News
Haus der Seidenkultur has a temporary home in the “Crefelder Südbahnhof”
Werkhaus General Manager gives the “green light” to go ahead
From January 2012 the Haus der Seidenkultur can be found in the “Südbahnhof”. Werkhaus General Manager, Georg Dammer, and Chairman of the HdS Association of Friends, Hansgeorg Hauser, made this announcement during a joint on-site visit in the former “Ladies Waiting Room” at the station.
“There is no better place to underline our waiting situation,” says Hauser “now that we have finally found a suitable temporary home until the building in Luisenstrasse has been refurbished to meet the applicable fire protection requirements.
“In the Südbahnhof we now have an opportunity to present both current temporary exhibitions and also the permanent exhibits from the workshop for ecclesiastical textiles. For example, the exhibition “Textile Philately” surrounds a point-paper designer’s workplace and an upright loom. “I am very happy to be able to attract groups to my new workplace at the loom” explains master weaver, Günter Oehms, who at the age of 76 is full of enthusiasm.
Soon after being approached by Hauser, the green light was given for the new tenant to move into Südbahnhof relatively quickly. According to Georg Dammer who is responsible for the cultural activities offered in the Südbahnhof, the topic textiles which reflects Krefeld’s history and keeps the old crafts alive, enhances the range of activities already offered.
The first synergy effects already became apparent whilst the exhibits were being set up. The station guests showed interest in the history of the postal system and textiles in Krefeld whilst visitors to the “Samt- und Seidenrunde” (textile discussion group) took the opportunity to appreciate the details of the Südbahnhof.
Dammer and Hauser are therefore certain of one thing: “Especially in the difficult situation which both organisations face in respect of facilities and existence, this is not just an optional provisional arrangement. In fact specific opportunities have been created in the context of space and content. Both Werkhaus and HdS will benefit from this new co-operation as will all visitors!”
The first HdS projects such as the Advent workshops are already being held in the Südbahnhof. To Hauser it is important that the local population doesn’t lose sight of the Haus der Seidenkultur whilst the building measures are being carried out in Luisenstrasse.
The Haus der Seidenkultur can definitely no longer be said to be state-of-the–art. Urgently needed structural engineering work is pending in the building erected in 1868 where the Hubert Gotzes weaving workshop produced ecclesiastical textiles from 1908 to 1992. As this work cannot be postponed we have been compelled to temporarily close the Haus der Seidenkultur to the public.
Since the building was constructed, building safety standards have changed significantly. To comply with both the current structural engineering standards and the fire protection standards it is, for example, absolutely essential to install additional escape routes and to reinforce the floor joists in the protected monument.
In total the costs for all the necessary measures amount to around EUR 330,000. The Association of Friends can only successfully meet this huge challenge with the help of generous donations. “Your support means that this sum can be shouldered by many and that the Haus der Seidenkultur can continue to develop into a site of future history on a permanent basis,” says Hansgeorg Hauser, Chairman of the Association of Friends, which is the supporting organisation behind the museum and at the same time the owner of the premises.
Hauser’s appeal: “Every donation, yours too, contributes to preserving this unique site!” The Association of Friends which is recognised as non-profit-making organisation has set up an account for donations for this purpose at the Sparkasse Krefeld (Account No. 342642) (BIN 32050000).
The museum’s activities continue!
Although the HdS will remain closed whilst the structural engineering work is being carried out, the museum’s activities continue. As from January 2012 you can find us at another site in Krefeld both with our current temporary exhibition “Textile Philately” and with exhibits from our permanent exhibition.
Our master weaver, Günter Oehems, together with all the museum’s volunteers is preparing himself for his new “workplace” where traditional handicraft will be presented alongside the history of the “Silk and Velvet Town“.
We will shortly announce where this temporary site will be for the duration of the construction work.
Should you wish to book a “Town Tour on silk routes” or a town walk with a visit to St. Dionysius Church to hear an exclusive performance on the new Klais organ, we can offer these programme options as before without any restrictions.
Why not experience the town like silk and velvet in a historic, entertaining and relaxing atmosphere. Just the place for that are the Krefeld woods which originate from the legacy of one of our “Silk Barons”.
Our museum educationalists are also still running their “Spülchen-Projekte” (Little Bobbin Projects) for children and youngsters.
It goes without saying that our office is also still open to assist you.
“I like the Haus der Seidenkultur because it enables me to really experience Krefeld!”
This statement now applies more than ever.
(Further background information about the current developments can be found in our website under the heading “Press”.)
Postage stamps tell the story of the textile town
Exhibition “Textile Philately” at Haus der Seidenkultur.
“Textile Philately” is the title of the new temporary exhibition at Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS), which opened on Sunday, 21st August. The private collection of velvet weaver Hans Siegfried Hermanns on the subject “Textiles on postage stamps” forms the core of the exhibition.
(Collector Hanns-Siegfried Hermanns)
“This collection gives a wide insight into the complex processes involved in textile production starting with the extraction of the fibres right up to the finished product,“ says curator Dr. Ulrike Denter who has assembled some 130 exhibits. These include numerous postage stamps and postcards which reflect part of the history of the textile town.
(Curator Dr. Ulrike Denter)
“Textile Philately” depicts how the postal system in Krefeld evolved. Amongst the Krefeld postage stamps with special postmarks are the first postage stamps to be used in in the silk town and the first Krefeld postmark dating from1798. The exhibition impressively demonstrates how quickly the postal system grew in the textile town.
The exhibition in the former weaving workshop for ecclesiastical textiles focuses on textile occupations, manufacturing processes and those companies which once played a dominant role in the textile town. “It is surprising how postage stamps and postcards can depict a fascinating episode of Krefeld textile history,” said Dr. Ulrike Denter whilst preparing the exhibition.
“Textile Philately” also presents the now forgotten mechanically applied advertising stamps which companies such as “Crefelder Baumwoll-Spinnerei” (cotton spinning mill) or “ Diana-Spinnstoff-Manufaktur“ used.
Rare items amongst the exhibits are the postage stamps which are printed on textiles or have been artistically embroidered. Textile postcards depict the Local Court and the weaving school or mark “German Tailors’ Day” in Krefeld. One postage stamp was dedicated to the famous Bauhaus follower, painter and graphic artist Prof. Georg Muche who once taught the master class at the Krefeld Textile Engineering College.
“Textile Philately”: That was naturally reason enough for the HdS to issue a postage stamp of its own. “However our postage stamp is only valid in the private postal system in the Netherlands,” explains HdS Chairman Hansgeorg Hauser.
(HdS issues its own postage stamp to mark the exhibition “Textile Philately”)
The exhibition will run until 5th February 2012.