Workshops in Poland

At the invitation of cultural institutions, schools and universities, as well as organizing independent trips, I have conducted workshops in different parts of Poland. I conducted calligraphy and manuscript painting classes in Jodłowo in the Kłodzko region, Gdynia, Sobieszewo, Olsztyn, Poznań, Słupsk, Kłodzko, Płock, Koszarawa, Warsaw, Wieliczka, Mogilno, Malbork, Toruń, Poronin, Oleśnica, Katowice, Lublin, and Siedlęcin.

There are places on the map of Poland that I particularly like and to which I often return.

One such place is the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec. When, 10 years ago, I conducted my first calligraphy classes within the Abbey walls, I did not expect that the Scriptorium workshops would become an integral part of Tyniec for such a long time.

Back then, when I was embarking on my professional journey as a calligrapher, illuminator and teacher, I had many dreams and ideals regarding my work. Many of them have come true. A lot of these have been realized in Tyniec. Ever since I started dealing with this noble and ancient craft, I have always wanted to be able to pass it on to others. It is the only way art can live on. I have always wanted to run workshops in monasteries, where there used to be scriptoria and hardworking hands that would write countless verses of letters every day.

It was a great emotion when in 2008 I was able for the first time to organize a new scriptorium within the walls of the monastery in Tyniec. Again, after many centuries, heads bent over the pages of letters and hands patiently rewrote texts. Such a moment, when in a new and different way, tradition sanctified by the work of monks for many centuries, came back here. Today, calligraphy and illumination workshops are held regularly at the Benedictine Institute of Culture.

A detailed plan of the workshops can be found in the tab Workshops Poland Tyniec

The second such place to which I have been returning for many years is the Elijah’s Hermitage, a retreat house in Jasiona, in the Opole region. Father Roman Hosz, who works there, is a great admirer of early monasticism. We share this passion, especially for the Celtic Church! The workshops I run in Jasiona are always connected with retreats. We experience there a real ora et labora. By immersing ourselves in biblical verse, through conferences and liturgy, our scriptural work allows us to experience the ordinary activity of writing in an utterly different, deeper way. We get a little closer to our understanding of how countless monks and scribes experienced this work over the centuries, above the pulpits.

Workshops in Jasiona, combined with biblical retreats, are always held in summer together with Father Roman. Details can be found on the website of the Hermitage: https://www.heliosz.org/index.php

Overseas workshops—SCRIPTORIUM MOBILE

Overseas workshops were born out of a love for two domains: traveling and manuscript books.

The Middle Ages, contrary to what one might expect, were very much characterized by mobility. Monks travelled between monasteries, moving books, and with them patterns, which were reproduced in subsequent codices. One went on trips to get the pigments and parchments required for painting. Students thirsty for knowledge travelled from city to city. Musicians travelled between courts and cities looking for money. Messengers travelled carrying important messages. On the roads, there were tramps and beggars looking for a better tomorrow. People in the Middle Ages were very much “on the move”.

Referring to these journeys, I organize workshops in various parts of the world, directly related to the culture of the manuscript book. I always look for places where illuminated books were created and scriptoria functioned. We try to reach libraries where we can see books that have survived since then.

The first place we went to with our Scriptorium was Italy. The history of Italian scriptoria and particular styles in illuminating manuscripts is very rich. For two years, our workshops were held in Florence. For the first time, our theme was illuminations of the unusually beautiful Renaissance Bible of Duke of Modena Borso d’Este. The following year, we focused on the 16^th-century world maps made by the Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri Reis.

The next place we visited, which in the Middle Ages was vibrant with work in many scriptoria, was France. We set up our scriptorium in a place that has long been sanctified by the presence of monks. Although the present monastery in Rochefort du Gard near Avignon was built in the 17^th century, the first chapel on the hill was built during the reign of Charlemagne. Two editions of workshops have already taken place at the Marian Shrine, which is now located here. In the first year, our theme was music and dance in medieval miniatures. In 2018, we painted miniatures from the French medieval bestseller, Le Roman de la Rose.

This year we are going on another expedition. This time in the footsteps of early-medieval Irish monks. Our scriptorium will be opened in Glenstal Abbey, Ireland. We will be bent over the unusual braided line decorations of Celtic Christian codices.

ITALY

FRANCE

IRLAND