Photo by Christian S.

Thanks to everyone for this wonderful 

day and evening!

Predstavitev | Präsentation | Presentation

SOLITAIRE

Prisrčno vas vabimo na predstavitev 

Michael Strasserjeve nove in situ skulpture |

Wir laden recht herzlich zur Präsentation von 

Michael Strassers neuer in situ Skulptur |

We would like to invite you for the presentation of 

Michael Strasser’s new in situ sculpture

Otvoritev | Eröffnung | Opening reception

Pozno poletna veselica | Spätsommerfest | 

Indian Summer Party

Sept 15 2012 1-8pm

Lokacija | Ort | Location

Serdica 75, MS, Slovenija

Svojo udeležbo potrdite prosim na | UAWG | Please rsvp

mail@michaelstrasser.net ali | oder | or ewa.esterhazy@vienna.at

Podrobnejše informacije najdete na | Detaillierte Informationen unter |

For more detailed information please look up

www.solitaireslovenija.blogspot.co.at 

www.michaelstrasser.net

S prijazno podporo od | Mit freundlicher Unterstützung von | 

With kind support from: bm:ukk | Land Tirol | Stadt Innsbruck

Michael Strasser | SOLITAIRE | 2012 | Mixed media | 9000 x 3800 x 1900 mm

For directions and information on designated parking areas
please mail[at]michaelstrasser.net!
Parking on site is not possible!

Day 69

... back to my research!!!

Day 68

Tomorrow I am leaving Serdica!

I will come back twice before Ewa, Mathis and I host the presentation and Indian summer party on 

Sept 15 2012

At this moment I would like to thoroughly thank Ewa and Mathis!

For there enthusiasm, kindness and generosity.

With your openness and straightforwardness you have been 

an important motor and an inspiration for the project at the same time.

Thank you!!!

This morning Dušan finished his amazing work.

It felt like he is handling a fine mechanics tool although 12 tons heavy.

For now these are the last images of Serdica.

Nothing really is going to change until September.

Except that all the berries and grapes will wait for you to be eaten 

directly from the bushes.

I already boiled down stinging-nettle pesto and a blackberry 

chutney is on the stove right now.

Tomorrow I am going to partly cover up the sculpture in order to protect it.

I don't dare to leave it stranded until the opening.

After that physics and nature are welcome to work it as they please!

And of course I will post a few images of the wrapped Solitaire.

Although I suppose it's rather going to be unspectacular.

Day 67

Yesterday was the day of joy and today the day of fear!

The digger started to reshape the landscape around the sculpture.

In some moments I had the feeling he came super close.

The vibrations of digging up the ground 

definitely made me nervous.

But the driver really is a professional and works the landscape super gentle!

2 more hours tomorrow morning and the topographic adaptations will be finished as well.

It's done!

Day 66

Time for a bottle of champagne!

After 66 days I finally can say it's done!

The final details were adjusted this morning and as a coincidence

I planned on burning some leftover wood logs today as well.

A nice bonfire indeed!

I am going to return soon to document the piece on film.

Color on middle format and black and white with the Sinar-f.

I am super happy I have to say! Especially cause finally

my body will have some time to recreate.

Day 65

From the moment I started to reassemble the materials of Juljana's house I knew

that the part with the branches on the West side would be the last.

And it really turned out to be like this.

After some repairs and adjustments this morning I am going back now

to take care of the last and final element.

And it's about time! Sometimes I can't feel my body anymore.

Let's just hope that the vibrations from the digger doesn't cause any trouble.

It might look massive but it is fragile after all.

Day 62

There is nothing much left to say! Beginning next week a digger is going to come

to reshape and clean up the area around the piece.

Tomorrow I am off to Vienna for a 24 hour short trip.

Another opening at Strombad Kritzendorf

www.sculptured.org

and the last performance of my friends from 'The Bandaloop' at ImPulsTanz Festival.

www.thebandaloop.com

Day 61

This morning I was talking to Marta, Juljana's younger daughter.

We are planning to meet in the near future and she hopefully will tell me a lot 

about her growing up in Serdica and how life was there back then.

She once and a while comes back to take care of her fathers grave.

After some research and getting to now a few neighbors I also found the right one.

At the graveyard in Ocinje I met Manuela. She was born here but today lives in Switzerland.

She told me to go visit her childhood friend Roswita in Serdica. She and her mother would know.

And they did. They send me to the graveyard in Serdica 

which is located on the other side of the valley.

Franc was Juljana's husband. As I learned today, she didn´t die in Serdica.

After being on her own her daughter took Juljana and she spent her last years in Styria.

I think it`s very poetic, that Franc eternally is facing his place of living.

His house used to be on the hill on the other side.

Day 60

The stone wall is back in place! But I have to admit it cost me a lot of nerves today!

I hope the neighbors, who are far away, didn't hear me swear.

Day 59

After finishing some details I realized that the stone front won't last for a long time.

Rather than having a surprise coming to Serdica one day 

I decided to remove it at once and rebuilt it in a more stable way.

Which means I somehow have to anchor it with the stones behind.

I am off to repair the damage! The plan is to finish all for sides today!!!

Sorry Qirin, but the tent had to go!

The stone wall still needs some work, but I am getting there!

Day 58

A wonderful weekend with Ewa, Mathis and Clémentine 

ended with this amazing atmosphere. 

Clearing skies after another heavy cloudburst!

Day 57

There is only one corner missing from the four sides.

The Eastern front ended up having a lot of details,

such as this beautiful glazed tile I found in the attic 7 weeks ago.

Although I already mentioned I might be finished by last Tuesday,

everything took longer than primarily expected.

Still, for the first time today I had the feeling that it's going to be finished soon.

A feeling of inner contentment!

Minor details on all four walls are missing and for the end

I have to work on the top view.

Day 56

I guess today was the last time that I had to show a strenuous effort.

I dismantled the feeding trough.

I started to use the air hammer, but realized immediately that this would take forever.

And I gave it a shot with the good old sledge hammer!

Within an hour the whole thing was gone

and some of it, still linked together would make a nice piece I think.

Returning to the sculpture now and I hope to finish the East side till tonight.

Another found photograph from Serdica which fits todays actions.

Of course it turned out to be different again!

I continued to work on the Western side.

And no! It's not my movie make-up! I guess it's my daily look through all the dust and dirt!