Saturday 30. August 2008 Report about the cultural workshops from the european journeymen in Sbiu
By: the travelling Freedombrother Robert Pawlowski
Also this year a self organised summer working project from Swiss & German journeymen and French Compagnons took place in Sibiu/Hermannstadt (Romania). In the foreground stood to go on with the renovations in the Casa Calfelor, the historic journeymen hospice in Hermannstadt. The amount of this year planned actions was decreased previously, because of the problem getting the permission to start the roof extension and the problem to find dry timber. Therefore we had to surrender put in a new tier of beams and to start the interior fittings. Anyhow enough other works were there. The place of this year demonstration workshop event took place close to the guild towers, which built a part of the former great town wall. This was a joyful happening for the residents of Hermannstadt, because they had the chance to visit the towers and to have a look to a photo exhibition about our journeymen tradition and the different brotherhoods. The carpenters and cabinet makers restaurated windows and doors for the hospice in the demonstration workshop. The blacksmiths made a grid for the big window, to protect it against burglary. The stone masons made a Chimeara for the coronation of the wooden beam, where every journeymen puts in his self forged nail, as a sign of his/her visit. Beside an amount of other works for the hospice we also had to achieve works from the residents. Belonging to this was the fabrication and the setting up of an artful adorned pavilion, the restoration of the stone made portal of the evangelic church, the Restauration of a forged window grid, as well as to fabricate tables for the owner of our favourite pub. For the first time we have worked together with Romanian apprentice, which was a big challenge in the manual and cultural way for all of us. Maybe some of us developed their pedagogic veins and it would be a big success, if Romanians start again in the future, to do the traditional journey, also as a result of our commitment. Under extraordinary charges a roof renovation in the Casa Calfelor was even realized in the very last days of the summer project. All in all 32 German, Swiss and French journeymen worked, sang and drank together the whole time of the project. Based on this year success we decided to make us ready for another big project next year. The space of time is from the 7th of July until the 8th of August 2009. The meeting of the association will take place at the 9th of August. The journeymen hospice is open all year for traveling journeymen and former journeymen. There is always lot’s of work in Sibiu and also the cultural experiences are unique.