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Spinnerei Office

Leipzig: The Spinnerei – Cotton Mill turned Artist Space

You are here: Home / Europe / Germany / Leipzig: The Spinnerei – Cotton Mill turned Artist Space

//  by Lisa 4 Comments

Spinnerei

“You are welcome to come with us and we have a car,” say my new friends, the Dürnay family, who were also planning a tour of the Spinnerei factory, this afternoon. A car? I am known for (and quite proud of) my use of public transport all over the freakin’ world, but sometimes being able to hop in a friend’s car feels like a little bit of heaven. No need to look at my maps (although I kinda like looking at maps). No need to figure out train fare or why the station machine stole my change (although I love train stations).  No waiting at a chilly bus stop wondering if it’s even the right bus stop at all (okay, I don’t really like that).

So after stuffing our faces with all the local treats on the Eat the World food tour in Leipzig, we hop in the family car and head to the former factory turned art studio/gallery space.

Spinnerei Gallery

Besides being home to former world renowned musicians and artists,  I’m told that Leipzig’s dynamic art scene has quite the reputation worldwide. Spinnerei, formerly the largest cotton mill of continental Europe, is now home to working studios of architects, fashion designers, and artists, exhibition halls , galleries, theater and dance groups, cultural initiatives, and lofts. It’s like a small city within the city of Leipzig.

Old Cotton Spindles

Founded in 1884, the Spinnerei became an entire industrial town with over 20 factories, workers’ housing, kindergartens and a recreational area. The mill reached its maximum size in 1907, with 240,000 spindles processing cotton across a working area of about 25 acres. Up to 4,000 people worked there, until production of thread was halted in 1993 following the reunification of Germany several years earlier.

Since then, the cotton mill has been transformed into a real working ‘factory’ of art. About 100 artists have their own studios, along with 11 galleries and a non-profit space called Halle 14.  One of the key artists of the so-called “New Leipzig School” is Neo Rauch, who was among the first to set up his studio in the Spinnerei and later gained international fame after Brad Pitt bought one of his prints. Why does this kind of annoy me? Great for the artist that he got some international recognition, but odd to me that once Brad bought his stuff….NOW it meant he was good.

Spinnerei Clock Tower Spinnerei Window

We stroll from building to building, peeking in on artists creating, pottery classes, a huge arts supply store, and even a small movie theatre still playing actual film reels.  It is great to see this old industrial space being put to use.

Film Projector

As we walk around, I also can’t help get the feeling of wondering how this place was used during World War II.  We’re told some ‘prisoners’ did come to work here. I later found this info on their website’s history:

Spinnerei Grounds

The Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei refused to admit concentration camp inmates to the production process, but was assigned 500 foreign forced labourers, for whom kitchens and washing, sleeping and living space were provided on the ground floor of the first Spinnerei building. Walter Cramer, a member of the Spinnerei’s supervisory board who belonged to a civil resistance group led by former mayor Dr. Carl Goerdeler, may have been behind the refusal to use camp inmates for as a labour force. Cramer was arrested and executed following the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler on the 20th of July.

Spinnerei Office

Our last stop was the working studio of a husband  and wife, Claudia Biehne and Stefan Passig, from whom the Dürnay’s had actually bought a piece. The porcelain studio was full of white, delicate lamps and free standing sculpture pieces that seemed to come straight from nature. There where bright white, smooth works that looked like coral straight out of the sea and hanging lamps made with impressions of leaves and flowers.

Porcelain Spinnerei Porcelain Spinnerei

 

Spinnerei Hall

For more info:

SPINNEREI
Spinnereistr. 7
D-04179 Leipzig
Phone: +49 341 4980270
Web: www.spinnerei.de

Main opening hours: Tue-Sat 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

Disclosure: During my few days in Leipzig, I was a guest of Leipzig Tourism and Marketing GmbH, as always, all opinions here are my own.

 

 

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About Lisa

Lisa Lubin is an established travel/food writer and photographer, three-time Emmy® award-winning TV producer, video consultant, and travel industry expert. After more than a decade in broadcast television she took a sabbatical, which turned into three years traveling around the world. She created this blog in 2006. Lisa also owns LLmedia, a media & video consulting business. Her writing and photography has been published by American Way, Hemispheres, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, West Jet Magazine, Scandinavian Traveler, Orbitz, and Luxury Las Vegas. Her book, The Ultimate Travel Tips: Essential Advice for Your Adventures, is available on Amazon.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristy

    September 17, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    I wish I can go there too! Lisa, you forgot to upload pictures of artworks that you like during your tour there. 🙁

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 14, 2013 at 1:34 pm

      I did love the porcelain work that I have photos of. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Audrey | That Backpacker

    September 24, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    It’s great seeing buildings re-purposed. It looks like an inspiring building to have as a studio.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 14, 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Hi Audrey!
      Yeah, I love that too. Nice to not tear down spaces that can be used again so well.

      Reply

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Lisa LubinI chucked it all – the TV job, the guy, the “normal” life – to travel around the world. I've been to 60+ countries & live a life based more on experiences. I want to inspire you to travel slowly & eat locally! MORE...

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