Workshop for students

A workshop of the Italian artist Martin Messavilla was held for a group of jewellery students of the Kaliningrad Art and Industrial College from 15 to 25 September 2015 in Kaliningrad within the international art and educational project "Jewellery Design: Naturns, Italy – Kaliningrad, Russia". 

Theme of the workshop was "Mounting of the Hollow Body. Anatomical Laws of Nature". Students under supervision of Martin Messavilla developed creative objects made of brass based on local plants. Technical side of the process consisted of learning by participants how to mount various kinds of jewellery clasps, as well as of improvement of their sawing, brazing, filing and polishing skills. 

In 2013 Martin Messavilla came to Kaliningrad with a group of Italian students to learn traditions of Russian decorative and applied art. In 2015 he took part in the contest "Metaphysics of Light" of the Sixth International Biennial of Amber Artworks "Alatyr 2015" for the first time and won the Grand Prix. 

Over the last three years the artist has been working in the workshop of the president of the Claudia Augusta Project, jewellery artist Konrad Laimer. This project unites three regions – Kaliningrad, South Tirol and Venice. It is aimed to develop creative potential of the youth from Kaliningrad region and northern Italy.

On the first day of the workshop the group visited the Botanical Garden to find plants that served as inspiration for design of works. During the next day students were making sketches based on form of the chosen plants. Then they transferred one of them from paper onto metal. 

In the course of the Martin's and students' common work not only exchange of experience and improvement of participants' metal work skills happened, but also successful intercultural communication did. After practice students together with Italian artist went to the Baltic seaside, visited Kaliningrad museums. 

Martin Messavilla mentioned that during his trip to Kaliningrad in 2013 with the group of students from Italy he didn't get such a full picture of Russia as he always was among his country people and spoke his native language. Close communication with Kaliningrad students helped him to get into Russian culture.

After the end of the workshop the diploma delivery festive ceremony and tea-party with pies – treat in Russian traditions took place in the Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum. 

Works of the Kaliningrad Art and Industrial College students created within the Martin Messavilla's workshop are presented in the temporary exhibition in the Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum.

Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum expresses gratitude to the partners – C.A.Project and Kaliningrad Art and Industrial College.