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"Great is the power of memory that dwells in places." (from Cicero)

Wall panelling Paris 1925

Students and teachers of both art schools in Gröden made a panelled room for the 1925 International Exhibition in Paris that was awarded the Grand Prix and three other medals for its sculptural features. The panelling is an example of the stylistic renewal going on in Gröden art during the wars, which was mainly thanks to the head of the art school at the time, Guido Balsamo Stella.

World exhibition of medals Paris 1925

In 1925, both art schools in Gröden took part in the International Exhibition in Paris. Albino Pitscheider, a master in carving small works of art and art teacher in Wolkenstein from 1910 to 1924 as well as from 1919 to 1940, was awarded a gold medal along with his colleague Lusi Insam. The octagonal medal shows an allegory of spring on one side, while it has a bouquet of flowers on the other side. 

'Absolute Schrift'

Experimenting with forms and colours to combine tension and order in the same work of art: with the acrylic painting 'Absolute Schrift', Mili Schmalzl taught young artists at the art school in St. Ulrich. Schmalzl, a woman from the woodcarving valley, was born in 1912 and succeeded in getting into Italy's and Germany's art academies to train as a painter.

Sella group in its alpenglow

This tempera painting of the Sella massif (in Ladin Sas dla Luesa, Mëisules) bathed by the evening light comes from Peter Demetz da Fëur (1913-1977), who taught in the art schools in Wolkenstein and St. Ulrich after the Second World War. The motif of the Dolomites unspoilt by human hand was often employed by this keen hiker.

St. George with the dragon

The small bellerophon cuboid depicting St. George slaying the dragon was created by Luis Piazza da Cudan (born 1908). The work reflects Piazza's love of stylisation, which marked him out as one of the more innovative Gröden artists. A bronze copy of the original relief adorns the upper part of the fountain on the porphyry trough in front of the museum.