Welcome - Witamy!
The Cracow Creche Workshop™, is an educational endeavor established in 2003 to promote the appreciation of the Cracow Szopka (commonly called a crèche) Created by artist-educator David Motak with the assistance of his partner, Jack Samuels, a former education administrator, the Cracow Creche Workshop sponsors lectures and workshops in Western Pennsylvania and around the country, hosts an annual exhibition of student works and sponsors an annual Holiday Tour to Poland as well as various other cultural activities.
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, the “Szopka Project” has grown tremendously over the past several years, becoming both national and international in scope. During that time, through numerous workshops, lectures, exhibitions and cultural events Dave has established the Szopka Art Form in the United States and has become the nation’s leading expert on Szopka Making and history. Dave’s efforts have been supported by various funding agencies, including the Institute for Cultural Partnerships, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the PA Humanities Council, among others. In addition, Dave’s individual work as an artist continues to attract increased recognition. He was recently presented the prestigious 2009 Working Artist Award by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. For more information on Dave, please click here.
2010 Holiday Tour to Poland
Click Above to view the 2010 Poland Tour Map, complete with pictures of the locations.
Announcing the 2010 Holiday Tour to Poland.
We have finalized plans for our 7th Annual Holiday Tour to Poland. This year's tour promises to be quite special. For the first time in our history, we will be going "East" and we'll visit some wonderful sites in Poland's Eastern Regions. Click here for more information on this year's exciting Tour offering.
RECENT NEWS:
Our 7th Annual Szopka Exhibition and Holiday Reception was held at the University of Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon, December 13, 2009.
Over 450 attendees viewed the works of 24 area szopka artists who enrolled in our 2009 fall szopka workshops. These included students from our "large" multi-week workshops as well as students from our free classes at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.
Many thanks to our friends, volunteers and students who helped set-up the event and provided wonderful Polish Holiday Pastries for our guests to enjoy.
We also wish to thank the University of Pittsburgh Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures for being our Facility Sponsor for the beautiful Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Student Union. We also wish to thank the PA Partners in the Arts Program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for their support of the Pittsburgh Szopka Project, as well as the Polish Falcons of America and the Society of our Lady of Consolation in Wilmerding, for helping to underwrite the reception and exhibition.
Click here to view a Slideshow Video from the event.
For information on how we can bring these types of workshops to your area, please contact Dave at contact@cracowcrafts.com.
Work of Art Awards
Dave was recently selected as the recipient of the prestigious Work of Art Awards, presented by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
One of the highest recognitions that can be bestowed on an individual artist in Western Pennsylvania, the Working Artist Award recognizes an individual artist who has demonstrated exceptional innovation, boldness and creativity in advancing their art form. In presenting the Award, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council recognized Dave “as a leading promoter and practitioner of the Cracow Szopka art form in the United States, whose individual works, student workshops, szopka exhibitions and cultural events have shown tremendous leadership, innovation and drive in promoting his Pittsburgh-based initiative.”
The Award was presented on Monday, June 1, 2009 at gala ceremonies at the Pittsburgh Opera’s new building in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
