Staré Mesto (Old City), Banská Štiavnica

Miss Kasperová in Her Kitchen

8/17/12

Symposium, Exhibition At SLU Examine 'Built Environment'

CANTON - Sustainability of the "built environment," achieved through the preservation of historic urban and rural architecture, plus settings in harmony with both nature and people is the theme of an exhibition in the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery at St. Lawrence University, running from August 22 through October 3.

The exhibition, "Living In Harmony With the Past: Authentic Interiors of Banská Štiavnica," is part of a four-day symposium called "Urban/Rural Preservation Days" that will take place September 9 through 12 and includes a field trip to the Santanoni Great Camp, a keynote address, public discussion, workshops, class visits and lectures.

Banská Štiavnica is a city in Slovakia, founded in the early 13th century and once renowned for its silver and gold mining. Historic preservationist Elizabeth Yenchko, who curated the exhibition of photographs and stories taken from the award-winning publication Štiavnica Interiors, by Andrea Nižňanská and Iveta Chovanová, says of her move to the city in 1992, "To become part of a community where one arrives as a guest and leaves close to being a native is a powerful experience. I learned a new rhythm of life - a rhythm of today, yet deeply rooted in harmony with the past. Štiavnica Interiors like these were my classrooms, their inhabitants my teachers. One does not 'plant' the trappings of present-day life into a centuries-old dwelling; rather they are grafted to and become an extension of the living past - both past and present retaining their distinctive character while providing a secure, comfortable home."

Katarína Vošková, assistant professor of architecture, Slovak Technical University, will give a talk on the exhibition as part of the symposium, on Monday, September 10, at 7 p.m. in Room 123 of the Griffiths Arts Center, with a reception to follow. Both are open to the public, free of charge.

The symposium will feature speakers from three historic cities in Canada, Italy, and Slovakia which are on the UNESCO list of World Historic Heritage sites, as well as two North Country experts, Steven Engelhart, executive director of Adirondack Architectural Heritage, and Tupper Lake master craftsman Michael Frenette.

For information or to arrange individual or group tours, contact the gallery at 315-229-5174.

Brush Gallery website