The jubilee is an opportunity to present a brief account of its activities over the period of thirtyfive years. The Záhorie Gallery of Ján Mudroch is housed in the Late Baroque mansion Machatka, allegedly designed by the Viennese architect F. A. Hillebrandt in 1760. The rectangular mansion from the period of Maria Theresa has offices on the ground floor and exhibition halls on the first floor and is surrounded by a park. After specialist preparations in the Záhorie Museum in Skalica in 1976 – 1984 and the reconstruction of the mansion in 1978 – 1984, the gallery was established on 1st December, and the grand opening was held on 14th December 1984, presenting the exhibition ‘Artists from Záhorie’. In the thirtyfive years of its existence, the gallery has been involved in a wide range of activities. Its collections comprise altogether 3238 works of art, out of which there are 632 paintings, 140 sculptures, 1939 drawings, 285 prints and 237 pieces of applied arts, particularly representing artists from Záhorie. Its exhibition activities include the specialist and methodical administration of the Július Koreszka Gallery in the Záhorie Museum in Skalica, including its collections. The gallery has organised 930 exhibitions, out of which 213 were held inside the gallery and 717 outside the gallery, especially as regards its key cycle – ‘Artists from Záhorie’. Apart from the gallery’s regional activities, the special activities include the ‘Slovak Triennial of Students of Arts Schools’; since 1992 eight triennials have been held. Its location on the border of two countries is naturally associated with the study and presentation of Moravian and Czech art, particularly in cooperation with the partner Fine Art Gallery in Hodonín. The most recent activities include art symposia: 2001 symposium on sculpture in Gajary, 2006 in Smrdáky, 2008 symposium on painting in Holíč, symposium on painting and sculpture in Skalica and in 2009, 2014 symposium on sculpture in Senica. Its publishing activities include 9 monographs – M. Tillner, Ľ. Hološka, B. Bača, J. Náhlik, M. Balgavý, M. Komáček, V. Suchánek, H. Bezáková, O. Bartošíková – over 59 publications in the long-term cycle ‘Artists from Záhorie’ and 8 publications in the cycle ‘Joint Exhibitions of Artists from Záhorie’. Its further publishing activities include the publishing of articles and studies, whereas its methodical activities include the organisation of 381 exhibitions of unprofessional art and 56 exhibitions of children’s artistic expression. The gallery has a library and an archive. The exhibition the ‘7th Meeting of Artists from Záhorie’ presents 116 works by 56 artists associated in some way with Záhorie. The works include paintings, sculptures, intermedia works, drawings, prints and applied arts – ceramics, furniture design – architecture and art photography are also included. The exhibition shows a wide range of techniques and expressions ranging from less presented realistic conceptions to a diversity of sign expression up to more abstract fantastic creative approaches.

PhDr. Štefan Zajíček

Translation: Beata Havelská