—The good Lord gave the director two eyes —” one to look into the camera, the other to be alert to everything that is going on around him.— —” Andrzej Wajda
We’re honored to be able to present what will be far and away the most complete retrospective of Wajda’s work ever mounted in the United States, and we hope to welcome the Academy-honored director to the Walter Reade Theater for the opening weekend of this historic overview.
Wajda was only 13 years old when World War II broke out. His father, a former officer in the Polish Army, was called up to lead a cavalry regiment. A few months later, he was rounded up along with thousands of other Polish soldiers and citizens and murdered by the Soviet Army in the Katyn forest—”an event denied by the Soviets and, even more cruelly, by the Polish Communist government for decades.
Growing up with the knowledge that his father had been murdered yet forbidden from speaking openly about the circumstances had a profound impact on Wajda, and after attending the newly-founded Lodz Film and Theater School, he developed a filmography that constitutes, quite simply, one of the great legacies of world cinema. No single visual style or strategy characterizes his films: His early work often employed intricately illuminated deep spaces, while his work in the ’70s featured a looser, more documentary feel. When Socialist Realism, the Stalinist aesthetic of exemplary working class heroes and didactic narratives, was the order of the day, Wajda’s films served as alternative or counter-histories to the officially sanctioned versions of events.
As we move away from the fog of the Cold War, his films seem less dependent on the specifics of the political or historical issues they address, becoming meditations on concepts such as the price of individualism, one’s duty towards others, and the meaning of freedom. Close artistic collaborators, especially actors Zbigniew Cybulski, Daniel Olbrychski, Andrzej Seweryn, Wojciech Pszoniak and Krystyna Janda, and screenwriters Jerzy Andrzejewski, Aleksander Scibor-Rylski and Agnieszka Holland often did their finest work under his direction. And several of his films, including the marvelous Ashes and Diamonds, which established him as a major international artist after only three features, are among cinema’s unquestionable masterpieces.
In Berks County, PA (the Reading, PA area) including Friday, Nov. 7th, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Polish National Catholic Church, 20 St. Stephen’s Church Lane, Cumru Township, PA
For more information call (610) 775-4559. Stop by and say hello to Fr. Senior Edward Ratajack.
A Rummage Sale at my parish, Holy Name of Jesus National Catholic Church, PNCC, 1040 Pearl Street, Schenectady, NY on Saturday, October 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We are also having a Pennsylvania Dutch Dinner on Saturday, November 8 from 4 till 7 p.m. Stop by and join us.
Kosciuszko Foundation Marching In 71st Annual Pulaski Day Parade
The Kosciuszko Foundation will be joining the New York Polish-American community in the 71st Annual Pułaski Day Parade, and we invite members, their families, and friends, to join us. It gives us a chance to join thousands of Poles and Polish Americans in celebrating our heritage. Since this year is also the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Poles in America, in Jamestown, it is especially significant.
The Parade is Sunday, October 5, beginning at 12:30 PM.
New York’s Pułaski parade is a huge event for Poles and Polish-Americans. Check it out if you are in the New York Metropolitan area.
Rafał Olbinski Art Show opening Thursday, October 9th
Rafal Olbinski, the renowned Polish artist, will have a show of his works at the Rotunda Gallery of the Kosciuszko Foundation in October. The exhibition will open with a presentation by Olbinski on Thursday, October 9, at 7 PM, and continue through Sunday, October 26. The Foundation is located at 15 East 65th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues. Visitors can see the show during office hours Monday-Friday, 9-5 PM, and on Saturdays, October 11, 18, and 25, from 3 —“ 7 PM. Since other events take place at the Foundation, it is best to call ahead of time. Office phone is (212) 734-2130.
Olbinski is an architect by professional training, as well as painter, poster artist, graphic designer, and illustrator, and has lived in New York since 1981. His illustrations regularly appear in the press, including Time, Newsweek, Der Spiegel, Business Week, and other newspapers and magazines. For many years he has been creating opera posters, including commissions for the New York Metropolitan Opera and City Opera. In 2002 Olbinski designed stage settings for the Philadelphia Opera Company’s production of ”Don Giovanni” He also created a famous poster after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Since 1995, he has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Rafal Olbinski’s posters are a synthesis of surrealistic mood and, from the other side, symbolism, characteristic of the Polish school of poster design. He has received more than 100 awards for his work, including Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators and Art Directors Club of New York. In 1994 he was awarded the International Oscar for the World’s Most Memorable Poster, “Prix Savignac 1994” in Paris. In 1995 his poster was chosen as the official New York City “Capital of the World” Poster in an invitational competition, by a jury led by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In the following year he won the award for the best painting in the annual exhibition of the Society of Illustrators.
Olbinski was born in city of Kielce, Poland, and graduated from the Architectural Department of Warsaw Polytechnic School. In 1981 he emigrated to the US, where he soon established himself as a prominent painter, illustrator and designer.
The Mariacki Altarpiece, Its theft by Nazi Germany, and its complicated post-war return
Mariacki Altarpiece
Agata Wolska, archivist of the Mariacki Cathedral, the oldest and richest archive in Poland, will give an illustrated talk on the Cathedral’s magnificent altarpiece, stolen during World War Two and only returned more than a decade after the war ended. The talk is on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, at 7 PM. The talk is open to the public and no ticket is required; donations are welcome.
Krakow, Poland’s ancient capital is blessed with world-class art and architecture. Wit Stwosz (German Viet Stoss, ca. 1440-1533) one of the greatest Gothic sculptors lived and worked there for 19 years. For twelve years he worked on his masterpiece; the 3-story-high altarpiece in the Mariacki (Basilica of the Virgin Mary) on the city’s central Rynek Glowny (Grand Square). The altarpiece is the largest Gothic sculpture in the world, 42 feet high and 36 foot-wide. It consists of some 200 fine limewood sculptures treated with color and gold foil.
It is a Flugelaltar (German style “wing altar”) with two wings framing the center. The central part, with huge lifelike statues of the saints, depicts dramatically the Virgin Mary’s Dormition, surrounded by the Apostles. Looking upwards one sees the Ascension of Our Lady and Lord. At the top there is the Madonna’s Heavenly Coronation by the Trinity. The wings are covered with relief scenes from the life of the Holy Family. The huge structure is ceremonially opened at noon each day, and closed at night.
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, the altar was dismantled and taken to Germany. Its rescue and return by the Americans is a thrilling story.
Agata Wolska studied art history at Krakow’s ancient Jagiellonian University, and received further training in archival maintenance and computerization. She has received a grant from the Kosciuszko Foundation to do research in the Library of Congress and U.S. National Archives in connection with the altar’s return. Ms. Wolska is in charge of the Mariacki archives, and is preparing a book on the altar’s troubled wartime history.
Dorian Wind Quintet featurning Grazyna Bacewicz will open Chamber Music Season
The Dorian Wind Quintet, recognized worldwide for its uniquely polished and passionate performances, returns to inaugurate the 2008-2009 Chamber Music Series on Sunday, October 26, at 3 PM, at the Kosciuszko Foundation. The program includes works of Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz (1909 – 1969) as well as Darius Milhaud, Anton Reicha, and Lalo Schifrin. Tickets are $40 ($30 KF members), including a reception with the musicians, and can be reserved by calling the Foundation Office at (212) 734-2130.
Since its formation at Tanglewood in 1961, the Dorian Wind Quintet has performed repertoire ranging from the Baroque to Pulitzer Prize winning commissions, in the world’s most renowned concert halls. The Quintet has literally been around the world, concertizing in 49 of the 50 states and Canada, touring Europe eighteen times, and playing throughout the Middle East, India, Africa and Asia. The Dorian made history as the first wind quintet to appear at Carnegie Hall in1981.
The Dorian Wind Quintet collaborates often with well-known artists, and has appeared at numerous festivals including the American and international festivals. It has served as the resident ensemble for many institutions including the Mannes College of Music, Brooklyn College and the State University of New York System,and for over 10 years, at the Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas. Dorian currently serves as Ensemble-in- Residence at Hunter College in New York City. It has recorded on the Vox, CRI, Serenus, New World, and Summit Records labels.
Every member of the Dorian is a virtuoso in his or her own right, as well as a dedicated chamber player. Each has been associated with the most prominent performing ensembles, venues and musical institutions in the world and has joined the Dorian Wind Quintet out of passion for the repertoire and the joy of its performance.
The current members of Dorian are Gretchen Pusch, flute; Gerard Reuter, oboe; Jerry Kirkbride, clarinet; John Hunt, bassoon; and Karl Kramer-Johansen, horn.
An announcement from Transfiguration Parish. I met some lovely people from Transfiguration this past Sunday while at the Holy Mass and Banquet honoring the centennial of the Polish National Union of America. If you are in the area I encourage you to attend and support the parish.
The Polish National Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, 135 Hathaway St., Wallington, NJ will hold a Chicken BBQ Dinner Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eat-in and take-out orders will be available. Tickets are $8 each; call 973-773-4090 for information. Reservation deadline is Oct. 8.
I would like to invite you to participate in IWJ’s “Immigration Through the Lens of Faith” training, which will take place November 9-11 in Chicago. This training is designed for staff and leaders of IWJ affiliates, religious or community outreach staff of unions, community services representatives, and organizing staff of faith-based organizations.
In the training, participants will learn how to:
deepen outreach to the religious and labor communities
provide a closer look at the intersection of worker justice and immigrant worker rights
implement examples of best practices around issues that effect immigrant workers and how to implement them
tackle the problem of wage theft and join IWJ’s national campaign to prevent it
To register contact Renaye Manley at 773-728-8400 x15 or visit the registration website. There are a limited number of spaces available.
Holy Name of Jesus Parish in South Deerfield, Massachusetts will be participating in Crop Walk on Sunday, October 19th The walk begins and ends at the South Deerfield Congregational Church. There is a 2.5 mile course and a 6 mile course. Holy Name will be providing a water station for the event. I encourage my readers in the area to support the parish’s efforts by volunteering, walking, or sponsoring a walker.
Like all Crop Walk events 25% of all proceeds stays in the local community to benefit local programs.
Remember too that the PNCC is a participating denomination in Church World Service.
During last year’s Polkas at the Pavilion, the floor of the Pavilion was hopping almost as much as the dancers. This year, organizers hope to have an even bigger crowd for the daylong event Saturday, Sept. 20.
“Last year, we had around 900 people in attendance and raised almost $9,000 for the pavilion,” said organizer Ron Raczkowski. “We’re trying to build on that for this year.”
Raczkowski, along with his wife, Kathy, and brother, Dan, started the event after attending a rock music event at the pavilion and thought it would be fun to fill the 6,725 square foot building with polkas. They got eight polka bands together, organized refreshments and donated all the proceeds to pavilion restoration efforts.
“We had a blast,” Raczkowski said. “It was really fun seeing all the different musicians mingling with the crowd.”
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The success of last year’s event allowed the Raczkowskis to increase the number of bands this year.
“All the bands said yes to donating their time last year, not knowing how the crowd would be,” Raczkowski said. “But when they saw how big the crowd was, they all said yes again for this year. We even got two more to come.”
The event also will feature a polka dancing competition.
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Our Saviors National Catholic Church in Mosinee will be selling authentic Polish food including four types of pierogies, golobki and kielbasa, said the Rev. Marion Talaga.
“Last year was wonderful. People loved the golobki and the pierogi and the Polish sausage with the real Polish sauerkraut,” he said.
Details:
What: Polkas at the Pavilion
When: Noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 20
Where: Rothschild Pavilion, 1104 Park St., Rothschild
Cost: $10 for ages 18 and older; $8 ages 12 to 17; children younger than 12 get in free.
Contact: 715-571-8236 or 715-359-3660
NEW CASTLE, Pa. —” The 18th Lawrence County Polish Day will be Sept. 21 at Cascade Park Pavilion, featuring polka bands Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push and Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones.
Gomulka has earned 12 Grammy nominations, while Blazonczyk has a Grammy and 17 nominations.
The doors and kitchen open at noon with Polish food prepared by Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church. Admission is $12 (children 16 and under free). The dancing starts at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Rose Marie at (724) 658-5916, Gary (724) 752-9988 or Christine at (724) 658-7990.
Holy Name of Jesus Parish is holding a car wash this Saturday, September 13th in the parking lot of the Schenectady Bingo Palace, 1866 State St., Schenectady, NY 12304 from 9am to 3pm.
If anyone is is the area I encourage you to attend. My family and I are taking the 1-3pm shift.
The festival features Holy Mass at 11am at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral, 529 E. Locust St., Scranton, PA. More details below as excerpted from the following article in the Scranton Times Tribune: Polish staple pierogies one of features at upcoming Polka Fest 2008
Around these parts, folks take their pierogies as seriously as their polka.
So, you can bet that at this weekend’s Pennsylvania Polka Fest 2008, they won’t be serving the stuff from the supermarket freezer section, no offense to Mrs. T.
The highly versatile Polish staple will be among the edible highlights at Polka Fest, the WVIA-sponsored celebration of the music, food and culture of Eastern Europe. It’ll be held all day Saturday and Sunday at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel.
Among other things, Polka Fest will feature: performances by acts like The East-Side Groove and Ed Goldberg and the Odessa Klezmer Band; strolling accordion players; dance lessons given by Matt and Elaine Bonowitz, the No. 1 ranked Polka dancers in the country; a Polish Ethnic Mass in St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral, 529 E. Locust St., featuring Stanky and the Coalminers; and a live broadcast and show tapings of WVIA’s popular program, —Pennsylvania Polka.—
And then there’s the food. Area churches and nonprofit groups will be on hand selling a variety of Eastern European delicacies, including halushki, kielbasa, potato pancakes and, of course, pierogies. Saturday’s festivities will include a Best Pierogi Maker in Northeast Pennsylvania contest, for which WVIA is still searching for contestants. Those interested should call Wendy Wilson, WVIA vice president for corporate communications, at 602-1181…
Note that the article includes a pierogi recipe. Smacznego, Bon Appétit…
