Őriné Nagy Cecília: A gödöllői szőnyeg 100 éve (Gödöllő, 2007)

THE GÖDÖLLŐ CARPET'S 100 YEARS

Erzsébet Szekeres, as his disciple, embraced the Gödöllő spirit and has been making knotted and later sewn hangings since the early 1970's. The art life of the town was resuscitated at the turn of the 1970's and 80's ensuring local artists the continuous opportunity to exhibit in the town since. In 1998, a workshop of applied arts was formally established, by professional artists living in or near Gödöllő, people who acknowledge the artistic heritage of those creating here at the beginning of the century. The members of the Gödöllő Applied Art Workshop, like their fore-runners, profess to love and respect nature, man and life, to honour their homeland, to keep and promote the ancient and folk culture of Hungarians. Art instruction is an important part of the workshop's activity. Their courses in handicrafts, like ceramics and gobelin-making, as well as in drawing, offered for children and adults alike, are always well-attended. The workshop was initiated by textile artist Erzsébet Katona Szabó, who organises not only the courses, but also the exhibitions of contemporary artists, the literary evenings, events introducing the activity of the former colony, outings and costume parties. It takes a lot of energy and great organizational skills, as she does all this alongside her own work, the result of which we can often see at solo and group exhibitions in Hungary and abroad. Besides tapestries, she designs clothing, and recently started making interesting leather works. The other important tapestry designer of the workshop is Flóra Remsey, who as the grandchild of Jenő Remsey came to know the spirit of the Gödöllő colony early on, and now works with the same knowledge of art and life she acquired here. Her works reflect a love overflowing the material. With the gesture of giving and passing on she gives voice to those apparently small, but in fact important messages of life. Textile design plays an important role in the workshop. The wall-hangings of Erzsébet Bódis composed of stylised, almost geometricised plants appearing in a pleasing harmony of colours have a decorative effect. The artist has created, with her natural motifs, her individual language, which might as well be the straight continuation of the wall-carpets of her predecessor artists. Irén Szuppán creates appalling spaces by her carpets composed in the plane. The creations of Éva Farkas show delightful sceneries in soft pastel shades, and they are often enriched with surprising details.