Helena Modjeska Art and Culture ClubPropagate Polish culture and important Polish social and political events
by Tadeusz Bocianski; translated by Artur Zygmont
The Helena Modjeska Art and Culture CIub of Los Angeles was organized in 1971. It is affiliated with the American CounciI of Polish Cultural CIubs and the Polish American Congress. A non-profit organization, its official purpose is the propagation of Polish culture and important Polish social and political events. This is accomplished through monthly meetings, open to members and their guests. During these meetings, individuals of accomplishment and interest perform or exhibit their talents in many ways. These include stage plays and other artistic presentations by leading actors and actresses.
Some of the more significant presentations included a meeting with Jan Nowak - Jezioranski, former director of Radio Free Europe and World War II Polish Underground Courier; Wladyslaw Sila - Nowicki, lawyer and advisor to Lech Walesa and one of the organizers of the 1989 Round Table that led to the first free elections in Poland; Aleksander Malachowski, writer and Solidarity executive; actors Barbara Krafftowna, Andrzey Zaorski and Maja Komorowski - Tyszkiewicz; Magdalena Abakanowicz, internationally acclaimed fiber artist; Julian Zebrowski, caricaturist; writer Edward Redlinski; Jan Kott, internationally known author, literary and theatre critic and Czeslaw Milosz, poet and 1980 Nobelist for Literature. The meeting with Milosz was held jointly with several other organizations.
The club also staged excerpts of plays by Slawomir Mrozek, Witkacy, and Tales of Marek Nowakowski. It organized an annual Nativity Play; evening of Poetry and Music (including two by musicologist Wanda Wilk); film showings: The Warsaw Uprising by S. K. Braun and T. Makarczynski and The War Calendar by Ernest Bryll; and art exhibitions featuring Mleczko drawings and J. Zebrowski graphics.
The founders of the club were Teresa and Leonidas Ossetynski. Currently the club operates under a Board of Directors. Tadeusz Bocianski served as President between 1983-1988. The current presiding officer is Witold Czajkowski.
Information about the club can be obtained by calling (714) 846-7924.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.