Pirkkala Sculpture 03

 I t was already the second time in Pirkkala, that we casted iron during the midnight summer. At the same time when students were breaking iron into suitable peaces from bathtubs for the iron casting, they were making their own pieces and moulds. They also helped 17 artists to accomplish their outdoor sculptures to the Pirkkala Sculpture Park.

 E ven though the Finnish summer days are extremely long, we still had to use the late nights to accomplish and finish this massive sculpture event, so that. everything was made ready. Gratitude for that goes to all the students that participated at the workshop, but also to the untiring voluntary people who helped with everything. And to the artists who left their pieces to Pirkkala.

 T he second international sculpture event here in Pirkkala broke down barriers on many levels. The group of invited artists who participated in the symposium was much bigger than before, also the amounts and sizes of the sculptures were bigger and the selection of materials was wider than on the first time. The large group of participating people forced every artist and student to adjust their own working methods and schedules into others. This broke barriers between students and artists, when everyone had to work together. For artists who are used to working alone, this collaboration with students was the most difficult part of the event. But as always, working together is one of the very fundaments of Pirkkala´s sculpture events.

 E very artist that participated in Pirkkala Sculpture 03 left a different kind of sculpture for our town. Those pieces are permanent signs of their visit to our municipality. But the pieces are not only successfully made sculptures, they are also proof that it is possible to do great things in a small municipality. To make big sculptures and provide even bigger experiences.

 E ssential parts of this sculpture event were working together to overcome the difficulties and a strong vision, that art can be and it is part of everyday life for each and everyone. Naturally art is involved in many ways in those peoples' lives, who helped to organize and pull Pirkkala Sculpture 03 together. But afterwards, now that the event is over, all of us who are passing the sculpture park are forced to think, how do we feel about these sculptures, do we like or dislike them in our immediate area.

 I  wonder, does this young mother, who was yesterday pushing her baby carriage in the park, like or dislike these sculptures? But certainly she is looking at this same old park, with the new sculptures, now again as though for the first time. Maybe that is the biggest barrier Pirkkala Sculpture should try to overcome, to break that obstacle which prevents people from seeing their home environment everyday with new eyes  

Pirkkala 15.10.2003
Villu Jaanisoo
Organizing Artist