The
Brussels-based European Economic and Social Committee played host for a new
event in spring: the opening of a painting exhibition by senior students and
graduates of the Nicolae Tonitza Fine Arts High School in Bucharest. Under a
suggestive title ‘So long ago in the future dreams for future Odysseys’
the exhibition displayed 50 pictures by Tonitza students highly appreciated by
European officials. The exhibition was included among the events of the
conference organized by the Space & Society group with support from Fildas
Art Cultural Foundation.
Here is now with details about the event, Ioana Lavinia Streinu, a teacher with the Nicolae Tonitza
Fine Arts High School: The
theme was a generous one for us, as the organizers wanted us to come up with
works revealing our vision about future. My mission as a teacher was a simpler
one because I had the students with me and as they represent the future, I
could say I had the future with me. The students were a little bit afraid at
first – you know, a theme can be a test for any artist – but eventually they
got over it and realized the only thing they must do was to express their
thoughts on canvas. They had a slow start but then everything started working
and there came picture after picture. The visitors were wonderful, extremely
surprised by what we did. All of a sudden they found themselves in front of a
real art exhibition, which they appreciated very much, because they were all
art connoisseurs. They encouraged us, and were very pleasantly surprised by the
paintings of our children. We even talked about future exhibitions and they
liked us very much.
Ioana Lavinia
Streinu also told us how the students had felt after the opening of the
exhibition at the European Economic and Social Committee: To be
honest, they felt like stars. They were aware of how important they and their
works were and eventually they had the opportunity to find out what it meant to
become a professional artist. The children were also very happy there. The
audience that attended the event was obviously made up of employees of the
European Economic and Social Committee. There were also some MEPs attending, from Romania as well, but also from other countries.
The Nicolae
Tonitza Fine Arts High School in Bucharest was founded in 1949, under the name
of the Arts Technical Secondary School. It brought performing and visual arts
together: choreography, music and drawing. In time, it changed its premises, it
also changed its name, yet the school remained, a school where fine arts are
being studied and where beauty is everywhere. Along the years, the students’
value and creativity have been rewarded by national and international prizes,
as well as by nominations to notable exhibitions abroad.
A teacher of
sculpture and a member of the Fine Artists’ Union, Adrian Curcan is deputy head
master of the Nicolae Tonitza High
School. He told us more about the institution’s present educational
offer: The
12 specializations or specialist workshops with the Nicolae Tonitza High
School are the following: graphic arts, mural arts, textile arts, ceramics,
cartoon design, ambient design, industrial design, fashion design, easel
painting, restoration and religious art, set design and sculpture. My
impression is that both parents and students take into account what is going on
the labor market. Since in our times the computer is the key tool in society, I
should say computer graphics comes on top of the preferences of those who want
to take up fine arts.
At present, over
900 students are enrolled in the Nicolae Tonitza Secondary and High School.