Talk@home: Ambassador Dr. Clemens Koja – Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje – discussed the question which expectations the former Yugoslav countries have in regard to the EU – and the other way round.
- hosted by Clarissa Mayer-Heinisch
Dr. Ludovic Ferrière’s Expeditions in Africa
Board member Dr. Elisabeth Wolff invited the Natural History Museum’s chief curator, Dr. Ludovic Ferrière, to the Stallburg for a Science Event: Dr. Ferrière gave an exciting account about his field campaigns all around the world – on the search of ‘extra-terrestrial gemstone scars’.
Dr. Ferrière about his expeditions in Africa
Dr. Ferrière and WA members at the Club Room
Expeditions in Africa
Guided tour at the Belvedere’s exhibition of oil sketches
WA Group and guide
Oil sketches which served as preparatory works and as a means to attract potential patrons evolved during the nineteenth century into works of their own. Coordinator Martha Hanreich and members of WA were guided through the Belvedere’s exhibition of oil studies, comprising works by Caspar David Friedrich, Hans Makart, Ernst Klimt, Adalbert Stifter, Tina Blau and many others.
T. Blau – Spring Day in the Prater
(Please click here for further Information: https://www.belvedere.at/fascination_oil_sketch)
From Austria’s oldest City to Castle Tillysburg
In the middle of June, coordinators Anne Thun-Hohenstein and Clarissa Mayer-Heinisch organised a tour to Upper Austria. After a guided tour through the center of Enns – Austria’s oldest city – and a visit of its famous basilica the group of WA members and friends continued to the “Paneum”. The museum for bread is a modern architectural highlight designed by COOP HIMMELB(L)AU. Its many arts and culture objects from the last 9000 years tell the history of bread from its invention to its diversity of today.
Enns – city center
Paneum
Inside the Paneum
From there, the group drew a few kilometres to reach the Castle Tillysburg. Georg Spiegelfeld, the owner of the estate, welcomed them and all enjoyed a light lunch before heading back to Vienna. During the bus ride Andreas Habsburg took the Occasion for some interesting, impromptu remarks on the region’s history, which added another highlight to an already very enriching day.
Reception by Georg Spiegelfeld
Castle Tillysburg
Georg Spiegelfeld and C. Mayer-Heinisch
(For further Information please click here: https://www.paneum.at; https://www.schlossseiten.at/schloss/schloss-tillysburg/)
Hidden Archives and a Rooftop with a View
Backstage Visit of the NHM
On a beautiful evening of May, Clarissa Mayer-Heinisch and members enjoyed a backstage visit to the Natural History Museum, guided by the director of the Department for zoology Martin Löbl and the scientist Stefanie Jovanovic-Kruspel. After a walk through the archives and hidden places of the museum, the museum’s rooftop awaited them with drinks and a marvellous view over the city of Vienna.
(For further information on the Natural History Museum please click here: https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/)
Medals of Maria Theresa
Charles V
Maria Theresa
WA members and guide
The KHM holds the largest and most important collection of coins minted under Maria Theresa who became a legend during her lifetime. The medals functions as a way to commemorate her reign. Martha Hanreich and members of Welcome to Austria were guided through the exhibition which focuses on the most important topoi in Maria Theresa’s private and public life.
(For further information please click here: https://www.khm.at/en/visit/exhibitions/in-her-majestys-hands/)
Rubens to Makart – Liechtenstein. The Princely Collections
The collections contain major works of European art spanning five centuries and are among the most important private collections in the world. Dating back to the seventeenth century, they are rooted in the Baroque ideal of princely Patronage of the arts. Martha Hanreich and members of WA admired these great collections as well as the new acquisitions.
WA members at Albertina
Princess Marie Franziska von Liechtenstein (Amerling)
Head Study of a Man (Rubens)
(For further information please click here: https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/liechtenstein-the-princely-collections/#)
Koloman Moser II: at the Theatermuseum
To complement the expansive Moser exhibition at the MAK, Stefanie Winkelbauer organised a guided tour at the Theatermuseum. Members of WA gained an insight into the extraordinary multi-talented designer’s creations for all kinds of stages, from cabaret to grand opera.
WA members and guide
Designs by Moser
(For further information click here: https://www.theatermuseum.at/en/in-front-of-the-curtain/exhibitions/applications/)
Guided visit of the MAK’s Exhibition About Koloman Moser
Influence on Moser: Klimt’s sketch “Allegory of Sculpture”
Coordinator Martha Hanreich and members of WA were offered with a very interesting guided tour about the art work of Koloman Moser (1868-1918). Moser was an eminent figure of the Viennese Fin de siècle, part of the Secessionists’ movement. Due to his mastery of a wide range of disciplines – painting, graphic art, arts and crafts, interior design, fashion, scenography – he was one of the leading artists of Vienna’s artistic renewal.
WA members and guide
(For further information click here: https://www.mak.at/en_kolomanmoser)
“Les gens du Nord ont dans le coeur le soleil qu’ils n’ont pas dehors”
(“People from the North have the sun in their hearts which they don’t have outside”)
were the words of the greeting of H.E. Ghislain D’hoop at this year’s traditional Advent Concert of Welcome to Austria. Mrs. Catharine D’hoop Freeman-Thomas, the ambassador’s wife, in cooperation with board member Dr. Elisabeth Wolff, graciously invited WA members to a Jolly Pre-Christmas Musical Tea at the Belgian Embassy. Members first warmed up with a drink in their hands while listening to a transporting piano recital by Fateme Beytollahi.
Under the joyful and experienced guidance of our hostess, all joined in exuberant carol singing that didn’t want to seem to end. To make matters complete, a traditional Christmas Cake was cut and warm wishes were made.
