Mission Impossible: Intonation International Clay Symposium
The History of Intonation
By Friederike Zeit Narum
The Deidesheim Symposium is unusual; uncommonly private, personal, international, small and familiar. Terms which seem to be contradictory but successfully give a description of what it is. Every year in Deidesheim, something happens that we call a wonder (not possible; probable; against gravity).
“The personality of Zeit, linked with her
ability to organize, tamed by good wines
and good food, creates a special micro-
climate for ceramists to meet, to work, to
exchange, over ten days.”
– Passau, Hans Fischer (Ceramic Artist),
March 2019
Fifteen years ago, after a long late night talk, spinning around ideas, Intonation was conceived. A dream of an international clay symposium, experimental, short, improvised and intimate, but of the highest level was about to be born.
The circumstances where perfect: a studio in South-West Germany, Pfalz, in a little city of 1100 called Deidesheim, situated in the middle of beautiful vineyards.
The premises were big enough with a working space and showroom and only two minutes away from a former synagogue that has been used for cultural purposes and was now empty. It had a high roof and fantastic light for working and exhibiting.
In 2005 the first five ceramic artist came to Deidesheim – courageous colleagues who were all open to the challenges that lay ahead.
I was, and still am, director, curator, organizer, host and stamp-licker, all in one person. To begin with, everything was on her shoulders including surrendering her workshop, its tools and materials, organizing work-spaces, exhibition spaces and handling the media. Somehow, I would also
