History

HELENA MODJESKA ART AND CULTURE CLUB

OUR HISTORY

Established in 1971 by actor-director-journalist Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetynski with Stefan Pasternacki, Waclaw Gazinski and Eleanora Domachowska, Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. The Club is a charitable, cultural and a-political organization, dedicated to the promotion of the Polish culture, as well as Polish arts and sciences in California. As a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit, with the IRS Tax Determination number EIN 20-3491956, the Club sponsors important cultural events in Los Angeles and its environs for the general public. During the past five decades of its existence, the Modjeska Club has made a significant contribution to the enrichment of the ethnic mosaic of Southern California. Financed by membership dues and individual donations, the Club invites eminent guests from Poland and organizes meetings with artists, actors, film directors, scholars, journalists, musicians and government officials. It presents concerts, film screenings, performances and exhibitions.

Videos from Club events, zoom lectures, and TV programs about the Club are on sa na Modjeska Club Playlist of Moonrise Press on YouTube. Links are also posted on our modjeska.org and modrzejewska.org websites. Selected links to articles about the Club are listed below. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3q7UTBe4d0dkYgLAXOjz4t2-r7zF1ECV


Maja Trochimczyk, Beata Pozniak, Marek Probosz and Consul Pawel Lickiewicz, 
50th anniversary Ball, Pasadena, October 10, 2022

In October 2021, the Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with the 50th Anniversary Ball, held at the University Club of Pasadena, and including award presentations for two Modjeska Prize winners, Beata Pozniak and Jan Englert, as well as diploma for various Club activists, including scrolls, certificates and resolutions from theConsul General of the Republic of Poland, Jaroslaw Lasinski, State of California's Senator Antony Portantino, Orange County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Donald P. Wagner, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Berger, and City of Los Angeles Councilwoman, Monika Rodriguez. Prof. Wojciech Kocyan, of Loyola Marymount University played Chopin's waltz, and MC Marek Probosz led the present in a lovely polonaise.  The ball was attended by about 100 guests, delighted to finally being able to leave their homes and meet after the worst shutdowns of the pandemic. POLAM FCU, Polish Center of Los Angeles were among sponsors of this event. 

Invitation to Christmas party in the 40th anniversary year, 2011. 

The 50th Anniversary of the Club was also honored with a 380-page large-format book (pages size 8.5 x 11 in.), illustrated with hundreds of photographs, and presenting the history of the Club, lists of events, reviews or descriptions of events, interviews, essays, and more.  The Album 50-lecia Klubu Kultury im. Heleny Modrzejewskiej included texts by about 20 authors, and was edited by Maja Trochimczyk, Elzbieta Kanski and Dr. Elzbieta Trybus. Supported with a grant from the Consulate General of the REpublic of Poland, this book is available for free on the modrzejewska.org website, and moonrisepress.com website, as well as in separate chapters for each period posted in appropriate sections of the archives of the modrzejewska.org website.



FREE PDF ALBUM 50-LECIA KLUBU, IN POLISH
http://moonrisepress.com/album-50-lecia-klubu.html


ISBN 978-1-945938-55-9, paperback; ISBN 978-1-945938-56-6, hardcover

ISBN 978-1-945938-57-3, e-book in e-Pub format

In December 2023, Moonrise Press published Celebrating Modjeska in California: History of Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club by Maja Trochimczyk, the Club's President in 2010-12 and since 2018. This 428-page case study of a Polonian organization reveals the interests, activities, successes and challenges of successive waves of Polish immigrants to America, especially the generation of the Displaced Persons (survivors and veterans of World War II, mostly interwar Polish intelligentsia), and of the Solidarity-era (activists of anti-communist movement, "tourists" who came to work and overstayed their visas, and creative/enterprising individuals seeking to further their careers).  The book is dedicated to "all Polish émigrés and exiles dispersed throughout the world who remained faithful to the Polish language and culture, especially to all the volunteers of the Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club in Los Angeles, promoting Polish culture in California." This volume consists of ten chapters starting from a biography of the Club's patron, actress Helena Modjeska (1840-1909); a survey of Polish Americans and their organizations in California; and a biography of the Club's founder, actor Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetynski (1910-1989). Six chapters are dedicated to "eras" in the Club's history, from the Kingdom of Leonidas (1971-1978), through the times of Solidarity immigrants (1978-1989), the birth of the Third Republic of Poland (1989-1998), the period of stabilization and status quo (1998-2010), the arrival of new people and ideas (2010-2018), to surviving challenges (2018-2023). The tenth chapter is a summary with conclusions and recommendations. The book includes index and many illustrations from the archives of: Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club, Polish Museum of America in Chicago, Valerie Dudarew-Ossetynska Hunken - the founder's daughter, American Council of Polish Culture (formerly "of Polish Cultural Clubs"), Institute of National Remembrance, Maja Trochimczyk, and other private and public archives. All net revenue is donated to the Modjeska Club.

⦾  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  ⦾ 



The project is financed by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland as part of the Competition “Polonia and Poles Abroad 2023.” The publication expresses only the views of the author and cannot be identified with an official position of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The work is part of the project entitled "I will show you Poland —stimulating the Polish community and Poles abroad to act in the Polish national interest."

Projekt finansowany ze środków Kancelarii Prezesa Rady Ministrów Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej w ramach konkursu „Polonia i Polacy za Granicą 2023”. Publikacja wyraża jedynie poglądy autora i nie może być utożsamiana z oficjalnym stanowiskiem Kancelarii Prezesa Rady Ministrów. Praca jest częścią projektu pt. „Pokażę Ci Polskę – stymulowanie środowisk Polonii i Polaków poza granicami kraju do działania w polskim interesie narodowym”.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT

We would like to inform you that our organization has received a grant from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister as part of the Polonia and Poles Abroad 2023 competition. Poject Name: "I will show you Poland - stimulating the Polish community and Poles abroad to act in the Polish national interest." Grant amount for 2023 - PLN 38,500.00 ($8,900.00). Date of signing the contract: July 20, 2023. Project Title: "Celebrating Modjeska in California: History of Helena Modjeska Art & Culture Club" - co-financing and publication of 50 copies of the book.
 
COLLABORATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

The Club collaborates with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland that has funded many of its programs and events, for instance three performances and lectures in the spring of 2023, as part of the Spring of Polish Culture in the Western United States. Earlier collaborations brought to Los Angeles Teatr Fantazja from Sydney, Australia, as well as numerous other theatrical and musical performances. 


The collaborations extend to such well-known Los Angeles cultural institutions as the Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles and the Polish Music Center at the University of Southern California. Other partners have included UCLA, Art Center College of Design, the Autry Museum, Jacaranda-Music on the Edge, L.A. Master Chorale, Bowers Museum, and Polish American organizations in San Diego, San Francisco, and Riverside. The Club’s members are Polish-American professionals who wish to learn more about and promote Polish culture. Members include college professors, managers, artists, musicians, doctors, lawyers, and business owners, who personally participate in the organization of events and theatrical performances.

Krystyna Kuszta, Barbara Krafftówna, Jolanta Zych, Tadeusz Podkanski.

The Club organized hundreds of cultural events, among them public meetings and interviews with distinguished representatives of Polish arts and sciences (including Nobel Prize winner, poet Czesław Miłosz and Oscar winner, film director Andrzej Wajda); lectures by eminent scholars, politicians, and athletes (e.g., Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz; and Irena Szewińska, Olympic medal winner); film screenings; classical music and jazz concerts; as well as presentations of theatrical plays, and cabaret shows. Thousands of Southern California residents, including Americans and Polish-Americans, had an opportunity to participate in the Club’s events. 

Club Members at the Modjeska Exhibit after Maja Trochimczyk's Lecture, 
March 2019, Laguna Art Museum

 For its activity in promoting Polish culture, the Club and its volunteer presidents have received numerous state awards from Poland, including the Medal from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland „For Meritorious Contribution to Polish Culture” for the club and over 20 of its past presidents and board members. Awards include the 2009  Special Award from the Union of Polish Stage Artists, and the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for its founder, actor, director and writer Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński. For its 40th anniversary in 2011, the Modjeska Club received a Resolution of the City Council of Los Angeles, a large scroll from the five Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, and congratulations from the State of California Assembly and Senate.

Andrzej Wajda with Modjeska Club Board

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS OF THE MODJESKA CLUB

Over the years, the Modjeska Club hosted numerous distinguished guests who discussed their contributions to the arts or research and represented the following domains of Polish culture. Some of their names are listed below.

Theater and Film - Directors:
Piotr Adamczyk, Jerzy Antczak,  Filip Bajon, Balbina Bruszewska, Ryszard Bugajski, prof. Janusz Degler, Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński, Jan Englert, Jerzy Grotowski,  Jerzy Hoffmann, Agnieszka Holland, Grzegorz Jarzyna, Zbigniew Kamiński,Janusz Kamiński, Dorota Kędzierzawska, Jan Kidawa-Błoński, Lech Majewski, Barbara Myszyńska, Maria Pilatowicz, Mark Robson, Zbigniew Rybczyński, Jerzy Skolimowski, Jolanta Siemieniewska; Stefan Szlachtycz, Jerzy Stuhr, Henryk Tomaszewski, Andrzej Wajda, Hugh Welchman, Ophra Yerushalmi, Krzysztof Zanussi, Janusz Zaorski, and Zbigniew Zamachowski.


Agata Pilitowska and Maria Nowotarska with their Modjeska Prize,
the Board of the Modjeska Club, and Consul Pawel Lickiewicz, January 2020.

Theater and Film - Actors:
Piotr Adamczyk,  Jadwiga Barańska (Modjeska Prize 2018), Balbina Bruszewska,  Marek Chodaczynski, Piotr Cyrvus, Renata Danska, Jan Englert (Modjeska Prize 2021), Paulino Garcia, Robert Gliński, Stanisław Gorka, Artur Gotz, Jerzy Grotowski, Marcin Harasimowicz, Marta Honzatko, Alina Janowska, Krzysztof Janczar, Grzegorz Jarzyna, Emilian Kamiński, Janusz Kamiński, Aleksandra Kaniak, Dorota Kędzierzawska, Jerzy Kopczewski, Tomasz Kot, Barbara Krafftówna (Modjeska Prize 2012), Szymon Kusmider, Jan Machulski, Maria Mamona, Jan Matyjaszkiewicz, Jan Nowicki (Modjeska Prize 2010), Maria Nowotarska (Modjeska Prize 2019), Anna Nehrebecka, Daniel Olbrychski, Marta Ojrzynska, Marian Opania, Stefanie Powers, Jan Pietrzak, Agata Pilitowska (Modjeska Prize 2019), Małgorzata Potocka, Beata Poźniak (Modjeska Prize 2021), Marek Probosz (Modjeska Prize 2022),  Omar Sangare, Zofia Saretok, Katarzyna Smiechowicz (Modjeska Prize 2022), Beata Ścibakówna, Andrzej Seweryn (Modjeska Prize 2020), Anna Seniuk, Justyna Sienczyłło,  Danuta Stenka, Jerzy Stuhr, Danuta Szaflarska, Grażyna Szapołowska, Joanna Szczepkowska, Włodzimierz Staniewski; Jerzy Trela, Marcin Walewski, Wojciech Wysocki, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Magda Zawadzka,  Wiktor Zborowski, and Artur Zmijewski.

Theater and Film - Ensembles: 
Ossetynski Actors Laboratory, Teatrzyk Eskulap, Polski Teatr Esperanto,  Teatr Gardzienice, Teatr Provisorium, Teatr ZAR, Teatr Fantazja from Sydney, Australia, Teatr Polski of Toronto (over 10 times),  Wrocławski Teatr Lalek, Teatr Hybrydy of Warsaw University, and other, amateur groups, such as Old Gents' Cabaret (Kabaret Starszych Panow) of Club PIE, or the Cabaret of Polish Club of Las Vegas. 

Film director Lech Majewski with Elzbieta Kanski, Spring 2018.

Literature:
Jarosław Abramow‐Neverly, prof. Jerzy Bralczyk, Olgierd Budrewicz, Marek Jan Chodakiewicz, Agnieszka Couderq, Krzysztof Dzikowski (lyricist), Leszek Długosz  (poet), Artur Domosławski, Magdalena Grzebalkowska, John Z. Guzlowski (poet), Aleksander Janta - Połczyński, red. Julita Karkowska, Jan Kott, prof. Leonard Kress (poet), prof. Roman Koropeckyj, Wieslaw Kuniczak, red. Michal Maliszewski, Czesław Miłosz (poet), Jan Nowak‐Jeziorański, Maria Pilatowicz, prof. Iwo Cyprian Pogonowski, Edward Redliński, Michał Rusinek, Harvey Sarner, Jan Tadeusz Stanisławski, Adrianna Szymańska, Olga Tokarczuk, Teresa Torańska, and Adam Zagajewski (poet). 

Classical Music 
Dorota Anderszewska i Piotr Anderszewski, Michał Białek, Joanna Bruzdowicz, Halina Czerny‐Stefańska,  Guitar Quartet of Poznan, Maciej Grzybowski, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Mark Alan Hilt, Kevin Kenner, Prof. Wojciech Kocyan (multiple times), Adam Kośmieja, Róża Kostrzewska‐Yoder, Veronika Krausas, Teresa Kubiak, Hanna Kulenty (2 times), Kate Liu, Roman Maciejewski (multiple times), Jan Jakub Omsky (multiple times), Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz,  Joanna Rózewska-Kolasinska, Beata Rybotycka, Krystian Tkaczewski, Katarzyna Sadej, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, Joanna Trzeciak,  Bartosz Urbanowicz,  Stefan Wenta (dancer and choreographer), Marta Wryk, pianists Lukasz, Dominik and Kasper Yoder, Krystian Zimmerman, and Marek Żebrowski.


Kasper, Dominik, Lukasz Yoder with the Board of the Modjeska Club
at the Wojciech Kocyan Residence in Baldwin Hills, CA , September 2019.

Film, Jazz and Popular Music: 
Grażyna Auguscik, Adrianna Biedrzynska, Ewa Błaszczyk, Stan Borys,  Jacek Cygan, Diane Davidson with Dixy Co., Urszula Dudziak, Krzesimir Dębski,  Marta Honzatko, Elżbieta Jodłowska, Anna Kostrzewska, Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Olivia Kierdal, Miro Kepinski, Konrad Mastyło, Wojciech Młynarski, Karolina Naziemiec, Arkadiusz Niezgoda,  Darek Oleszkiewicz,  Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz, Piramidy group, Piotr Kajetan Matczuk with Tomasz Imienowski, Piotr Rubik, Beata Rybotycka, Andrzej Sikorowski,  Grzegorz Turnau, Wiktoria Tracz,  Magda Umer, Jacek Wójcicki,  Aga Zaryan, and Maciej Zembaty. 

Modjeska Club members and guests at JPL/NASA Auditorium, 2011.

Art:
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Marek Dzida, Barbara Hulanicka, Janusz Kapusta, Ewa Matysek-Mazur, Prof dr. hab. Andrzej Mazur, Danuta Künstler‐Langer, Monique Chmielewski Lehman (multiple times), Zbigniew Nyczak, Prof. dr. hab. Andrzej Rottermund, Stanisław Szukalski, Andrzej Kołodziej. 

Exhibitions:  Portraits of the Pope John Paul II (Adam Bujak, Grzegorz Gałązka, Arturo Mari, Ryszard Rzepecki), Witold Kaczanowski, Polish Film Poster (with the Autry Museum), Tomasz Misztal, Rafał Olbiński, Prof. dr hab. Jan Wiktor Sienkiewicz, Anna Socha VanMatre, Alina Szapocznikow (Sculpture Exhibition at the Hammer Muzeum), Leszek Szurkowski, Bruno Schultz (a collaboration with the San Diego Muzeum), 50 Years of Art: Artists of the Modjeska Club (Stanislaw Szukalski, Zbigniew Nyczak, Janusz Maszkiewicz, Leonard Konopelski, and Slawek Wisniewski), and many more.


Monique Lehman with her artwork at Hellada Gallery 
after her lecture during the exhibit, 2018

 Politics and Economics:
Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz,  Konsul Roman Czarny, Ambassador Przemysław Grudziński, Maciej Henzler (WWII Veteran), First Lady Maria Kaczyńska, Jan Karski, Jacek Kalabiński, Konsul Generalny Krzysztof Kasprzyk, Gen. Stanislaw Karpinski (Commander of Polish Air Force in England during WWII), Krzysztof Kozłowski, prof. Andrzej Korboński, Antoni Macierewicz, Aleksander Małachowski, Adam Michnik (3 times), Leszek Moczulski, Ks. Biskup Tadeusz Pieronek, Małgorzata Piętkiewicz‐Jedynak, Witold Osiatyński, Ambassador Janusz Reiter, Col. Stanisław Skalski (ace in the Battle of Britain), Władysław Siła-Nowicki, Jerzy Surdykowski, Bronislaw Wildstein,  Janusz Zawadzki, and Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski, Meetings with Polish Survivors of Soviet Deportations to Siberia in WWII (Sybiriacy, twice).

Sciences and Discoveries (Travel):
Artur Bartosz Chmielewski, Andrew Dowen, Prof. Norman Davies, Witold Fraczek, prof. Krzysztof Górski, Marcin Gortat, Dr. Góryński, Prof. Beth Holmgren, Dr. Jana Iwanczyk, Dr. Bogusław Kuszta, David Lehman, Edward Piłatowicz, Maria Piłatowicz, Bogdan Plewnia, Edi and Asia Pyrek, Witold Fraczek, Prof. Jan Wiktor Sienkiewicz, Dr. Witold Sokołowski, and Marek Tuszyński.


Barbara Krafftowna Receives the Modjeska Prize 2012, at the opening of
the Polish Film Festival, Los Angeles

Andrzj Seweryn Receives the Modjeska Prize 2020 on Zoom. 


Modjeska Prize 2018 presented to Jadwiga Baranska

HELENA MODJESKA PRIZES  

In 2010, in order to commemorate its patron, famous Polish actress Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska) and honor the achievements of distinguished Polish actors, the Modjeska Club established the Annual Modjeska Prize awarded to recognize the lifetime of contributions of eminent actors to Polish culture. Representatives of county and state government of California often join in these celebrations and present Resolutions or Commendations for the awardees. 

The first Modjeska Prize was awarded in October 2010 to eminent actor Jan Nowicki.  The second Modjeska Prize of 2011 was divided between Anna Dymna (the award was presented in Krakow, Poland) and Marian Dziędziel (the award was presented at the opening of Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles). The following Modjeska Prize was awarded to Barbara Krafftówna in 2012, at the opening of the Polish Film Festival, with a follow up event - interview and performance at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Iwanczyk in Brentwood. .


Jan Nowicki receives the 2010 Modjeska Prize for Eminent Polish Actors.


Congratulations to Anna Dymna from the City of Los Angeles
for winning the Modjeska Prize in 2011, with Maja Trochimczyk, President

In 2018 club honored charismatic actress and Honorary Member of the Modjeska Club, Jadwiga Baranska. The presentation took place during the Christmas Caroling party at the McGroarty Arts Center, with legendary soprano Teresa Kubiak and Prof. Wojciech Kocyan presenting art versions of selected Polish carols. Children of members in folk costumes sung some traditional carols as well. Potluck holiday dinner rounded up the celebrations. 

the 2019 Modjeska Prize was awarded to two actresses from the Polish Theater of Toronto, Agata Pilitowska i Maria Nowotarska who repeatedly performed for the Modjeska Club for over 20 years. 

The 2020 Modjeska Prize was presented virtually to Andrzej Seweryn during a Zoom interview. He had appeared in Polish, German, and French theater and films and discussed his long and successful career in Poland and France. The interview with the awardee was conducted by actress Katarzyna Smiechowicz.  The interview was posted online and transcribed for inclusion in the 50th anniversary album of the Club. In September 2023, Katarzyna Smiechowicz as VP of the Modjeska Club presented the prize in person to Andrzej Seweryn at a gala event during the Gdynia Polish Film Festival. 

2019 Modjeska Prize for Maria Nowotarska and Agata Pilitowska.

Prezentacja Nagrody im. H. Modrzejewskiej dla Jadwigi Baranskiej, 2018

The 2021 Awardees were Beata Pozniak and Jan Englert. The Prizes were presented during the October 2021 50th Anniversary Ball in Pasadena. Ms. Pozniak received her Modjeska Prize in person and prepared a video documenting the event that's available online. Mr. Englert was only present virtually and later came to California with his wife, Beata Scibakowna for a presentation of the Modjeska Prize in Person. This event took place in September 2022. At that time they also performed "Kwiaty Polskie" by Julian Tuwim in Beverly Hills for the Modjeska Club and in Vista, San Diego County for Amfitheater Jaskolka of Marek and Halina Brzeszcz. 

Anna Sadowska, Maja Trochimczyk present diplomas for Jan Englert, 
Modjeska Prize Presentation, September 2022


In May 2022, the Board of Modjeska Club voted to award Modjeska Prizes to California-based Polish actors Katarzyna Smiechowicz and Marek Probosz. The presentation took place at the residence of Monique Chmielewska Lehman and David Lehman in Pasadena in February 2023. 

The 2023 Modjeska Prize awardee is legendary Polish actor Janusz Gajos. The date and place of the Modjeska Prize presentation depends on his schedule.  It will take place in Poland either in June or September 2024. 

Presentation of Modjeska Prizes 2022 to Katarzyna Smiechowicz and Marek Probosz, 
with Board Members: Maja Trochimczyk, Anna Sadowska, Beata Czajkowska, February 2023


AWARDS FOR THE MODJESKA CLUB 

The following list includes awards and honors for the Modjeska Club and its members who have made a significant contribution to the promotion of Polish culture in California.
  • 1997 – Medal from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland, „For Meritorious Contribution to Polish Culture”
  • 2009 – Special Awards from the Union of Polish Stage Artists ZASP, „For the promotion of Polish culture abroad”
  • 2011 – Proclamation and Resolution of the City Council of Los Angeles, signed by the entire City Council and senior officials
  • 2011-12 – Commendations by the County of Los Angeles, signed by Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the entire Board of Supervisors

Awards and Commendations for the 50th Anniversary of the Modjeska Club:
  • 2021 -  Commendation and Plaque from the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles 
  • 2021 – Commendation by the County of Los Angeles, a scroll from the Supervisor Kathryn Berger
  • 2021 – Commendation by the City of Los Angeles, a scroll from the Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez
  • 2021 – Commendation by the County of Orange, a resolution and scroll from Supervisor Donald P. Wagner. 
  • 2021 – Commendation by the State of California, large scroll from the Senator Anthony Portantino. 


Individual Awards for the Club’s Presidents and Members of the Board:
  • 2021 - Commendation for the 50th anniversary of the Club to the President Maja Trochimczyk from California Senator Antony Portantino, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and Orange County Supervisor Donald P. Wagner. 
  • 2021 - Commendations and Scrolls for the 50th anniversary of the Club from Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger for Modjeska Prize winners Jan Englert & Beata Poźniak,  as well volunteer board members and presidents in previous terms: past Vice President dr  Krystyna Bartkowska, past President Andrew Z. Dowen, and past Board member and Treasurer, Maria Kubal.
  • 2013 – Medals from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland  „for the promotion of Polish culture abroad” for 19 members of the Board, former presidents, founders and other active members of the club (listed in chronological order of their involvement with the club) on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Club: Wanda Baran, Franciszka Tuszyńska, Stephanie Powers, Stefan Wenta, Jan Gąssowski (past president), Tadeusz Podkański, Vitold Tchaikovsky (past president), Sophie Tchaikovsky  (past president), Tadeusz Bociański (past president), Edward Piłatowicz (past president), Maria Piłatowicz, Jolanta Zych (past president), Krystyna Kuszta, Krystyna Okuniewski, Andrzej Maleski (past president), Danuta  Żuchowska, Dorota Olszewska (past president), Elżbieta Kańska (past president), and Dr. Maja Trochimczyk (president).
  • 2013 – Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński (1910-1989), Modjeska Club founder, actor, director, and writer, received posthumously the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Club 
  • 2011-2012 – Dr. Maja Trochimczyk (President since 2010), Resolution of the City Council of Los Angeles, and Commendation by the County of Los Angeles’ Board of Supervisors on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Modjeska Club and for 15 years of volunteering in cultural organizations in LA.
  • 2009 – Dorota Olszewska (Club President in 2006-2008), an award from the Union of Polish Stage Artists (ZASP) „For the promotion of Polish culture abroad”
  • 2003 – Jolanta Zych (Club President in 1998-2006), the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for promoting Polish culture abroad
  • 2000 – Tomasz Kachelski (Club Treasurer for many years),  the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for promoting Polish culture abroad
  • 1998 – for their contributions to promoting Polish culture abroad, the following individuals received Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland:
                      • Tadeusz Bociański (President in 1983-1989, also served on the Board)
                      • Zofia Czajkowska  (Vice President in 1984-1994, President in 1994-1995)
                      • Maria Piłatowicz (Vice President and Board member for over 16 years)
                      • Edward Piłatowicz (President in 1996-1998, Board Member in 1981-1986)
  • 1994 – Witold Czajkowski (President in 1990-1993), for his contribution to the promotion of Polish culture abroad, received the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland from the President of the Republic of Poland.

Krzysztof Zanussi with Jolanta Zych and Andrzej Maleski

Jerzy Antczak, Jadwiga Baranska, Jan Kidawa-Blonski (gosci)
Prezes Maja Trochimczyk, byly prezes Andrzej Maleski, 2011.
   
  LIST OF CLUB PRESIDENTS 

Dr. Maja Trochimczyk (2018-2024)
Andrew Dowen (2013-2018)
Elzbieta Kanski (2012-2013)
Dr. Maja Trochimczyk (2010-2012)
Andrzej Maleski (2008-2010)
Dorota Czajka-Olszewska (2006-2008)
Jolanta Zych (1998-2006)
Edward Piłatowicz (1996-1998)
Zofia Czajkowska (1994-1996)
Witold Czajkowski (1990-1994)
Tadeusz Bociański (1983-1989)
Jerzy Gąssowski (1979-1983)
Andrzej Mikulski (1978, died in 1978)
Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetyński (1971-1978)

Prof. Norman Davies with Club Board and Activists, 2012 and an anniversary poster 
by Lech Majewski.

HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE MODJESKA CLUB
  • Eminent Artists (10): †Leonidas Dudarew-Ossetynski, film director Jerzy Antczak and actress Jadwiga Barańska, graphic designer †Eva Chodkiewicz-Swider, actress Elzbieta Jodłowska; actress †Zofia Dobrzańska; artist Leonard Konopelski; dancer and choreographer †Stefan Wenta; actress Stephanie Powers, and actress Alicja Bobrowska, 
  • Former Members of the Consular Corps with Spouses (11): Mariusz Brymora (2023), Roman Czarny, †Krzysztof and Marta Kasprzyk, Maciej and Renata Krych, Jaroslaw Lasinski, Wojciech Siewierski, Jan Szewc, and Tomasz Trafas with his wife Anna. 
  • Former Club Presidents, Board Members with Spouses (18):  †Tadeusz and Elżbieta Bociański; †Teresa Domańska-Ossetyński, Dr. †Franciszka Tuszyńska; Jerzy Gąssowski; Tomasz Heller;†Klara Konopelska; Dr. Bogdan and Krystyna Kuszta; Tomasz and Anna Kachelski; Krystyna Okuniewski; Edward and Maria Piłatowicz; Tadeusz  Podkański; †Jacek Swider; Witold & Zofia Tchaikovsky (Czajkowski); and Adam and Jolanta Zych.
Crosses indicate that the honoree died since the recognition.

Andrzej Seweryn with Andy Dowen, President, fall 2017.




From the Club's archives: An envelope with the Club’s anniversary stamp and design by sculptor and artist Stanisław Szukalski (1893-1987), celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Copernicus, Mikołaj Kopernik (19 February 1973, stamp issued on 23 April 1973). Szukalski also designed a Monument to Modjeska that the Club planned to build in the 1970s.

The evolution of  the Club’s emblem, a Polish crowned eagle. Top right: Design by Stanisław Szukalski (1970s), Center: design by Leonard Konopelski (1980s).

Club Logo Design by Ewa Swider, 1996.

The club has not forgotten its patron, Helena Modjeska. In 1993, Maria Nowotarska of Toronto presented a play by Kazimerz Braun. In 2009, a world premiere of  a Modjeska film documentary by Barbara Myszynska was held in Los Angeles. A play about Modjeska with replica costumes of the actress from the collection by Chris Chiepły was written and presented by Ewa Boryczko at the Bowers Museum and in Brentwood (2012). Prof. Beth Holmgren, Modjeska's biographer, gave a lecture about the actress and her achievements at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana in 2011. Dr Maja Trochimczyk gave a lecture about Modjeska for the Laguna Art Museum in 2019. Marta Ojrzynska presented the world premiere of her  experimental play, “Helena” in 2019. Several times the Modjeska Club attempted to create a monument to its patron. Projects of monuments were designed by Stanisław Szukalski in the 1970s and by Tomasz Misztal in the 1980s and 2010s (two projects). Even though none of these monuments have been built, it is important to remember about them. 

Project of Modjeska Monument by Tomasz Misztal
To find out more, read an article by Maria Pilatowicz in the Cosmopolitan Review, 2015:
http://cosmopolitanreview.com/modjeska-club/

An update of the Modjeska Club history was written by Dr. Elzbieta Trybus in 2021 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the organization, "Polish Culture in Los Angeles: History of Helena Modjeska
Art & Culture Club," Polonia Inter Gentes No. 2 (2021): 113-120. The journal is published by Catholic University in Lublin (KUL).  PDF Posted on modjeska.org website as well as on the Biblioteka Nauki website: https://www.bibliotekanauki.po/articles/2177362.pdf
.

ARTICLES AND VIDEO CLIPS 
  • Video from the presentation of the 2020 Modjeska Prize to Andrzej Seweryn. Interview conducted by Katarzyna Smiechowicz, January 2, 2021.https://youtu.be/gXguc-S6qrg
Anna Sadowska i Maja Trochimczyk with the Modjeska Prize for Andrzej Seweryn, 2 Jan. 2021.
  • Poland and Hollywood, video interview with  Kasia Smiechowicz, Marek Probosz i Matt Szymanowski by Elzbieta Kanska, 14 November 2020. https://youtu.be/aGKb14MoOBE

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