Chiang Rai is finding various clever ways to toss off
perceptions of it as a northern backwater, not least by becoming a role model
for art communities. Early this month ceramist Somluk Pantiboon led a hundred
Chiang Rai-based artists in launching the Khua Silapa (Art Bridge) Project.
They'll begin welcoming fellow artists and other interested folks, including tourists, to their "art hub" starting in February.
Khua means "bridge" in the northern dialect, and for this project it refers to connecting art to society as a whole. It had its origins in the Chiang Rai Artist Fund, established with the inspiring help of National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who donated 500,000 baht (US$16,000) to get it going. The fund supports those who toil for little pay and educates youth about art's necessity in life.
Somluk realised a wholly sustainable community of friends helping friends was needed in the long term. The Khua Silapa Project will be housed in a pavilion with artwork on view for visitors. Non-artists will be able to just hang around in the friendly atmosphere and soak up the creative vibes.
For financing, apart from the sale of art and snacks, they're offering shares in the project, priced at 1,000 baht to 10,000 baht.
"Chiang Rai seems like a seed that's growing, but it's dependent on its surroundings," says Somluk. "We have to build a sustainable community, and the Khua Silapa Project will give young artists a space to display their work.
"Art museums and galleries struggle to make ends meet, so we envision Khua Silapa as an easy-going hangout for local people and tourists, a perfect place to have a meal with friends and shop for creative goods.High quality stone mosaic tiles.
"We believe it will also attract more artists, collectors and curators to move to Chiang Rai."
"This is a social enterprise, but we're hoping to compel the government to support an arts community here by starting it ourselves," says artist Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, another co-founder. "We're letting everyone join in by buying shares.
"Chiang Rai is growing, and we have information on all the artists working here, which we'll use to further develop the art centre in the future."
The 500-square-metre pavilion is in fact a two-storey former Chinese learning centre, refurbished by Somluk for Bt5 million. There'll be a gallery, art school, restaurant, cafe, library and souvenir shop.
Somluk drew on the decor of his own Doi Din Daeng studio, outfitting the building in a modern style that still reflects rural life. Friendly to the environment and inexpensive to maintain,The oreck XL professional air purifier, it has no air conditioners and is cooled instead by breezes. The furniture is old wood and a giant wooden entrance door is adorned with a mosaic made from floral tiles.
The ground floor has the gallery for temporary exhibitions of works by young and veteran artists around town. Native Chiang Rai artists will display bamboo sculptures in animal shapes and other forms that evoke nature.
And when the Asean Economic Community comes into being in 2015, display space will be available for work by artists from Vietnam, Laos, Burma and south China.
The souvenir shop will stock handicrafts such as textiles woven by artisans in Sob Moei district in Mae Hong Son, and herbal and handmade goods from publisher Suan Ngen Mee Ma.
"This should be an inspiration for improving the skills of local craftsmen," says Angkrit. "They can learn about which products sell best and what the quality should be so they can sell at a higher price."
The open-air restaurant promises to be a delight in the evenings, with delectable local dishes and beverages offered by veteran chefs and a beautiful river vista. Doi Chang will have its own cafe on the premises.
The art school on the second floor will train anyone who's interested in the basics of watercolour painting and art history. Future plans also call for overnight accommodations for artists there.
"I did some research on artists' homes in Chiang Rai and I noticed how hard it is for them to set up their own studios," says Mae Fah Luang University instructor Pollavat Prapattong.We mainly supply professional craftspeople with crys talbeads wholesale shamballa Bracele ,
"The Khua Silapa Project will be another place for artists to show their work and another way to keep the town beautiful and pleasant. It will make people understand that being an artist is an honourable career.
"The artists in Chiang Rai have passed on their inspirations from generation to generation, and that explains why we had no trouble putting together a joint project like this."
Today,One of the most durable and attractive styles of flooring that you can purchase is ceramic or porcelain tiles. the TeachHigh quality stone mosaic tiles.ers’ House, as it is known, provides an intriguing contrast to the modest, low-rise architecture of Athenians’ prized suburbia. Hardly beautiful as a structure, the unimpeded sea view from the tallest tower’s 15th floor, standing 56 meters above street level, is enough to send Greece’s skyscraper lovers, who have few such buildings to admire, into paroxysms of joy – or, at least, touch those who are moved by the qualities imbued in a massive concrete edifice.
If every home has a story to tell, then these modernist high rises use a language rarely observed in Greek abodes.
A decorative motif of rose, peach and tan tiles – possibly a failed effort at whimsy – and a series of gray ellipses girdle the apartment block from its flat roof to its base, emphasizing its horizontal axis almost as if embarrassed by its towering size. At least it can take pride in its generously wide balconies, a rare sight in the high rises of the West.
Sitting in his beige easy chair, Mr Leonidas, a pensioner and for years Block C’s superintendent, yarns about his home’s beginnings, back when they were just a spark in one dreamy literature teacher’s eyes. In the late 60s, Nikolaos Stamatopoulos, who taught at the private Leontios School, traveled to Italy. “He was so impressed by the rows of apartment blocks designed for workers that he decided to get together with some of his colleagues to build a similar apartment building, just for teachers,” says Mr Leonidas. It remains a mystery whether his desire was also fueled by the ideals of a modern academic utopia.
The Teachers’ House was designed by architects Stavros and Angelos Vaseiliou under the junta-era development statute “Law ΑΝ 395/68 on the Heights of Buildings and Free Construction,” which allowed for the construction of tall buildings with up to 28 inhabitable levels. After myriad technical challenges and one bankruptcy, the block was completed in 1973, albeit without the roof garden and ground-level shops foreseen in the original plans.
Along with the “Twin Towers” at its northern end, the Teachers’ House is still considered a landmark, a recognizable anomaly, by commuters who drive along the otherwise monotonous Mesogeion Avenue.
As the years passed, however, the block’s academic character was diluted. “There were fewer teachers per se and more of their spouses, and cousins and children,” says Mr Leonidas. However, the buildings retain the triumvirate of superintendents, a residents’ council and the porter.
The cracks that appeared after the 1981 earthquake were covered over by an outer shell of concrete and the whole exterior was spruced up with a generous Olympic Games-era grant, but inside the shabby hallways, the passage of time cannot be disguised.
They'll begin welcoming fellow artists and other interested folks, including tourists, to their "art hub" starting in February.
Khua means "bridge" in the northern dialect, and for this project it refers to connecting art to society as a whole. It had its origins in the Chiang Rai Artist Fund, established with the inspiring help of National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who donated 500,000 baht (US$16,000) to get it going. The fund supports those who toil for little pay and educates youth about art's necessity in life.
Somluk realised a wholly sustainable community of friends helping friends was needed in the long term. The Khua Silapa Project will be housed in a pavilion with artwork on view for visitors. Non-artists will be able to just hang around in the friendly atmosphere and soak up the creative vibes.
For financing, apart from the sale of art and snacks, they're offering shares in the project, priced at 1,000 baht to 10,000 baht.
"Chiang Rai seems like a seed that's growing, but it's dependent on its surroundings," says Somluk. "We have to build a sustainable community, and the Khua Silapa Project will give young artists a space to display their work.
"Art museums and galleries struggle to make ends meet, so we envision Khua Silapa as an easy-going hangout for local people and tourists, a perfect place to have a meal with friends and shop for creative goods.High quality stone mosaic tiles.
"We believe it will also attract more artists, collectors and curators to move to Chiang Rai."
"This is a social enterprise, but we're hoping to compel the government to support an arts community here by starting it ourselves," says artist Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, another co-founder. "We're letting everyone join in by buying shares.
"Chiang Rai is growing, and we have information on all the artists working here, which we'll use to further develop the art centre in the future."
The 500-square-metre pavilion is in fact a two-storey former Chinese learning centre, refurbished by Somluk for Bt5 million. There'll be a gallery, art school, restaurant, cafe, library and souvenir shop.
Somluk drew on the decor of his own Doi Din Daeng studio, outfitting the building in a modern style that still reflects rural life. Friendly to the environment and inexpensive to maintain,The oreck XL professional air purifier, it has no air conditioners and is cooled instead by breezes. The furniture is old wood and a giant wooden entrance door is adorned with a mosaic made from floral tiles.
The ground floor has the gallery for temporary exhibitions of works by young and veteran artists around town. Native Chiang Rai artists will display bamboo sculptures in animal shapes and other forms that evoke nature.
And when the Asean Economic Community comes into being in 2015, display space will be available for work by artists from Vietnam, Laos, Burma and south China.
The souvenir shop will stock handicrafts such as textiles woven by artisans in Sob Moei district in Mae Hong Son, and herbal and handmade goods from publisher Suan Ngen Mee Ma.
"This should be an inspiration for improving the skills of local craftsmen," says Angkrit. "They can learn about which products sell best and what the quality should be so they can sell at a higher price."
The open-air restaurant promises to be a delight in the evenings, with delectable local dishes and beverages offered by veteran chefs and a beautiful river vista. Doi Chang will have its own cafe on the premises.
The art school on the second floor will train anyone who's interested in the basics of watercolour painting and art history. Future plans also call for overnight accommodations for artists there.
"I did some research on artists' homes in Chiang Rai and I noticed how hard it is for them to set up their own studios," says Mae Fah Luang University instructor Pollavat Prapattong.We mainly supply professional craftspeople with crys talbeads wholesale shamballa Bracele ,
"The Khua Silapa Project will be another place for artists to show their work and another way to keep the town beautiful and pleasant. It will make people understand that being an artist is an honourable career.
"The artists in Chiang Rai have passed on their inspirations from generation to generation, and that explains why we had no trouble putting together a joint project like this."
Today,One of the most durable and attractive styles of flooring that you can purchase is ceramic or porcelain tiles. the TeachHigh quality stone mosaic tiles.ers’ House, as it is known, provides an intriguing contrast to the modest, low-rise architecture of Athenians’ prized suburbia. Hardly beautiful as a structure, the unimpeded sea view from the tallest tower’s 15th floor, standing 56 meters above street level, is enough to send Greece’s skyscraper lovers, who have few such buildings to admire, into paroxysms of joy – or, at least, touch those who are moved by the qualities imbued in a massive concrete edifice.
If every home has a story to tell, then these modernist high rises use a language rarely observed in Greek abodes.
A decorative motif of rose, peach and tan tiles – possibly a failed effort at whimsy – and a series of gray ellipses girdle the apartment block from its flat roof to its base, emphasizing its horizontal axis almost as if embarrassed by its towering size. At least it can take pride in its generously wide balconies, a rare sight in the high rises of the West.
Sitting in his beige easy chair, Mr Leonidas, a pensioner and for years Block C’s superintendent, yarns about his home’s beginnings, back when they were just a spark in one dreamy literature teacher’s eyes. In the late 60s, Nikolaos Stamatopoulos, who taught at the private Leontios School, traveled to Italy. “He was so impressed by the rows of apartment blocks designed for workers that he decided to get together with some of his colleagues to build a similar apartment building, just for teachers,” says Mr Leonidas. It remains a mystery whether his desire was also fueled by the ideals of a modern academic utopia.
The Teachers’ House was designed by architects Stavros and Angelos Vaseiliou under the junta-era development statute “Law ΑΝ 395/68 on the Heights of Buildings and Free Construction,” which allowed for the construction of tall buildings with up to 28 inhabitable levels. After myriad technical challenges and one bankruptcy, the block was completed in 1973, albeit without the roof garden and ground-level shops foreseen in the original plans.
Along with the “Twin Towers” at its northern end, the Teachers’ House is still considered a landmark, a recognizable anomaly, by commuters who drive along the otherwise monotonous Mesogeion Avenue.
As the years passed, however, the block’s academic character was diluted. “There were fewer teachers per se and more of their spouses, and cousins and children,” says Mr Leonidas. However, the buildings retain the triumvirate of superintendents, a residents’ council and the porter.
The cracks that appeared after the 1981 earthquake were covered over by an outer shell of concrete and the whole exterior was spruced up with a generous Olympic Games-era grant, but inside the shabby hallways, the passage of time cannot be disguised.
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