt am Main and northeast of Darmstadt.
I was invited to participate in the Boundless Green-Painting, Piano and Poetry in Roedermark Park, which took place from the 8th to the 12th of September, 2016 by writer and journalist Peter Voelker, which along with Sylvia Baumer and Lothar Rickert, oganized this wonderful event. Our deepest thanks to all and Mayor Roland Kern.
On the first evening we had a welcoming address from the Mayor of Roedermark Roland Kern, representatives of the art association “Kunst in Roedermark” (KIR), the art association “Meerholz” and the world writers association “Liceo Poético de Benidorm“. These welcoming addresses were followed by an introduction of the poets and artists, followed by dinner.
A Festival that united Art, Poetry and Music in Roedermark Park and brought us together in a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere where you could interchange experiences with all of the participants.
One of the great things that came about this gathering was the compilation of a worldwide anthology “Between our words..poetry overcomes borders“. According to Mayor Roland Kern who compiled the anthology together with poet Peter Voelker, this anthology is the visible, tangible and readable result of the extraordinary event that brought poets from different parts of the world to a Festival dedicated to meeting and communicating through poetry.
14 poets of different nationalities were invited to participate on this Festival, Nahid Esnafpour (Iran), Maria Juliana Villafañe (Puerto Rico) Mindy Zhang (China/USA), Youssef Rzouga (Tunisia), Silvia Cuevas Morales, (Chile/Australia/Spain) Maarja Kangro (Estonia), Dumitru M. Ion (Romania), Mesut Senol (Turkey), Bisera Suljic-Boskailo (Bosnia und Herzegovina), Annabel Villar (Uruguay/Spain), Julio Pavanetti (Uruguay/Spain), Francoise Roy (Canada/Mexico), Valérie Forgues (Canada) and Lana-Valeria Dumitru (Romania & Great Brittain).
Poets from Germany who participated in the Festival were: Monika Landau, Ljubica Perkman, Dieter Brumm, Hans Melchior, Sylvia Meise, Carola Hugli and Martina Winkelmann.
CONFERENCE BY DR. ELKE WEHRS
A great Motivational Speech on understanding on the border- cultural science reflections on territorial boundaries or the borders in our minds, was given by Dr. Phil. Elke Wehrs, from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt.
VISIT TO THE “WORLD HERITAGE SITE” MESSEL PIT
A great experience the visit to the World Heritage Site, not only learning about fossils but to be able to hold in your hands one from such remote ages. Also seeing a and holding a preserved horse the size of a small dog.
http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Sites/messel-pit.htm
A sample of our experience there….
POETS AND ARTIST GET TOGETHER IN A MOST SPECIAL REUNION
The poets wrote poems of different themes such as social injustice, the environment, feelings that came from their hearts. One of the big surprises to the international poets was when they met visual artists and discovered that the paintings that were on the walls of the conference room where they met, were all inspired by the poetic words in the poems they had submitted for the anthology and became part of the exhibition in the park.
Poet, novelist, playwright, film and theatre critic, translator, editor an academic Dimitru M. Ion reads the poem “Der Derwisch, das Mossulhemd und der agyotische Schreider” that inspired the work of artist Sabine Rabiger.
https://faiorientoccidenten.wordpress.com/dumitru-m-ion/
Valerie Forgues reads her poem “Der Schrank der Traume unter Verschuluss” standing next to the painting of Yochen Swarz which her poetry inspired.
Meanwhile Yochen Schwarz listens to the poem that inspired his painting.
The work of the artists together with the poetry were exhibited in the park.
Writer and poet Julio César Pavanetti, President of the “Liceo Poético de Benidorm” recites along with artist Eveliene Doverauer next to the painting that was inspired by the poem “Ich entstand aus einem schattigen Baum”“.
https://poetassigloveintiuno.blogspot.com/2016/01/julio-pavanetti-17968.html
Poet Mindy Zhang recites while artist Holger Muller observes her. Between them the painting that was inspired by the poem “Mein Stammbaum” which gave life to the cover of the anthology of the Festival.
https://pionline.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/interview-with-mindy-zhang/
Journalist, writer and poet Jouseff Rzouga could not be present at the Festival. The painting below was created by artist Isolde Nagel inspired in Rzougas poem “Ein Denkmal fur Ibre Majestat”.
http://www.theartkey.com/gallery/7669/A_trans_Pavillon__Isolde_Nagel/
Awarded poet, translator, Maarja Kangro smiles in front of the work of artist Annelie Schnack which was inspired by her poem “Der Ex“.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maarja_Kangro
Awarded poet, translator, photographer,editor and geographer, Francoise Roy reads her poem “Waffenstilstands” while artist while artist Jurgen Wolff listens.
https://pionline.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/interview-with-francoise-roy/
http://kunst-in-roedermark.de/ Jurgen Wolff
Nahid Esnafpour recites her poem “Die Brücke” which inspired the painting of Manfred R. Dreimann. She also sang one of her poems.
Writer, poet and translator Silvia Cuevas Morales reads the poem “In die Heimat zurück geben” which inspired the painting behind her by artist Silke Reusing who could not attend the event.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvia_Cuevas_Morales
A walk in the park to see all exhibitions was a must. A chance to meet and talk with all the artists.
A Very proud father Dimitru M, Ion reads the poem “Orientalisches Dipichon” written by his daughter poet, ensayist, translater Lana Valeria Dimitru. Alongside is artist Simone Nufs whose face and smile shows a great satisfaction for the work shared.
Poet, writer and professor Bisera Suljic – Boskailo listens alongside with artist Q-fell the reading of her poem in German by Martina Winkelmann. The title of the poem is “Gottliche Lieblinge” . Behind the work of Q-Fell.
About Q-fell
Makbule Firat, chief-organizer from Schillerhaus where this meeting took place.
The poet and cultural activist, Annabel Villar Director of the Liceo Poético de Benidorm, reads her poem “Fur sie ist es nicht der Samt” stanting in front of the paintig of artist Karin Kuck.
http://www.ama-hashi.com/Annabel-Villar.html
Poet, translator, TV host Mesut Senol reads his poem ” “Eine verructe Frau” which inspired the painting of Hans Peter Smucker.
http://www.turkishculture.org/whoiswho/literature/mesut-senol-2206.htm
Poet, writer María Juliana Villafañe reads her poem Deine Abwesenheit” translated by Lutz Kliche while artist Thomas Schemeller who made the work inspired on her poem, listens” .
CONFERENCE ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF GRIMMELSHAUSEN AND THE BROTHER GRIMM
A conference was offered by Bukard Kling, historian and director of the Brothers Grimm Museum, Steinau.
MUSICAL GROUPS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FESTIVAL
A Festival that was full of surprises. The music included “Free Electric Band“, “Basement Riot“, “Gastone & Famiglia“, “Red Hot Chilli Peppers“, “Café Mundo“, “Bros and Drums” and “Ticato“.
We had the pleasure of listening to some of the bands that played during the Festival. Here are some remembrances. About the bands….
Gastone and Famiglia: http://www.gastone-famiglia.com/famiglia
“Basement Riot” http://www.basement-riot.de/band.html
“Red Hot Chilli Peppers” http://rhcprevival.com/
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.cafedelmundo.de/&prev=search
Music from the 70s was played by the group “Free Electric Band” that had everyone in the park singing and dancing.
The group “Ticato” played their famous Jazz, blues and more with the participation of singer Rebecca Roth, Tim Ellerbroch in the guitar and Thomas Legrand, bass.
And there were drums….with “Bros and Drums”
POETRY READING IN THE PARK ALONG WITH MUSIC
And even the little ones were interested in the reading of poetry!!
A MORNING VISITING….Bulau Keltendenkmal – “Bulau” is a part of the town Rödermark – and the celtic memorial which was built to remind of an ancient roman route passing there
ROEDERMARK – LITERATURE AWARDS- DECLARATIONS ON ENVIROMENT, DEMOCRACY AND PEACE
Dr. Jochen Schick was the translator of most of the events during the Festival. He translated documents as well as simultaneous translations.
Ion Dimitru along with poets, musicians and artists signed the Declarations on Enviroment, Democracy and Peace.
Declaration-on-Enviroment-Democracy-and-Peace-Roedermark-2016-1609Endfassung-EnglishRatschlagLiteratur
THE 1ST ROEDERMARK HONOR FOR POETRY AWARD TO MAARJA KANGRO (ESTONIA) TO HER POEM “DER EX”
Maarja Kangro (Estonia) receives the 1st Roedermark Honor for Poetry Award, from Mayor Ronald Kern and Peter Voelker. Second place was awarded to poet Nahid Esnafpour (Iran) and third to poet Mindy Zhang (China).
The night ended with a silent movie with by live music
There are so many persons to thank for this wonderful Festival there could not be words. I hope that these pictures convey my appreciation to all. I cannot leave this page without giving a special thank you to Peter Voelker who received me in Frankfurt the night I arrived and to Sylvia Meise who took me from Frankfurt to Roedermark. I want to share with you a page in her website with her insights about this Festival. Enyoy!!
http://meiseundmeise-blog.de/blog/2016/09/25/suesses-gift-ohne-grenzen/
Thank you all for the great times and wonderful hospitality!!!
