Hong Kong Exhibition
 Dave's Szopka Art Work being promoted in Hong Kong Media. |
 Dave with his "Hong Kong Szopka" |  Jack and Dave are joined by Santa and his Helpers during the Press Conference that launched the publicity for the Hong Kong Szopka Exhibit. |
 The Hong Kong Szopka Exhibit. |
 Detail of the Szopka Exhibit. |
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On November 23, 2011, Dave and Jack traveled to Hong Kong at the invitation of Sun Hung Kai Properties for the opening of a public exhibition of Dave's szopka art. This was the first time that szopka art has been exhibited in Asia and the exhibition, which was extensively covered by Hong Kong media, has attracted rave reviews and large numbers of attendees. Special guests for the gala exhibition opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting were Taiwanese celebrity actress, film star and fashion model Sonia Sui and the Honorable Mariusz Boguszewski, Deputy Consul General for the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong.
Click here to see what the Hong Kong media is saying about our Szopka Project.
Exhibition
Media Coverage
Hong Kong Szopka
"From Pittsburgh to Cracow" - Dave Motak Earns Polish Accolades
Pittsburgh Artist Dave Motak, the leading expert on the Szopka Art Form in the United States, was recently honored at the 68th Annual Szopka Competition in Cracow, Poland.
The first foreigner to enter a Szopka in the annual competition, Dave earned an "Honorable Mention for Artistic Merit" in the category of medium-sized Szopki. The Award was presented to Dave on Decmeber 10 by Michal Niezabytowski, Executive Director of the City of Cracow History Museum, at the annual Szopka Awards Ceremony in the Krystofory Palace on Cracow's historic Rynek (market square). Pictured below, Dave at the 68th Annual Szopka Competition in Cracow December 10, 2011.
Dave entered his szophis szopka building workshops around the United States. In lieu of traditional "lalki" or dolls that are part of a traditional szopka, Dave featured images of many of his students in his prize-winning construction. Each of these American szopka makers are featured holding the szopka that they made at Dave's Cracow Creche Workshop classes.
The prize-winning szopka, which measured over 40 inches tall and lighted with European 220 volt electrical bulbs, was topped by a traditional Polish eagle, flanked with Polish and American flags, as well as hand-crafted coats of arms of Cracow and Pittsburgh.
Dave notes that the first American entry was very popular with the Cracovians and was a big hit during the annual Szopka Parade on Cracow's Market Square. The Pittsburgh entry was covered on Cracow radio and was quite also featured in the local print media. Dave notes that getting the szopka to Cracow was quite tricky, as he had to build the fragile pieces in sections to be packed in two suitcases which were shipped as checked luggage. He then assembled the sections and installed the lighting in Cracow the night before the competition.
Pictured left, Dave with Szopka Master Maciej Moszew.
Shipping the szopka was a nail-biting proposition, and locating the European lights was quite a task," Dave notes. His award winning piece was on exhibit at the Krzysztofory Gallery at the City of Cracow History Museum through February, 2011."
Here are some photos from the competition:
Dave's Work Showcased in Grand Rapids
The Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has featured one of Dave's Szopka pieces, which has been commissioned for their "Christmas Around the World Exhibition" which was held November, 2010 - January 6, 2011. The Szopka was displayed in the main entrance of the Frederick Meijer and drew considerable attention. Dave's work featured a handcrafted coat of arms of Cracow along with the three folk dolls holding a platter of straw and the "Oplatek" wafer, which is a Polish Christmas Eve tradition.
It was great honor to be asked by this renowned culutral institution to create a work for their permanent collection that focuses on works by established and emerging sculptors from the modern tradition to the present. A photo of Dave's Frederick Meijer Szopka is shown here, both close-up and in the gallery installation.
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Work of Art Award
Dave was recently selected as the recipient of the prestigious Work of Art Award, 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 at gala ceremonies at the Pittsburgh Opera’s new building in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
Linking Two Continents
Dave’s work is extremely well respected both within the Polish-American community as well as in Poland. His close collaborations with both the Polish Embassy in Washington, D. C. and such institutions as the City of Cracow History Museum, demonstrate the impact of his sustained commitment to serving as a positive representative of Pittsburgh and the regional arts community.
Promoting Cultural Diversity
As the cultural and artistic achievements of Poles have been significantly underrepresented in American cultural life, Dave has used this project to help instill a sense of pride in the regional Polish-American community, while sharing it with individuals from other backgrounds. Hence, the high caliber of his programs has set a new high standard for the ethnic community. He has also striven to extend his art project beyond the boundaries of the Polish-American community, to make it non-sectarian and multi-cultural. He emphasizes the historic and architectural aspects of the art form, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds. An indication of the high regard in which he and his work are held, Dave was selected as the 2006 Polonian of the Year by the Polish American Congress, Western Pennsylvania Division.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cracow creches: Students re-create Polish art form with a Christmas theme
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Martha Rial, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
[PHOTO: Martha Rial, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
One of several szopkas made by David Motak, instructor of the Cracow Creche Workshop. While living in Cracow for two years, he studied with masters of this centuries-old folk art form.... [click to read more]
Creche course: Students
learn about Polish culture
by making folk craft
Monday, November 24, 2008
By Dan Majors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
Jarek Wlodarczyk and his daugher, Ella, 4, of Lower
Burrell, begin to wrap wood pieces in colored foil paper to
build their szopka, also know as a Cracow Creche,
yesterday at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.[click here to read the article as a PDF]