Kafkaellis Sculpture Blog

Christmas 2011

2011-12-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Professor Paul Robertson

2011-11-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

My portrait of Professor Paul Robertson

Cast bronze,made in clay (the violin in paper

and acrylic)with a wonderful movable wooden core made by my friend Ian Fletcher.

I drove it to Herbich's foundry in Gernlinden, cast it,found a stone base at BarbaraOppenrieder's

and a steel stand..It was sent by air and was exhibited in my (home) gallery and at Cambridge Open Studios and in
Avrille in France (the photo where I stand with another artist at the Opening.

I heard him recently on BBC3 and was so delighted that I should be able to hear him from Munich

and decided to tell the National Portrait Gallery about the sculpture,which is in Beaconsfield with Robin and Flora.

introducing Lasse Duncan Nathaniel Kafka

2011-09-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

I visited three very happy people this afternoon,in th Dritte Orden

hospital,where Lasse

was born on the 2nd September,at 2.30 pm.

opening of the exhibition at schloss weiher

2011-07-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

Leonie Strickmann and Frau Dr Trost

(who made a brilliant introduction)

Views of schloss Weiher..fields with cornflowers and poppies nearby

the gates are open..

Self-portrait (2000)

Ben who came from Berlin

Painted bronze..

Birdwatcher next to the carp-filled pond

The Jara wood sculpture which Duncan brought in his hand-luggage..

The Emily-Björn sculpture

kleine schkossgalerie weiher

2011-06-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

I have just spent a couple of days in this most beautiful place

sending inviations (see photos)

AUSSTELLUNGSERÖFFNUNG Samstag 02.Juli, 15 Uhr

Weietere Offnungszeiten
Sonntag 03 Juli 2011
Wochenenden 09/10 Juli 2011
16/17 und 23/24 Juli 2011
VON 15 bis 18 Uhr

Weiher liegt an der Staatstraße Bayreuth/Behringersmühle.
Von der A9 zu erreichen ab Ausfahrt Trockau Richtung Behringersmühle (7KM)

Kleine Schlossgalerie "Dr Günter Stumptner"

Weiher 1
95491 Ahorntal

tel.0 92 02/1415

Jakobsweg in Switzerland with Martin Parkes

2011-06-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

Martin stands in front of the sign showing how far he will walk.
Sue is delighted that she can do i 2 days.

Beautiful scenery all along the way.

A good meal and a beer at the end
From the steep Hörnli,late,the natives were worried that we might not make it..but...

70th birthday/thank you party

2011-06-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Johannes,Duncan,Andrew
George and Maggie
Jule,Louisa,Leila,Carolin
Maggie and Ute

Sue and the Silbereisens
Sue and Eleanor
Brigitte,Ben and Eleanor
Maggie,Gudrun,Katrin and George
Sue with Duncan in the Botanical Gardens
Duncan and a rose

Andrew,Emily and Carolin

Simon Rattle

2011-05-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

A rehearsal at the Herkulessaal.

Simon Rattle conducting the Peri

and the Pearl,Schumann.

He moves so marvellously.

Mitsuko Uchida and Mariss Janssons

2011-05-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

A most moving musical event.

Shortly affter Fukishima,Mitsuko Uchida

playing Beethoven with Mariss Janssons

conducting.I was able to sit very close

at the rehearsal.During the slow movement

she had tears in her eyes.

She was playing for Japan

Mariss Janssons in rehearsal

2011-05-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

I was blown over by Mariss Janssons.

Such a gentle,considerate conductor.

Drawing from the balcony at the

Herkulessaal in Munich.

Meal at Emily and Björn's

2011-05-23T22:07:00.000-07:00

On my birthday Ben arrived as a surprise

and we cooked for a small group,

such wonderful cards and drawings and flowers!

Katrin's 50th Party

2011-05-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Katrin and Guenther

The amazing Klezmer band.

Ben and Max and Sandra chatting.

Friends performing.

Alcina,St.Gallen,Antigone Papoulkas as Ruggiero

2011-05-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

A wonderful excursion to St Gallen

to see Antigone Papoulkas as Ruggiero.

I t was a very lively production with

ballet and complex set and colours.

Antigone's strong performance kept it all together!

She was very moving in a most complex plot.

2011-05-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

Kasimir,Dorothea Stumptner's cat.

At the Open Foundry

2011-05-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Christina Münchberger's dogs

and Emily Kafka's cats,Boys on a Bike and

Emily and Björn's Wedding Sculpture.

OPEN FOUNDRY

2011-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

HERBICHS FOUNDRY

OPEN FOUNDRY FROM 6th MAY -8th May

OPENING
19HOURS

Rudolf Dieselstrasse 25

82216 Maisach/Gernlinden

tel 49 8142 14418
email KuGi.Herbich@t-online.de

ARTISTS WHO CAST THEIR WORK AT HERBICHS

exhibition in May

2011-05-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

In th Musikschule rooms of the Bürgerhaus in Unterföhring,Münchenerstrasse 65

VERNISSAGE

Friday 27.05.2011 18 hours

FINISSAGE

SATURDAY 24 .09.2011 18 hours

MUSIC

The teachers at the Musikschule

PAINTINGS

Sue Kafka-Ellis

AW Kinderhort Markt Schwaben

2011-04-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

A wonderful day painting with the children of the Arbeiter Wohlfahrt Kinderhort i

in Markt Schwaben.

An old school building with high ceilings and wonderful atmosphere..and a pair of storks

nesting on the roof..

First theme was "show me Markt Scwaben and what happens there"..

Second I told them about growing up in Zimbabwe..animals were very important..

July Exhibition;2nd Opening,each weekend,15-18

2011-04-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

An exhibition with painter, jeweller ceramicist,

in this most beautiful moated, 500 year old house.

95491 Ahorntal,near Bayreuth.tel.49 9202 1415

Oliver Soulas' portrait.New sculpture

2011-04-22T00:25:00.000-07:00

Johanneskirchen

2011-04-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

A new flat.

2011-02-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Tina's 8th class project

2011-02-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

Penthisilea Semper Oper Dresden

2011-02-02T02:03:00.000-08:00

Wonderful to see Antigone Papoulkas in a splendid production
Beautiful singing,scary,electrifying colour..go if you can!

Lymphoedema ward,Freising hospital

2011-01-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

emily and björn's wedding

2011-01-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

BBK Ausstellung,Galerie der Künstler,Maximilian str 42

2010-12-14T00:20:00.000-08:00

Raphael v G and Martin B move First life...

2010-11-23T22:05:00.000-08:00

Raphael and Martin moved First Life Emerging from the Sea

to the Galerie der Künstler,42 Maximilian str,Munich.

There is a member's exhibition there from4.12 until2.01 2011

Opening 2.12 18-21 hrs. (do come!)

Open Wed -Sun 11-18

Thurs 11-20

Mon Tues and Public holidays closed Phone 089 220463

Vokaleo's unchased bronzes..

2010-11-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

Tina's 8th class project

2010-11-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Patinating the bronze dog.

2010-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Tina's chased dog!

2010-10-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Working in the foundry,Judith and Tina

Just cast bronzes waiting to be chased.

2010-10-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Carolin,Judith and Moritz's bronzes,

with extra bronze parts cut off,

waiting to be chased.

We will work at it,today,

Saturday 9thOctober, in the foundry.

Bronze pilot project

2010-10-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Tina's dog in its mould,glowing hot

The next phase,with the mould and extra bits of bronze sawed off

waiting for the final chasing and patinating.

2010-10-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Judith and Moritz' unchased bronzes

2010-09-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

Björn and Emily's wedding

2010-09-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Kunst im Garten

2010-07-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

Kunst im Garten

This will happen on Sunday 26th July ,while I am still in Husum.

6 friends will take it in turn to be in my flat so that visitors can see the little

exhibition..my garden is the terrace in front and the entrance..

Carolin in the foundry

2010-07-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

Grandaughter Carolin visited me,she went to

Herbich's foundry and made a rabbit, which we

will cast in the autumn .

Making boys and a bike nr.3

2010-07-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

Claus Seemeier helping me to make boys on a bike number 3.

Boys on a big bike,3

2010-07-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

Björn's prize winning photo

2010-07-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

For Björn and Emily's wedding cake

2010-07-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

Derk Bodack helped me use plexi glass foam to make this

sculpture from BjÖrn's prize-winning photo..

unpainted and then painted it will sit on their cake.

3rd bike and 2 boys sculpture

2010-07-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

WORK IN PROGRESS

Using an unwanted, splendid purple bike,

Claus Seemeier helps me make a third bike and

2 boys sculpture at Herbich's foundry.

family in Ely cathedral (Slawko's photos)

2010-06-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

This is a sculpture of a sketch I made of the Seemeier fmily in the canteen.
It became,for me a Holy Family,reminding me of Gothic wooden sculpture.
These photos were taken by Slawko Berzezinski,as it was in the Lady Chapel,
Ely Cathedralin 2007.
I wrote then"This group contains all my experience,and is a summary of all my other sculpturea,paintings,drawings and observations of families,children and relationships ,
which has been a constant theme all my life as an artist.
It is a crystallization of things held very dear-my own family,my pupils'my fiends'
families.It reflects my deepadmiration for Gothic carving:the painted wooden
Madonna and Child with rather rigid, reflective,protecting forms.
It contains all my experience as a mother, intent on enabling the father to take a central role in the family.It also reflects my experience of being marginalised,being in the background,of not being the main earner,yet very much the load-bearer.It contains the infinite tenderness of being with a child,its vulnerability,the responsibility,the wonder.
It contains my questions about the frequent margialisation of the father in the religious imagery of the holy family.

Der gute Mensch von sezuan class 8 2010

2010-05-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

der gute Mensch von Sezuan

2010-05-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the 8th Class,Waldorfschool, Gröbenzell, play, by B Brecht.

Der gute Mensch von sezuan class 8 2010

2010-05-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Björn photos,vernissage 16th April,gröbenzell

2010-05-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

artists from Herbich's foundry..

2010-05-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

Guests arrive appreciate and leave..

Künstler Herbichs Giesserei..7-9 .010

2010-05-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

Sue's group of sculptures (Roswitha Henschel sitting)

Raphael von Grotthuss wooden sculpture.

Claus Seemeier discusses the work on a portrait head.

35 artists showed several pieces each in the foundry.

It was splendid venue for such an exhibition,providing

maximal space and atmosphere.The Seemeier family

worked overtime making delicious snacks and Clemens Döllerer

and friends made joyful music which was very much appreciated.

I look forward to a repeat!

Künstler um Herbichs Giesserei 7-9Mai 010

2010-05-12T06:54:00.000-07:00

Frau Zeller singt es!

Last day at the exhibition and Sue..

2010-05-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

2010-05-03T04:45:00.000-07:00

Exhibition Bürgersaal Gallerie

2010-04-26T04:41:00.000-07:00

The exhibition is on for another week (until 18 hrs,2nd of May)

If you can't make the times advertised call Sue on 01781729784

she has a key and can show you the things any time.

People like the atmosphere and there have been

lots of good conversations about the work and

interest in the Open Foundry

Weekend(7-9th May) Kunstgiesserei Herbich ,

Rudolf Diesel str 23 .Gernlinden.08142/14418

Sculptures in Gröbenzell

2010-04-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

The bronze portrait of Vera is borrowed for the exhibition.

I have no photos of it.

The African Mother and Child has been painted .

exhibition gröbenzel 16.04-2.05

2010-04-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Views of the exhibition,paintings Susanne Meyer

sculptures and sketches Sue..

Derk Bodack's clip boards to show all the

sketches..

exhibitionGröbenzell April

2010-04-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Moving the big sculptures.

Günther and Derk did a marvellous job
with several blankets and trolleys.
Thank goodness there were very few steps to negotiate.

Poster forthe Open Herbich Foundry Exhibition

2010-04-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

On the 7th May artists who work around the Herbich Foundry

and with them ,show their work in the working space .

We will start with an opening party with slides and music,

wine and bread.The work will be shown ther until Sunday afternoon.

Inquiries to kugi.herbich@t-online.de telefon.08142 443646

Exhibition in Galerie im Bürgerhaus Rathausstrasse 1,Gröbenzell

Opening 16th APRIL 19. hours

17th April -2nd May

OPEN
Tuesdays 15-18 hrs
Saturdays 15-18 hrs
Sunday 18th April tour with the artists 11.15
Sundays14-17
Fridays 9-12
Info from susanne--meyer@web.de
kafkaellis@googlemail.com

2010-02-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

Mosaic sculpture

2010-02-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have repaired the mosaic sculpture.

The second photo shows the development

from the collected flint stone to the first fired clay sculpture

the bronze cast of this .Allof them have explored the forms of the flint.

Adding the found bits of pottery (from Cottenham village gardens)

has completely changed the mood of the piece,from serious abstract

to baroque female form..

small letting go

2010-01-27T00:14:00.000-08:00

Small letting go

Just finished this and and will take it to its new home.

In Herbich's foundry

2010-01-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Preparing for the exhibition with Susanne Meyer at the Galerie im Bürgerhaus (Vernissage 16th April 2010

open Tuesday 15-18 Friday 9-12 Saturday 15-18 Sunday 14-17 guided tour 18.4 11-15 free,but register at 08142 50858

Herbich's Foundry Open Weekend (Vernissage 7th May,19 hrs ) 8th and 9th Artists with connections to the foundry show their work..the huge workplace..as it is..contact me,kafkaellis@googlemail.com or Herbichs.8Rudolf dieselweg25,Gernlinden.

2009-11-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

Working on the sculpture,small letting go in the foundry today

2009-11-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

2009-10-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Björn's lovely photo of my sculptures at sundown, today

2009-10-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

This sculpture needs to be repaired,after a year in an English

sculpture garden,a lot of the mosaic needs to be replaced.

small letting go

2009-09-18T01:50:00.000-07:00

I am working on small letting go,12 cms high,I'd appreciate comments before I finish it!

2009-09-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

From now on , reach me at kafkaellis@googlemail.com no longer at aol.

change of email address

2009-09-17T00:38:00.000-07:00

From now on reach me at kafkaellis@googlemail.com no longer aol.

Daisy Fischer at her exhibition

2009-09-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Daisy Fischer at her exhibition

2009-09-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

Small Letting Go

2009-09-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to make a small Letting Go and this is the beginning.
Derk made the board and wires for me and tomorrow I will start modelling clay onto it.

Where have they been put?Who has them?

2009-08-23T05:49:00.000-07:00

This painting of Prime Brass musicians was bought from an auction by Jasper,

When he sings or plays the piano, there it is.

Where sheep may safely graze is above Alice and

Ian's stairs.

These sheep were under a tree near Linton one

hot summer.

andy,lisa, and oskar

2009-08-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

This a sculpture of my first

neighbours in Cottenham, glazed

stoneware,

I have now made it in bronze, too

Gormley exhibition with Martin and Terri

2009-08-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Martin and Terri exploring the Gormley exhibition

Bregenz with Martin and Terri

2009-08-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

Aida...no words enough for the spectacle..but it was also fun and Aida had a great voice..

A walk to Lindau and a Schostakovich fifties socially critical and brilliantly costumed, choreographed and sung by Opera North, what a bonus!

An Anthony Gormley exhibition , a walk on the hill tops and sitting on the giant bean bags..just looking.

Quartet and Listener

2009-08-13T05:12:00.000-07:00

Drawing at a good concert is an enormous pleasure for me.
These figures are the fruits of many Britten Sinfonia and Endellion Quartet Concerts.When I made the figures in wax in February at Caroline and Adam Raphael's home at Prawle Point,I was grateful for the Aga which kept my fingers warm .
The Listener I drew at a concert in St John's College Chapel.
I have sold the listener and single violinists twice and the whole quartet once. I have always made them black.

Price
from € 250 each

Violinist:portrait of Paul Robertson

2009-08-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

I had drawn Paul at a music conference in Cambridge and asked him to sit for me.I spent a wonderful day drawing and taking photographs while he played Bach and Ysaye..my idea of heaven.
Ian Fletcher made the armature for me and worked out what size to make the paper violin..
I worked in clay and paper ,the cast was mounted with a steel rod and a stone base.I drove it to his inaugural lecture as professor of medicine in Truro,where it sat in front of him.
Paul has the only copy at his home.
(his website, www.musicmindspirit.org)

Holy Family

2009-08-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

This ordinary but very special family work in Herbich's foundry.They were sitting like this in the cantine and I said Keep still! fetched paper and drew them.
I thought about it, made a small ceramic group (which Clemens and Julia have) and then after a year, with Derk Bodack's help made a polystyrene and wax group which was cast in bronze in Gernlinden.
It too, had a number of adventures including losing all the heads..but Franz Herbich and Astrid drove it to Ely with me and with help we installed it in the Lady Chapel before the 7am service.It was there over Christmas and looked wonderful.It too, spent a year in Alastair Hull's Haddenham gallery sculpture garden and is now in front of my front door.

Price from €15000

First Life Emerging from the Sea

2009-08-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

A piece of soapstone became the first of this series of sculptures.A form was carved from the stone without my having reflected about what shape it should have, it emerged.
I have cast 3 and sold 2, mounted in different ways. I decided to make a larger version (one cast and sold) and then a very large version. So that it could be seen that I could enlarge my small pieces.It has been in Alastair Hull's Haddenham Gallery sculpture garden for a year and is now on my terrace in Gröbenzell.
I was delighted when it was exhibited in Ely Cathedral, somewhere where I have often worshipped and whose hidden corners (the prior's doorway and the tiles in Prior Crauden's chapel)are very special.

Prices from €600
€15000

Birdwatcher Dreaming

2009-08-13T03:31:00.000-07:00

She developed from the Bronze Lady.
I wanted to make a garden sculpture that was fun and something for the birds.
3 were cast in the Philipine Herbich foundry, one in Gernlinden.2 are left and gracing my terrace and front entrance.The cat knows that they are for her..

Price from € 3000

Bronze/ Glass lady

2009-08-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

The Glass lady came from a weekend project with a friend who new how to melt milk bottles..sadly never to be repeated.A glass factory offered to make me100 but what on earth would I do with 100 glass ladies.So we developed an acrylic lady which is at least translucent.The bronze lady was the second step and I like to see them together, the one so solid the other refracting the light and weightless.

Price bronze from € 400
translucent € 100

Letting Go

2009-08-13T03:13:00.000-07:00

This was supposed to be a larger version of Maggie Learning to Walk. But the child tore it self free and having just lost custody of the children, I accepted the point and called it Letting Go. I have cast 2 and have sold them both. They too are quite different from each other.

Price from €3000

Maggie Learning to Walk

2009-08-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

It took 24 years to find the inner space to make this figure. I was badly missing the children.
I modelled it directly in wax, in summer, took it to the foundry and put it in the fridge. When I returned it had been cast..but not a single foot touched the ground..I like to think that a thirsty founder had reached for a beer and instead grabbed the little figure. Instead of asking me to repair it, someone cast it..It took 17 cuts and re welds to more or less fix it (Maggie going uphill which George Ellis has) and I made a new mould and the figure as I had wanted it appeared.
This is my most popular sculpture,I have cast and sold 9. As always, each is very different..The last one has the mother with Maggie's hairstyle..she is now the mother..Maggie and Laila

Price from € 600

Some of Sue's bronzes

2009-08-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

African Mother
This was the very first, made in a wooden hut with the help of my professor (Lippy Lipschitz).That I was carving wood at that time is clearly visible.
All my admiration for the integrity and beauty of my nanny as a child,is seen in this remembered portrait.
Over the years I have made 10 casts, each very different, all varying in colour, surface treatment and base.

Price from E 600

Preparations

2009-08-11T01:40:00.001-07:00

The preparations for the celebration were
extensive! The guests came and of course,
Louisa wore her new school satchel.
There were lots of games and a puppet play
written by Carolin (stage set by Sue) and
the other children acted or were audience..

Preparations

2009-08-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

The preparations for the celebration were extensive! The guests came and of course,
Louisa wore her new school satchel.
There were lots of games and a puppet play written by carolin (stage set by Sue) and
the other children acted or were audience..

Louisa's first school day

2009-08-11T01:26:00.000-07:00

In Dresden the first school day is really BIG, lots of people come and the children receive enormous Tuten , full of useful things for school and sweets..Here she is with the one Carolin and Ute made ..very complex with lots of horses..

2009-08-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

In Cambridge Franc heroically cleared her little house so that I could exhibit in two rooms.
The economic situation was certainly a factor..and all the work was appreciated by my visitors, but I just covered my costs, so will not be repeating things. Caroline came from London, Margié from Bedford..

Wedding sculpture

2009-08-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Nancy Checchia asked me to make a sculpture from a photo for her sister's wedding. I made two, took them to Cottenham for her to choose and she chose the brown one.
She was pleased.

Days in Huesca

2009-08-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

I spent five marvellous days with William's family in Huesca, northern Spain, drawing his marriage to Cristina. The day after (having got up at five to finish the work and put them in an album) they opened the presents with us all watching. You can see what a great occaision it was.

These sculptures have a space!

2009-08-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

The sculptures which were in Alastair Hull's Haddenham sculpture garden for a year are now in the garden and terrace of the Gröbenzell flat.

No home in the removal lorry

2009-08-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

The removal lorry was soon full, with three big bronzes and many smaller ones. So I found homes for the two boys and a bicycle, made from a real bike and chicken wire (from a sketch made in Tanzania) and the painted stainless steel herd of Kerry sheep (seen in Over,next door to Althea Braithwaite). The sheep are now in Flora Loizou's garden (my excellent agent,info@jasminelets.co.uk) and the sheep in Derrick and Susan's garden, in a beautiful small wood.