CULTURAL EVENTS

Cultural Events 2008

Translations: Multi-disciplinary exhibition of art and music by foreign artists living in Warsaw

May 2008 will see the first-ever multi-disciplinary art and music exhibition presented by American and other foreign artists living in Warsaw who have formed an ex-pat artistic group “Translations”. The combined spaces of Komuna Otwock theatre and Pracownia Wschodnia gallery on Lubelska Street 30/32 will host the exhibition May 8-31, Thursdays to Sundays between 15:00-21:00 as well as show accompanying special events featuring American artists. The “Translations” project is another proof of the ongoing American contribution to cultural and artistic life in Poland, bringing American art and culture closer to Polish public through interactive artistic events and exhibits. (more)

American Evening at the 5th International Film Festival Jewish Motifs

Thursday, April 24 will be the American Evening at the 5th International Film Festival Jewish Motifs at the MURANOW  theater announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe. The Embassy will host a small reception in the cinema lobby at 20:00 for those attending this night. Filmmakers from all over the world are invited to compete in three categories: the best feature, documentary, and short film. The prize is a statuette of the Warsaw Phoenix -- a symbol of revival.
Through the art of cinema the audiences will learn about the Jewish identity and experience throughout history and about the preservation of Jewish tradition and culture. Here at the American Embassy we think it is especially important to build tolerance for multiculturalism and to promote mutual understanding between people and nations.

United States Air Force in Europe Band Returns to Poland

USAFE logo (more photos)

The USAFE Band will be visiting Poland, with two mixed ensembles touring in northwestern and eastern part of the country April 18-25, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is pleased to welcome the USAFE Band again in Poland and support its program. The USAFE Band members are active duty U.S. Air Force musicians whose mission is to enhance the image of the United States through their rich repertoire and musically vared live performances and international broadcasts. In Poland the USAFE Band ensembles will play, among many other musical pieces, Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein, arranged by Cliff Townsend, as well as musical pieces by Carl Nielsen, Mozart, Copland, Bach, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Freddie Mercury, arranged by Harold Oliver. (more)

Warsaw Conference on Demographics in Polish Towns

The American Embassy is a proud sponsor of a Warsaw conference organized by the Foundation Diversity Forum (Fundacja Forum Roznorodnosci) to discuss changing demographics of Polish towns caused by the increasing numbers of immigrants from different regions and cultures, announced Cultural Attache James Wolfe. The Forum notes that Poland is “now witnessing the emergence of a multiethnic, multicultural and diverse urban society. What are the challenges and how can this potential be used to the advantage of old and new inhabitants? – these are just a couple of the many issues the conference will address.” The conference was conceived in part to honor African-American History Month (February) and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21.  The conference is free to the public and will take place at the Klubokawiarnia at Chłodna 25 on Saturday March 29, 14:00-16:00 and 17:30 – 19:30. (more)

Mary Kelly Exhibiting in Warsaw

Love Songs, Multistory House 2007, Detail, courtesy: documenta 12 (more photos)

American icon of feminist art Mary Kelly will be the guest of honor at the opening of an exhibition of her selected works at the CCA Ujazdowski Castle.  Her visit to Poland was possible thanks to joint support of the Trust for Mutual Understanding, American Embassy and Intercontinental Hotel, Warsaw. The exhibition will be an overwiew of the artist’s work and will feature some of her most famous early pieces such as Antepartum, 1973, and MeaCulpa, 1999.  The exhibit will also show her most recent work, Love Songs, dating from 2005-2007.  This work is a remix of photo classics and oral histories of the 1970s and captures events that have affected two generations of women. (more)

Khalif 'Wailin' Walter visited Warsaw March 10-11

Khalif Walter at Bednarska Music School

African-American History Month extended beyond February when Blues musician and lecturer Khalif “Wailin’” Walter  visited Warsaw March 10-11, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe.  This dynamic American guitarist and singer from Chicago presented a combination performance and lecture on Urban Electric Blues on March 10 at SWPS. On March 11 he also meet students and faculty at Bednarska Music School and played a special concert there at 20:00 with Piotr Rodowicz (bass), Krzysztof Kwiatkowski (drums) and Jacek Prokopowicz (organs). Khalif “Wailin’” Walter’s appearance was made possible in part by the generous support of the Intercontinental Hotel in Warsaw. (more)

American Conductor David Handel and two American Voices artists will join the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra.

David Handel

American Conductor David Handel and two American Voices artists – soprano Charlae Olaker and baritone Lawrence Craig – will join the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra in an all American program of March 14 concert, announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe. Ambassador Victor Ashe will serve as the honorary patron for the concert, which feature works by Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber and George Gershwin and will be a highlight of the orchestra's 2008 - 2009 concert season. For background information about David Handel and American Voices artists please visit  www.americanvoices.org (more)

The American Choir Variations in Poland 

"Variations" Choir (more photos)

The American choir Variations launched its tour of Poland with a free concert at Warsaw’s Wilanow Palace on Monday March 3, Cultural Attaché James Wolfe announced.  The choir is made up of 36 students from Tennessee’s Pellissippi State Technical Community College. Ambassador Victor Ashe and Pawel Jaskanis, Director of the Wilanow Palace, were the co-sponsors of this special concert, organized in cooperation with the Wilanow Academy.  The group’s 18 men and 18 women performed a program that provided a balanced mix of traditional choral music with American folk songs, African American spirituals, and lighter fare such as Broadway selections. The program included a cappella selections and others accompanied by piano. The choir will also perform in Chelm and Lublin on March 4, as well as in Krakow, Wieliczka, and Auschwitz March 5-7.
For a short selection of music and video from the choir’s 2007 tour of Normandy and Paris, please visit: http://etsms.pstcc.edu/ets/france-video/. The choir performed at Notre Dame Cathedral while in Paris.(more)

Jazz in January = Jazzuary

Dan Tepfer Trio (more photos)

January 2008 will be an exceptionally jazzy month. The American Embassy is happy to be co-sponsoring two outstanding jazz groups touring Poland and the region during “Jazzuary” announced Cultural Attaché James Wolfe.  The Dan Tepfer Trio from New York will appear January 15-21 in Warsaw (three shows), Torun, Gdansk, Zakopane, and Krakow.  American bassist Anthony Cox will be touring with Polish saxophone player Adam Pieronczyk in Poland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia from January 15-30 as the Anthony Cox /Adam Pieronczyk Quartet (photos).  They will be joined by Australian Adrian Mears on trombone and didgeridoo and Krzysztof Dziedzic on drums for concerts in Sucha Beskidzka, Torun, Gdansk, Gorzow Wlkp, Tarnow, Krakow, and Warsaw.  Please contact individual venues for details on tickets and show times. (more on Dan Tepfer Trio) (more on Anthony Cox/Adam Pieronczyk Quartet)