May 4, 2006 from 5pm-9pm

MUSIC, DANCE, AND FOOD:

The Lowell Five Main Stage at the American Textile History Museum (491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA)

Entertainment:

5:30 PM – 6:15 PM Gary Sredzienski,  the “Accordian Warrior” and host of the radio show “Polka Party”
Gary Sredzienski demonstrates the diversity of the piano accordion with a wide variety of styles encompassing several continents. His solo recordings on his own Bellows Music label have landed him national performances with various cultural organizations.

6:30 PM – 7:15 PM   Krakowiak Polish Dancers of Boston:
Based in Boston, Massachusetts and now in its 67th year, Krakowiak is the oldest Polish Folk dance group in North America. The group maintains a diverse inventory of authentic costumes representing 17 different regions of Poland. Through their performance they will educate the community in dance, history, and crafts of our Polish heritage.

Food:

Sold by the Seasoned Chef Café Dick Barry.  Special Menu for the evening includes kielbasa with mustard, kapusta (sauerkraut), rye bread, pierogi, golabki (stuffed cabbage), and cheesecake.

Booths:  

• Pisanki: Decorating eggs with beeswax and dye is an ancient art in Poland.  Using a batik process, these “pisanki” eggs are decorated in vivid colors with symbols for prosperity and long life.  Volunteers will be demonstrating pisanki-making, using traditional tools and methods.  Pisanki featuring traditional and contemporary designs will be displayed.
• Flax Processing: Poland is the one of the largest producers of flax in the world.  Using traditional tools, museum teachers will demonstrate how flax is processed to create linen cloth.  They will also display some Polish linen.
• Krakowiak Polish Dancers of Boston: Dancing since 1937, the Krakowiak Polish Dancers of Boston perform traditional Polish folk dances from many areas of Poland.  In addition to performing some of these dances at Polish Night, the members of this group will be on hand to answer questions about their costumes, music and traditional dance numbers.  They will also be showing video of past dance performances.
• Costume Display: Traditional Polish folk costumes are striking and colorful.  Each region in Poland has its own variation of costume for both men and women.  Some of these folk costumes will be on display.
• Polish Artifacts: Poland has a rich tradition of both folk crafts and fine arts.  Decorative woodcarving is especially fine, producing colorful wooden boxes and plates.  Straw art is another type of folk art.  Poland is also known for its graphic arts (The famous “Solidarity” graphic is one example).  Samples of these and other art forms will be on display.
• Wycinanki: The art of wycinanki, or Polish paper cut-outs, has its roots in the country.  Polish farmers, imitating tapestries in the homes of the wealthy, began making elaborate wycinanki to decorate their own homes.  Traditionally, these cut-outs were made with sheep shears.  Visitors to Polish Night will be able to make their own wycinanki using colored paper, glue and scissors.  Visitors will also be able to try their hand at cutting wycinanki using the traditional sheep shears.
• Making a Polish Folk Costume:After viewing actual folk costumes and illustrations, visitors will be able to try their hands at recreating mens and women’s Polish folk costumes for a large paper figure, using real cloth.
  

FILM:

Screenings at the National Park Visitor Center (246 Market Street, Lowell, MA)

5:15 pm: In Desert and Wilderness (w Pustyni I W Puszczy)
Genre: Family --110 min.
Polish (English Subtitles)

From the Nobel Prize winning author of "Quo Vadis?" comes this critically acclaimed and award-winning film about two children lost deep in the African continent. After escaping from kidnappers, they set off on a great adventure, full of obstacles, dangers, and fun as they learn about life on their return home.

7:30 pm: Revenge (Zemsta)
Genre: Comedy--100 min.
Polish (English subtitles)

Andrzej Wajda's latest - a costume comedy. After fourty-three years of his absence as an actor, Polanski returned to Wajda as an actor in the production of Zemsta. The hilarious tale of two 17th century families divided by love, greed ... and a crumbling stone wall that runs through the middle of their castle. The feuding noblemen try to outwit one another in a bid for romance and control over their humble realm. Based on Aleksander Fredro's epic poem.

 

ART AND CULTURE around Town:

Friends Fabric Art: Wycinanki, Polish Paper Cutting: Cut a colorful Polish paper cut of stylized birds, flowers, or trees similar to ones peasants once used to decorate their homes. (allow 15 min. for this activity)
Other participating venues offering special programming and discounts include: Mambo Grill, Brew’d Awaking, 119 Gallery, Café Paradiso,  and Gazebo Café.