Façade exhibition at the Rathsmühle

The biggest surprise was right next door: Sebastian Niewerth of Niewerth Gerüstbau had put up a second scaffold especially for the occasion. That meant the banners that were originally due to follow after the new year could already be seen at the opening.

On behalf of the mayor, First Councillor Nicole Mrotzek welcomed the guests. Daniel Wunn spoke for the jury: “This kind of exhibition turns culture into a true common good, not reserved for a wealthy elite, but belonging to all of us here in Celle.” Art in public space, he said, does not wait in distant museums; it meets us in everyday life, unasked, and that includes the scaffolding of the Rathsmühle.

Alwin Gröschner, one of the initiators, was surprised by the turnout himself: “I would never have thought that so many art lovers would come together on a Wednesday at 12:30.” Thomas Edathy, managing director of Stadtwerke Celle, was pleased with the transformed scaffolding and looked ahead: “In about a year, when we hopefully take the scaffolding down to reveal the building in new splendour, the building itself will be the work of art.” And Dagmar Janßen, president of Soroptimist International Club Celle, said: “Projects like this bring people together and send a signal of solidarity.”

During the celebration, new art was made in two places. A group of pupils from Oberschule Westercelle painted a picture together with their teacher Alexandra Socher, while Daniel Wunn spray-painted a banner. Music came from Hanna and Chris of Lost Souls Gallery, Cocktail Kartell, Sophie’s mobile cocktail bar, served orange juice, white wine and sparkling wine, and the Gröschner family had cooked small tortillas, which were almost all gone in no time.

Among the guests were Johannes Flau, head of the culture department of the town of Celle, and Matthias Gaupp of Stadtwerke Celle. Many of the exhibiting artists came too, as well as people who happened to pass by and stopped. Zandra Gröschner Rico del Valle, chair of Denk.Mal e.V., spoke of one big family.

“It matters to us that something like this is not just for a select few, but for everyone, right in the middle of public space,” says Roman Thomas, deputy chair of the association.

In the morning, SAT.1 Regional visited us at Trift 32 and interviewed Katharina Gröschner and Zandra Gröschner Rico del Valle. The report was broadcast on regional TV the same evening.

We thank everyone who made this possible: the artists, our team and the jury, the town of Celle, Stadtwerke Celle, Soroptimist International Club Celle and Sebastian Niewerth.