There are several ways to connect to, and develop understanding about, cultures and people.  Academic study and intellectual discourse are two. So, too, are things like quiet reflection and appreciation, arts and crafts skill development, and social conversation.  All these, and more, are available to you through various upcoming programs of the NCSML.

• Oct. 13 – March 24, 2019: In the first solo exhibition of the art work of Joža Uprka in the United States, the NCSML will present stunning oil paintings, posters, and mixed media on loan from the George T. Drost Collection. Joža Uprka (1861 – 1940) was a Czech painter and graphic artist whose work combined elements of Romanticism and Art Nouveau to document the folk life of Southern Moravia. The items on display from the George T. Drost Collection will showcase this important artist’s work. George Drost, who lives in Arlington Heights, Ill., and was born in Brno in the Czech Republic, has been collecting Uprka artwork since the 1990s and has amassed a significant collection in the United States.
• Oct. 21: Accidental Army screening and discussion: It’s the most amazing story you never heard. In the chaos of World War I, tens of thousands of Czech and Slovak POWs switched sides to become an army fighting for the Allies: the Czechoslovak Legion. Suddenly, caught up in the Russian Revolution, they had to fight their way across Siberia, capturing the Trans-Siberian railway, half the Czar’s gold, and the heart of a new nation. Almost erased from history by 50 years of communism, this incredible story lives again in the film Accidental Army: The Amazing True Story of the Czechoslovak Legion. The documentary’s creative director, Bruce Bendinger, will lead a discussion following the screening.
• Nov. 1: History on the 8’s lecture:  1968 and the Prague Spring. Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky will discuss the legacy of the year 1968 and how the Prague Spring was such a pivotal moment in the world’s history. Fifty years later, Kurlansky will show how the Prague Spring and the year 1968, transformed who we were as a people–and led us to where we are today. Kurlansky’s book, 1968: The Year that Rocked the World, is available for purchase online and in the museum store. This presentation will be immediately followed by a book signing by the author. A cash bar and refreshments will be available. Mark Kurlansky is a best-selling author, playwright, and journalist. His articles have appeared in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, and he’s been a guest lecturer at various schools and locations all over the world. He has published 30 books including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. His books have been translated into 25 languages, and he often illustrates them himself.
• And more!

Check the calendar for more classes, exhibitions, and experience.

Let me know if you’re interested in supporting these programs by contacting me at DMcInnis@NCSML.org or at 832-877-8821.