FRESHEN UP YOUR PALETTE

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CULTURAL

E V E N T

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Y O U R P A L E T T E

There are many working days in an ordinary week – thank goodness. Important contracts are signed and innovative ideas are followed up on working days.

But in order to get the most out of each of these days, it’s important to charge the creative batteries. After a long day of meetings and seminars, it’s time for an inspiring top up. At Drammens Museum, that’s exactly what you get. New colours are added to the grey, everyday palette. A stylish chair, a beautiful painting, or simply a glass of wine, enjoyed in our cultural surroundings will soon warm up the conversation – that important conversation.

Drammens Museum offers six different Cultural Interludes – each consisting of a guided tour of objects and paintings from different Norwegian historical periods. We’ve made it hard for you to choose just one – we want you to return and enjoy them all!

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A T O U C H O F F R A N C E …

N O R W E G I A N P A I N T E R S A N D T H E G R E A T O U T D O O R S

Romantic interpretations of everyday events: Two girls dressed in their prettiest dresses, trees surrounding a quiet lake, a boy hesitating on the edge of the water – the first swim of the summer perhaps? Norwegian painters worked outdoors, just like their French counterparts.

Cultural Interlude 1

Norwegian painting was heavily influenced by France from the end of the 1870s up to the first half of the 1900s. The invention of paint tubes enabled artists to be more mobile, and easels were carried into the depths of nature.

Venue: Lyche Pavilion

Duration: 60-90 mins including 25 mins guided tour and aperitif

Light and atmosphere were captured on canvas, and paintings from this period are full of life, without being detailed.

Drammens Museum has an excellent collection of paintings from this period, giving our visitors a good overview of this revolutionary period in Norwegian art history. Outdoor painting gave the naturalistic painters a chance to display their multi-facetted talents, and for many, the work they did during this period represented the high point of their artistic output. Typical representatives of this genre are Hans Heyerdahl, Erik Werenskiold and Henrik Sørensen. Work by all these artists is in our collection.

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M O D E R N V I B R A T I O N S

Design – the human ability to shape and make an environment that serves practical needs and gives meaning to life. John Heskett

Aesthetics and simplicity are the key terms used to describe Scandinavian Design – a phenomenon that was established between 1930 and 1960. For the first time in history, Scandinavia became internationally recognized for its design, and the Nordic countries were acclaimed as world leaders within the field.

The forms of expression were simple, and objects were often made from natural materials such as wood, leather and organic textiles – pure cotton and linen.

Drammens Museum has an extensive collection of objects and paintings from this period – it highlights the breadth of the output of Norwegian, Swedish and Danish designers and architects working during this period. In terms of painting, the period was dominated by abstract work. Clearly defined lines and planes were important issues here, and artists were concerned about harmony of expression. Those who choose this Interlude will gain valuable insight into this exciting epoch, which in retrospect represents one of Scandinavia’s greatest success stories.

Clean lines and functionality. Sobriety and the use of natural materials. Scandinavian Design became synonymous with soft, simple design. At last the Nordic countries had become world leaders on the cutting edge of design.

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Duration: Up to 90 mins including short presentation and aperitif

E N J O Y A N A P E R I T I F I N

C U L T U R A L S U R R O U N D I N G S

Sometimes it’s difficult to make a choice of a thematic tour. Why not just organise your social gathering with an informal look at the Museum’s treasures inbetween the conference and dinner out? You are free to mingle in our galleries.

Cultural Interlude 3 consists of a short presentation of Drammens Museum, followed by free access to the exhibitions and collection. An aperitif will be served, and the participants will have the chance of enjoying a close look at our art collection. Work in the collection ranges from the earliest period of painting history to contemporary art.

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M A D E I N N O R W A Y

Norwegian Folk Art is synonymous with the art made in villages and rural areas, and rose-painting(floral designs painted on furniture and household objects) is one of the most central forms of expression.

Folk artists were ordinary peasant farmers and their families, who made art and craftwork in their leisure time. Men often worked with woodcarving androse-paintingwhilst women sewed and embroidered folk costumes. These techniques were passed on from father to son, and mother to daughter, and there were often great variations in the techniques used in different parts of the country.

Even though our Folk Art is a highly individual Norwegian art form, those who practised it were often influenced by imported wares, and it is possible to draw parallels between Chinese porcelain vases and Norwegian Beer vessels made during the same period. Beer bowls and mugs had a very special place in society in times past. Important agreements were sealed with a draught of good beer, and it was served in beautifully crafted dishes or bowls. The decoration was outstanding, and they often bore inscriptions on the interiors: This draught is a very fine cup, please be sure to drink it up Inscription inside a beer bowl from Hallingdal.

(Loosely translated from Norwegian).

There was no messing about when important deals were closed in times past. A nod of the head followed by a hefty draught of beer was just as binding as the signed papers that we recognize today.

Venue: Main Building

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Cultural Interlude 5

C H E E R S F O R H I G H C U L T U R E

Contrasts between the different echelons of society in Drammen were enormous during the 1700s and 1800s. The rich led very different life to most people in general, and they wanted to display the fact that they belonged to the cultural elite of Europe. Status and position were important, and everything that could possibly underline their financial wealth was on display in their houses.

There was total confusion regarding style, and an upper class home might contain elements of the Baroque and the Oriental, mixed with a dose of Norwegian Dragon Gothic. Nøstetangen glass represents this epoch rather well, with its wonderful creations of glass. The Glassworks openend in 1741, and became exceedingly popular. They were forced to close in 1777 however, due to an insufficiency of fuel for the glass furnaces and the possibility of further development. Drammens Museum has a large collection of the much prized Nøstetangen glass – in particular, several beautiful chalices and drinking bowls. Drammen Faience is another highly regarded product from this period, and there are a number of fine examples in the Museum.

Masked balls, ladies wearing sumptuous ball gowns. Giggling girls with powder compacts and wigs. Gentlemen conversing over large glasses of cognac and imported cigars. Life was quite different for the servants, perspiring heavily as they toiled in the kitchens and laundry rooms.

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T H E G A T E W A Y T O E U R O P E

Gigantic sailing ships

beating down the fiord in full sail. Cases of exotic teas, beautiful silks and the most exquisite porcelain are carried carefully ashore. Other ships are waiting to be loaded with timber from the forests around Drammen and surrounding areas.

The port of Drammen was buzzing with activity in the 1600s and 1700s. Sailing ships came and went, filled to the gunnels with the most costly wares. Cultural impulses from far shores invaded the town, and the burgers of Drammen filled their homes with porcelain dinner services, furniture, beautiful carpets and other exotic paraphernalia from around the globe. During this period the rich began to buy paintings to adorn the walls of their homes, and portraits were the most popular motif. Fashion tended towards the extravagant, and the Rococo style – tight waists and voluminous skirts – was much admired. The brisk shipping trade was advantageous for the ladies of Drammen too – the ships arrived with the latest dress fabrics that fired the imagination and made it possible for them to copy European fashion. You too can let your imagination run wild!

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Drammens Museum Konnerudgate 7, Drammen

Tel: +47 32 20 09 30 www.drammens.museum.no

For booking, contact: Clarion Collection Hotel Tollboden

Tollbugate 43, Drammen Tel: +47 32 80 51 00 First Hotel Ambassadeur Strømsø torg 7, Drammen

Tel: +47 31 01 21 01 Rica Park Hotel Gamle Kirkeplass 3, Drammen

Tel: +47 32 26 36 00 Design: www .a-aa.no . T ext: Cecilie Gjerk en Rakk e/www .rakk e .no . T ranslation: J ennif er Llo yd.

Photo: Mikkel E Moxness/Catchlight.no and www.

1 -images.no Design: www .a-aa.no . T ext: Cecilie Gjerk en Rakk e/www .rakk e .no . T ranslation: J ennif er Llo yd.

Photo: Mikkel E Moxness/Catchlight.no and www.

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