The chair of Art Metalware

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The principal aim of the chair’s creative work is art metal that decorates architectural buildings, metal of experimental and exhibition character, jeweller’s metal.

The Chair of Art Metalware was founded in 1993. It was created on the basis of the art metalware section as a part of the Chair of Art Glass. The opening of this chair was due to the former rector, academician E. Mysko, a passionate admirer of blacksmith’s work. He took the initiative and made his efforts to create this chair. Public exceeding interest in art metalware, particularly in blacksmith’s work gave the impulse to the creation of the Chair of Art Metalware, which is the only chair in Ukraine to train specialists of this kind. Lviv with its rich traditions of forged metal, its architectural monuments, its museum collections, was the most suitable place to found the Chair of Art Metalware, namely in the Lviv National Academy of Arts.

A number of difficult problems were decided during a short period of time.

First of all, it was the formation of the chair teaching staff, the invitation of well-known artists and specialists. In 1998, the chair organized the summary exhibition of lecturers’ and students’ works in the Lviv Museum of Ethnography and Art Crafts. At the exhibition there were presented 98 works (catalogue by B. Romanets, 1998). There was a number of public and specialists’ approving comments. This fact proves the correctness of the educational and methodical process.

Since 1998 the chair has trained students according to different educational and qualification levels: Bachelor’s degree, Specialist’s degree, Master’s degree (full-time studies and external studies).

The chair has constant relations with art academies, schools and colleges of Ukraine. It organizes different meetings and open days for pupils and students. The chair maintains a close relationship with private and state establishments interested in art metalware specialists of higher qualification.

Nowadays, there is a demand for graduates of the Chair of Art Metalware. After graduating, all of the students work at different private and state enterprises; they organize their own art workshops.

The head of the chair is professor I. Frank, vice-dean of the Department of Decorative and Applied Art and the head of the methodical council of the Department of Decorative and Applied Art. The teaching staff of the chair consists of prominent artists having significant creative achievements and home and international recognition. Among them: associate professors O. Bonkovskyi, B. Romanets, S. Volskyi, Honoured Art Workers of Ukraine; E. Pleshakov, Candidate of engineering; senior lecturers S. Moroz,V. Sholomiy, A. Sterniuk, O. Ivasiuta (who is at the same time a post-graduate student). O. Bonkovskyi is a member of the Association of Northern American Blacksmiths (ABANA). Three chair lecturers are members of the Galician Association of Blacksmiths.

The main purpose of the chair is to train metalware artists of high professional level. That’s why the chair’s high priority is the creative work and professional development of students. In a short period of time, the above-mentioned staff succeeded in working out the educational program satisfying all the higher educational institution demands and all necessities in specialists in metalware.

The principal aim of the chair’s creative work is art metal that decorates architectural buildings, metal of experimental and exhibition character, jeweller’s metal.

Among the most important creative achievements of the chair, there are different one-man exhibitions by: professor I. Frank (Lviv 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2002; Sambir 2002); associate professor B.Romanets (1999); associate professor O. Bonkovskyi, an active participant of many regional, national and international exhibitions.

Our students also take an active part in different exhibitions, symposiums and festivals. It is worth mentioning the following exhibitions: exhibition of creative works: Gallery «Dzyha» (Lviv1999); jewellery exhibition «Lvivska skarbnytsia» (Lviv treasure-house), Lviv, 2001»; exhibition «Tours de force» (Rouan, France, 2002-2004); exhibition «Lviv art school», Cleveland (USA) 1999; international blacksmiths’ festival «Hefaiston» Czech Republic 1998-2003.

During the period of its existence, the chair has established a close relationship with different artists, specialists and organizations from other countries: Marktgemeinde Ybbsitz (Austria), Association of Northern American Blacksmiths (ABANA), Blacksmiths Union of Moscow and Russia, Private creative workshop «Metallkunst A. Erkert» (Germany), Gallery Ribert Sager (Switzerland), Private creative workshop «Paul Zimmerman A.W.C.B.» (Germany), Komenskyi Museum of Blackmith’s Craft (Prešov, Czech Republic), Krakow and Wroclaw Art Academies (Poland). This relationship is due to the lecturers’ and students’ participation in different international festivals and conferences. Among them: associate professors O. Bonkovskyi, B. Romanets, senior lecturers O. Ivasiuta, A. Sterniuk, S. Moroz, students I. Lupul, Y. Yurochko, Y. Shostak, P. Seredynskyi. The student R. Klishch was awarded a diploma at the All-Polish festival in Ropgzyce (2000).

The Chair of Art Metalware gains prestige in different international unions, educational institutions and private creative workshops.

The Chair of Art Metalw are The principal aim of the chair’s creative work is art metal that decorates architectural buildings, metal of experimental and exhibition character, jeweller’s metal.