Daemonia Nymphe is the band that helped us to get into the point of the musical support of carnival celebrations in ancient Greece!

The learners created masks inspired by the ancient Greek ceremonies in the honor of Dionysos, the God-son of Zeus- of the wine, fertility, celebration and dancing.

After wearing part some fabrics around their body, the group started dancing, playing some music and celebrating the last day and last workshop of the transnational learning activity in Greece, that was focused on the face and the culture-art.

Below, some photos of the workshop!

“Outsider Art” is the new exhibition of the initiative of Dr. Pavlos Vasilieadis, the psychiatrist who believed in the talent of hospitalized people and transformed into art their art crafts.

The learners of the TLA in Thessaloniki had the chances to be guided into the exhibition and follow the presentation of Dr. Vasileiadis on the way he started to support the group of artists that was formed.

“We transform madness to art” Drs. Lazaridis and Vasileiadis are repeating in every discussion!

During the last day of the meeting in Thessaloniki and after a mystic introduction to the ancient greek carnival, the learners were guided to the Archaeological museum of the city, the biggest in the Balcans.

Michalis Sardelis, our friend and professional guide, gave us a really representative idea on the ancient Greece and the gold of the age, concerning the short time we had to spent in the museum.

As a taste for the visit:

The Derveni Krater, the masterpiece of the Museum, was discovered in 1962 inside the cist grave B of the Derveni cemetery, along with numerous other valuable finds. It contained the remains of a cremation, with a gold coin of Philip II, a gold ring, two gold pins and a bronze, gilded wreath. The mouth of the krater was covered by a bronze strainer-like lid, which was used to strain wine. A gold myrtle wreath was placed on top of the vessel.

During the workshop “The face through culture” a collaborative portrait took place; Andromachi with Nektarios started drawing, inspired by the great painter PETER SHAW, his portrait. On behalf of the group work, each one draw one side of his face, without passing his/her side.

This is the result!

When Nikos started speaking, even if the people didn’t understand greek at all, they have been looking at him carefully, while he was describing the mythological meanings of his masterpiece, but also, on how much passionate was with his work.

Nikos is an artist, creating crafts from re-usable materials. Τhe wooden mask that has been working on for the last 8 weeks is made by wood, glass, magnifier from a car light, 200 optical fibes, iron, nails and lot of glue. The meaning of his mask comes from the ancient greek mythology, the story of Zeus (Jupiter) and his sons.

Nikos was feeling really enthusiastic that he could have attendances that may were interested on his work. Closing his presentation he asked by the participants to repeat is words that were about thanking for the time and didn’t forget to mention that he wants to shell his crafts and paintings, in order to earn some money that could encourage him to continue. Of course, a sale of his paintings would also made him feel proud and believe to himself that he can do it!

The second day of the transnational learning activity in Thessaloniki, 14th of February, the trainers gathered together to discuss about the principles of the final outputs, collecting all the ideas of each partner’s group .

Flexibility, Commitment, Responsiveness, Tolerance, Reflection…are some of the ideas that came up after a mixed group discussion, based on giving enough space and time to everyone. The trainers have to go back to their groups, find authentic examples that are part of their practice and define the principles that they meet in their work. The TLA in Spain will define the 5 principles that our outputs will follow.

Tsitsanis- a taste of rebetiko music