Embassy Events
Student Rock Band, Provocative Art Work Feature in Fulbright Teacher's Exhibit Opening
June 4, 2008
Despite a sudden downpour of rain, guests at the June 4 opening of the "Odrazy/Reflections” exhibit at Bratislava City Library's outdoor Summer Reading Room enjoyed both professional and student art work under the brick alcoves and the music of student rock band, RocKids. In opening remarks, Public Affairs Officer Edward Kemp and artist Jessica Perry expressed thanks to Juraj Sebesta, Director of Bratislava City Library, for inviting this show by an American Fulbright teacher and her Slovak students into the Reading Room. RocKids, comprising students from Zakladna umelecka skola (Elementary Art School) and taught by Martin Mintal, M. Plavec and M. Vasil, performed several songs, including those by American artists. "Reflections/Odrazy" is an exhibition of American artist Jessica Perry's Slovak photo collages and her students' artwork. The title refers to the many layers of reflection that occur during cross-cultural interactions. Jessica Perry has been in residence at Josef Vydra School of Applied Arts in Bratislava on a Fulbright Teacher exchange in Bratislava for one year, while her counterpart, Barbara Remiášová, teaches in New Jersey. Living and teaching in Bratislava, Jessica examined the culture and architecture through a series of photo collages, making connections between society, culture and environment. She is attracted to both the constructed and natural patterns that appear in the Slovak landscapes; her digital photographs of these landscapes combine reflected images to create relationships between patterns. Jessica's students took on a challenge to reflect current social, political and cultural issues in their work. The show continues at the Bratislava City Library Summer Reading Room until July 6, then travels to State Scientific Libraries in Banska Bystrica and Kosice, and to Catholic University in Ružomberok.