Events: January 2012
December 2011
February 2012
“My Hair on the River Missouri”
January 5, 2012, 19:00
A new poetry collection by Tomáš Kafka Tomáš Kafka is a poet, translator, and founding member of the Quašňák creative association. He is now Czech ambassador to Ireland, after previously being particularly active in Berlin. He served as cultural attaché and, among other things, translated the “faecal dramas” of Werner Schwab. Kafka is the author of the poetry collections “Kvaše” (“Gouaches”), “Ze světa” (“From the World”) and “Verše v roce” (“Rhymes in the Year”) and several one-act plays, mainly with a football theme. The evening will be presented by Jiří Peňás, culture editor of Lidové noviny.
What Was and Is the Purpose of Charter 77?
January 6, 2012, 17:00
Memories and reflections of several participants / readings from the original Charter 77 Proclamation and other snippets from the works of the first spokesmen: Jiří Hájek, Václav Havel and Jan Patočka / screening of video greetings from present-day dissidents from various corners of the world for whom Charter 77 is to this day a vital challenge and inspiration / musical performances by Marta Kubišová, Vlasta Třešňák and the group Spirituál kvintet The event will be relayed live on the internet and should include a live link-up with participants in the event "Memorial Tribute Honoring the Life and Work of Vaclav Havel", which is being held simultaneously by the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington (USA). The meeting will conclude with a modest Three Kings feast.
“Agitation with Words”
January 12, 2012, 19:00
Jan Štolba, a poet, prose writer, jazz musician and literary critic, publishes his texts and essays in cultural and literary magazines and dailies (Tvar, A2, Host). His 2011 collection of criticism “Lomcování se slovy” (“Agitation with Words”) follows his 2006 book “Nedopadající džbán” (“Unfalling Jug”) which was published by Torst and in 2007 won the F. X. Šalda Prize. Now Štolba “agitates with words” in over 52 poetry books and contemporary Czech prose titles. The evening will conclude with a jazz duel between Štolba and the poet and saxophonist Vratislav Brabenec. The evening will be hosted by Jan Šulc, who will lead a discussion with the writer.
Czech Moments – Fates and Focal Points
January 18, 2012, 20:00
Pavel Kosatík, holder of the Ferdinand Peroutka Prize for journalism, is the author of several biographies, including 1993’s “Osm žen z Hradu” (“Eight Women from the Castle”) 1996’s “Bankéř první republiky”(“Banker of the First Republic”), and 2004’s “Gottwaldovi muži”(“Gottwald’s Men”). His 2010 collection “České snění”(“Czech Dreaming”) is a contribution to many debated aspects of Czech cultural history. This meeting with Pavel Kosatík will be devoted to his books “Česká intelligence” (“Czech Intelligentsia”) and “České okamžiky” (“Czech Moments”). The evening will conclude with a concert by the group Kopir Rozsywal Bestar, who are undoubtedly one of the most interesting groups on the contemporary scene. The evening will be hosted by the editor-in-chief of Respekt, Erik Tabery.
