All posts by KL

Two Concerts: Bartłomiej Nowodworski – The Knight Who Invested In The Future

Kraków – October 11 at 5:00 PM, St. Anne’s Church
Warsaw – October 10 at 8:00 PM, Archcathedral of St. John the Baptist

Kraków – 11 października o godz. 17:00, Kościół św. Anny
Warszawa – 10 października o godz. 20:00, Archikatedra św. Jana Chrzciciela

Ewa and Mariusz Monczak (https://www.facebook.com/ArsActiva/), representatives of the Nowodworski Foundation in Poland, warmly invite you to two exceptional concerts dedicated to the Foundation’s patron, Bartłomiej Nowodworski, commemorating the 400th anniversary of his legacy.
Ewa i Mariusz Monczak, przedstawiciele Nowodworski Foundation  w Polsce, serdecznie zapraszają na dwa wyjątkowe koncerty poświęcone patronowi Fundacji Bartłomiejowi Nowodworskiemu upamiętniając 400. rocznice jego dziedzictwa.

A Knight of Malta, patriot, and loyal servant of the Polish kings Sigismund III Vasa and Stephen Báthory, victor at Smolensk and Moscow, Bartłomiej Nowodworski was also a generous patron of science and Polish culture, a promoter of singing the ancient Polish hymn “Bogurodzica,” and the founder of St. Anne’s High School in Kraków, established in 1588 — a school that proudly continues his tradition and bears his name to this day — as well as a high school in his native Tuchola, which recently also adopted his name.
Rycerz Maltański, patriota i wierny sługa królów polskich Zygmunta III Wazy oraz Stefana Batorego, zwycięzca spod Smoleńska i Moskwy, Bartłomiej Nowodworski był również hojnym mecenasem nauki, polskiej kultury, popularyzatorem śpiewania pradawnego polskiego hymnu “Bogurodzicy” i fundatorem Liceum św. Anny w Krakowie, założonego w 1588 roku — szkoły, która do dziś z dumą kontynuuje jego tradycję i nosi jego imię, oraz Liceum w jego rodzinnej Tucholi, która ostatnio też przyjęła jego imię.

On the occasion of this remarkable anniversary, the Ars Activa Foundation, together with representatives of the Nowodworski Foundation, is organizing two unforgettable concerts — one in Kraków, Poland’s historic capital, and the other in Warsaw, the country’s modern capital. World-class musicians and composers will present both classical works and pieces composed especially for this unique occasion. You will hear medieval and contemporary compositions by masters of music and word, transporting you into an extraordinary world of history, art, and reflection.
Z okazji tego wyjątkowego jubileuszu Fundacja Ars Activa wraz z przedstawicielami Nowodworski Foundation organizują dwa niezapomniane koncerty — jeden w Krakowie, historycznej stolicy Polski, a drugi we współczesnej stolicy kraju Warszawie. Światowej klasy muzycy i kompozytorzy zaprezentują zarówno dzieła klasyczne, jak i utwory skomponowane specjalnie na tę niepowtarzalną okazję. Usłyszysz średniowieczne i współczesne kompozycje mistrzów muzyki i słowa, które przeniosą Cię w niezwykły świat historii, sztuki i refleksji.

If you are in the vicinity of Kraków or Warsaw, do not miss this extraordinary celebration of history, music, and cultural heritage. It will be a remarkable event connecting the past with the future, inspired by the exceptional character and heroic spirit of Bartłomiej Nowodworski, who serves as an example for today’s generation of Poles.
Jeśli znajdujesz się w okolicach Krakowa lub Warszawy, nie przegap tego niezwykłego święta historii, muzyki i dziedzictwa kulturowego. Będzie to niezwykłe wydarzenie łączące przeszłość z przyszłością, oparte na wyjątkowym charakterze i bohaterskim duchu Bartłomieja Nowodworskiego, który staje się przykładem dla dzisiejszego pokolenia Polaków.

Visiting Boston’s Polish Harvest Festival

Part I: Polish MeadowMural, group painting (all ages welcome)

Part II: Cracow Nativity Scene Competition introduction (all about the  First International) New York City 2025 Competition.

To see one of our previous Nativity Scene Competition journals  click HERE . This year we invite participants from all continents. For more information about 2025 Competition click HERE.

When: Sunday, September 21, 2015
Where: 655 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA
Time: Start at 1:30 PM

Part I: Polish Meadow — Mural, group painting (all ages welcome)

Thank you to Anna Karam and Sylwia Wadach-Kloczkowska for their invitation and workshop support,  Sebastian Niejadlik for the  preparation of wood panels for our mural, and volunteers Kalija, Serena and Emma.

 


Part II: Cracow Nativity Scene Competition introduction (all about the  First International) 2025 Competition.


 

Art Without Borders: Celebrating Heritage, History, and Community

Revolutionary Harvest Festival

September 13, 2025, at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Ave. Yonkers, NY 10701
12:00 PM — 5:00 PM

Join us in painting the Harvest Festival mural, a community artwork designed by Bobbi Egan, that will transport you back to the spirit of the 18th century!

Revolutionary Harvest Festival, mural design by Bobbi Egan
Revolutionary Harvest Festival Mural – Painted by Yonkers’ residents and their guests

Textile artist Courtney Dudley, from the Catskills, will share her brochure with  secrets of naturally dyeing fabrics with wild plants.

@courtneydudleyart

The Nowodworski Foundation is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins and the Board of Legislators.

We are thrilled to thank Sarah Wassberg Johnson, Program and Event Manager, and Michael A. Lord, Site Director at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site in Yonkers, for their steadfast support of our projects and programs.


 

Metacene Unleashed • This Sunday, June 15th @ 3:00 PM

Reviving Nature’s Harmony • Outdoor Art Opening & Concert

Join representatives of the Nowodworski Foundation for this special opening of an outdoor art installation at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. “Reviving Nature’s Harmony” examines the legacy of human transformation of the earth in the Anthropocene.

Combining invasive bamboo and Indigenous Munsee wampum bean plants, this outdoor art project invites visitors to ponder the impacts of invasive species, the power of native plants, and what role humans play in rebuilding our society’s choices in a way that benefits and supports biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

“Reviving Nature’s Harmony” will remain up for the rest of 2025. The art installation will grow and change over the course of the summer and fall seasons.

Sculpture by
Kathy Creutzberg
Natalia Lesniak
and
Mirabai Kwan Yin

Music by
Jake Elkin

Poem by
Nicole Celeste Anderson

Nowodworski Foundation is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government and with the support of Westchester County Government, and Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site in Yonkers.


 

BOLESŁAW CHROBRY — KONKURS

Dwa konkursy organizowane przez Nowodworski Foundation we współpracy z Centrum Polsko-Słowiańskim, PAVA-SWAP, CPSD

Po konkursie przewidziana jest część artystyczna

Więcej informacji znajdziesz TUTAJ  /
For more info click HERE

Wielki Finał: niedziela 1 czerwca 2PM

Konkurs plastyczny

Dla dzieci (wiek: do klasy 4), zakończony wystawą w Centrum Polsko-Słowiańskim. Prace należy składać 29 maja godz. 16-20 177 Kent Ave. Centrum Polsko-Słowiańskie. Otwarcie wystawy niedziela 1 czerwca godz. 2PM w CPS.

Konkurs wiedzy

Dla dzieci (wiek: od klasy 5+) odbędzie się w niedzielę 1 czerwca w Centrum Polsko-Słowiańskim godz. 2PM. Informacje i regulamin są na stronie www.siteNF.org tel. 914-260-8178

Życzymy dobrej zabawy i sukcesów. Wartościowe nagrody czekają utalentowanych zwycięzców.

Sponsors & Supporters:


 

Traveling to Poland? SAVE THE DATE! 10 – 16 JULY 2025, SOPOT – GDAŃSK

Highly recommended by

Tomasz Konieczny
Bass-baritone
2025 Recipient of the King Jan III Sobieski Award

 

Tomasz Konieczny
in lens of photographer Wojtek Kubik

FIDELIO L V BEETHOVEN T KONIECZNY LISE DAVIDSEN. Photo, Wojtek Kubik
R. WAGNER. Tomasz Konieczny (Alberich) and Eric Owens (Hagen) in “Gotterdammerung”. Photo, Wojtek Kubik.
R. WAGNER. Tomasz Konieczny (Alberich) in “Gotterdammerung”. Photo, Wojtek Kubik.
R. WAGNER. Tomasz Konieczny (Alberich) in “Gotterdammerung”. Photo, Wojtek Kubik.
RICHARD WAGNER. Tomasz Konieczny as Dutchman in “Der Fliegende Hollander”. Photo, Wojtek Kubik
RICHARD WAGNER. Tomasz Konieczny as Dutchman in “Der Fliegende Hollander”. Photo, Wojtek Kubik
Tomasz Konieczny at METROPOLITAN Opera. Photo, Wojtek Kubik

Tomasz Konieczny – Artistic Director of the Baltic Opera Festival

At its core, the Baltic Opera Festival follows from my dream of making full use of the wonderful possibilities and world-class potential of the Forest Opera in Sopot, an extraordinary open-air venue with a history dating back to 1909.

Tomasz Konieczny studied acting at the Łódź Film School, followed by vocal studies at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and the Carl Maria von Weber Dresden University of Music under Professor Christian Elßner. He specialises in German music. His extensive career has taken him to the world’s top stages, including: Oper Leipzig, Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Paris Opera, Carnegie Hall, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo, or Bayreuth Festival. In 2019, at the request of the leadership of the Wiener Staatsoper, he received the highest professional award in the German-speaking opera world: the title of the Österreichischer Kammersänger. In 2022, in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the development of Polish culture, he was presented with the Gold Gloria Artis Medal for Merits to Culture by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.

Click the link for the Performances program
Click the link for the Performances program

 

INSPIRED BY NATURE: Purple Coneflower

INSPIRED BY NATURE – Painting Purple Coneflower

FREE ZOOM ART WORKSHOP: Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 at 5:00 PM. To sign up for this program send an email to office@sitenf.org with a note WORKSHOP in the subject line. We will email you ZOOM ID and password.


Come be a part of our step-by-step art workshop, where you’ll discover the fun of painting flowers using the wax resist technique.

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is a flowering plant native to eastern North America, belonging to the daisy family Asteraceae. It is often used as a dietary supplement, particularly for its potential benefits in supporting the immune system and reducing the chances of catching a cold.

To see our previous workshops click HERE  and scroll down.

Materials Needed:

  • Watercolor paints
  • Brushes
  • Set of crayons
  • Two small containers for water
  • A few sheets of heavier paper (any size)
  • Something to protect your table/desk


 

25 Years of the Nowodworski Foundation: Through the Lens of Wojtek Kubik

Photographer Wojtek Kubik captures the essence of the Nowodworski Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Concert and Dance at the Bronxville Women’s Club on March 8, 2025. The evening featured performances by renowned bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, recipient of the King Jan III Sobieski Award for championing Polish culture worldwide. To see photos click HERE

Tomasz Konieczny 2025 Recipient of the King Jan III Sobieski Award

Tomasz Konieczny 2025 Recipient
of the King Jan III Sobieski Award

for promoting Polish vocal and acting school with his talent and professionalism on the world’s finest opera stages


King Jan III Sobieski Award

Life of King Jan III Sobieski is a prime example  of the benefits of  study abroad and learning culture of other nations.

Jan Sobieski III (1629-1696) Polish King, the famous defender of Europe in the Battle of Vienna (against the Ottoman Empire) in 1683
Jan Sobieski III (1629-1696)
Polish King, the famous defender
of Europe in the Battle of Vienna
(against the Ottoman Empire) in 1683

King Jan III Sobieski (1629 –1696) was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death, as the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski s 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth s stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and Khmelnitsky Uprising. Popular among his subjects, he was also a brilliant military commander, most famous for the victory over the Turks in the 1683 Battle of Vienna

For his victories over the Ottoman Empire, he was dubbed by the Turks the Lion of Lechistan. Sobieski graduated from the Nowodworski Secondary School in Kraków, the oldest in Poland, and the cradle of the Nowodworski Foundation. After finishing his studies at the Jagiellonian University Jan left for Western Europe, where he spent years studying and traveling. During that time he met major political figures: Louis II de Bourbon, Charles II of England and William II, Prince of Orange, he also learned French, German, Italian, Turkish and Latin. This proved to be vital during his later military career. He sponsored arts and architecture. In literature he was recognizedfor love letters written to his wife Marysienka, Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d’Arquien.

Bronze medal created by sculptor Andrew Pitynski
Bronze medal created by sculptor Andrew Pitynski

Andrew Pitynski, medal creator, is also an author of numerous sculptures for public monuments in the United States and Poland. A recipient of various honors and awards, during an interview he replied to a question on the role of monuments in life: a monument is an expressive symbol. A good one, looked at for even a few minutes will remain in memory for years or even for one’s entire lifetime. Monuments are the milestones in a nation’s history – they will not allow other systems and governments to destroy the core values of a national culture.