The exhibition Utopia: Revisiting a German State in America opened its International tour in Giessen, Germany on November 1st, 2013. The opening of the Utopia exhibit was fantastic! Giessen loves it! The exhibit is fascinating. One begins here, with the conflicts in Giessen and learns the difficulties the Germans experienced in order to publish their little pamphlet The Call, and how some died with the efforts. It shares the difficult decision of whether or not to emigrate. Then the plans, and the journey, and the troubles they experienced.
Everything is in both German and English, and both are spoken here. It is not difficult to understand each other as everyone is able to understand either one or the other. There are many videos in the exhibit, with sub texts translating the other language. Also, Folker Winkleman’s fantastic photographs tell the stories in a universal language. Today he gave a talk about them to the public. There are guided tours of the exhibit for those who would like. Tonight I will give a little talk, yes in English about emigration to Missouri. There are also programs with the other authors Rolf Schmidt and Ludwig Brake. On Sunday, we will visit Muench’s small church and Pastor Thomas Schill in Nieder-Gemünden and return here in time for Carol Muench’s Kaffe Klatsch where she shares family stories.
Missouri Germans Consortium 