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Czech artists probe questions of identity, home |
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Deanna Woolf |
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Nov 1, 2005 |
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Public lectures and an artists' symposium will take place as part of "Cultural Domestication — Instinctual Desire," an exhibit of contemporary Czech art at the Center for the Visual Arts Gallery Nov. 4-Dec. 31.
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| “Pincushion (daily voodoo)” by Jirí Cernicky |
JirĂ CernickĂ˝, Milena Dopitová, Zdena Kolecková, Alena Kotzmannová, Jan Mancuska and JirĂ PrĂhoda will show their photography, installations, stitched figures, paintings and video works during the exhibit.
Debra Davis, UT associate professor of art and exhibit curator, said the show is focused on "cultural exchange — what defines us, what makes us different ... I hope people find similarities through the exhibit and talking to the artists ... to see there's a voice we share, but it's slightly different," she said.
Some examples of work from the exhibit include Cernický's "Pincushion (daily voodoo)," fabric figures of Prague residents that are pricked with red string to symbolize blood; Dopitová's "Sixtysomething," a video work on aging; and Kotzmannová's "Diamond Valley," photographs of New York City's diamond district at night.
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| “Diamond Valley III" by Alena Kotzmannová |
There also is a special series of public lectures planned to coincide with the event. Speakers, topics, dates and locations are:
• Dopitová on "Sixtysomething," Wednesday, Nov. 2, 12:10 p.m. in the CVA Gallery;
• Dr. Andrew Hershberger, assistant professor of art history at Bowling Green State University, on "Cultural Domestication and Instinctual Desire in Czech Photography," Thursday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. in the CVA Haigh Auditorium;
• Kolecková and Kotzmannová on "Lá Beaute Visible Series" and the "Classic Series," Friday, Nov. 4, noon, Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St.; and
• Dr. Michal Kolecek, director of history and theory in the art department at J.E. Purkyne University, on "Cultural Exchanges — Experiencing Learning Abroad," Monday, Nov. 7, 12:10 p.m. in the CVA Gallery.
There also will be a special conference-style symposium with some of the artists and Kolecek on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Check www.cd-idczechart.utoledo.edu/events.html for details.
CVA Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be an opening reception for the exhibit on Friday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m.
For more information on the free, public lectures and exhibit, visit the Web site at awww.CD-IDCzechArt.utoledo.edu or call the art department at 419.530.8300.
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| “Lá Beaute Visible Series” by Zdena Kolecková |
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