KÖTŐDÉSEK. A VIDÉKI MAGYARORSZÁG EMLÉKEZETE (Kiállítási katalógusok - Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2003)

Much to our pleasure, the message has been understood by the prominent artists in the town of Szentendre and fifty artists out of sixty answered our invitation. It is hard to describe our happiness we experienced while the excellent works of art representing the various areas of contemporary art arrived to the Museum in July. I am convinced that this exhibition and this volume prove sufficiently that our idea was not lacking reality. Artistic and cultural trends, which seem to be far from each other might create together excellent products, if the spiritual foundation is there, the invitation is challenging and if both are ready to come closer to each other. I have to highlight and to thank to all artists participating in the exhibition and in the book for the high professional performance and for sending the best products of their artistic career. A special thank to them for - following the good old traditions and the spirit of the place - offering the works of art free as a decoration of the inner space of the new building of the Hungarian Open Air Museum. With this they offered their participation in the aesthetic creation of the place, moreover, they help to preserve an important circle of the contemporary artistic material of Szentendre for eternity, for future generations. Besides the artists, I must say thanks with great respect to the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage, and within this, personally to Ms. Márta Schneider, deputy under-secretary of state and to the Museum College of the National Cultural Basic Program for their moral and financial support Furthermore,ihav^ro "ejtess my thanks to the painter Pál Deim, the sculptor Ádám Farkas and art,historian Ferenc Hann. As a recognition of the value of our initiative, our outstanding art historian, Tibor Wehner wrote a scientific summery for the exhibition catalogue, edited by the painter Péter Bereznai. And at last, I must say thanks|in the name of all colleagues in the Hungarian Open Air Museum to the painter János Aknay, the master paper-maker László Vincze and the organiser of exhibition Jenő Horváth, as well as to my colleague Zsuzsanna^Szabó for their work done for the setting up of the exhibition. % A new exhibition room is born in Szentendre, in the town of arts: the Skanzen Gallery. So much of good intentions, good-will and generosity have met here that I feel sure that the friends of contemporary Hungarian arts as well as of the traditional folk culture will enjoy many interesting exhibitions of abiding value. Szentendre, 21 July 2003 dr. Miklós Cseri director 7