Maja Trochimczyk (l) and poet Ambika Talwar (r) after the 2022 Independence Day Parade
Ladies and gentlemen,
As the newly-elected President of Klub Kultury im. Helena Modrzejewska in Los Angeles for the years 2022-2024, I wish all members and friends of our Club all the best for the Independence Day of our country, the United States of America. I am proud of the contribution of Poles and the Polish diaspora to the development and growth of the USA - from the heroes of the revolutionary war to actors, artists and musicians of the present day.
As the newly-elected President of Klub Kultury im. Helena Modrzejewska in Los Angeles for the years 2022-2024, I wish all members and friends of our Club all the best for the Independence Day of our country, the United States of America. I am proud of the contribution of Poles and the Polish diaspora to the development and growth of the USA - from the heroes of the revolutionary war to actors, artists and musicians of the present day.
Some of our predecessors in the US include:
• Heroes fighting for independence: Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817), an engineer and hero of the struggle for independence of the US and Poland, who designated his entire estate in his will for the release of slaves; Kazimierz Pułaski (1745-1779), who died in the battle for American freedom; Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz (1758-1841), one of the co-authors of the May 3rd Constitution, who, after a few years in the USA with Kościuszko, brought the American revolutionary ideals of freedom and equality to Poland.
• writers and poets: Aleksander Janta-Polczyński (1908-1974), officer of the Polish Army cavalry, bibliophile, poet, historian of Polish music in the US; Czesław Miłosz (1911–2004), Nobel laureate, poet, essayist, UC Berkeley professor, our guest; John Guzlowski (born 1948), son of former prisoners of German camps, who devoted several volumes of poetry to his parents (read in the Club); and Stuart Dybek (born 1942), a writer about whom the new club member, Jerzy Kossek, will give a lecture.
• painters and artists: Władysław T. Benda (1873–1948) - Helena Modrzejewska's cousin, art deco illustrator; Tamara de Lempicka (1898–1980), famous for her art deco portraits; Julian Stańczak (1928–2017), injured in a Soviet gulag, learned to paint with his left hand in a refugee camp in Africa and became an outstanding creator of Op-Art; Stanisław Szukalski (1893–1987), the first artistic director of our Club, a sculptor and author of a great deal strange and controversial theories that better not be published; and Jerzy Szeptycki (1915-2004), architect who designed over 30 churches in California and elsewhere.
• actors and directors: Helena Modrzejewska (1840-1909) great actress and patron of our Club; Pola Negri (1897-1987), Hollywood star, beloved Valentino, founder of the Polish church; Leonidas Dudarew Ossetyński (1910-1989), veteran WWII, actor, director, journalist, founder of the Club; Stefanie Powers (born 1942), actress, winner of 5 Golden Globe Awards, club activist in the first decade; Barbara Krafftówna (1928-2022),invited here by Ossetynski in 1982, recipient of our Modjeska Prize in 2012; and director Jerzy Antczak (b. 1929) with his wife, actress Jadwiga Barańska (b. 1935) honorary members of our Club, Ms. Barańska received our Modjeska Prize in 2018.
• musicians: Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), composer, pianist, prime minister, activist for the independence of Poland; Roman Maciejewski (1910-1998), composer of the monumental Requiem, which is closely related to the genesis of our Club; and Stefan (Stephen) Pasternacki, forgotten film music composer, co-founder of the Club.
Many other names of representatives of the Polish community who actively contributed to building American culture can be found on the Internet. However, the Wikipedia list contains some names of people who are no longer related to Polish culture, although they are famous creators of American culture.
Many other names of representatives of the Polish community who actively contributed to building American culture can be found on the Internet. However, the Wikipedia list contains some names of people who are no longer related to Polish culture, although they are famous creators of American culture.
I think that our Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club can do a lot to promote Polish culture in the USA. Our activities so far are possible thanks to the great American traditions of freedom, independence, and tolerance, welcoming immigrants and giving them a home.
I have certainly felt welcome here! I'm an immigrant to California since 1996, an American citizen since 2009. Tomorrow, I'm walking in the parade, giving out postcards with poems and "America the Beautiful" during the Independence Day Parade, as part of Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga. You can read about this project on our blog: http://villagepoets.
Best wishes to all on the occasion of Independence Day!
Dr Maja Trochimczyk
President
Dr Maja Trochimczyk
President
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