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The stonemasons from Lviv in Western Ukraine have returned home. What they have left behind is their work: Plates for the stair stringers in the newly installed linden-tree-lined boulevard of the historic terrace garden in Kirchheimboladen and steles for the signs in front of the linden trees – all manufactured manually using traditional methods. The three weeks of their stay were filled with workshop activities, an excellent cultural program and encounters with their German peers at the Meisterschule für Handwerker in Kaiserslautern. Back in Lviv, they will return to their studies at the Ivan Trusch College. Ukraine, it is important to note, does not have an apprenticeship training program for stonemasons. Instead, the training is part of the degree program for sculptors. In the Palatinate region of Germany, the pieces they created will now be installed and the need for additional work will be assessed. Next fall, the next phase of this unique partnership with thornconcept and the Stonemasonry Department of the Meisterschule für Handwerker in Kaiserslautern, Germany will be launched. Coverage of the project by the German SWR broadcast station is available here (in German).

This summer, once again, young German stonemasons will be making the trip to Lviv. Together with their Ukrainian counterparts, they will be working on restoring old buildings in the old town of Lviv using a combination of traditional and modern methods of stonemasonry and restoration. The elements to be replaced will be carved in the courtyard of the Ivan Trusch College, while replacement work and fill-ins will be done on site. This year, one of the projects will be to create cover panels for the staircase pillars of the Church of Our Lady in the Snow. At the end of the workday, drawing lessons and a cultural program await. The joy of working together to preserve the joint cultural heritage of Europe is palpable from the very first day. This project is being carried out in collaboration with thornconcept under the expert supervision of carver Dirk Brüggemann-Bulgakov.

Project completion update: The official project completion event with representatives of the media took place on August 8th. A comprehensive TV report was filmed.

Several teachers and one master student from the Badische Malerfachschule (a vocational school for painters in Lahr, Germany) paid a visit to their counterparts at the Ural College for Technology and Entrepreneurship in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where they experienced an exciting week. On the agenda were a joint wall decoration project that involved challenging techniques, workshops with Russian paint manufacturers, a specialist conference and a cultural program that included excursions and a trip to the theater. Now, two coats of arms – one for each of the schools – adorn the wall of the Russian painter workshop.

Within the context of the German-Ukranian thornconcept project for stonemasons, another summer building event was hosted in Lviv, Urkaine. Both in the courtyard of the Ivan Trush College for Applied and Fine Art and on a building in the Old Town, directly adjoining the historic “Black House” on market square, damaged building elements were either restored or replaced with newly carved pieces. Here, the public always takes a great deal of interest in the work and the background of the project.

In addition, the group designed and carved two pillars to symbolize the German-Ukranian partnership. These will remain in the courtyard. As always, an array of cultural activities rounded out the events. The participants had the opportunity to explore the vibrant town, its art and its history. The MozArt festival, which took place at the same time, provided an additional opportunity to enjoy the arts. In September, the Ukranian stonemasons will in turn visit their counterparts in the Palatinate area of Germany.

On the European Day for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, set against the impressive backdrop of the Imperial Baths in Trier, Germany, former and future participants of the Intercultural Dialogue Project for Stonemasons showed off their craft. Between the many informational booths, the small workshop served as a lively draw for many visitors. Graduate stonemason Dirk Brügemann-Bulgakov, who headed the Ukranian side of the project, was available to answer any and all questions the visitors had. The next phase of this joint project with thornconcept.eu will launch on July 18 in Lviv, Ukraine, where German and Ukranian stonemasons will once again work hand in hand.