Dorothee Rätsch (also spelled Raetsch; born 1940 in Heilsberg, today

Lidzbark Warmiński Lidzbark Warmiński (; , ), often shortened to Lidzbark, is a historical town located within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It is the capital of Lidzbark County. Lidzbark Warmiński was once the capital of Warmia and fo ...

, Poland) is a German sculptor and graphic artist, the daughter of Margarete Neumann, a writer and poet.

Biography

Up to 1945 Dorothee Rätsch was living in Heilsberg, along with her mother and her sibling. Her Mother, widowed in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, worked as a welfare worker. In 1945 they fled from

East Prussia East Prussia was a Provinces of Prussia, province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1772 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 1871); following World War I it formed part of the Weimar Republic's ...

westward to

Mecklenburg Mecklenburg (; ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schwerin, Neubrandenburg, Wismar and Güstrow. ...

. In child and youth courses Dorothee Rätsch started early, to engage with the

visual arts The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics (art), ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual a ...

. Later, in addition to training and work in agriculture, she attended the evening high school and worked in courses and programs at their artistic skills. After an entrance examination, Dorothee Rätsch was accepted and became a member of the Association of Artists of the GDR (Verband Bildender Künstler der DDR) in 1971. Since then, she participated in numerous national and international exhibitions and plein airs. Now she is only active regionally in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, such as in the statewide campaigns ''KUNST OFFEN'' (Artists are open up their studios to visitors) and ''Offene Gärten'' (open gardens). Today Dorothee Rätsch lives and works in Passentin (

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV; ; ), also known by its Anglicisation, anglicized name Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, is a Federated state, state in the north-east of Germany. Of the country's States of Germany, sixteen states, Mecklenburg-Vorpom ...

), where they 1994–1999 built up the Slavic Village Passentin, as an authentic

early medieval The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Middle Ages of Europ ...

place of learning and experience (Idea, concept planning and oversee the construction: Dorothee Rätsch). Always it was especially important for them to work with children and young people, as course leader. Also she has established a

sculpture garden A sculpture garden or sculpture park is an outdoor garden or park which includes the presentation of sculpture, usually several permanently sited works in durable materials in landscaped surroundings. A sculpture garden may be private, owned by ...

beside her studio.

Sculptures

In bronze, terracotta and wood emerge small sculptures, medals and figurative sculptures and reliefs.schliemann-museum
Retrieved 11 March 2014 File:Mutter mit Kind Zweitfassung.jpg, Mother and child File:Gestern.jpg, Yesterday File:Intima.jpg, Intima File:Liebespaar liegend.jpg, Pair of lovers

Awards

:Fritz-Reuter-Price :1999 Heinrich-Schliemann-medal

References

External links

*
Website of Dorothee Rätsch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raetsch, Dorothee 1940 births Living people People from Lidzbark Warmiński Artists from East Prussia German contemporary artists German women artists Contemporary sculptors Humboldt University of Berlin alumni