Register Forgot Password?
  
  • Font size
  • Increase font size
  • Decrease font size
  • Default font size
Member Area  
Home arrow Culture arrow Events arrow Towards Freedom
Towards Freedom
PrintPrint E-mailE-mail A+ | A- | Reset Font Size
Written by Aneta Olszynska   
Sunday, 15 July 2007
When I ask Americans what comes to mind when they think of Poland, they usually reply: "Polish pierogi" or "the beauty of Polish women." Undoubtedly such associations are complementary, but doesn't Poland have more to offer the 21st century beyond food and beauty? The official opening of the exhibit took place in Chicago on April 23. The exhibition was organized by the Capital City of Warsaw as part of the project "Chicago - Warsaw, Sister Cities." Warsaw's Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz flew to Chicago especially for the occasion. Pat Quinn, the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, veterans and participants of the Warsaw Uprising, as well as representatives of many Polish-American organizations also attended the opening.

The 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising created the opportunity to recount to the world the history of Poland in a dramatic, multimedia presentation. This important occasion became a chance to present the Polish struggle for independence to people beyond its borders, with a particular emphasis on the phenomenon of the Polish Underground Government and on the Warsaw Uprising with its military, political and moral aspects. Beyond the goal of simply sharing Polish traditions and culture with the world, the central motivation behind the exhibition was to represent the unbreakable desire for freedom that has motivated the Polish nation for centuries. Freedom, as an ideal and as a practical goal is deeply rooted in the minds of all patriots. The organizers of the exhibition focused on the political independence sought by the Polish Home Army as means of bringing the visitor to a better understanding of Poland and Polish history. The common perception of Poland is somewhat hazy: it is a country located in Central-Eastern Europe, from which a large number of citizens emigrate to other countries. Poland is rarely described as a country with a rich history and national heritage, yet the Polish nation is found right in the middle of East and West, of South and North, as well as at the crossroads of civilizations, cultures, and religions. The country was called the "cradle of Christianity," which had the first democratic constitution in Europe. Very few people also know that Poland is a country which, during a period of 200 years, has enjoyed freedom for merely 20 (1918-1939), professing the motto "victory means to be defeated but not occupied," and which from the end of the World War II until 1989 was a free but not independent country. The culminating point of activities and struggle of the Polish Underground State was definitely the Warsaw Uprising. The bloodiest battle in Polish history, initiated by the Home Army with its guiding motto, "We desired freedom and it is our duty to obtain it," ended in a great loss of people and resources. The costly but essential struggle for independence seen during the Warsaw Uprising ultimately spurred the Solidarity movement which helped to re-shape the future of Poland. Today, Poland has "returned" to Europe with the wealth of its cultural heritage intact and its faith that it can determine its own destiny.

The premise of "Towards Freedom," which was organized and assembled by the city of Warsaw, is above all the education of foreign audiences. The exhibition was first shown to the public in Strasburg, France in February 2005, and made a great impression on the French. The curator of the exhibition, Jan Buchwald, commented: "The exhibit provoked very strong emotions, and not just among Poles. We found a note in the guestbook at the Strasburg exhibition from a woman who was a daughter of a French Alsatian officer enrolled by force in the German army. After seeing the exhibition, she wrote: ‘Long live free Poland.' This is extraordinary. Moreover," adds Buchwald, "the history of Poland suffers from many distortions which circulate around the world and which need to be corrected."

The exhibition came to Chicago thanks to the National-Louis University which has maintained ties to Poland, thanks to its close cooperation with the Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu-National-Louis University in Nowy Sacz. In 2005, the organizers of "Towards Freedom" asked the General Consul in Chicago to help them find a location for the exhibit. Thanks to the Assistant Dean of the College of Business at NLU, Krzysztof Gluc, and the Dean of NLU, Richard Pappas, "Towards Freedom" was shown in Chicago. According to Dean Gluc, "this was an enormous financial undertaking for NLU. The decision-making and preparations for the exhibit took a few months. We had an adequately large hall at our disposal that we use for the purpose, but we had to renovate the electrical network, because of the electrical differences between Europe and the US. The cost of rewiring was a few tens of thousands of dollars," says Gluc.

The Windy City is an important location not just because of a large number of Polish residents, but also thanks to the diversity of cultures and nationalities which may be found here. As a result, the exhibition was available to, and educated, not only Poles or Polish-Americans, but also attendees from many cultures and nations.

Bogdan Horoszowski, former soldier of the Home Army and participant in the Warsaw Uprising said: "I can speak about the exhibition only in superlatives. I am happy that it came to Chicago. It is very needed by the Polish and American communities, because Americans have a limited awareness of our history. I am rather nostalgic about it. For me, it's a confrontation with what happened, and, as if in a kaleidoscope, I can see the events of my own life from that period. It's very moving."

The exhibition shows the essence of Polish history, its unique character, as well as Polish pride and patriotism. According to Marek Chudzinski, professor of law at NLU, it's a "lesson on the sacrifice of the insurgents and residents of Warsaw. The cost of freedom is an essential topic worthy of being discussed by the residents of Chicago. Among Polish-Americans there are many veterans of the uprising here. The history of the sacrifice of the citizens of Warsaw has indirectly led to reigniting the resistance movement which brought about the changes in the Polish regime in 1989. Moreover, I am happy that the cooperation with the Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu-National-Louis University in Nowy Sacz has resulted in such a wonderful project."

The organizers counted on great interest in the exhibition thanks to its convenient location and vigorous advertising campaign. Informational materials were sent out to several dozen schools and instructors. "During the exhibition, the NLU library organized a number of meetings, showed several films (including Canal and Forbidden Songs), and organized discussions pertaining to that historical period. Polish-American as well as American schools and the French school expressed their interest in visiting the exhibition. We are hoping to transmit a lot of information," said Krzysztof Gluc.

Gluc continued, "the exhibition draws not just those who survived the Warsaw Uprising or have ties to Poland. Those who have seen the exhibit emphasize its educational and artistic value. It's also a question of having pride in one's family origins. This is appreciated by Americans who are also tied to the history of the foundation of their country and the American struggle for its position in the world."

"Towards Freedom" was conceived by Lech Kaczynski's administration when he was mayor of Warsaw (currently he is President of Poland). Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the current mayor of Warsaw who attended the exhibition's opening in Chicago, is a political rival to Kaczynski. Is "Towards Freedom" being used as a political football to win over the Polish American community or are the two rivals exercising just good old political wisdom in their support of the exhibition? Regardless of whether there are any ulterior political motives for the creation of the exhibit, it moved everyone and was appreciated not just by Poles but also by Americans. The exhibition represented the struggle of Poles striving for independence. This is something we can be proud of: the faith of the freedom-fighters, their courage and persistence. It is said that strength lies in a nation, and after seeing the exhibit we hope that no one can doubt that.

PLUS Journal/ No33/2007
 
Theatre
The Beauty and the Beast. A Play in Two Acts  written by: Lifedirected by: Zygmunt Dyrkacz, Lela Headd-Dyrkacz wanderer – I, You, He, Everyone he – Zygmun...
Film
Gator Bodzianowski meets Pope John Paul II On The Ropes - The Movie The true story of Polish American Craig “Gator” Bodzianowski, the "up-and-coming" cruiserweight boxer who...
Music
Image Music: Speaking your own language Wojciech Kilar - is one of the most talented and best known Polish composers around the world. A creator of classical music and f...
 
Dada von Bzdülöw Theatre escapes generic definitions: neither a theatre troupe nor a pantomime nor a dance group. More...

Jan Karski Documentary Movie

film Author E. Thomas Wood has joined veteran screenwriter William Akers and Oscar-nominated director Hanna Polak in the creation of the first English-language feature-length documentary conveying the memory and legacy of Jan Karski. Additionally, the Polish American Awareness Foundation plans to team with a host of like-minded organizations that share a desire to bring this timeless story to a wider audience. Jan Karski movie - read more...

Syndicate

Web Search