Newsletter

November 2024

Where I'm from, this is a time of year for thinking about everything we are thankful for. As I compile this newsletter, I am reminded of how thankful I am for all of the people who come to our meetings and participate in our group. I have met so many great people since we started meeting back in the beginning of 2017 and I am thankful for all of you who make this group what it is. I am especially thankful to our contributors to the newsletter this month!

In this issue...

• Muschelminna: Görlitz’s Timeless Water-Wielding Wonder by Gary Kapluggin
• Butoh - The Dance of Shadows and Spirit by Marco Nektan
• POW Camp Stalag VIII-A by Tessa Enright

Muschelminna: Görlitz’s Timeless Water-Wielding Wondery by Gary Kapluggin

---

In the charming square of Postplatz, the Muschelminna Fountain presides over Görlitz with grace, a hint of whimsy, and, undoubtedly, some aching arms after more than a century of holding up that giant seashell. Built in 1887, this fountain has become more than just a pretty centerpiece; it’s a treasured symbol of the city’s enduring spirit and its residents’ occasional flair for the dramatic.

The backstory of Muschelminna is, believe it or not, rooted in some serious business: water. This shell-wielding lady was commissioned to commemorate Görlitz’s modern water supply system—a revolutionary step at the time. Sculptor Robert Toberentz was tasked with the creation, and he certainly didn’t hold back. The result was a neo-Baroque masterpiece that manages to blend elegance with a touch of eccentricity. Picture Minna, a graceful figure draped in flowing robes, forever locked in a pose of serene contemplation as water cascades from her shell.

Surrounding Muschelminna are a collection of cherubs and water nymphs, frolicking in perpetual delight. Locals often joke that these playful figures are just as adept at attracting pigeons as they are at embodying themes of fertility and abundance. While Minna herself is a serious figure of symbolic resonance, it’s hard not to smile at the cherubs’ antics, frozen in their water-logged glee.

Of course, like any self-respecting icon, Muschelminna has had her share of trials. During World War II, the fountain was damaged—perhaps the shell wasn’t as bulletproof as it seemed. Later, she was briefly removed, no doubt raising concerns among locals that their water goddess had decided to retire. Thankfully, she was restored and returned to her rightful place, where she continues to delight visitors and watch over Postplatz with an air of gentle bemusement.

Modern Görlitzers have a soft spot for Minna, and she’s become a go-to spot for photos, rendezvous, and casual loitering. There’s something charming about a statue that manages to maintain her dignity despite the pigeons, weather, and curious stares of tourists. She’s been cleaned, patched up, and occasionally debated over, but she always stands strong.

While Muschelminna may not boast the grandeur of Europe’s most famous fountains, she’s undeniably special. Her presence is a reminder of the city’s mix of tradition, resilience, and light-heartedness. After all, only in Görlitz would a water supply celebration turn into a tribute involving a giant shell and playful cherubs.

So next time you find yourself in Postplatz, take a moment to appreciate Muschelminna’s poise. She’s seen decades of change, joy, and even hardship, but through it all, she remains—forever holding her shell, proudly keeping Görlitz cool, and perhaps wishing she could take a quick break from standing guard.

Butoh - The Dance of Shadows and Spirit by Marco Nektan

---

Butoh, an avant-garde performance art born in post-war Japan, transcends conventional boundaries of dance and theater. Developed in the late 1950s by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, Butoh emerged as a reaction to societal turmoil and the search for authentic, primal expression. Its unique nature defies easy categorization, blending grotesque and ethereal movements with intense emotional undertones. This art form invites performers and viewers alike to delve into the recesses of the human psyche, exploring themes of life, death, rebirth, and transformation.

Unlike traditional dance forms, Butoh is not defined by rigid techniques or choreographic structures. Instead, it emphasizes improvisation, raw energy, and the embodiment of universal experiences. Dancers may move with deliberate slowness, embody contrasting states, or contort into striking, surreal shapes. This fluidity and openness create space for profound personal and collective exploration.

For newcomers, Butoh serves as a gateway to reconnect with one's inner world, uncovering deep-seated emotions and fostering a unique sense of presence. It is as much a spiritual journey as it is a performance art, inviting participants to embrace vulnerability and transcend conventional storytelling.

Marco Nektan's art embodies a profound blend of Butoh and avant-garde performance, emphasizing a transformative exploration of the subconscious. His works traverse the boundaries between dance, ritualistic performance, and esoteric practice, drawing from elements like surrealism and conceptual art. This fusion creates an immersive experience, positioning movement as a conduit for spiritual inquiry and personal metamorphosis.

Nektan’s performances, such as The Vision of Discord (2024) and Unborn (2022), showcase his commitment to expressing universal themes of life, death, and rebirth through evocative, often minimalist gestures. His methodology invites audiences to rethink the essence of movement as it intersects with themes of human nature, symbolism, and philosophical depth. Each piece serves not just as entertainment but as a medium that challenges conventional art forms by integrating narrative, satire, and raw emotional engagement.

The artist’s workshops and online classes further extend this vision, offering participants a deep dive into Butoh’s meditative practices. These sessions facilitate an intimate dialogue between body and spirit, exploring the dance as a means of channeling energy and awareness.

Marco Nektan moved from Belgrade, Serbia, and he has been living and creating in Görlitz since 2023. For more information visit the website.

Next year, a major performance project called Aurora, inspired by the book by Jakob Böhme, is planned in collaboration with Evangelische Kulturstiftung Görlitz.

POW Camp Stalag VIII-A by Tessa Enright

---

Located east of Görlitz-Weinhübel and across the Neisse River, Stalag VIII-A was a POW camp during WWII. Today the site of the former camp is a museum and cultural center to memorialize the prisoners and educate the public.

Beginning in 1939, the camp initially housed about 15,000 Polish prisoners and was intended as a Dulag (short for Durchgangslager, or transit camp) where prisoners were housed short-term. These Dulags had notoriously terrible living conditions and therefore a high mortality rate. Later on, the camp was used as a Stalag (short for Stammlager, or main camp). The camp is named VIII-A because it was located in District 8 (Breslau) and was the first camp in the district.

By 1940 the camp began to see Belgian and French prisoners after the German invasion of France. In 1941 a separate compound was created to house Soviet and Italian prisoners. Kept apart from other prisoners, they were subject to much harsher conditions. At one time over 30,000 prisoners were crammed into the facilities, which were intended to house 15,000. In 1943 2,500 British soldiers came from battles in Italy and later that year 6,000 Italian soldiers from Albania. Americans captured at the Battle of the Bulge were also imprisoned in Stalag VII-A. The highest number of prisoners registered at one time inside the camp was 47,328 in September 1944. In total, it is estimated that 120,000 POW soldiers passed through the main camp.

Prisoners who had a rank below corporal were assigned to work details around Görlitz and the surrounding areas. They worked on farms and in factories, like at the glass factory in Pieńsk and or for Bombardier and the Waggonbau in Görlitz.

One of the most notable of the prisoners in Stalag VII-A was a French prisoner named Olivier Messiaen. He was a French composer who was drafted into the French army and then captured at Verdun in 1940. After meeting other musicians among his fellow prisoners, Messiaen was able to form a musical quartet. It may sound unbelievable, but life in the camp could vary drastically depending on where you were from. For some groups of prisoners there were theater groups and sports clubs, even newspapers that they wrote and distributed.

It was in the camp that Messiaen finished one of his greatest works, an eight-movement piece of chamber music called “Quatuor pour la fin du temps”. (Quartet for the End of Time) The 50-minute quartet was first performed in January 1941 for a shivering audience of prisoners and guards. It’s said that the instruments were decrepit and the audience freezing. Listen to Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” on YouTube.

In February 1945 the Americans and British were marched out of the camp and westward on foot. The last of the prisoners were liberated in May 1945 by the Soviet army. After the war, many of the graves of western soldiers that could be identified were exhumed and sent back home for burial in their home countries.

Every year in January the center holds an event called International Messiaen Days to remember all those who suffered at the camp and to remind us that music does not divide but connects. The event includes a performance of Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” on the site where it was written. In 2025 the performance of Olivier Messiaens quartet will be on January 15th. The remaining festival events will take place from April 25-27. See the program for more information.

YOUNION, an international youth exchange, takes place each summer. Young people from Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Italy spend 15 days together in Görlitz-Zgorzelec to learn about the history of the site, work together and learn the importance of democratic values.

Public tours of the former POW camp occur regularly in German and Polish. English tours are available on request.

---

I hope you enjoy this opportunity to learn more about our area and about each other. Have something to contribute to the next newsletter? Contact us!

Subscribe below to find out about our next newsletter

Or follow us on Facebook!