Members of the New Bridge art association are currently showcasing their diverse works at the Museum of the Schwalm, featuring everything from landscape paintings to sculptures. The exhibition, which runs through November 30, 2025, presents a vibrant collection that greets visitors with color and joy upon entering the gallery space.
Wilfried Ranft expressed visible delight at the opening, thanking everyone who contributed to making the exhibition possible. He encouraged visitors to engage in conversations with the artists, emphasizing that "a painting is only complete through interaction with the viewer." This philosophy underscores the interactive nature of art appreciation and the importance of dialogue between creators and their audience.
Konrad Nachtwey, Ranft's predecessor and nearly 90 years old, praised the exhibition for giving artists freedom in all directions regarding technique, motifs, and the hanging of pictures. He reflected on art's role in daily life, noting that "art is a part of our lives; we can feel something, regardless of whether it makes us sad or happy, or whether we find a picture beautiful or not." Nachtwey emphasized the importance of allowing feelings and acknowledging that artists touch our everyday lives by creating something poetic that resonates within them. He described the exhibition as a wonderful mixture of professionalism and hobby, offering both praise and constructive criticism for all participating artists.
The New Bridge Art Association, founded in 1998, draws its name from the German Expressionist group "Die Brücke," which included artists like Kirchner and Pechstein. The association aims to build bridges to other artist groups both domestically and internationally. Several founding members continue to actively participate, each bringing their unique artistic journey and perspective to the collective.
Erika Schneider, inspired by her father since childhood, enjoys painting landscapes, portraits, and colorful fantasies. She studied under Marianne and Günter Heinemann and remains a founding member of the association. Similarly, Klaus Hochmuth, who worked as a textile designer and stage painter since 1968, is known in art circles as "Blue Klaus." He focuses his creative work on the artistic interpretation of contemporary events and historical moments.
Several artists discovered their passion early in life. Margitta Tontsch's foundation was laid in elementary school in Nausis, while Anita Dörrbecker's artistic journey began with folk painting, progressed through art on eggs and watercolor on silk, and eventually led to landscape painting and, more recently, portraiture. Arthur Reith has been passionate about impressions from the Schwalm/Knüll region since 1974, creating calendars featuring images from the Schwalm area and producing book illustrations.
Barbara Bersch discovered her artistic talents ten years ago in southern France through landscape painting. Her contribution to the current exhibition includes remarkable paintings from a Greenland expedition titled "Climate Change," reflecting contemporary environmental concerns through artistic expression. Helmut Brenzel's artistic journey began in an unexpected way when his youngest daughter gave him acrylic paints and an easel for Christmas 2010, telling him "either it collects dust or something new begins." This gift sparked a new hobby that has flourished over the years.
Sieglinde Berends has been regularly attending watercolor courses for over 30 years, studying with Marianne Heinemann, Ulrike Schulte, and Delia Henss. Currently, she is exploring new experiences with acrylic techniques. Petra Schmidt transitioned from drawing to painting, finding particular inspiration in landscape painting. She explains that "the peace and silence in wide spaces, growth, strength, and transience inspire me."
Iris Frech has worked extensively with sculptures using various materials including wood, concrete, metal, and clay. She has since expanded her artistic practice to include acrylic and oil painting, currently studying under Ben Kamili. Heinrich Horst, who moved from Mörfelden-Walldorf, prefers collaborative artistic work, believing that "painting is a beautiful hobby, and in associations, you learn from each other." He appears to have no fear of the blank canvas, embracing the philosophy of "put color on the canvas and off you go."
The exhibition at the Museum of the Schwalm remains open until November 30, 2025, with visiting hours from Tuesday through Sunday, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Visitors can experience the full range of artistic expressions and engage with works that span multiple decades of creative development and artistic exploration.
