Coming soon, Events, Exhibitions

Phoenix 2

The art of Phoenixes
You are all invited to the opening of the exhibition of the female artists’ group Phoenix
on Friday, 21.11.2025 at 18:00 at the Rapla Contemporary Art Center.
The opening exhibition “Phoenix 2” is the second appearance in the series of the new
artists’ association this year. The first joint event took place on 09.03-03.04.2025 at the
Pärnu City Gallery, where the group of female artists actually was born while testing
themselves with the mirror of exhibition.
This time we are celebrating the miracle of birth more consciously, and in a way fittingly for
the Phoenixes. In the course of preparing the exhibition, in addition to creating new works,
we also engaged in so-called introspection – it would be more appropriate to say, mapping
the Phoenixes’ positions on some of the most important topics female artists are generally
associated with.
Through 20-30 years of experience as an artist, we looked at the distribution of energy
between creation and family responsibilities, the reflection of gender and age, the sources of
ideas and inspiration, or where creative POWER comes from.
We solved the measurement of one’s own creation, based on the basic thesis of feminist
classics, according to which man = intellect/culture, woman = body/nature, in a more modern
form, reflecting on the connections between NATURE and CULTURE in creation.
Guests of the exhibition can compare and connect Phoenixes` the self-reflections formulated
as texts with the exhibited visual artworks.
The more than 200-square-meter space is filled with visual mystery. There is nothing
random in the room specially segregated for the event, but at the same time each
combination of the works seeks its own place through balance created.
This time the works are grouped by author, it makes the placement in the whole important.
The uniqueness of the artists and the diversity of techniques are what makes the exhibition
unique.
The following artists will be performing at the Rapla County Contemporary Art Center: Katrin
Valgemäe, Alide Zvorovski, Marina Aleksejeva, Anne Rudanovski, Katrin Saag, Maria
Kristiina Ulas, Ülle Saatmäe, Maris Siimer, Kalli Kalde, Kaire Nurk, Katrin Kaev, Lylian
Meister, Lembe Ruben, Tiiu Rebane and Eveli Varik.
The music for the exhibition “Magus magus” is by Rene Varik.
The exhibition will remain open until mid-December.
On the last day, Sunday, 14.12.2025, the exhibition will be closed within 13:00-15:00
with artist talks.
Next year, in 2026, the activities of the Phoenix will continue at the same pace, currently
preparing for performances in two galleries in Tallinn.

Coming soon, Events, Exhibitions

Existences within Art

The Rapla Art Society, founded by Jaan an d Krista Urvet,  celebrates its 30th jubilee with this exhibition, bringing together emerging and established artists with ties to the society.
Participants:
Maiu Albo, Mikk Allas, Moyo Eivas, Mauri Gross, Ain Jürisalu, Jaak Kadarik, Erki Kannus, Katrin Kirsipuu, Mai Klemmer, Eha Koit, Sirkka Lasner, Mathura, Maiu Mooses, Kairi Orgusaar, Riin Pallon, Urmas Puhkan, Erki Põld, Avo Päädam, Editha Salm, Ülla Sirendi, Eda Taevas, Ave Tislar, Eteri Tõlgo, Krista Urvet, Märt Vaidla, Siret Varimõis.
Exhibition Design Eteri Tõlgo
Graphic Design Kati Kerstna
Opening May 3, 2025 at 15.00.
Exhibitions

Matti Vainio: Playground

MATTI TAPIO VAINIO’s solo exhibition „Playground“

Opening March 8, 2025 atl 11.30.
Open 09.03. – 30.03. 2025,
Tue – Fri 15.00 – 18.00, Sat-Sun 12.00 – 15.00
Tallinna mnt. 3b, Rapla

This exhibition is part of the NÖFF-i Women’s Nights Film Festival programme.

 

 

 

Events

RCCCA awarded new title

On Nov 26, 2024, the RCCCA was awarded the title of Cultural RIches Promoter of the Year by the municipality, for the project that saw the building of new lighting fixtures at the Centre.
Project manager Kairi Orgusaar, mentor Meelis Tähepõld, work done by local artist community.
Photos by Tiina Kõrtsini.
Exhibitions

Escape – Room – Landscape

Exhibition at the Rapla County Centre for Contemporary Art
23.Nov- 15.Dets. 2024, opening November 22th, at 18.00.
Participating artists:
Helena Tuudelepp EST
Anna Steinhäusler AUS
Margit Terasmees EST
The exhibition becomes a stage for a newly created landscape, born from the tuning of earthly materials.
The fragile and impermanent dimension is expressed through paper clay, while wood-fired objects contrast this with their claim for eternity. Just like we, as creators, seek our strength and acknowledge our fragility, materials also proceed from one state to another, acknowledging the supremacy of Nature’s rhythms. In different perspectives, dynamics are created by both direct and perceived allusions to figurativeness: someone has left their reflections here, somewhere we find long pauses, silence and tragedy.  It is a poetic, composed landscape, inspiring longing, a desire to escape to, to be part of.
Helena Tuudelepp graduated in 2018 with Master’s degree at the Ceramics Department of EAA. She is a member of the Estonian Association of Ceramists, has participated in various group and personal exhibitions since 2015. In 2016, she was bestowed the Ilmar Palmi Award of the Ceramics Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts,  as well as the 2018 Young Applied Artist Award for her TASE18 thesis exhibition work.

Helena’s favorite material is paper clay, through which she observes the transformation of the material, its dynamics during the drying process and the development of unique forms and details. She does not fire her paper clay works and reuses the material in her next projects.

Anna Steinhäusler is an Austrian artist who works in the fields of painting, ceramics and restoration. In addition to completing her degree in painting at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, she studied for a year at the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Newcastle in England. Her paintings and sculptures have been part of national and international solo and group exhibitions, art fairs and collections. Her desire to work as a painter in the field of ceramics deepened through her participation in wood firing workshops. She first got to know this ceramic firing technique in 2017, by participating in the Kohila Symposium in Estonia. This was followed by further training at international ceramics centres such as Guldagegaard in Denmark, at the Centre of Contemporary Ceramics in La Borne, France and the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemét, Hungary. Anna’s figurative artworks are characterised by her decision to depict subjects in a connected way – for example, showing networks of relationships instead of isolated people. She sees the medium of wood firing as an important feature of her art, utilizing it to reawaken a fascination for nature and life in relationships.
Margit Terasmees is a designer and ceramist. She graduated from the Tartu School of Arts, majoring in textile art, and EAA’s design department, BA. She’s a member of the Estonian Ceramists’ Association.
She has participated in various group exhibitions since 2015 with both her drawings and sculptural forms. Margit has improved her knowledge at the International Ceramics Centers in Guldagergaard, Denmark and Kecskemét, Hungary, as well as at the Kuu Glass and Ceramics Center in Mallusjoki, Finland. In 2024, she participated in the international symposium of wood-fired ceramics in Kohila.  Margit specialises in creating mainly functional ceramics, but also sculptural forms, in wood-fired kilns. Some important aspects of her work include managing the synergy of fire and ash during the long firing in the wood kiln, as well as the enhancing and tuning of the material. She is dedicated to testing and developing various ceramic bodies and glazes suitable for wood firing, and she conducts cooperative firings in various wood kilns in Estonia. In 2019, she laid the foundations for her own wood-burning kiln in Linnaaluste, Raplamaa.
Materials and techniques
Paper clay
Helena Tuudelepp: Most of the material used for the creation of my exhibition works – paper clay – does not go through the firing process; the details remain at a stage that allows the material to be reprocessed and reused. In my works, I focus on the stages that take place between the drying of the material and the moment when it is reunited with the original mass.
Fusion, adaptation, pause, dissolution – stages that in the creative process form a movement; one that I would call a kind of transition of the material – going from one state to another. If part of a mass gets separated and turned into a detail, the separation is not final, but only an intermediate phase. When the detail dissolves into the mass, the detail merges back into its origins, giving me the opportunity for the creation of new output. I’m working and communicating with the material and/or myself – looking for strength, acknowledging fragility, attempting to find an equilibrium, relentlessly wandering in the landscapes of the soul.
Wood-firing
Margit Terasmees: Wood-firing of ceramics is an ancient art of taming fire, which contains both mysticism and mystery as well as cooperation with the forces of nature.
An oxygen-poor atmosphere is created in the wood-heated kiln, which, in contact with the metal oxides in the ceramic body and glazes, brings out the unique essence of the material. The fired surface is like a 3-dimensional canvas painted by the fire flowing in the kiln and the flying ashes. The authenticity of this technique touches the creator deeply; in its presence, one can feel one’s own insignificance, because not all items come out of the kiln as winners.
Anna Steinhäuslser: Through wood firing, people enter into a dialogue with Nature. The kiln is heated with wood and a long flame takes the resulting wood ash on its trajectory through the kiln, touching the receptive clay bodies along the way.
During long firings, wood ash settles on top of the sculptures like constantly falling snow. In the intense heat, the ash reacts with the clay and a polychrome glass skin grows on the clay bodies. These colours are born from the oxides of metals that trees have absorbed from the Earth. At the end of the firing process, one encounters ceramics that have become part of Nature. With their complex surfaces, which can be constantly explored anew, the ceramic pieces are witnesses to Life, which shows itself in multifaceted expression and develops in its relationships. s
Sponsors
Cultural Endowment of Estonia

Anna Steinhäusler www.annasteinhaeusler.com
Helena Tuudelepp www.helenatuudelepp.com
Margit Terasmees

Exhibitions

In Unknown Waters

25.10. – 17.11 2024

Curators Riin Pallon and Triinu Soikmets have invited 9 painters to participate in an exhibition that sees painting as a journey through soulscapes; diving into the deep waters of the subconscious, wandering the fields of emotion. Shadows grow darker, while bright light makes you feel like the Sun.

Participants: Miina Barrera Pinochet,  Manfred Dubov, Eleriin Ello, Jenny Grönholm, Kalli Kalde, Riin Pallon, Leho Rubis,  Marta Stratskas, Maria-Kristiina Ulas.

Events

New lighting – Stage 2

In July- August 2024, we fixed the power cables and built a network of 3-phaselighting tracks.

The system was engineered by Meelis Tähepõld. Construction work was done by Agur Tähepõld and Meelis Tähepõld.

We extend our gratitude to our sponsors: Meelis Tähepõld, Erki Kannus, ERCO, Kumu Art Museum.

Photos: Tiina Kõrtsini

Events

Installation of new lighting at the RCCCA

Our art centre has finally begun the installation of a new lighting system. On July 7th and 8th, our community came together to work on the ceiling.

The project was financed by the Civil Society Foundation, and mentored by Meelis Tähepõld. Project manager: Kairi Orgusaar.

Work done by: Maiu Albo, Merle Kannus, Erki Kannus, Kati Kerstna, Kairi Orgusaar, Riin Pallon, Avo Päädam, Editha Salm, Olga Sokk, Ave Tislar, Eteri Tõlgo, Siret Varimõis.

Photos by Tiina Kõrtsini, Ave Tislar, Meelis Tähepõld, Maiu Albo.

Rapla County Centre for Contemporary Art