The Papal Medal bestowed for the twelfth time

SACROEXPO traditionally features the awarding ceremony of the Pontifical Council for Culture’s Medal “Per Artem at Deum”.  This year it was held on 20 June.  The Medal Chapter chaired by Fr. Bishop Marian Florczyk PhD resolved to include the following artists to the Medal fellowship:  Antonina Krzysztoń – Polish singer, composer and songwriter;  Arvo Pärt – Estonian composer of choral and instrumental music and   Arnaldo Pomodoro – an Italian sculptor and goldsmith.

Antoni20160620-DSC_2524a Krzysztoń, personally received the award; at the ceremony she could not conceal her emotions.

 The first word that comes to mind is gratitude (…)  I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to sing, for the fact that on my way of life I have met so many wonderful people  – said Antonina Krzysztoń during the ceremony.

Arvo Pärt was unable to visit Kielce owing to some other commitments. The audience was assured that he will come to receive the Medal next year.  Arnaldo Pomodoro wrote in his open letter:   –  I believe in this complex and chaotic period, in the times of liquid modernity and social uncertainty we need to find an authentic dimension of humanity filled with the deepest spiritual values”. He also added that ” the idea of spirituality is essential in art “ .

During the gala ceremony other distinctions and accolades were presented –  the Medal of HE Primate Rev. Cardinal Józef Glemp, the Medal of Polish Primate Rev. HE.  Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the Honorary Award of HE Bishop of Kielce Rev. Jan Piotrowski  and the annual award  and the annual award of Council for Culture and Cultural Heritage Protection of the Polish Bishops’ Conference – the PER AD ARTEM Excelsis Medal.  This was handed by His Eminence  HE Bishop Michał Janocha.

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A lot of business spiced with arts – a recipe for a successful expo

The 17 International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO goes down in history as a record-breaking event with regards to the number of exhibitors.  The Expo abounded in Church-focussed innovations, the event programme offered accompanying events galore including the grand gala awarding ceremony of the Pontifical Council for Culture Medal –  Per Artem ad Deum. The Kielce trade show hosted over 4,500 visitors.

SACROEXPO is ranked second among Europe’s largest sacred and Church industry-related exhibitions. This year’s expo was the showcase for 280 exhibitors from 11 countries – Italy, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Poland.

 We have exhibited at SACROEXPO since the second edition of the show; over the years we have observed the trade show’s developed and advancement. SACROEXPO Poland’s and Central – Eastern Europe’s industry leader.  This event responds to high demands.  – said Mrs Marek Lempaszek of Studio Prata during the Expo.

Expo stand is one-stop-shop presentation of the latest trends in sacral art, devotional items and accessories as well as church fitments, new technologies for sacral construction and properties and heritage conservation.

THROUGH ARTS TO GOD – The Pontifical Council for Culture Medal will be bestowed for the twelfth time

The Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been presented during the International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO held in Targi Kielce  The Medal has been awarded to artists or institutions whose artistic achievements and heritage contribute to the culture development and shapes man’s spirituality.

The Medal Chapter chaired by Fr. Bishop Marian Florczyk PhD has resolved that the medal fellowship will expand to include this year’s laureates – the Polish singer, composer and songwriter Antonina Krzysztoń, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro

The gala awarding ceremony will be held on 20 June 2016 at Targi Kielce.

 

Antonina Krzysztoń – Polish singer, composer and songwriter. She made her début in 1980 at the Forbidden Song Festival staged in Gdansk’s Olivia Hall. For many years she worked with the two musicians – Słoma (percussion) and Kuba (bass), the cooperation bore a fruit in the form of two long-plays ” Kiedy orzyjdzie dzień [When the Day Comes]” and “Pieśni Wielkopostne Wołanie [Lent Songs]”. Antonina plays many concerts, many of them are staged in churches.  Although her songs clearly define and express the world-views, her songs appeal to people of different beliefs. Not only is Antonina the music creator of most of the songs, but she is also a songwriter. She wrote songs for Mietk Szcześniak, Michał Lorenc as well as lyrics to Wojciech Konikiewicz’s music.

 

Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt – Estonian composer of choral and instrumental music. He has been bestowed, inter alia, the Great Cultural Award of the Estonian Association in Stockholm (1983) and the Herder Prize awarded by the University of Vienna (2000). In 2009, the “In Principio” record with Pärt’s compositions of 1989-2005 period was released. One of the works – Cecilia, Vergine Romana was first presented in Turin for the occasion of the 2006’s Olympic Games. Pärt’s most recent release is the “Adam’s Lament” album (ECM, 2012).

 

 

 

 

Arnoldo Pomodoro

Arnoldo Pomodoro

Arnaldo Pomodoro – an Italian sculptor and goldsmith.

Pomodoro is the world-renowned, greatest Italian contemporary sculptor.  His works adorn the towns of Sorrento, Rimini, Pesaro, Rome, Milan, Turin, Tivoli, Belluno, Copenhagen, Brisbane, Dublin, Los Angeles and many other. Pomodoro’s sculptures are parts of permanent exhibitions of the world’s largest museums. Since 1954 Pomodoro has lived and worked in Milan.

 

 

 

The Pontifical Council for Culture, the body which awards this accolade, was founded in 1982 upon the initiative of Pope John Paul II. Establishing it, the Holy Father emphasized that: “the dialogue of the Church with cultures of the contemporary world constitutes a significant area of activity, in which in the last years of the 20th century the future of the world has been shaped”. Thus, owing to the cooperation of the Council members, the dialogue between the Church and Culture has been continuously developing at the level of universities, experts, researchers and scientists.

 

Per Artem ad Deum Medal for Krzysztof Penderecki, Wincety Kućma and Herder Publishers

Per Artem Ad Deum Medal

Per Artem Ad Deum Medal

The Pontifical Council for Culture has elected this year’s laureates

For a number of years the Per Artem ad Deum Medal has been presented during the International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO is held in Targi Kielce This year, the Pontifical Council for Culture has resolved to bestow the Medal upon Professor Krzysztof Penderecki –  for constant and always-anew pursuit of God along the paths delineated with the staves and notes …Professor Wincenty Kućma –  for continuous confronting the present-day reality  through the faith in the Sacrum’s immutable values which help  understand life  and the German Herder publishing house –  for bringing forward the Sacrum’s immutable essence from the matter in order to animate human hearts, souls and minds with it.

This year’s laureates will be resented the medals during the Gala Ceremony on June 22, 2015 year.

 

Krzysztof Penderecki

Krzysztof Penderecki

Krzysztof Penderecki  Not only does Penderecki belong to the group of Polish most eminent and original contemporary composers, but he is also a respected conductor and teacher. Born on 23 November 1933 in Debica to the family which had maintained music traditions. Penderecki wrote his first compositions at the age of 8.He studied at the State Higher School of Music (now the Academy of Music) in Krakow, where he later became a lecturer. Penderecki was also the Academy Rector from 1972 to 1987.Since 1973 he has advanced his international career as a conductor.

The Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima marked his first international success in 1959; Penderecki was granted the UNESCO prize. Although he began his international career as an avant-garde composer, yet it was sacral music that brought Penderecki international fame and recognition(Psalms of David, Utrenja (Matins), Polish Requiem, the Seven Gates of Jerusalem, the Creed and many others).Penderecki has written several hundred compositions – symphonies, chamber music,  songs, choral works, operas and film soundtracks. The artist has earned numerous artistic accolades, state, national and papal awards, and doctoral  honorary degree of Polish and foreign universities.

 

Wincenty Kućma

Wincenty Kućma

Professor Wincenty Kućma – one of the most prominent contemporary sculptors, medailleurs, sacred buildings’ interior designers. Kućma was born on 25 May 1935 in Zbilutka, in the Kielce region. Kućma studied at the Faculty of Sculpture of the Academy of Fine Arts (ASP) in Krakow. In 1967 he started working at the ASP’s in Spatial Studio at the Department of Visual Arts at the Faculty of Industrial Design. Kućma was the Studio head until 2000.He has earned of over 50 awards and distinctions in sculptural and architectural competitions. Kućma’s artistic work has been recognised with state and papal accolades. His works have been exhibited at over 40  individual exhibitions, 80 group exhibitions; nearly 60 exhibitions were staged abroad.Kućmas works are also put on display in museums. Kućma has also authored patriotic sculptures:”Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office” in Gdansk; “Warsaw Uprising 1944” in Warsaw; “The Home Army Monument” in Kielce. Kućma’s works are also present in New Delhi, Geneva et. al. Over 60 churches in Poland, Russia and Belarus are adorned with Kućma’s religious sculptures and interior design.

 

Manuel Herder

Manuel Herder

Herder Publishing House -one of Germany’s oldest family-owned publishing houses was founded in 1798 by Bartholomä Herder, since 1808 Herder has had headquarters in Freiburg im Breisgau.Herder is now headed by Manuel Herder a publisher in the sixth generation. Herder’s books have been translated into Polish, now on offer of Jedność Publishers.

Every year Herder’s offer is expanded to include about 500 new titles in addition to the 3,000 books published in previous year and still available. Herder is ranked among German’s leading publishers of theological, guide and advisory books; they actively support a dialogue between different cultures and traditions. Herder also printed the ground-breaking scientific publication – the famous “Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche” (“Lexicon of Theology and the Church”).The publishing house is also famous for children books and non-fiction literature. For centuries great personages of historic, religious, scientific and literary milieus have published at Herder’s; the famous educator Maria Montessori, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Eli Wesel, Benedict XVI, Dalai Lama at. al.