Join artist, Sonya Darrow for a presentation about her Czech heritage project: Stezky/Pathways 11:00AM on April 23rd at the Presbyterian Church near Ely, 11100 Spanish Road Ely, Iowa 52227 Do you have a story to share? The artist is seeking materials to complete the art inspired by Czech settlements & their cultural heritage. 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. Please come to the event in Ely to take part in the Stezky/Pathways project!
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This piece of wood is connected to the heart of the "Bohemie Alps" near Vining, Iowa. I used the wood to create a sound capsule for the landscape of this region, which inspired Czech settlers to begin their life in the 'new world'.
Over the next few months, I will collect field recordings around farms and along the Turkey River. These recordings will become one of my sound compositions along with being part of a sound archive at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library. This wood piece will be used in the project's exhibition to present a different format in the way we might think about our soundscape - how does it impact us or in this case, how did it impact Czech settlers? The Czech composer Dvorak was often seen sitting along the Turkey River near Spillville; writing about the sounds he heard and conversations with other Czech settlers about their experiences in the 'new world'. Iowa's landscape and bird sounds were a great inspiration for his compositions such as String Quartet in F Major and String Quartet in E Flat - much controversy surrounds whether or not it was his stay in Iowa that Dvorak created all or some of the famous "New World" symphony. Either way, Dvorak felt at home in Iowa - his spouts of homesickness were quickly cured when he visited other Czech communities across Iowa. If you have any field recordings or would like to take part in the project, please contact me: [email protected] - I'm looking for more farms to document along with any personal stories about Czech heritage. This is a shoe stand. Now, it is a 'keeper of tradition'.
I've been working in studio on an instrument, which will hold the sounds of a headdress. The sound portion of my project will be displayed mostly in the library and media rooms at the National Czech & Slovak Museum; interacting with the archive and preserving new source material for future generations. Some of these source materials include collecting the Czech dialect in Iowa - if you know someone, who still speaks Czech please contact me. I feel it is important to capture the current state of the language, which is unique - often, it is an old form of the present-day language. April 1st The Stezky/Pathways project has officially started with meetings in Clutier & Vining.... More info soon about events and exhibitions across Czech-American communities in Iowa ))
At the St. Joseph's Day parade, I wore a headdress made within 72hrs of being back in Cedar Rapids. It is composed of items collected on the ground along with items from interactions with people. One of the items is connected to the first sound for my Stezky/Pathways project: Jan from Czech Village Antiques, who counts in Czech while she walks the mall for exercise - it is her way to connect with the culture...So, later in the project you will hear what a headdress sounds like... ;)
I can officially announce….I have been awarded by the Iowa Arts Council / National Endowment for the Arts for my project Stezky / Pathways: mapping the invisible landscape of Czech settlements across Iowa in Spring/Summer 2017. Juppiiii (yuppyy) !!!! This project is also in partnership with National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
First, I would especially like to thank my mentors & supporters at the National Czech & Slovak Museum both the staff, but also the heart of the institution - volunteers, guild members and patrons - all of whom guided me over the years (since I was a little girl) and one of whom we lost the other week, Lillian Kopecky. Lilian gave me a Gazette newspaper from the 80s titled “Keepers of Tradition” and told me that I am one of them - from one keeper to another - I continue the torch as a keeper for my generation & for those who follow…So, here’s to 2017 - journey across Iowa…AND back to the homeland of the Czech Republic for part II of the project ))) I will be posting about my journey, which includes the process of my art practice as researcher and heirloom caretaker of sorts. If you have any questions or suggestions about contacts for Czechs in Iowa, please e-mail me: [email protected] ... more soon / více se dozvíte později |
Sonya Darrowartist-teacher/heirloom caretaker/community organizer ArchivesCategories |