Maria Vogler

Born 1952, Educator, mother of 3 children.
What attracted me to Arno Stern and his Closlieu? 
After all these years of being an educator in various fields and since 1995 the founder of 'Herzlichtgarten e.V. - a place for children', I may have had to resign first in order to have the time and space to stumble upon Arno Stern and his Closlieu in Paris by watching the documentary 'Alphabet - fear or love' (Erwin Wagenhofer,2014).
I saw his achievement, his discoveries, heard his words...and immediately realized the significance of his work.
Such a place - a Closlieu - I desired to create. It should be an extension of the already existing kindergarden. 
A room was found in no time: we transformed our (outsorced) office
space at Hasenheide no.93. In the spring of 2017 I was accepted to Arno Stern's educational program in Paris and became a 'servant of the painting play'. His teaching about the 'Formulation', as he calls , his major discovery, fell on 'fertile ground'. During the last years of my carrier I intensively researched about ' Play(ing) and holistic health of children'. 
Free play in my eyes is essential to a healthy child. Though many children today lack the experience of at-easeness and the ability of playing freely. I see my task now in providing an opportunity for it - by offering playfully painting in this protected, interference-free space in our Closlieu.
A multi-generational project for all young and young at heart - between 3 and 99 years. 

'Nana' Gabriele Mikolajczak

Born 1961, Occupational Therapist, Caretaker of senior citizens, Jewelry-Designer und 'Servant of the Play-of-Painting' since February 2017.
Because of a personal crisis 2016 I stepped out of my self-created treadmill. Not for the first time I was searching for more authenticity, joy and connectedness. And I found: a long-lost friend - Maria, a new teacher - Arno Stern and a new approach towards my favorite way of playing during childhood - painting.
Finally someone had freed it from judgements and the harmful comparisons with the Fine Arts which had at last spoilt my painting enthusiasm. Finally my inner (painting) child had found a home.
And the adult in me felt a new calling - to provide the painting-play to others - small and large people - who enjoy their own endless creativity and playfulness.
What is more fulfilling than to serve this purposeless play?