Art exhibit to feature Polish photos

By Judith Pannebaker BCC Editor

In conjunction with the bi-annual exchange visit of Polish officials, an exhibit featuring images of Bandera Sister City-County, Strzelce Opolskie, Poland, will take place at the Bandera County Courthouse.

A group of officials and dignitaries will travel to this area just in time to help "Celebrate Bandera," the three-day event scheduled for Labor Day weekend. The Polish visitors will be in and about Bandera from Wednesday, August 22, through Thursday, Sept. 6.

With the assistance of Precinct 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker, Agnieszka "Texas Agnes" Pospiszyl has prepared an outdoor photo exhibition of images highlighting the Opole Region of Poland that will coincide with the visit.

The display features 30 framed color photographs, measuring 27-inches by 39-inches. The exhibition will take place on the lawn of the courthouse complex from August 23 through August 26. However, during a meeting on Thursday, August 9, Eliker told commissioners it might continue through Celebrate Bandera on Saturday, Sept. 2. At night, the photographic images will be stored in the courthouse and re-installed on the lawn the following day.

After its debut in Bandera, the exhibition will be shown in Karnes City and La Vernia.

The photo on the left shows a field of poppies. According to Pospiszyl, the poppy is as typical to Poland as the bluebonnet is to Texas.
In the center photo, equestriennes wearing historical cavalry uniforms prepared to celebrate Nov. 11 - Polish Independence Day. On that date in 1918, Poland once again became an independent country. Americans know this date as Armistice Day - later Veterans Day - which marked the end of World War I with the surrender of Germany. However, the end of World War I enabled the Polish people to regain the freedom and unity of their country after more than a 100 years of partitions by Russia, Germany and Austria. The last partition, which took place in 1795, began a 123-year period that essentially wiped the country of Poland off the maps of Europe.
The third photograph shows the Mala Panew River - the only river in Poland. As Pospiszyl noted, "In this picture, it looks like a slow, lazy river, but after few days of heavy rain, the water rises three meters high. It's a good river for canoeing and fishing." For the math challenged, a meter is the equivalent of 39.37 inches.

Pictured:
In the top photo, equestriennes wearing historical cavalry uniforms prepared to celebrate Nov. 11 - Polish Independence Day

The middle photo shows a field of poppies. According to Pospiszyl, the poppy is as typical to Poland as the bluebonnet is to Texas.

Mala Panew River - Poland's only river