Chapel Studio of György Galántai at Balatonboglár - 1970

[chapel project] [context 1970]

The spring of 1970 - Galántai is looking for fellow artists to help him reconstruct the chapel and start the art programs. In April, he gets acquainted with graphic artist József Magyar who offers his help and brings along a group of artists.

30 May 1970 - Pastor Jenő Czövek, who assisted Galántai in bringing to life the Chapel Studio, dies.

From 10 June 1970 on - Entire reconstruction of the chapel: preparing the windows, putting the wire netting and the entrance door in, plastering, whitewashing. Preparations for the exhibitions: making pedestals, folding screens and signposts. Ferenc Balogh, Attila Csáji, László Haris, József Magyar, József V. Molnár, József Tóth, and several people from the village assisted Galántai in the reconstruction work, either financially or with manual labor.

28 June - 5 July 1970 - A trial exhibition of György Galántai’s graphic work.

6-7 July 1970 - The whitewashing of the chapel is ready. Until 26 July, József Magyar performs the duty of the guard at the exhibition as do, subsequently the exhibitors themselves.

8 July - 15 August 1970 - The exhibition of Attila Csáji, György Galántai, László Haris, József Magyar, József Molnár V., Oszkár Papp.

22 July 1970 - Discussing and planning the foldout catalogue of the year in Budapest. It is printed by József V. Molnár who at the time worked as a printer.

26 July 1970 - Opening ceremony of Chapel Exhibition: introduction by conductor József Tóth, opening speech by poet and literary translator György Rónay. Adrienne Csengery sings to the lute played by András Kecskés.
The programs held on Sundays, fortnightly, are organized by Zsuzsa Szőcs.

9 August 1970 - Attila Nagy recites poetry, Tibor Gyurkovits lectures on the relationship of poetry and painting, Béla Sztankovits plays the guitar.

13 August 1970 - In his report on Chapel Exhibition, the editor-in-chief to Somogyi Néplap treats the young artists’ initiative with undisguised suspicion:
“It is not that I find the official and accepted cultural politics wanting (though it is a mass program) but I dispute the spirit of the venture, its unspoken yet palpable intellectual content.”

16-25 August 1970 - Exhibition of István Demeter, László Haris, István Ilyés, József Magyar, Oszkár Papp, László Péterfy.

23 August 1970 - Ottó Mezei lectures on the exhibited works, and Gesualdo Singers (Károly Reményi, László Tardi, Magdolna Tarkó, Erika Witkowsky) give a concert.

25 August - 3 September 1970 - Exhibition of Attila Csáji, Sándor Csutoros, József V. Molnár, Gyula Pauer, Nóra Temesi.

30 August 1970 - Amy Károlyi recites her poems, Sándor Weöres lectures on the relationship of poetry and the fine arts, Béla Sztankovits plays the guitar.

3-13 September 1970 - The exhibition of Tibor Csiky, Sándor Csutoros, György Galántai, István Haraszty, Ferenc Lantos, Gyula Pauer, Péter Türk.

6 September 1970 - Concert of the Post’s Chamber Orchestra

10 September 1970 - At the discussions with the representatives of the local council, the representatives show inclination to help set the church yard and its surroundings in order. With the help of architecture students Ottó Szenczy and Károly Hevessy, György Galántai makes plans and gives an estimate of the cost for the above mentioned matter and for the founding of an artists' colony, and sends them to the president of the local council.

13-23 September 1970 - An exhibition of children’s drawings made in the study group of the primary school of Balatonboglár, in cooperation with the Polish Culture.

15 September 1970 - Galántai enters into negotiations with the representative of the Gaál Gaston family, which possesses the neighbouring chapel and prepares the draft of the lease contract.

27 September 1970 - A program based on Hungarian folk-poetry by Laura Faragó and Adrienne Jancsó under the title “My Earth Mother”. (World premiere)

November-December 1970 - At the committee meeting of the local council of Balatonboglár, György Galántai’s plans for setting the church yard in order and founding an artists' colony are laid out. The council budget is HUF 80-100 thousand for the building up of the water conduit and the toilet, installation of electricity, as well as the church yard’s conversion into a park in 1971. Deeply concerned about the matter, executive János Salamon keeps informing Galántai about recent development.

November - December 1970 - Galántai begins to organize a Chapel Exhibition in Budapest with the aim of further expanding the programs at Balatonboglár. The exhibition is realized by Attila Csáji under the title “R-Exhibition” in the building R of the Technical University from 14 to 17 December. György Aczél (head of cultural policy within the top Party leadership) visits the exhibition.

(English translation by Ágnes Ivacs)