Polish Cultural Festival

Workshops include:

Pavilions inspired by Paulina Olowska in Fine Arts: Paulina Olowska’s exhbition Pavilionesque consisted of a large wooden pavilion created by local Polish carpenter Mieczyslaw Teofil Golenski. Pavilions are usually temporary simple buildings put up for a specific purpose. Olowska’s pavilion was meant to be a backdrop for contemporary puppetry! Olowska likes to create pieces that bring new life to traditional Polish puppetry. Today in the studio we will build our own mini pavilions – what kind of show would you put on in yours?

Hidden Messages in the Gallery: From 1945 to 1989, a group of artists now known as the Polish School of Posters created posters that were displayed throughout Poland. Of these posters, some of the most famous were government-commissioned for the circus (“CYRK” in Polish). Because these artworks were heavily censored, the artists inserted hidden meanings about their everyday hardships. How can artists use symbols to create meaning? What advice would you give to your community? Look to the original prints provided by Contemporary Posters to make your own poster with a hidden message to your community!

Landscapes of Poland at the Clay Bar: Spend time with us as we sculpt the beautiful terrain of Poland. From the Baltic Sea (Morze Baltyckie in Polish) and Masurian Lakes (Mazury in Polish) to the peaceful Tatra Mountains (Tatry in Polish), Poland truly is a sight to behold.

The World of Izabela Plucinska in the Media Lab: Izabela Plucinska has developed her own technique of creating animated films: she films figurines that she herself makes of plasticine clay (the same clay used at CMA’s Clay Bar!) Thanks to her developed technique, she manages to achieve the effect of “painting” with plasticine clay in her animations. Join us in the Media Lab as we screen some of our favorite films from this artist’s archive, and bring clay to life through animation!

Record a song with Agnieszka Wilczynski in the Sound Booth: Did you know that this year marks the 100th year of Polish Independence? Join us in the Sound Booth and meet Polish musician and piano teacher as you record your own song together, while learning a few of her techniques along the way!

This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the Polish Cultural Institute New York.