Only Beth Holmgren can distill a history of an archive, an ethnic neighborhood, Poland and its not-so-faithful allies, and the Polish diaspora including pro bono architects, a credit union, and great food with so much information, affection and élan. And “sto lat” to the Institute’s director, Dr. Iwona Korga.
Mazowsze is arguably the most beautiful folk dance troupe in the world. Maja Trochimczyk poses the question: Does authenticity matter?
In this review of Aga Maksimowska’s Giant, Andrew Borkowski, whose Copernicus Avenue won the 2012 Toronto Book Award, may well be giving us a glimpse of next year’s winner.
Stories are like literary genetics, essential to one’s identity. But how does a storyteller rise above competing voices, break through non-stop background noise, and seduce an audience? Justine Jablonska looks at the issues and offers some possibilities.
…there’s a symmetry between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the French-English multicultural country I’ve grown up in… and it seems fitting that Polish and Canadian troops often fought side by side in WWII. That’s a good place to start rebuilding a sense of who I am, says Andrew Borkowski.
Poetry by John Minczeski; introduced by John Guzlowski
The largest single collection of Polish art is not in Poland, but in India. A special exhibit brings it home, at least for a visit, attracting thousands of visitors to a visual feast.
The photo was unmistakably me, in Nehru shirt and bell bottoms, a cigarette dangling rakishly in my right hand… on the front page of Czechoslovakia’s Socialist Union of Youth newspaper.
Chicago-based filmmaker Chris Swider discusses his award-winning documentary, and why he chose to focus on the youngest “enemies of the State.”
It’s only been since my father’s generation has begun to pass away that I’ve come to recognize that their stories are the richest part of my inheritance…
– Andrew J. Borkowski
Frank Zajaczkowski’s memoir about growing up in a dysfunctional family and eventually learning his father’s story and coming to understand it.
Krysia Jopek’s story of a gentle family uprooted by people who rearrange borders without hearing the gunshots or seeing the victims.
From Ohio University Press:
• Two Novellas of Emigration and Exile by Danuta Mostwin
• The Exile Mission: The Polish Political Diaspora and Polish Americans, 1939–1956 by Anna D. Jaroszynska-Kirchmann
• Traitors and True Poles by Karen Majewski
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