Stefan van Drake: It's happening at the Folt Cafe-artists congregate & create in art colony

Szentendre's underground scene for younger contemporary artists thrives Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Art everywhere at the Folt
Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

The Folt Cafe in Szentendre, Hungary is the happening place for younger underground artists in this town of 24,000, about 20 kilometers north of Budapest.

Emese Albrecht Photo by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Emese Albrecht and two of her colleagues from the Forgacs Group of 19 contemporary artists sat at a garden table at the Folt Cafe in Szentendre, Hungary.

Andras Fulop and colleague at the Folt Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

"Newly in Love at the Folt" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

One of them, experimental theater dramatist Andras Fulop scribbled notes on a notebook filled with dialogue for a new sketch by the Forgacsoltkult.

Painter Csizmadi Balazs winds up first solo show today
Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Demonstrating a dramatic phrase, he jumped up from his bench at the table and immediately took on the character, miming the motivation.

I was sitting at the table observing, as though a ghost. The trio focused on only the task at hand, experimental theater.

I understood no Hungarian but grasped their mission.

I felt young again; a vicarious surge of synergistic energies consumed me.

Opened about two months ago, the Folt is the meeting point for the Forgacs Group. (forgacsoltkult.blog.hu).

"Say or Draw Something in the Folt's Guest Book" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Textile Lamp at the Folt Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

People sit inside at tables and as we did in the sixties on pillows on an elevated floor.

Walls brimmed with paintings by Csizmadi Balazs, whose first solo show ended today at the Folt.

Sometimes it's difficult...no, impossible to evacuate the place at closing.

Experimental theater director and actor Andras Fulop
Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

Wall installation in progress celebrating 31st birthday of Szentendre man
Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

"It Happens at the Folt" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

One evening 10 of the artists--painters, sculptors, fashion designers, collagists, performance artists, dramatists, writers, poets, musicians and their friends--collapsed for the night on the pillows until morning, turning the Folt into a brief commune.

Dramatic sketch in progress at the Folt Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

"The Plot Thickens" Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

It's at the Folt where these artists fuse their talents and exchange ideas, learning from each other.

Well-known Szentendre poet Uncle Bela at the Folt
Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

And it is here where happenings....well, just happen.

Update: The group this weekend (21 -23) heads to the hills, to the Hungarian jungle, to an abandoned ICBM missile base, camping out in the old silos, painting and creating, an annual affair.

Rock on and practice peace and love.

Stefan, the ArtTraveler ™