Love Locks

If you squint at the map below, you can see where Petofi Island (on the right - "Petofi Sziget") is in relation to the Danube (Duna), over to the left. One day we took a walk down to the point, and a stunning walk it was, relieving all stress with its beauty.

One passes a marina, fishermen, friends chatting on benches, or strolling down the path. Skiffs, cyclists, and an old man picking mushrooms completed our idyllic riverwalk.

At the end is a lovely park, with a pink tower, overlooking the Danube.

When you climb to the top, you notice locks attached everywhere on the railing: Love Locks. When Bajas fall in love, they have their names engraved on a padlock, with the date, and attach it here, in a symbolic act of eternal and undying love. Another cultural symbol we could redeem as tangible expression of uniting one's heart to Christ. The sketchbooks and cameras were soon out.

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The artists are suddenly in the zone: Chuck on the ground photographing, Marcia doing a watercolor of the Danube, me sketching.

Soon the other three artists arrive on bikes, just in time for all of us to head back--chased by an approaching storm, and late for lunch anyway.

This cultural phenomenon began in Hungary in the '80's, spread around the country and then Europe. Check out some examples here and here.

And some first artistic offerings...but this theme definitely needs pondering...

 

Munkácsy

In Erd (pronounced “Ayrd” and you have to smile to say it!), we had one full day before the musicians and dancers arrived. Monday we would debrief, and then many participants would begin flying home on Tuesday.

OM Hungary treated us to a day in Budapest, taking us to the Hungarian National Gallery to discover Hungary’s leading visual artist, Mihály Munkácsy. (Some of us are a little shame-faced that we are only just now discovering this master. Better late than never.)

“The superbly gifted Hungarian painter, Mihály Munkácsy had a remarkable life. From a joiner apprentice living among dire circumstances, he became a celebrated and highly successful painter, whose pictures were sought after by some of the wealthiest are collectors in Europe and the United States. To this day, Munkácsy has remained the best-known representative of Hungarian painting. Although he spent most of his creative life in Paris, during the late 19th C. the world at large came to identify the word “Hungarian” with the names of Munkácsy and Franz Liszt. It is a testimony to his successes that most of his works are currently held tin collections outside Hungary, in the various museums and private collections of Europe and the United States.”—An Irregular Biography, Zsuzsanna Bakó, Munkácsy in the World


I can’t believe I didn’t learn of this guy in Paris either—sheesh!

Arriving about lunchtime, we climbed or rode up the cable car to Castle Hill, and entered the fray: Pest was crawling with tourists. Ugh. Well, it is summer…

After the obligatory photos from the heights with their fantastic views of the Danube and Buda, we headed for the museum, until Jacob veered off at a food booth, Melissa followed him, and Marcia headed to the artisan’s booth, and, well, let’s just say it was another hour before we actually made it into the museum.

I spent some time talking with a lady who had some stunning lithographs for sale; she was the business manager for a family of artists. She saw my sketchbook in hand, and asked to see it. I shared what we had just done in Baja; she asked for contact info so she could go down and see our work, and maybe participate next year! I left her with an artist trading card, and she beamed, handing me a postcard of the city in return.

Onto the gallery…hunger pangs only slightly mollified by the funnel bread we sampled out in the courtyard. But then we entered ‘the zone’ again, as we entered the darkened exhibit room where Munkácsy’s works were displayed: a special exhibit of The Trilogy of Christ--work considered the pinnacle of his career. It was staggering to see his preliminary studies alone. You can get a glimpse of the scale here

Look him up, art fans! What a guy!

On the Road Again!

Time to crank up the travel blog again, as I head out to Magyar country! On Friday, I fly Delta to Budapest (by way of Amsterdam)landing the next day, en route to Baja, Hungary.

Which is where?! 90 miles south of Budapest…and here’s a You Tube to get you in the groove!

Hungary—10 million people. A republic that entered the EU in 2004. 55% Catholic, 15% Reformed Protestant, 15% with no religion, and a handful % of ‘other.’ Until recently, all under the thumb of Communism.

My up-closest-and-personal experiences of Hungary: Alice, a Hungarian immigrant who joined my church in Hartford, CT, and took a liking to me. And Dora, my accidental roommate in Paris, where we joined financial resources in the tiniest of hotel chambers in that great city, to attend an arts conference. I visited Dora the following summer when GEM’s annual conference was held in Budapest, and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at her home and studio in that amazing city. Two trips to Budapest for annual conferences confirmed that the thermal springs are indeed all they are cracked up to be. And I love Margaret Island, and the beautiful walks (or river cruises) you can take along the Danube.

Both of these ladies have slipped away from my life—Alice from this life altogether, and Dora? Well, who knows…I may just bump into her again this trip! Our arts camps are highly publicized there. I don't expect to have much time in Budapest at all, but boy would those thermal springs feel good at the end of the month! Anyway...

OM Arts has been ministering in Hungary for several years, but this is the first year I’m free to go with the team, and bring 4 visual artists with me. Our project is threefold:

. to facilitate art workshops for teenagers: sculpture, drawing, photography, and mixed media/collage. Our musician and dance teams will also teach workshops in their disciplines. Then, we split up.

. The music and dance teams will begin a concert tour of several Hungarian cities, while I stay behind with the arts team stays to connect with the local arts community. At the end of the month, we reunite, debrief, and take a deep breath.

. Then we start a second camp: arts leadership training, for several Hungarian churches. (At that point, I bow out, and head over to Poland for GEM’s annual conference, where I will celebrate 20 years in mission!)

This is the most ambitious project we have ever put together, and the largest project the team in Hungary has ever hosted. They are asking us to please pack flexibility and sense of humor in our bags, and promise good Hungarian food in return! Sounds like a deal. See you on the other side!