Artists' Association Augsburg "The Corner"

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Augsburg Artists 'Association "Die Ecke" is an artists' association that was founded in Augsburg in 1907 and is still in existence today.

History of origin

"Die Ecke" was founded on May 4, 1907 to stimulate the cultural life of the city in Augsburg. The 8 founding members were worried about the artistic culture of their hometown. Over the decades, “Die Ecke” has developed into an incentive for Augsburg's cultural scene. In 2007, the artists' association, which has existed to this day, comprised a total of 130 full-time members and 90 extraordinary members.

Founding members

The following eight founding members were present at the constituent meeting in the adjoining room of the "Weißer Gockel" restaurant in 1907:

Club history

The discrepancy between the great past of the old imperial city of Augsburg and the perceived “cultural agony” of the present was the driving force behind the founding of the association. The neighboring city of Munich , with many artists 'associations as a model, suggested the conception of a local artists' association. Architects in particular led the cultural innovation.

As soon as it was founded, the First World War and its aftermath shifted the group's priorities. It was now about survival (5 members fell in the field) as well as better working and living conditions for the club members. The artists' association advanced to become a consultant for the church and the agricultural authorities. Competitions for monuments (including war memorials) offered employment and sources of income. In the late 1920s, the existing housing shortage resulted in new housing projects with the help of numerous “corner” architects, such as the Zeppelinhof im Hochfeld , the Buchenau and Ulmenhof in Oberhausen , and later the Schuberthof and Lessinghof.

Efforts to concentrate the collaboration between architects, visual artists and handicrafts in a “Federation for Design Augsburg” were ultimately ended by the National Socialist takeover in 1933. The "corner" was brought into line by the Reich Chamber of Fine Arts in 1937.

After the war ended on November 18, 1948, the "corner" was re-established. It found new support from sculptors, painters and graphic artists. The reconstruction of the hometown destroyed in the war in the 1950s challenged the criticism of the "corner" - too believing in progress, too careless with regard to building fabric worth preserving - according to the analysis. And it was able to prevail - for example with regard to the large open space in front of the Augsburg City Hall . On the initiative of the "Ecke", the Augsburg city council has been awarding the Augsburg City Art Prize since 1958 . In addition to professionalizing the exhibition, this award also specifically supports visual artists.

In 1970, the artists' association acquired the property at Elias-Holl-Platz 6 in Augsburg's old town in order to establish its own art gallery and a gallery bar there. Regular art exhibitions of own and foreign artists followed.

To this day, “Die Ecke” is active in the arts of the city of Augsburg.

Exhibitions (selection)

  • 1949 Christmas exhibition in the Schaezler-Palais
  • 1951 Summer exhibition in the Golden Hall of Augsburg City Hall
  • 1957 Anniversary exhibition “CORNER 50” for the 50th anniversary of the association, Augsburg

literature

  • Werner Lutz : 100 years of the Augsburg Artists' Association “The Corner” 1907–2007 . Ed .: Artists' Association Augsburg "The Corner". 2007.
  • Werner Lutz: Augsburg's way to a modern metropolis 1907–1972 the Augsburg artists' association “Die Ecke” as a critical companion . In: Architekturmuseum Schwaben: Writings of the Architekturmuseum Schwaben . tape 3 . Architekturmuseum Schwaben, Augsburg 2001, ISBN 3-9807563-1-9 .

Web links