Anna Orzechowska

„I won ’t come back here anymore ...” – the concept of Tadeusz Kanor ’s „return ” to his home in Hucisko (municipality Gdów)

In the nineties of the twentieth century, Tadeusz Kantor built a house in Hucisko, a small town located in the municipality of Gdów. The design of the artist’s office definitely served a practical aesthetic. It is therefore not surprising that the rhythm of the windows is determined by the functional layout. The artist distributed them so that they could encompass the widest possible view. „Kantorówka” is very modest and intimate, but not without fancy elements. It was built in three months by a highland carpenter. In „Kantorówka” one finds the workshops of Tadeusz Kantor and his wife – Mary Stangret. Today the house is empty.
Maria Stangret comes here but rarely. Also, „Cricoteka” no longer organizes activities and trips to the village near Cracow. Yet the manor house in Hucisko is the home of the artist’s „soul” and is ideal for conducting creative workshops and the development of artistic imagination. Kantor wanted his home in Hucisko to become a place for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and educational activities aimed at the local population. He tried to create a meeting place for people of different views, to discuss the art and science, and thus encourage and educate the public. However, his death meant that this vision was never fully realized. Kantor’s house is deserted, and the title of one of his recent dramas „I’ve been here not to come back” takes on an added significance...
The Foundation „Given a Chance”, whose statutory aims are based on educational and cultural activities, has proposed to create a summer Theatre Academy in the home of Tadeusz Kantor in Hucisko. The Academy would organize a wide variety of different classes devoted to drama activities, painting and photography workshops, as well as literary – journalistic activities. At the end of each cycle, the Academy would organize a conference and a series of exhibitions of works by people who participated in the workshops. It is proposed that classes should be available to foreigners, so that the work of Tadeusz Kantor could return to his home in Hucisko. This paper also proposes that the above projects should be financed from the European Union funds available for the years 2007–2013.