Arts&Ideas

In the 1920's-30's, Art Deco was a very popular design movement. It was a conglomerate of many styles, deriving from Cubism, Art Nouveau, Futurism, Modernism, and Bauhaus.

A new exhibition devoted to five centuries of Krakow history will be open for viewing at the city?s Historical Museum on Rynek Glowny from June 5.

Last year, local artist Professor Lilla Kulka submitted a proposal to the Krakow Division of the Polish Artists and Designers Association to organize an tapestry exhibition. The result was the launch of the International Festival of Artistic Tapestry.

Magdalena Abakanowicz was born June 20, 1930 in Falenty near Warsaw. She was educated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw between 1950 and 1954. In 1965, she took the position of professor at the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Poznan (now the Academy of Fine Arts) and worked there until 1990.

Father Leon Knabit, a preacher, writer and television personality, who lives in the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, is one of Poland?s best known monks. Those who watched his TV programs, "Father Leon?s Invitation," "Salomon" and "Credo," appreciated his open-mindedness, frankness and humor. In 1998 he published his first book, "Stairs to Heaven." The next year he wrote the first section of the famous book "Meetings With Uncle Karol." The section dealt with his friendship with the Pope. He has also written many other books about spiritual subjects. And he has written two children?s books.

Jarosław Smietana is one of the premiere jazz musicians in Poland and one of the top guitar players in all of Europe. The Krakow native graduated from the Jazz School in neighboring Katowice.

In the evening these days the Old City resounds with jazz from club after club. So it's hard to believe that not so long ago, during Stalin's time, this music was forbidden in Poland. The authorities banned it on grounds that "it was created by the imperialists."

In May, 50 photo exhibitions will be held as part of the fifth annual Photomonth in Krakow. The most unique among them is Aneta Grzeszykowska?s ?Portraits.? What distinguishes her exhibition from the others is that the subjects of her portraits never existed.

Remembrance is the latest release by the phenomenal Krakow Klezmer Band. Recorded at the Polish National Radio Concert Studio in Warsaw in 2005, the album sums up their 10 years together while marking the end of the Krakow Klezmer Band.

The Manggha Center of Japanese Art and Technology has prepared a two-course feast for all admirers of modern architecture. In the following week, two lectures will be delivered as part of the series,"What is Architecture?"