'Czech & Slovak Illustrations and Art' Opening Reception and Exhibition at the Buttonwood Art Space

Online, July 19, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Buttonwood Art Space is the only location in the Midwest that will be exhibiting premier collection of Slovak illustrations on loan from the Republic of Slovakia.

KANSAS CITY, MO: The Czech & Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City is excited to present Czech & Slovak Illustrations and Art at the Buttonwood Art Space Gallery, 3013 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri (www.buttonwoodartspace.com) with a First Friday Art Event Opening Reception on Friday August 5, 2011 from 6pm-9pm. Exhibition dates are August 5 - August 26, 2011. The Buttonwood Art Space Gallery is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.

The main exhibit will be the award-winning collection of illustrations by Slovak artists in The Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (1967-2009) (BIB). These illustrations are the best children's book illustrations published in Slovakia during the past four decades. The Embassy of the Slovak Republic, Washington, DC. (http:// www.mzv.sk/washington) created the exhibit and Buttonwood Art Space is the only location in the Midwest that will be featuring the artwork.

The BIB is an international competitive exhibition of children's book illustration originals which has been held in Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak Republic, every second year since 1967. The aim of the BIB is to present the best illustrations for children's books from countries across the world with a long tradition of book culture. At the same time it provides an opportunity for international illustrators to present their work to professionals and publishers.

The other major highlight of the exhibit will be a series of colorful wood block prints by the Czech artist Marek Hofman. The prints depict scenes from Mozart's operas. The exhibit is on loan from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (ww.NCSML.org) Gail Naughton, President and CEO of the NCSML, will assist with the opening of the exhibit on August 5th.

Additionally, the exhibit is pleased to present the photographic works by local artist, painter and illustrator, Lynette Darling Ubel, "Rooftops of Prague," the capitol of the Czech Republic.

Guests at the opening will be met with salt and bread, a traditional Czech and Slovak greeting of welcome. Complimentary appetizers and wine will be available, along with beer provided by Weston Brewing Company. The Sugar Creek Tamburitzans will perform music and others will be wearing traditional Czech and Slovak clothing.

Background Information:

The Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava Exhibition was previously displayed in the US in 2010 at the official opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Dallas in May 2010; at the Slovak Embassy in Washington during the official reception to Constitution Day in September 2010; and at the United Nations in New York City on the occasion of the visit of the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gasparovic to the UN General Assembly in September 2010. In October - December 2010, the exhibition was also displayed in Washington, DC during EURO Kids Festival in the Gallery of the Children's National Medical Center and at the Palisades Library.

The BIB illustration entries are judged by an international jury composed of visual arts theorists, illustrators, publishers and librarians. During 43 years of the existence and 22 BIBs, 6,507 illustrators from 103 countries presented 52,777 illustration originals from more than 8,000 books. Please visit http://www.bibiana.sk for more information about the international competition.

Included in the exhibit is a collection of photographs commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Czechoslovakian Velvet Revolution in November 1989 and the progress and development of the Slovak Republic as an independent nation in Eastern and Central Europe. The Czech and Slovak Republics are formal members of NATO and the United Nations. Slovakia is a member of the European Union.

For more information or images, you may contact Kathy Drungilas, Business Manager, Buttonwood Art Space, at 816-285-9040 or [email protected].

Additional contacts are Sharon Valasek, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic to the Midwest ([email protected])
Ross P. Marine, Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic to the Midwest ([email protected])
Terry Smitka, President of the Czech & Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City Board of Directors ([email protected]).

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