National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library - 2001 News Releases
National
Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2001 News Releases

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Museum Store Offers Unique, Quality Gifts

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Museum Store is offering new merchandise to shoppers. This year, shoppers can choose from:

Of course, there are the standbys, the old reliables the Museum Store always has in stock. These include:

And, when you come in, don’t forget to get your pickle ornament.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information about the Museum Store, exhibits, and programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech Heritage Singers Perform at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

The Czech Heritage Singers will perform for the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Learn at Lunch program December 13, 2001. The program, called “Vánocní Koledy,” is about Czech Christmas carols. Under the direction of Olga Drahozal, the choir will sing and interpret beautiful carols. This free program is at noon and held in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to enjoy while they learn about traditional Czech Christmas carols.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information about this and other NCSML programs, please call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Celebrate the Holidays at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Veselé Vánoce! Merry Christmas! The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library invites you to participate in their holiday events this December.

December 1 is the NCSML’s 17th Annual Svatý Mikuláš (Saint Nicholas) Day. RE/MAX associate, Realtors of Cedar Rapids is sponsoring the Sv. Mikuláš activities this year. Svatý Mikuláš, the angel, and the devil will be in the NCSML along 16th Avenue in Czech Village throughout the morning. They will hand out cookies to all the good boys and girls in the neighborhood.

The day begins with an early morning Muzika Muzika (Music Music) by the Xavier High School Choir. Under the direction of Ann Ohrt, these high school students have learned to sing Czech Christmas carols in Czech and English. The free concert begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Grand Hall.

Concert-goers are encouraged to stay for the Eulenspiegel Puppeteers performance titled "Hansel and Goosel." This piece was written for Eulenspiegel by prize winning Chicago playwright Rebecca Gilman. The performance takes place at 10:00 a.m. in Heritage Hall. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

The Eulenspiegel puppeteers will lead a fun pop-up puppet workshop for kids following the performance. Please register your child for the workshop by calling Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500.

Master folk artist Marj Nejdl will be personalizing Czech hand-blown glass ornaments from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the museum’s Grand Hall. Shoppers will receive a free pass to the museum galleries with the purchase of each ornament with a value of $5 or more (passes are good through February 24). In addition to December 1, Nejdl will also be personalizing ornaments from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on November 23 and 24, and December 8. These special ornaments make terrific keepsake gifts.

At 1:00, the Czech Heritage Singers will give a free concert in the Grand Hall. Their concert will feature traditional Czech Christmas Carols.

The day concludes with a free dance performance by the Slovak Catholic Sokol from Franklin, WI beginning at 2:00 p.m. Sokol is a many-faceted organization guiding its members throughout life, from early youth to old age, to physical and moral health, good citizenship and responsible patriotism, combined with continuous self-improvement. This goal is pursued through general physical fitness activities, gymnastics, and sports, as well as varied cultural and social activities. Sokol Cedar Rapids sponsors their performance.

Porcelain Painting Classes are offered December 4, 11, & 13 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Under the direction of instructor JoAnne Neff, students will paint beautiful Christmas ornaments. Class size is limited to 15 and there is a fee of $20.00. Please enroll by Dec. 3, 2001. For more information or to enroll, call Jan at (319) 362-8500.

The 3rd Annual Museum Guild Cookie Walk will be December 8th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This popular holiday event allows visitors the opportunity to ‘stock up’ on yummy Christmas goodies. This event is organized and sponsored by the Museum Guild of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

The Learn at Lunch program for December 13 is called "Vánocní Koledy.” The Czech Heritage Singers present a holiday program about Czech Christmas carols. The free program begins at noon and is in Heritage Hall. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy the program.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about these and other NCSML programs, please call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at WWW.NCSML.ORG.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NCSML’s Fall Concert Series Includes Top Jazz Pianist from Czech Republic

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host the top jazz pianist from the Czech Republic, Emil Viklický, Friday, October 26, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The concert will be held in the NCSML’s Grand Hall. Ticket prices are $8.00 for NCSML members, $10.00 for non-members, and $5.00 for student with an ID. Tickets are available at the NCSML Museum Store. Novak Design Group and Robert and Janis Kazimour are the sponsors of the concert. KCCK Radio is the media sponsor.

Emil Viklický, composer, arranger, pianist is from Olomouc, Czech Republic. He studied composition and arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA from 1977-1978. He has won countless awards over the past 25 years, including the Jazz Improvisation Contest of Lyon, France (1976), first prize at the Monaco Jazz Competition for Jazz Composers (1976), the Supraphon Prize (1978), the FITES Prize for animated film music (1991), and the 1996 Annual Prize of the Czech Music Council.

Viklický has recorded numerous CDs and LPs with several well-known artists as well as his own Emil Viklický Quartet. He has composed and arranged soundtracks for many full-length feature films, television shows, miniseries, and theater productions. While he is currently working on serious contemporary music for orchestras, big bands, voice, and electronic instruments, he is most known for his ability to combine contemporary jazz with traditional Czech and Moravian folk songs.

Accompanying Viklický will be Benny Golbin. Golbin is a saxophonist, composer, and arranger from Los Angeles. A gifted musician, blessed with perfect pitch, Golbin is well on his way to becoming a major force in jazz music. He has received many scholarships, including the Dolo Coker Scholarship, as well as a scholarship to attend the Berklee School of Music. Currently, Golbin is studying Classical Music at California State University Northridge. He worked with Viklický on his CD, "An American in Prague."

Viklický and Golbin are the featured performers at the NCSML’s 7th Annual Fall Dinner. Diners are invited to attend the opening reception for the exhibition Roads to Understanding and will receive a complementary ticket for the Friday night concert. Ticket prices for the Fall Dinner are $35.00. To reserve your place at the table or for more information, call (319) 362-8500.

The next concert in the Fall Concert Series will be at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2001 when the NCSML welcomes Red Cedar Chamber Music. They are opening their fifth season with Audry Linge-Ovel presents Quintessentially Czech, a concert of early 19th century trios for flute, viola, and guitar. Tickets are $12.00 and are available at the NCSML.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information about these programs or to order tickets, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Lunchtime Learning at the NCSML, Contemporary Life in Slovakia

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host its monthly Learn at Lunch program, Thursday, October 18, 2001 at noon in the WFLA Heritage Hall. This program is free and open to the public.

"A Glimpse of Life in Slovakia Today" by Leroy and Paula Bradway is the title of the program. The Bradways will take a contemporary tour of this historic country, focusing on Bratislava’s sights. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch to the program.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about this and other programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Roads to Understanding Opens at the NCSML Oct. 25th

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is proud to feature another special exhibition from the National Museum in Prague. Designed specifically for the NCSML by C.H. Expo Ltd. and the Library of the National Museum in Prague, Roads to Understanding is comprised of books from the late 15th through 20th centuries. The books tell amazing stories of exploration and discovery and the search for the essence of what it means to be Czech. To find the answers, the exhibition takes visitors on three "Roads to Understanding."

The first journey is religious. Invented in the mid-1400s, the printing press capitalized on people’s interest in religious materials. The first bible in the Czech language was printed less than 40 years after the invention of the printing press – some 50 years before the first bible appeared in English. Due to their geographic position, the Czech lands have historically been a meeting ground where the religious faiths of the Catholic South and the Protestant North have mixed and mingled. Religious disputes between Catholics, Ultraquists, and Protestants were often conducted via the printed word. Bibles and other religious books illustrate this rich history, the role and importance of religion to the people of the Czech lands, and illustrate how the Czech nation sought to find its own way to God.

The second path is the quest to understand the historical events that shaped the Czech lands. Early knowledge was passed on by oral traditions. Often, facts were lost from one generation to the next. Written accounts from the early 17th century through modern times include rare and valuable information about the early Czech leaders, genealogy, customs, and etiquette. As with the written history of other countries, some accounts were lost to censorship or are questionable because of embellishments made by the author.

The final journey includes trips to far-away lands as Czechs strove to understand their place within the context of the world. Many early pilgrimages were to Palestine. One journeyman attempted to reach Jerusalem two times before finally reaching the Holy City. As he traveled, he was able to provide for himself through his goldsmith skills. His travelogue will be among those exhibited. Religious zeal also inspired missions by Czech Catholic priests to Africa, Asia, and Latin America during the Baroque period. Later, Czech explorers wrote of their experiences in South America, Russia, Africa, Indonesia, China, and the United States.

C.H. Expo Ldt. and the National Museum in Prague prepared Roads to Understanding to illustrate early printing in the Czech lands as well as these incredible journeys. The earliest book in the exhibition, a Czech bible, was printed in 1488, less than 40 years after Gutenberg printed the very first bible. Many of the books are embellished with exquisite copperplates, maps, and other colored images.

Roads to Understanding runs from October 25, 2001 through January 20, 2002. Plan now to attend the special members’ reception and exhibit opening at the NCSML and the annual Fall Dinner afterward at the Sheraton Four Points in Cedar Rapids on October 25, 2001. Librarians from the National Museum in Prague and representatives from C.H. Expo Ltd. will also be guests at the reception and dinner.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about this exhibit, the opening reception, and the Fall Dinner, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the museum's web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NCSML Hosts 7th Annual Fall Dinner, # 1 Jazz Artist from Czech Republic Emil Viklicky to Give Concert

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library hosts the 7th Annual Fall Dinner, Thursday, October 25, 2001. This event is combined with an opening reception for the NCSML’s newest temporary exhibition, Roads to Understanding. The reception will be at the NCSML beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the ribbon-cutting to open the exhibit at 6:00 p.m.

The 7th Annual Fall Dinner will be held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel located at 525 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. It begins at 7:00 p.m. Special guests in attendance will include Miss Czech-Slovak USA Lisa Volesky, Petr Mašek of the National Museum in Prague, David Kraft, Irena Cudlínová, and Tomáš Koller from C.H. Expo, Ltd. from the Czech Republic.

An after-dinner concert by the number one Czech jazz pianist Emil Viklicky, will conclude the evening. Viklicky blends contemporary jazz with traditional folk songs. Dinner guests will also receive a complimentary ticket to Emil Viklicky’s full-length public concert the following evening, Friday, October 26, 2001.

Tickets for the Fall Dinner are $35, with all proceeds benefiting the NCSML’s educational programs. Terry Brosh, Brosh Chapel, will graciously sponsor the Fall Dinner.

To reserve your seat, call the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library at (319) 362-8500. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about this and upcoming programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Explore Czech and Slovak Cinema at the NCSML Oct. 20 & 21

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s program Exploring Czech and Slovak Cinema will focus on the works of the brilliant Czech filmmaker Jan Svankmajer October 20 & 21, 2001.

"Alice" (1988) will be shown in WFLA Heritage Hall Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. This presentation is free and open to the public. Film historian Natasa Durovicova, University of Iowa, will introduce audiences to the innovative artist and lead a discussion about his interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. "Alice" is a surreal film that combines live action with stop animation. It was Svankmajer’s first feature length film.

On Sunday, October 21, 2001 at 2:00 p.m., Svankmajer Shorts will be presented in the WFLA Heritage Hall. This program is free and open to the public. Again, Durovicova will provide an introduction and lead a discussion of his works.

Jna Svankmajer has inspired several generations of filmmakers. His work with puppetry, stop motion animation, and the surreal has made him a legend of world cinematography. After decades of abuse and censorship by the communist regime, during which time was permitted to produce only an occasional short film, Svankmajer directed feature films in the late eighties. A surrealist at heart, Svankmajer’s films are best described in the words of Anthony Lane, published in The New Yorker: "The world is divided into two unequal camps…those who have never heard of Jan Svankmajer, and those who happen upon his work and know that they have come face to face with a genius." Svankmajer has inspired countless filmmakers including "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Planet of the Apes" director Tim Burton, Monty Python player Terry Gilham, and the creators of Disney’s "Toy Story."

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information about this and upcoming programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech Village Archaeology Topic of Discussion October 7

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library presents archaeologist Christopher Schoen and his talk, "The Star Wagon Company and The Cedar Rapids Canning Company, Two Early Industrial Sites in Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa." The free lecture will be Sunday, October 7, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. in the NCSML’s WFLA Heritage Hall. This program is part of the NCSML’s Life Long Learning Lecture Series.

In 2000, the City of Cedar Rapids, IA contracted with The Louis Berger Group, Inc. to conduct archaeological investigations at the former Iowa Steel & Iron Works Brownfield Site. The site is located in the 400 block of 12th Avenue SE, in the heart of the original Czech settlement of Cedar Rapids. During the course of the investigations, evidence of the earlier factories were uncovered including the Star Wagon Works (1871 – 1895) and the Cedar Rapids Canning Company (1898 – 1926). The canning company was reorganized as the J. Leroy Canning Company (c. 1929 – 1940) and the Cedar Rapids Food Products Company (c. 1940 – 1970). While the archaeological evidence was scant, information about these early industries can be collected through archival records and interviews with individuals who worked at the plant, provided fresh produce for canning, and who lived in the surrounding neighborhood.

Schoen is an archaeologist with The Louis Berger Group, Inc. of Marion, Iowa. This presentation will mark the NCSML’s participation in Iowa’s Archaeology Month.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about this and upcoming programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Fall Concert Series at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is pleased to announce their Fall Concert Series. The Series kicks off Friday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the University of Iowa’s Maia String Quartet. The lecture/recital is titled "From My Life: An exploration of the life and cultural identity of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana." The group will play and discuss Smetana’s Quartet No. 1 From My Life in the NCSML’s Grand Hall. The University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium is sponsoring this free event. A reception will follow the performance allowing attendees to visit with members of the quartet.

The Series continues on Friday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m., with a concert by Emil Viklicky, the top jazz performer in the Czech Republic. This artist combines contemporary jazz with traditional Czech folk songs to make uniquely original music. Tickets are $8.00 for members or $10.00 for non-members, and are available at the NCSML. Persons attending the 7th Annual Fall Dinner the previous evening will receive a complimentary ticket to the concert. For more information about the Fall Dinner, contact the NCSML at (319) 362-8500.

The Fall Concert Series concludes on Saturday, November 3, with a performance by the Red Cedar Chamber in the NCSML’s Grand Hall at 8:00 p.m. They are opening their fifth season with Quintessentially Czech, a concert of early nineteenth-century trios for flute, viola, and guitar. Tickets are $12.00 and are available at the NCSML. This performance is sponsored by Audrey Linge-Ovel. A reception will follow the concert.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about these and other NCSML programs, contact the NCSML at (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Slovak Hymnody Subject of NCSML’s Life Long Learning Lecture

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Dr. Cathryn Wilkinson’s presentation titled, "Slovak Hymnody: In the Heart and Out of the Country." The free lecture will be Sunday, September 30, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall.

Although predominantly a country of Catholics, Slovakia suffered through the intense religious conflicts of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation just like her neighbors to the west. The German culture transplanted eastward by German-speaking workers was a welcome mat for Reformers who heralded a new and Protestant faith in Slovakia. Like all religions, this new faith found expression in the art of hymn –writing and hymn-singing. The legacy of the music of Slovak Protestants still resounds today, in Slovakia and among American Slovaks, the ultimate heirs of this historic musical tradition.

Dr. Wilkinson teaches music history, aural skills, and general humanities courses at Concordia University. Prior to her appointment in 1999, she was the Director of Community and Education Programs for the Choral Arts Society of Washington, D.C., where she managed a variety of programs to reach K-12 students in D.C. Public Schools. She served on the faculty of the American Guild of Organists Pipe Organ Encounter Plus in Washington, D.C. in 2000, Lutheran Summer Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1999, and Lutheran Summer Music at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1998.

In summer 2000, Dr. Wilkinson received a Faculty Research grant for work on Slovak hymnody. In summer of 2001, she received a Fulbright-Hayes Grant to perform in Bardejov, Slovakia in the annual recital series, "Days of Organ Music in Honor of Jozef Grešák."

Dr. Wilkinson is an alumna of the University of Iowa, Iowa City, where she received a Ph.D. in music theory and a M.F.A. in organ performance and pedagogy. She has earned the Colleague and Associate certificates of the American Guild of Organists, and has performed as an organ soloist in Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, and California.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about this and other NCSML programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Fall Concert Series at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is pleased to announce their Fall Concert Series. The Series kicks off Friday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the University of Iowa’s Maia String Quartet. The lecture/recital is titled "From My Life: An exploration of the life and cultural identity of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana." The group will play and discuss Smetana’s Quartet No. 1 From My Life in the NCSML’s Grand Hall. The University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium is sponsoring this free event. A reception will follow the performance allowing attendees to visit with members of the quartet.

The Series continues on Friday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m., with a concert by Emil Viklicky, the top jazz performer in the Czech Republic. This artist combines contemporary jazz with traditional Czech folk songs to make uniquely original music. Tickets are $8.00 for members or $10.00 for non-members, and are available at the NCSML. Persons attending the 7th Annual Fall Dinner the previous evening will receive a complimentary ticket to the concert. For more information about the Fall Dinner, contact the NCSML at (319) 362-8500.

The Fall Concert Series concludes on Saturday, November 3, with a performance by the Red Cedar Chamber in the NCSML’s Grand Hall at 8:00 p.m. They are opening their fifth season with Quintessentially Czech, a concert of early nineteenth-century trios for flute, viola, and guitar. Tickets are $12.00 and are available at the NCSML. This performance is sponsored by Audrey Linge-Ovel. A reception will follow the concert.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about these and other NCSML programs, contact the NCSML at (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech Beading Classes Offered in October

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is offering two bead work classes in October. Students will have the opportunity to work with imported fire polished Czech glass beads. "Designing and Making Necklaces" is offered October 2 and October 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Students will learn how to select, string, and knot their own necklaces. "Designing and Making Earrings" is offered October 4 and October 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Students will learn how to select, string, and work with headpins. Dawn Hartig of Dawn’s Hide and Bead Away, Iowa City, is teaching all four classes. The classes are limited to 20 people ages 5 and up. Young children must enroll with a parent. Each class has a materials fee of $35.00. For more information, call Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500.

Czechs and Slovaks are known for their bead work skills. Often, these skills are incorporated into their national costumes or kroje. The round, multi-faceted fire polished Czech glass beads have a long history in European jewelry making and are popular in modern accessories.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information about these and upcoming programs, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Sister City Delegates Come to Cedar Rapids

Delegates from Oxford Junction’s sister city, Jilovic, Czech Republic, will visit the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and Czech Village Friday, September 14, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. The delegation includes Vera Jindrova, Mayor of Jilovice and Kojakovice, Czech Republic, Dr. Robert Dulfer and Olga Cerna, co-founders of the Rozmberk Society, and youth representatives Eva Kaplova and Eva Chadtova.

While in the area, their hosts will treat them with a trip to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. The Peasant Museum is located in Kojakovic. This museum is interested in the studying and exhibiting the family histories of emigrants.

"Their primary goal in coming this week is to learn more about what life was like when the emigrants first settled in Iowa," explained Rita Balichek, a Sister City coordinator. Balichek and her daughter, Cortney, visited Jilovic earlier this year and, along with the citizens of Oxford Junction, will host the Jilovic delegates.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech & Slovak Museum Secures Second Exhibit from National Museum in Prague

Rare library artifacts selected lusively for NCSML exhibit.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announces the impending arrival of Roads to Understanding, an exhibit from the library collection of the National Museum in Prague, exclusively assembled for it run in Cedar Rapids.

"We have been working with Chexpo, a Prague-based exhibitions company, for more than three years to develop the right project," explains Dan Baldwin, president/ceo of the NCSML. "About two years ago we settled on a show that illustrates how the printed word has impacted the development of Czech society. Since we both have strong relationships with the National Museum we knew we’d have access to extremely rare material. Portions of this show represent some of the earlierst printed material in Central Europe."

Visitors to Roads to Understanding will have a unique opportunity to see rare and unusual works including numerous bibles, travelogue sketches and journals, prose, letters, songbooks, and various other extraordinary and priceless documents.

Roads to Understanding’s opening will be combined with the museum’s annual Fall Dinner on October 25. Tickets are $35, with all proceeds benefiting the NCSML’s educational programs.

In 1997, the NCSML worked with the National Museum and was one of only two venues in the United States to host A Thousand Years of Czech Culture: Riches from the National Museum in Prague. It brought more than 30,000 visitors to the NCSML. "Comparisons to A Thousand Years are valid," Baldwin says. "Each show will have allowed our visitors to view pieces that are extremely rare and are seldom, if ever, on exhibit in the Czech Republic. It’s as though we had carte blanche with the rare book collection of the Smithsonian."

Founded in 1818 as a scientific society, the National Museum is a collection of collections. In all, some 14 million artifacts of material culture and natural history comprise the five branches of the Museum. In this exhibit are over 70 objects on loan from the National Museum’s varied and impressive library collections.

Chief curator for the exhibition is Petr Mašek, Head Librarian of the National Museum. He and Irena Cudlinová, Exhibit Designer, will travel to Cedar Rapids to work with NCSML curator Carmen Langel to install the exhibition. They will arrive October 18 and stay through the October 25 opening. Mašek was in Cedar Rapids in 1998 to de-install A Thousand Years of Czech Culture. This will be Cudlinová’s first visit to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information, call (319) 362-8500 or consult the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Video Thursdays Continue at the Czech & Slovak Museum

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Sensational Summer continues this month with Video Thursdays, August 23 and August 30 at 6:30 p.m., with the documentaries about Andy Warhol and Madeleine Albright. These free programs will be in the WFLA Heritage Hall and are open to the public.

This summer, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is host to 20th Century Sensations: Czechs, Slovaks, Popular Culture. Andy Warhol’s mother was of Slovak descent. Her interest in traditional Slovak folk art influenced her son’s eventual artistic style. On August 23, the NCSML will show "Andy Warhol" (1987), a biographical film is about one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century.

Madeleine Albright was born in Prague, the daughter of a diplomat and ambassador for Czechoslovakia. In 1948, she and her family fled to the United States where she eventually rose through the ranks to become the first U.S. Secretary of State. On August 30, the NCSML will show "Madeline Albright," a biographical film about the most influential and powerful woman in the history of the U.S. government.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. Thursdays, the NCSML is open from 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sunday hours are noon – 4:00 p.m. For a complete listing of events and exhibitions, please consult the web site, www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Grandson of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis Speaks at NCSML

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Frank Gilbert, grandson of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis Sunday, August 26, 2001. Gilbert will present "Louis Brandeis: The Son of Czech Immigrants Who Became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice" as part of the NCSML’s Life Long Learning Lecture Series. The free program will be in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow. Those planning to attend the reception are asked to please make a reservation with the NCSML by calling (319) 362-8500. For more information, please contact Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500 or via email at jan@ncsml.org. Tom Riley Law Firm, PLC and Guaranty Bank are sponsoring the lecture and reception.

Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis is featured in the NCSML’s summer exhibition, 20th Century Sensations: Czechs, Slovaks, Popular Culture. The son of Czech immigrants was the first (and, to date, only) Czech and first Jew to serve on the Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Wilson in 1916 and served until his retirement in 1939. President Wilson tapped him again and appointed him to a committee where Brandeis worked with the first President of Czechoslovakia, T. G. Masaryk, in drafting Czechoslovakia’s Declaration of Independence. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he continually defended individual rights including the right to privacy. His positions and opinions are widely used today as society tries to deal with issues related to the privacy of medical records and the power of computers and the World Wide Web to record and circulate the details of a person’s life.

Frank Gilbert is a senior field representative with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He works with local governments in many parts of the United States by helping them protect their landmarks and historic districts. He served as executive director of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission an worked for may years on preserving Grand Central Station in Manhattan.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursdays the NCSML is open from 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sunday hours are noon – 4:00 p.m. For a complete listing of events and exhibitions, please consult the web site, www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Swisher (Iowa) Native Lisa Volesky is Crowned Miss Czech-Slovak USA

Lisa Volesky, daughter of Dennis and Debra Volesky, of Swisher, iowa, was crowned the Miss Czech-Slovak USA, Sunday, August 5, 2001 at the 40th Annual Wilber Czech Festival in Wilber, Nebraska. Volesky, a past Czech Princess 1995-1996 for Czech Heritage, represented Iowa and was among 14 young ladies from 13 states including SD, OH, MN, NE, CA, OR, 2 from MO, WI, FL, TX, and OK to participate in the pageant. Contestants are judged on personality, talent, beauty, and costume. Volesky is the first Iowan to be crowned Miss Czech-Slovak USA in 15-year history of the pageant. She is a student at the University of Northern Iowa majoring in biology and education.

Allowed to wear three pieces of an authentic Czech kroj (folk costume), Volesky choose to wear parts of her great-aunt, the late Leona Poduska, kroj and hired a dressmaker to make the rest of the costume. The competition required her to interpret the costume to the judges. As her talent, Volesky choose a dramatic telling of the life of famed entertainer Karel Hasler. Hasler is most famous for his tender and emotional song “Písnicka Ceská” (“Our Czech Song”) and died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1941.

"The competition was really stiff this year. Anybody could have won," commented her proud grandmother, Adeline Volesky.

Volesky competed last year and met Amanda Odvody, a Wilber native, who served as Volesky’s Little Sister. Throughout the year, she and Volesky fostered a strong friendship. When Volesky returned for this year’s competition, Odvody was tapped to be her Little Sister again. Odvody accompanied the Volesky, showed her around the town and got her where she needed to be.

In addition to the crown, flowers and a trophy, Volesky received a scholarship to Florida Gulf State in Ft. Myers to cover a year’s tuition for graduate or undergraduate studies, a trip to the Czech Republic with the travel company Linconnection USA, a compote in the shape of a crown from the Bohemian Crystalware Company from Podebrady, Czech Republic, a $2,000 bond, and necklace and earrings from the Czech Republic. She will be going to a number of Czech festivals throughout her reign and will be a hostess at next year’s Czech Festival in Wilber. She will also crown next year’s queen.

Wilber, located 32 miles southwest of Lincoln, has the largest Czech population in Nebraska. Czech pioneers came to Wilber in the 1850s. In 1986, Governor Frank Morrison named Wilber the Czech Capital of Nebraska. U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky of Nebraska passed a proclamation on the floor of the U.S. Senate proclaiming Wilber to be the Czech Capital of the United States. Nebraska has the highest percentage of people claiming Czech ancestry in the nation; Iowa is second.

In 1961, a group of businessmen organized a festival to preserve the Czech customs and traditions of their Czech ancestors. The small community of 1,500 plays host to 20,000 – 30,000 visitors who come to the community to celebrate their Czech heritage. One of the main events of the festival is a Miss Czech-Slovak National Queen Pageant.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Learn How to Grow a Czech Garden at the Czech & Slovak Museum

Learn at Lunch at National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Master Gardener Debi McCullough, Thursday, August 16, 2001. The free program titled "How Does Your ‘Czech’ Garden Grow" will be at noon in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch and learn about the types of plants and trees they could expect to find in a Czech garden.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, call (319) 362-8500 or visit the NCSML web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech & Slovak Museum Offers Porcelain Painting Class

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will hold a porcelain painting class celebrating the rich history of this artistic medium. The class is offered to adults, ages 15 and up. Reservations are required by August 6th and the class size is limited to 15 students. The three-part class will meet Tuesdays, August 7, 14, and 21 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. Local porcelain artist JoAnne Neff is the instructor. The cost is $20.00 per student. Students will learn how to paint on porcelain and will be able to take their creations home with them. For more information or to enroll in the class, contact Jan Stoffer Tursi, Program Coordinator, at (319) 362-8500.

While porcelain factories in Czechoslovakia commonly employed decorators, students will learn how decorating porcelain became an acceptable way for women to creatively express themselves. This medium not only offered women the means to earn money on their own in the late-1800s but also gave them another way to socialize. For example, porcelain painting clubs were formed throughout the United States in order to promote artistic standards and the art of decorating porcelain.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, call (319) 362-8500 or refer to the web site at www.ncsml.org. .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Freud and Popular Culture Lecture at the NCSML

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Dr. Jacob Sines, University of Iowa, and his presentation "Freud’s Influence on Popular Culture? In His Dreams!" Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m. The free presentation will be held in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall.

World-renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud was born in Moravia, a region of the Czech Republic. At the age of four, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. Freud studied medicine, specializing in neuropathology. In 1897, he published Studies in Hysteria, documenting a therapy called the "talking cure." He continued to pursue other mental and psychological illnesses and became a leading figure in the field of psychology. He developed controversial theories about sexuality and dreams. His impact on medicine and human nature is present to this day spawning debates about the validity of his theories.

Sines recently retired from the University of Iowa after 29 years of teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Child and Adult Psychopathology, Personality, and Psychological Testing. His research areas included genetic influences on stress-tolerance, genetic factors in child and adult behavior disorders, and measurement and assessment of family environment as it relates to children’s behavior patterns. Freud’s theoretical and clinical work has influenced developments in all of those fields, as well as exerting a pervasive influence on 20th century culture. Sines will discuss some of the major contributions that Freud’s thinking has made in a variety of areas, as well as some of the continuing controversies about his ideas.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, please call (319) 362-8500 or refer to the web site at www.ncsml.org.

NCSML Hosts the Czech Heritage Singers Aug. 5

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will kick off the 2001-2002 Muzika Muzika (Music Music) concert series with the Czech Heritage Singers, Sunday August 5 at 2:00 p.m. The free concert will be held in the Grand Hall.

Muzika Muzika (Music Music) showcases area vocal, orchestral, ensemble, and concert talent. Ensembles perform at least two Czech or Slovak songs.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, please call (319) 362-8500 or refer to the web site at www.ncsml.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2001
CONTACT: Patty Hikiji at 319-362-8500 or phikiji@ncsml.org

Prepare for Christmas in July at the National Czech & Slovak Museum

"Shop ‘Till You Drop – Christmas Markets in Prague" will be presented by Joyce Langlas at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Learn at Lunch program. This free and fun program will be Thursday, July 26, 2001 at noon in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch and experience the sights and sounds of the Christmas season in Prague. Listeners will take a trip through the Christmas markets, discover the best time to plan a trip, the best places to shop, what kinds of merchandise you can expect to find, and tips on how to get your treasures safely home.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech & Slovak Museum Offers Summer Class for Middle School Scholars

Can you tell tales of the past through photographs, books, and buildings?

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is offering a special summer class for middle school students to learn just that! Ethnic Adventures will introduce young scholars to the historic Czech neighborhood of Cedar Rapids. Youths will conduct surveys and recreate this culturally diverse neighborhood.

This course is for sixth through ninth graders. Class size is limited to 15; pre-registration is required. The class is offered Monday and Tuesday, July 16 and 17, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The fee is $35.00 for members and $45.00 for non-members. Contact Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500 to enroll or for more information.

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Celebrates the Career of Czech Sensation Miloš Forman

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Sensational Summer kicks off with Miloš Forman Video Thursdays June 28 at 6:30 p.m. with the documentary "The Directors. Miloš Forman" (2000). This free program will be in the WFLA Heritage Hall and is open to the public.

Forman is one of the greatest directors of the 20th century. Born in Caslav, Czechoslovakia, Forman began his career in 1963 with his first feature film, "Black Peter." In 1965, he was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar for his "Loves of a Blond," putting him at the forefront of his country’s film industry. His "The Fireman’s Ball" (1968) was also critically acclaimed. He came to the United States in 1970 and became a citizen in 1975.

Forman’s hit film, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" (1975) earned several Academy Awards including an Oscar for Best Director. He won a second Oscar for Best Director for his 1984 film "Amadeus." He has had success with his subsequent movies including "Hair" (1979), "The People vs. Larry Flynt," and "Man on the Moon" (1999).

Currently, the NCSML is exhibiting movie scripts and photographs from "Hair," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," and "Amadeus" in the exhibition 20th Century Sensations: Czechs * Slovaks * Popular Culture. The NCSML will be showing the following Forman videos at 6:30 p.m. in the WFLA Heritage Hall:

¤ July 5, 2001: "The Competition" (1963). Czech with English subtitiles. Free.

¤ July 12, 2001: "Loves of a Blonde" (1965). Czech with English subtitles. Free.

¤ July 19, 2001: "The Fireman’s Ball" (1968). Czech with English subtitles. Free.

¤ July 26, 2001: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" (1975). In English. Free.

¤ Aug. 9, 2001: "Hair" (1979). In English. Free.

¤ Aug. 16, 2001: "Amadeus" (1984). In English. Free.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, contact Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Olympic Medals, Pop Art, Letters from Freud and Lunar Sample Featured in 20th Century Sensations Exhibition of Popular Culture

Exhibition to Open at National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library May 24

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (May 8, 2001) – International cultural icons from the 20th century are being featured in a new, one-of-a-kind exhibition that opens May 24 at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

One of those icons is the last person to walk on the moon. Another won Wimbledon nine times. Yet another is revered as the father of pop art in the 1960s. Who are they and what do they have in common? They are astronaut Eugene Cernan, tennis star Martina Navratilova and artist Andy Warhol, and they are all of Czech or Slovak descent.

20th Century Sensations: Czechs – Slovaks – Popular Culture is an exhibit that features more than 30 individuals who have shaped our contemporary culture.

"As a national museum we wanted to explore the lives of famous Czechs and Slovaks by bringing together a unique collection of personal items that exemplify their remarkable contributions to our society," Dan Baldwin, president and CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, said.

Some of the other figures featured in the exhibit include:

psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, writer Franz Kafka, baseball great Stan Musial, McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, Czech Republic president Vaclav Havel and hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita.

"This is the first time such a large collection of personal memorabilia from 20th century Czech and Slovak personalities has appeared in one place," Baldwin added.

An abbreviated list of some of the items on display includes:

The exhibition runs through September 23.

A ticket to 20th Century includes admission to Homelands: The Story of the Czech & Slovak People, the museum’s permanent exhibition. Homelands is a multi-media exploration of the lives, celebrations and travails of these European peoples.

This exhibition includes a multitude of artifacts, as well as insights into the lives of Czech and Slovak people from the days of Slavic tribes wandering into Central Europe through the Velvet Divorce of 1993.

Sections of Homelands, such as Arts and Letters, Three Struggles for Freedom, and Immigration and Acculturation, profile historical figures, artistic achievements and the political accomplishments of the Czechs and Slovaks.

"The primary appeal of Homelands is its ability to simultaneously invoke a look back at another place and time, while reminding us of the very reason there is a National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids," explained Baldwin. It is due to the great migration of the Czechs and Slovaks to the U.S. and the understanding of those immigrants of the importance of retaining their ethnic identity.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library was founded in 1974. Its modern facility on the banks of the Cedar River was dedicated on October 21, 1995 by Presidents Bill Clinton, Vaclav Havel (Czech Republic) and Michal Kovac (Slovakia). The institution houses the largest museum-held collection of kroje (national costumes) outside the Czech and Slovak Republics.

The museum is located in the center of Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village, one of Iowa˘ s most distinctive ethnic enclaves, where authentic Czech food is available and Czech culture remains vibrant and alive.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

101 Artists Exhibit Comes to Czech & Slovak Museum, May 24

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host a 101: Czech Artists of the Post-Revolution Decade. This special photographic exhibition opens May 24, 2001. Photographer Chad Evans Wyatt introduces visitors to some of the most influential people of the 20th century through his dynamic photographs. The 40 photographs feature three generations of artists who are defining Czech culture through movies, books, sculpture, paintings, and music; their influence is even sensed in the United States. Admission to this special exhibition is included with the regular admission price of the museum galleries.

For a decade following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Wyatt took portraits of artists at work in the Czech Republic. His images of musicians, writers, actors, painters, and photographers are startling and evocative, revealing the subject’s character as well as Wyatt’s compositional skill with camera and film. This travelling exhibition has already received rave reviews in Prague, Czech Republic and in Washington, D.C.

Wyatt will lead visitors on a guided tour of his work on May 24 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. At 11:00 a.m., he will sign copies of his book, 101: Artists in the Czech Republic.

This exhibition complements the other major exhibition opening on May 24, 20th Century Sensations. Like Sensations, 101: Czech Artists examines individuals and their achievements, focusing on people whose accomplishments will transcend time and have an effect well into the 21st century.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

In the Mood for Mushrooms? Morel Program at the NCSML

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Learn at Lunch series this month will feature Lenora Watson and her knowledge of the Morchella eschulenta, the morel mushroom. In her presentation, "Houby Daze," Watson will give tips on how to find it, pick it, clean it, and eat it.

The free program is Thursday, May 17, 2001 in the WFLA Heritage Hall at noon. Attendees are welcome to bring a sack lunch and enjoy the program. With the big Houby Day celebration starting the next day, this program is sure to get you in the mood for mushrooms!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NCSML Kicks Off 24th Annual Houby Days Celebration May 18

Houby Days is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. This year’s celebration, the 24th annual, will be held May 18, 19, and 20, 2001. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will be participating by offering $1 off all admissions to the galleries all weekend to those wearing red or knowing what a houby (the Czech word for mushroom) is. The festivities kick off with A Taste of Czech & Slovak. The Museum Guild of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library invites you to indulge in their favorite Czech & Slovak foods. A great way to get into the flavor of Houby Days weekend!! The Taste will be Friday, May 18, 2001, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the WFLA Heritage Hall. Ticket prices are $5 for 20 samples or 4 samples for $1.

Throughout the school year, students and teachers have worked on projects about the people of the Czech and Slovak Republics. The NCSML is proud to have been a part of these award-winning endeavors. The public will have an opportunity to see what these young people have accomplished this year in a special, temporary exhibition of these projects from Pierce Elementary, McKinley Middle School, and Prairie Middle School in the South Hall. Admission to this special, limited exhibition is free. The exhibition will be available to the public only over Houby Days weekend.

Saturday, the NCSML will host Pine Wilson, folk dancer. Come on down and learn some Czech and Slovak folk dancing, including the Maypole dance. This free activity will be in the NCSML Garden at 10:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500.

The NCSML Garden Stage will be the setting for a fun and unique contest. Bring your lawn chairs and join the fun at the button accordion contest Saturday at noon. You will have a unique opportunity to hear this wonderful Czech instrument played by masters. For more information or to register, contact Dorothy Simanek at (319) 448-4177.

The NCSML will also host a car show. The show will be located in the NCSML parking lot and will be open to the public Saturday only from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Two Star Detective at (319) 364-0001.

A quilt and needlework show will be held in the WFLA Heritage Hall on Saturday and Sunday from noon – 4:00 p.m. To register or for more information, contact The Wooden Spool at (319) 286-8773.

Join us at the NCSML for a Parade of Kroje Sunday at 2:30 p.m. or following the parade. The NCSML Garden Stage will feature the colorful costumes of the Czech and Slovak Republics. If you have a kroj and would like to participate, contact Patricia Hikiji at (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Decorate Eggs the Czech & Slovak Way April 7

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is sponsoring two egg decorating classes Saturday, April 7, 2001. Master Folk Artist Marj Nejdl will teach students how to decorate eggs with a wax relief method known as Batik from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Frank Novotny will teach students to decorate eggs with straw and wheat from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The fee is $20.00 per class. All materials will be provided. Both classes will meet in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. Classes are limited to 15 people each, ages 14 and older; pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Nejdl has been decorating eggs for many years and is a noted master of the Batik style, a very time honored Czech and Slovak egg decorating tradition. The Batik method involves the repeat application of wax and dye to create a colorfully decorated egg.

Frank Novotny will teach students to decorate eggs with straw and wheat from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Wheat and straw are often used in Czech and Slovak folk arts. Students will learn about traditional patterns and shapes used in decorating eggs.

At the end of class, students will be allowed to take their finished projects home.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information or to enroll, contact Jan Stoffer Tursi at (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NATO Expert to Speak at Czech & Slovak Museum, Thursday March 1

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Life Long Learning Series will host Pavel Cernoch, Thursday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. Cernoch will present “NATO and Its Effect on the Czech Republic.” This free lecture will be held in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. The NCSML’s History and Culture Conference is this weekend and will feature an Ambassador’s Forum. Cernoch’s Life Long Learning lecture will introduce forum attendees to NATO and its role in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Cernoch brings his familiarity with and first-hand knowledge of the Czech Republic’s experience with NATO to NCSML for this month’s Life Long Learning Series program.

An expert on public and global policies, Cernoch is an Assistant Professor, Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Charles University, Czech Republic. He is a lecturer in the political science department teaching European Integration and European Union Enlargement, Public Administration Reform and EU policies. This year, he is a visiting professor at the Department of Political Science of Grinnell College. From 1995-1999, he was the Programme Officer at the Delegation of the European Commission (Institution Building Section) for Phare Human Resource Development Programmes, Public Administration Reform and EU Information Strategy in the Czech Republic. From 1998-1999, he held an honorary position on the Co-ordination Committee of the Czech-German Discussion Forum.

Cernoch’s presentation will serve as an introduction and provide background information for those wishing to attend the Ambassadors’ Forum: "How NATO Has Impacted the Czech Republic and What Steps Slovakia Must Take for Entry. The Struggles of Entering the European Union" on Saturday, March 3. His Excellency Martin Bútora, Ambassador of Slovakia to the United States, and His Excellency Alexandr Vondra, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States will participate.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information about this program, the History and Culture Conference, or the Ambassador’s Forum, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Chicago Folk Trio to Perform at Czech & Slovak Museum

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Chicago’s European folk music trio MOST (translation: ‘bridge’ in every Slavic language) will perform a concert of traditional Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak folk music at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library on Sunday March 4 at 1:30 p.m. The performance will be held in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. Admission is $3 for members of the NCSML and $6 for non-members.

MOST was founded in 1999 by clarinetist Marc Smierciak and accordionist Mazurka Wojciechowska, two classically trained folk musicians passionate about Central and East European traditional music. Their repertoire has grown from a handful of dance tunes from Poland and the Balkan nations to nearly 300 folk songs and dance tunes from Austria, Belarus, Bohemia, Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Lusatia, Macedonia, Moravia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Thanks to their classical training (both studied at the American Conservatory of Music), they bring a polish and refinement to music often and unfairly considered "unsophisticated."

In reality, much of the music MOST plays is very elegant. Unusual phrasing and chords, giving the tunes a haunting, exotic quality, characterize their repertoire from Moravia, the eastern half of the Czech Republic. The subject matter ranges from pastoral romantic ballads to raucous drinking songs. MOST will also present tunes from Bohemia, the western half of the Czech Republic, where the music (usually polkas and waltzes) tend to be simpler and more tuneful, though very appealing. After all, great composers such as Leoš Janácek and Antonín Dvorák were inspired by Moravian and Bohemian folk music, respectively.

In July 2000, MOST toured Western and Central Slovakia. The folk music and dances from these regions, particularly Western Slovakia) are less familiar than those of Eastern Slovakia (Šariš), but are certainly as lively and exciting. MOST is particularly fond of the music from Myjava, a town situated close to the border with Moravia. MOST will present well researched and dazzling array of tunes from many parts of Slovakia.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 – 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Building a Community of Reader’s Month Kicks Off at Czech & Slovak Museum

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is proud to host the first event of Building a Community of Reader’s Month. Jo Stone will be telling Czech and Slovak stories on March 1, from 7:00 –8:00 p.m. under the chandelier in the Grand Hall. Stone will return to the NCSML on March 22 to tell more stories from 7:00 – 8:00p.m.

Participants are encouraged to come in their favorite pajamas and enjoy this magical experience. These events are free and open to the public.

On March 15, Stone will be taking listeners around the world with stories including: Kuratko, a Czech tale of a rooster, The Goat and the Chili Patch, Roly Poly Rice Ball, The Bathtub Cure, and Kurplunk! She uses props and encourages audience participation.

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

National Czech & Slovak Museum Curator to Speak About Heirloom Care

Carmen Langel, curator for the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, will present “Caring for Your Heirlooms” at NCSML’s Learn at Lunch program, February 21. This free program will be in the WFLA Heritage Hall at noon. Attendees are invited to bring along a sack lunch, learn how museums care for their collections and ask questions about the care and preservation of your treasured possessions.

Langel has worked in museums for over ten years and has been the curator for the NCSML for four years. In that time, she has curated exhibits from the Czech and Slovak Republics and created original exhibitions including Czech Technology in Motion, Formal Settings: Decorated Porcelain of Bohemia, and A National Collection: Celebrating the Artifacts and Archives of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the current temporary exhibition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

“Bricks, Mortar, and the Countryside: Slovak Architecture and Image of Nature” Opens at the NCSML in February

Opening February 22, 2001, Bricks, Mortar, and the Countryside: Slovak Architecture and Image of Nature is a special exhibition by photojournalist Lil Junas. Junas is of Slovak descent; all four of her grandparents emigrated from Slovakia in the 1880s. She was born in the Slovak community of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, also known for its rich anthracite coal deposits.

Junas earned two journalism degrees from Penn State University and a Ph.D. in educational communications and photographics from Ohio State University. Over the past 35 years, she has worked for newspapers, taught at eight universities and colleges., and freelanced in many countries, including Slovakia, Ecuador, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria. Her experience in Slovakia also includes a year teaching English. She currently teaches in the communication arts department at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Bricks, Mortar, and the Countryside reflects Junas’s pleasure in photographing culture, architecture and nature. She says, “Traveling has been one exciting facet of my life. Sharing lifestyles with people. Finding designs of nature while hiking through the woods. Observing panoramas of life, from mountain landscapes to stretches of cornfields. The challenge is always to say something with my photographs.”

Visitors can enjoy Lil Junas’ beautiful photographs of Slovakia at the NCSML February 22-May 13, 2001. This exhibition is supported by the Iowa Arts Council.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NCSML Exhibit Runs Feb. 8 – April 22, 2001

 CEDAR RAPIDS - The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library opens the exhibit, National Collection: Celebrating the Artifacts and Archives of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, February 8, 2001. Intended to celebrate the national scope and the increasing depth of the institution’s collections, National Collection will reveal more than 100 artifacts and archival materials, including many never exhibited before, and some that were locally donated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech Composer to Be Featured at NCSML Concert, Feb. 10

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Duo Talisman for a special February 10, 2001 performance. The concert, "Tribute to Andrei Sychra (1773-1850), Bohemian Composer in Russia," will feature the works of this remarkable guitarist in celebration of the 150th anniversary of his death. The Saturday performance is free and open to the public and will be held in the WFLA Heritage Hall at 1:30 p.m.

Duo Talisman consists of two artists; Anne Harley, soprano, and Oleg Timofeyev, Russian seven-string guitar. Harley is a specialist in baroque music and an avid proponent of contemporary and experimental works. She is currently touring a soloist with a chamber group devoted to Baroque women composers called La Donna Musicale and is a soprano and soloist for Schola Cantorum of Boston. Timofeyev is originally from Moscow, currently living in Iowa City, where he teaches at the University of Iowa. His interest in the seven-string guitar led him to Andrei Sychra (1773-1850). He is currently working on an all-Sychra recording to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death. Both artists perform internationally.

Timofeyev and Harley formed the group, Duo Talisman, in 2000. Their first project is structured around an 1833 manuscript compiled by Sychra, a Bohemian composer who lived in St. Petersburg and is considered to be the founder of the Russian seven-string guitar tradition. Sychra collected the 42 most popular songs and romansy of his time and arranged them with guitar accompaniment; in addition to arrangements, Sychra composed original works. Duo Talisman will bring this program to NCSML in February.

The Duo Talisman concert is free. Admission to the new temporary exhibition A Nation’s Collection: Artifacts and Archives of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is included in the museum’s regular admission price. Museum members are admitted free. Admission for nonmembers is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (65 and over), and $2 for children ages 5-16. Children under 5 with an adult companion are free. Children and teenagers are admitted free on Sundays with a paying adult. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Linn-Mar School Orchestras Perform at Czech & Slovak Museum

The fifth installment of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s program, Muzika Muzika (Music Music), will feature the Linn-Mar Middle School and Linn-Mar High School Chamber II Orchestras. The free performance will be Saturday, January 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. This will mark the first Muzika Muzika program in which two schools perform.

The Linn-Mar Middle School Orchestra, under the direction of Joshua Reznicow, will perform Antonin Dvorák’s “Three Slavonic Dances,” Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto in G,” and William Hofledt’s “Twilight Ceremonial.” The Linn-Mar High School Chamber II, directed by Jerry Henry, will play Antonin Dvorák’s “Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, #1,” Mozart’s “Menuette and Trio from Symphony #39,” and Handel’s “Saraband.” Both groups will perform the “Czech Folk Song Suite.”

The museum is located at 30 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

NCSML Hosts Lecture Recital About the International Dvorak Festival

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s Life Long Learning Series will feature Dr. Sarah Meredith presenting "Dvorák’s Legacy Lives on in Karlovy Vary.” The free lecture recital will be Sunday, January 28 at 2:00 p.m. in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall.

Last fall, Meredith of Iowa State University took a group of vocal music students from ISU and the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay to the 35th International Antonin Dvorák Competition in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. She has attended the competition as a juror and choir sponsor. ISU student Coeli Monnig will present her impressions and experiences as a first-time performer. Attendees will also be treated to the vocal performance given at the competition.

Dvorák holds a special place in the hearts of Iowa Czechs. He visited the state and lived in Spillville for several months.

The museum is located at 30 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

January 14th Lecture on Travel Tips, Last Day for Porcelain Exhibition

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host Mark Vasko-Bigaouette Sunday, January 14 at 2:00 p.m. in Heritage Hall. The free program is titled "Finding Your Roots in the Czech & Slovak Republics: What to Do, What to Expect, Tips and Suggestions."

Vasko-Bigaouette is the founder of the CzechoSlovak Genealogical Society International located in Minnesota. He has given several presentations at NCSML in the past and attendees have always found the information very useful. This program is a must for anyone planning or considering a trip to the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Also, January 14 is the last day to see the popular exhibition Formal Settings: Decorated Porcelain of Bohemia. The never-before-seen exhibition of over 250 pieces of fine china from the private collection of Dr. James D. Henderson has delighted many visitors this holiday season.

"Formal Settings is an exhibit any visitor can relate to," states curator Carmen Langel. "Nearly everyone finds one or two pieces similar to dishes their parents or grandparents had in their house."

The exhibition is comprised of a wide variety of functional and decorative porcelain. All types of plates, salt and peppers, cups and saucers, dresser sets, perfume bottles, salt dips, and vases are displayed. The exhibit also includes a toast holder, orange bowl, and a lidded condensed milk jar with underplate. And, visitors can learn the difference between tea, coffee, and chocolate pots. The pieces are gilded, hand-painted, transfer ware, or any combination. Pieces have been adorned with Art Deco Egyptian motifs, birds, flowers, or, of all things, fish!

The museum is located at 30 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA. Museum members are admitted free to the museum exhibits. Admission for non-members is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (65 and over), and $2 for children ages 5-16. Children under 5 with an adult companion are free. Children and teenagers are admitted free on Sundays with a paying adult. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2001
CONTACT: Jan Stoffer Tursi at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org

Czech & Slovak Museum Offers Porcelain Painting Class

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will hold a porcelain painting class celebrating the rich history of this artistic medium. The class is offered to adults, ages 15 and up. Reservations are required by January 23rd and the class size is limited to 15 students. The two-part class will meet Tuesday, January 30 and Thursday, February 1 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the museum’s WFLA Heritage Hall. Local porcelain artist JoAnne Neff is the instructor. The cost is $15.00 per student. Students will learn how to paint on porcelain and will be able to take their creations home with them. For more information or to enroll in the class, contact Jan Stoffer Tursi, Program Coordinator, at (319) 362-8500.

While porcelain factories in Czechoslovakia commonly employed decorators, visitors will learn how decorating porcelain became an acceptable way for women to creatively express themselves. This medium not only offered women the means to earn money on their own in the late-1800s but also gave them another way to socialize. For example, porcelain painting clubs were formed throughout the United States in order to promote artistic standards and the art of decorating porcelain.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call (319) 362-8500.

For additional information about press releases, contact
Jan Stoffer Tursi, Museum Educator & Program Coordinator, at 319-362-8500 or jan@ncsml.org
 
 
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The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
30 - 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5904
Phone: 319-362-8500 · Fax: 319-363-2209
 
This page was updated May 05, 2005