Czech-American regionalism in Iowa: mapping the landscape through objects, sounds and folklore:
Stezky / Pathways is an art project created by Sonya Darrow and in partnership with the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library (NCSML). The artist will explore pathways across Iowa inspired by Czech settlements; mapping the cultural landscape through objects, sounds & folklore. The project will create a wider narrative on Czech-American identity through artwork inspired by each community’s cultural heritage. Sonya will use her own identity “(319)Czech” to engage these communities through presentations that inspire & cultivate the importance of heritage. Each community will take part in the artist’s work through planned events: April - June. The result will be an exhibition at the NCSML on June 24th along with a book that documents Sonya’s journey across Iowa.
The pathway will start in Spring 2017 at the artist’s heritage site (88 19th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids) and continue to locations across Iowa including Vining, Clutier, Chelsea, Tama, Protivin, Spillville & Ely/Solon. The project will engage rural communities; dealing also with the land between them, which inspired Czech settlers (Bohemie Alps of Vining & Czech Trail). The project involves sites impacted by the 2008 floods & spaces that no longer have the physical structures or movement of people, so the artist will engage/intervene with the lost heritage sites to create new storylines/pathways; forming dialogue about the past with the current state of cultural heritage. The project will also be composed of sound explorations that will be made into an archive based on the soundscape of land, interviews & the Czech dialect in Iowa.
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Do you have a story to share? The artist is seeking materials to complete the art inspired by the settlements. These donated materials can represent your Czech identity; ranging from textiles to everyday objects. Sonya will also record stories about Czech heritage and those who still speak the Czech language.
Exhibition opens June 24th at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library
Contact the artist: [email protected]
Find out more about the artist: Sonya Darrow
Stezky / Pathways is a partnership with artist, Sonya Darrow and the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library. Support for Stezky / Pathways is provided by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Stezky / Pathways is an art project created by Sonya Darrow and in partnership with the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library (NCSML). The artist will explore pathways across Iowa inspired by Czech settlements; mapping the cultural landscape through objects, sounds & folklore. The project will create a wider narrative on Czech-American identity through artwork inspired by each community’s cultural heritage. Sonya will use her own identity “(319)Czech” to engage these communities through presentations that inspire & cultivate the importance of heritage. Each community will take part in the artist’s work through planned events: April - June. The result will be an exhibition at the NCSML on June 24th along with a book that documents Sonya’s journey across Iowa.
The pathway will start in Spring 2017 at the artist’s heritage site (88 19th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids) and continue to locations across Iowa including Vining, Clutier, Chelsea, Tama, Protivin, Spillville & Ely/Solon. The project will engage rural communities; dealing also with the land between them, which inspired Czech settlers (Bohemie Alps of Vining & Czech Trail). The project involves sites impacted by the 2008 floods & spaces that no longer have the physical structures or movement of people, so the artist will engage/intervene with the lost heritage sites to create new storylines/pathways; forming dialogue about the past with the current state of cultural heritage. The project will also be composed of sound explorations that will be made into an archive based on the soundscape of land, interviews & the Czech dialect in Iowa.
//////
Do you have a story to share? The artist is seeking materials to complete the art inspired by the settlements. These donated materials can represent your Czech identity; ranging from textiles to everyday objects. Sonya will also record stories about Czech heritage and those who still speak the Czech language.
Exhibition opens June 24th at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library
Contact the artist: [email protected]
Find out more about the artist: Sonya Darrow
Stezky / Pathways is a partnership with artist, Sonya Darrow and the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library. Support for Stezky / Pathways is provided by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.