MEISTERSTRASSE_Jessica Bauer__
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»Good craftmanship should never be lost.«

JESSICA BAUER, GALLERIST

Coming from a family of art dealers, Jessica Bauer left for England right after school. After studying History of Art at the University of London and also in Florence, she did a Graduate Trainee Program at Sotheby’s auction house. Following this, she was working in the art world in New York for several years, not only at auction houses, but also at some of the big galleries. Several contacts with artists were made at this time, which would be helpful later in building her own gallery.

The main focus lies on sourcing and promoting international artists with a special quality, but also discovering local talents. Her own passion for the wonders of nature and traveling are also being reflected in her exhibitions.

Which role does craftsmanship play in your personal life?
For me as a gallerist, the craftmanship is playing a vital role. Without the framing and restoration workshops, for example, I could not even present the pictures in a proper way.
Craft is also being mirrored in the process of creating a work, since each artist has its own special techniques, which are constantly being experimented with and developed further and further.

Which crafts sector fascinates you the most?
I am always fascinated when I visit the glass making workshops in Murano, when traveling to Venice. To see how the glowing hot material in being formed by craftsmen, who have been learning these processes from generation to generation, has an almost poetic sensation to it. It requires a lot of courage and concentration to get to the right results. Sometimes it is only the fraction of a second that will decide about the successful outcome.

Do you believe in a future of craftsmanship?
Good craftmanship should never be lost. It is a very important part of our culture. No machine will ever be able to replace it, as only the work by hand can add a soul to an object. The craft of the future for me is, above all, the care and refinement of the traditional methods.

Tradition or innovation – what do you consider more important?
Tradition is a valuable asset that should be protected. On the other side, new materials are being developed constantly. Therefore, innovation is also important when it comes to sustainability and the protection of our environment.

How important are networks and platforms like MEISTERSTRASSE today?
A platform like MEISTERSTRASSE will hopefully play an ever more important role in the future. It is all about preserving craftmanship and to educate each individual about the value and importance of the different metiers, which might otherwise soon be lost. It is also a perfect way to interconnect the various resources in different countries, who can support each other ideally.

Insider tips: Which producers recently made you happy as a customer?
There are several handcrafted things that personally can make me happy, such as the handcrafted glasses by Giberto Venezia or even the last remaining mozzarella maker in Capri, who I could watch for hours.

www.jb-finearts.com/