Un air de famille

Something familiar – 100 years of artistic production

Like the sap rising up from the roots of an ancient tree to nourish its new branches, the works in this exhibition represent the vitality and continuity that have sustained four generations in making art that forms a family tree of images and imagination. Connected by blood and marriage, these artists, amateur and professional, have made paintings and drawings that reflect influences from the art histories, philosophies, and tastes of each era. Originating in Germany, the inspirations span now from Europe across the Mediterranean. Yet the works are distinctly individual. They demonstrate that inevitably we are all creatures of our age and origin, but at the same time intensely ourselves. The exhibition is a genealogy of ways of seeing and creating, a visual lineage from the early twentieth century until the twenty-first, of how the artists have learned to pay the exquisitely close attention, developed their knowledge of materials, and learned the necessary skills, so that they could discover what it is they see, to make their works. In the manner of each different time, they represent realistically, abstract partially or completely, or surrender control sufficiently to follow the first mark of paint or pencil that appeared under their hands to investigate whatever emerged for its own sake. When painting and drawing are a tradition in families, almost always they are independent of the controversies and critiques of the academic art-world. The artists are liberated to relish the uses of materials, to break the current conventions of acceptable images or abstractions, and to pick and choose from art styles. They have their own special freedom to explore however and whatever they wish. The exposition of the works of beloved ancestors together with those of the living, evokes how fragile and firm, how constant and changing, how precious and poignant, how filled with memory and forgetting, are the ties between the living and the dead. The works stand as a symbol of the conviction that everyone is capable of being creative. They offer the opportunity to viewers to be confident to consider if they wish to develop their art-making in their own distinctive way in whatever form it would take. 

Margaret Mackenzie-Hooson, Anthropologist

Professor Emerita of Critical Studies in Humanities, California College of the Arts (Oakland and San Francisco, USA). 

Leonie Sapp, * Dahlhoff (*1884 – 1966, Painter/Peintre)

She learnt French and English by her native speaker governesses before going to school in Münster; Leonie studied painting in the Arts academy in Düsseldorf 1904-06, and then went to Florence (Italy) to study Italian and the arts. Married to Otto Sapp 1923 at the age of 39 (!), she got three children Ida (1928), Maria (1929) and Joseph (1931).

Elle a appris le français et l'anglais par ses gouvernantes de langue maternelle avant d'aller à l'école à Münster; Elle a étudié la peinture à l'académie des Arts de Düsseldorf de 1904 à 1906, puis se rendit à Florence (Italie) pour étudier l'italien et les arts. Marié à Otto Sapp 1923 à l’âge de 39 (!), trois enfants Ida (1928), Maria (1929) et Joseph (1931).

Fritz Rössler (*1897-1979, winegrower/vigneron)

After schooling in his home village St Martin/Pfalz and the Humanist Gymnasium in Edenkoben he studied at the Weinbaufachschule (school for winemakers) at Landau. Mayor of St Martin in 1946-47. Married Maria Schwalb in 1924, three children Helmut (*1925), Gertrud (*1926) and Irmgard (*1932); Hobby painter who enjoyed life.

Après l’école dans son village natal de St Martin / Pfalz et le lycée humaniste à Edenkoben, il a étudié à la Weinbaufachschule (école des vignerons) à Landau. Maire de St Martin en 1946-47. Marié avec Maria Schwalb (*1899-1979) en 1924, trois enfants Helmut (* 1925-2012), Gertrud (* 1926-) et Irmgard (* 1932-); Peintre amateur et bon vivant.

Helmut Rössler (1925-2012, mathematician/mathematicien)

After attending school in Edenkoben, Landau, the Jesuit college of St Blasien, and his military service, he went to the University of Heidelberg 1946-1949 to study physics and mathematics; he joined the Ministry of Culture in the Land of Rhineland-Palatine and then worked in Speyer at the Aufbau Gymnasium to teach and train teachers; Married Ida Theresia Antonia Sapp in 1958, two children Mechtild (*1959) and Monika (*1960). Hobbies: chess, Esperanto, drawing;

Après avoir assisté à l'école à Edenkoben et Landau, le lycée Jésuite St Blasien et son service militaire, il est allé à l'Université de Heidelberg 1946-1949 pour étudier la physique et les mathématiques; il rejoint le Ministère de la Culture dans le Land de Rhénanie-Palatinat et travail à Spire au Lycée Aufbau pour enseigner et former les enseignants; Marié Ida Antonia Sapp en 1958, deux enfants Mechtild (* 1959) et Monika (*1960). Loisirs: échecs, l'espéranto, dessins;

Ida Rössler, * Sapp (*1928, teacher/enseignante)

After her schooling in Bad Godesberg she studied at the academy in Bonn in 1950 to become a teacher. She was teaching elementary school classes in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Married to Helmut Rössler in 1958, two children Mechtild (*1959) and Monika (*1960). Hobbies: history, philosophy, reading, - amateur painter;

Après sa scolarité à Bad Godesberg, elle a étudié à l'académie à Bonn en 1950 pour devenir enseignante. Elle a enseigné dans les classes des écoles élémentaires en Rhénanie-Westphalie. Marié à Helmut Rössler en 1958, deux enfants Mechtild (*1959) et Monika (*1960). Loisirs: histoire, philosophie, lecture, - peintre amateur;

 Mechtild Rössler (* 1959, geographer/géographe)

After school at the Edith-Stein Gymnasium, she studied Geography and Literature at Freiburg University and did her PhD at Hamburg University. She worked at the French CNRS and the museum ‘Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie’ (Paris), University of California at Berkeley (USA) and since 1991 at UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre in Paris.  Married since 1995 to Thomas Schaaf; Occasional Painter and organizes since 2006 exhibitions in her house in Goult. 

Après l'école au lycée Edith-Stein, elle a étudié la géographie et la littérature à l'Université de Fribourg et a fait son doctorat à l'Université de Hambourg. Elle a travaillé au CNRS et la Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Paris), l'Université de Californie à Berkeley (EU), et depuis 1991 à l'UNESCO et son Centre du patrimoine mondial à Paris. Marié depuis 1995 à Thomas Schaaf ; peintre occasionnel et organise depuis 2006 des expositions dans sa maison à Goult.

Dr Thomas Schaaf (*1958, geographer/géographe)

After attending the Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf School in Freiburg, her studied Geography, English and French at Freiburg University and Ohio State University (USA) and did his PhD in Geography. After having worked as Assistant Professor in Geography he joined UNESCO in 1987 at the Division of Ecological Sciences, where he works for the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB). He is married to Mechtild Rössler since 1995: Hobby painter.

Apres avoir assisté à l’école Rudolf Steiner / Waldorf à Fribourg, son a étudié la géographie, l'anglais et le français à l'Université de Fribourg et de l’Université d’Ohio State (USA) et a obtenu son doctorat en géographie. Après avoir travaillé comme professeur adjoint en géographie, il a rejoint l'UNESCO en 1987 à la Division des sciences écologiques, où il travaille pour le programme de l’homme et la biosphère (MAB). Il est marié à Mechtild Rössler depuis 1995: peintre amateur.

Monika Rössler-Ghoualmia (*1960, librarian/ bibliothécaire)

After school at Speyer, she studied European Anthropology at Tubingen University and continued her studies in Library Sciences in Frankfurt; Two children Samira Ghoualmia (*1990) and Laura Ghoualmia-Rössler (*2002). She also became a paint therapist and works with children in this field.

Apres l’école a Spire elle a étudié l’anthropologie européenne à l’université de Tübingen et a poursuivi ses études en bibliothéconomie à Francfort; Deux enfants: Samira Ghoualmia (*1990) et Laura Ghoualmia-Rössler (*2002). Elle est aussi devenue thérapeute de la peinture et travail dans ce domaine avec des enfants dans son atelier. Peintre professionnel.

Samira Ghoualmia (*1990)

After her schooling at the Hans Purrmann Gymnasium at Speyer and her high school certificate, she joined a social project working at Jaipur (India) to teach computer and languages to young women and girls. She just moved to Berlin and would like to study cultural sciences. Confirmed Painter;

Après sa scolarité au lycée Hans Purrmann à Spire et son bac, elle a rejoint un projet de travail social au Jaipur (Inde) pour enseigner l'ordinateur et langages aux jeunes femmes et les filles. Elle vient de s'installer à Berlin et souhaite étudier les sciences culturelles. Peintre confirmé;

Laura Rössler-Ghoualmia (*2002)

Laura is still attending the Woogbach School in Speyer/Rhein and enjoys colours and paints regularly.

Laura est toujours en train d’assister à l'École Woogbach à Spire/ Rhin et bénéficie des couleurs et de peintures régulièrement.