Event Type : ACG

When: November 20, 2023-January 27, 2024

Opening: Monday 20 November, 2023, from 18.30

Opening hours: Thursdays and Fridays 15.00 – 19.00, Saturdays 12.00 – 16.00 and by appointment

Where: ACG Art Gallery, 6 Gravias Street, 15342, Athens, Greece

 

Curated by: Ioanna Papapavlou (Sr Manager ACG Art Collection, Deree – The American College of Greece)

“It is impossible to contemplate Athena’s triads, her chords, unless one also hears them as musical tones.”
­– Kimon Friar in “The Triforms of Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten,” 1984

 

 

About the exhibition

The American College of Greece (ACG) is pleased to present the retrospective exhibition by Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, The Musicality of Sculpture at ACG Art Gallery, as part of a series of events marking the 100 Years of the College’s operation in Greece.

As a prolific female artist, Politopoulou-Kargsten was a prominent figure of her time, and her work remains just as relevant and influential today. In the exhibition The Musicality of Sculpture, she invites viewers to experience an exploration of the past as well as the feminine body in motion. A sensation of movement courses through the artist’s creative universe, defining her artistic practice. With references to music and dance, she alludes to a subconscious human desire to relive the past through mythology and release long-held memories and emotions. The vivid aesthetic language and visual rhythm of her work gestures compellingly to its surroundings, producing a sense of pleasure and equilibrium.

Spanning more than five decades of artistic production, the exhibition traces the evolution of the artist’s continuous experimentation with form, shape, and style through the mediums of drawing and sculpture. Musical Rays (1992), inspired by musical scores and instruments, is the centerpiece of the exhibition. Responding to musical abstraction through a three-dimensional object, the work reflects a continuum of juxtaposed shapes, producing an interplay of light and shadows. The artist will also present a new body of sculptural work that delves deeper into geometric abstraction, including Reverse (2023), which harmoniously combines favorite materials with distinctly different qualities for the first time: white marble, African wood, and plexiglas.

The exhibition features twenty pieces from “Triforms,” a series of sculptures Politopoulou-Kargsten started producing in 1980. Now considered her most important work, it encapsulates her contribution to contemporary sculpture. Juxtaposing three successive carved layers of either marble, wood, or plexiglas, these works place the focus on a female body in constant flux, swaying to the rhythm of an imaginary musical composition. Complex shapes and mysterious cuts into the cores of the sculptures create both positive and negative spaces in each of the works. Maneuvering through the passage of light, the forms also recall minimalistic representations of musical instruments. Kimon Friar noted the recurring triad trope in Politopoulou-Kargsten’s work, which added a metaphysical element to her practice invoking a triad chord or a Bach fugue.

The exhibition also presents early works on paper, fabric, and wood as well as sculptures, including Motherhood (1958) and The Three Graces (1958), sculptures reminiscent of Cycladic idols; Kore (1961), a statuette in gilded plaster; and the series “Metamorphoses” (1989), in which the artist revisits the face of the Kore, invoking questions of identity and the ever-changing human condition. The three works included in the series “Study of Models” (1967) are early attempts to explore the imprints bodies leave behind in the physical spaces they occupy temporarily.

From 1968 to 1992, the artist’s preoccupation with representations of the female body became more prominent in her work. Inspired by the Venus of Willendorf (25,000 BC), she created a series of female figurines with steatopygous features starting in 1968.  On display in the exhibition are the works Aphrodites (1971), Female Figure (1972), and Erotic (1973), all depicting females whose abundant abdomens and thighs elevate them to archetypal symbols of fertility.

The Musicality of Sculpture features artworks from the collections of the National Gallery of Greece-Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Vorres Museum, and The American College of Greece, as well as the artist’s own personal archive. Oscillating between realism and abstraction, the artworks in the exhibition together challenge the normativity of form and unite the sensibilities of classical Greece with late European Modernism.

The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue “Athena Politopoulou- Kargsten : The Musicality of Sculpture” published by The American College of Greece, edited by Dr. Megakles Rogakos.

Bio

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten (born 1938, Volos, Greece) lives and works between Athens, Patmos, and Stockholm. She graduated from Pierce College in 1957 and received a scholarship to study at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri (1957-58) and Milwaukee-Downer College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1958-60). After completing her studies, she married Swedish pediatrician Sven-Olof Kargsten and moved to Stockholm, where she studied at the Konstfack–University of Arts, Crafts, and Design (1961-72) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (1972-74). Parallel to her artistic activity, she collaborated with the philhellene professor Sture Linnér to promote Greek culture in Sweden. In 1998, the Society of the Friends of the Swedish Institute at Athens honored Politopoulou-Kargsten with a prize for her work. In 2011, The American College of Greece commissioned her to design the ACG Alumni Award–Maria West, awarded to outstanding alumni for their contributions to culture. Solo exhibitions have been presented at Galerie Zygos, Athens (1984); Galerie 17, Stockholm (1986); Galerie Regio Genevensis, Carouge, Geneva (1987); Banque Suisse de Credits et Dépôts, Geneva (1987); Pandora Mansion, Makrinitsa, Pelion and Giorgio de Chirico Art Center, Volos (1993). She has also participated in several group exhibitions in Cyprus, France, Greece, Sweden and Switzerland.

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten’s work is held at the National Gallery–Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Vorres Museum, The American College of Greece, and Municipal and Regional Theater of Volos, as well as collections in Italy, Finland, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

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Curatorial assistants: Evan Katsounis, Dimitra Kostoula, Athina Lasithiotaki, Katerina Milesi, Christina Tsaprailis (Deree students)

The dance performance during the opening is organized by Deree’s Dance Area:

• Performers: Haley Lowenthal and Evan Katsounis (Deree students)
• Choreography: Dr. Daphne Mourelou (Dance Area Coordinator, Deree – The American College of Greece), in collaboration with the performers
• Music: Nassos Sopilis (Manager of MU/TV/DM Studios, Deree – The American College of Greece)

Supported by the Office of Public Affairs, Office of Advancement & Alumni and the Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts. In collaboration with Deree’s Dance Area: Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Special thanks to the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum and the Vorres Museum for the loans of works from their collections.

---

Melodious Rays
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Melodious Rays, 1992, Steel and plexiglass, 180 x 90 x 90 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Musical Memory
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Musical Memory, 1991, Marble, 83 x 25 x 9 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Musical Memory
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Musical Memory, 1991, Pencil on paper, 64 x 46 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Sounds of Silence
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Sounds of Silence, 1991, Patina on African wood, 78 x 23 x 9 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Couple
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Couple, 1983, plexiglass, 36 x 27 x 4 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

 

Composition
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Composition, 1984, Patina on African wood, 113 x 60 x 14 cm, Courtesy of the Vorres Museum, Paiania

 

 

 

Female Figure
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Female Figure, 1972, Gilded epoxy, 62 x 17 x 14 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Triform (Ode to Spring)

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Triform (Ode to Spring), 1984, patina on African wood, 101 x 59 x 13 cm, Courtesy of the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum

 

 

Anatasis 
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Anatasis, 1987, marble, 165 x 44 x 9 cm, The American College of Greece Art Collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse 
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Reverse, 2023, marble, patina on African wood, plexiglass, 56 x 32 59 cm, Courtesy of the artist 

 

When:

Thursday, November 30, 2023 (18:00 – 21:00) &
Saturday, December 2, 2023 (09:00 – 22:00)

Where:

ACG Events Hall (Aghia Paraskevi Campus, 6 Gravias Str.)

Co-organizers:

General Secretariat of Natural Environment and Water, Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy
The American College of Greece
Sustainable Development Unit — ATHENA RC
Municipality of Aghia Paraskevi
under the Auspices of the Green Fund

In collaboration with:
Center of Excellence in Sustainability, The American College of Greece
Office of Sustainability — Public Affairs, The American College of Greece

Supported by:

Athens University of Economics and Business

About the event

Two joint Events on good practices for water management that aspire to be a catalyst for positive changes in water management practices and biodiversity conservation, laying the foundations for sustainable cities.

November 30, 2023, 18:00 – 21:00 – Event of Water Management Best Practices, ACG Events Hall

The event aims to bring together academics, experts, policymakers, innovators, citizens and young people to share ideas and best practices in water management.

December 2, 2023, 09:00 – 22:00 – CLIMATHON on the Challenge of ‘Water, Nature and Citizens,’ ACG Events Hall

The event seeks to promote an environment of cooperation for the exchange of innovative ideas and sustainable solutions that address current challenges of water management, biodiversity loss in cities and the interactions for citizens, particularly crucial in times of climate crisis.

The Climathon is an ideathon that seeks to engage and raise awareness among citizens on issues facing the local community and related to climate change.

Citizens, guided by mentors, are invited to propose sustainable and innovative solutions aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. At the heart of the initiative are the Climathon organizers and participants in each city, who support and promote the movement around the world.

Municipalities, businesses, schools and universities, experts and non-experts, young people and parents are invited to join this journey of co-creating new solutions.

Today, more than ever, under the pressure of climate change, we need fresh and innovative ideas and actions related to the management of water resources and the protection of biodiversity in urban environments with a focus on the environment and society. Therefore, we aspire to contribute to finding effective solutions to real climate challenges. The challenge of the Climathon in Aghia Paraskevi is: “Water, Nature and Citizens.”

Participants will receive separate certificates of attendance for each day, upon request. For December 2 certificates will be issued to those joining the competing teams.

In addition, participants in the Climathon will have the chance to win exciting prizes as they contribute innovative solutions.

The top three submissions will be rewarded as follows:

1st Prize:
– Cash prize worth €1,200
– Climathon souvenirs of Aghia Paraskevi

2nd Prize:
– Cash prize worth €800
– Climathon souvenirs of Aghia Paraskevi

3rd Prize:
– Cash prize worth €500
– Climathon souvenirs of Aghia Paraskevi

Get ready to refuel your energy with some delightful treats! Goody’s – Everest will offer you refreshing beverages, snacks, light lunch and dinner!

Special thanks to Goody’s Everest for donating the coffee, cookies, lemonade, sandwiches and hamburgers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please click for more information about Agenda, Speakers, Mentors and Jury.

 

 

When: Monday, December 4, 2023 | 18:30-19:45 
Where: Pierce Amphitheater, The American College of Greece, Gravias 6 Str., Aghia Paraskevi

Organized by:
School of Business and Economics, Deree — The American College of Greece 

About the event

Mr. Stelios Psillakis, the General Manager of Columbia Shipmanagement Greece, will deliver a seminar about the new environment regulations in maritime shipping, such as Carbon Intensity Indicator, Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index and EU emissions trading system.

 

When: December 8, 2023 | 15:00
Where: Pierce Theater, The American College of Greece, Gravias 6, Aghia Paraskevi

Organized by:
Academic Affairs, The American College of Greece
George Mason University
American Community Schools of Athens
with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece

About the program

Inclusivity in Education is a comprehensive professional development program for teachers across the Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education sectors in Greece. It aims to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape in Greece through promoting inclusive learning environments and enhancing the skills of teachers to cater to diverse student needs. It focuses on areas of inclusive learning and teaching, special needs education, and universal design for learning and teaching.

For full agenda of the day, click here

Register here to book your seat.

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When: November 20, 2023-January 27, 2024

Opening: Monday 20 November, 2023, from 18.30

Opening hours: Thursdays and Fridays 15.00 – 19.00, Saturdays 12.00 – 16.00 and by appointment

Where: ACG Art Gallery, 6 Gravias Street, 15342, Athens, Greece

 

Curated by: Ioanna Papapavlou (Sr Manager ACG Art Collection, Deree – The American College of Greece)

“It is impossible to contemplate Athena’s triads, her chords, unless one also hears them as musical tones.”
­– Kimon Friar in “The Triforms of Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten,” 1984

 

 

About the exhibition

The American College of Greece (ACG) is pleased to present the retrospective exhibition by Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, The Musicality of Sculpture at ACG Art Gallery, as part of a series of events marking the 100 Years of the College’s operation in Greece.

As a prolific female artist, Politopoulou-Kargsten was a prominent figure of her time, and her work remains just as relevant and influential today. In the exhibition The Musicality of Sculpture, she invites viewers to experience an exploration of the past as well as the feminine body in motion. A sensation of movement courses through the artist’s creative universe, defining her artistic practice. With references to music and dance, she alludes to a subconscious human desire to relive the past through mythology and release long-held memories and emotions. The vivid aesthetic language and visual rhythm of her work gestures compellingly to its surroundings, producing a sense of pleasure and equilibrium.

Spanning more than five decades of artistic production, the exhibition traces the evolution of the artist’s continuous experimentation with form, shape, and style through the mediums of drawing and sculpture. Musical Rays (1992), inspired by musical scores and instruments, is the centerpiece of the exhibition. Responding to musical abstraction through a three-dimensional object, the work reflects a continuum of juxtaposed shapes, producing an interplay of light and shadows. The artist will also present a new body of sculptural work that delves deeper into geometric abstraction, including Reverse (2023), which harmoniously combines favorite materials with distinctly different qualities for the first time: white marble, African wood, and plexiglas.

The exhibition features twenty pieces from “Triforms,” a series of sculptures Politopoulou-Kargsten started producing in 1980. Now considered her most important work, it encapsulates her contribution to contemporary sculpture. Juxtaposing three successive carved layers of either marble, wood, or plexiglas, these works place the focus on a female body in constant flux, swaying to the rhythm of an imaginary musical composition. Complex shapes and mysterious cuts into the cores of the sculptures create both positive and negative spaces in each of the works. Maneuvering through the passage of light, the forms also recall minimalistic representations of musical instruments. Kimon Friar noted the recurring triad trope in Politopoulou-Kargsten’s work, which added a metaphysical element to her practice invoking a triad chord or a Bach fugue.

The exhibition also presents early works on paper, fabric, and wood as well as sculptures, including Motherhood (1958) and The Three Graces (1958), sculptures reminiscent of Cycladic idols; Kore (1961), a statuette in gilded plaster; and the series “Metamorphoses” (1989), in which the artist revisits the face of the Kore, invoking questions of identity and the ever-changing human condition. The three works included in the series “Study of Models” (1967) are early attempts to explore the imprints bodies leave behind in the physical spaces they occupy temporarily.

From 1968 to 1992, the artist’s preoccupation with representations of the female body became more prominent in her work. Inspired by the Venus of Willendorf (25,000 BC), she created a series of female figurines with steatopygous features starting in 1968.  On display in the exhibition are the works Aphrodites (1971), Female Figure (1972), and Erotic (1973), all depicting females whose abundant abdomens and thighs elevate them to archetypal symbols of fertility.

The Musicality of Sculpture features artworks from the collections of the National Gallery of Greece-Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Vorres Museum, and The American College of Greece, as well as the artist’s own personal archive. Oscillating between realism and abstraction, the artworks in the exhibition together challenge the normativity of form and unite the sensibilities of classical Greece with late European Modernism.

The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue “Athena Politopoulou- Kargsten : The Musicality of Sculpture” published by The American College of Greece, edited by Dr. Megakles Rogakos.

Bio

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten (born 1938, Volos, Greece) lives and works between Athens, Patmos, and Stockholm. She graduated from Pierce College in 1957 and received a scholarship to study at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri (1957-58) and Milwaukee-Downer College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1958-60). After completing her studies, she married Swedish pediatrician Sven-Olof Kargsten and moved to Stockholm, where she studied at the Konstfack–University of Arts, Crafts, and Design (1961-72) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (1972-74). Parallel to her artistic activity, she collaborated with the philhellene professor Sture Linnér to promote Greek culture in Sweden. In 1998, the Society of the Friends of the Swedish Institute at Athens honored Politopoulou-Kargsten with a prize for her work. In 2011, The American College of Greece commissioned her to design the ACG Alumni Award–Maria West, awarded to outstanding alumni for their contributions to culture. Solo exhibitions have been presented at Galerie Zygos, Athens (1984); Galerie 17, Stockholm (1986); Galerie Regio Genevensis, Carouge, Geneva (1987); Banque Suisse de Credits et Dépôts, Geneva (1987); Pandora Mansion, Makrinitsa, Pelion and Giorgio de Chirico Art Center, Volos (1993). She has also participated in several group exhibitions in Cyprus, France, Greece, Sweden and Switzerland.

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten’s work is held at the National Gallery–Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Vorres Museum, The American College of Greece, and Municipal and Regional Theater of Volos, as well as collections in Italy, Finland, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

---

Curatorial assistants: Evan Katsounis, Dimitra Kostoula, Athina Lasithiotaki, Katerina Milesi, Christina Tsaprailis (Deree students)

The dance performance during the opening is organized by Deree’s Dance Area:

• Performers: Haley Lowenthal and Evan Katsounis (Deree students)
• Choreography: Dr. Daphne Mourelou (Dance Area Coordinator, Deree – The American College of Greece), in collaboration with the performers
• Music: Nassos Sopilis (Manager of MU/TV/DM Studios, Deree – The American College of Greece)

Supported by the Office of Public Affairs, Office of Advancement & Alumni and the Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts. In collaboration with Deree’s Dance Area: Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Special thanks to the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum and the Vorres Museum for the loans of works from their collections.

---

Melodious Rays
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Melodious Rays, 1992, Steel and plexiglass, 180 x 90 x 90 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Musical Memory
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Musical Memory, 1991, Marble, 83 x 25 x 9 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Musical Memory
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Musical Memory, 1991, Pencil on paper, 64 x 46 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Sounds of Silence
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Sounds of Silence, 1991, Patina on African wood, 78 x 23 x 9 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Couple
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Couple, 1983, plexiglass, 36 x 27 x 4 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

 

Composition
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Composition, 1984, Patina on African wood, 113 x 60 x 14 cm, Courtesy of the Vorres Museum, Paiania

 

 

 

Female Figure
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Female Figure, 1972, Gilded epoxy, 62 x 17 x 14 cm, Courtesy of the artist

 

 

 

Triform (Ode to Spring)

Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Triform (Ode to Spring), 1984, patina on African wood, 101 x 59 x 13 cm, Courtesy of the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum

 

 

Anatasis 
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Anatasis, 1987, marble, 165 x 44 x 9 cm, The American College of Greece Art Collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse 
Athena Politopoulou-Kargsten, Reverse, 2023, marble, patina on African wood, plexiglass, 56 x 32 59 cm, Courtesy of the artist 

 

A challenging and rewarding course for promising young individuals with a genuine interest in energy

When: 07-10 February, 2024

Where: ACG Events Hall, Gravias 6, 153 42, Gravias 6, Aghia Paraskevi

Powered by:
ACG Center of Excellence in Logistics, Shipping & Transportation
Greek Energy Forum

Under the auspices of:
European Commission

About the event

The Greek Energy Forum and The American College of Greece co-organize the 3rd “Energy Transition Future Leaders” Academy within the regional landscape of Southeastern Europe. This follows the successful organisation of the previous “Energy Union Future Leaders” Academies conducted in previous years in Athens and Thessaloniki under the auspices of the Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič and inaugurated by Greece’s ministers of energy and the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.

The “Energy Transition Future Leaders” Academy seeks to select 40 high-caliber university students and young professionals with genuine interest in Energy. The objective is to educate these promising 40 young individuals on the significance of European Energy Policies regarding the energy transition, energy security and energy union, as well as highlight the indispensable element of “regionality” and the relations with EU’s international partners.

About the Energy Transition Future Leaders Academy

The Energy Transition Future Leaders Academy is a program intended to identify high-caliber university students and young professionals with proven, genuine interest in Energy and educate them on key elements of current European Energy Policies.

The program’s purpose is to offer these promising young individuals an intensive, challenging and rewarding course on the structure that makes EU’s Energy Policy an essential part of the European Union. The course will examine the fundamental principles that shape the European Energy Policy, analyze the benefits, evaluate the goals, identify the vulnerabilities, and suggest improvements for EU’s energy policy.

The Academy aspires to create -on a biannual basis- a small but valuable core of young energy experts equipped with specialized knowledge to understand, defend, promote, and enrich EU’s Energy Policy.

The program covers four core EU energy policy areas: Energy Security & Solidarity, the Internal Energy Market, Energy Transition & Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency.

The objectives will be met through targeted seminars on all pilar aspects of European Energy Policies, debates, discussions & workshops on critical energy topics, conducted by successful business executives from the energy sector as well as EU, and other government officials & Academics related to the energy sector.

This is a 100% non-profit initiative and hence the participants will not be required to pay any registration fees for their attendance. Furthermore, it is within the organizers’ intentions to cover accommodation expenses for all successful applicants.  

To learn more about how to apply and become selected for the Academy, the agenda, the sessions, the speakers and more, click here or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the organizers

The Greek Energy Forum founded and headquartered in London since 2013 and currently featuring branch offices in Brussels, Athens, Nicosia, Dubai and Washington DC is an international energy think tank consisting of Greek energy professionals holding international corporate posts and sharing a common interest in the broader energy industry in Greece and Southeastern Europe. The members of the Greek Energy Forum hold international corporate posts and their expertise spans across the energy industry spectrum, benefiting the Greek Energy Forum with a multi-disciplinary skill-set and a holistic approach to its field.

The American College of Greece (ACG) is the oldest and largest U.S., accredited, nonprofit educational institution in Europe. Guided by its mission to add distinctive and sustainable value to our students, Greece, American education, Hellenic heritage, and the global community through transformative teaching, scholarship, and service, ACG has grown into an independent, comprehensive educational institution enrolling more than 7,000 students from Greece and more than 65 other countries. ACG’s educational activities span across all educational levels separated in three divisions including Pierce (2,400+ students in grades kindergarten and elementary to high school), Deree (4,200+ undergraduate and graduate students), and Alba (500+ graduate business students plus Executive Education).

The Center of Excellence in Logistics, Shipping & Transportation (CoELST) at ACG exploits the intellectual and pedagogical resources of ACG as well as the talents of leading scholars, fellows, and business people in order to promote the creation and adoption of innovative practices and policies designed to foster excellence in transportation-related, supply chain and energy fields and thus to assist in transcending the current economic challenges in Greece. The CoELST seeks to foster innovative applied research, teaching and public outreach to help propel Greece’s economic growth by means of academic programs, fellowships, internships, lectures, policy papers, media productions, symposia and conferences.