• was founded in 2004 by a group of artists and other people interested in contemporary art
• is based in Saint Jean Pied de Port, the capital of Lower Navarre in the French Basque Country and an important staging post on the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela
• organises exhibitions, painting courses and other artistic events and welcomes artists in residence (Barbalota I, by Gonzalo Etxebarria) • works with local authorities and schools to organise cultural events
• has no political affiliation or objective and devotes itself solely to cultural matters
What is the meaning of Itzal aktiboa ?
The association's name comes from a poem by the Basque sculptor Jorge Oteiza. It identifies 'shadow' as the active counterpart of light.
(left: Itzal aktiboa, by Felix Anaut)
Argia argia baino ez zen From the nothing which was light deusezetik nothing but light Jainkoak ilunpea sortzen du God created darkness eta gaueren ilunpetik and from the darkness of night eguna jaiotzen da is born the day argiaren egunean itzala jaiotzen da and in the day of light is born shadow ez baita argi gabezia negatiboa which is not the negative absence of light ezen guretzat since for us itz.al izatearen ahalmena da shadow itz.al is the power of being itzal aktiboa the active shadow argiaren presentzia bizia the living presence of light gure betiereko itzuleraren teoria theory of our eternal return itzaletik argira itzultzen gara from the shadow we return to the light gauetik egunera from the night to the day lurraren itzalean igotzen gara in the shadow of the earth we ascend zeruaren gauetan in the nights of the heavens
Jorge Oteiza : 'Existe Dios al Noroeste'
Who are we?
The president of the association is an urban planning expert, Hélène Larralde. Founder members include three painters: Felix Anaut, Josette Dacosta and Gonzalo Etxebarria; a sculptor, Iñaki Olazabal; an engraver, Juan Luis Baroja; a music teacher: Mañolo Espellet; an art historian: Carey Good; and a journalist: Nicholas Bray. (Etxea, by Josette Dacosta)
Our activities
We organise regular painting courses run by Josette Dacosta in her studio in Saint Jean Pied de Port.
In November/December 2006, we organised a retrospective exhibition of paintings by Josette Dacosta and in June/July 2006 we organised an exhibition of paintings by the Guipuzkoan artist Juan Luis Goenaga.
In March 2006, we exhibited the paintings of children from two villages in the Basque province of Soule along with works by Gonzalo Etxebarria and other members of the association.
(The genetically modified forest, by Iñaki Olazabal)
In June/July 2005, we welcomed the sculptor and graphic artist Juan-Luis Baroja Collet as artist in residence in Saint Jean Pied de Port, in the context of an exhibition that we organised of his work.
In April 2005, in cooperation with the Museum of Guéthary and the Basque Cultural Institute, we organised an exhibition of paintings by Gonzalo Etxebarria and sculptures by Iñaki Olazabal in both Guéthary and Saint Jean Pied de Port. For the occasion, we published a brochure presenting the work of Gonzalo Etxebarria. (Juan Luis Baroja Collet with sculpture Donibane Garazi)
In August 2005, we organised an exhibition of paintings by Josette Dacosta and sculptures by the Navarrese sculptor Juan Gorriti, in collaboration with the municipalities of Saint Jean Pied de Port and Sare.
March 2010: L'Art au féminin IV
• was founded in 2004 by a group of artists and other people interested in contemporary art
What is the meaning of Itzal aktiboa ?
The president of the association is an urban planning expert, Hélène Larralde. Founder members include three painters: Felix Anaut, Josette Dacosta and Gonzalo Etxebarria; a sculptor, Iñaki Olazabal; an engraver, Juan Luis Baroja; a music teacher: Mañolo Espellet; an art historian: Carey Good; and a journalist: Nicholas Bray.
We organise regular painting courses run by Josette Dacosta in her studio in Saint Jean Pied de Port.
In June/July 2005, we welcomed the sculptor and graphic artist Juan-Luis Baroja Collet as artist in residence in Saint Jean Pied de Port, in the context of an exhibition that we organised of his work.
