NEWS FROM THE CZECH CENTER MUSEUM HOUSTON MAY 2015 4920 San Jacinto Street, Houston, Texas 77004 713-528-2060 |
[email protected] | www.czechcenter.org From the Heart of Europe to the Heart of Houston, Texas in the Museum District Open Monday - Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Prague International Gift Shop Open Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm
Database Updates If you are currently a member of the Czech Center Museum Houston and have changed your mailing address, phone number or email address in the past two years, please contact
[email protected] with your new information and the subject line “Member Update.”
Introducing Czech Baking Classes at CCMH Learn to bake Czech Bublanina! Saturday, May 30, 2015 10am - 12noon Free Movie Night! Every 2nd Friday of the month at CCMH Next Movie Night is June 12, 2015 at 7:30pm Signing by author Dr. Jim Fuxa for Žižka the One-Eyed Saturday, July 25, 4pm
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Events at CCMH Summer 2015 May 14 Thursday, 4-8pm: Meet Czech Actress Eva Jenícková Join Czech Center Museum Houston for happy hour and reception with special appearance by Eva Jenícková, Czech actress, promoting the new Czech film Clownwise! Jenícková is scheduled to arrive at 5:30 p.m. She will be in town for the "Czech That Film" festival, which takes place May 15-17 at 14 Pews. A cash bar will be available at this reception with wine, Czech beer and other drinks. May 30 Saturday, 10am - 12noon: Czech Baking Class Learn to bake Czech bublanina, a sweet, cake-like dessert with fruit inside. Then take home the recipe and share a delicious part of Czech culture with friends and family! Class includes tasting and is $10 per person. Please RSVP by May 28. June 12 Friday, 7:30pm: Free Movie Night Doors open at 7:30pm (come early to enjoy free popcorn and snacks!), movie at 8:00pm. Always plenty of time for mingling and meeting new people. Movie nights are every 2nd Friday of the month! June 18 Thursday, 4-8pm: Happy Hour Enjoy wine, Czech beer and good company in CCMH’s Brno Gallery June 20 Saturday, 2-4pm: Czech Baking Class June 27 Saturday, 4-7pm: Polka Dancing! with Bob and Mike from Texas Legacy Czech Band July 10 Friday, 7:30pm: Free Movie Night July 16 Thursday, 4-8pm: Happy Hour July 25 Saturday, 4pm: Book Review and Signing with Dr. Jim Fuxa, author of Žižka the One-Eyed Talk and book signing with author of the “Historical Novel of Revolution in Medieval Bohemia.” Books will be available for purchase at the CCMH Prague International Gift Shop. August 14 Friday, 7:30pm: Free Movie Night August 29 Saturday: Save the Date for the Annual Benefit Gala October 17 Saturday: Save the Date for Oktoberfest at CCMH 2
Book Signing and Author Talk with Dr. Jim Fuxa, author of Žižka the One-Eyed, a Historical Novel of Revolution in Medieval Bohemia
July 25th, 2015 at 4:00pm at the Czech Center Museum Houston The quick temper of Jan Žižka, a one-eyed warrior, thrust him into leadership of a revolution that would challenge the very foundations of medieval society. Talk will be followed by Q&A session and book signing. The book will be available for purchase from the Czech Center Museum Houston gift shop. www.jimfuxa.com
Other Czech Events in 2015 2nd CEFT - UNT International Festival of Czech Music Mark your calendars! Website with full schedule and ticket information coming soon. Performances on the UNT campus: November 18 through November 22, 2015 -Showing of the 1931 film (of the play) Fidlovačka aneb Žádný hněv a žádná rvačka," -Guest artist Sára Medková (Czech) and the UNT orchestra performing Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Piano Concerto in a minor, and other works. -Thursday and Friday: solo and chamber concerts of Czech music--both "Czech" and "American Moravian" (brass music from the colonies). -Friday's big event will be a performance of a Czech harpsichord concerto with guest artist Barbara Willi (Czech) and the UNT Early Music Orchestra. -Saturday: "American Moravian Christmas" festival baquet with keynote speaker Mikuláš Bek, president of Masaryk University in Brno. -Festival ends with Jakub Jan Ryba's Česká mše vánoční Hej mistře!, performed in Czech with four soloists, full orchestra, organ, and a 65-voice choir! Road tour across the state of Texas: November 29 through December 6 Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent (29 November), Česká mše vánoční will go on the road, touring to different Texas-Czech communities. May 17 Sunday, 10am - 5pm: Slavnost at TCHCC June 13 Sunday, 10:30am - 8pm: Kolache Klobase Festival $8 admission, 12 and under free - Ennis Czech Boys, Czech and Then Some, Dujka Bros., Red Ravens, Al Sulak - Country Sounds, Texas Legacy Band, Keller Dancers, A Time to Dance. At Riverside Hall in East Bernard. Sausage, BBQ chicken lunch served at 11am. September 5-6 Saturday-Sunday: West Fest in West, Texas September 12 Saturday: Caldwell Kolache Fest September 27 Sunday: Houston Slavic Heritage Festival in honor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius 3
From the Chairman/CEO Effie M. Rosene, volunteer: Bill and I often think and reminisce “there are not many among us (those supporters since day one) who realize the magnitude of what we all set out to do with building Czech Center Museum Houston and the work we have yet to do to honor those who came before us and those yet to come but we’ll keep working at it hopefully with even more of you. “If only we can continue to inspire valid aspirations involving our younger generations in traditions, heritage and history building lifelines, lifestyles and traditions! CCMH honors all our birthdays, including these distinguished members: Ralph Marek, Jane Cyva, Jaro Nevlud, Mary Roeder Triska To our Czech Center Museum Houston friends and members Minnie Petrusek joined the kingdom of Heaven at age 93 on April 10, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Ben Petrusek. Minnie was creative and accomplished in so many ways: she was a loving wife and mother, superb cook and seamstress, excellent hostess, devoted teacher, organic gardener, house plans drafter, oil painter and drawer, avid volunteer and charitable supporter, fluent in the Czech language, world traveler with Ben, and a member of numerous organizations, including the Ladies Reserve Officers Association and the Mardi Gras Krewe of Iris in New Orleans. She drove the tractor at 10 years old, the Model T at 13 years old, graduated from Granger High and went on to attend the University of Texas (and later Dominican College in New Orleans), working her way through school as a nanny. Following college, she rode the troop train for 3 days during WWII from Texas to New York to marry Ben. Minnie and family had a wonderful time visiting with the Rosenes the South Moravian wine cellars. She will forever be remembered by CCMH! A dear close personal friend and enduring friend to the Czech Center Museum Houston since its inception, Mr. Frank J. Pokluda, Jr., passed at age 93 on Saturday, May 2 after a brief hospitalization at Methodist Hospital. This great man’s love and presence will be felt forever at CCMH. His family stated his obituary in the Houston Chronicle on Saturday, May 9, with services at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery on that day. Family also stated that any inquiries for tributes in Mr. Frank Pokluda’s memory by his choice may be directed to the Czech Center Museum Houston, to St. Theresa Catholic Church, or to the World’s Air Warriors care. Thank you. Frank loved us all. 4
The CCMH Member’s loan investment program was instigated in 2010 as a way to retire the building’s bank mortgage with its required monthly payment. From its members CCMH received sufficient funds from seventeen persons which were used for this purpose. Since that auspicious beginning eight very generous individuals have forgiven or donated $165.000 or 26% of the funds initially received. These were Cynthia Gdula and Charles Westervelt, Marek Family Companies, Laverne Nash, Ed and Sandra Pickett, Mary and Frank Pokluda Jr., Wesley Pustejovsky, Lorraine Rod Green and Effie and Bill Rosene. The Picketts and Rosenes donated the interest on their loans to the Center. The certificates issued for the remaining eleven loans will terminate in 2015 to be replaced with new certificates, if the holder so indicates. Several have so indicated to continue at this time. The CCMH’s Board of Directors has authorized the continuation of the Loan Program to be offered to other members and friends at this time, with issued certificates receiving a 3% interest return on their investment with funds received in this new program to be placed in the Center’s Endowment for Perpetuity Investment Fund. Please contact Bill Rosene at 713-528-2060 or email to
[email protected] if you are interested in joining with us in this program. Your investment in this matter is highly important and beneficial to the Czech Center Museum Houston. What Makes Czech Czech?
2015 Ice Hockey World Championship held in Czech Republic This annual men’s ice hockey tournament was founded in 1920 by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) as a part of Olympic Games in Antwerp. The Czechoslovakian national ice hockey team was founded after the disintegration of Austrian-Hungarian Empire in 1920. The team was Bob and Bobek, mascots for 2015 one of the world’s premiere teams for the duration of its Ice Hockey World Championship existence and in 1940s they established themselves as the best team in Europe. Except the disruption in war years 1939 – 1945, the team represented Czechoslovakia until 1992, when it was disbanded and replaced by Czech and Slovak national teams. Czechs are very proud of the success of their national team, and no doubt the whole Czech Republic were watching this year’s Championship, which was held in Prague and Ostrava. This was the 10th time the Championship was held here and on eight out of the nine previous years, this brought luck to the Czech team and won three gold, one silver and four bronze medals. In 2015, the Ice Hockey World Championship was won by Canada. Because the Czech team placed in the top nine, it will participate in the Winter Olympic Games in 2018 in Korea in Pjongčang. 5
English-language Bohemia and Moravia Summer 2015 Bike Tour
Photos from KF Travels: bikeandculture.com
CCMH members and friends are invited to take advantage of a summer 2015 strong dollar opportunity for bike travel in Southern Bohemia and Moravia. Czech biking and culture tours are conducted in English by Czech native, Karel Fort, owner and operator of KF Travels. The tour goal is for visitors to gain a language-barrier-free, native-level biking experience of the Czech Republic beyond Prague. Czech Center Museum Houston members are individually invited to join any of their already pre-planned tours or to design their own group tour. For more information and pricing, visit the KF Travels website at www.bikeandculture.com, or contact Karel Fort for more information via www.bikeandculture.com/contact.
A Moravian Czech artist visits Houston
The Czech Center Museum Houston, The Czech Heritage Society Harris Co. and The Czech Springfest at Lodge 88 SPJST on April 19, 2015. From Effie and Bill Rosene
We met Hana Buchtelova and family through her hand woven art products she sold in most museums in the Czech Republic, perhaps even in Slovakia. We had an immediate interest to provide these lovely art objects to our Houston connection the Czech Center Museum Houston and so evolved after a first visit to her lovely home on the Moravian Slovakian border meeting all her family, watching her work on her grandfather’s historical loom creating art in the making in hundred year old patterns. A long, meaningful relationship developed once again between Czech and the Texas-Czech Moravians. To culminate in a recent visit at the Harris Co. Czech Heritage Society Springfest of April 19 in Houston, Texas was indeed a joy for us to experience. We so appreciate dear friend Barbara Mikulik, who gave us the early details. We were thrilled to get to see our friend of a way back and her daughters. For that, we thank the hospitality of the Czech Heritage Society Harris County, especially David and Loretta Barta, and our many other friends who are CCMH Members as well. It felt like a happy, successful festival, which proves that it takes us all to show up and be counted, even at CCMH events! 6
Public Holidays in the Czech Republic May 1st Labour Day (Svatek Prace)- commemorates the historical struggle of working people for an eight-hour work day.
Statue of poet Karel Hynek Macha on Petříně Hill
Love Day - May 1st, in the Czech Republic, is also known as Love Day (Valentine’s Day in the US). The tradition of celebrating love in May goes far back to the beginning of 19th century and the life of great Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha. Macha died at a very young age - the very day he got married to his fiancée and the mother of his son. On May 1st, young couples are recommended to kiss under a blossoming cherry tree to ensure a year of good luck. A tradition for Praguers is to meet at the statue of the poet on the capital's Petříně Hill to celebrate their love.
May 8th 1945 Liberation Day (Den vítězství or Den osvobození) - Date marking Czech liberation from Germany at the end of the Second World War. Seventy years ago, on May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies and the Second World War in Europe officially ended. Prague was the last major European city to be liberated by the Red Army from the east and by General Patton's Third Army from the west. The number of people killed, wounded, or missing between September 1939 and September 1945 can never be calculated, but it is estimated that more than 55 million people perished. On one hand, memories of the liberation are a reason for celebration, but the anniversary also brings back painful memories of the occupation itself: the murder of over 70,000 Czech Jews, the arbitrary executions, and the destruction of the Czech villages of Lidice and Ležáky. CCMH will host an exhibit dedicated to remembering Lidice in June 2015. World War II was the greatest war in human history. It is important that people learn from the mistakes of the past and learn to avoid those same mistakes in the future. 7
RECENT DONORS Cecilia Forrest, Roger Mechura, Glenn and Yvonne Sternes, John and Frances Istvan, Robert and Henrietta Freeman, Bernice Sellers, Marilyn Sikora, Humanities Texas, Kolache Factory, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, SPJST Lodge 88 Houston, Bill and Grace England, Daniel and Suzanne Kubin, Bill and Effie Rosene, The Czech Heritage Society - Harris County Chapter, Brian and Joan Vanicek, Emil and Connie Stavinoha, César Campo Bartosek, Chris Hlavinka, Purvis & Lynn Harper, Jeanette & Bob Gonzales, Rudolph Rusnak, Rev. Paul Chovanec, Marek Family Companies, Wesley Pustejovsky, Dick Bily, SPJST District Five, Lorraine Rod Green and her son, Ronald Rod
Quotes worth repeating from Friends & Members “I so love to come to the Museum. It is so elegant, so charming, so hospitable” (Lynn Chernovsky Swaffar, volunteer) “We are happy to be doing our cultural project at the CCMH” (Students from Yes Prep School) “I am always awed at what a world class act our Museum is. So very elegant and always an interesting program. (Educator member Helen Black) We need you now! Treat yourself with membership. For more information on becoming a new member of the Czech Center Museum Houston, please email
[email protected]. This organization is supported in part by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and by the contributions of our Friends, Members and Volunteers.
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The Czech Center Museum Houston’s Mural of the Charles Bridge
